331-335

*Chapter 331: Scarlett, What Do You Think of Luca?*

The next day, the weather was nice. After breakfast, Luca ran a few laps around Dalem Park and headed to the set at 9 a.m.

"Luca, Director Allen wants to see you!"

Ian, the director’s assistant, knocked on the dressing room door to remind him.

"Got it, Ian!"

After changing into his costume, Luca walked into the director’s area. Scarlett was already there, chatting with Director Allen. They were smoking and drinking coffee, looking quite in sync.

Luca greeted them and took a seat.

"Luca, Scarlett, you’re male and female leads. Your performances are crucial. If you do well, the quality of film will significantly improve. Among all the scenes, love scenes are most important. I called you here to ask: would you prefer to film love scenes first or tackle other parts of movie?"

Director Allen asked, crossing his legs and looking at them.

Luca scratched his head and glanced at Scarlett. She looked back at him, biting her lip with a smile, "I’m fine with either. What about you?"

Luca thought for a moment. "Director Allen, in the script, the love scenes are left blank. I just wanted to ask: to what extent are we supposed to film the love scenes? How much are we supposed to show? Is the film rated R or something more moderate?"

"Scarlett didn’t ask that many questions," Director Allen replied, throwing Luca a side-eye.

Luca chuckled. "Sorry, director. I’ve never done a love scene before, so I don’t have much experience. I need some guidelines to mentally prepare."

"I’ve seen you in Sex and the City, and you were practically naked in Along Came Polly,"

"Those were comedies, totally different," Luca said, shrugging.

Director Woody Allen shook his head, squinting at the two of them.

"The intensity of love scenes depends on your chemistry and performance. If you two really click and make it visually compelling, I’ll emphasize those parts more. If there’s no passion, then we’ll keep it brief."

"Keeping it brief is fine. Otherwise, it might turn into something risqué,"

Luca muttered under his breath.

"What did you say?"

Woody Allen frowned.

"Nothing. So, Director Allen, do you want us to do our best?"

"Of course. Why else would I have cast you two?"

Woody Allen said with a snort. From the beginning, when he conceptualized script, he knew leads had to be sexy. Both Luca and Scarlett were seen as heartthrobs by men and women alike. Putting them together would surely create something stunning.

"Got it. I’ll be prepared,"

Luca nodded.

"Me too!"

Scarlett said with a smile, holding her cigarette.

Woody Allen nodded. "Since neither of you has an issue, we’ll follow script’s flow. First, we’ll shoot the scenes where leads meet, and then first love scene. You’ll have about a week in between, so I hope you two can get to know each other better. When the time comes, I don’t want any awkwardness or stiff acting."

"Understood!"

Luca went off to prepare, while Scarlett, not scheduled for any scenes in the morning, stayed in director’s area to observe filming.

The scene being shot that day involved the male lead and the second male and female leads playing tennis together, with the female lead secretly hinting at her attraction to the male lead.

"Scarlett, what do you think of Luca?"

Director Allen turned and asked.

Scarlett, watching the monitor, nodded. "His acting is good. He’s got that charm—clever, smooth, polite—the kind of guy, girls would easily fall for."

"I’m not asking about his acting. I mean, what do you think of him as a person?"

Woody Allen handed her a cigarette.

"As a person?"

Scarlett propped her chin up and smiled. "Director Allen, you’re not trying to set me up with him, are you? He’s a notorious playboy with string of exes. I’m not interested."

"No, I’m not trying to set you up. I just want you two to be more in sync. If you hate him, your scenes together will come off stiff."

"I wouldn’t say I hate him. I just don’t want to become one of his conquests,"

Scarlett said with a playful smile.

Woody Allen nodded. "He’s got a lot going for him, but why is he so much of a player?"

Scarlett glanced at the older man and smiled knowingly. "Aren’t all men like that?"

Filming continued on the court.

On set, Chris, male lead, was playing tennis with Tom, second male lead. Tom was distracted, and Chris asked him what was wrong. Tom revealed that he had broken up with Nora.

This scene took place in middle of script, with crew focusing on the sports scenes earlier than scheduled.

"Hey, Tom, where’s your head at?"

Chris hit a few balls, frustrated at Tom’s lack of focus.

"Oh, sorry, Chris,"

Tom walked over and shrugged, "I broke up with Nora. Well, maybe I should say I ended things with her."

"No way,"

Chris, who had already had an affair with Nora and married the second female lead, was surprised by this revelation.

He had stepped back when he saw how much Tom and Nora loved each other, but now that they had broken up, the fire inside him reignited.

"Tom, I thought you two were going to get married."

"God forgive me, but the truth is... I’ve fallen for someone else. I met Oliver, and I instantly fell in love. I feel like I’ve found true love. Even my mother accepted her. You know how shocked I was? It’s the first time we’ve ever agreed on anything."

"Cut! Matthew, your lines are a bit stiff. Add some small gestures to help convey your emotion.

And Luca, I need you to be more serious. Got it?"

Woody Allen yelled.

"Got it!"

Matthew Goode took the criticism in stride, having already been scolded twice that day.

Whenever Woody Allen criticized Matthew, he’d also take a jab at Luca, whether it was deserved or not. If he couldn’t find anything specific to pick on, he’d use vague comments like "Luca, can you take this more seriously?" or "Luca, I need you to give it your all." Sometimes, he’d even say, "Luca, is this the best you can do? Frankly, I’m a little disappointed."

After hearing the critique, Luca would immediately reflect and promise to do better in the next take to earn the director’s approval.

"Scene 14, Take 3, Action!"

By noon, the tennis scenes were finished, and crew shifted to bar scenes.

There were six scenes set in the bar, and filming would take about three days.

That afternoon’s shoot was the first group gathering of the main and secondary leads.

At this point in film, male lead is dating second female lead, and female lead is in a relationship with second male lead. The second male and female leads are siblings, while male lead is secretly in love with female lead. The dynamic between the four characters is complicated, and sparks are flying at the gathering.

The bar, located on King’s Avenue, was upscale, elegant, and small but stylishly decorated.

Inside, the four leads sat together. Luca was familiar with the other three and introduced them.

"Scarlett, this is Emily and Matthew."

"Luca, I’ve known Emily for a while now,"

Scarlett said, hugging Emily.

"Yes, we worked together on Windtalkers three years ago,"

Emily smiled.

"Oh, well, looks like I’m being redundant,"

Luca said, shrugging and pulling out his script to review his lines. This scene had a lot of dialogue and required careful preparation to ensure his performance wasn’t overshadowed.

From his observations, Woody Allen had a particular talent for shooting female characters, making them appear radiant and seductive. The male characters often came across as bland, merely supporting the women.

It wasn’t as noticeable when Emily was around, but now that Scarlett was here, Woody Allen’s tendencies became more pronounced.

In this challenging environment, Luca knew he had to bring his best to hold onto his leading role.

"Ready for the next scene, everyone?"

"Yes!"

Half an hour later, the set was prepared. After running through the scene twice, filming resumed.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 332: Why Am I Always the One Who Gets Hurt?*

The filming began, with the male lead and the second female lead entering the scene first. Luca sat at the bar, glanced at his watch, and anticipated the group date, especially hoping the female lead would show up soon.

At that moment, the second female lead, Chloe, walked over in a white knit top.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Chloe kissed his cheek.

"Oh, it's no problem!" Chris replied.

"Traffic really bad today; they should arriving bit later."

Chloe hung up her bag and said to the bartender, "Could I have a cocktail, please?"

After she sat down, Chris smiled faintly and said, "Chloe, one of your father's partners approached me today to offer a job. Was that your doing?"

"No, I just mentioned to my dad to keep an eye out for good opportunities, so that when the time comes, you'll be ahead of the game. You're not mad, right?"

Chloe wrapped her arm around his and gently patted his shoulder.

Chris shook his head. "Of course not." He stared into Emily's eyes and said, "You're always so thoughtful."

"Cut!"

Director Allen called for a pause. "Luca, in this scene, you need to show more restraint. Chris is a deep character, ambitious, and wants to climb the social ladder through his girlfriend, but he doesn’t want to appear too eager or obvious. Do you understand Chris's mindset?"

Luca nodded. "I get it, he wants to sell himself but act like he's innocent?"

The crew burst into laughter.

Woody Allen shook his head. "Alright, you're not wrong, but I need you to act that out."

"I'll pay attention," Luca nodded, preparing to continue.

A while later, Scarlett and Matthew Goode entered.

Luca and Emily got down from the bar and went to greet them. The four sat together in the booth.

"Are you a car enthusiast, Chris?"

After a few greetings, second male lead, Tom, lit a cigarette and asked.

"I like classic cars," Chris said seriously. Compared to Tom, he came from a poor background and didn’t know much about cars, so he could only barely hold the conversation.

"Yes, I like classic cars too, but Tom prefers trendy cars with weird designs," said Nora, played by Scarlett.

"Uh-huh," Tom raised his eyebrows.

"I prefer Aston Martins," Nora added.

"I've driven an Aston Martin," Chris quickly replied, eyes fixed on Nora.

"Really?"

"Yes, I once worked for someone, washing and taking care of his car. I loved it, cleaned it with a toothbrush every day."

"Haha!"

Everyone laughed.

"What do you think of Luca and Scarlett together?"

Behind the monitor, director Woody Allen rubbed his temples.

"They’re both good. Even with just a glance, it feels like there's something between them," cinematographer Remi Adefarasin marveled.

"Yes, that’s chemistry."

Woody Allen clenched his fist, then suddenly smiled. "But it's still not enough."

"Not enough?"

"Yes, I believe they can do better!"

"Cut!"

After another take, Woody Allen called for a break.

"Luca, do you know who you are? You're the lead, but right now, in front of Scarlett, your performance is a mess. She’s completely overshadowing you," Woody Allen criticized. "Luca, take ten minutes to reflect on your performance. Don’t waste crew’s time."

"Got it," Luca sighed, furrowing his brow as he replayed the scene in his head, trying to spot his mistakes.

"Scarlett, come over here!"

Woody Allen waved Scarlett over.

"Scarlett, your sexiness should be more casual, more natural. Don’t overdo it with looks and movements, or it’ll come off as too flirty. And the way you smoke—your lips are very sexy. The whole point of smoking in this scene is to draw audience’s attention to your lips."

Woody Allen gave her a few tips before letting her go.

"Director Allen, isn't that a bit biased?" Remi laughed.

Some of the crew members nodded quietly, feeling the same way.

Woody Allen waved it off. "It's fine. Different actors need different methods. Scarlett has great talent; she gets it right away.

"But Luca is different. His performance doesn’t rely on natural talent; it’s shaped through coaching and pressure. His skin`s thick; if I speak too soft, there’s no impact. Criticizing him in front of the whole crew puts pressure on him. With that pressure, he’ll push himself and perform better."

"Oh!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Who do you think will achieve greater success?" Remi asked, curious.

"Scarlett, without a doubt," Woody Allen answered without hesitation.

"Why? I don’t think Luca’s acting skills or overall qualities are any less than Scarlett’s."

"So what? Scarlett is American. She’ll naturally gain more recognition from American film industry and support from American audiences. But Luca is Brazilian. For him to succeed, he’ll need to work several times harder."

Woody Allen explained.

Everyone nodded in agreement. American film awards tend to favor local actors and those from economically developed allied nations. Brazil isn’t on that list, and with the U.S. being world’s largest box office market, grossing over $9 billion annually, American audiences also prefer to support American actors. So for Luca, succeeding in Hollywood would be much tougher than it is for Scarlett.

Ten minutes later, crew resumed filming.

"Nora, have you been in many films?"

Chris eagerly wanted to talk to Nora, so he interrupted as soon as there was a pause in her and Tom's banter.

"That was just a commercial, not a movie," Scarlett, with her right hand holding a cigarette between her index and middle fingers, brought it to her pink lips and gently took a drag. Her movements were graceful, and her voice had a slightly husky quality.

"I feel like my career hasn't been what I hoped for. I once thought if I couldn't achieve something, I wouldn't return to Colorado. I didn’t want to admit failure to my family."

Nora said with a hint of sadness.

"Dear, you need to take a breather," Tom said from the side.

Chris shook his head, "I think luck plays a big role in many successes."

"I don’t believe in luck. I believe in hard work," Chloe interjected.

"Oh, yes, hard work is important, but many people are afraid to admit how important luck is. For example, scientists often rely on inspiration when discovering truths—there's no design or deliberate pursuit."

Chris spoke slowly, gazing at Nora.

Opposite him, Nora locked eyes with him, her sexy lips curling into a slight smile.

Chris became even more absorbed in his words.

The two of them seemed to have the whole world to themselves, as the atmosphere heated up when their eyes met.

"This is feeling pretty good," Woody Allen smiled behind the monitor, then suddenly frowned. "But something’s still missing. What is it?"

He watched the scene thoughtfully, and after the scene was finished, he watched it again and again before finally identifying the issue. He turned to look at Luca, his face stern.

Luca couldn’t help but shudder. What now? I don't think I messed up this time. Why is it always me?

Chapter 333: "Would You Like to Come in for a Cup of Coffee?"

Sigh~

At night, with the full moon high in the sky, Luca walked down Fulham Street, his coat slung over his shoulder, dragging his feet with a heavy heart.

Earlier that afternoon, Director Woody Allen had one of his episodes.

The four of them were acting smoothly, and the crew's atmosphere was harmonious. If everything had continued as it was, they could have finished shooting at least three scenes today.

But after the first scene wrapped up, Woody Allen suddenly jumped out, berating him harshly. Ninety percent of the scolding was directed at Luca, tearing his performance apart and calling it worthless. He said that compared to Scarlett, Luca's acting was pathetic, lacking the shine of a leading man. If he didn’t make improvements, he'd end up nothing more than a supporting actor.

Luca was helpless. He repeated the performance over and over, only to be yelled at again and again.

It wasn’t until after 8 PM that Woody Allen finally huffed and said, “Barely acceptable,” and told him to go home and reflect. If he performed the same way tomorrow, he’d get “an extended vacation.”

Luca could only agree quietly.

As he left, he had to apologize to crew`s and offer to buy everyone drinks because they were held up because of him, wasting everyone’s time.

Thankfully, crew`s kind enough to forgive him.

Still, Luca felt immense pressure. The movie wasn’t even a third of the way through, and he was already exhausted. How would he survive the remaining two-thirds?

Yes, these past few days had felt like pure torture, each day dragging by.

“Hey~ Want a beer?”

Scarlett had caught up with him, shaking a couple of beers in her hand.

Luca blinked in surprise. They had been walking together just moments ago, but when did she get two beers?

“Thanks!” he said, taking one.

“You’re welcome,” Scarlett replied with a gentle smile.

Luca opened the beer and took a big gulp. It was Boddingtons—golden liquid with a creamy white foam, crisp and refreshing. Not bad.

“Luca, want one?” Scarlett offered him a pack of cigarettes.

“...Thanks,” Luca said, taking one, but he fumbled in his pocket for a lighter and found none.

“Do you smoke often?” Scarlett asked, lighting his cigarette before lighting her own.

“Not really, just occasionally.”

If he smoked too much, he’d get scolded, so he only dared to sneak one occasionally.

“I don’t smoke much either,” Scarlett said, holding cigarette in her left hand, beer in her right. “But Director Allen wants me to practice because there are a lot of smoking scenes in the movie.” She took a swig of beer, followed by a puff of smoke, looking cool.

Luca smiled slightly. “You look pretty cool when you smoke.”

“Just cool?” Scarlett raised her left arm and rested her right elbow on it, holding cigarette between her fingers as she placed it at corner of her lips, her plump red lips barely parting.

“Very sexy. You’ll definitely become Hollywood’s sexiest woman,” Luca said confidently.

“Mm-hmm, you’re not bad yourself,” Scarlett teased, glancing at him. “Last year, you were ranked ninth on world’s sexiest men list. You’re sure to become world’s sexiest... player!”

“Pffft—”

Luca sprayed beer from his mouth, causing Scarlett to burst into laughter, bending over from laughing so hard.

Luca shook his head. Compared to Scarlett’s romantic history—three marriages, three divorces, and publicly dating seven or eight men including Jared Leto, Josh Hartnett, Sean Penn, Ryan Reynolds, Roman Dauriac, Colin Jost, and others—he couldn’t compete.

“Scarlett, I only have one girlfriend, Lima. Why do people think I’m a player? Compared to some real players in the industry, I’m nowhere near that level!” Luca said, feeling a little down.

“And Britney? Don’t tell me you two were just friends!”

“Okay, but that’s still not that bad.”

Luca threw up his hands.

“Ha, two isn’t bad? What about Jessica Alba, Gisele Bündchen, Jennifer Aniston, and so on?” Scarlett teased.

“There’s no ‘so on’!” Luca sighed. “Jessica and I didn’t have anything. When we were shooting together, my rumor with Britney was blowing up, and Jessica was worried about rumors too. She was very cautious, and we barely spoke in private. As for Gisele and Jennifer Aniston, not a chance—don’t forget about Leonardo and Brad Pitt.”

“I heard you were blacklisted by them last year?” Scarlett asked.

“Yes, apparently, they misunderstood me,” Luca shrugged.

Scarlett chuckled. “Feeling better now?”

“What?”

“You looked pretty down when we left the set earlier. It was obvious you weren’t in good mood,” she pointed out.

“Oh, yeah. I got yelled too much today, almost depressed,” Luca said, exasperated.

Scarlett smiled gently. “You really shouldn’t take it so hard. The fact that Director Allen is so strict with you means he thinks highly of you. He’s a big director, and if he values you, that means you’re excellent.”

Luca let out a small laugh. “So I should celebrate?”

“Yeah! Think of everything bad as something good, and you won’t feel so miserable,” Scarlett encouraged.

“Fair point!”

Luca clinked his beer can with hers. “Thanks for beer, and cigarette. It was nice talking to you.”

“Same here,” Scarlett said with a smile.

They chatted as they walked back to the hotel. At door to their rooms, Luca was about to say goodnight when Scarlett suddenly asked:

“Want to come in for a cup of coffee?”

“...”

Luca froze. Was she being that direct? Or was he reading too much into it?

“Haha, Luca, you’re hilarious!” Scarlett laughed lightly and waved as she went into her room.

Luca stared at the closed door, shaking his head. He should’ve declined with moral righteousness to avoid getting teased.

Back in his room, Luca took a shower and sat down with his script, practicing tomorrow’s scenes.

The next two days’ scenes were set in a bar, mostly dialogues. There were two five-minute-long conversation scenes.

These kinds of scenes seemed simple but were hard to execute. Keeping an audience engaged for five minutes of just dialogue—discussing life, dreams, and philosophy—was no easy task for an actor. Lines, expressions, body language, all had to be captivating.

The good thing was that both he and Scarlett were attractive, so keeping the audience’s attention wasn’t difficult.

The challenge was making the scene truly brilliant, enough to satisfy the picky Director Allen.

Luca sighed, rehearsing the lines over and over until he fell asleep without realizing it.

When he woke up on the sofa the next morning, his voice was hoarse.

“Good morning!”

“Morning!”

After breakfast, while jogging in the park, he ran into Scarlett again.

“You don’t look great. Didn’t sleep well?” Scarlett asked, smiling.

“Yeah, maybe too much coffee. Kept me up,” Luca replied.

“Haha~” Scarlett laughed loudly, remembering last night’s invitation.

At 9 AM, the two arrived at the bar set. Seeing the crew ready to go, Luca felt a bit of stage fright. Was he going to get yelled at again today?

“Let’s go,” Scarlett said with a teasing glance.

“Alright...” Luca said, bracing himself.

The pressure was real.

“OK, everyone’s here. Get ready. Luca, what’s with your face? Did you party last night? I told you today’s scenes are important—so important! You were supposed to get good rest. If you drag this out today, you’ll owe whole crew an apology,” Woody Allen yelled.

“Director Allen, I understand,” Luca replied, his face dark.

Next to him, Scarlett stifled a laugh.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 334: I'm Good at All Ball Games

After enduring another three days, Luca finally wrapped up scenes at bar. Just as he was about to catch his breath, Director Allen solemnly informed him that next shoot would involve passionate love scene. He advised Luca to prepare in advance and bring excitement and passion to scene.

But Luca was exhausted, and even if Scarlett Johansson were stripped down to her bare skin, he wouldn’t muster any enthusiasm.

Seeing Luca’s drained expression, Woody Allen waved him off irritably. “Take half day off. I expect you to come back refreshed tomorrow.”

“Yeah, sure!” Luca replied.

After filming a scene at the villa that afternoon, Luca left the set. He had been shooting nonstop since July 11th, with no days off. Now, with half a day of freedom, he decided to wander around and recharge his tired mind and body in preparation for the upcoming scene.

However, once he stepped out of villa, he realized a problem. The set was in a remote location, at manor on outskirts of West London. The drive to city center was two and half hour. If he went back now, his entire break would be spent in road, which would make the time off pointless.

Just then, a car horn sounded.

“Luca, where are you headed?”

Tony had borrowed a car from the production crew and pulled up in front of him.

“Where to?” Luca pondered. The area was just manors, ranches, and grasslands. Where could he go to unwind?

“Let’s just drive around,” Luca said as he hopped into the back seat, lazily gazing at the vast green fields in the distance. A flock of sheep, herded by a dog, wandered aimlessly, looking like floating clouds.

“Luca, is filming really that exhausting? I see you guys just chatting and laughing in front of camera; it doesn’t seem that hard,” Tony joked, handing him a bottle of water.

Luca rolled his eyes. “Why don’t you try being an actor?”

“No thanks! I don’t want to get yelled at,” Tony quickly shook his head.

“That’s the thing—everything looks easy until you actually do it. Trying to be the best among a group of talented people is even harder,” Luca sighed.

Tony laughed. “Luca, you’re doing great. The crew talks about how you’re definitely Oscar material in the future.”

“Because I can take criticism?”

“They say you’re hardworking and patient, and director thinks highly of you,” Tony smiled.

These compliments were often shared among the crew. Everyone saw how dedicated and serious Luca was. He was polite and friendly to everyone, unlike many stars who acted arrogant. Luca frequently treated the crew to drinks, and his generosity earned him a good reputation.

Luca shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t enjoy working so hard or getting criticized. But as a foreign actor, if I want to make it in Hollywood, I have to seize every opportunity and work twice as hard. Not only do I need to do well, but I have to be the best. I need to prove my worth; otherwise, with hundreds of thousands of registered actors in Hollywood, where’s my chance?”

He sighed, gazing out at the endless grasslands. “Tony, let’s head back to the set. There’s nothing out here. It’s more interesting on set.”

Tony laughed. “I was thinking the same. Let`s go back?”

“Yeah.”

Luca waved his hand, ending his break early.

“Luca, why are you back already?” The crew had just finished lunch when Luca returned. Some people were strolling on the lawn, while others played cards. Director Allen and a few key members of the team were sipping coffee, surprised to see Luca.

Luca shrugged. “Once I left, I realized I’d been tricked. This place is in middle of nowhere. Other than watching sheep, there’s nothing else to do.”

Everyone laughed.

“Luca, we were just betting on what you’d do with your time off,” Matthew Goode said with a grin. “I thought you might head back to the city. Emily and Scarlett guessed you’d spend time reading your script in the car. Want to know what Director Allen thought?”

“What?”

Luca glanced at the old man, sure he wouldn’t have anything good to say.

Matthew cleared his throat. “Director Allen said, ‘Luca’s romantic guy. He’s probably flirting with shepherdess right about now.’”

The group erupted in laughter.

Luca shook his head. The old man was as sharp-tongued as ever.

“Did you meet any shepherdesses, Luca?” Scarlett teased, cigarette in hand.

“I did! A beautiful, sexy one even invited me over for coffee. But as soon as I stepped into her house, her dad came out with shotgun, and I made a quick exit,” Luca joked.

“Luca, you’re such a coward!”

“Yeah, Luca, you should’ve been braver!” Matthew and the others teased loudly.

Scarlett gave Luca a side-eye, knowing he was teasing her in return. What a petty guy.

Luca smiled and took a seat nearby.

Director Woody Allen noticed their interaction and grew excited. In the movie, their characters shared a forbidden relationship, a secret romance that went against societal norms. Their real-life chemistry was now perfectly aligned with the story, and director couldn’t wait to film the passionate scenes.

“Luca, the schedule for this afternoon has been adjusted. If you’ve got nothing to do, you can rehearse with Scarlett. If we make good time, we’ll shoot an extra scene this evening.”

“Got it!”

As Director Allen left the lounge area, everyone got back to their positions, ready to start filming again.

That afternoon’s scene involved a conversation between the supporting characters—a brother and sister discussing the main characters, Chris and Nora, with their parents.

The brother’s parents were impressed with Chris and supported the relationship, but the mother disapproved of Nora, thinking her acting career wasn’t promising.

The parents were played by two veteran British actors, both incredibly skilled.

Luca and Scarlett watched the performance for a while before moving to the next room, an activity room with ping-pong table.

The scene they were about to shoot was Chris and Nora’s first meeting at the villa.

Chris, while climbing the stairs from the library, hears voices outside. Following the sound, he spots alluring Nora playing ping-pong with guest. She’s dressed in a white blouse, her chest subtly exposed, standing dreamlike, sunlit glow.

At that moment, Chris falls in love.

He approaches, takes the paddle from guest, and plays a round with Nora. His impressive skills quickly capture her attention.

*Smack!*

Scarlett had just served the ball when Luca smashed it back, sending it bouncing off the walls and floor.

Scarlett blinked. “You’re really going all out?”

“Isn’t that how it’s supposed to go? Nora serves, Chris smashes, showing off his skills, which leads to next scene where he teaches her how to play,” Luca explained.

“You played soccer, right? How are you so good at ping-pong too?” Scarlett asked, surprised.

Luca shrugged. “I’m good at all ball games.”

“Alright, you’re impressive. Can you teach me?” she smiled.

“It would be my pleasure.”

Luca walked over, wrapping an arm around her waist as they stood close together. He held the paddle and began explaining the techniques of ping-pong. As a Brazilian, he was naturally gifted at sport and felt fully qualified to teach Scarlett, who was just a beginner.

But Scarlett seemed distracted.

She looked up at his profile. In the sunlight, his deep eyes, sharp nose, and perfect lips looked like a work of art—handsome and elegant.

“Luca, are we really rehearsing?” Scarlett asked, biting her lip.

“Of course, why? Something wrong?”

“No.”

She rolled her eyes, silently scolding herself. How did she let herself get caught up in this? This guy was bad news—definitely bad news! She had to resist his charm.

But pressed against his firm chest, feeling the warmth of his skin and his fresh scent, Scarlett couldn’t help but blush.

“Scarlett! Focus. Let’s keep practicing,” Luca said.

“Hmph!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 335: You Really a Beast*

"Scene 3, Take 2, Action!"

It was a little past 5 p.m., and the crew had just finished shooting the supporting roles' scenes. They moved to the villa's activity room to shoot the first meeting between the male and female leads.

Due to the dim lighting inside, lighting technician installed four incandescent lamps outside window. During the scene, Luca could feel the heat on his back.

He wrapped his arm around Scarlett and began performing.

"When the ping-pong ball comes your way, you need to angle paddle to hit it. Got it?"

Luca demonstrated with a red paddle in hand.

"I know how to do this. Before you came, I was unbeatable," Scarlett said, staring at his face.

Luca smiled charmingly and released her. "Such a beautiful lady, please tell me, why would a young and lovely American ping-pong player appear in an upper-class British family?"

Scarlett lit a cigarette and took a puff. "Has anyone ever told you that your tone can be quite aggressive?"

Luca smirked. "Has anyone ever told you that your lips are quite sexy?"

"You're so aggressive!"

"I'm just a born fighter."

They gazed at each other, the tension and chemistry silently building between them. The intense light from outside illuminated their faces, making their features flawless—handsome, elegant, sexy, and refined.

"Beautiful!"

Behind the monitor, Director Allen couldn't help but praise close-up of two leads. Luca's looks were exquisite, while Scarlett exuded seductive allure. The close-up felt like a work of art, something you could never tire of watching.

"Director, scene`s done!" Assistant director Ian quietly reminded him.

"Done?" Director Allen snapped back to reality. "Then let's prepare for the next shot."

"That it?" The assistant was surprised. "You're not going to give Luca scolding?"

Director Allen glared at him. "Next scene!"

"OK, next up, Mr. Goode, get ready!" the assistant shouted.

After a brief setup, the crew began filming the next scene, where Matthew Goode's character, second male lead, appeared. He was Nora's boyfriend, and the two had a scene where they flaunt their love in front of Chris. The scene went smoothly, and by 7 p.m., the crew had completed more than their target for the day.

As night fell, most of the crew headed to a nearby hotel to rest, while the core team stayed at the estate villa.

In the evening, the crew set up a barbecue grill in the yard. People gathered around on the lawn and sofas, eating grilled meat, drinking beer, and chatting happily.

Luca lay on the lawn with a beer in hand, resting his head on his arms as he gazed up at the sky over the London countryside. The night sky was clear, and the stars were bright. The occasional evening breeze tickled his arms, making him feel slightly cool and relaxed.

He counted on his fingers—August had arrived, and fall was just around the corner.

"Hey, aren't you going to eat some barbecue?" Scarlett approached with a plate of grilled meat and beer, sitting beside him. The air was filled with a warm and inviting aroma.

"I already ate," Luca shrugged.

"How about one bite?" Scarlett skewered a piece of beef and brought it to his mouth. The rich smell of meat and black pepper filled the air.

"Thanks!" Unable to refuse her kindness, Luca took a bite. Without cumin, though, flavor didn’t feel quite authentic.

"I heard models don't eat much meat?"

"Yeah, models have to limit fat intake—body fat can’t be too high. But male models have it easier. I eat meat every day. Without it, it feels like I haven’t had a proper meal."

"Haha, you're really a beast. Here, have another bite." Scarlett fed him another piece.

"Uh, Scarlett, you almost shoved that into my nose," Luca laughed.

"Hahaha!"

"Look at those two!"

Not far away on a sofa, Director Woody Allen, main cameraman Lamy, producer Max, and several other crew members were eating barbecue and chatting.

"Ah, youth!" said Lamy, the cameraman.

"Yeah, when I was younger, I had a girl feed me barbecue like that too. That barbecue was especially delicious that night," producer sighed, suddenly finding meat in his hand less appetizing.

"The girl who fed you wasn't as pretty as Scarlett, though," Lamy teased.

"No, no, in my eyes, she was the most beautiful girl in the world," the producer replied.

"Haha, things we lose are always the most beautiful," Lamy laughed heartily.

"Are those two getting together?" Matthew Goode asked Emily, glancing at the pair on the lawn.

"I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are," Emily smiled.

"Why?"

"They’re both amazing, aren’t they?" Emily replied.

"But isn’t Luca known as Hollywood’s infamous bad boy?"

"Bad boy? Haha, does that even matter? For women, whether a man is good or bad isn’t important. What matters is that he’s outstanding, handsome, and charming. Luca checks all those boxes."

"Alright, I get it," Matthew said, taking a swig of his beer, a little forlorn.

Nearby, Director Allen leaned back on the sofa, watching the two on the lawn, secretly pleased. Last time, he had deliberately arranged for them to stay in the same place, hoping they’d bond. If sparks flew between them, it would be perfect.

Now that they seemed to be getting closer, it would benefit the upcoming scenes. The more connected they were, the better their on-screen chemistry would be.

But few days ago, Scarlett had said she wasn’t interested in Luca and didn’t want to become one of his conquests. Yet here she was, feeding him meat?

Director Allen shook his head with a smile—young people were funny.

As Luca ate meat on lawn and others watched from afar, barbecue party wrapped up around 9 p.m. Luca returned to his room in villa and had a restful night.

The next morning, he woke up with a tickle in his nose and sneezed, fully awake. Sunlight streamed through window onto bed, bright and warm.

Luca stretched and opened the window, letting in the fresh air, which instantly lifted his spirits.

"Good morning!"

The window next door also opened, and Scarlett greeted him with a bright smile.

"Good morning!" Luca smiled softly, feeling a bit surreal looking at her.

"Luca, want to go for morning run?"

"Yeah. Want to join?"

"Why not?" Scarlett shrugged, her smile radiant.

After breakfast, Luca and Scarlett ran side by side on the path outside the villa.

Director Allen watched them from afar, nodding to himself. Their chemistry was developing well; perhaps it was time to shoot love scene early.

The crew spent the morning continuing to shoot scenes inside the villa. There were over twenty scenes planned, which the crew hoped to complete within five days. With four or five scenes scheduled each day, Luca was the busiest person on set.

"Luca, get ready. Tomorrow there’s going to be light rain, and we plan to shoot the field scene in the rain," Director Allen reminded him after wrapping up for the day.

"I’m ready."

What must come, will come. Luca had long since learned to face things bravely.

(End of chapter)