406-410

*Chapter 406: Why Did You Hit Me?*

Huff, huff~

At night, in Riverside Park on the east bank of the Hudson River, the few remaining visitors are scattered. A Bentley Arnage is parked in the shadows near a riverside wetland.

Inside the car, breathing can be heard, like the gentle and lingering breeze blowing over the Hudson River.

“Hurry up, I need to go back!”

“Alright, but you said it.”

A cool breeze blows through, shaking the tree branches violently. Several half-yellowed leaves drift down, swirling in the air.

“Ugh~ You’re so bad! I only came to drop you off, but you insist on clinging to me. You’re such a bad person!”

“Fine, I’m bad! Huff~ It’s just that we haven’t been together in so long. I’ve missed you, really missed you. Do you miss me?”

“No!”

“Tell the truth!”

“Ugh~, I do. I really do. Yes, I miss you, Luca. I miss you, you jerk. Every time I’m alone, I think of that stormy night, the watermelon field, and the jerk picking watermelons in the rain.”

“What else?”

“The melon shed, the fire pit, the straw pile, and that little brat who called me ‘big sister.’ Ugh~ Every time I think about it, I miss you so much, everywhere misses you, I miss you so much I can’t sleep. Ugh~”

“Huff~ You can tell me, I’ll be at your side in no time!”

“No, I can’t. That wouldn’t be right. Ugh~ If I didn’t miss you so much today, I wouldn’t have come out with you. It’s been almost half an hour. Are you a beast?”

“I wasn’t, but I missed you so much that I had to become a beast and devour you!”

“Ugh~ Go ahead and devour me. I’m all yours, my Louis!”

More than half an hour later, the night grew deeper and colder. The Bentley finally quieted down.

“I’m going back now!”

Rachel cupped his cheeks and gently kissed him.

“I’ll take you!”

Luca tossed his cigarette butt aside.

“No need, it’s not far from here.”

Rachel straightened her long dress, opened the car door, and paused. She looked back at him, “Next time, there can’t be a next time.”

“Are you sure?”

Luca pulled her closer by the back of her head and kissed her deeply. He looked into her eyes and said, “Are you sure?”

Rachel slowly opened her eyes, annoyed, and pushed him away. “You’re such a jerk! A devil! A demon!”

“Yes, I’m a demon, but you love me, don’t you, sis?”

“I—I don’t love you!!”

Rachel glared at him fiercely, turned, and got out of the car. Two seconds later, she came back, hugged him tightly, and whispered, “I love you!”

After speaking, she stumbled out of the car and ran into the woods.

Luca sighed softly and started the car, following at a safe distance.

Rachel didn’t turn back, just crossed her arms and walked even slower.

The long street was dimly lit, her burgundy long dress fluttering slightly in the night breeze, carrying a faint fragrance in the air.

Just before reaching the hotel where the film crew was staying, Rachel paused. She tilted her head slightly but didn’t really look back.

Beep!

A car horn sounded as Luca’s car sped away into the busy traffic.

Rachel watched for a moment, hugged herself, and then walked into the hotel.

Click!

At night, inside the apartment on 76th Street, Luca quietly opened the door, slipped off his shoes, and tiptoed into the living room.

“You’re back!”

The lights in the living room were on. Kate, wearing a silver-white nightgown, was sitting on the couch with her long legs propped up on a MacBook. Hearing the noise, she lifted her head, adjusted her glasses, and glanced at him up and down.

“Uh~ Kate, you’re still awake?”

Luca scratched his head awkwardly, almost dropping his shoes on his face.

“Spill it, where did you go?”

Kate leaned back on the couch, resting her left hand on her forehead.

“Nothing much, went to the premiere, and then the crew had a party. I had a few drinks, stayed for about ten minutes, and then left early.”

“Just that? Then why are you sneaking in?”

Kate raised an eyebrow.

“I wasn’t sneaking. I just didn’t want to disturb your rest.”

Luca smiled. “Kate, it’s almost nine. You should go to bed, don’t stay up too late. I’m going to take a shower. I got all sweaty at the party, it was so crowded.”

With that, he turned to leave.

“Stop right there. Come here.”

Kate said coolly.

“Kate, I smell terrible. How about I come over after I shower?”

“Come here!”

Kate squinted her eyes.

“...Fine!”

Luca walked over dejectedly.

Kate tugged at his tie, sniffed, and said lightly, “Confess!”

“There’s nothing to confess, I was just with Rachel…”

Luca muttered.

“Rachel? The one from the watermelon field?”

“Yeah! Today was her movie premiere.”

“I see. Go take your shower then.”

Kate pushed his face away and returned her attention to her laptop.

Huff

Luca let out a sigh of relief. If he’d known it would be this easy, he wouldn’t have been so scared earlier.

“Kate, I’m going to shower now!”

“Okay, hurry up. I’ll make you something to eat.”

Kate nodded slightly.

“OK, I’ll be quick!”

Luca smiled and ran upstairs.

Kate watched his retreating figure and couldn’t help but smile.

She put down her laptop, stood up, and stretched lazily. Her slender waist and seductive curves swayed gracefully in the light.

She stretched her long legs out on the couch and effortlessly did a perfect split.

“Kate, I’m done showering! What’s for dinner?”

About ten minutes later, Luca came downstairs, drying his hair, wearing a large T-shirt and shorts, eager to eat.

“Come down and you’ll find out!”

Kate withdrew her legs and crossed her arms.

“Coming!”

Luca rushed to the living room and looked around the table. “Where’s the food?”

“Right here!”

Kate grabbed his arm, twisted it, and wrapped her legs around his.

“Kate, what are you doing?”

Before Luca could react, he was flipped onto the carpet with a loud thud.

“Ow~ Kate, stop hitting me! I already confessed. Why are you still hitting me?”

Luca tried to get up, but Kate was sitting on his back.

“Hmph! If I didn’t force you to confess, how long were you planning to hide it?”

“I wasn’t hiding anything, I swear!”

“Liar! That makes it worse!”

Kate leaned down, pinning his neck with her right arm.

Luca’s face turned pale as he struggled to breathe. Just this afternoon he’d heard about half a Nelson hold, and now he was experiencing it firsthand. It was an intense feeling.

“Cough, Kate, I was wrong! Please, let me go!”

“Hmph, you’re getting bolder. If reporters had caught you today, would you want to be ruined?”

Kate squeezed his neck tighter.

“Cough~ I… I know I was wrong!”

Luca slapped the carpet.

“Do you really know?”

“I know! I know!”

Luca slapped the carpet again.

“I’m hitting you for your own good. You have to deal with Lima, Britney, and Aniston. They’re insatiable, and yet you still go around fooling around. Do you think your waist can handle it?”

Kate finally let go of his neck and pressed down on his waist.

“I understand, I’ll be more careful from now on!”

Luca gasped for breath, relieved to finally catch a break.

“Go with me to the hospital this weekend for a lumbar check, got it?”

Kate massaged his waist, not too hard, not too soft.

“Yes, I’ll do whatever you say!”

Luca, now fully compliant, took deep breaths of relief.

Kate, still lying on his back, asked, “Where did you and Rachel meet up earlier?”

“At the riverside wetland park. There was no one there. We stayed in the car.”

Smack!

Kate slapped his head. “I just got you a new car, and you took someone for a car romp?”

“I won’t do it again!”

Luca said pitifully.

“There’s a next time?”

Kate twisted his ear. “Last time, you fooled around with Rachel in the melon shed, and you said she had a brother complex. Did you call her ‘sis’ this time too?”

“I…”

“Speak!”

Kate tightened her grip as she massaged his back.

“I… I did!”

Whoosh A cold wind swept through the room.

Luca felt a chill. This was going to end badly!

“Mercy… Ah!!”

(End of chapter)

Chapter 407: Watch the Ball!

Bang! Bang!

In the morning, at the Thompson Real Estate Leisure Club in Manhattan, on a grassy tennis court, Luca, dressed in white sportswear, moved with agile steps, swinging his racket freely, sending the tennis ball into the unguarded area on the opposite side.

“Hey!”

Ivanka stretched her long legs, letting out a soft grunt, catching the tennis ball with her racket and returning it with a backhand swing.

Her return was a bit rushed, and she didn’t control the direction well. The ball flew over the net and landed in the left service area.

“Nice!”

It was a good position. Luca quickly sprinted over, ready to hit the ball with a cool stance.

But things didn’t go as planned.

After just two steps, his knee suddenly buckled, and he nearly fell to the ground.

Bang!

The ball, as if it had eyes, struck him square on the forehead.

“…”

The girl on the opposite side was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.

She had just been frustrated about missing the shot, but the tables turned unexpectedly when her opponent got hit by the ball.

“Hey, Luca, your legs gave out again?” she teased.

“It was just a slip-up. Let’s go again!” Luca rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit embarrassed. How could a grown man’s legs go weak in front of a girl?

“Luca, are you sure?” Ivanka eyed his legs with a teasing smile. “You’ve buckled three times now. What did you do last night?”

“Nothing. I recently took on a role that requires me to lose 20 pounds. I’ve been controlling my diet and increasing my training intensity. My body’s a bit tired,” Luca explained helplessly.

“Is that so? Being an actor is quite tough,” the girl accepted his explanation.

“Yes, let’s continue. This time, I won’t let my legs give out,” Luca said confidently as he bounced the ball.

“Alright, but today I’ll make sure your legs give out!” Ivanka walked to the service line, gripping her racket and staring intently at Luca on the other side.

Luca also focused on the girl across from him, though his mind began to wander a bit.

Ever since they reconnected, they had been hanging out a few times—sometimes drinking, watching shows, or playing sports together. Tennis, soccer, basketball... Ivanka wasn’t particularly athletically gifted, but her figure was undeniably stunning. Standing 180 cm tall, with a supermodel body, blonde hair, fair skin, and long, shapely legs, she was hard to ignore. Most striking of all was her ample 36D chest, which turned heads wherever she went.

Today, she wore a white fitted top and a light blue tennis skirt, making her figure even more striking. As she moved, her upper body bounced energetically, serving as quite the distraction.

Playing against someone with such natural distractions wasn’t easy.

But Luca had seen many beautiful sights and had developed a high resistance to such distractions. He rarely let them affect him.

“Watch the ball!”

He tossed the ball high, straightened his body, and slammed it down with force.

Bang!

The tennis ball flew over the net, landing in the right service area.

“Nice!” Ivanka gripped her racket with both hands, returning the ball with a backhand swing. Despite her, uh, "front heavy" frame, pulling off a move like this was quite impressive.

“Good shot!”

As the ball bounced back, Luca swiftly caught it and lobbed it high again.

“Nice!”

This time, the two played well together, going back and forth for eight rounds without a mistake.

“Luca, how about this—whoever misses the next ball has to drop to the ground and bark like a dog. How about that?” Ivanka said with a grin as she caught the ball.

“OK!”

Luca was confident he wouldn’t miss. He stretched out his racket, ready to powerfully return the ball, but suddenly his knee buckled again.

Oh no!

The ball was about to die! If he missed and had to bark like a dog in front of a girl, that’d be humiliating!

In desperation, he dropped to his knees, sliding forward across the grass, as if he were on a soccer field. Just as the ball was about to bounce, he extended his racket horizontally with one hand and sent the ball back.

“Wow, Luca, your legs gave out again!” Ivanka laughed as she returned the ball.

“Come on, that’s just a normal receiving stance, alright?” Luca shot the ball back.

“Normal? For soccer maybe?” Ivanka teased.

“Yeah, doesn’t matter what stance you use, as long as you hit the ball!” Luca said. “Watch this, Ivanka. I’m going to finish this with one shot.”

“Bring it on!”

“Watch the ball!”

Luca struck a dramatic pose and slammed the ball down. He aimed for the right-hand corner, but unexpectedly, Ivanka rushed over, moving faster than he anticipated.

Bang!

The tennis ball bounced up and struck her chest.

“Ow!”

Ivanka clutched her chest and squatted down.

“Ivanka, are you okay?” Luca asked, rubbing his forehead. That shot had been pretty heavy.

“Did you do that on purpose?” Ivanka asked, her face flushed as she held her chest.

“Of course not! How could I hit that accurately?” Luca walked over and squatted down next to her. “Ivanka, maybe you should go to the hospital?”

“Hmph!”

Ivanka glared at him. “You did that on purpose. You said you were going to pull a big move, and this was your sneaky tactic, huh?”

“It wasn’t on purpose. It was just an accident,” Luca said, spreading his hands. “If I could hit that accurately, I’d aim for you every time.”

“What did you just say?!”

Ivanka grabbed his collar and pushed him to the ground. “Are you saying you’ve always wanted to hit me with the ball?”

“No, no!” Luca sat on the ground, raising his hands. “Ivanka, you know I get nervous when I see you, and sometimes my mouth says the wrong things.”

“So when you get nervous, you tell the truth? The truth being you’ve always wanted to hit me, especially in the chest?” she asked, pulling at his collar.

Luca shrugged and looked at her chest before turning away. “I’ve thought about it... a few times. But only a few, I swear, Ivanka.”

“A few times? You’re terrible!” she said angrily, punching him lightly on the shoulder.

Suddenly, she noticed something strange through his shirt.

“Luca, what’s that on your body?”

“Nothing, nothing!” Luca quickly pulled his collar back up.

“Ha! Don’t hide it, I already saw it—scratches, bite marks, and bruises. These look fresh. Luca, did someone beat you up? These don’t look like fight injuries—they look like they came from a girl. Did a girl beat you up? Come on, tell me, who was it? Why’d she hit you? Did you take advantage of her? Spill it!”

Ivanka grabbed his shirt, her curiosity piqued.

“Does your chest still hurt? If not, let’s continue the game,” Luca quickly changed the subject.

“It still hurts!” Ivanka rubbed her chest, rolling her eyes at him. “Tell me, or I’ll hold you accountable!”

“Well... there’s not much to say,” Luca shrugged. “My girlfriend Lima gets a bit excited sometimes and, well, she likes to scratch and bite.”

“She bites when she’s excited?”

Ivanka looked puzzled.

“Well, you know, during... you know what I mean. She can’t control herself in the heat of the moment, so she ends up grabbing and scratching.”

“...”

Ivanka stared at him, her face flushing a bit. “So your legs are weak not because of weight loss but because of... something else at night?”

“A little bit of both,” Luca said, embarrassed.

“Haha~”

Ivanka covered her mouth, laughing as she sat across from him. She tugged at his shirt, still chuckling. “Are those injuries serious?”

“Not too bad. Just surface wounds.”

“Let me take a look!”

Ivanka pulled at his shirt.

“There’s nothing to see. Let’s play!” Luca suggested.

“No way!” Ivanka held her chest. “You hit me earlier, so now I get to see your injuries. If not, I’ll tell my dad you bullied me!”

“...”

Her dad? Now that was someone Luca didn’t want to mess with.

Not wanting to cause any more trouble, Luca sighed and pulled down the back of his shirt. His white, short-sleeved sports shirt slipped off, revealing a body full of strong, defined muscles.

After half an hour of tennis, his muscles were at their most active. His broad shoulders, solid pecs, and eight-pack abs all stood out, with each muscle perfectly sculpted as if carved from stone.

Ivanka blinked, gazing at him like a fan girl. “Your body is so beautiful!” She used the word “beautiful.”

“Thanks. Didn’t you want to see the injuries? Go ahead.”

Luca tossed his shirt aside and lay back on the grass.

Ivanka bit her lip, her eyes boldly scanning his body. His strong physique was covered in scratches and bite marks. At first glance, the injuries seemed to ruin his impressive figure, but upon closer inspection, they actually made him look even more attractive.

She took a deep breath, smelling the thick masculine scent in the air. Her heart raced, and she found it hard to breathe.

"Luca, did Lima do all this?"

"Yes!"

"Haha, you really had it rough. No, wait—you’re a jerk. Lima did the right thing!"

The girl reached out her finger, tracing the wounds on his chest, then poked at his chest and abdominal muscles, outlining the lines between them with her fingers.

Slowly, she grew bolder, using not just her fingers but her whole hand.

Smack! Luca grabbed her hand, locking eyes with her. The girl's cheeks turned even redder, her eyes shimmering with excitement and a flicker of desire.

Suddenly, Luca pulled her forcefully.

"Ah~" The girl let out a soft cry, falling onto his chest.

Luca wrapped one arm around her waist and the other around her neck.

Lying on top of him, the girl’s heart pounded. She fought her excitement and slowly lowered her head.

Luca kissed her red lips, and they passionately embraced.

"Ivan!"

Suddenly, someone shouted from the entrance in the distance.

At the sound of the voice, Luca stiffened. The desire and excitement in his body instantly vanished, as if a bucket of ice water had been thrown over him.

"Dad!"

The girl quickly got up and adjusted her clothes. There were a few claw marks on her front, and her face flushed as she shot him a glare.

Luca spread his hands, as if to say it wasn’t his fault—blame it on his restless hands.

"You jerk, put your clothes on!"

Her face turned even redder. She didn’t know what had come over her a moment ago. She’d been seduced, completely off guard. This guy really was a jerk.

"Alright!"

Luca chuckled, got dressed, and looked toward the entrance. A familiar figure was slowly approaching.

Thump, thump~ His heart started racing—he was actually a little nervous.

"Luca, welcome to my club. I’ve heard about you. You’re a very talented young man. I like young people like you."

"Thank you, Mr. Tomp."

"How about we chat in the wine room?"

"Sure!"

He wasn’t going to kill him, was he? Luca’s heart was panicking.

He glanced at the girl, hoping for her help.

"Hmph!"

The girl lifted her chin, picked up her racket, and walked away.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 408: Luca Gets Close to You to Be a Gold Digger

"Ivan, goodbye!"

"Luca, remember our deal. We didn’t finish that last round yet!"

"OK, I'll keep it in mind."

Around 3:00 PM, after saying goodbye to Ivan, Luca drove off in his Bentley, leaving the Tomp Club.

"Ivan, stay away from that guy. He’s not a good man!"

In the club’s wine-tasting room, a middle-aged man spoke with dissatisfaction.

"Dad, I know."

The girl took a sip of her wine as she looked into the distance.

"Dad, what do you think of Luca?"

"What do you mean?"

"Him as a person—his potential, value, importance. Is he worth recruiting?"

"Him?"

The middle-aged man shook his head. "He’s a Brazilian who barely made a name for himself in Hollywood. What’s the big deal?"

"Haha, Dad, it seems you’re wrong this time."

The girl swirled her wine glass, her face showing both intelligence and shrewdness. Her business suit and pencil skirt made her look dignified and graceful.

"Wrong? What did I get wrong?"

The middle-aged man pouted.

"Dad, do you know what Luca’s greatest strength is?"

"Is it that he’s handsome? Plays tennis? Acts? Or is it his great body that’s captivated you?"

"Dad, let’s be serious."

The girl blushed a little, thinking of earlier events. She had only intended to check his injury, but somehow, she got charmed by the guy and ended up being taken advantage of. She would have to be more careful next time.

"Alright, go on, I’m listening."

The middle-aged man sipped his wine.

"Dad, you weren’t entirely wrong. Luca’s greatest strength is himself—he’s a very sociable man, especially with women.

Just like the media calls Paris Hilton and me ‘socialites,’ Luca is a ‘socialite guy.’

From what I know, many big-name actresses in the circle maintain close relationships with him—Britney, Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, even Ms. Theron. And that’s just the beginning; there might be more behind the scenes."

"This guy’s a scumbag. Why are you still friends with him if he’s so sleazy?"

The middle-aged man grumbled.

"I don’t know, there’s just something oddly charming about him. The closer you get, the more captivated you become."

The girl muttered softly.

"What did you say?"

"Uh, nothing."

The girl took another sip of her wine and said, "Dad, Luca and those actresses form a significant power. If we can recruit him, it will greatly benefit our plans."

"It might help, but we don’t need to rely on that kid."

"Dad, recruiting him would make things easier. Besides, he’s not just a star—he’s a movie studio owner, a famous screenwriter. And, Dad, don’t forget who his sister is."

The girl spoke calmly.

"The famous author Kate Kelly. I haven’t forgotten. Kate’s a great woman—beautiful, talented, but a bit aloof and not great at socializing. I’ve tried inviting her, but she rejected me."

The middle-aged man huffed angrily.

The girl rolled her eyes at her father. He’d just gotten married in January, and he was already thinking about other women.

"Dad, forget about that. Kate is one of the most influential women in the cultural sphere, second only to J.K. Rowling. She’s backed by the largest feminist organization, the Betty Book Club.

This year, after a three-year observation period, she’s officially a club member. In a few more years, she might even become a regional deacon, increasing her influence even further."

The middle-aged man pondered. "But she’s Brazilian."

"No, from what I’ve heard, she’s in the process of immigrating. Once she becomes a citizen, it would be easy for someone of her stature to run for Congress."

"Kate Kelly might be worth recruiting, but what does that have to do with Luca? It’d be easier to approach her directly."

The middle-aged man blinked. "Maybe I should try inviting Kate again. What do you think?"

"Dad, can we focus on Luca first?"

The girl sighed.

"Alright, go on. What you’ve said so far doesn’t convince me. Even if his sister and girlfriends are amazing, it’s not worth too much effort to recruit him."

The middle-aged man shook his head.

"OK, Dad, let me ask you—what makes a young man impressive? If someone builds wealth from scratch and becomes a billionaire within two or three years, would you say they’re outstanding?"

"Who are you talking about? Luca? No way, he’s not a billionaire. The papers said his new Bentley was a gift from Kate. He’s just mooching off her.

Darling Ivan, you should stay away from men like that. He’s probably cozying up to you for the same reason."

The middle-aged man pouted.

"Dad, you’ve been misled by the media. Look at this file first."

The girl stepped to the couch, opened her bag, and handed him a document.

"YouTube?"

The middle-aged man chuckled. "I know that website, it’s fun. I watch videos on there every day now."

"Dad, do you know who created it?"

The girl crossed her arms, smiling slightly.

"I think it was some Chinese-American named Chen."

"No, it was Luca Kelly. I’m a hundred percent sure. Look at the first video on YouTube—it’s Luca breakdancing."

"Luca?"

"Yes. Based on my investigation, Luca was the founder, spiritual leader, content director, and the largest shareholder of the company, holding over 50% of the shares.

But those shares are held under an investment firm, so people outside don’t know."

"..."

The middle-aged man didn’t believe it at first, but after looking through the documents, he couldn’t help but accept it.

"In May this year, Wall Street valued YouTube at $600 million. That means Luca Kelly, at just 24 years old, is worth over $300 million—and he built it all from scratch."

Admiration flashed in the girl’s eyes. "Dad, you should know his past—he was once a soccer star, until a car accident nearly left him permanently disabled.

But in just three or four years, he bounced back, becoming a model, actor, screenwriter, producer, and website creator. He’s achieved astonishing success in multiple fields.

Dad, if he’s not outstanding, who is? Even Bill Gates didn’t make that much money at 24."

"..."

The middle-aged man scratched his brow. "This kid’s impressive, earning billions at 24."

Inside, he felt a pang of jealousy. With the support of his family, it had taken him 30 or 40 years to accumulate $2 or $3 billion. This kid had hit the jackpot in his twenties.

"But he’s a notorious womanizer in the entertainment industry."

That’s one area where I’m still ahead, he thought.

"Dad~"

The girl sighed. "Besides being a bit of a flirt, does Luca have any other flaws? He doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink, doesn’t do drugs, has a mild personality, lives modestly, and enjoys exercising and reading.

He’s a billionaire but still works hard to lose weight for a small movie role.

And to say he’s a flirt is a stretch—he’s been with Lima for over three years and they’re still together.

A man like him is so much better than those hypocrites who pretend to be loyal while leading chaotic private lives."

"Ahem."

The middle-aged man blushed. He was on his third marriage and still had a mistress. Compared to the seasoned players in the industry, Luca’s love life didn’t seem that scandalous.

"OK, OK. If you say he’s great, then he’s great. If you want to be friends with him, go ahead. But let me warn you—he’s very charming, and you’re so beautiful. If you get too close, he won’t be able to resist."

The middle-aged man pouted.

"Dad, I know! I plan to invite him to join the club first. Once he’s in, his connections will naturally support us. Among them are several billionaires."

"OK, I’ll leave it to you. Now that you’ve graduated, it’s good to network with talented young people—they’ll be your supporters in the future."

"I understand!"

The girl held her wine glass and gazed out at Manhattan through the floor-to-ceiling window. Her expression gradually became more serious and composed.

"Luca, our game has just begun!"

She smirked.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 409: I Am So Embarrassed

“Luca, are you really not eating beef?”

In a New York restaurant on Church Street, Ed was cutting into a juicy piece of steak with his knife.

“No, I’m cutting weight. Fish is good enough for me,”

Luca replied while eating his grilled fish. He couldn't help but feel tempted by the smell of beef, but he resisted to maintain his weight.

“I remember you used to say that looks and physique are the most important, and you'd never sacrifice your body for a role. Why the change of heart now?”

Ed chuckled.

“This time, I have no choice. Director Nolan trusted me with this role, so I have to do my job well,”

Luca said, taking a sip of beer.

“Nice, you’re sounding more and more like a professional actor.”

“What do you mean ‘like’? I am one!”

Luca shot back, annoyed.

Ed laughed, wiped his hands with a napkin, and pulled out a contract from his work bag.

“I’ve secured the actor contract. Guess how much the pay is?”

Ed grinned, showing his gleaming white teeth.

Seeing his smug look, Luca knew the pay must be good.

“How much? 1.5 million?”

Last time, he got 1.2 million for his role in Match Point, just crossing the threshold for a B-list actor.

From last year to this year, he had done four movies: the Brazilian version of Infernal Affairs, North Country, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Departed.

Out of the four, only Infernal Affairs gave him a lead role, but it was shot in Brazil, and his pay was less than half of what he'd get in Hollywood, netting him only $600,000. For North Country, he got $800,000, Little Miss Sunshine paid him $600,000, and he earned a mere $200,000 for his small part in The Departed.

These roles were all calculated at a B-list actor's supporting role rate, but this year, Match Point did exceptionally well, with a $17 million budget raking in over $86 million worldwide. The movie was highly acclaimed.

He was the main star of the movie, and its success helped raise his profile in the industry.

Naturally, his pay rate would increase.

How much it would increase depended on various factors, which would ultimately be negotiated between his agent and the producers.

Luca looked at Ed, “So, how much?”

“Two million dollars!”

Ed said with a smile.

“Two million?”

Luca touched his chin and laughed.

“That’s great news!”

“Haha, it’s very good, and well-deserved, right?”

Ed raised his glass.

“Yeah!”

Luca clinked glasses and took a sip of his cold beer. Calming down, he said,

“Ed, two million isn’t a lot. I worked hard for a year, and my pay only increased by $800,000. The jump is too small.”

“Uh, weren’t you just happy with it? Why are you suddenly not satisfied?”

Ed asked, slightly annoyed.

“Shouldn’t I be? Last July, I was a B-list actor, and now, I’m still a B-list actor.

If I could secure a $5 million paycheck and move up to the B-list, that would be real progress.

I’ve worked hard for a year and made no real strides. Should I really be satisfied?”

Luca shrugged.

“You’re setting the bar too high. Hollywood is super competitive, and considering that you were nearly blacklisted, maintaining your current status is already impressive.

And let’s be honest, you haven’t worked as hard as you claim in the acting world.

While acting, you’ve also been a model, a screenwriter, a songwriter, a producer, and a video blogger. Plus, you spent more than half the year chasing women.

Heh, saying you’ve worked hard for a year—don’t you feel embarrassed?”

Luca lowered his head and took a sip of his beer, silently acknowledging that hiring such a blunt agent came with its downsides.

“Ed, but my main career is acting. I spent most of my time filming and honing my craft, yet compared to my other gigs, that’s where I’ve made the least progress. Shouldn’t I feel disappointed?”

“You shouldn’t. If you’d genuinely worked hard for a year with no progress, then you’d have the right to be upset. But you haven’t exactly been giving it your all.

If you really want to become an A-list actor, you need to focus more and take on more roles. If you do that, your progress will come much faster.”

“Take on more roles?”

Luca laughed, “I’d love to. Are you going to find them for me?”

“I have found them for you, but you turned them all down. What am I supposed to do?”

Ed spread his hands in frustration. Managing such a restless client was exhausting.

“You found roles? Are you talking about Stealth or Cinderella Man, or those low-budget horror flicks? If I had taken those box office flops, my pay this time would’ve dropped below a million.”

Luca sneered.

“.”

Ed didn’t know how to respond, mainly because he wasn’t entirely wrong.

Last year, he worked hard to secure scripts for Stealth and Cinderella Man, thinking he could impress Luca.

But when Luca read the scripts, he immediately declined.

Ed was so furious at the time, he almost wanted to throw him off a building.

He’d spent over a month negotiating and drinking at endless meetings to secure those supporting roles in major projects.

But this jerk tossed them aside like trash.

Ed didn’t argue, knowing it was pointless. Luca may seem easygoing, but he was as stubborn as a mule.

Still, Ed held on to a sliver of hope: once the two films became blockbusters, he’d throw the scripts in Luca’s face, making him regret it.

He waited for a year. Finally, both movies were released, and... well, they both bombed spectacularly.

The two films, despite massive budgets of $130 million and $140 million, didn’t even match the box office of Step Up, which cost less than $10 million to make. And the worst part? Step Up was Luca’s movie.

“I’m so embarrassed,”

Ed sighed, taking a gulp of beer.

“Luca, how did you know those two movies would flop before they even came out?”

“Heh, don’t forget who I am.

I’m a famous Hollywood screenwriter. You can tell a lot from the script alone, and then looking at the cast and the budget. The investments in those two projects were clearly inflated, like blowing up a bubble. How could those films possibly make money?”

Luca said smugly.

“Fine, I can’t compete with you in picking scripts. From now on, I’ll find more scripts and leave the selection to you, okay?”

“OK, no problem. But just focusing on acting won’t raise my profile quickly. I need awards.”

Last year, part of the reason he earned B-list pay was because he won Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival. His acting had gained recognition from industry professionals.

Now, if he wanted to climb from a B-list to an A-list actor, he needed more accolades from acting awards.

Those awards are like jewels in a crown. Only with the jewels does the crown hold real value. This is why actors like Leonardo DiCaprio are so determined to win Oscars.

To rise further, Luca needed nominations or wins at prestigious events like international film festivals, the Golden Globes, or the Oscars.

But as a foreigner, it was tough to win these awards. It required not only solid performances but also strong backing from movie studios and talent agencies.

He brought this up to Ed, hoping to gain his agency’s support. If he became an A-list actor, it would benefit Ford Agency not just financially but also in terms of influence.

“Luca, I’ll talk to Ms. Ford about it. After all, you becoming a big star would benefit the company too.”

“Good, I hope to hear some good news!”

Luca raised his glass.

“I also hope you’ll focus more on acting and less on chasing women,”

Ed grinned.

“Haha, I will. Definitely.”

Luca smiled and took another sip of his beer.

“I’ll believe you this time. So, what brought you to the South District today?”

“Uh…”

“This area is close to the Arts Center, and I heard Britney’s rehearsing nearby. So... are you here for a girl?”

“Uh... the Coca-Cola chicken wings here are great, Ed. You should try them!”

“.”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 410: Luca's Theory*

In the afternoon, outside the South District Spring Street Art Center, Luca parked his car, wearing a hat, and quietly walked into the main performance hall.

This weekend, Britney was scheduled for a concert at the art center, and today, she was rehearsing. Luca came to pick her up after work so they could go to a hot spring together.

Inside the hall, the atmosphere was lively. The stage was lit with colorful lights, and the music was loud. Britney, wearing a leather vest and black leather pants, was dancing energetically in the center of the stage.

It was still hot in August, and she was drenched in sweat, her long hair wet. From time to time, her assistant had to come up and wipe her sweat.

Behind her stood about 20 or 30 backup dancers, both men and women, moving in sync with her, making the performance look intense.

Around the stage were a bunch of staff members: music directors, choreographers, art directors, stage managers, assistants, lighting crew, makeup artists, costume designers—a team of over a hundred people.

For every minute on stage, there’s non-stop work off-stage.

A concert like this often takes months of preparation with the effort of many people working together.

The hardest worker in all of this was Britney.

She had knee surgery in May, and shortly after recovering, she was back in rehearsal, preparing for more concerts. Her professionalism made Luca feel ashamed.

Luca walked to the front row but didn’t go up to disturb her. Instead, he sat down with a bag in his hand.

"Luca, what are you doing here?"

There was a hint of surprise mixed with disdain in the voice. Without even looking, Luca knew it was Britney’s main assistant, Felicia.

"Hey, Felicia, I brought you guys some food," Luca said, holding up the paper bag.

"We’re not starving here, you know!" Felicia responded with a stern face.

"Alright then!"

This was the classic case of trying to be nice and getting a cold shoulder in return. Luca was left speechless.

"Give it to me," Felicia extended her hand.

"Huh?"

"You said you brought food, right?" Felicia frowned.

"Oh, yeah."

Luca handed her the large paper bag.

Felicia opened it, looked inside, nodded, and then handed it to another assistant.

"Thanks."

"No problem, no problem!" Luca was surprised at the sudden appreciation.

Seeing Felicia still staring at him, he checked his outfit—he was wearing a Kate & Lima t-shirt and Armani casual pants. He thought he looked fine.

"Felicia, is something wrong?"

"No, but there are some things I want to talk to you about."

"What is it?"

"Of course, it’s about Britney."

Felicia sat down, crossing her legs, looking serious—she appeared even more high-profile than the superstar herself.

Luca crossed his long legs too. He might lose in an argument, but not in appearance.

"Go ahead."

Felicia didn’t say anything immediately. She crossed her arms and quietly watched Britney on stage.

On stage, Britney was tossing her long hair and twisting her waist, singing and dancing with wild abandon. She was more than just sexy—she exuded an almost blinding radiance, the undeniable aura of a superstar.

Luca also quietly watched her perform. Normally, unless specifically invited, he didn’t attend Britney’s shows, partly because he was afraid of being recognized by her fans and getting mobbed.

Another reason was that sometimes the choreography on stage was quite provocative, requiring suggestive moves with backup dancers. He had no say in those creative choices, so he just chose not to watch.

There was also one other reason he didn’t want to admit: he was afraid that watching too many of her performances would make him fall helplessly in love with her, causing him to act irrationally.

Although he was reluctant to admit it, this third reason was key.

Britney’s charm was undeniable. Not only was she wealthy and beautiful, but she also had a great personality—kind, lively, and cheerful.

And when she was on stage, she shone even brighter, her charm multiplying. Facing a woman like that, Luca couldn’t help but be cautious.

The rehearsal on stage continued.

Luca quietly watched Britney, reflecting on how lucky he was to have been with her for more than two years. If possible, he wanted to stay with her even longer.

Suddenly, Britney glanced over at him, winked playfully, and flashed a mischievous smile.

Luca blew a kiss from his hand and pointed at her, giving a slight smile.

“Hmph!”

Felicia couldn’t hold back anymore. She glared at Britney on stage, then looked back at Luca with disdain.

The situation reminded him of another assistant—Aniston’s assistant, Vina.

Vina never gave him a friendly look either.

Sometimes, he was confused. He was clearly a handsome guy, a super sexy man. Why did some women fall for him, while others just always seemed to hate him?

It was another one of life’s unsolved mysteries.

"Felicia, what’s wrong?"

"What’s wrong?" Felicia almost laughed out loud. This idiot was interrupting the rehearsal and had the nerve to ask what was wrong—especially with that innocent look on his face, as if none of it had anything to do with him.

Felicia took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly. "Luca, what do you think of Britney?"

"Britney? She’s amazing, of course. Anyone who says otherwise is just wrong," Luca replied confidently.

Felicia rolled her eyes. "You’ve known Britney for almost three years, right?"

"Pretty much. We first met on February 25, 2003. That day, Britney was shooting the music video for ‘Toxic’ at the Helm Photography Studio in Queens. I was there for a cameo," Luca recalled, his memory sharp.

"Yeah, I was there too. Ugh, if only I had known…" Felicia put her face in her hands, deeply regretting it.

If she had known how entangled they would become, she would’ve stopped Britney from hiring him back then and never allowed them to meet.

But it was too late now.

Luca had already embedded himself in Britney’s life like a nail.

Even if they broke up in the future, Luca would forever be part of her personal history or documentary—he’d be the guy who haunted Britney for years.

"Felicia, if you had known what?"

"If I’d known you were this kind of man, do you think Britney would regret meeting you?" Felicia asked, her face stern.

"No," Luca sighed. "Even if it weren’t me, Luca Kelly, there’d be another man in her life.

Whoever it was, he’d never fully fit the role of Britney’s boyfriend, and Britney wouldn’t love him the way she loved Justin.

They’d date, maybe even marry, but they’d inevitably break up or divorce because not just anyone can be Britney’s husband.

When they eventually split, that man would ask for alimony, fight for custody of the children, and expose Britney’s personal life, leaving her world in chaos.

After going through so much heartbreak, combined with a career downturn or family issues, Britney could fall into depression, lose hope, or even take her own life."

"Shut up! Don’t say another word!" Felicia suddenly shouted, her hands trembling as she tried to cover his mouth.

"Don’t you dare say another word!" Felicia’s face had gone pale.

"Felicia, what’s wrong?"

The performance on stage stopped, and an assistant walked over to check. Britney, on stage, also looked over in confusion.

"Nothing, nothing. You guys keep rehearsing. I need to talk to Luca," Felicia waved them off, took a deep breath, and dragged Luca aside.

"Felicia’s bullying Luca again," Britney quipped as she resumed rehearsing.

(End of chapter)

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