391-395

Chapter 391: Ms. Zhang, Do You Want to Watch the Sunset at Sea?

On the second day of the Cannes Film Festival, the non-competition films continued to be screened at the Palais des Festivals. Six films were shown yesterday, and eight today.

These films were invited by the organizers, and many of the directors were well-known, with the films having an artistic touch.

Screening these films during the first two days serves two purposes: to warm up the festival and increase the films' popularity, and to elevate the festival's artistic atmosphere.

After attending the crew's promotional event in the afternoon, Luca wandered between different screening halls. Each hall was showing a different film, including the German film Crossing the Bridge, the Cambodian film The Burned Theater Actors, and the famous French director Bertrand Bonello's Cindy.

Zhang Ziyi's Princess Raccoon was the second-to-last film, scheduled for 5 PM. Luca made a call to her, and soon met up with Ms. Zhang.

“Hey~ Luca, I’m over here!”

Ms. Zhang, dressed in a Chanel gown, waved from the aisle with a radiant smile.

“Zhang, you look stunning!” Luca complimented as he glanced at her.

“Thank you!” Ms. Zhang smiled gently, “Luca, the movie’s about to start. Would you like to watch it together?”

“Of course!”

Luca walked over, and they entered side by side.

“Zhang, I’m actually a fan of yours. I’ve seen most of your films.”

“You’re my fan? Are you serious?”

Ms. Zhang couldn’t believe it.

Luca chuckled, “It’s true! I’ve seen The Road Home with Zhang Yimou, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with Ang Lee, Rush Hour 2 with Jackie Chan, and the recently released Hero and House of Flying Daggers in North America.

And I even saw your debut film Touching Starlight, where you played a girl with bone cancer, right?”

“You’ve seen Touching Starlight too? Now I believe you’re really my fan,” Ms. Zhang laughed, surprised but suspicious. Had he really seen it, or was he just prepared? If the latter, what was his intention? Was he trying to flirt with me?

“So, Luca, do you want my autograph?” Ms. Zhang joked.

“Could I?”

Luca held out his palm, “Zhang, please sign on my hand. Even though your name won’t stay, my heart will feel your touch.”

“Alright!”

Ms. Zhang laughed, playfully writing on his palm with her finger, ‘If you can read these words, I’ll go on a date with you.’

Luca raised an eyebrow, “Zhang, is your Chinese name that long?”

“Yes!”

Ms. Zhang released his hand.

“Thank you, I’ll keep this in my heart,” Luca said, pressing his hand to his chest and gazing into her eyes.

Ms. Zhang blushed and laughed, “Luca, do you know how we describe someone like you in Chinese?”

“How do you describe it?”

Luca asked, curious.

“Huā xīn dà luó bo,” Ms. Zhang replied in Chinese.

Luca raised an eyebrow, “Hmm, what does that mean?”

“A very beautiful radish!” Ms. Zhang said, suppressing a laugh.

“A radish? Is that a compliment?”

“Yes, in my hometown, we often use radish to describe a man who’s handsome, smart, and strong.”

Ms. Zhang said with a straight face, holding back her laughter.

“Oh, so that’s it. Radish, radish, I’m a radish kind of guy.”

“Pfft—”

Ms. Zhang couldn’t hold it in anymore and crouched down, giggling uncontrollably.

“Zhang, what’s wrong?” Luca stopped to ask.

“Haha, nothing, I’ll be fine soon.”

“Dear Zhang, should I stay with you?”

Luca bent down, asking.

“No, someone’s coming!”

Ms. Zhang playfully pushed him, using his shoulder to stand up, her cheeks flushed and warm.

She became alert, thinking, This guy is dangerous. He almost made me blush. I need to stay composed.

“Luca, let’s go inside.”

“OK!”

They entered the theater, which was nearly empty with just a couple hundred people.

Luca followed Zhang Ziyi to meet the crew of Princess Raccoon, including the veteran director Seijun Suzuki, a man in his seventies, and the leading actor Joe Odagiri, a handsome man from Japan.

After a few words, the film began. Luca and Ms. Zhang sat in the middle of the front row and watched a rather strange film.

Princess Raccoon tells the story of a cursed princess from the Tang Dynasty who falls in love with a wandering Japanese prince. After going through many trials, they break the curse and live a romantic and tragic love story.

The film was visually stunning, with beautiful scenery and great music. However, the director mixed in too much of his own style, blending Japanese opera, rock, rap, R&B, and Western opera, as well as combining traditional Japanese kabuki with ballet and tap dance.

Although this approach seemed to break the boundaries of art by merging modern and classical, Eastern and Western styles, Luca found it a bit noisy.

Different people have different preferences: some love rock but dislike rap, others like street dance but not ballet. For those who didn’t appreciate the mix, they wouldn’t like the movie.

The director tried to express too much, making it feel overdone.

After the film, Luca stood and applauded, congratulating the crew.

“Luca, did you enjoy the film?”

Ms. Zhang asked.

“Yes, it was a beautiful film with gorgeous cinematography, especially the scene with the ink-wash painting background. That was breathtaking! And you in a kimono, wow, absolutely stunning!”

Luca exaggerated.

“Thank you, but the reception hasn’t been great.”

Ms. Zhang was worried, as a third of the audience had left before the movie ended. It was clear that people didn’t appreciate it much.

“That doesn’t mean anything. It’s like Socrates’ works—many don’t read them.”

“Haha, Luca, you’re good at comforting people.”

Ms. Zhang laughed.

Luca smirked, “Zhang, since the movie’s over, how about going for a walk? The evening scenery in Cannes is beautiful. Let’s take a yacht out to sea and watch the sunset.”

Ms. Zhang froze, her heart pounding. He was already asking her out after just a few meetings. So direct, and a yacht ride at night—what would happen next? It wasn’t hard to imagine.

Should she say yes?

He was handsome, strong, and worth millions, with his own film company. She had even heard his nickname was Mr. Big. The thought made her heart race even more.

“Zhang, are you okay? Do you feel unwell?”

Luca stepped closer, holding her shoulders.

“Oh, I’m fine!”

Ms. Zhang leaned toward him, inhaling his masculine scent, her face growing even hotter as she bit her lip, ready to agree.

But then she remembered her earlier resolve to be cautious. If she agreed so easily, it wouldn’t seem very reserved.

“Luca, I’m sorry, but I can’t go. Director Suzuki said there’s another crew event later, and I need to attend. You know how busy it gets when a movie premieres.”

Ms. Zhang carefully explained, looking into his eyes.

“Is that so? What a shame.”

Luca spread his hands in regret. “Zhang, go ahead. Let’s plan for next time!”

“Sure, when I go to Los Angeles, I’ll ask you out!”

“Goodbye, Zhang.”

Luca gave her a quick hug on the shoulder and walked away, looking graceful and poised.

Watching his tall figure disappear, Ms. Zhang bit her lip, stamped her foot, and ran after him.

“Luca!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 392: I Saw You Kissing Her*

"Woo~ Luca, stop! Don’t do this!"

A moment later, at the corner of the hallway, Miss Zhang pushed his hand away, her face flushed red. She quickly ran back to the theater, looking like a startled deer.

Watching her retreat, Luca smiled slightly. Chinese women really play on a different level.

Just as they were about to leave the theater, Miss Zhang had suddenly caught up to him, hugged him, and in the dim light, kissed his cheek.

Luca was momentarily stunned by her bold move, but being the playboy he was, how could he let such an opportunity slip by?

As Miss Zhang was about to leave, he pulled her close by the waist and gave her a passionate kiss.

Had it not been for Miss Zhang’s soft fists pounding on his chest, they might’ve ended up in the car by now.

But the fact they didn’t was even more fun for him. He enjoyed the tantalizing game of push and pull.

Luca smiled smugly, already looking forward to their next meeting.

"Player!"

Just as he was reveling in his thoughts, a voice in Chinese called out nearby.

He looked over, surprised, and saw a fresh-faced beauty.

She was dressed in a casual, fashionable outfit, hands in her pockets, a cap on her head, and she walked past him with her chin up, as if she hadn’t even seen him.

"Hey, Gao! What a coincidence, what are you doing here?" Luca greeted her in English, stepping forward.

"Oh, Mr. Luca, you sure are busy today," Miss Gao Yuan replied with a slight smirk.

"Why would you say that?"

Luca asked, puzzled.

"Haha, I just saw you watching a movie with Scarlett, and now you're here with Zhang Ziyi. Isn’t it tiring, running back and forth like this?"

Miss Gao wrinkled her nose.

"Yes, I watched a movie with Scarlett this afternoon. But how do you know that? Were you following me?"

Luca looked at her suspiciously.

Miss Gao blushed instantly. "You, stop talking nonsense! I just happened to be around, I wasn’t following you."

"Really? What a coincidence. In Chinese, we’d call this 'fate,' right?" Luca teased.

Miss Gao rolled her eyes. This guy had even mastered the Chinese concept of fate. Was he learning Chinese just to pick up girls?

"It’s not fate, just a coincidence!" she said, trying to maintain a serious expression.

"Fine, coincidence then. But didn’t Lu Xun say that coincidences are often the start of fate?"

"Did Lu Xun really say that?" Miss Gao asked, confused.

"Uh, maybe. Whether he did or didn’t, it means we’re fated," Luca said, pointing out the window. "Gao, the sunset outside is beautiful. How about a walk?"

Miss Gao stopped and looked at him warily. "What do you want? Don’t tell me you’re trying to hit on me too?"

"No, please don’t misunderstand. I just find talking with you interesting. I’d like to be friends, just friends. Nothing more," Luca said earnestly.

"Really, just friends?" Miss Gao asked suspiciously.

"Yes, I swear. I categorize my female friends into two types: ones I sleep with and ones I don’t. You’re in the second group—just talking, drinking, discussing work. You can rest assured, I won’t break my own rules."

Luca remained serious.

"Oh really? And how do you make that distinction?" Miss Gao asked, intrigued.

"I can explain, but are we really going to talk about this standing here? How about a coffee?" Luca pointed at the nearby Starbucks.

". . . Fine!" Miss Gao agreed, adjusting her cap and falling behind him slightly, like a sidekick, as they entered the café.

"How about we sit over there?" Miss Gao asked, pointing to a corner.

"Of course!" Luca smiled, ordered a vanilla latte and an iced tea, and joined her in the corner.

"Here’s your latte," he said.

"Thanks," Miss Gao replied, adjusting her hair as she held her coffee. "So, can you explain now?"

"Explain what?"

Miss Gao stared at him, her eyes filled with frustration.

"Oh, right, you wanted to know how I categorize female friends? It’s simple. For the ones I sleep with, there has to be mutual attraction."

"Just mutual attraction, and you sleep with them?" Miss Gao asked skeptically.

"Not exactly. Many women want to sleep with me, but I’m selective. I take it seriously," Luca explained.

"Pfft, sorry, but I couldn’t help laughing at that," Miss Gao said, covering her mouth with her cup.

Luca shook his head. "It’s okay. You’ve been misled by rumors, thinking I’m some player. Most of those rumored girlfriends are actually just the second type of friend—work friends."

"Such as?"

"Like Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron, Rachel McAdams, Amanda, Lindsay, Miranda, Jessica—they’re all just work friends."

Miss Gao couldn’t help but bite her lip. All his friends were famous, beautiful actresses. She was definitely envious. She made a mental note to have him introduce her to some of them next time.

"And what about the first type? Wouldn’t that be too personal to discuss?" Miss Gao asked cautiously.

Luca smiled. "Sharing personal things is often how friendships start, right? Besides, some things aren’t secrets in our circles, so it’s fine."

"Go on then."

"There aren’t many in the first category—just my girlfriend Lima, Britney, Scarlett, and one other I’ll keep secret for now."

"Only four?" Miss Gao counted on her fingers, not even needing a full hand. She didn’t quite believe it.

"Yes. I told you, I’m not that easy. Or rather, I’m picky. For me to want to sleep with a woman, she has to have a good personality, be beautiful, sexy, and curvy. Lima, Britney, and Scarlett all fit that description."

"Beautiful, sexy, curvy?" Miss Gao thought for a moment. It was true that Lima, Britney, and Scarlett were all known for their voluptuous figures.

Her eyes twinkled. "So, you said you’re not interested in me. Does that mean I’m not beautiful, sexy, or curvy enough?" she asked, feigning displeasure.

"Haha, not exactly. You’re very beautiful. But I find your personality more interesting. I enjoy talking to you more than the idea of sleeping with you."

". . ."

Miss Gao clenched her fists, resisting the urge to punch him.

What did he mean, "enjoy talking more than sleeping with her"? How would he know if it wasn’t fun without trying?

Her mind briefly wandered to inappropriate thoughts. Chatting while in bed… Wait, what was she even thinking? Gao Yuan, stop being so dirty!

Her ears turned red as she quickly took a sip of coffee to hide her embarrassment. Suddenly, she remembered something.

"But you kissed Zhang Ziyi earlier. She’s not curvy at all," Miss Gao said, puffing out her chest slightly in comparison.

"No, Zhang is petite but quite sexy. As for being curvy, not many Eastern women are."

"Hah! That’s because you haven’t seen enough. When you visit China, you’ll see plenty of curvy women. In fact, there was a time in China when being chubby was considered beautiful."

"Uh, I like curvy women, but not hundreds of pounds. Please don’t get me wrong," Luca clarified.

"Haha, okay, but trust me, you’ll see plenty of them."

Miss Gao smiled mischievously, imagining introducing him to a 200-pound masseuse to give him a back rub when he visits China.

"Luca, you said Zhang Ziyi was nice. Are you planning to sleep with her?"

"Yes, I’ve watched a lot of her movies, and I admire her. When I met her at Cannes, I wanted to ask her out. And, well, yes, I did think about sleeping with her. But Zhang turned me down, which was disappointing."

Luca sighed, looking regretful.

"She turned you down?" Miss Gao frowned. "Then why did she kiss you just now?"

"I think it was a goodbye kiss. Since she couldn’t date me, she wanted to part on good terms. That kiss we shared was probably the last one."

Luca touched his lips wistfully.

"Pfft, you’re such a fool!" Miss Gao said dismissively.

From what she knew, Zhang Ziyi wasn’t someone who would easily turn down a rich, handsome, and talented guy like Luca. If she rejected him, why did she turn around and kiss him?

It was clearly a teasing tactic. But poor Luca was too naïve to see through the game. Didn’t he know that Chinese girls who grew up reading "The 36 Stratagems" were far from innocent?

"Why am I a fool, Gao?" Luca asked, confused.

"She’s playing hard to get."

"Playing hard to get? What does that mean?"

"Ugh…"

Feeling sorry for her friend, Miss Gao decided to explain Zhang’s tricks, like revealing a magic show’s secrets.

"Now do you get it?"

"Nope!"

Luca thought for a moment. "You’re saying she wants to use my connections to break into international circles. But that’s fine. We’re friends, and if she needs my help, I’d gladly assist her."

"Forget it," Miss Gao sighed. "You’re like Zhou Yu hitting

---

"I don't get it!" Luca mused. "You said she wants to use my resources to go international. That doesn’t seem like a big deal. We're friends. If she needs my help, she doesn't even need to ask—I’d be happy to help her."

"Forget it~ Like the saying goes, 'Zhou Yu beats Huang Gai: one willing to hit, the other willing to take it.' I can't do anything about it." Miss Gao said helplessly.

"Zhou Yu and Huang Gai? Who are they? Why are they fighting? And what is this ‘Bengong’ thing?"

Miss Gao blinked at him, unsure how to explain. Should she hand him a copy of Romance of the Three Kingdoms? Also, Bengong isn’t a "thing," okay?

Smack!

Just as she was wondering how to explain these historical figures, someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around, surprised, only to see the three people she least wanted to see: Director Wang Dashuai, Li Bing, and Qin Hao from the film crew.

"Uh, why are you all here?" she asked.

"Haha, Yuanyuan, moving pretty fast, huh?" Director Wang winked.

"Yuanyuan, we tried calling you several times but couldn't get through. Turns out, you’re here on a date," Li Bing winked as well.

"Sorry to interrupt," Qin Hao said coolly, clasping his hands together in a polite gesture.

"No, it’s not what you think!" Miss Gao's cheeks flushed red, and she stammered in her explanation.

"Director Wang, Mr. Li, Mr. Qin, would you like to join us?" Luca stood up politely.

"Oh, no thanks. Mr. Luca, you and Yuanyuan continue chatting; we won’t intrude," Director Wang replied in English.

"Director Wang, your movie is fantastic! You’re definitely going to win a big award this time," Luca said, shaking his hand.

"Thank you for the kind words, Mr. Luca. Your movie is also great!" Director Wang responded.

"Yuanyuan, Mr. Luca, you two keep talking. We've got to run," Director Wang said, then turned to Miss Gao with a wink before leaving with his coffee.

"Wait! We’re not on a date!" Miss Gao stood up to explain but could only watch as the trio quickly disappeared from sight. Her ears turned even redder. This is bad—now even if she jumped into the Yellow River, she couldn’t wash this off.

"What's wrong, Gao?" Luca asked.

"Luca, it’s getting late. I should head home." Miss Gao, her face still flushed, stood up and started walking, trying to catch up with the others and explain.

"I’ll walk you home, Gao," Luca offered.

"No, no need!"

"Come on, it’s dark. There are lots of drunk homeless people on the streets at night. It's not safe for a pretty girl like you to walk alone."

"Alright then, thank you!"

The two walked side by side.

"Gao, your movie is really good. You’ll win a big award this time. Want to know what award?" Luca asked as they walked.

"You know?" Miss Gao looked at him curiously.

"Yes! I have a friend on the jury," Luca replied as he sat back down on a bench outside the café.

"Can you tell me what award?" Miss Gao asked, blinking her big eyes with curiosity.

"I can, but can we sit down first? My legs are a bit tired," Luca said, rubbing his legs.

"Didn’t you just stand up?" Miss Gao grumbled.

"You know, I was at an event earlier and stood for hours."

Miss Gao blinked. She suddenly felt like this guy wasn’t as innocent as he seemed.

"Luca, you better not be lying to me. Otherwise, I won’t be friends with you anymore."

"Of course!" Luca said, a small smile playing on his lips.

(End of Chapter)

---

Chapter 393: "You’ve Snatched All the Beauties in Hollywood—Of Course People Hate You!"

On July 4th, the seventh day of the Cannes Film Festival, Luca returned to New York.

During this trip, he spent the first three days in Cannes and then traveled with the "Match Point" crew to various European cities promoting the new movie, which took another four or five days.

Originally, the plan was to return after the 10th, but some negative press about him had recently surfaced in the American media.

Certain newspapers and magazines took advantage of the hype surrounding "Match Point" to both critique his acting and subtly smear him.

The smear tactics were crude. Lacking any fresh material, they rehashed old scandals.

They claimed he had previously hired escorts without paying them and accused him of rising to fame purely through tabloid gossip.

The reports even went into great detail, listing the women he'd allegedly been involved with: Britney, Jessica, Bundchen, and Ms. Aniston.

In addition to these familiar names, three more were added this time—Miranda, Lindsay Lohan, and Scarlett.

Why add these three? Well, they had worked with Luca and shared a good relationship with him.

Plus, these three were all hot in 2024—Miranda was a rising fashion model, Lindsay Lohan was a young Hollywood starlet, and Scarlett was the new "sex symbol."

Gossip linking these women to Luca was bound to draw attention.

Luca didn’t care much about these rumors. He believed in the saying, "Those who are innocent remain innocent." He couldn't be bothered to explain.

However, Ed was worried once the news hit and urged him to come back sooner.

"This is trouble, Luca!"

In the office, Ed put down the newspaper, his forehead wrinkled like a terraced field.

"Why is this trouble? When I had rumors with Britney, you weren’t this worried."

Luca crossed his legs, holding a coffee cup and enjoying the aroma.

"This time’s different. When you had rumors with Britney, you were still just a small model. No matter what, it didn’t have much impact.

But now things are different.

You’re a B-list actor now, and if you want to keep advancing in America, you need the support of the American audience.

Now, with so many rumors involving the biggest stars in the country, it looks like you’ve claimed all the beauties in Hollywood. Do you think there’s any chance the American audience will still like you?"

"Claimed them all? Isn’t that an exaggeration?"

Luca chuckled lightly.

"Hmph, you tell me—Britney, Aniston, Jessica, Bundchen, Lima, and now newcomers like Miranda, Scarlett, and Lindsay. Do you know how many Americans adore these women?"

Ed raised a finger. "At least 100 million, mostly young to middle-aged men, who make up the mainstream consumer group. You’re a Brazilian who’s come to America and taken their goddesses. Do you think they’ll be happy about that? If they’re not happy, will they still go watch your movies?"

Luca shrugged, "Can’t I just say we’re all friends?"

"That won’t work."

Ed pulled out an issue of Hollywood Movie News.

"This magazine conducted a survey last month, interviewing 1,000 Americans about their opinions on you—whether they liked, hated, or didn’t care about you. Guess how many people hated you?"

"How many?"

"Sixty-two percent," Ed said seriously.

"Better than I expected. I thought it would be over 80%."

Luca flipped through the magazine and smirked.

The survey was poorly conducted.

The respondents were mostly young men.

The questionnaire only had 10 questions, things like "Do you know Brazilian actor Luca?" "Have you seen his work?" "How does he compare to Leo?" "Do you know how many rumored girlfriends he’s had?"

All the questions were biased nonsense.

He skimmed it and tossed the magazine aside.

"Ed, it’s obvious this magazine is trying to discredit me, painting me as the enemy of the American people. Once Americans see this survey, they’ll get the wrong idea—that most Americans dislike me. This misconception will inevitably affect my future projects. The company should send them a legal notice."

"Yes, we’ve sent one, but the magazine is already out. All we can do now is try to minimize the negative impact."

Ed spoke seriously.

"What should I do?" Luca frowned.

"First, stay out of trouble. No more rumors."

"Okay. What else?"

"Do more positive things—participate in charity events, show your caring side and your good character, go on talk shows, and engage with your audience. Show the American people your charm and talent."

Ed pulled out a detailed PR plan titled Saving Luca’s Image and began to explain it all.

"What do you think?"

"It’s okay, but I’ve got a lot of work coming up, and I don’t have that much time for all this."

Luca shook his head.

"Luca, I think saving your image should be our top priority."

"Saving?"

Luca smiled. "Ed, you’re too stressed out. You’re taking those negative stories way too seriously. As an actor, what really matters are box office numbers. Do you know how much 'Match Point' grossed in its first week in the U.S.?"

"How much? I haven’t had time to check."

"With under 1,000 theaters, it made $8.5 million, with an average occupancy rate over 75%. The Rotten Tomatoes score is 81%, with over 2,300 U.S. users voting. Isn’t the opinion of Rotten Tomatoes more authoritative and fair than a survey from a small magazine?"

Luca smiled confidently.

Ed checked the data on his computer and nodded slightly.

"Not bad. These stats can be used as ammunition to fight back against the gossip and give film companies more confidence in you.

But we still need to implement that image-saving plan I mentioned."

"Fine, you arrange it. I’ll try to make time. But I really want to know who’s behind all this."

"That’ll be hard to figure out. You know how it is—this year you’ve become incredibly popular, and you’ve risen too fast, attracting jealousy.

And you’ve had way too many rumors. Whether it’s celebs from the '60s, '70s, '80s, or even the '90s, you’ve been linked with some of the prettiest women from each decade. Honestly, any American with a sense of justice—including myself—would want to bash you a little."

Ed spoke bluntly.

Luca shot him a displeased look. "You say I’ve been with '70s and '80s stars, fine, I’ll own that. But '60s and '90s? Please, the oldest 90s-born actress is only 16 this year. When did I ever mess around with them? Ed, you’d better explain this right now, or I’m suing you for slander."

"Uh, that... I was just speaking off the cuff. Luca, I’m sorry. I promise I won’t misspeak like that again."

Ed smiled awkwardly.

Luca scoffed and downed his coffee.

"Ed, instead of falsely accusing me, why not spend more time figuring out who’s really behind this? Besides Pitt and the usual suspects, are there any newcomers? I can’t touch Pitt for now, but I can crush the others."

"Alright, I’ll look into it and let you know if I find anything."

"Okay!"

Luca put on his sunglasses and left the office.

It was the afternoon, and the company was busy with people constantly coming and going through the hallways.

As he passed by, people greeted him, giving the company’s top guy the respect he deserved.

Luca didn’t act cold or aloof. Whenever someone greeted him, he politely responded. It took him over ten minutes to walk to the company’s lounge area.

“Luca, I’m over here!”

A girl stood up from the couch in the lounge, nervously waving her hand.

She was dressed in a stylish white Calvin Klein dress, looking chic and bright, though her flushed cheeks revealed a bit of shyness.

“Irene, how have you been lately?”

Luca smiled, catching a whiff of a fresh vanilla-citrus scent, light and clean.

“I’m doing great! Luca, thank you! I can finally stay here!”

Irene Zhang clasped her hands in front of her, her sweet smile reminding Luca of the early days with Miranda.

“Thank me? For what?”

Luca chuckled.

The girl glanced at him, smiling, “Thank you for helping me. If you hadn’t recommended me, Mr. Dominic wouldn’t have signed me. Without you, I’d probably be out of a job by now.”

“It’s nothing. I just said a few words. The fact that you’re staying here is entirely because you’re talented.”

“No, no way. There were so many people in our group better than me.”

“Irene!”

Luca stopped walking and looked into her eyes. “Irene, this is America. Humility won’t get you far. The fact that you’re still here means you’re better than the others.

And that excellence isn’t just about your walk, language, or looks. It’s more about a complete package. Like how you had the initiative to find me and get my attention—that’s also a form of excellence. The company kept you because they saw that too. Do you understand?”

“I get it.”

Irene’s cheeks turned pink as she brushed her hair aside. “But I still have to thank you. Do you have time today? I’d love to treat you to dinner!”

“Treat me to dinner?”

Luca smirked, “Alright. Across the street at the Trump Tower, Jean-Georges has a few new dishes. How about we try them?”

“Wha—?!”

Jean-Georges was a Michelin three-star restaurant. A simple dish there costs dozens of dollars. If she ate there, she probably wouldn’t be able to afford tampons next month.

“Irene, what’s wrong? Is it inconvenient?”

“No, no, it’s fine. Let’s go to Jean-Georges.”

Irene steeled herself. Fine, if they’re going, they’re going. Worst case, she’ll live off instant noodles next month.

Once she made up her mind, she didn’t hesitate anymore, striding forward with her long legs, now walking with a bit of bold confidence.

“Irene, this way!”

Luca grabbed her hand, saying, “We can take this way directly to the underground parking garage.”

“Oh, okay!”

His hand on hers made her body jolt, her face turning bright red, and the boldness from moments ago vanished in an instant.

When they reached the elevator, Luca let go of her hand.

Irene breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a bit disappointed.

His hand was big, warm, and strong, and being held by him gave her a sense of security. If only he could keep holding it...

Ah, Irene Zhang, snap out of it! Stop daydreaming!

Her face grew even redder.

“Irene, the elevator’s here!”

Luca gently tugged her hand.

“Oh, right! I’m coming!”

Blushing, the girl walked into the elevator.

Not far away, Ed watched the two of them, his face darkening.

“That guy, he definitely has ulterior motives.”

“Should we give Kate a call and ask her to deal with him?”

“Hehehe~ Let’s do just that!”

(End of chapter)

Chapter 394: That Night Was Pretty Embarrassing

"Luca, thank you for today. Next time, it’s on me, okay?"

"Alright, I’ve always heard that Chinese food is the best in the world. How about we go to Chinatown next time and try some authentic Chinese dishes?"

"Sure, it’s a deal!"

That afternoon, in the Harrison district of New York, Luca slowly stopped his car in front of an apartment building.

"Bye, Luca. Take care on your way home!"

The girl smiled sweetly and stepped out of the car with her handbag.

"Wait, Elin! You forgot something!"

Luca called out to her, pulling out a Gucci-branded box from the backseat and handing it to her.

"Ah~ that's not mine," the girl hesitated for a moment, waving her hand.

"Elin, it’s definitely yours. The restaurant gave it as a gift for you. Actually, they give one to every beautiful girl who dines there. Pretty girls are a beautiful sight, which enhances the dining experience for other customers. It’s a marketing strategy," Luca said with a straight face.

"Really?"

Zilin blinked. The box clearly contained a Gucci bag from the latest summer collection, worth thousands of dollars—way more expensive than the meal. If the restaurant gave gifts like this, they’d go out of business in no time.

"Of course, Elin. Maybe we can go back next time and collect more gifts?"

Luca chuckled.

The girl rolled her eyes but smiled. "Luca, please thank the restaurant owner for me!"

"You're welcome—on behalf of the owner, of course."

Luca smiled gently and drove off.

Watching his car blend into the traffic, the girl glanced at the box in her hand, then at her own purse, a Kate Spade from 2001 that she had scored for $100.

"Hmph, he must think my bag is too outdated and that I’d embarrass him at a fancy restaurant. What a liar!"

The girl smiled to herself, holding the gift box as she cheerfully skipped into the apartment building.

---

Beep beep~

As the evening sun set over Manhattan’s Third Avenue, the streets were packed with noisy traffic. Luca slowed down to answer a phone call, only to be honked at by the car behind him.

Ignoring it, he pulled out his phone and glanced at it, his eyes flashing with surprise. Why was she calling?

"Hey, Ivanka, long time no hear," he greeted the caller, who was none other than Ivanka, a girl he had met at a fashion show. She later went to school and started dating a wealthy guy, so they hadn't kept in touch much.

"Yeah, I’ve missed hearing your voice."

"Then why didn’t you call me?"

"Would you believe me if I said your voice makes me nervous?"

"Really?"

The girl laughed over the phone.

"Of course. Ivanka, I’ve been to many countries and met many people, including lots of beautiful women, but none of them compare to you—you’re breathtaking."

"Breathtaking? Haha, Luca, is that your line for charming girls?"

"No, it’s not a line. It’s an honest compliment, Ivanka. Remember the last time we danced? You asked why I was nervous. It’s because you’re so beautiful, I couldn’t catch my breath."

"Haha~"

The girl burst into laughter, seemingly recalling their time dancing together.

"Luca, I just saw you."

"Really? Were you the driver honking at me just now?"

Luca glanced in his rearview mirror. The car behind him had just passed, and the female driver gave him a middle finger—until she recognized his face and quickly waved excitedly instead.

Luca smiled and picked up speed.

"No, I saw you at Jean-Georges, the restaurant. You were with an Asian girl, right?"

"You were at Jean-Georges too?"

"Yeah, I wanted to say hi, but you looked like you were having a great time with that girl, so I didn’t want to interrupt. Wasn’t that considerate of me?"

"Haha, you’re such a thoughtful friend," Luca said, slightly rolling his eyes. She was probably dining with her boyfriend. In front of him, there’s no way she would admit knowing ‘playboy Luca.’

Rumor had it in the entertainment world: once a girl met Luca, her morals would slip by half.

"Luca, what’s with the date with the Asian girl? Trying something different?"

"Not really."

Luca considered explaining, but then shrugged it off. "No, I’m not a racist. I don’t date based on race or skin color, just their souls. A beautiful face is common, but an interesting soul is rare. I’m searching the world for the most intriguing soul."

"Wow~ They say all players are smooth talkers, and I’m starting to believe it now."

The girl laughed again.

"Are you calling just to mock me, dear Ivanka?"

"Haha, of course not. I wanted to tell you I’ve graduated from college and started working at Trump Real Estate. We should catch up sometime—you’re always fun to talk to."

"Sure, I’m in New York shooting a film right now, so I have plenty of free time. Let’s meet up when you're available."

"Okay!" The girl paused for a moment before adding, "Luca, do you think I have an interesting soul?"

"I don’t know. I get so nervous just holding your hand that I wouldn’t dare touch your soul!"

"Haha, Luca, I’m convinced you do have an interesting soul."

The girl laughed again and hung up.

Luca sighed, shaking his head. Being too handsome always attracted attention.

His kidneys: Too much pressure!

His spine: I’m under even more pressure!

Mr. Big: ┓(╯_╰)┏

---

About ten minutes later, Luca drove back to 76th Street.

"Kate, I’m home!"

He walked into the quiet apartment, carrying some takeout. The soothing sounds of piano music flowed from the AVANCE speakers.

By the floor-to-ceiling window, in the seat he used to enjoy, Kate sat with her long legs crossed, quietly reading a book.

After placing the takeout in the kitchen, he walked over to her.

"Kate, what are you reading?"

Luca glanced at the cover, which read "Feminism." He couldn’t help but shiver. Books with titles ending in "-ism" always made him nervous.

"I’m reading about the rumors of you and your three new girlfriends," Kate said, batting her long lashes and glancing at him.

"Uh~"

That was a blatant lie, but he wouldn’t dare use such blunt language with Kate. If he did, she would respond with something far more brutal.

"The reports are all nonsense," Luca said, pulling a chair close to her and gently massaging her legs. "Kate, you know there’s nothing between me and Miranda. I’m taking the blame for you, after all."

"As my younger brother, isn’t it your duty to cover for me?"

Kate replied matter-of-factly.

"Fine, yes, it’s my duty."

Luca pressed her legs a bit harder.

"And what about Lindsay and Scarlett? Don’t tell me nothing’s going on with them either."

"Me and Lindsay? There’s nothing. That girl’s just a big mouth who says whatever comes to mind."

Last month, Lindsay Lohan had been a guest on a talk show, and when asked about Luca, she called him a "player" and a "liar," with a hurt expression, as if he had dumped her.

Since then, rumors had spread.

Luca was secretly grateful that he had stopped himself from crossing any moral boundaries back when they were alone in the makeup room.

"And Scarlett?"

Kate asked, smiling as if she were listening to a juicy story.

"That… is true."

Luca lowered his head, hugging her legs tighter, bracing himself.

"True? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

Kate wasn’t pleased.

"I didn’t want to because it’s kind of embarrassing."

Luca looked down, feeling a little ashamed.

"Spill it!"

"Uh, it was last August in London…"

"Last year? You’ve kept this from me for a whole year?"

Kate pinched his nose in protest.

"Kate, I told you, it’s embarrassing. After the wrap party, I drank too much, and then…"

"Wait, don’t tell me a woman forced herself on you!"

Kate’s face lit up with amusement.

"No, no, I woke up and realized it was all me. I wasn’t taken advantage of."

"But you were taken advantage of! Haha, a woman took advantage of you!"

"╥﹏╥"

Should’ve never said anything—this is way too embarrassing.

╯￣Д￣)╯╘═╛

"Stop laughing and let’s eat!"

Even a patient man has his limits. Luca pushed Kate’s long legs aside and shouted.

"Hahaha~ Oh, my stomach hurts~"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 395: How About We Have a Few More Kids?*

“It seems like you’ve had a lot of negative news lately.”

“Yeah, when you’re famous, people like to talk. I think a lot of people are envious of how well I’ve done this year.”

It was noon in Long Island Park, with the sun shining brightly. Luca, wearing a hat, was pushing a baby stroller along the sidewalk, with Mrs. Aniston walking beside him.

After over three months of rest and exercise, Mrs. Aniston’s body had gradually recovered, from being overweight to just slightly chubby. Her figure was soft and curvy, her complexion rosy, and her skin fair and delicate.

She spoke with a gentle smile on her lips, no longer showing the worries and irritability she had during menopause.

“Famous? Are you really that famous?”

Aniston turned her head slightly, smiling indulgently at him, as if she were looking at a child.

“Well, maybe not as famous as you, but I’ve had a pretty good year. Step Up was a huge success, Match Point has been doing great at the box office worldwide, and I’ve also signed on for The Departed. Compared to other new actors, I’m way ahead. Some people might be jealous and want to take me down a notch.”

“Do you need any help? You are the father of my kids, and I don’t want to see you getting pushed around.”

Aniston gently wrapped her arm around his.

“Thanks, sweetheart, but I’ve got it under control. It’s just a small issue this time, I can handle it.”

Luca kissed her hair and shared Ed’s plan with her.

Over the past few days, he had been participating in several charity events, auctions, and talk shows with Ed to dilute the negative news with positive stories, aiming to shift the media's perception of him.

After a few busy days, he wasn’t sure if it had worked, but his personal expenses had gone up, leaving him with less spending money.

“This kind of PR is necessary. People everywhere have a bit of xenophobia. For someone from abroad, being too famous can backfire. If you want more support, it’s better to keep things low-key.”

“I get it, stay humble and grow quietly, right?”

“That's a bit crude, but yeah, that’s the idea.”

Aniston laughed softly. “I bet Pitt will make a move too. He’s been having detectives investigate the kids secretly. I heard the kids have dark eyes, and he’s furious. He might do something next.”

“I’ll be ready.”

Luca looked down at the two little ones.

When they had first gone out, the kids had been wide-eyed, curiously looking around. But after a bit of sunshine, their eyes were starting to close again.

The eldest, George, was sucking on his pacifier, his little hand clutching his foot.

His younger sister, Catherine, was pulling on George’s ear, drooling from the corner of her mouth.

“Look! Catherine’s bullying George again. She’s going to be something when she grows up,”

Aniston gently moved Catherine’s little hand, wiped her mouth, and pulled the sunshade down a bit further.

“This little one is just like her aunt, a little queen already.”

“Haha, she does remind me of Kate. Last time, she couldn’t stop hugging George and didn’t want to let go when she left.”

Aniston laughed.

“Haha, Kate’s got a bit of a preference for boys.”

“No way! She’s a feminist, you know.”

Aniston covered her mouth, laughing.

“That’s just a front. She only joined those feminist groups because she found them interesting. If she ever gets bored of it, she’ll quit just as easily.”

“Okay, I admit, Kate’s unique. Before I knew her, she seemed cold and hard to approach, but after getting to know her, I realized she’s fun and lively. I love talking to her, and now we’re good friends.”

“She said the same about you. She thinks you’re an amazing woman, someone every woman aspires to be.”

“Haha, well, she’s the one to be envious of—young, beautiful, and talented. You know, when I was younger, my dream was to be a writer, just like Kate. A beautiful, successful author.”

“Come on, both of you are incredible, and you both deserve admiration!”

Luca chuckled softly, pushing the stroller out of the park.

By noon, the July sun was even hotter. The two of them pushed the stroller down a wide, tree-lined path.

Tall pines and oaks spread their thick branches, casting large patches of shade on the ground.

Cicadas buzzed from within the leaves, adding to the peacefulness of the surroundings.

Luca wore a white T-shirt and casual pants as he pushed the stroller.

Aniston, in a loose beige dress, walked beside him with her arm through his, speaking softly.

The two moved in harmony, their figures closely intertwined in a peaceful and serene scene.

Around them was a team of security personnel, keeping an eye out to prevent paparazzi from snapping pictures.

“Mrs. Aniston and Mr. Kelly are heading back home. Keep an eye on things; this is a private area. If you spot anyone with a camera, take them down immediately.”

The security assistant, seated in the car, spoke into his walkie-talkie.

“Got it, boss!”

Several security guards did a thorough sweep and actually caught a paparazzo in the trees, confiscating two cameras and a phone.

The incident didn’t disturb Luca and Aniston.

About ten minutes later, they returned to their villa.

Luca carried little Catherine, while Aniston carried George, placing the two little ones in the nursery under the care of the nanny.

“Luca, this is the release plan for The Blind Side. Do you want to take a look?”

Back in the living room, Aniston pointed to a folder on the sofa.

“I’ll skip it. Just let me know when I need to show up for something.”

Luca poured two glasses of juice and handed one to her.

“Alright. The Blind Side is set to release around Thanksgiving, just in time for the Oscars.”

Aniston took a sip of juice.

“Oscars? Are they aiming for an Oscar run?”

“Yep. I’ve seen the final cut of the movie, and it’s even better than expected. Everyone’s saying it’s thanks to you.”

Aniston smiled at him.

“Because my script was good?”

“Not just that. You took great care of me and everyone on set, making it easier for us to focus on the film.”

“So I was just the babysitter?”

Luca felt a bit wronged.

“Haha, no, sweetheart, you were the manager of the whole production.”

Aniston hugged his neck and gave him a kiss.

“I’m happy to be the babysitter—for you and the kids.”

Luca wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her deeply.

Since giving birth, Mrs. Aniston seemed to have undergone a transformation. Her skin was smoother, softer, and her scent was subtly sweet, like that of a young woman. It was irresistible.

“Mmm, sweetheart, not here, the babies are sleeping!”

“Alright, let’s take a nap too.”

Luca picked up his beloved and carried her to their third-floor bedroom.

“Sweetheart, how about we have a few more kids?”

Aniston lay on the bed, her eyes glowing softly with affection.

“What?”

“Don’t you like having little ones?”

“Of course I do!”

“Then what’s the hesitation? The doctor said my chances of getting pregnant are low, so if I can, I’ll have as many as possible. Each one is a gift from above—and from you.”

Aniston leaned into his chest, speaking gently.

“Jen, you’ll be the best mom.”

Luca cupped her face and kissed her lips.

The curtains fluttered softly in the breeze, the sunlight pouring in. Outside, the sound of cicadas buzzed louder from the woods as the warm breeze carried the sound through the summer air.

In their sun-filled Long Island villa, Luca spent a cozy weekend with Aniston and their children.

By Monday morning, he was back on the set of The Departed.

This time, it wasn’t in Boston, but in Manhattan’s Times Square, in the 4 Times Square building.

“Scene 6, Take 4, and… action!”

(End of Chapter)