486-490

Chapter 486: Furious and Cold

The day after the deal, Leonardo accepted an interview with the media and talked about his breakup.

A reporter brought up the rumors about Luca being a third party, but Leonardo denied it on the spot, stating that the breakup was due to relationship issues and had nothing to do with a third person.

After his explanation, the negative news about Luca quickly diminished. With the joint efforts of several PR companies, the negative press almost disappeared, and instead, more positive news appeared.

For example, Luca donated $200,000 to the Lily Children's Medical Charity and $100,000 to the World Poverty Relief Fund, and participated in a community charity soccer league.

After about a week of media cleaning, his image was basically restored, but he still felt extremely frustrated.

Other people break up, and somehow, he's the one struck by lightning—not only did his reputation suffer, but he also lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Every time he thought about it, his heart ached.

There was only one piece of good news that eased him slightly: the budget for Revolutionary Road was increased to $40 million, and it was co-produced by the film companies of Leonardo and Pitt.

“Luca, Bundchen says she and Leonardo have gotten back together,” Lima said, putting down her phone.

“What?!”

“Bundchen and Leonardo have reconciled, and they’re about to get engaged,” Lima added.

“So, their last breakup was fake? They conspired to set me up, and now that it's over, they’re back together?”

Luca clenched his fists, shaking with anger and coldness.

“No, Bundchen says Leonardo changed his mind about having kids, and that’s why she agreed to get back together,” Lima laughed.

“So, I’m the only one who got hurt?”

“Haha, Bundchen says she should thank you! It was because Leonardo was provoked by you that he decided to have kids,” Lima chuckled.

Hearing this made Luca even more upset. Not only had he lost money and reputation, but he also inadvertently made Leonardo change his mind about having children. What kind of twisted situation is this?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He grabbed Lima’s phone and called Bundchen.

“Bundchen, it’s me!”

“What do you want?”

Bundchen’s voice was cold, a far cry from how friendly she had been days ago.

Luca became even more convinced that the whole situation had been a trap. “Have you been busy lately? It’s been a while since you visited. When will you come by to talk?”

“I don’t have time. Leonardo and I are getting ready to go on a trip.”

“Oh, really? That sounds great. But don’t you think you should explain what happened last time?”

“Explain what?”

“The rumors. Did you set them up on purpose?”

“On purpose? Haha, that’s ridiculous.”

Click! Bundchen hung up the phone.

Luca's face turned dark. “Lima, did you hear that? She’s guilty. The rumors were a trap! Bundchen deliberately got close to us to create scandal and teamed up with Leonardo to screw me over.”

“Stop overthinking it. Bundchen isn’t like that,” Lima said with a soft laugh.

“You’re still laughing? Look at you, so clueless, not even realizing you’ve been sold out,” Luca said, pinching her chubby cheeks.

“You’re the clueless one!” Lima slapped his hand away and laughed in exasperation. “You’ve been writing too many scripts—you’re full of conspiracy theories.”

“Bundchen and Leonardo are serious about their relationship. Do you really think they’d play games with their feelings? Bundchen said Leonardo pursued her nonstop after they broke up, and they talked it out before getting back together. It has nothing to do with you.”

“Can you really believe what Bundchen says? You’d better stay away from her, or you’ll end up helping her count the money after she sells you out.”

“Me? Sold out? Am I that dumb?”

“Yes! Pregnant women are all dumb!”

“What did you just say?!”

Lima grabbed a slipper.

“Okay, okay, I was wrong. You’re not dumb, I am.”

“That’s more like it. I’m thirsty, go make me some juice.”

“Alright, alright, coming right up!”

Luca quickly headed to the kitchen.

With the rumors behind him, Blueberry Nights was about to start filming.

After more than a year of development and over ten revisions, the final version of Blueberry Nights was completed about two weeks ago.

Compared to the original, the final version was richer, expanding from three stories to four, and extending the runtime from 95 minutes to 120 minutes.

However, the overall plot structure remained largely unchanged.

Although Luca had previously offered many useful suggestions that inspired the director, Old Wang, who even wrote a script based on his ideas, in the end, Old Wang stuck to his original vision. He wanted to film “what he liked” rather than cater to others’ ideas. That’s just how stubborn he was.

Luca didn’t mind; after all, his suggestions were just that—suggestions. Whether they were accepted was entirely up to Old Wang.

Once the script was completed, filming began.

Following Old Wang's advice, Luca worked part-time at a small café in New York for five days before shooting began, selling alcohol, making coffee, baking cakes, and making blueberry pies.

For someone used to doing housework, these tasks weren’t complicated. He quickly became a proficient café owner, bartender, and chef.

“Scene one, shot one, action!”

At a bustling café in New York one evening, the filming of Blueberry Nights began.

“Hello, who are you? Sorry, I don’t remember your name. Look, I get hundreds of customers every night; I can’t possibly remember them all. Do you know what he likes to eat? I often remember customers by their orders, not their names. Meatballs? One is with mashed potatoes, the other with cheesy fries, boiled eggs, onion rings… what? He doesn’t like potatoes?

Alright, leave me your number, and if I see him, I’ll have him call you. I promise. Okay, goodbye.”

Behind the café counter, the male lead, Jeremy, balanced a phone between his shoulder and ear while multitasking behind the bar. His movements were smooth and practiced.

Director Old Wang, wearing large sunglasses, sat silently at the side, watching. He didn’t say anything until the first scene was finished, then he called Luca over.

“Luca, this isn’t what I want. Do it again.”

“Okay,” Luca replied calmly and continued the performance.

Having been in the industry for more than three years, he had worked with over ten directors, including Billy, Nick Cassavetes, Carlo, Babenco, Woody Allen, and Nolan.

Among them, some were gentle, some strict, some eccentric, and some downright insane.

In terms of craziness, it would go: Director Cassavetes < Director Nolan < Woody Allen < Director Babenco.

When working with Director Babenco on Buried, Luca truly experienced the hardship of being an actor.

Babenco had grown up in an incredibly oppressive environment, and he made sure his actors felt that same suffocating pressure during filming.

Looking back, that time was incredibly difficult—not only was the role oppressive, but the atmosphere on set was just as stifling.

Every day, he went to the set feeling like he was heading to a funeral, performing in solitude, repeatedly failing, and constantly pushing himself beyond his limits. He was amazed he survived it.

In retrospect, he probably worked so hard because Hollywood had blacklisted him at the time, and he had no other way out.

He was like the protagonist in Buried, struggling to escape being buried alive. After intense effort, he eventually broke free. Not only did the character survive, but Luca also won the Silver Bear Award and managed to stay afloat in Hollywood.

After working with Director Babenco, he became more resilient and pressure-resistant. That’s why, when working with “crazies” like Woody Allen and Nolan, he could remain calm and composed.

Now, Old Wang was proving to be quite a perfectionist, too—on the same level as Woody Allen, but more mild-mannered.

He wouldn’t yell at people; instead, he would calmly say, “That wasn’t right,” “This isn’t what I’m looking for,” or “Take a moment to settle down and try again.”

Old Wang’s directing style was about one word: “comprehension.”

He wanted actors to figure things out on their own—understand the script, understand their characters, and most importantly, understand Old Wang’s vision.

In Old Wang’s eyes, no matter how well you acted, it didn’t count unless you captured the essence of what he wanted. That was the best performance—one that aligned with his vision. Achieving that wasn’t easy.

The first scene took 12 takes and two evenings to complete, then they moved on to the second scene, where the male and female leads meet.

Nora Jones, playing the female lead, was originally a singer and was still quite green when it came to acting. In her early scenes, it took at least 20 takes on average per scene. Combined with Luca’s takes, the pace of shooting was agonizingly slow.

In the first week, they only filmed four scenes. By the second week, both of them had gotten used to Old Wang’s style, and their performances were more quickly accepted. The filming pace doubled, and they could complete two or three scenes a day.

"Finally, it's done!"

After finishing a scene, Nora let out a breath and slumped onto the counter.

Luca smiled slightly. This girl hadn’t originally planned to become an actress. It was only because Old Wang mentioned that he had written a script based on her and invited her to play the lead.

Nora thought for a moment—Old Wang was an international director who had written a movie just for her. The offer was too tempting, and she agreed in a moment of excitement.

Back then, Old Wang said making a movie wasn't hard, just like shooting a music video.

Nora naively believed him. It wasn’t until filming began that she realized how much of a trap that statement was.

"Luca, is it this hard to shoot with other crews too?"

Nora propped her head up and asked.

"Some are tough, and some are easy. Different directors have different styles and standards. Director Wang has higher expectations, so it's a bit tougher."

"Alright then."

Nora stared at him for a few moments. "Luca, I heard Britney’s pregnant."

"Yes."

A tabloid had recently published some pictures of her baby bump, though it wasn’t fully confirmed yet. Since Nora knew Britney, it wasn’t hard for her to find out.

"Yes? That's it? Don’t you have more to say?"

Nora chuckled.

"What do you want to ask?"

Luca replied.

"Emm~ Never mind, I won’t ask. Seeing your face, I think I get the picture."

Nora smirked, a mysterious smile on her face.

"Do you think I’m a jerk?" Luca asked.

"Haha~ You're pretty honest."

Luca shook his head, feeling like another storm was on the horizon.

"Luca, Nora, get ready. We’re about to start filming!"

The crew shouted from outside the set.

"Got it!"

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 487: Luca, You're Probably Going to Be Canceled*

"Hey, Luca, I've got some good news for you—The Tuner won an award!"

"What award?"

"Haha! The Palme d'Or for Best Short Film at Cannes!"

The voice on the phone belonged to director Billy, who sounded ecstatic. Two weeks ago, the 59th Cannes Film Festival kicked off, and The Tuner was nominated for Best Short Film. Billy had gone to Cannes to represent the team, and they received a decent haul.

"That's great news," Luca replied with a smile.

"Yeah, Luca, The Tuner is fantastic. The film was really well-received at the festival, and the French media loved it. I think we could expand the short into a full-length movie. What do you think?"

Billy asked.

"Are you thinking of a remake?"

"Yeah, I think the story’s strong enough. Turning it into a full feature shouldn’t be a problem."

"Go for it."

There was an Indian film that was also a remake of The Tuner, and it did well at the box office.

After chatting with Billy for a bit, Luca hung up and browsed the web on his phone. News about Cannes was already online, and The Tuner was trending after winning its award.

"Luca, did you hear that The Tuner won an award?"

Ed called, his voice upbeat.

"Yeah, I just found out!"

"Some media outlets want to interview you. Are you open to that?"

"No, Ed. I need to keep a low profile for now—preferably no news at all."

"Alright. How’s the filming going?"

"Almost done with the first part. I don't have too many scenes left."

"Got it." Ed hesitated for a moment before saying, "Luca, what’s your plan with the news about Britney’s pregnancy? The PR team is completely stumped. Do you have a perfect solution?"

"No."

Luca rubbed his forehead.

"Even you don’t have a plan? The PR team predicts that when the news breaks, you’ll be totally canceled—like, irreversibly. Are you mentally prepared for that?"

"No!" Luca snapped, irritated.

"Alright, Luca, don’t be too down. You still have plenty of side gigs. Maybe after this movie wraps up, you should quit acting. It’s too risky, too stressful—my heart can't take it.

You could transition into directing or screenwriting. Winning the Palme d'Or is a great opportunity," Ed suggested.

"I’ll think about it."

Luca sighed softly. Why was becoming a big star so hard?

"Luca, we’re ready to start shooting!" Tony called out.

"Coming!"

That evening, filming resumed. Director Wang believed that night shots added more atmosphere, so he had started resting during the day and shooting at night, turning into a bit of a night owl.

Tonight’s scene involved the female lead, Elizabeth, leaving New York for another city. She occasionally sent postcards updating the male lead, Jeremy, about her whereabouts, and Jeremy was relentlessly searching for her based on the postcards.

"Hello, is this Memphis Bar & Grill? Great, I need a favor. I’m looking for a woman named Elizabeth. No, I’m not placing an order. I’m sure the food’s great, but I’m asking if someone named Elizabeth works there... No? Thanks."

Jeremy hung up and immediately started dialing again. He made dozens of calls, all resulting in dead ends. Finally, on the last call, he found "Elizabeth."

"Thank God, I’m Jeremy. Yes, it’s me! I can’t believe I’m hearing your voice."

Jeremy clenched his fist in excitement, his voice trembling.

"I got your postcard. You mentioned Memphis Bar, so I searched every single one in the city—at least 90 bars. I know it sounds crazy, but I just wanted to thank you for staying in touch.

I miss you. I miss the days we spent together. I never thought I’d hear from you again.

I know you’re not her, but your name is Elizabeth too. I just wanted to say hi and chat like I would with my friend. No, I’m not ordering fried chicken. Thank you for listening. Goodbye!"

Jeremy hung up.

The woman on the other end was named "Elizabeth" too, but she wasn’t the one he was looking for. He had known that all along but was so desperate to hear from Elizabeth that he let himself pretend.

This scene was one of the most emotional moments of the entire film.

It was a tough scene to shoot, and before the camera rolled, Luca had spent a long time preparing emotionally. Once the phone call started, all his pent-up emotions poured out.

In the director's chair, Director Wang watched Luca's performance, his eyes fixed on him, not blinking once. Even after the scene ended, he took a moment before saying, "Well done." That was the signal that the scene was complete.

Luca exhaled and stepped out from behind the counter.

"Director Wang, how do I compare to Mr. Leung?" he joked.

Wang glanced at him, and even through his sunglasses, Luca could feel the disdain, as if Wang thought Luca had gotten cocky.

"You’re better than Tony Leung at 30."

"Really?" Luca asked in surprise, not expecting such high praise.

"But you’ll never reach his level at 40."

"Never?"

"Never."

"Why?"

"He lives for acting. Apart from films, there’s nothing else. You can't compare to that," Wang explained.

Luca nodded in agreement. That reasoning made sense. Other than releasing a few songs, Tony Leung had never dabbled in other fields. His level of dedication was beyond 99.99% of actors.

After finishing that scene, Luca wrapped up his part of the shoot, and the crew moved on to filming scenes with the other leads.

On July 5th, YouTube’s first Microfilm Competition officially concluded, with an awards ceremony held at the San Gabriel Theater in Los Angeles—essentially the first YouTube Microfilm Festival.

Nearly a thousand guests attended, including over a hundred directors, hundreds of video creators, and performance artists. The entire event followed a traditional film festival format, with screenings, performances, and awards presentations.

Luca and six other professional judges were there as award presenters.

After The Tuner withdrew from the competition, the first-place winner was West Coast Story, followed by Savior in second, and Supermarket Sleepless Nights in third.

The first-place winner received a $1 million cash prize, and the top ten also received sponsorship awards.

"Chen, when’s your surgery scheduled?"

At the awards ceremony, Luca asked.

"Mid-November," replied Chen Shijun.

He had been in poor health for years, often staying up late and battling addictions to smoking and drinking. Earlier that year, he had suffered a seizure on a plane, only to be diagnosed with a brain tumor—thankfully, it was benign.

After months of conservative treatment, he was finally ready for surgery later in the year.

"Chen, we owe so much to you. Without you, there would be no YouTube," Luca said, reflecting.

"Luca, that’s a line you should say to yourself. You’re not just the founder of YouTube; you’re the engine, the fuel. Most of YouTube’s success is because of you."

Luca shook his head. "I don’t dare take credit. You’ve sacrificed a lot for YouTube."

"We both have," Chen replied softly.

Since they started working together in 2003, Luca had always been generous with funding, even though, at the time, he was just a small-time actor without much money.

To keep YouTube afloat, Luca had taken on endless acting and ad gigs, even mortgaging his house to finance a film because all his money was tied up in the website.

Beyond money, Luca also contributed countless creative ideas, and in moments of doubt, he stepped up as a source of confidence, almost like a spiritual leader.

There was no other investor quite like him in Silicon Valley.

Chen and his partners were grateful to have met Luca; otherwise, success would have been much harder to come by.

Now, Google’s acquisition of YouTube was nearing its final stages, with the third-round offer reaching $2.05 billion.

Chen held a 16.8% stake, translating to over $300 million—a sum most people could never earn in a lifetime, all within just three years.

He often thought back to that afternoon in a McDonald’s in the Bay Area when Luca first pitched the idea of a video-sharing website.

If he hadn’t seized the opportunity back then, where would he be now? Most likely, he’d still be just an ordinary web engineer.

"Luca, thank you!"

He turned his head, speaking earnestly.

Luca smiled softly. "Chen, thank you too."

"Shall we grab a drink tonight?"

"Can you drink in your condition?"

"We’ll drink juice."

"Haha, okay!"

---

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 488: The One Lying in My Bed is a Billionaire*

That night, in the bedroom of the villa, Luca leaned against the headboard reading a book. Aniston walked in wearing pajamas, with a face mask on.

"Are the kids asleep?" he asked, putting down his book.

"Yes, they were supposed to be asleep long ago, but you kept them playing games, so they were up until now," Aniston replied with a smile, pulling up the blanket and sitting on the bed.

"It wasn’t me who kept them up, it was them holding on to me. They wanted to play a bit longer, how could I say no?"

"Hmph, it was you. Don’t argue with two little kids—how old are you?"

"Fine, fine, it was me holding on to those two little cuties. They’re just so adorable. If you hadn’t insisted on sleeping with me, I’d be with them tonight."

"What did you say? Who insisted on sleeping with you?!" Aniston playfully hit him on the shoulder.

"It was me. I’m the one who insisted. Want to sleep now?" Luca asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Shameless!" Aniston shot him a look and swatted his wandering hand. "Wait, I haven't washed my face yet."

"Alright!" Luca retracted his hand and resumed reading.

Aniston sat beside him, flipping through a magazine. "Why did you leave the film festival without doing the interview after it ended today?"

"I went for drinks with Chen."

"Steven Chen? The co-founder and CTO of YouTube?"

"Yes!"

Chen Shijun held the position of Chief Technology Officer at YouTube.

"Are you a co-founder too?"

"You could say that. My title is Creative Director, Content Marketing Consultant, and I’m also a shareholder."

"Wow, you’re impressive." Aniston looked him up and down, clearly skeptical.

"What’s that look? Haven’t I always been impressive?"

"But you've switched industries so many times. From sports to fashion, then to the entertainment world, and now you’re in Silicon Valley. Are you aiming to be a superman who can do it all?"

Luca chuckled. "It’s not that dramatic. Whether you’re an athlete, model, or actor, it all falls under entertainment. My initial investment in Silicon Valley was just to create a video-sharing platform. But Chen and the others are so amazing, they accidentally turned YouTube into a market leader."

"Accidentally? Are you bragging?"

"Yes, I am. Is that okay?"

Luca laughed.

"Haha, darling, you’re incredible!" Aniston giggled and kissed him.

Luca, with his arm around her waist, asked, "Can you wash your face now?"

"Wait a little longer!" Aniston said, patting her face mask. "Since you’re a co-founder, why don’t you make it public on the site?"

"I prefer to keep things low-key," Luca shrugged.

"I think it’s better to put it up. When the kids grow up, they’ll be proud to know their dad founded a major website," Aniston suggested.

"Alright, I’ll listen to you."

Initially, he didn’t want to be credited publicly. Partly to quietly accumulate wealth, and partly to avoid overshadowing others’ contributions. But considering the money, time, creativity, and connections he invested, taking some credit wasn’t too much to ask.

Aniston smiled with satisfaction. "You mentioned being a shareholder. How much do you own? The papers say you’re a minor shareholder."

"Yes, not much, just 41.5%."

"41.5%? And that’s 'not much'?" Aniston stared at him in shock. "So, the person lying in my bed is a multi-billionaire?"

"Not quite 10 billion, around 8.5 billion," Luca said casually.

With Kate’s 12.8% stake added, their combined worth comfortably exceeded 12 billion.

"8.5 billion? You’re only 25 years old, and your wealth is greater than 99.9999% of the world. How are you this amazing?" Aniston cupped his face, inspecting it as if trying to crack it open to see what was inside.

Luca smiled faintly. "Jen, you’ve been a billionaire for a decade. What’s a few billion to you?"

"I’m not as rich as you. Since you’ve got the money, how about you handle buying formula for George and Katherine?" Aniston said happily.

"Fine by me."

Luca chuckled. Seeing her playful expression, his hand began to wander again.

"Hold on, are you that eager?" Aniston laughed, pushing his face away.

"Yes!"

"Then wait a bit longer. My skincare routine isn't done yet. Let’s keep chatting," she said.

"Alright," Luca sighed, holding back.

Aniston smiled, snuggling into his arms. "Has 'My Blueberry Nights' finished filming?"

"Almost, just a few scenes left."

"Then we can start shooting 'The Proposal' soon. The whole project is ready, and filming can officially start next month," Aniston said.

Luca hesitated. "Jen, I suggest finding a different male lead."

"You don’t want to do it?" Aniston asked, confused.

Luca shook his head and told her about Britney’s pregnancy. News about it was spreading online and was on the verge of exploding.

Once that news broke, his reputation would tank—completely. He feared that if he continued acting in movies, especially ones he was funding, he might not even break even.

"Britney?" Aniston scoffed. "I never thought our kids would end up being siblings with hers."

Luca touched his face, feeling a bit embarrassed. "You can handle the casting. I’ll try to stay away from the project to avoid any backlash."

Aniston pondered for a moment. "I don’t think we need to change the lead."

"No change? Aren’t you worried about losing money?"

"It’s fine. First, it’s our project. We can shoot it however we want. We’re not short on cash," Aniston replied.

Luca chuckled. Being wealthy certainly had its perks.

"Second, you’re not married. You’re both adults. If Britney wants to have your child, that’s a private matter. As long as the people involved don’t mind, public opinion won’t cause much harm."

"Third, about the potential boycott, that’s nothing to worry about. In Hollywood, as long as your movie makes money, the distribution companies won’t resist. Even if the public kicks up a fuss, it won’t have a big impact.

"Take some actors who were accused of sexual harassment. Even after their scandals, the public protested, but theaters still screened their movies, and the box office was still good."

"Fourth, true moviegoers never stand up to criticize anyone. They just head to the theater and buy a ticket for whatever looks good. The people who make noise aren’t real viewers. Their protests might suppress you temporarily, but by the time our movie is released late next year, the scandal will have blown over. The impact will be minimal."

"Really?"

Luca thought about it and realized Aniston had a point. But it wouldn’t be that simple. He was Brazilian, and Britney was a global superstar. When the news broke, the fallout would be massive.

"Stop overthinking. My skincare is done. What now?" Aniston winked and smiled.

"Turn off the lights and sleep?"

"That’s it?!"

Aniston looked annoyed.

"Haha, I’ll eat you before we sleep!" Luca pulled her into his arms.

"Ah~ Be gentle, you rascal!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 489: Luca, You're Not a Man*

On July 12th, Lima was admitted to a private medical center in New York. She was only half a month away from her due date and needed to prepare for the delivery. Luca stayed with her in the hospital.

In mid-July, Kate returned from Germany. The Devil Wears Prada was about to premiere, and she came back to attend the event.

On the day of the premiere, Luca rode with Kate and Miranda in a car to the AMC theater on First Avenue.

“Luca, you go ahead. Kate and I will come out later,” Miranda said, giving him a push on the shoulder at the red-carpet entrance.

“Why? Wouldn't it be better for the three of us to go together?” Luca asked, confused.

“No, no, your reputation is terrible. Once you’re on the red carpet, people are definitely going to throw rotten eggs and tomatoes at you. Kate and I don’t want to get dragged into it.”

“Really?” Luca glanced nervously at the crowd outside the red carpet. “Maybe I should just head back?”

“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine,” Kate said with a slight smile.

“Yes, Luca, you're a man, you should walk forward boldly. If anyone attacks you, we’ll call an ambulance right away. Go get 'em!” Miranda said with a grin.

“Alright, I’m going!” Luca took a deep breath and stepped onto the red carpet.

“There’s Luca!” someone shouted from the crowd.

“Luca, I’m a reporter from the New York Daily News. Can I ask you a question?”

“Luca, I’m a CNN entertainment reporter. Recently, some photos surfaced of Britney pregnant. What’s your comment on that?”

“Luca, does Britney’s pregnancy have anything to do with you? How are you going to handle this relationship?”

“Luca, Britney’s pregnant, and Lima is about to give birth. How do you plan to deal with it?” a group of reporters shouted angrily.

Luca ignored the questions and walked briskly toward the theater like a gust of wind.

“Luca, you’re not taking responsibility. Are you even a man?” one reporter yelled.

“Luca, Britney is pregnant and raising the baby in Germany, and you don’t even dare to acknowledge it. Are you a man?”

“Luca, you’re not a man!” shouted several reporters as they chased after him.

Luca paused. “This is a personal matter. I’ll handle it. Thank you for your concern,” he said calmly.

“How are you going to handle it?” one reporter yelled excitedly, seizing the opportunity to press him further.

Luca didn’t respond and waved them off as he walked away.

“Scumbag! Give us Britney back!” someone shouted from the crowd.

“Get out of America, Luca, you scumbag!”

“Luca, you’re trash!”

“Scumbag Luca!” The crowd outside was chanting in unison. Bottles of water were thrown onto the red carpet, and the scene grew chaotic until security intervened to restore order.

“Wow, Kate, did you see that? Luca’s really angered everyone,” Miranda said sweetly, smiling.

“That’s just a few people; it doesn’t count as public outrage,” Kate said calmly.

“Kate, you can’t keep indulging him. That guy spreads his seed everywhere. If you don’t rein him in, in a few years, Hollywood will be full of your nieces and nephews.”

“And what’s wrong with that? The more, the merrier!” Kate replied.

“I...,” Miranda felt dizzy and sighed. “Kate, you can’t let this continue. If Luca keeps going, his reputation will be ruined. Is that really what you want?”

“So what? If he can’t be an actor anymore, he can just focus on having more kids. Ten isn’t too many, and twenty isn’t too few,” Kate said.

“Twenty?” Miranda was speechless. She realized that at least half of Luca’s problems could be blamed on Kate.

“Ms. Kelly has arrived!”

“Ms. Kelly, can we ask you a few questions?” a reporter called out from outside.

“Sure,” Kate replied coolly.

“Ms. Kelly, there are rumors that Britney is pregnant. Is it true?”

“Ms. Kelly, will Luca marry Britney? Will they raise the child together?”

“Ms. Kelly, since 2003, Luca has been surrounded by scandal. What do you think of his constant cheating?”

The reporters fired off questions eagerly.

“Luca isn’t married yet. He’s free to date whoever he wants. No one has the right to interfere,” Kate said with an expressionless face.

“But there are rumors that both Lima and Britney are pregnant,” one reporter pressed.

“So what? They’re all adults. They know what they’re doing, and I’m sure they’ll handle it,” Kate replied.

“Ms. Kelly, you didn’t deny the rumor about Britney’s pregnancy. So, is it true?” A reporter quickly picked up on the slip in her wording.

Kate raised an eyebrow and was about to respond when Ms. Nina hurried over.

“Everyone, today is the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada. Ms. Kelly will only be answering questions related to the movie,” Nina said.

The reporters were disappointed. The Luca and Britney story was the hot topic, and missing out on it was unfortunate, but being able to interview Kate was still a win.

“Ms. Kelly, The Devil Wears Prada is your first film. How was the experience?” a reporter asked.

“It was alright,” Kate answered simply.

“Ms. Kelly, after leaving the fashion scene, will you consider entering the entertainment industry?” another asked.

“No,” Kate replied firmly.

“Why not? Ms. Kelly, you have what it takes to be an actress.”

“I don’t know how to act,” Kate responded bluntly.

Nina’s lips twitched as she stepped forward, saying, “It’s time. We need to head inside.”

Kate nodded and led Miranda toward the theater.

“Ms. Kelly, just one last question,” a reporter called out loudly. “It’s said that whenever Luca does something wrong, you pull his ear. Will you do it again this time?”

The crowd erupted in laughter.

Even Miranda covered her mouth, laughing heartily.

“Maybe I will,” Kate suddenly said, making a heart shape with her thumb and forefinger.

“Ha ha ha!” The crowd burst out laughing again. The usually reserved Ms. Kelly had shown a rare moment of humor, and it worked like a charm.

“Kate, you shouldn’t have said that. You just admitted to domestic violence against Luca,” Ms. Nina said as they walked.

“Who cares? It’s our family business,” Kate replied.

“But your public image is that of a dignified, elegant, and cool-headed writer. You can't be seen committing domestic violence.”

“Don’t worry, Nina. Luca’s a scumbag. If Kate beats up a scumbag, people will applaud her for it, not blame her,” Miranda laughed.

“Hmm... you have a point. But in the future, don’t answer any questions about Luca. His situation is too complicated,” Nina said.

"Alright!"

Kate curled her lips into a smile and walked into the movie theater.

"Luca, what happened outside? Why is everyone shouting your name? They’re so enthusiastic. When I arrived, I didn’t get nearly the same welcome."

Inside the theater, Anne Hathaway blinked and curiously pointed outside.

Luca pulled the corners of his mouth into a smirk. He was sure she was playing dumb.

"Anne, has Becoming Jane finished filming?"

"Yeah, it’s wrapped. But stop changing the subject, Luca. Why were they shouting 'scumbag' at you so loudly?"

Anne Hathaway pressed on relentlessly.

"I don’t know! No idea! No clue!"

Luca responded with a quick trio of denials as he walked further inside.

"Luca, I heard your girlfriend is pregnant. Congrats."

Anne Hathaway caught up to him, smiling.

"Thanks!"

"And I also heard Britney is pregnant too. Congrats again!"

"Uh... thanks again, Miss Hathaway!"

Luca responded helplessly.

Anne Hathaway smirked. "So, the rumors are true?"

"Yes, they’re true!"

"Tsk tsk, what a scumbag!"

Anne Hathaway gave him a disdainful look and quickly sped up, pulling her skirt as she walked away from him.

Luca rubbed his forehead, feeling an odd urge to spank her.

"Kate, look at Luca! Lima and Britney haven’t even given birth yet, and he’s already thinking about getting another woman pregnant. Men like him should be wiped out,"

Miranda’s voice chimed in from behind.

Luca’s face darkened. "What nonsense are you spouting? When did I ever say I wanted to get another woman pregnant?"

"Just now. You were staring at Anne Hathaway’s butt the whole time. Don’t think we didn’t notice,"

Miranda sneered.

"..."

Luca was speechless.

Kate giggled softly. "It’s fine if you like her. Anne Hathaway is beautiful. The kids you two would have together would be adorable. Maybe you should try to flirt with her."

"⊙0⊙"

Miranda was stunned. "Wait, you can just say that?"

"Hey, Kate! Hey, Miranda!"

Anne Hathaway floated back over.

"Hey, Anne!"

The three women hugged warmly, though Luca wasn’t invited.

"Anne, this is my brother, Luca,"

Kate introduced him out of the blue.

"Oh, Kate, I’ve already met Luca,"

Anne Hathaway said with a smile.

"Really? Anne, what do you think of him?"

Kate asked.

"Him?"

Anne glanced at him. "He’s not bad. Just a bit of a scumbag."

"Ha ha ha!"

Both Miranda and Kate burst into laughter.

Luca’s handsome face turned red.

"You guys talk. I’m going to head out,"

he said, waving his hand as he walked away.

"Look, Luca’s embarrassed!"

Miranda smiled. "Anne, I’ll tell you a secret: Luca actually has a crush on you. He always compliments you, calling you beautiful and elegant, and says if he were to find a girlfriend, she’d have to be like you."

"That’s true!"

Kate added with a faint smile.

"Anne, why not give Luca a chance?"

Miranda suggested.

Anne Hathaway caught on to their teasing, and with a grin, she said, "Sure, if he dares to chase me."

"Really? Ha ha, Luca, did you hear that?"

Miranda called out.

"..."

In the distance, Luca quickened his pace and disappeared into the crowd.

"What a coward!"

Miranda muttered with a grin.

Thank you for your votes and support!

*Chapter 490: Only Allowed to Spank*

"The movie was really great. Hathaway and Kate were both so beautiful."

"Ms. Kelly was the prettiest. She was the biggest surprise of the film. The box office will surely do well."

"I liked Kate too, but unfortunately, she only had a few scenes. It wasn't enough."

In the evening, after the first screening of The Devil Wears Prada, the audience left the theater, buzzing with discussion. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive.

"Kate, listen to the feedback. Everyone's got high praise for you."

Miranda said as they got into the car.

Kate shook her head. "Did you hear them? They only mentioned looks, nothing about the acting. Casual viewers might think it’s great, but professional critics won’t see it that way."

"Ha, well, we’ve got a professional critic right here in the car, don’t we? He used to write reviews praising himself, supposedly wrote thousands of them. Luca, from a professional perspective, how was Kate's performance?"

Miranda chuckled.

"Of course, it was great. Why even ask?"

For a question like that, Luca wasn’t about to mess up.

"What was so great about it? When you compliment yourself, you write thousands of words. When it's about Kate, you give one sentence?"

Miranda teased with a smirk.

Luca’s lips twitched. "In this movie, Kate’s standout qualities were many. Her biggest highlight was her stunning beauty and elegance. Even though she only appeared five times, each appearance was incredibly breathtaking.

The first time she showed up, she was wearing a lead-gray suit, cold, sexy, and poised. She immediately grabbed the audience’s attention, so much so that they ignored Hathaway and just stared at her. And it was the same with the rest of her appearances. No matter who else was in the scene, people couldn’t help but be drawn to her. That’s the kind of beauty that steals the show and—"

"Enough!"

Kate laughed, "You’re still just talking about my looks. Are you saying my acting is bad?"

"Luca, you’ve made Kate blush!"

Miranda chuckled.

Luca shrugged. "What I’m saying is true. I had two points: first, you’re incredibly beautiful, and second, your acting is good. Since you didn’t like the first part, let me focus on the second. For your first time acting, your performance was decent."

"Just decent?"

Kate raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, alright. Above average. For your first time, you did really well."

"That's right, Kate. Luca's first acting gig, in that dancing movie, was completely trashed. You didn’t get nearly as much criticism for your debut, which means you’re already better than him. Isn’t that right, Luca?"

Miranda blinked and smiled.

"That’s true. Kate’s potential is huge. If you keep acting, your achievements will definitely surpass mine."

Luca laughed.

"Of course! You’ve been in Hollywood for three years, and besides earning the title of ‘jerk,’ what else have you achieved?"

Miranda quipped.

Luca glared at her. "Talk properly, or I’ll spank you when Kate leaves."

Miranda wasn’t afraid of him. She rolled her eyes. "Oh, I just remembered. Luca does have another achievement—he’s fathered a few kids. Does that count?"

"Sure, if he can father a hundred child actors, he might get a lifetime achievement award at the Oscars."

Kate added.

"Right, and maybe even win the Best Stallion on the Hollywood Farm award. Hahaha~"

Miranda doubled over in laughter.

Luca gritted his teeth. This spanking was happening for sure.

"Alright, enough joking."

Ms. Nina, who had been listening in the front seat, couldn't take it anymore.

"Luca, today you and Kate were interviewed on the red carpet. Tomorrow, there will undoubtedly be plenty of news involving you and Britney. You should be contacting Ed to handle the PR crisis, not joking around here."

Ms. Nina glanced at him. Despite his recent successes—winning Best Actor at Berlin, an Oscar for screenwriting, a Palme d'Or for directing, and becoming the youngest billionaire—something about him just rubbed her the wrong way. From 2003 to 2006, trouble followed him everywhere, and Kate and Ed often got dragged into it.

Luca rubbed his forehead. "Nina, anything involving Britney is too tough to suppress. It would be too costly and ineffective."

"So you’re giving up?" Nina asked.

"No, I’m just going to wait and see what happens."

"How is that any different from giving up? Only a jerk would come up with such a flimsy excuse."

Miranda laughed.

Luca glared at her again.

"Hmph." Miranda turned away, smiling slyly.

Kate laughed softly. "Luca, Britney plans to announce your breakup from last year at the right time."

"There’s no point. Britney’s pregnant, and if she announces our breakup, the media will only tear me apart even more. So I’m not going to worry about it anymore. Let them say what they want."

Luca said, resigned.

"Impressive, impressive!"

Miranda gave him a thumbs up, laughing. "Luca, you really are something. Most people would be depressed after getting bashed so much, but you act like nothing happened. I’m curious, where did you get that thick skin from? Is it made by the same factory that produces bulletproof vests?"

Luca clenched his fists. "Kate, I really want to spank her!"

"You wouldn’t dare!"

Miranda hugged Kate and didn’t seem scared at all.

Kate smiled, "Go ahead, but only on the butt!"

"Ah, Kate! You're just as bad!"

Miranda thought she had found her protector, only to realize her shield was full of holes.

"Enough already."

Ms. Nina massaged her temples. "Luca, if you’re choosing to take all this criticism passively, be ready for the worst. Britney is beloved by the American public, like a national sweetheart. You’ve been with her for over three years, and yet you didn’t even give her a title."

"Tsk tsk, if I were American, I’d grab an AK-47 and go after that jerk."

Miranda mumbled while gazing out the window.

"And what about Aniston? If the media brings her up again, along with those two kids…"

Ms. Nina eyed him. "Luca, do you have a weird quirk or something? Why do you always go after high-profile, hard-to-handle women?"

"Pfft~ He definitely has a… mmm…"

Before Miranda could finish, Kate covered her mouth.

"I don’t have any quirks. It just happened that way, and we became friends. Ahem, relationships between men and women can be complicated and hard to control."

Luca lowered his head, blushing a little.

Ms. Nina shook her head. "Not only did you mess with those two difficult women, but you’ve also gone head-to-head with Pitt and Leonardo. They won’t let you off easy this time.

They have money and connections. With a bit of maneuvering, they could completely ruin your reputation. Are you ready to deal with them?"

"No, but I’ll try my best."

Luca said.

"Alright, good luck."

The car pulled up on Third Avenue. Ms. Nina and Gina went home, while Kate and Miranda returned to their apartment. Luca drove out to the Long Island Medical Center to stay by Lima's side, waiting for the baby to arrive.

(End of Chapter)