536-540

Chapter 536: The Role of the Female Assistant

"Hey~ Luca, Natalie,"

Director Wang and Nora approached.

Today, everyone was here to promote the film on a program. Luca and Natalie were secondary leads, so their interviews were shorter, allowing them to finish earlier, while Director Wang and Nora had more to do.

Initially, the distributor had planned several promotional episodes, but due to the poor box office performance, today's appearance would be the last, marking the end of this promotional team.

The group sat together, chatting and sipping coffee, a small gathering before parting ways.

Natalie exchanged a few words before leaving; she was busy filming The Other Boleyn Girl with Scarlett and had squeezed in time for promotion.

Nora also left shortly after. My Blueberry Nights was her first film. She hadn’t initially planned on acting, but Director Wang's enthusiasm won her over—writing a script and personally inviting her to act made it hard to decline.

Unfortunately, My Blueberry Nights didn’t perform well. Despite favorable reviews, the box office was disappointing—a harsh reality. Nora announced she would focus on music moving forward and steer clear of acting.

"Ah~"

Watching Nora's figure fade, Director Wang let out a soft sigh. "Maybe I should've heeded your advice to revise the script. This failure is entirely my responsibility."

"Haha, Director Wang, don’t be discouraged or self-critical. Our film had a budget of 3 million and grossed 5 million—technically not a loss. Those big-budget productions with over 100 million investments and only a few tens of millions at the box office—that's a real disaster."

"It’s not that simple. You, Nora, Natalie, and Rachel all participated as guest stars. Considering your combined fees, the film's actual investment easily exceeded 30 million."

Director Wang shook his head.

Luca smirked. Natalie and Rachel had joined because of Director Wang’s reputation, asking for minimal fees. But when including promotional expenses, the movie’s investment far exceeded 30 million.

"Director Wang, what’s next? Have you planned your next project?"

"No."

Director Wang placed his coffee cup down. "My Blueberry Nights has been invited to the Cannes Film Festival. I plan to head there."

"That’s a good idea."

The movie’s style, with its artistic and visually poetic elements, might resonate better in a French festival.

After chatting briefly, Luca left the TV station. Initially, he had wanted to console Director Wang, suggesting that a failed film wasn’t the end and offering to invest in his next project. But considering Wang’s history of underperforming films, Luca figured the director was used to it. With Wang’s spirits still high, determined to attend Cannes, Luca could only wish him luck.

---

"Boss, are we heading directly to the set?"

As Luca got into the car, Annie, his assistant, asked.

"Is there anything else scheduled for the afternoon?"

"No, but you’ve had a long day. Shouldn’t you rest a bit?" Annie handed him a towel.

Luca smiled faintly. "I’ve just discovered one advantage of having a female assistant."

"What’s that?" Annie asked, puzzled.

"Women are more attentive and caring. When Tony was my assistant, he just got by with the bare minimum."

Annie chuckled. "But Tony worked with you for three years. In this industry, an assistant who lasts over three years with a big star must be highly capable. He must’ve been good at his job."

"Think about it again. Was he really capable, or am I just easy to work with?"

"Um... fine. Boss, you’re the easygoing one."

"That’s more like it."

Luca leaned back in his seat, stretching widely.

---

The car arrived at the set. Luca greeted everyone and headed to the dressing room for his next two scenes.

"Good afternoon, Miss Julie!"

Julie was already in the dressing room, surrounded by her assistant, makeup artists, and staff.

"Hi, Mr. Kelly," Julie replied with a glance through the mirror, her long lashes fluttering. "I heard your new film has grossed over $1.2 million at the box office. Congratulations."

Pfft~

The room erupted in muffled laughter. Some covered their mouths, faces flushed with effort.

Luca shook his head, unfazed. That was just their usual way of talking. He stayed polite, avoiding harsh words, while Julie’s remarks always carried a sharp edge.

"Thanks. Have you seen my new movie? It’s actually quite good," Luca teased.

"Nope. I wouldn’t waste my time on it."

"Huff—Miss Julie, that’s so rude!" Annie, unable to hold back, stepped in to rebuke.

"What did you say?" Julie turned to glare at her.

"I said you were rude," Annie asserted, standing her ground.

Julie smirked and turned to her assistant. "Murray, she called me rude. What do you think?"

Murray hesitated. "Well... uh... no, she didn’t mean it that way."

"Yes, I did," Annie retorted. "Miss Julie, you haven’t even watched my boss’s movie, so you’re not qualified to call it bad!"

"But the box office says otherwise. A $1.2 million gross after ten days? Clearly, it’s not worth watching," Murray argued.

"Ridiculous! If box office results were the sole measure of quality, how many of your boss’s films would qualify as good?" Annie shot back.

"What did you just say? Apologize to my boss immediately!"

"Never. Unless she apologizes first."

Julie suddenly burst out laughing, waving dismissively. "Murray, she’s right. You can’t judge a film without watching it. Go buy tickets for My Blueberry Nights. Tonight, I’ll treat everyone to a screening."

"But boss, didn’t you say watching that movie was a waste of—"

Julie’s sharp glare shut her assistant up. Murray scurried off to book tickets.

"Boss, how was my performance?" Annie asked quietly.

Luca gave her a thumbs-up. "Impressive! Another perk of having a female assistant—you’re great at arguing. Tony would’ve stayed silent in situations like this, and I nearly fired him for it."

"Good thing you don’t mind my speaking out," Annie said, laughing.

"Annie, is it?" Julie interrupted with a smile. "You’re married?" she asked, eyeing Annie’s ring.

"Yes, Miss Julie," Annie replied.

"Then let me give you some advice: resign as soon as possible. You know better than anyone what kind of person your boss is—a notorious playboy, as the tabloids say. Staying in this job is dangerous."

Before Annie could retort, Julie continued, "He’ll affect your marriage, cast a shadow over your life. If you want to keep your husband and family, take my advice and quit."

"Thank you for your concern, Miss Julie, but I’ll handle my own life," Annie replied curtly and left the dressing room.

"What an interesting person," Julie remarked, covering her mouth as she laughed.

"Miss Julie, is this really fun for you?" Luca asked helplessly.

"Absolutely!" Julie laughed even harder.

Shaking his head, Luca took his seat to start his makeup.

---

"Miss Julie, Mr. Kelly, we’re ready for the next scene. Are you both set?" the assistant director called.

"Ready!" they replied in unison, heading out to the set.

"OK! Scene 14, Take 4, Action!"

*Chapter 537: A Real Man Never Looks Back at Explosions*

Wesley entered the Brotherhood's base to begin his training. The regimen included hand-to-hand combat, knife techniques, bomb handling, speed drills, and even learning how to take a hit.

The most critical skill, however, was mastering "the art of bullet curving," allowing bullets to bend mid-flight and hit their targets.

"Ready? Begin shooting!"

At the Brotherhood's training ground, Fox, played by Jolie, pushed a slab of pork in front of the target on the wall.

"You want me to shoot the pork?" Wesley asked, holding his pistol.

"No, I want your bullet to curve," Fox replied.

"How do I do that?" Wesley asked again.

"The question isn't how to do it—it's what to do," Sloan, played by Morgan Freeman, interrupted as he walked in.

Sloan, the leader of the assassin organization and manipulator of the Loom of Fate, interpreted the threads on the loom to identify targets for assassination. Holding up a gun, he continued, "If no one ever told you bullets travel straight, and I handed you a gun to hit a target, what would you do?"

Wesley was stumped.

"Let your intuition guide you," Sloan advised, picking up a gun. With a subtle flick of his wrist, he fired.

Bang!  

The bullet curved around the pork and struck the target behind it.

Wesley's jaw dropped in astonishment.

"Cut!"

Director Timur called for a pause, reviewing the footage. "One more take."

This was typical of Timur's style—no direct feedback, just a straightforward call to reshoot.

Actors unsure of their performance or lacking confidence would often rush to watch their scenes for errors. Previously, whenever Timur did this, Luca would nervously check the footage, suspecting he might be at fault. Meanwhile, Jolie and Freeman never bothered to look.

Curious, Luca once asked Jolie why. She told him she had complete confidence in her performance and didn’t need to double-check, and that Freeman had the same level of assurance. "Only insecure people review the footage," she added.

That was when Luca realized his own naivety and lack of confidence, qualities unbecoming of a Berlin Film Festival Best Actor. From then on, he stopped watching the footage, choosing instead to reflect and put his all into the next take.

Initially, he found Timur's approach frustrating. Over time, however, he saw its value:

1. It gave actors a chance to correct mistakes without public criticism, sparing them undue pressure.

2. It avoided potential conflicts with big-name actors—something crucial in a star-studded cast.

3. Without pinpointing the error, everyone would self-reflect and strive to deliver a better performance.

But this method had its downsides. For example, once Freeman's take deviated from the rehearsal. Instead of pointing it out, Timur kept calling for retakes—20 times in total!

Luca, believing himself at fault, reviewed the footage after the eighth "one more time," only to be told it wasn't his error. Jolie caved at the twelfth retake. Freeman, however, soldiered through all twenty.

Afterward, Luca realized that filmmaking tested not only acting skills but also an actor's mental fortitude—like the saying, "A real man never looks back at explosions." It was all about the mindset.

"Not checking the footage, Luca?" Jolie teased with a smile. "Between Morgan, me, and you, who do you think is more likely to make a mistake?"

"It’s not me," Luca replied confidently. "I know my performance was solid."

"Really?" Jolie smirked, stretching lazily before heading back to the set. "What a charmer," Luca thought, shaking his head as he followed.

The second take resumed with Timur calling, "Scene 14, Camera 4, Take 2. Action!"

Despite their efforts, Timur called for another retake after reviewing the footage.

This time, Luca felt a twinge of doubt. "Could it be me?" he wondered.

"Still not checking the footage?" Jolie teased.

"No. My performance was flawless," Luca asserted, replaying the scene in his mind. Based on rehearsal and comparison with the original version, he was certain his acting had improved in depth and agility.

"I need to stay confident," he thought, clenching his fists.

"Your confidence is wavering," Jolie noted with a laugh. "Stop pretending and check the footage already."

Luca glanced at her. "Couldn't it be your fault?"

"Not a chance. My style is well-established. Do you know what that means? It means my performances have matured to the point where audiences only see Angelina Jolie—a sexy, badass, and skilled woman. Morgan’s style is even more defined: the wise elder. And you? You've been acting for four years. What’s your style?" she challenged.

Luca thought about the diverse roles he’d played—a jilted lover, a charming heartthrob, a desperate driver, a ruthless coach, a cowardly miner, and a deranged magician. Each role was distinct, making it hard to develop a cohesive style.

Jolie, on the other hand, had carved out a niche through a string of action blockbusters like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Taking Lives, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. With her signature performances, her style became synonymous with box office success.

"Figured it out yet?" she asked.

"Yes, but I still stand by my performance," Luca replied.

"Good. Confidence suits you!" Jolie said, smiling.

The third take began. When Timur called "Cut," the scene unexpectedly passed.

Luca, curious, asked Timur what the issue had been in the earlier takes. Timur just grinned and said, "Not telling."

Back on set, Jolie asked, "Well, whose fault was it?"

"Not telling," Luca replied with a smirk.

"Ha! Then it must’ve been your fault," she teased.

"Could it have been the director's fault?" Luca wondered aloud.

"You mean...?" Jolie looked toward Timur, intrigued.

"Nothing," Luca said with a smile, focusing on his script.

---

That evening, after a long day of filming, Luca drove back to Malibu. At home, Kate and Lima were there, both enjoying their vacation in Los Angeles—shopping, yachting, and socializing while Luca toiled away on set.

"Where did you two go today?" he asked at dinner.

"You sound annoyed," Kate noted.

Lima laughed while cradling their child.

"Not annoyed, just envious," Luca admitted.

Kate teased, "You chose this life. With all the money we have, you could be relaxing instead of chasing an Oscar. You know, awards are just a matter of PR. Even the presidency can be bought."

"That’s different. I want an Oscar for my talent. Buying one would just make me a fraud," Luca argued.

"Does it matter? It’s just a trophy. Right, baby?" Kate cooed at their child, who giggled in agreement as Lima tickled him.

"Leave the little guy alone!" Luca said, scooping his son into his arms.

Kate smiled. "By the way, Ana's due date is coming up. We’re planning to visit her tomorrow. Want to join us?"

"Tomorrow? I can’t. I’ve got three scenes to shoot. I’ll visit on the weekend," Luca replied.

"Alright," Kate said, nodding.

*Chapter 538: Don’t Leave Tonight*

“How did you like the movie?”

During a break on the set of Wanted, Luca asked.

“Meh.”

Jolie shrugged her shoulders. “It’s not really my type. I prefer fiery, passionate love stories. My Blueberry Nights was way too innocent. No nudity, no murders, no steamy scenes—just a single upside-down kiss from beginning to end. Ha! By the way, Luca, that kiss of yours at the end was kind of fun to watch.”

Jolie smirked, lightly licking her lips as if teasing.

Luca pretended not to notice. “Can you believe it? That upside-down kiss took 150 takes with Nora before we finally got it right.”

“150 takes?!”

“Yep. Director Wang is all about capturing the perfect vibe. If it didn’t feel right to him, we had to keep going. So we kept kissing over and over. By the end, our lips were swollen. Every time we finished a take, we’d have to ice our lips. It was brutal.”

“You and Nora never had any rumors while working together?”

Jolie inquired.

“Why? Is that strange?”

“Of course. There’s this rumor that every actress you work with ends up in your bed.”

“Do I seem that desperate?”

Luca chuckled wryly.

After a short break, the crew resumed filming. Wesley, having mastered the “flick shooting” technique, officially stepped into the world of assassins. His assignments, given by Sloan, were all about assassination.

The targets came from a mystical device known as the “Loom of Fate.”

The loom wove patterns into fabric, and members of the Brotherhood deciphered the code to determine their targets. Whoever’s name appeared on the cloth was marked for death.

After completing several missions, Wesley began questioning the system. Encouraged by Fox, he continued following orders and targeted the Brotherhood’s traitor, Cross, who also happened to be his father’s alleged killer.

But after killing Cross, Wesley discovered he’d been deceived.

Cross was actually his father, and both Fox and the Brotherhood had lied to him.

The Brotherhood couldn’t defeat Cross because of his extraordinary skills. So they manipulated Wesley to eliminate him instead.

Realizing the truth, Wesley launched a counterattack, ultimately destroying the Brotherhood’s base of operations.

The movie’s main locations were Los Angeles, New York, and Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.

After filming in Los Angeles for over a month, the crew prepared to move to Prague, where the Brotherhood’s base scenes would be shot.

Before leaving New York, Luca visited a villa in the Balboa Island area of Southern California, where Ambrosio was staying during her pregnancy.

“Hey, An. You look…”

“How do I look?”

“Beautiful!”

On the lawn by the entrance, Ambrosio wore a loose maternity dress designed by Kate. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she wore light makeup, looking radiant.

“You haven’t gained much weight. Have you been working out while pregnant?”

“Of course not. A good figure means pregnancy doesn’t affect me much.”

Ambrosio smiled.

“Even Lima gained weight last year.”

“That just proves my figure is better!”

“Alright then!”

As they walked into the yard, Luca noticed the villa's two-row layout, a shaded area with palm trees in the back, and a large pool in the front. The scenery was beautiful, though the place felt empty and quiet.

“Where’s Jamie?”

“He said he had business in Seattle. Do you think that’s true?”

“Maybe.”

Ambrosio shook her head and laughed. “What about you? Is your movie done filming?”

“No, we’ve wrapped up in Los Angeles. Next, the crew is heading to Prague for more shooting.”

At the poolside, Ambrosio sat on a lounge chair with Luca’s help.

“Prague? That’s in the Czech Republic, right? KK’s home is there. You could visit her.”

An smiled.

“Are you kidding? I barely know her.”

Luca shook his head.

“So what? Kate, Lima, and I are close with her. Want me to give her a call?”

An teased.

“No need. My schedule over there is packed. No time for sightseeing.”

Luca declined politely, then glanced at her belly. “How are you feeling lately? Your due date is just a week away. Shouldn’t you be in the hospital? Lima went in a month early last year.”

“When Lima was in the hospital, you stayed with her. If I check in early, who’s going to keep me company? I’d rather stay home since the hospital isn’t far.”

Ambrosio rubbed her belly as she spoke.

Luca looked at her, thinking Jamie was even worse than himself. “An, aren’t you good at keeping men in line? You used to threaten to break Jamie’s legs, scaring him out of his wits. Why not now?”

An set her cup down. “Not anymore. Before marriage, maybe. After marriage, being too controlling is like digging at a volcano—it just creates more conflict and eventually leads to disaster.”

“Alright. But I still don’t get it. You’re beautiful, wealthy, and have plenty of admirers. Why Jamie?”

An smiled faintly. “I wanted to pick you, but did I have a chance? Besides, Jamie isn’t all bad—just a bit unfaithful. After knowing him for seven years, I’m confident I can handle him. That’s why I chose him.”

“Handle him? He’s cheating while you’re pregnant. That’s handling?”

“Of course! I couldn’t stand him hanging around at home, so I sent him off.”

“Sent him off?”

“Yes.”

Ambrosio stood and leaned into Luca’s arms.

Luca was startled and glanced around. “What if someone sees us?”

“There’s no one here. I gave the staff the day off—it’s just us.”

Ambrosio wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling.

“Is this okay? It’s risky.”

Luca held her shoulders hesitantly.

“It’s fine. I just want to hug you.”

She rested her head on his chest.

Luca stroked her hair. “Feeling tired?”

“No, I’m happy!”

An said softly.

Luca tightened his embrace.

“Luca, your heart is beating fast. Are you nervous?”

An teased, her ear pressed against his chest.

“Yeah, I’ve always been timid.”

“Liar. Remember in Rio, when Jamie was yelling at the door? You kept messing around, not worried at all.”

Luca blushed. “I wasn’t thinking straight then. My brain overheated.”

“So did mine. Whenever I’m with you, my head and body heat up. Can you feel it?”

An smiled slyly.

“I can feel the heat.”

Luca touched her cheek.

An tilted her head up, her lips rosy.

“Kiss me!”

After sharing an intimate moment, Luca walked with her around the garden and later cooked her a meal.

“Luca, don’t leave tonight.”

At dinner, An put down her spoon and said.

“Stay here? Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Luca asked.

“What are you thinking? I didn’t ask you to sleep over.”

An laughed. “Someone’s visiting later. Help me entertain them.”

“Me? Are you sure?”

“Relax. They’re not strangers.”

An smiled mysteriously.

*Chapter 539: Wasn't I the one who initiated this time?*

Beep—beep—  

A car horn sounded from outside the yard. Luca opened the iron gate, and a sleek, silver-gray sports car roared as it drove in.

The car came to a stop in the parking lot. A long, slender leg stepped onto the ground as Ms. Bundchen swung her golden hair and got out. She wore a simple white artsy T-shirt paired with fitted jeans and sneakers, looking fresh and radiant.

“Why is it you?”

Bundchen removed her sunglasses, surprised to see him. Memories of what had happened in the room that night suddenly resurfaced, and a faint blush crept across her face.

That night, she had drunk too much, her mood was terrible, and in a moment of impulse, she had pinned this guy down. Although the incident was interrupted halfway by Anan, thinking about it still made her feel embarrassed, her whole body heating up and tingling slightly.

“I’m here to visit Anan too,” Luca said softly.

“Oh!”

The two walked side by side without speaking, quietly crossing the lawn and climbing the stairs together.

“That night—”

Bundchen hesitated before speaking.

“That night?”

Luca looked at her, a slight smile playing at his lips.

“Hmph!”

Bundchen gave him a sideways glance, lifting her proud chin. “That night, I drank too much and accidentally... well, pinned you down. Sorry. Whether you accept it or not, I can only say sorry.”

“...”

Luca was stunned by her words. “You pinned me down, and now you’re coming to say sorry?”

“What else? I was drunk that night; you weren’t. I pushed you, and you just went down, which means you were willing. It’s not entirely my fault, so technically, I don’t even need to apologize.”

Bundchen tilted her head arrogantly, though her cheeks were still a little flushed.

Luca wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. “Alright, I was willing. You don’t have to apologize.”

“Then you can’t bring it up again, and you absolutely cannot tell Kate.”

Bundchen laid down her terms.

“Uh, well…”

“What? Did you already tell Kate?”

Bundchen’s expression shifted drastically.

Luca nodded. “Kate knows you well. She picked up on your perfume that day, and I never lie to her. But you know Kate’s temper. If she knew what you did to me, she’d be furious. So, I said it was a mutual, uncontrollable moment—neither passive nor aggressive.”

“You! Why do you tell her everything?”

Bundchen was fuming, balling her fists as if ready to hit him.

“Don’t be mad. Kate won’t spread it around. You and Kate used to be rivals and had some conflicts. Now that she’s left the runway, there’s no competition between you anymore. In fact, Kate admires you. She said Brazilian models breaking into the international fashion scene owe a lot to your efforts.”

“Kate really said that?”

Bundchen was taken aback.

“Of course. You two could sit down and chat sometime.”

“Impossible. We’re like oil and water.”

Bundchen raised her chin defiantly.

“Why not? You’re close with Lima and Anan. Kate’s close with them too. You share friends, interests, and hobbies. Why can’t you be friends?”

“And why can’t you and Leon or Pitt be friends?”

Bundchen retorted.

“I’d like to be friends with them, but they look down on me as a Brazilian country bumpkin. They keep suppressing me, even trying to kick me out of Hollywood. Last year, Leon used rumors about us to blackmail me for a script. Recently, when my new movie premiered, someone called for a boycott online. It had to be Leon or Pitt. With people like that, how can I be friends?”

“Well, I can’t be friends with Kate for the same reason. We’re both too outstanding. Two exceptional people can’t coexist.”

Bundchen said haughtily.

Luca chuckled. “You’re both outstanding, but you focus on the runway, and Kate focuses on writing and design. You excel in different fields. Why not be friends?”

Bundchen thought for a moment, then shook her head. “Let’s not talk about that. What did Kate say when you told her about us?”

“Nothing much…”

Luca hesitated.

“Spit it out!”

Bundchen gave his shoulder a hard shove.

Luca almost fell again and shook his head. “Really, nothing. She just said I should do it more often and be more aggressive with you.”

“Shameless!”

Bundchen angrily punched him.

“You asked! I’m just being honest.”

Luca replied innocently.

“Hmph. You’re hopeless.”

Bundchen tossed her hair, quickening her pace. Suddenly, she stopped, turning back with a smirk.

“Luca, someone as proud as Kate—if she knew I pinned down her brother in such a domineering way—don’t you think she’d be thrilled?”

Luca’s expression changed. “You better not say anything. She’d beat me up for sure.”

“Beat you? Wouldn’t that be fun?”

Bundchen burst into laughter.

“Stop fooling around. Hurry up!”

Anan called from afar.

“Coming!”

Bundchen quickly climbed the stairs to the poolside.

Luca followed her.

“You two seem to be getting along,” Anan said, lounging on a chair with a glass of wine.

“Not really. I just want him to shut up and stop spreading things around.”

“Oh? You’re actually embarrassed?”

Anan teased.

Bundchen glared at her. “And look at you! You’ve got wine, music, and a little lover to keep you company. Why were you whining on the phone about being lonely and making me come over?”

“I was lonely before Luca came. Now that you’re both here, I’m happy. So stop complaining and join me for a drink.”

“You’re about to give birth, and you’re drinking?”

“I’m just sniffing it. Drinking’s for you two.”

Anan chuckled.

The three of them sat down, sipping Bordeaux, listening to music, and chatting while watching the rippling pool. Gradually, they all felt a little tipsy.

Bundchen changed into a swimsuit and dove gracefully into the pool, swimming like a mermaid.

“Luca, aren’t you going in?”

Anan asked.

“Not really.”

Luca shrugged.

“Go on. Bundchen’s waiting for you.”

Anan nudged his shoulder.

“Is she?”

“Of course. Otherwise, why would she dress like that? Go!”

Anan urged.

“...Fine.”

Luca reluctantly jumped in, slowly approaching Bundchen. Soon, the pool erupted with waves.

Moments later, the guest room was in chaos.

“Remember, you can’t tell Kate about today.”

“Got it. I don’t want to get beaten up.”

“No, I changed my mind. I want you to tell Kate. Let’s see how mad she gets when she hears I took you again.”

“Wasn’t I the one who initiated it this time?”

Luca kissed her lightly.

“Who says? You’re only temporarily in charge.”

Bundchen flipped them over, taking control again.

—

Knock, knock, knock!  

Over an hour later, there was a knock at the door.

“Are you two done?”

Anan called out.

“Anan, are you joining us?”

Bundchen teased.

“Stop joking. My water just broke—I think I’m in labor.”

“What?!”

The two inside scrambled to dress and found Anan leaning against the couch, a wet spot beneath her.

“Why didn’t you call us sooner?”

“No rush. It’s just starting. There’s still time before the baby comes.”

Anan smiled calmly.

Luca shook his head. Despite the time, it was safer to head to the hospital early. Without another word, he carried Anan to the car.

With a roar, the car sped off toward the hospital.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 540: How About Trying Tonight?*

In the early hours of the next day, at around 4 a.m., An An successfully gave birth in the hospital. Both mother and child were safe.

“Bonchen, I’ll leave this to you. I need some sleep,” said Luca, yawning.

“Alright. You seem to have quite the experience in accompanying women during childbirth?” Bonchen teased.

Luca smirked faintly, “This is my fourth time.”

“Playboy!” Bonchen shot him a sidelong glance before walking into the ward.

An angel of mercy, perhaps?

Luca shook his head and collapsed onto Bonchen’s vacated bed, falling fast asleep.

The next day, Ketelima and Jamie arrived, along with relatives and friends of the couple, making the hospital lively.

Luca greeted them briefly before hastily leaving the hospital.

The "Assassins Alliance" film crew was scheduled to fly to Prague by charter flight that day. Luca, not wanting to be late, packed his luggage and boarded the plane with his assistant.

“Were you out stealing last night? You look exhausted,” teased Ms. Julie.

“No, a friend gave birth. I stayed at the hospital all night,” Luca replied, reclining in his seat.

“A girlfriend?”

“Of course not, just a friend.”

“Just a friend, yet you stayed overnight at the hospital?” Julie smirked.

“Her family wasn’t around, and I happened to be there,” Luca explained.

Julie chuckled, “It seems women around you tend to have babies easily.”

“What nonsense! What does their childbirth have to do with me?”

“Doesn’t it?” Julie teased.

Luca shook his head, yawning. He slumped in his seat, initially managing to exchange a few words with Julie, but soon dozed off as the plane took off.

The flight lasted 13 and a half hours. The next morning, around 8 a.m., the plane landed at Prague International Airport. The crew boarded a bus and headed to a red Gothic-style castle.

Once a sugar factory, the location was later converted into a textile mill after being selected by the crew last year. It exuded a nostalgic charm.

Upon arrival, the crew immediately got to work on the busy filming schedule.

After over five years in the industry, Luca had traveled extensively with film crews. Initially, he found it exciting and made it a point to explore every location. However, at some point, that excitement waned.

To him, film sets were merely workplaces. No matter where the crew went, sets shared the same core elements: directors, actors, crew members, props, and cameras. Even the catering—hamburgers, pizzas, bread, beer, and milk—was similar.

A significant portion of the film was set in the castle, accounting for about one-sixth of the total. The crew planned to complete these scenes within 15 days, shooting 3–4 scenes daily. As the lead, Luca had a heavy workload, leaving him little time to rest.

---

On top of the castle, Wesley chased after Fox, questioning her about Sloan’s incredible curved-bullet shot.

Fox ignored him and walked ahead briskly.

“Can you do it? You must be able to, right?” Wesley shouted.

Fox sat on the battlements, her profile lit by the setting sun, the wind gently tousling her hair—a picturesque moment.

“Hey, that train looks familiar,” Wesley leaned over the wall, looking down. The script described a high-speed train beneath the wall, but in reality, the train was in New York.

“Then go check it out,” Fox said, tugging his sleeve and pushing him off the wall.

“Ahhh—”

“Cut!”

“This take’s good!” yelled Director Timo.

“Change locations. Luca, we’ll resume in ten minutes.”

“Okay!”

Luca sat on the battlements, gazing at Prague’s historic architecture, the Vltava River, and the sunset.

“This place is quite beautiful,” he remarked.

“Wouldn’t it be more beautiful to do that here?” Julie winked playfully.

“True,” Luca chuckled.

“How about trying tonight?” Julie asked with a mischievous smile.

“It’s too cold here at night. The bed’s much better,” Luca quipped.

“Ha! What about a kiss here?” Julie teased, lightly poking his chest.

“Are you ready to break up with Pitt?” Luca glanced at the crew bustling nearby. “If you’re ready, I don’t mind kissing you here. You know I’ve always been his rival. Stealing his girlfriend wouldn’t be out of place.”

“You’re such a killjoy,” Julie replied, batting her long lashes.

Luca shook his head. “I don’t think you love him that much. So why are you with him? If you’re willing to leave him, I can offer you just as much, if not more.”

Julie looked at him calmly. “He’s willing to marry me, to give me a sense of belonging. Can you do that?”

Luca paused, then shrugged. “That’s a tough one. I can’t.”

Julie smiled faintly. “Then what’s the point? Remember, we’re just playing a game. Games are false, and so is everything that happens in them. Don’t take it too seriously.”

Luca smiled. “Can’t we be friends outside the game?”

“Just friends?” Julie laughed softly.

“That’s not bad!”

---

Suddenly, hurried footsteps and heavy breathing broke the moment.

“Julie, Mr. Pitt is here,” her assistant Mary said, gasping.

“He’s here, so what? Why are you so flustered?” Julie laughed.

Mary hesitated, glancing at the two of them sitting close. Their earlier animosity seemed to have evaporated, leaving her unsure whether her concern was misplaced.

“Let’s go.” Julie tapped Mary on the shoulder and gracefully descended the wall.

Luca remained seated, staring silently at the Vltava River and the boats gliding across it.

Ten minutes later, the crew resumed filming indoors, with only Luca and Morgan Freeman in the next scene.

“Is this my room?” Wesley asked.

“No, it’s your father’s room,” Sloan replied.

Wesley wandered the room, examining it, eventually picking up a photo frame holding a picture of three people.

“What happened?”

“One of the Brotherhood members betrayed us,” Sloan said.

“Cross?”

“At the start, he killed someone better than himself,” Sloan replied, gazing out the window. “It was your father. Cross ambushed him on a rooftop. He betrayed him. Everything in this room—books, weapons, clothes—belonged to him. Now they’re yours. I hope these help you understand him and, through him, yourself.”

Sloan exited, leaving Wesley alone, clutching the photo.

The emotional depth of the scene required precise attention to every detail—expressions, glances, footsteps, even breathing. The crew worked from late afternoon until 10 p.m. before wrapping up the shot.

Back at the hotel, Luca sighed as he looked at the half-empty bed. Washing up quickly, he went to sleep.

The next day’s schedule resumed as usual. However, around noon, he received a call from Director Wang bearing good news.

(To be continued)