471-475

*Chapter 471: Laughter Never Stops*

"Mr. Kelly, welcome to The Ellen Show!"

"Thank you!"

The next afternoon, Luca arrived at the studio for the recording of The Ellen Show.

The Ellen Show, produced by CBS, is a talk show that first aired in September 2003, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. The show features a mix of fun stories, public figures, musical guests, and human-interest stories, and is widely popular in America with high ratings. This is why Luca didn’t turn down the invitation for this interview.

Ellen, a famous host in her 40s, has hosted the Oscars, Grammys, and Emmys. She’s known for her signature short hair and came out as a lesbian in 1997, which was a huge deal at the time.

"Luca, I can tell you're quite a handsome guy!"

After sitting down, Ellen glanced at him with a smile.

"Thanks, is that compliment free?"

Luca replied with a grin.

"Why do you ask?"

Ellen questioned.

"I watch your interviews a lot, and I’ve noticed a pattern. Before you go for a big reveal, you always compliment your guest, catching them off guard. So, I have to stay alert."

"Hahaha~"

The audience burst into laughter.

"Luca, you're funny!"

Ellen said with a smile.

Luca shrugged. "Ellen, that’s the second time you've complimented me. Now I feel like I'm in danger. Maybe I should leave while I still can."

"Alright, I won't compliment you anymore. I don't want you to be the first guest scared off by flattery."

The audience laughed again.

Ellen chuckled lightly, "Luca, congratulations on winning the Best Original Screenplay at the 78th Academy Awards! Okay, this congratulations might be a bit late. Back in March, I invited you to the show, but you were off filming in the UK."

"Yeah, right after the Oscars in March, we started filming, and I had to get there."

"Is the movie finished?"

"Yes, we wrapped up last weekend."

"Congratulations! This movie is called Atonement, right?"

Ellen asked.

"Is it okay to mention the title? Won’t people think I’m promoting the movie?"

"Haha, no, of course not."

Ellen chuckled. "Luca, I heard your co-star in this movie is Keira Knightley?"

"Yes!"

Luca became cautious. Although they had a pre-interview outline, Ellen wasn’t sticking to it. She was jumping around with her questions, first asking about the script, then the movie.

"How was it working with Keira?"

"It was great! Keira is a fantastic actress. She's incredibly focused and professional. I learned a lot from her."

Luca replied.

"The last actress you worked with was Scarlett Johansson, right?"

Ellen continued.

Luca spread his hands, "Yes, Scarlett and I have done two movies together, Match Point and the soon-to-be-released The Prestige."

"How was your collaboration with Scarlett?"

"If you've seen our movies, you’ll notice we work really well together."

"Yes, I watched Match Point, and your scenes with Scarlett were very... intense."

"Thank you. There’s that compliment again!"

"Haha, okay, I broke my own rule. I’ll take a sip as a penalty."

Ellen laughed, took a sip of water, and said, "Besides Keira and Scarlett, you’ve also worked with Jennifer, Charlize, Rachel, Jessica, and others, right?"

"Yes, you’ve done your homework!"

Luca laughed, having no idea where the conversation was headed.

"Luca, you’ve worked with so many talented actresses. Do you ever choose a project based on who the leading lady is?"

"How did you know?"

Luca asked, surprised.

"Wait, is that true?"

"No, it's not true! Usually, the lead actress is chosen first, and then I get picked to work alongside her. Compared to them, I’m still a newcomer, so I don’t have much say in the matter."

Luca said with a laugh.

"Luca, since you’ve worked with so many great actresses, who do you think you had the best chemistry with?"

"They were all great! I’m a versatile actor, and casting directors recognize that, so they keep pairing me up with different actresses."

"So, is that why there are always rumors about you after each movie?"

Ellen smiled.

Luca shrugged, "I have no idea how those rumors even start."

"Do the rumors ever bother you?"

"Yes, quite often!"

"Do the rumors bother Lima?"

"Yes, quite often!"

"So, how do you handle these rumors, or explain them to her? From what I understand, you and Lima have been dating since 2003, so it’s been over three years now. And you two even have a child together. After all these rumors, how have you managed to maintain such a stable relationship?"

Ellen finally dropped the big question.

Luca smiled slightly, "You probably don’t know much about my relationship with Lima. We’ve known each other for five or six years. Lima and Kate were close friends, and I was friends with both of them. We know each other very well, and that’s the foundation of our relationship. A strong foundation can weather anything."

"Did the 2003 rumors with Britney affect your relationship?"

Ellen asked.

"Not as much as people think. That rumor was sparked by the so-called ‘car incident,’ but it turned out to be a misunderstanding. Later, I performed that same dance at home, and both Lima and Kate were laughing their heads off. It was so embarrassing for me!"

"Haha, I can only imagine how surprised they were to see a guy doing such a sexy dance."

"Exactly!"

Luca laughed.

"Luca, do you still remember how to do that dance?"

"Uh... what for?"

"How about doing it again? We’d love to learn it from you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

". . . Alright!"

The music started, and after two years, Luca once again performed that dance. He swayed his hips, tapped his thighs, and clapped with flair. The more serious he danced, the louder the audience laughed, unable to contain themselves.

Ellen even joined in, moving a bit herself, though it wasn’t clear if it was her age or just for laughs, but her dance was awkward, making the audience roar with laughter.

"Why does this suddenly feel so awkward?"

Backstage, Ed wiped his forehead, drenched in nervous sweat. He suddenly realized being a star isn’t easy. Not everyone can handle the embarrassment of dancing like that in front of an audience and still stay committed.

"Clap, clap, clap~"

When the dance was over, the audience erupted in applause.

"Thank you, Luca!"

Ellen, sweating from the dance, asked, "Luca, how did I do?"

"Not bad! You didn’t laugh while dancing, which makes you more professional than most."

"Haha, thanks!"

Ellen called out to the director, "Make sure to cut out the part where I laughed. If Luca sees it, he’ll think less of me."

"Hahaha~"

The audience laughed again.

Whoosh~ The screen on stage began to play footage of Luca’s dance, while Ellen could be seen hiding behind the sofa, nearly rolling on the floor with laughter.

Seeing this, the audience laughed even harder.

"Luca, I’m sorry. I just couldn’t help myself back then."

Ellen said with a laugh.

"No worries. A lot of people laugh when they watch me dance. I’m used to it!"

Luca said.

"Luca, what made you come up with this dance in the first place?"

Ellen asked, laughing.

"This dance was something I thought up after combining various dance styles. I thought it was fun with the right music, so I wanted to get a professional opinion on it, but the feedback wasn’t great.

Back in April of '03, I was invited to appear in Britney’s new music video. Her dance moves were so cool that I showed her this one, and she loved it! She even incorporated it into her new album. Wow, that was amazing."

Luca said with admiration.

Ellen smiled, "Did Britney laugh when she saw the dance?"

Luca raised an eyebrow, "Want me to show you?"

"Sure!"

Ellen laughed.

Luca rubbed his face, then suddenly widened his eyes, pointed forward while giggling, and collapsed onto the sofa, kicking his legs in the air — capturing a perfect impression of Britney.

Seeing his performance, the audience couldn’t help but think of Britney, causing another round of laughter to break out.

"Luca, aren't you worried Britney might get mad if she sees you doing this?"

Ellen asked, holding back laughter.

Luca’s face froze, and he sat up straight, "Everything I just did was purely fictional. Any resemblance to Britney Spears is purely coincidental."

"Hahaha~"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 472: I'm Covered in Thunder*

As the dance ended, so did the first phase of the interview.

Since it was a pre-recording, they took a ten-minute break before resuming the second phase of the interview. Finally, they got back on track and began discussing the scriptwriting process.

"Luca, you're a renowned screenwriter, and your sister, Ms. Kelly, is a bestselling author. Did her work influence your decision to become a screenwriter?" Allen asked.

"Of course! Kate started writing very early on, and I was influenced by her. At one point, I also wanted to be a writer, but after trying, I realized how difficult it was to write long stories. Not only is it hard, but the process is also grueling. I knew I couldn’t become a writer like Kate.

So, I switched to acting and got exposed to scripts. After seeing the stories in those scripts, I realized I could be a screenwriter. That’s when I started writing. At first, I had many failures, but the first successful script I wrote was Goal!.

I used to be a soccer player and a dreamer coming to America, so parts of the story felt very personal to me.

That’s one of the reasons the script succeeded. After that came She's the Man, Kicking & Screaming, and others.

While I was writing, Kate would always give me feedback. She was my first reader, and of course, I was hers too," Luca explained.

"That’s great! You and Kate worked together as models and writers. It’s rare to share such a deep connection. You two must have a great relationship, right?" Allen asked.

"Yes!" Luca confirmed.

"But why does Kate still pull your ear?"

"Hahaha~"

The audience burst into laughter after hearing Allen's question.

"It’s said that in February of 2003, you saved a baby, and afterward, you and Kate were interviewed on a show. That show was also on CBS. During the interview, there was a video. Let’s take a look at it again," Allen said as he turned toward the TV screen.

Immediately, footage from late 2002 of his heroic act of saving a baby played.

As Luca dove, there was a collective gasp from the audience. When he lifted the baby high, the crowd cheered loudly, with endless applause.

In the video, he looked tall and heroic, holding baby Jessica up like a hero holding a torch.

Swoosh~ The video cut to the next scene, showing Luca standing across from Kate with his head down while she held his ear. He looked utterly defeated.

The sharp contrast between the two scenes, along with the quirky background music, set the audience roaring with laughter.

Allen laughed so hard that he pounded the couch.

Only Luca looked a bit awkward, thinking it was too boring to still be bringing up something that happened so many years ago.

"Luca, we saw this in the video, and you mentioned it again at the Oscars. Do you get bullied by Kate often at home?" Allen chuckled.

"It's not like that. In Brazil, pulling someone’s ear is actually a blessing ritual. Usually, elders pull the ears of younger ones to wish them health, peace, and longevity. That’s what Kate meant," Luca replied seriously.

"Are you saying Kate was blessing you?" Allen tilted his head, looking skeptical.

"It's true. Actually, Kate is a very gentle and quiet person. She would never use violence," Luca insisted solemnly.

"Yes, Luca, I agree with you. I hope our conversation today didn’t cause you any trouble."

"No, of course not!" Luca said as he touched his ear, making the audience laugh again.

Allen smiled and continued, "Luca, you were a soccer player and won many awards. As a model, you became the highest-paid male model. As an actor, you won Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival. As a screenwriter, you won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, and you’ve produced films as well. You’ve done so much, and all of it so well. How did you manage that?"

Relieved the conversation was back on topic, Luca took a deep breath, recalling the answers Ed had suggested. He faced the camera and began to speak confidently.

"Well, part of it is that I’ve had a lot of experiences and I read and learn a lot. I’ve also met many friends along the way who’ve helped me immensely."

He started by downplaying his success, then talked about persistence, setbacks, and finally, achieving his goals, as if giving a motivational speech. By the time he finished, the applause was even louder than before. The audience seemed to enjoy the "inspirational flavor" of his speech.

After finishing the success story, the interview concluded. After saying goodbye to Allen, Luca left the studio.

"Luca, you did well!" Ed said once they got in the car.

Luca shook his head, "Doing TV shows is exhausting. It’s more tiring than playing soccer."

"That’s because you were too tense. You were worried about being asked sensitive questions, so you stayed on guard the whole time. If you relaxed a little and treated the interview like a comedy show, you wouldn’t feel so tired."

"Easy for you to say. I’m covered in landmines. If any of them get triggered, I won’t be able to handle it. How can I not take it seriously?"

"Landmines? Aside from the rumors, what else is off-limits?"

"Just those rumors—Britney and Aniston. They’re too famous. Talking about them in front of tens of millions of American viewers is just asking for trouble. And the other rumored relationships? They all have boyfriends. The more I talk, the bigger the problems get. It’s better not to talk at all."

Luca was especially worried that someone might bring up Britney. Given the current situation, he had no idea how to describe his relationship with her.

Before last year, he could openly say they were friends—good friends—and not care about misunderstandings.

Now, Britney might be pregnant and staying abroad to give birth. Claiming they were just friends felt a bit shameless.

"Luca, you should trust me. I know you don’t want to talk about it, which is why I set the interview parameters in advance. Wasn’t today’s interview easy?" Ed asked.

"Yeah, keep up the good work. When’s the next interview?"

"6 PM at KTLA. It’s a casual discussion between screenwriters over coffee, talking about films. Pretty relaxed. I gave you the outline—just stick to it. You’re a new screenwriter, so play it safe."

"Got it. You’re asking me to say more, but I don’t even want to waste brainpower," Luca sighed as he picked up the next interview outline to study.

Over the next few days, Luca flew back and forth between Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, attending three talk shows, four newspaper and magazine interviews, and several industry parties. He was swamped.

By mid-May, his pace finally started to slow down.

"Is Kate at Britney’s house?" Luca asked over the phone as he rode in the car, wearing headphones.

"Yes, I’m at Britney’s villa, eating ice cream with her. There’s beer-flavored ice cream, bacon ice cream, and pregnancy ice cream—all made by her. They taste great," Kate replied.

Luca thought to himself, She’s definitely turning into a foodie—probably getting chubby, too.

"Where is Britney staying?"

"Umm… maybe you shouldn’t ask. Lima’s about to give birth, and you’ve got work. Just stay home and focus on that. I’ll take care of Britney.

The environment here is wonderful. I plan to stay for a while, keep Britney company, and work on my designs. Maybe I’ll get some inspiration," Kate explained.

"Thank you," Luca said.

"Don’t mention it. I’ve been used to this for a long time. Haven’t I always handled the messes you’ve caused since we were kids?" Kate teased.

"Okay," Luca chuckled.

"Britney, Luca’s on the phone. Do you want to talk to him?" Kate called out.

"No, he threw shade at me on TV last time, and I haven’t settled the score with him yet. I don’t feel like talking to him right now. Kate, hurry up—I made two more!" Britney shouted in the background.

"Haha, I’m coming!" Kate laughed. "Luca, I’ll hang up now. Britney’s ice cream is seriously good. She’s becoming a pro at it, and I want to pick up some tips."

"Alright, just don’t become chubby," Luca replied.

"Got it. I’ll make sure Britney stays fit too. We wouldn’t want her giving birth to a little chubby baby, would we?"

Kate laughed heartily and hung up.

Luca smiled and sighed in relief.

Beep beep~

The car merged onto the coastal highway, speeding toward Malibu.

Thank you to the reader "Juju Came" for the reward, much appreciated!

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 473: This Guy is Too Crazy*

"Luca, how's the script?"

In the living room of the Big Pear Tree Manor, director Wang Jiawei was holding a cup of coffee, staring intently at Luca across from him.

Although Luca was only 25 years old, he had already achieved quite a lot in the entertainment industry as an actor, producer, and screenwriter, excelling in multiple areas.

His particular insight into film had earned him widespread recognition.

So after completing the script, Director Wang had been eager to discuss it with him. After waiting for a week, he finally caught Luca when he wasn’t too busy.

As Luca flipped through the script page by page, Director Wang found himself inexplicably nervous.

Why was he nervous?

Director Wang asked himself.

Was it because Luca had won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay?

No, as an internationally renowned director with countless awards, a mere Oscar was of little concern to him.

Was it because Luca had invested in the film?

Still no. As the most handsome director in the industry, Old Wang had never placed much value on investors.

So why?

"Director Wang!"

After finishing the script, Luca spoke up, "Are you satisfied with this script?"

"Me?"

Director Wang was stunned for a moment and then realized why he was nervous.

The nervousness didn’t stem from Luca but from himself.

It was his first time directing a pure Western film, and he wasn’t confident about its success. When writing the script, he almost experienced writer’s block.

There were three main challenges:

First, if he followed his usual approach to writing, the script would just become a Chinese film in Western guise.

Second, he wasn’t sure how to appeal to American audiences in a familiar setting.

Having spent his life making Chinese films, he knew what resonated with Chinese audiences but had little understanding of American tastes or a reluctance to pander to them.

Third, he was pressed for time. As someone used to writing scripts while filming, he couldn’t just sit down and come up with a great screenplay.

Hearing Luca’s question, he didn’t know how to respond.

Seeing Director Wang suddenly zoning out, Luca was baffled. He had just casually asked a question, but why did the director freeze? Could it be that Director Wang was feeling insecure about the script?

"Director Wang, is this the final version?"

"Yes, what do you think?"

"It’s not bad."

Luca nodded.

"Do you really think it’s good?"

Director Wang frowned deeply.

Huh?

Is saying it’s good somehow wrong?

"Well, there are still a few minor issues."

"What?"

Director Wang’s small eyes widened, looking somewhat expectant.

After a moment of thought, Luca said, "Director Wang, in My Blueberry Nights, you tell three stories. The first is the female lead’s own story, her relationship with the male lead.

The second is about the policeman, Arnie, connected through the female lead. The third is about the gambler Leslie and her father."

"What do you think of the three stories?"

Director Wang asked.

Luca shrugged, "It’s obvious. The first story has the distinct flavor of a Hong Kong movie. If you changed the setting to Hong Kong and replaced the leads with Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Zhang Manyu, there’d be no issue at all.

Hong Kong audiences would watch it and marvel at the female lead’s luck, finding a kind man after a breakup. They’d also feel for the male lead, who, after being abandoned by his girlfriend, found someone with whom he could mutually heal.

But if American audiences watched this, what do you think they’d think?"

"What?"

Director Wang listened attentively, agreeing with Luca’s view, so he humbly sought advice.

Luca smirked, "American audiences, or at least I, would just find the two of them too slow and indecisive. You think the male lead secretly kissing the cake off the female lead’s lips is romantic.

I think it’d be better if the two just had a one-night stand under the influence of alcohol.

The female lead would think it was a mistake and leave quietly, while the male lead would see it as love and keep searching for her."

"This..."

Director Wang’s mouth hung open, twitching slightly, "That kind of relationship is not pure at all. A pure love story shouldn’t involve such vulgarity."

Luca chuckled softly, "Director Wang, this is just my personal view. You’re the senior. Your understanding of scripts and films far surpasses mine. You don’t need to take what I say too seriously. Stick to your own path, there’s nothing wrong with that."

Director Wang had been making Hong Kong films all his life, particularly the classic love stories of the 90s, most of which came from him. While others made films to earn money, Director Wang used films to write poetry. This was a level not everyone could reach.

But precisely because of this, Director Wang had long established his own cinematic system. Now, wanting to make Western films and become someone like Director Ang Lee seemed almost impossible.

Although Ang Lee was born in Taiwan, he grew up in the U.S. and was a thoroughly American director. His roots were in Hollywood, which was a key reason he could win an Oscar.

Director Wang, on the other hand, was born and worked in the East. Unless he could break free from his own cinematic system and establish a new, Western style of filmmaking, it was nearly impossible for him to succeed.

"You’re being too modest. In Hollywood, you could easily be my teacher."

Director Wang said.

"No, no!"

Luca smiled awkwardly, then continued talking about the second story.

The second story is about the policeman Arnie and his wife. Arnie is infatuated with his wife and highly controlling of her.

But his wife doesn’t want to be controlled, so she flirts around outside, cuckolding Arnie many times. Arnie tries to win her back, but when he fails, he drives his car into the road where they first met, killing himself.

Again, a story with an Eastern heart wrapped in a Western film.

"The second story can be seen as a metaphor of a kite and its flyer. Arnie wants to control his wife, but she resists fiercely, and in the end, Arnie, disillusioned, chooses death, releasing her. After Arnie’s death, his wife becomes a kite lost in the wind."

Director Wang pondered this for a moment, nodding in agreement, "That’s a good analogy. What do you think of this story?"

"Well, in my personal view, it still has a Hong Kong vibe. While America has men this infatuated, they wouldn’t handle the situation as gently as you wrote. They wouldn’t end it by suicide; they’d take more extreme measures.

If I were writing it, Arnie would be drinking in a bar, agonizing over his wife’s betrayal, becoming twisted inside. He’d be inspired by something the female lead said, go home, and lock his wife in the basement with handcuffs."

Sss~

Director Wang sucked in a breath. Why did pure love stories always turn dark and twisted in Luca’s hands?

Ignoring Director Wang’s discomfort, Luca continued, "Later, the female lead finds clues, and with the help of the police, they rescue Arnie’s wife.

Knowing he can never control his wife again, Arnie raises a gun to the police and is killed by a sniper. His wife is finally free, and the female lead learns a profound lesson about love."

"Go on, go on~"

Director Wang was hooked, urging him to continue.

Luca sipped his coffee, "The third story, about the gambler Leslie and her father, is the one I like the most. It flows the best and seems most suited to American audiences. Director Wang, was this story designed with American tastes in mind?"

Director Wang blushed, nodding, "That was a suggestion from screenwriter Block. Do you think it’s good?"

"No!"

Luca shook his head.

"But you just said it’s the one you liked the most out of the three."

"The story is fine, but what does it have to do with the first two stories?

The first two are about love, and the third is about a father-daughter relationship? That doesn’t seem logical.

Or maybe I’m not grasping the deeper meaning here.

Could you explain your thoughts on it, Director Wang?"

Luca asked.

Scratching his head, Director Wang admitted, "I didn’t have any deep thoughts. Block suggested the story, so I wrote it. If it were you, how would you write it?"

Luca gazed out the window in thought, "Leslie, the female gambler, is lively, bold, and progressive, while the female lead is kind, gentle, and well-behaved.

When Leslie learns of her father’s death, she’s devastated. The female lead, not wanting to see her friend suffer, takes her on a road trip. During their journey, they get to know and care for each other, forming a deep bond of friendship."

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 474: They Dare to Slander Our Beloved Mr. Luca*

"Luca, why did Director Wang leave in such a hurry?"

At the villa entrance, Lima, with her pregnant belly, came out and asked.

"I’m not sure. We were just talking about the script, and everything was going well. Then suddenly, he grabbed the script and left. Maybe something came up, and he had to go back early."

As Luca supported her by the waist, they walked together, and he said, "How are you feeling today?"

"Pretty good, though this little guy keeps kicking, wanting to come out early," Lima smiled.

"Haha, this rascal is bound to be a troublemaker. The thought of having a mischievous son makes me a little nervous."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Lima rolled her eyes at him, "If anyone’s a troublemaker, it’s you. If he’s a little troublemaker, you’re a big one."

"Alright, being a little mischievous isn’t bad. If he were too quiet, that would be a headache."

Luca helped Lima into the house, and they started watching the second season of the American show Prison Break, produced by Fox and first filmed in 2004.

Initially, when the male lead was being cast, Fox’s production department had invited him to audition. But at that time, he was busy working on Step Up and passed on the role. Looking back, it wasn't a big deal.

*Ring~*

His phone rang.

It was from Mr. Sishir Melotra, the executive director of the first Microfilm Festival.

The purpose of the call was simple. On May 15th, the first Microfilm Festival officially entered the judging phase, with no more entries being accepted. The winner would be chosen from the 335 short films submitted.

Currently, the top-ranking film was The Tuner.

After being uploaded for three months, The Tuner ranked first on all three charts:

- First in views with 21.5 million.

- First in reviews with 860,000 reviews and comments.

- First in ratings with a score of 8.6 out of 10, from over 1.32 million registered users.

This was far ahead of the second-place film, Westside Story, which had just over 6 million views, and its other metrics didn’t come close either.

In other words, victory was certain for The Tuner. The rewards were twofold: winning $1 million and being named the best director of the first Microfilm Festival.

But Luca didn’t care about the $1 million or the best director title.

So, back in February, he and Mr. Melotra had devised a publicity stunt to make the festival famous.

The plan was simple: when The Tuner was guaranteed to win, someone would expose a scandal, claiming the competition was rigged, that Luca knew YouTube’s higher-ups, that some of the professional judges were his acquaintances, and that the contest was unfair.

This time, Mr. Melotra was calling to let him know that the plan was underway.

"I got it."

The next day, newspapers, television, and websites all reported the news. Many competing directors came forward to criticize the fairness of the Microfilm Festival.

Some claimed that Luca had insider connections with the organizers, while others pointed out that several professional judges were his friends.

A particularly observant individual discovered that the art director of The Tuner was none other than one of the professional judges, director Woody Allen.

While people generally trusted Woody Allen’s integrity, it was against the competition’s rules for a judge to be directly involved in a competing film. Many demanded that The Tuner be disqualified.

This last point caused a media frenzy, with debates erupting over whether The Tuner had violated the rules.

On the first day, there were only a hundred or so mentions of the "unfair Microfilm Festival" on Google, but by the second day, it had surged to over 2,700. News coverage on TV and in newspapers also multiplied.

The initial buzz was purely promotional, but soon it became organic. Some media outlets picked up the story and continued covering it due to its popularity.

Of course, there were also some people with ulterior motives fanning the flames, accusing Luca of cheating and bringing up old scandals about him.

Others speculated that Luca wasn’t the real director of The Tuner, suggesting that Woody Allen or Billy might be the true creators.

With so many voices spreading rumors, the situation became chaotic.

By the fourth or fifth day, the Microfilm Festival scandal’s momentum continued to grow, even overshadowing the news of the rapid rise in U.S. real estate prices. It had turned into a hot social issue.

The key topics in the news were YouTube, the first Microfilm Festival, Luca’s alleged cheating, The Tuner, and fairness.

"Luca, you’re famous again!"

Ms. Theron called.

"Yes, but this isn’t the kind of fame I want," Luca laughed.

"You don’t want it? Wasn’t this all your PR stunt?"

Ms. Theron said with dissatisfaction.

"You figured it out?"

"Of course, if I couldn’t see through that, I’d have wasted all these years in the industry."

"Alright, alright, it was all part of the platform’s promotion."

Ms. Theron was one of the festival’s professional judges, so there was no need to hide this from her.

"What do you get out of this stunt? You could’ve just taken the million-dollar prize. Or are those rumors true? Are you a shareholder in YouTube?"

She speculated.

"Nope!"

"Haha, I knew it. YouTube’s market cap has soared to $1.5 billion. If you had original shares, you’d be a billionaire by now, not just an actor."

She laughed.

"Sally, I’m not a small shareholder. I’m a major shareholder," Luca chuckled.

"...Are you joking?"

She found it hard to believe.

"Sally, it’s true. Can you keep it a secret?"

"Some say you’re one of YouTube’s co-founders. Is that true?"

"It’s true!"

"...You little rascal. Do you know what I want to do right now?"

She took a few deep breaths before saying in a low voice.

"Emm... you want to sleep with me?"

Luca shamelessly asked.

"No, I want to beat you up. Hard."

"Why?"

"No reason. I just want to hit you."

"Alright. Whenever you’re free, we can go to the villa and spar. But you know you’re no match for me."

"Pfft, this time I’ll bring a gun. When are you free? I really want to see you. No, I really want to beat you up!"

She said with excitement.

Luca chuckled softly and glanced at Lima, who was relaxing on the lawn. "Not anytime soon. Lima’s about to give birth, so I need to spend more time with her. How about after that?"

"...Fine, you heartless scoundrel. Next time, I’ll hit you even harder."

She angrily hung up the phone.

Luca smirked. A little while later, Aniston called. He had already told her about the publicity stunt.

Aniston asked when he planned to hold a press conference since public opinion was turning against him, and continuing the stunt might backfire.

"The buzz is high enough now. There’s no point in dragging it out," Aniston said.

"You’re right. The platform’s monitoring the data. It’ll be resolved tomorrow or the day after," Luca replied.

"Alright. I’ve been busy these past few days, but when you’re free, come over and play with George and Catherine."

"Got it."

The next afternoon, Ed held a press conference in Los Angeles, announcing Luca’s withdrawal from the competition.

The following day, YouTube's Microfilm Festival posted an official announcement: Luca, the director of The Tuner, had voluntarily withdrawn his film, which would now be classified as non-competitive.

After the news broke, the situation gradually calmed down.

"Luca, Google has raised its offer to buy YouTube again. What do you think?"

Chen Shijun called.

"How much have they increased it?" Luca asked.

"$1.85 billion, part in cash, mostly in Google stock," Chen replied.

Luca thought for a moment. The original deal had been around $1.6 billion. This second offer was an increase of over $100 million, and the third offer would likely be even higher due to YouTube’s early emergence.

"What’s your opinion?"

"...Sell! The site’s hit a bottleneck, and we need a large sum to expand our film and music licensing, which will cost at least several hundred million dollars. Plus, we need the right connections, which we can’t secure. On top of that, my health isn’t in the best shape to keep running the company," Chen sighed.

Earlier that year, Chen had a medical checkup, and a benign tumor was found in his brain. He needed to step back from work to focus on his health.

"Alright, I agree."

Chapter 475: So Being a Playboy Has Its Merits

Website acquisition is a long and complex business activity.

This matter was handled by YouTube and Ms. Martina's team.

Luca only occasionally checked the progress and didn’t need to be involved in the specifics, mainly because he didn’t have the time.

These days, Aniston has been busy filming an anti-cancer public service short film, Room 10. It’s her first time directing, and she's been so busy she barely has time for the kids.

Luca has been rushing back and forth, spending half his time at home taking care of Lima and the other half playing the role of a dad, keeping the two little ones entertained.

After more than a week of this, he finally understands what it means to deserve it. He certainly does.

If he had taken Ed’s advice and been devoted to one person, he wouldn’t be so busy.

But every time he sees those two chubby little ones and hears their giggling, he feels Ed’s words are all nonsense. If he hadn’t been a playboy, how would he have these two adorable little angels?

So, being a playboy has its merits too.

"That’s nonsense, complete rubbish. Kobe is the best!"

"You're the one talking rubbish! Wade is the best. He led the Heat to win the NBA championship this year, and his stats are better than Jordan’s."

"Championships are a big deal? Kobe has more than Wade."

Inside a cold drink bar in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Luca and Ed were chatting when they overheard a nearby argument. Luca shook his head, thinking how childish they were—arguing about this instead of just going outside to fight.

"So, you're just staying home every day, looking after the kids and serving your pregnant wife?"

Ed said while sipping his lemon ice water.

"What else? What can you do in this heat?"

Luca rocked the stroller. Little George and Catherine were lying inside, sound asleep.

"Did you read the scripts I gave you last time? What do you think?"

"They’re pretty good!"

"Are you taking any of them?"

"No."

Luca shook his head.

"Why not? Those scripts are good. National Treasure 2 has a budget of over a hundred million, and you'd be working with Nicolas Cage. The first one was a hit, and the second won't be any less successful.

The Golden Compass has a budget of $180 million, and you'd be working with Nicole Kidman. The Dark Is Rising is also good. Not to mention the other six scripts, all either big productions, directed by famous directors, or involving A-list stars. You didn’t like any of them?"

Ed was speechless.

Luca shook his head again. "I’m troubled too. The roles I like don’t like me, and the ones you mentioned I don’t care for. What can I do?"

"What kind of roles do you like?"

Ed asked.

"Emm, the lead in I Am Legend. I think I’d be better than Will Smith."

"Impossible. That movie has a budget of over a hundred million, and they need an A-list star to carry it. You’re not quite there yet."

"Emm, how about Spider-Man 3? I think I’d be better than Tobey Maguire."

"Even more impossible. Spider-Man can't be Brazilian. American audiences won’t accept it."

"Then what about Transformers? If I were cast as the lead, I guess I could accept that."

"Also not happening. I’ve talked to the producers, and they want someone who looks wholesome and innocent. You’re too brooding and not innocent enough."

"That’s nonsense. Where am I not innocent?"

"Where are you innocent?"

Ed countered.

Luca snorted, not bothering to argue further.

"Forget about those big productions for now. I’ll keep working on mid- to small-scale films to build my fan base. Once I’m more famous, I’ll consider other options."

"Fine, whatever. You're already a billionaire anyway. It’s not like you need to act."

"I still want to act, but I’ll do it at my own pace. Three movies a year is enough. I’ve got My Blueberry Nights and The Proposal this year, so there’s no need to be tempted by big productions."

"When will My Blueberry Nights start filming?"

"I don’t know. Director Wong is revising the script again. I’m not sure when filming will begin."

"So slow!"

Ed stayed for a while before leaving the cold drink bar.

The sunlight outside was scorching, almost like hot oil, reflecting off Ed's dark, shiny forehead.

Luca wiped his own forehead, hesitant to step outside.

This summer was unusually hot—record-breakingly so. The Midwest, Northeast, and Southern regions were hit by heat waves, with some areas reaching their highest temperatures since 1895.

California was hit the hardest, with temperatures reaching 51.6°C. The extreme heat caused 141 deaths across the state, making it the hottest news of late.

That morning, Luca had taken the kids to the aquarium. By the time they returned, the car was scorching from the sun. Right after, he got a call from Ed and decided to take the kids to the cold drink bar to cool off.

The two little ones were tired from playing at the aquarium, so they quickly fell asleep once they were inside.

“Ah~ Ah~”

Little Catherine woke up, rubbing her eyes with her chubby little fists and letting out a few cries, signaling that the princess had awoken and was ready to be attended to.

“Catherine, Daddy’s here!”

Luca clapped his hands and picked her up from the stroller.

“Daddy~ Daddy~”

She blinked her big round eyes at him.

“Haha, did Catherine have a good nap?”

Luca touched her forehead.

“Giggling~”

The little one grinned and kicked her short legs against his lap.

Luca smiled and took the baby towel from the nanny, wiping her forehead and face. Even with the air conditioning, she had sweated a lot during her nap.

“Ah, ah, ah~”

Little George woke up next, yawning widely and waving his tiny fists in the stroller. He started fussing, as if to say, “My sister woke me up, and I wasn’t done sleeping.”

"George, you’ve got quite the grumpy wake-up mood.”

Luca grabbed his little fist and wiped the drool from his mouth. George had a habit of drooling in his sleep.

"Mr. Kelly, the car is ready!"

"Alright, let’s head home."

Luca put sunglasses and little hats on the kids before pushing them into the car.

It was scorching outside!

“We’re back!”

At the villa, Aniston greeted them from upstairs.

“Jen, how come you’re home so early?”

Luca and the nanny were unloading the kids from the car.

“The film’s done, so I can take some time off.”

Aniston rushed down the stairs, lovingly scooping up the two little ones, showering them with kisses.

“Wow, how did my two little darlings get so tanned? You look like little chocolate eggs!”

“Giggling~ Mommy, mommy~”

The two little ones giggled and squirmed into her arms, making someone quite jealous—they weren’t nearly as affectionate with him.

“Luca, it’s been really hot lately. How’s Lima feeling?”

Aniston asked.

“She’s doing alright, just a bit of a loss of appetite. It’s too hot here in California, so we’re planning to go to New York for a bit to escape the heat.”

“Sounds like a good plan!”

The next day, Luca and Lima flew to New York.

Initially, Luca had considered taking Lima to Vineyard Island to relax while she was pregnant, but Lima didn’t want to move around too much.

She preferred to stay in their old apartment and wait for the baby to arrive. She wasn’t comfortable staying anywhere else.

Luca didn’t mind and went along with it.

So the two of them moved back into their old apartment at 43.

Lima focused on her pregnancy, while Luca took care of the housework, settling into a rhythm like an old married couple.

“Luca, you guys are really staying here?”

The next day, an uninvited guest arrived—Miranda.

"Yes, it’s quiet here, perfect for resting."

"But if you guys are living here, how am I supposed to come over for free meals?"

Miranda complained.

"You’ve got hands and feet, and you're not pregnant. Why can’t you cook for yourself?"

"No way, food tastes better when it’s free. I’ll be coming over often. Lima, is that okay?"

Miranda playfully clung to Lima’s arm.

"Of course, you’re welcome anytime. Just call ahead and let Luca know what you want to eat."

Lima smiled.

"OK! Lima, you’re the best!"

Miranda cheered.

Sigh.

Luca thought, It’s hard enough taking care of one pregnant woman, and now I have to deal with a picky eater too. My life is tough.

"Why the sigh? I’m not just here for the food. I’ll keep Lima company, read stories to the baby, and sing. Isn’t that great?"

Miranda smiled, showing her dimples.

"Fine, just remember your duties."

"No problem. So, when’s dinner? I’m hungry!"

"Did you just come over to eat?"

"What else?"

Sigh. "Alright, I’ll start cooking."

Chef Luca donned his apron and headed to the kitchen.

"Luca, you look so cool in an apron. You were born to wear one."

"...