The YouTube team had finally given in. They contacted Neil, agreeing to Lucas's conditions.
Naturally, Neil was pleased. Without wasting ti, he arranged to et Lucas in a private room at an upscale café.
But peace was short-lived.
A supposed waiter approached their table, but sothing was off. In his hand was a small cara, already recording.
"Lucas, can I ask what's on your mind right now?" the man asked, voice too eager.
Lucas didn't respond.
"You're not answering. Any comnt on your father possibly facing prison ti?"
Lucas kept his expression blank.
"When's your next album—or at least a single? Fans are dying to hear sothing new."
"What's your favorite song? Or movie?"
The questions kept coming.
Thankfully, Jack and Simon, who had been waiting outside, noticed the tension through the glass. They quickly stepped in and restrained the man.
Neil watched as the fake waiter was dragged out. He shook his head. "Fa really is sothing. Who'd have thought soone would pose as a waiter just to shove a mic in your face?"
Lucas sighed. "So people will do anything for a few seconds of nonsense."
Neil chuckled. "Well, to be fair, talking to you isn't nonsense to most people."
Lucas took a sip of his juice, then leaned back. "So… YouTube's finally letting the YouTubers take the spotlight?"
Neil nodded. "Yes. You'll still have a good mont on screen—think of it like a cao. Singing alongside the other creators. But the focus is entirely on the YouTubers, just like you asked."
Lucas paused, then gave a small nod. "Alright. I guess it won't hurt to show up for this one."
"Oh—and they want you to pick one of your songs to be the the," Neil added with a grin. "Even if it's a sad one. Like No Surprises."
Lucas leaned back, deep in thought. "I'm planning to produce a song specifically for this Rewind."
Neil's eyes widened. "Seriously? You're gonna drop another song without telling your label again?" He smirked. "Ever thought of sparing a little pity for Warner Records?"
Lucas chuckled, a little guilty. "I did send them an email… I just forgot to hit send."
Neil gave him a deadpan look and shook his head. "Unbelievable."
He added, "Why not just use one of your hits? That song that hit a billion views—what was it? Despacito?"
Lucas stroked his chin, as if actually considering it. Then he shook his head. "Nah. This ti, it's not about . The Rewind's finally about the YouTubers. I want to make sothing special—sothing they deserve."
After a few more exchanges, Lucas and Neil went their separate ways.
A few days later, YouTube began sending out invitations.
Big nas were among the first to be contacted: PewDiePie, MKBHD, HowToBasic, Markiplier, Jacksepticeye, Dude Perfect, MrBeast, and more.
Filming was still months away, but the project had officially begun. And this ti—it felt different.
Many of the creators were caught off guard. So even recorded their reactions.
"Wait… YouTube actually invited for the next Rewind? That's never happened before," a smaller creator said on their vlog, holding up the email. "I thought it was gonna be another celebrity thing again."
Even PewDiePie, in a rare mont of surprise, shared his thoughts on cara:
"So... I just got an email from YouTube. Yeah, that email. They want in Rewind again."
He let out a short laugh.
"Honestly, I didn't expect it. With everything that's happened, I figured I was off their radar for good. But... here we are."
Many YouTubers were genuinely surprised—and excited—by the unexpected invitations.
MrBeast, or Jimmy, shared his reaction in a vlog with his friends.
"I didn't expect this at all... and so soon," he said, clearly touched.
His voice wavered for a second, prompting his friends to tease him playfully.
"Don't cry, Jimmy!" one joked off-cara, earning laughter.
The news wasn't just limited to U.S. creators. YouTubers from around the world were also thrilled to be included—many of them for the first ti. Their excitent lit up social dia.
At the sa ti, major dia outlets began reporting on the list of confird creators for the Rewind. Fans of these YouTubers were buzzing with anticipation.
While YouTube wasn't yet considered essential mainstream dia, millions across the globe were tuning in—especially loyal followers eager to see their favorite creators finally recognized.
But what truly captured headlines and turned heads was one na: Lucas.
Once news broke that he would appear in the 2017 Rewind, the conversation shifted. Even people who usually ignored YouTube content started paying attention.
On Twitter, fans lit up the tiline:
"If Lucas is in Rewind 2017—then I'm definitely watching it."
"It makes sense! Celebrities used to be part of Rewind before, and I always wondered why Lucas wasn't. Looks like his ti has finally co."
Many die-hard fans could barely wait for the Rewind.
Around this ti, Lucas visited Disney Studios, reuniting with the vocal cast. But this ti, he was there for a new role—voicing Hector in Coco.
He was stepping into the shoes of a mature, weathered, and charming character with a hidden sadness. For several days, Lucas worked tirelessly, shaping Hector's voice—bringing depth, humor, and sorrow to the role.
Then ca the peak mont of the film: "Rember ."
And when Lucas sang it… the room fell still.
He sang with a voice soft and sorrowful, aged yet beautiful—each note carried the quiet ache of longing. The studio was silent as his voice filled the space:
"Rember , though I have to say goodbye...
Rember , don't let it make you cry..."
Even if I'm far away, I hold you in my heart…
I sing a secret song to you each night we are apart."
His voice carried both fragility and longing. It wasn't just a performance—it was heartbreak captured in sound.
The songwriters, listening from behind the glass, exchanged glances. One of them whispered, "He's... really feeling it."
Even the other voice actors in the room felt the shift. A few wiped their eyes quietly, caught off guard by the raw emotion.
When Lucas reached the final verse—
"Know that I'm with you, the only way that I can be…"
"Until you're in my arms again…"
"Rember …"
—the actor playing Miguel couldn't hold back. Tears stread down his face in the booth. Yet, he didn't stop recording. Sohow, he managed to cry in sync with Miguel's animated expressions on screen.
After just a few days in the booth, Lucas wrapped up his voice work for Héctor. In less than a week, his recordings were complete—a pace that even surprised the Disney team.
His performance left a lasting impression.
Veteran voice actors, who had seen it all, quietly admitted among themselves that Lucas's natural emotion, timing, and vocal control were sothing special.
As the final session ended, the cast gathered in the recording room. There were hugs all around—a mont of shared respect and celebration. Before parting ways, they took a group photo together, arms over each other's shoulders, smiles genuine.
Lucas smiled as he stepped out of the studio with a warm heart.
"Rember " still lingered in his mind.
It was sad, soulful, and hauntingly beautiful.
Later, he t with the songwriters, shaking their hands. "I just wanted to say—what you wrote... it's magic," he told them sincerely.
They chuckled, clearly flattered, one of them replying,
"Well, coming from you, that ans a lot."
---
A Few Days Later – Moscow, Russia
Lucas quietly landed in Moscow.
He ca to surprise Jennifer, who was in the middle of filming a major project.
He kept his arrival low-key, hoping to stay under the radar—but it didn't last long. Russian dia outlets quickly caught wind of his presence. Within hours, fan chatter lit up online, and crowds began forming in hopes of spotting him.
Thankfully, his team acted fast, and Lucas was able to slip away unnoticed and head straight to the set.
In Jennifer's trailer, her assistant stepped in with wide eyes. "Um… Jennifer. He's here."
Jennifer blinked. "Who's here?"
"Lucas."
She stared for a second, then rushed to the door.
When she saw him, her heart skipped.
"No way…"
Before he could say anything, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him deeply. The kind of kiss that speaks of distance and longing.
As they pulled apart, she grinned, brushing a bit of dust from his jacket.
"So… what brings my ridiculously handso fiancé to my chaotic workplace?"
Lucas tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, gazing into her eyes.
"I missed you," he said softly.
They took a quiet walk through the snowy park near her filming location, disguised under coats and scarves.
She leaned her head on his shoulder as they watched the frozen river glisten in the fading light.
Lucas made her laugh by reenacting one of her dramatic scenes, purposely exaggerating it.
She brewed tea for them in her trailer, and they sat on the couch, sharing stories, his hand wrapped gently around hers.
At one point, she put her hand on his chest and said, "You know… you showing up like this? It's everything I needed right now."
He smiled, leaned in, and whispered, "Good. Because I needed it too."
Jennifer smiled warmly, placing a gentle kiss on his lips. "I'm glad things are going well for you… even with everything going on with your family."
Lucas let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Yeah... it's been a lot. But there's so good news too. Disney offered the role of Ghost Rider."
Jennifer blinked. "Wait—seriously?"
He nodded. "They want to bring the character back. A reboot. And they want as Johnny Blaze."
Her eyes widened. "Wow… That's huge." She paused, studying his face. "Are you gonna take it?"
Lucas leaned back slightly, thoughtful.
"I'm still thinking about it. It's a big commitnt—and a big shift. But… it's tempting."
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