511-515

*Chapter 511: I'm the Real Victim*

Huff huff~

“So, is this how you planned to deal with me?” Luca asked, laughing through heavy breaths.

“Mm-hmm~. You’re too formidable. Even with Leon helping him, he couldn’t defeat you. What could I, a weak woman, do but resort to this?” Julie teased, pressing against his chest.

“You? A weak woman? You’re a seductive enchantress,” Luca retorted, exhaling.

“If I’m an enchantress, then you’re a devil. And I’m going to devour you.” Julie lunged at him, and the two became entangled in a frenzy.

“Ah~ you’re incredible. Being with you is incredible,” Julie murmured, leaning on his shoulder, a cigarette perched between her red lips.

“Same here,” Luca replied, taking the cigarette and inhaling deeply.

Julie gazed at him, her lips curling into a sly smile. “You know, this time, he really disappointed me.”

“Oh?”

“He keeps going on about dealing with you, even roping in Leon. But after three years of trying to blacklist you, it’s done nothing. He can’t touch you, and he even forbids me from working with you. He’s like a sick lion, roaring in vain, while you’re a majestic beast. Honestly, I’m almost completely captivated by you,” Julie murmured, holding him tightly.

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Luca chuckled, passing the cigarette back to her. “Honestly, I never aimed to be his rival. My goal is the Oscar for Best Actor, not defeating another actor. But Pitt just can’t let go of the past and keeps targeting me.”

Julie laughed, kicking his leg playfully. “You seduced Aniston first, and now you’ve seduced me. And you still claim you’re not against him? You little devil, your skin must be thick.”

“That’s not how it happened. I knew you before he did, and we were together longer. If anything, he seduced my Julie, not the other way around. In this situation, I’m the real victim,” Luca insisted, holding her hand.

“That… does sound about right,” Julie mused, rolling onto her back and feigning a pitiful expression. “Oh, darling, I shouldn’t have left you for him. I was wrong. Why don’t you punish me? Punish me thoroughly.” She handed him something with a sly smile. “No matter what you do, I’ll love you even more.”

“Alright, turn around!”

The wind fluttered through the curtains, casting playful shadows on the walls.

---

*Ding ling ling~*

The next morning, in his study, Luca was typing a script when the phone rang.

“Hey, Ed, how did the negotiations go?” Luca asked, holding the phone between his shoulder and ear as he typed.

“Luca, unfortunately, the negotiations didn’t succeed,” Ed sighed.

Luca paused. “It fell apart? Are they replacing me?”

“Oh, no, not replacing you. This is about the pay. They’re firm on their budget. I asked for $5 million. You’re now an A-list actor. You’ve starred in seven major productions, all of which did well at the box office. Plus, several of your indie films grossed over $100 million. Your ROI is among the best in the industry. You deserve $5 million.”

Ed’s voice droned on with determination.

“Thanks for your confidence in me. I agree $5 million is fair—$10 million wouldn’t be unreasonable. But Ed, how much are they offering?” Luca chuckled, still typing.

“$4 million. That’s the final offer after two and a half days of negotiation. What do you think? Should I finalize the contract?”

“$4 million, huh? You said $1–2 million is for B-actors, and $2–6 million is for B-actors like me. So, I’m right in the B-range, correct?”

“Exactly, Luca. You’re severely undervalued. A couple more blockbuster hits, and your pay will jump to $6 million next year. Keep pushing!” Ed replied earnestly.

Luca let out a soft laugh. “Alright, I’ll keep at it. My goal is to become an SS-tier actor, earning 20% of box office revenue.”

“Luca, I know you can reach that level. So, do you want to accept the $4 million role? If not, I’ll tear up the contract right now.”

“Alright then, go ahead and tear it up,” Luca said.

"Uh~~~ Luca, a 4-million-dollar contract, and as the lead in a major production—are you sure you want to pass this up? Can you reconsider? After last year's controversy, your reputation took a big hit. The major film companies are still uncertain about their stance on you; they’re watching from the sidelines.

So right now, it’s probably best not to focus too much on your pay. You could put out a blockbuster movie and show everyone that you’re still the same talented Luca. Once you have a hit, other film companies will be lining up to work with you. What do you think?"

Ed quickly added.

Luca smirked. "You’re right. Let’s sign the contract."

". . . That’s a quick turnaround. I thought I’d have to convince you more."

"No need. I’m writing a script—I don’t have time for your chatter. Also, Ed, shouldn’t you reflect on yourself a bit?"

"Me? Reflect on what?" Ed asked, surprised.

"Ed, when you were just a small-time model agent, you were extremely diligent. Now you’ve become cocky—rambling on, saying empty words, and even acting smug. Don’t you realize you’re not in the right state of mind?"

"Really?"

Ed hesitated, then sighed. "Maybe a little. But how can I not be cocky? You’re a millionaire, and I’m the millionaire’s talent agent—the top agent in both fashion and entertainment. And starting this year, my income has officially surpassed Nina’s. Haha! Isn’t that amazing?"

"Yes, it’s amazing. Your arrogance is totally justified," Luca replied with a smirk before telling Ed to finalize the contract. Then he hung up and called Ms. Nina.

"Luca, what’s up?" Nina’s tone was indifferent.

"Nina, there’s something I need to bring to your attention. It’s about Ed."

Luca exaggerated Ed’s “symptoms” and told Nina everything, ending with one final tidbit.

"Nina, Ed said his income now fully surpasses yours, so he’s the one in charge at home now. I’m so jealous of Ed."

"Hmph. Anything else?"

"Nope."

Click. Beep beep. The line went dead.

Luca looked at his phone, chuckled, and continued furiously typing away at his script.

---

Three days later, the production team of Assassin Alliance called, asking him to come by the studio for costume fittings and promotional photos.

At the studio entrance, Luca ran into Ed.

"Uh… Ed, what happened? Why do you look like this?"

Ed stood there with a white neck brace, dark bruises on his face, and a swollen mouth that made him talk with a crooked slur.

"Pfft—"

Tony, behind him, stifled a laugh.

"Shut it, Tony!" Ed glared at him and then slowly turned back to Luca. "Hiss… Luca, I’m fine. A couple nights ago, I worked late and ran into some drunks on the way home. Got roughed up, but it’s no big deal. I’ll heal in a few days."

"Is that so? Did you call the police? That’s outrageous—just because they’re drunk doesn’t mean they can attack people! Ed, do you want me to find those guys? I’ll call Gina right now. She can bring some bodyguards to track them down."

"Wait, wait, wait!"

Ed grabbed Luca’s arm but accidentally strained his neck, grimacing in pain.

"Luca, it’s fine. I was also in the wrong that night. It’s not their fault, so there’s no need to pursue it. It’s just a minor injury—no big deal."

"You sure?"

"Positive. Come on, Luca, let’s head inside!" Ed urged.

"Fine. Let me help you."

"No, no, I’m fine!"

Ed waved him off and climbed the steps, clutching his neck and wincing with every step.

Luca took a deep breath. He had thought Nina’s family discipline was harsh, but it seemed there was always someone tougher. For Ed to survive with a wife like Nina—that was a skill in itself.

"Heh, Luca, want to know how Ed really got those injuries?" Tony chuckled.

"How?"

"Tony, hurry up and help me!" Ed shouted.

"Didn’t you say you didn’t need help earlier?" Tony teased.

"Now I do! Is that a problem?"

"Alright, alright!" Tony smirked and jogged over to help.

Luca chuckled softly and walked into the company building.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 512: How Can You Be So Shameless?*

Mid-December saw the 60th British Academy Film Awards held in London.

The Prestige received three nominations: Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, and Best Supporting Actor.

Luca, thanks to his exceptional performance in the film, earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination.

Little Miss Sunshine also received three nominations: Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor, though none of these involved him.

Ultimately, The Prestige went 0 for 3, while Little Miss Sunshine won two of its three nominations, taking home awards for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.

The Best Supporting Actor award was claimed by veteran actor Alan Arkin from the Little Miss Sunshine cast.

Luca applauded the win, congratulating Alan. The 73-year-old veteran had already secured numerous awards and nominations for his role in Little Miss Sunshine, including a Golden Globe nomination. Winning Best Supporting Actor at this event felt well-deserved.

“Don’t be too disappointed, Luca. You’re still young,” director Christopher Nolan consoled him.

Luca smiled lightly and waved it off. “I understand. They say the BAFTA is known for its seriousness and rigor. Just getting a nomination is a pleasant surprise.”

The BAFTA is known for being even more exclusive than the Oscars, largely awarding films and talent from English-speaking countries.

For someone like Luca, hailing from a Portuguese-speaking country like Brazil, receiving a nomination seemed almost impossible. Were it not for his resemblance to a Brit and the fact that The Prestige was a quintessentially British film made by British filmmakers, he might not have had a chance at all.

Nolan chuckled. “Your performance was brilliant, and it deserved a nomination. But have you noticed how your acting style and choice of roles are very similar to British actors? Some in the industry feel you’re stealing work from British talent and aren’t too happy about it.”

“Really?”

Luca thought for a moment. It seemed true.

Since the start of his career, he had starred in six films: Buried, Match Point, The Prestige, Atonement, My Blueberry Nights, and The Proposal. Of the four films already released, three had been shot in the UK, directed by British filmmakers like Nolan and Joe Wright.

Moreover, most of the roles he had taken were originally intended for British actors. So, the claim that he was taking jobs from them wasn’t entirely baseless.

Luca smiled lightly. “I guess it’s because of how I look. British directors seem to find me convincing—like you, for instance.”

“Haha, true. Your appearance is very British. Some people even accuse you of posing as a British actor to land roles and say that we directors should be more discerning.”

Luca shook his head. “Chris, surely you don’t agree with such a narrow-minded view?”

“Haha, why not? Before casting The Prestige, I thought you were British. That’s why I chose to work with you. It wasn’t until later that I found out you weren’t. Unfortunately, by then, the contract was signed, so I couldn’t replace you.”

Nolan shrugged with an exaggerated look of regret.

“Chris, are you serious?”

Luca glared at him.

“Haha~ Alright, I’m joking. It was great working with you. By the way, my next film, The Dark Knight, will begin casting soon. It’s about Batman, Bruce Wayne, saving the world. You should come audition.”

“Sure!”

Luca nodded.

On stage, the announcement came that Best Film had been awarded to The Queen. The audience applauded together. The movie, which portrayed the current queen, was seen as politically correct and had been widely predicted to win.

The awards ceremony wrapped up in the afternoon. Later, Luca attended a small gathering at Nolan’s home, meeting several British filmmakers. Perhaps because he hadn’t stirred any scandals with British actresses, they were quite friendly, and the conversations were pleasant.

---

That evening, after returning to his hotel, Luca took a shower. His phone buzzed with a new message.

“Come down. Dinner’s on me!”

“On my way!”

Smiling, Luca put on a casual outfit and went downstairs.

---

A modest Lotus pulled up by the curb with a soft honk.

The car door opened, revealing Keira Knightley behind the wheel. Her eyes sparkled, and she was dressed casually in a yellow puffer jacket and a white knit hat. Strangely, her bottoms consisted of pajama pants and fluffy slippers.

“What are you staring at?”

Keira’s expression remained cold, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Keira, you look great. But wearing slippers while driving isn’t exactly safe. How about I drive instead?”

Luca offered.

“Stop talking nonsense. Buckle up—it won’t kill you.”

Keira shot him a glare.

Sighing, Luca fastened his seatbelt. The car roared as it sped off.

“Want a cigarette?”

Keira pulled out a pack from her pocket and started rummaging for a lighter.

“Keira, can you focus? It’s winter—be careful of icy roads!”

Luca reminded her.

“People say the richer someone is, the more afraid they are of dying. Is that you?”

Keira scoffed.

“Absolutely. Someone once said the saddest thing in life is dying with unspent money. I think that makes a lot of sense.”

He lit a cigarette and handed it to her.

“Money-grubber!” Keira muttered.

Keira smiled softly, “How was the awards ceremony today?”

“Not bad. The Queen and Pan’s Labyrinth were the big winners. Little Miss Sunshine got two awards, which is pretty good, but unfortunately The Prestige went home empty-handed.”

“The Prestige wasn’t that good anyway, and your performance was pretty average. It’s normal you didn’t win anything,” Keira said.

“Are you serious?”

Luca looked at her, annoyed.

“I am serious. Last time, I was foolish enough to buy a Prestige VHS tape. Every time you came on screen, I either fast-forwarded or covered your face with a book,” Keira said with a snicker.

Luca shook his head. “I don’t think so. You’d pause when I appeared, pour yourself a glass of red wine, sit quietly, and secretly say, ‘We’re both humans—how is he so handsome, so sexy?’”

“Ugh, shut up. If you keep talking, I’ll drive this car into the Thames.”

“Fine, but I should tell you—I watch your movies the same way. When you appear, I pause and quietly admire you, thinking, ‘How is Keira so beautiful? I wish I could kiss her lips.’”

“Pervert!”

Keira scrunched her nose in disgust.

“That’s called being genuine,” Luca said with a faint smile. The car jolted, and he realized they had left the city and were on a secluded road.

Under the gloomy sky, tall trees loomed, their yellowing leaves drifting down. It felt like the lair of a vampire from a movie.

“Keira, where are we going?”

“My place.”

“Your place?” Luca tensed up. “Going to your house just like this? I’m not prepared! I didn’t bring gifts for your family. Isn’t this a bit rude?”

“Hmph, I said my place. Why would you think I’m taking you to meet my parents? Don’t forget—we’re just friends.”

“Friends? Ha! People say I’m a jerk, but you’re the real one. You’ve slept with me multiple times and still call us just friends.”

Screech!

The car swerved and nearly hit a tree. Keira slammed the brakes, glaring at him, her cheeks flushed red. “You’re shameless!”

“I’m just saying—wait, is that someone over there?”

Luca suddenly looked past her. Keira turned her head curiously. Outside, it was pitch dark—there wasn’t even a ghost in sight.

“Where?!”

She turned back angrily, only for her lips to meet something soft. She was kissed and tightly embraced.

“You jerk! What are you doing?”

“I just wanted to kiss you, that’s all.”

“Mm-mm!”

The wind rustled, shaking the branches. An hour later, as night fell, the car slowly left the woods and arrived at a two-story villa.

“Hmph. I was going to treat you to dinner, but you’re too infuriating. Now you get milk and bread. Hurry up and eat, then get out.”

Keira kicked off her shoes, tossed her coat aside, pulled out a bag of bread, and threw it onto the table. Arms crossed, she glared at him, her cheeks rosy.

“Fine. Bread’s faster to eat. After that, we can continue,” Luca said, taking a bite.

“You! How can you be so shameless? Always thinking about that—are you an animal?”

Keira balled her fists and hit his shoulder.

“Not my fault you’re so irresistible. Want some bread?”

He tore off a piece and offered it.

“No, only pigs eat bread.”

Keira pushed him away and strutted into the kitchen. Soon, the dining room lit up, and the smell of delicious food wafted through the air.

“Mmm, smells amazing! Keira, what are you making?”

Luca walked into the dining room. The table was covered with dishes—steak, fruit pie, several sides, red wine, and candles. The atmosphere was a little romantic.

“Keira, thank you. I love it.”

“Hmph. If I’d known you were like this, I wouldn’t have invited you for dinner.”

“You didn’t invite me; I would’ve come anyway.”

Luca smiled lightly, walked behind her, and fastened a diamond necklace around her neck.

“Merry Christmas, darling.”

He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

“There’s still over ten days until Christmas. You’re giving me a gift way too early.”

Keira touched the delicate necklace and pouted.

“It’s not early. Every day with you feels like Christmas.”

Luca sat across from her, smiling.

“Hmph!”

Keira rolled her eyes but raised her glass.

“Merry Christmas, my bad boy.”

“Ha, alright. Merry Christmas.”

Clink!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 513: Being a Good Man Isn't Easy*

After Christmas—well, after the BAFTA ceremony—Luca and the Little Miss Sunshine crew traveled to several places, including Tokyo, Brasília, and Spain, attending various film award ceremonies. The movie won several accolades, though Luca himself didn't bag any personal awards.

It wasn’t until Christmas Eve that he returned to Los Angeles.

“Luca, it’s almost Christmas, and you’re still running around. You’re a billionaire—why do you need so many trophies?” Miranda teased as she lay sprawled on the sofa when he walked in.

Luca handed his suitcase to a housekeeper. “It’s not about me wanting awards. It’s in the contract with the crew and distributors—participating in festivals helps expand the movie’s influence. As a member of the crew, I can’t make exceptions.”

“But you’re the boss! Can’t you make some special arrangements?”

“I can, and I already do. When a film is released, the crew usually has to fly everywhere for promotions, but I don’t. I get more flexibility.”

He chuckled, heading to the bathroom for a shower. Afterward, he came out in sportswear, looking refreshed.

Miranda was still on the sofa, one hand holding snacks, the other a glass of juice, her legs swinging lazily as she watched TV.

“Aren’t you worried about turning into a little chubby girl, munching like that nonstop?” Luca teased, sitting down beside her.

“Hmph, it’s Christmas break. I can eat and drink as much as I want. I’ll just exercise more afterward,” Miranda said, crunching on her chips with a hum of satisfaction.

“No wonder magazines say supermodels aren’t as fit as they used to be. You’re definitely bringing down the industry average,” he said, pointing at the slight curve of her stomach.

Miranda quickly tugged her shirt down, her cheeks flushing. “Hmph, the days of Kate Moss are long gone. Models today are a size bigger than a decade ago—curves are the new standard of beauty. What would a washed-up male model like you know?”

“Fine, fine. Where are Kate and Lima? Still at the agency?” Luca asked, changing the topic.

“They went shopping. I was too lazy to go.”

Before Miranda could finish her sentence, she suddenly bolted upright and dashed upstairs in her slippers, as if someone was chasing her.

“Miranda, what’s going on?” Luca called after her, bewildered.

“Hmph, you jerk! Why are you asking about Kate and Lima? Are you trying to bully me again? If you’ve got the guts, come upstairs—I dare you!” she shouted, shaking her fist.

“When did I ever bully you?” Luca asked, confused.

“Last time, when Kate wasn’t around, you tried to mess with me but failed. Now they’re gone again, and you’re definitely plotting something. Don’t think I don’t know!”

“Last time? I was joking, and you actually attacked me!” He shuddered at the memory of being shocked—definitely not a pleasant experience.

“Ha! You deserved it. Try it again, and I’ll put laxatives in your drink next time!” Miranda taunted as she stomped up the stairs.

*Laxatives?*

Luca’s eye twitched as he glanced at the juice on the table. He had planned to take a sip but thought better of it. Maybe it was time to be more cautious about his food and drink.

Suddenly, a sharp cry came from upstairs.

“Luca, your son’s awake! Come up and soothe him!” Miranda called from above.

“Coming!”

Luca gestured to the nanny to hold off and went up to the second floor. In the nursery, he saw Miranda holding little Luis, rocking and humming to him softly.

“Luca, look at this! I just glanced at him, and he started crying his lungs out. I can’t calm him down at all,” Miranda complained, cradling the baby.

“Are you sure you only looked at him? You didn’t pinch his cheeks or nose?”

“Of course not! Just take him already.”

“Alright.”

Luca gently took baby Luis from her, patting him lightly on the back. “When did he last eat?”

“An hour ago. Lima fed him most of a bottle before she left. He fell asleep right after—like a little piggy,” Miranda said, playfully poking the baby’s nose.

“Babies under a year old sleep a lot. Fifteen hours a day isn’t unusual.”

Luca tried coaxing the little one, but the crying didn't stop. He sniffed the air and caught a faint sour odor. Undoing the baby's diaper, he found what he'd suspected—a pile of yellow mush.

"Ugh!" Miranda gagged, covering her mouth.

"Seriously? You're disgusted by this? Aren't you a woman?" Luca teased.

"This stuff looks like chocolate spread! Ugh, I just ate some earlier… I'll never touch chocolate spread again," Miranda said.

Luca chuckled, grabbing some tissues to clean the baby's little bottom. He rinsed him with warm water and put on a fresh diaper.

Throughout the process, the baby stayed calm, his big brown-black eyes wide open, staring at Luca intently. The sight was heartwarming.

"So beautiful! When he grows up, he's definitely going to be a handsome guy, don’t you think, little Luis?"

Luca kissed his cheek.

The baby giggled, a soft "hehehe."

"See? Even he agrees," Luca said, laughing.

"Such a show-off!" Miranda teased, holding the baby's tiny hand. His little fingers were like jade.

"So cute. If only he weren't your son!"

"What do you mean by that? What 'if only he weren't my son'?"

"Come on, a jerk like you doesn’t deserve such an adorable kid. Imagine someone asking Luis, 'Hey, cutie, who’s your dad?' and he says, 'Luca.' The response? 'Oh, that jerk Luca?' How embarrassing."

"..."

Luca rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Why can’t it be 'the famous screenwriter Luca,' 'Oscar-winning actor Luca,' 'YouTube founder Luca,' or 'business tycoon Luca'?"

"Ha! Everyone in the world knows you as a jerk. Those other titles mean nothing," Miranda said with a laugh.

Luca ignored her, cradling the baby as they headed downstairs. He strolled around the garden with the little one, pointing at every tree and plant, explaining them softly.

The baby sat perched on his arm, wide-eyed and curious, as if he understood every word.

In the afternoon, Kate, Lima, and several others returned. They brought a lively crew: Gina, Jinya, cousin Chris, and two additional bodyguards, all in three cars packed with goodies—food, toys, and eight green, pyramid-shaped pine trees.

Back in New York, they used to rent small trees and decorate them, as there wasn’t space to plant real ones. In Rio, Christmas wasn’t about tree planting either. But this year was different—Kate had decided to make it a grand celebration and personally went shopping.

"Luca, come help out!" Kate called.

"Coming!"

Luca handed the baby over to Lima and joined in to lend a hand.

"Luca, this year, I’ve invited Nina Ed and her family, along with Felix and Emily. They’re also spending Christmas here," Kate said.

"Great idea! Let’s throw a Christmas party," Luca replied with a smile.

"Exactly. There’s no Carnival here, and staying home alone for Christmas feels too quiet. It’s always better with more people. Britney and Aniston also agreed to come. Tomorrow, it’s your job to pick them up," Kate added.

"Got it! Mission accepted," Luca said confidently.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 514: I'm Not That Kind of Person*

December 24th—Christmas Eve. The Luca family, Ed's family, and Felix's family, more than 30 people in total, gathered at the Big Pear Tree Manor to celebrate Christmas. The atmosphere was lively and filled with joy.

Everyone was having a great time—except for Luca.

On Christmas Day, the maids and servants were given the day off, leaving household chores to be handled personally. Thankfully, with Kate around, Luca was spared from kitchen duty. However, he was entrusted with one glorious mission: taking care of the kids.

Including his own four little rascals, Jinaya, Little Jessica, and Eve—the semi-grown troublemaker—there were seven children under his sole care.

While Kate, Nina, and Aniston chatted or played sports, Luca stayed home to babysit. When the women went shopping, he stayed home. When they went to the movies or sailed on a yacht, he still stayed home to look after the kids.

The kids ran around screaming, causing chaos all over the manor, leaving Luca utterly exhausted.

Seeing his disheveled state, Ed laughed heartily, shouting, "Karma! Sweet, sweet karma!"

Luca couldn't be bothered to respond but silently plotted his revenge: taking Ed to a strip club and snapping photos to send to Nina. Now that would be real karma.

---

By the 26th, Christmas was finally over. Luca collapsed on the couch, drained.

"Luca, what happened? Did someone beat you up?" Miranda teased with a smirk.

Luca rolled his eyes and ignored her.

"Ha! Luca, I just realized how much better it is to have more kids around. It’s so lively! Why don’t you have a few more? Maybe ten or twenty. Then we can rename the Big Pear Tree Manor to Angel Manor! Doesn’t that sound amazing?" Miranda continued joking as she leaned closer.

Luca’s eyes snapped open, and he playfully smacked her on the head. Startled, Miranda shrieked and jumped back, yelling, "You jerk! You deserve no sympathy!"

"Alright, Miranda, leave him alone. We need to head out," Kate called out as she descended the stairs gracefully.

"Fine!" Miranda huffed.

"Where are you all going?" Luca asked, propping himself up.

"First, to a fashion show, then a small gathering with the models in the afternoon. Want to come?" Kate offered.

"Pass. I'm too tired. I need a couple of days to recover," Luca replied with a yawn, lying back down and closing his eyes contentedly.

"Rima, Luca's staying home today. Leave Louis with him," Kate instructed.

"Perfect! I wasn’t sure how to handle the little one anyway," Rima said, coming downstairs quickly. She placed the baby on Luca's chest, giving him a kiss.

"Sweetheart, he’s all yours."

"Let’s go, ladies. This is his duty," Rima laughed as they left.

The clack of high heels faded, leaving the house silent. It was just Luca and baby Louis, staring at each other.

"Ahh~ Ahh~" Louis pointed toward the door as if to say, "Dad, Mom's gone. Let’s follow her!"

"No, no, no. Shopping is for girls. We guys prefer staying home, watching TV, and napping. Come on, Louis, let’s sleep," Luca coaxed.

"Ahh! Ahh!" Louis protested, his face scrunching as tears threatened to spill.

"Fine, fine. No sleeping if you don’t want to. You're the boss," Luca relented, carrying the little one for a stroll. They wandered around Malibu, enjoying the ocean views and pastoral scenery.

---

As they were wandering, Luca’s phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number.

"Hello, this is Luca," he answered.

"Hello, Mr. Kelly, this is Mark Zuckerberg. I received your script. Sorry for the delay—I’ve been swamped. Do you have time to meet? I'd love to discuss it," Mark said.

"Sure, how about tomorrow?" Luca replied. A month ago, he had sent the script to Mark through his company, hoping for feedback. Now, Mark was finally reaching out.

---

The next day, Luca drove to the Bay Area. Mark’s new home and company headquarters were in Palo Alto, near Stanford University—a bustling, affluent area.

In a cozy café, after the initial pleasantries, they dove into discussing the script.

"Luca, I’ve read the script. It’s excellent, and I’m honored you liked our story enough to write it. But…" Mark hesitated.

"Mark, feel free to share your thoughts," Luca said with a smile.

"Well, I feel like my character comes off too cold and scheming. Did Eduardo say something bad about me? It’s not fair! You should’ve talked to me more to understand me better, not just rely on his perspective," Mark complained.

Luca chuckled softly. "Mark, I’ve read biographies of Caesar, Hitler, Churchill, and others. One thing I noticed is that they all share a common trait: loneliness. It often manifests as coldness or emotional detachment. Their thoughts and visions are often misunderstood or unrelatable, which leaves them isolated. That’s why they seem distant."

Mark blinked, processing Luca's explanation.

"Uh, are you really putting me in the same category as Caesar, Hitler, and Churchill?"

Mark blinked. At just 23 years old, he looked a bit stunned.

"Yes, based on the data I've gathered, I see in you the potential of a true leader. You know what you're doing, have clear goals, and show great determination. That's a remarkable quality."

"No, no, don't say that. I don't have that kind of potential. At first, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I just wanted to create a social platform to browse pictures of pretty girls, and everyone thought it was cool.

Then I thought, since it's cool, why not get more people involved? First, I expanded it from Harvard to other universities in the U.S., and then to universities worldwide.

Driven by this idea, Facebook gradually grew. This year, we’ve expanded to over 300 universities in North America, Europe, and Asia. All I’m doing now is trying to make Facebook global."

"You're conquering the world, just like Caesar said: I came, I saw, I conquered."

Luca spread his hands.

Mark grinned, taking a sip of coffee. "Luca, you've read my background and know about my journey with Facebook. Especially in how I handle partnerships—what are your thoughts on that?"

Luca pondered for a moment. "From what Eduardo told me, after Facebook's initial success, there were disagreements within the team. Some wanted to go public right away for a big payday, but you had a more long-term vision. You wanted to use Facebook to conquer the world. Undoubtedly, your determination will make Facebook even greater. So, I think you were right."

"Make Facebook even greater?"

Mark stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah, that does sound right. Exactly how I feel."

"Luca, YouTube is super cool and has already changed so many lives. It’s also the kind of platform that could conquer the world. Why didn’t you stick with it? I had so much faith in your team back then, but you sold it too early."

Mark sighed.

Luca chuckled. "Because our team lacked someone like you."

"Oh? You and Steve Chen seemed like a good team. I've seen your interviews—you have vision and ideas, while Steve has the technical expertise. You’re like a general and his strategist. Why didn’t you push through?"

Mark asked, curious.

"Steve got sick and needed a long period to recover. YouTube also hit a bottleneck that was beyond what just the two of us could handle, so we decided to sell it."

"I heard about Steve's situation. That's unfortunate," Mark said.

"Yeah," Luca nodded.

In November, Steve Chen underwent surgery at Stanford Hospital. It went well, but a brain tumor is no small matter—it left lasting effects, meaning he can’t overwork his brain anymore.

"Luca, your screenplay is excellent. Some of the plans for Facebook's future in it are so bold that they’ve inspired me. Can we talk about Facebook?"

"Of course."

At that time, Facebook was still in its early expansion phase, only recently opened to all internet users. Its functionality was simple: email, notes, photos, and comments—a sort of blog-like social platform. It lacked later features like games, the "poke" function, Marketplace, or Facebook Video.

Luca knew Facebook better than Mark in some ways.

Starting with the basics, Luca shared a few suggestions. Mark listened intently, lost in thought, before quickly grabbing a pen to jot things down. He wrote furiously for over half an hour, seemingly forgetting Luca was even there.

Luca didn’t mind, sipping his coffee quietly.

“Hey, Mark, you’re here.”

A young Asian woman with a backpack approached. She paused upon seeing Luca.

“Oh, Mr. Kelly—Luca! It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Priscilla, nice to meet you too. Please, just call me Luca. Mark and I were just discussing the screenplay.”

Luca shook her hand.

“Oh, really?”

Priscilla glanced at Mark, who was still deep in writing, and decided not to disturb him.

“Luca, Mark says you wrote this screenplay yourself. Is that true?”

Priscilla asked curiously.

“Yes. I was inspired after hearing their story from Eduardo, so I decided to write something about Mark and his team’s journey in founding Facebook.”

“Wow, it’s true! I didn’t believe it when Mark told me. You’re a celebrity and the founder of YouTube—it's hard to imagine you using Mark’s story as material.”

“Their story is more representative,” Luca replied.

He reiterated what he’d told Eduardo earlier. “Priscilla, there’s a section about you in the screenplay as well. Would you mind if I interviewed you?”

“Me? Oh no, please leave me out of it,” Priscilla said nervously.

“Priscilla, your relationship with Mark shows his perspective on love, which is important for the main character. Eduardo mentioned that you and Mark met at a party at Harvard. He also said you set some ‘relationship rules.’ Can you share more about that?”

Luca took out a notebook.

Priscilla hesitated, glancing at Mark. “Let me check with Mark first.”

“I don’t mind!” Mark said without looking up, continuing to scribble.

“Well, okay then,” Priscilla relented.

She shared how they met at a Harvard party in 2003. She had approached Mark while they were waiting in line for the restroom, later pretending to be drunk to get him to walk her home. By 2004, they were officially dating and eventually moved in together.

Listening, Luca realized Priscilla was incredibly astute. Her instincts were sharp, her approach steady, and her commitment firm. From dating in 2003 to marriage and children, Mark had never been involved in scandals. Meanwhile, his net worth soared. She was the epitome of a supportive, successful partner.

“Wait, Priscilla. I still have a few questions for Luca. Can you guys continue the screenplay discussion later?”

Mark scratched his head.

“Fine, go ahead,” Priscilla said, pausing her story.

Mark held up his notebook. “Luca, Facebook is popular, but we haven’t found a proper monetization model yet. YouTube has done really well in this area. Can we talk about that?”

“Sure!”

Luca set down his pen and delved into the business side of YouTube and Facebook.

At that time, Facebook’s founders and executives were mostly engineers. Like many tech visionaries, they were focused on building a “cool” website, believing revenue would naturally follow.

But reality didn’t work that way. Facebook faced three major challenges: an underdeveloped management team, low marketing efficiency, and an immature monetization strategy.

These issues weren’t fully resolved until Sheryl Sandberg joined the company.

Luca discussed these points in detail, continuing until hunger finally interrupted him. He ordered another coffee.

“Luca, keep going!” Mark urged when he paused.

“Mark, it’s already afternoon. Time to eat,” Priscilla pointed out the window.

“Oh, fine. Let’s eat first and talk after. Waiter, two pieces of bread, please.”

(End of chapter.)

*Chapter 515: A Gentleman Doesn't Fight with Women*

After lunch, Luca found himself dragged to Facebook headquarters by Little Pony, who asked him to give a lecture to the team there.

Luca's blood surged with excitement, but he was also caught off guard—he hadn't prepared for this!

All he could do was piece together insights on Facebook's future development, real-life trends depicted in movies, and his own experience with YouTube. He spoke passionately about the internet age and the role social media platforms like Facebook play within it.

At first, he was a bit stiff, but as his inner performer took over, he fully embraced the role of a lecturer. Calm and composed, he began to teach.

The talk lasted over an hour, and when he finished, thunderous applause erupted in the room.

Only then did he notice that the crowd had swelled to hundreds, with the projector on the wall displaying: "YouTube Founder Luca Kelly: Live Seminar."  

Seeing this, Luca felt a little intoxicated by the moment.

These were no ordinary people—these were the crème de la crème of Silicon Valley. Among them were future billionaires. Talking to them about the internet felt a bit like showing off carpentry skills in front of Lu Ban.

Reflecting on his lecture, Luca was relieved to find that it was solid, without anything too outrageous.

“Luca, that was amazing! I’d like to invite you to join our team as Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer,” Little Pony said.

“No way!”

Luca knew he had emptied his mental notebook during the lecture. Even if he racked his brains, he couldn’t squeeze out more than a few scraps of wisdom. And the COO role was far too critical—he didn’t want to risk devaluing his Facebook stock.

“Mark, you know I’m a screenwriter. I’m better at envisioning and predicting than handling actual operations. It’s like my relationship with YouTube—I invest but don’t get involved in day-to-day work.”

“But I heard many of YouTube’s brilliant ideas and strategies came from you. Its rise to the top of video platforms is inseparable from your contributions,” Little Pony countered.

“That’s true. I only made suggestions, which they implemented because they liked them. I merely offered advice during the process,” Luca explained with a smile.

“Alright, Luca, no matter what, you’re part of Facebook. You hold stock, so I hope you’ll be involved in helping us make Facebook even greater,” Mark said, holding Luca’s hand with a persistence that felt reminiscent of Liu Bei’s visits to recruit Zhuge Liang.

“I’ll think about it,” Luca said hesitantly.

“I can transfer some stock to you at market value. Your role would be similar to what you do with YouTube—providing suggestions when needed,” Mark offered sincerely.

“Alright then,” Luca agreed reluctantly. He was now officially Facebook’s Chief Marketing Consultant.

The moment he agreed, he regretted it. Mark immediately sent out mass messages announcing the appointment of YouTube founder Luca Kelly as Facebook’s Chief Marketing Consultant—and insisted on more lectures.

Luca pulled at his hair in frustration.

He had originally planned to stay in San Francisco for just a day, but Mark was incredibly clingy, sticking to him like glue. They ate together, even shared rooms—he was more persistent than Liu Bei himself.

After three days in San Francisco, Luca felt completely drained, both mentally and physically, and had lost nearly 15 pounds.

But eventually, he made it back home safely.

“Wow, Kate! You’re going to be an aunt again!” Miranda exclaimed loudly when she saw him return.

“What?” Kate and Lima looked up from their design sketches.

“What aunt?” Luca asked, confused.

“Look at Luca! Really look at him! A few days ago, he was glowing, but now he’s completely different—scruffy beard, exhausted face, dark circles under his eyes, and wobbly legs. This can only mean he met a woman in San Francisco and spent the last few days fooling around with her,” Miranda said with gusto.

Luca glared at her. “Stop talking nonsense if you don’t know anything.”

“Who’s talking nonsense? Isn’t this a textbook case of overindulgence?” Miranda teased, kicking his leg playfully.

Luca shook his head, opened a bottle of milk, chugged it down, and said, “I was at Facebook headquarters these past few days, with Mark Zuckerberg—you know, the founder of Facebook.”

“Mark?” Miranda gave him a puzzled look. “Wait, did you switch teams? Are you into men now?”

“Pfft!”

Luca spat his milk all over her face. Before Miranda could explode, he lost his temper first. “Kate! Lima! Did you hear that? Is that something a human would say? I’ve had enough—I’m going to teach her a lesson!” He grabbed a baseball bat and chased after Miranda.

“Go ahead! Hit me!” Miranda said defiantly, holding her chin high, unafraid.

“I…”

Luca raised the bat above her head, hesitated, and then sighed. “As a man of principle, how could I hit a woman? I’ll spare you this time, but—ah!”

Before he could finish, Miranda snatched the bat from him and jabbed it into his stomach, almost making him choke on his milk.

“Miranda, did you really hit me?”

“What do you think? You sprayed milk on my face—of course I’ll hit you!” Miranda swung the bat down at him.

Terrified, Luca’s legs buckled. He rolled across the carpet and scrambled upstairs in a hurry.

“Miranda, that was too much!”

“What did you just say?”

Miranda chased after him, baseball bat in hand.

"Come on, lady! A real man doesn’t fight with women!"

Luca dashed upstairs, slammed the door, and flopped onto his bed, quickly falling asleep.

"Hmph, I’ll let you off this time!"

Miranda hoisted the bat onto her shoulder and marched back triumphantly.

"Did you win?"

Kate looked up and asked with a smile.

"Not really. The guy ran too fast," Miranda admitted, setting down the bat. She leaned over the workbench, her eyes darting slyly. "Lima, doesn’t Luca’s behavior annoy you?"

"Annoy me? Why would it?" Lima asked while sketching.

"Wow, Lima. The papers are right about you. You’re so level-headed—most women wouldn’t tolerate this kind of thing." Miranda nodded approvingly.

"Don’t talk nonsense. This time Luca went to San Francisco for legitimate work," Kate interjected with a laugh.

"And you believe that?" Miranda scoffed, shaking her head.

Thwap!

Kate slapped a copy of The Wall Street Journal onto the table. "Take a good look. He’s in San Francisco making money for you, and here you are swinging a bat at him!"

"What’s this?" Miranda picked up the newspaper, scanning the pages. "It’s all numbers and stats. What am I looking for?"

"Facebook. He mentioned it earlier."

"Oh!"

Following the clue, Miranda found a related article. "What? Luca is Facebook’s Chief Marketing Consultant? He’s giving lectures in Silicon Valley to crowds of over a thousand? I thought Silicon Valley was full of elite talent. He’s lecturing them?"

"Now you know who you just tried to clobber," Kate teased, tapping the newspaper. "Keep reading."

"Okay, okay."

Miranda read further. "Yesterday, Toucan Venture Capital completed a $150 million deal with Facebook, acquiring 5% of Google shares. Wall Street just raised Facebook’s valuation, pushing its market cap past $3 billion. Kate, what does this have to do with us?"

"Haha, Miranda, you really don’t pay attention, do you? Did you forget where your million-dollar investment went?" Lima chuckled.

"My million? I gave it to your venture capital firm... isn’t it called Toucan?"

"Exactly. And Luca went to San Francisco to secure this investment deal."

"Wait, so he wasn’t just goofing off?"

"Of course not," Kate laughed.

Miranda stuck out her tongue, feeling a little embarrassed.

Luca slept for over two hours and woke up to find the sun setting.

"Luca, you’re awake! I made you a salad myself—try it and tell me what you think."

Miranda walked in with a plate, smiling sweetly.

Luca froze for a second. What’s with this sudden change of attitude?

"Are you up to something?"

"What?"

"Oh, right. Last time, you said you’d sneak laxatives into my food. Did you put them in the salad?" Luca asked suspiciously.

"Hmph! I go out of my way to make you a salad, and you accuse me of poisoning you? Eat it or don’t—whatever!"

Miranda shoved the plate into his hands and stormed off without looking back.

Did he just misjudge her?

"Luca, Miranda knows you’ve been working hard these days. She made the salad for you—don’t overthink it," Lima said, walking in while holding the little one.

"Really?"

Luca hesitated before finally summoning the courage to try a shrimp. It tasted good, and Miranda didn’t seem to have any malicious intent.

"Miranda, thanks," Luca called out.

"Hmph!"

She didn’t even acknowledge him.

Luca smiled and settled in front of the TV with the salad. Before he realized it, he had finished the entire plate.

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.

Moments later, a strange sound came from his stomach. Clutching his belly, he sprinted to the bathroom. Splaaaaash!

"Miranda, you’re ruthless!"

"Miranda, what did you do?" Lima exclaimed in shock.

"I-I didn’t do anything!" Miranda protested, looking genuinely innocent.

"Luca, are you okay?" Lima called out.

"I’ve got food poisoning!"

Later, at the hospital, the doctor confirmed that spoiled seafood combined with irregular eating habits had caused his upset stomach.

Luca was beyond frustrated. Why doesn’t anyone in this house bother buying fresh groceries?

(End of Chapter)