The release of the video completely defused Luke's PR crisis.
Not only did it squash the negative buzz, but it also brought some unexpected perks.
For one, Luke finally managed to craft a positive public image. Going forward, he wouldn't have to worry about his reputation tanking over relationship drama.
You could say it nipped a lurking crisis in the bud.
Plus, the women featured in the video got a nice boost in fame and popularity from all the hype.
Before editing the video, Luke had called each of them to get their okay for the publicity stunt. He'd been a little worried some might push back, but to his surprise, everyone agreed without hesitation.
Zhang Ziyu said there was no need to be polite about hyping things up with her "big sister"—just go for it.
Annie, sitting right next to him, laughed and said their "bond of friendship" was strong enough that posting a kissing video for clout was no big deal.
Yuffie, his official girlfriend, didn't bat an eye.
GAKKI-chan, always super agreeable, sounded almost thrilled about it over the phone.
As for Gao Yuanyuan, the second she picked up, she was already complaining that Luke hadn't reached out in forever.
She was currently filming the wuxia drama The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber and made him promise to grab dinner together the next time he was back in the country.
The biggest winner, though, was Taylor Swift.
Thanks to the video's viral buzz, her unreleased single You Belong with Me was already generating massive attention.
Luke rocking a football jersey in the video was a huge draw on its own.
Add to that the song's catchy, radio-friendly melody, and it was a perfect storm.
The two elements combined for an explosive reaction.
"What's that song at the end? It's so good! Where can I hear the full version?" one comment racked up over 200,000 likes and 20,000 replies.
"It's sung by Taylor Swift. It's on her upcoming album," another reply clarified, basically serving as an official announcement and racking up tons of likes and comments too.
Taylor's second album, Fearless, was nearly done recording and would be wrapped up before Christmas.
After that, it'd move into production and distribution, with an official release slated for early 2003.
All in all, the public narrative was swinging firmly in Luke's favor. The buzz wasn't going to die down anytime soon, so he shifted his focus back to filming and let the PR stuff run its course.
---
Over the next two weeks, the Pirates of the Caribbean shoot went off without a hitch.
Filming progressed smoothly, churning out high-quality footage at a steady clip.
During the day, Luke breezed through his scenes with ease.
After nightfall, Annie would sneak into his hotel room to "deepen their bond of friendship."
Well, maybe "friendship" needs an extra word—let's say "intimate" friendship.
Luke was living the good life, but Depp? Not so much.
Finally, on the last day of shooting, after wrapping all the Phi Phi Island scenes, Depp sidled up to Luke and whispered, "Hey, if your girlfriend got mad and wanted to break up, how would you win her back?"
Depp had a girlfriend?
Luke shook his head. "I wouldn't need to win her back. My girlfriend would never dump me."
"I mean, like, hypothetically?" Depp pressed.
"No hypotheticals. No woman could ever walk away from me," Luke said confidently.
His confidence wasn't just bravado. From his experience with Liu Tianxian, he knew his charm—both emotional and physical—was practically irresistible.
The deeper the connection, the more they felt it.
"Man, you're such a show-off. That's infuriating!" Depp fumed.
"You got a girlfriend?" Luke stopped teasing and grinned. "Spill."
"Yeah, I've been seeing someone. Bob kept saying she's got 'bad vibes' based on her face and told me to ask you for advice. Like he knows anything—my girlfriend's gorgeous!" Depp griped. "But the media leaked that stuff from here, and now she's pissed and threatening to dump me."
Looks like the "rent-a-wife" scandal from Phi Phi Island had caught up with him.
He might not care about public opinion, but his girlfriend's feelings? That was another story.
"Do I know her?" Luke asked. He'd need to know who she was to give any advice.
"Probably not. She's a new actress, just starting out. Amber Heard," Depp said, pulling a photo from his pocket and handing it to Luke.
The name hit Luke like a ton of bricks. This messy drama wasn't just unavoidable—it was happening early.
"You tough enough to take a hit?" Luke asked.
"Huh?"
"I mean, if your wife left a huge dump on your bedside, would you lose it?"
"What are you even talking about, man?" Depp blinked, confused.
"I'm saying, if you're set on this, good luck," Luke replied.
"You still haven't told me how to win her back!"
Luke knew exactly who Amber was—a gold-digger who worshipped power.
With Depp, she was a venomous viper. But later, with a certain billionaire, she turned into a literal "angel."
If you could keep her in check, she'd be the ultimate trophy wife. If not, she'd turn on you.
She was like a cursed weapon in a fantasy novel—dangerous but tempting.
Seeing Depp's lovesick expression, Luke knew there was no talking him out of it.
"Try buying her a red Ferrari. That should smooth things over," Luke suggested.
"For real?" Depp's face lit up. If Luke said it, it had to work.
Luke nodded, knowing it'd probably do the trick. That woman loved flashy gestures.
But if Depp couldn't see through her gold-digging ways or realize she was just using him as an ATM, well, Luke could only wish him luck.
---
On the final night at Phi Phi Island, Annie slipped into Luke's room again.
She'd snagged a spare key card ages ago, so no need to knock.
Tonight, she was dressed to kill. She shrugged off her robe, revealing a sheer black negligee that contrasted starkly with her pale skin, practically begging for closer inspection.
"I think our friendship's deep enough now. Ready to take it to the next level?" she teased.
Before Luke could respond, she silenced him with a kiss.
"No talking. Just feel this moment. Now lie back," she whispered.
---
In the flickering moonlight, everything blurred into a dreamlike haze…