326-330

*Chapter 326: Who’s Pregnant with Luca’s Baby?*

"Darling, how many kids do you plan to have in the future?"

At the Dali Tree Manor, in the living room, Lima, who had just returned from Salvador, was sitting on the couch hugging Luca’s neck as she asked.

"Why are you asking? Are you pregnant?"

Luca put down his script, curiously touching her stomach.

"No!"

Lima rolled her eyes at him and said, "I've been spending time playing with the kids at the orphanage recently, and they’re so cute. It made me wonder what it’d be like if we had our own children."

"Having a kid wouldn’t be bad. You could hold them when you’re bored, like a kitten," Luca said with a gentle smile.

"My child is not a kitten!"

Lima playfully hit him and continued, "Now, tell me, how many kids do you want?"

"Ten isn’t too many, and eight isn’t too few. As long as you’re willing to have them, any number is fine."

Luca smiled while reading his script.

"Ten? Eight? What do you think I am, a pig?"

Lima angrily twisted his arm.

Luca gasped, "You asked me how many I wanted! Why are you mad at my answer? Alright, alright, eight is too many, so let’s have two."

"Two is too few. If there are too few kids, they’ll feel lonely. How about we have four?"

Lima leaned on his shoulder, smiling as she asked.

"OK, why don’t we start making one now?"

Luca gave her a playful slap on the butt.

Lima thought about it for a second, "Too soon. I have a lot of work this year. I won’t have time for a baby. How about we wait two years?"

"Alright, it's up to you," Luca said with a light chuckle.

Lima nodded slightly and casually flipped through a magazine.

"Huh, Britney’s pregnant?"

"What?"

Luca glanced over and shook his head.

The headline read, "Rumors of Britney Pregnant, Luca Accompanies Her to Prenatal Check-up," and it came with pictures. The two were seen leaving a hospital together, wearing matching baseball caps and looking very close.

At that moment, he understood why Lima had brought up the subject of kids—it was all because of this!

"Darling, the news is nonsense. Britney was rehearsing a few days ago, and her old knee injury flared up. I went with her to the hospital for a check-up. See, I’m only holding her arm! Oh, and Kate and Miranda know about this too. They even visited her once. There’s nothing to explain."

"Really?"

Lima pursed her lips and pointed to a picture. "What about this photo?"

"That’s from earlier this year. Britney got lazy and didn’t want to exercise. She let herself go a bit, but she’s not pregnant."

Britney had a tendency to gain weight easily, and if she didn’t stay on top of her fitness, she’d put on pounds quickly. Luca often had to take time to swim, dance, and travel with her to keep her active.

"What if she is pregnant? Would you marry her?"

"No, I’ll only marry you."

On such a serious matter, he was confident he wouldn’t make any mistakes.

But unexpectedly, he still did.

"You scumbag! She’s pregnant with your baby, and you still won’t marry her? You really are a scumbag!"

Lima twisted his ear, cursing him.

"Lima, who’s pregnant with Luca’s baby?"

Kate walked in curiously.

"Britney!"

Lima replied while hitting him.

"Really?"

Kate seemed almost excited.

"Fake news. The media’s just making things up. You’ve seen this headline before,"

Luca pointed to the magazine on the table.

"Oh, that’s what it is,"

Kate said disappointedly, pouring herself a glass of juice. She then smiled and said, "Lima, if you’re worried, why not have a baby first?"

"I’m not worried. It’s just that seeing this jerk’s gossip makes me angry, and I want to beat him up! Kate, do you have time today? How about we team up and give him a lesson he’ll never forget?"

Lima waved her fist.

"Sure!"

"Wait! Kate, you already beat me up two days ago. I’m still bruised! Now you two want to do it together? I won’t survive that! Besides, I have to leave o UK soon. Woody Allen is very strict. Can’t you spare me this time?"

Luca weakly protested.

"Kate, you beat him up two days ago?"

Lima asked in surprise.

Kate smiled and nodded, "Yeah, the weather was nice, and I happened to have some free time, so I gave him a beating."

"Alright, we’ll let him off this time,"

Lima let go of his ear, "But we’ll remember this for when you get back from the UK."

"Thank you, my queens, for your mercy!"

Luca sighed with relief, though the thought of getting beaten up when he returned from the UK troubled him. Being a superstar heartthrob who got abused at home—it was a miserable fate.

After spending two days in Los Angeles, Luca followed Ed’s advice and appeared on two TV talk shows. He talked about his acting career, the struggles of fame, and took the chance to clear up rumors about his relationship with Aniston—stressing she was a mentor, senior colleague, idol, and good friend, and he sincerely thanked her for all her help.

After the show aired, the results were good, and the rumors between him and Aniston started to die down. Public attention shifted entirely to the love triangle between Aniston, Pitt, and Jolie, which was heating up.

Pitt and Jolie took turns appearing on shows to clarify their relationship.

Once, Jolie mentioned on a show that she currently had a steady lover, they were happy together, and she wasn’t involved with Pitt, while steering the conversation toward her new movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Meanwhile, Pitt kept professing his love for Aniston in interviews, even publicly showing affection on TV. He sweetly reminisced about their relationship, fueling the rumor mill.

Speculation abounded that their gossip was likely a publicity stunt for the new movie, and that they weren’t actually involved. Others said they were lying and teaming up to bully Aniston.

With all the speculation, Pitt’s alleged affair was no longer as hot a topic.

At the airport, Luca folded his newspaper and shook his head. The love triangle was a year-long drama, dominating headlines from 2004 to 2005, and it wasn’t going to end anytime soon. The current calm was only temporary.

"Luca, do you think the stuff about Jolie and Pitt is true?"

Tony asked from beside him.

"Probably."

"If you ask me, Pitt’s an idiot. Aniston is so beautiful, so famous, and makes more money than him, yet he cheated with Jolie. Total scumbag,"

Tony scoffed, adding, "Scumbags should go to hell. Uh, Luca, I wasn’t talking about you!"

Luca gave him a look, "Stop talking. The plane’s about to board. Let’s go."

"OK!"

The two of them headed toward the boarding gate.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please. Boarding is now open for the flight to London, UK. All passengers heading to London, please..."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 327: Should I Be Ruthless to Him?*

"Keira?"

As he stepped into the business class, Luca saw a familiar figure—short brown hair, a T-shirt and jeans, sunglasses on, lips pressed together, and a flat chest. It looked like Keira Knightley.

"Scumbag Luca?"

Keira Knightley looked at him in surprise.

"I..."

Why do I feel like punching someone?

"Ahem, Luca, long time no see!"

Keira Knightley brushed her hair and greeted him nonchalantly.

"Yeah, long time no see. Great to see you. Goodbye!"

"Uh, you—"

Keira wanted to say more but realized he had swiftly walked away. She unhappily smacked the couch.

"Such a petty guy. You were a scumbag anyway, so it wasn’t wrong to call you that."

"What did you say?"

Luca walked back and asked.

Keira blinked, surprised. "Why did you come back?"

"This is my seat."

Luca sat down on the opposite couch.

"What a coincidence!"

Keira frowned, her light blue eyes showing a complex mix of suspicion, wariness, and caution, as if she was looking at someone with bad intentions.

"See? It's fate."

Luca shook his boarding pass with a smile.

Keira rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she scrutinized him.

"Hey, are you heading to London for work?"

"For a shoot. Woody Allen's new movie."

"Oh, I saw the news. You're working with Scarlett, right?"

Keira blinked, her lips curling in a peculiar smile.

"Is there a problem?" Luca asked, confused.

"Nothing. The movie you two make is sure to be interesting."

"Thanks for the compliment."

Luca didn’t mind if she had other thoughts. "And you? Are you back for a vacation or for work?"

"I'm here to shoot Pride and Prejudice, you know."

Luca nodded, a little disappointed. He had run into Keira during auditions last time and mentioned how great it would be to work together, but in the end, he got nothing.

"Luca, did you know? During the audition, Director Wright was quite satisfied with you. He originally planned to cast you as the male lead, but your scandals were too much. You're infamous in the industry as a scumbag. The producer said casting you in a pure love story would be way too distracting, so they dropped you."

Keira said this seriously.

"Really? Why do I feel like you're just insulting me?"

Luca said with a darkened face.

"Hah, I'm not that petty!"

Keira rolled her eyes at him.

Luca chuckled, clearly not believing her.

From what he knew, there were two main reasons he failed that audition. One, he wasn’t quite the right fit. Even though his appearance and demeanor were very British, and his acting was decent, he lacked that certain authenticity compared to a native British actor. This was something his acting coach, Nia, had told him. And two, someone behind the scenes had been pulling strings to prevent him from landing the role. Probably Pitt and the others.

As for Keira’s explanation, it probably had a grain of truth.

*Rumble~*

The plane took off, and the conversation paused.

The flight was over twelve hours long, and with the two of them sitting face to face, they talked quite a bit. Perhaps due to her aversion to scumbags, Keira remained wary of him throughout, bickering over trivial things. They got more familiar, but their relationship soured.

By the time they reached the airport, Keira only said goodbye and left, with no intention of playing the gracious host.

But it didn’t matter. The production crew had arranged a reception.

"Mr. Kelly, welcome to London. This way, please!"

"Thank you!"

The next day at noon, Luca, accompanied by Tony, took the crew's car straight to the Fulham Street Hotel in London's West End.

It wasn’t far from the set, and for the foreseeable future, he would be staying there.

The surroundings were nice, close to a park, sports field, and library. However, compared to sunny Los Angeles, the constant gray skies of London were far less appealing. And the food here was worlds apart from that across the Channel in France.

But he wasn’t here for pleasure. On his second day in London, he was already immersed in the production atmosphere.

Every film set has its own vibe, much like people, each with its own personality, shaped by the director, lead actors, and the movie’s style.

The biggest influence, though, is the director. If the director is outgoing, the atmosphere tends to be relaxed. If the director is serious, the set feels tense.

For example, the atmosphere while shooting Honey Dance and Mean Girls was relatively laid-back, but The Notebook felt like a taut string. Then there was Buried, which was stifling, oppressive, and dull, enough to drive someone mad.

In Woody Allen’s set, Luca felt a different kind of atmosphere—sometimes cold, sometimes lively, sometimes awkward, sometimes bizarre.

For instance, when Woody Allen cracked a joke and everyone laughed, he’d suddenly ask, "What are you laughing at?"

Faced with that question, not answering seemed rude, but forcing an explanation made you look silly and awkward.

In a master director’s set, actors quickly learn the essence of their role—tools. The actor’s job is to perform exactly as the director envisions.

Woody Allen is a masterful director and screenwriter. He knows better than anyone how to make the movie, how the actors should perform. If you give him what he wants, he’ll praise you. If your acting is awful, he’ll berate you, no holds barred.

"Luca, I hope you take this seriously and don’t make me regret choosing you!"

On set, Woody Allen called for a break.

Luca stopped acting and looked at him, awaiting direction.

"Luca, in this scene, you don’t need to try so hard to be cool or overact. You just need to express it in a calm, natural way.

Remember what I told you last time? I said you and Chris Wilton are alike—you both have ambition, talent, and a certain smoothness. When necessary, you can shamelessly flatter others. Didn’t you do that well at my house last time?"

Hmm...

The forty or fifty people on set all looked at him.

Luca’s face flushed. He wished he could strangle the old man.

At Woody Allen’s house last time, he had indeed complimented him a bit. But was it really necessary to bring that up on set?

That said, the old man’s earlier points were valid. He’d spent a lot of time acting cool in Infernal Affairs to project an air of elegance, and he hadn’t fully adjusted to this new role.

"Got it, Director Allen."

"Remember!"

Just before the scene began, Allen shouted, "Be yourself! I want you to fully embrace your wild side, your lust, your frustrations, your determination. OK, take it from the top!"

The next round of filming began.

This scene took place in the third act. The main character, Chris Wilton, had just arrived in London from Ireland, hoping to climb the social ladder by applying for a job at a tennis club.

"Mr. Wilton, your resume says you’ve worked as a tennis coach at Marbella Beach Club, Stanford Club, Ford Resort, and Sardinia Hotel, correct?"

In the office, a middle-aged man in a suit held up the resume and spoke.

"Yes, I have extensive experience in this field."

Luca shrugged, the motion paired with his suit, making him look very confident.

The middle-aged man nodded. "That’s evident from your resume. You’re very professional. Are you not interested in a career in professional tennis?"

"That’s correct, sir. Though I would love to be famous, my talent is limited. I could never be someone like Rusedski or Agassi. I don’t want to waste any more time on the court."

Luca said this with a mix of self-pity and resignation.

When he first read this line, Luca felt like Woody Allen had written it specifically with his own life in mind.

He had once been a professional athlete. If he hadn’t gotten injured, he might have become a soccer star. But due to a combination of limited talent and personal flaws, he never reached that top tier.

The middle-aged man hummed, "Your resume and recommendation letters are impeccable. Would you like to live in London?"

"Very much, sir."

Luca said confidently.

"Alright. Our members are all upper-class. Can you start this week?"

"Thank you! I’d love to!"

Luca nodded, smiling gratefully.

"Cut!"

"Luca, your performance lacks a bit of nervousness and innocence. I know you’re confident, but this is a job interview. Have you ever been to one?"

Allen asked after reviewing the footage a few times.

"Yes, many times!"

"Did you ever feel nervous? I want you to amplify that feeling two or threefold."

"I understand."

Luca made some adjustments and began a new performance.

This time, he added more small gestures and changed his breathing rhythm. When he’d watched the original actor’s performance, it always felt too stiff, too many small movements that made him seem immature. Now it seemed that was exactly what Allen wanted.

"Much better!"

Woody Allen nodded slightly behind the monitor, clearly pleased.

When it came to casting, he received numerous self-recommendations and referral letters, and even had actors visit him personally. He took a long time to carefully make his selection.

Initially, he planned to use the Irish actor Jonathan Rhys, but after watching Buried, he was deeply moved by Luca's performance.

In the film, Luca's acting was very mature. Afterward, he looked up more information about Luca, and the more he read, the more he felt Luca was a perfect fit—the best match for the lead role.

So, he invited Luca to play tennis and chat, secretly observing him.

Luca was well-spoken, composed, and confident, with a depth of character. And something else was crucial—there was a unique chemistry between Luca and Scarlett. When the two stood together, there was a spark—passion, ambiguity, and undeniable chemistry.

In the end, he dismissed all other considerations and gave the lead role to Luca.

Luca worked hard and was very intelligent, living up to his expectations.

However, Luca had great potential and was highly moldable—the more pressure applied, the better the result.

"Should I push him even harder?"

Director Woody Allen pondered, cigarette in hand, as he came to a decision.

"Cut!"

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 328: Do You Feel Guilty About Domestic Violence?*

In the evening, after finishing the shoot, Luca dragged his tired body back to the hotel.

On the balcony, he lit a cigarette, gazing at the scenery outside.

In the twilight, the setting sun illuminated the distant Thames River, Tower Bridge, and Westminster Abbey, creating a breathtaking view.

As he looked out at the scenery, his mood gradually improved.

It was his first time working with director Woody Allen, and he had finally witnessed the authority of a big-name director.

During filming, Woody Allen was completely different from his usual demeanor—serious, demanding, even a bit harsh.

In the two scenes they filmed in the afternoon, Luca felt he had performed well, much better than the awkward original version. But Woody Allen seemed to be in a bad mood and singled him out for criticism without mercy.

He did take after take until he was utterly exhausted. His expressions became stiff before Woody finally let him go.

After finishing, all he could feel was tired—not just physically but emotionally. If the first day of filming was this hard, how was he going to make it through the next month?

He downed a glass of wine in one gulp.

After some thought, he lay down on the couch and gave Kate a call.

"Kate, are you awake?"

It was morning in Los Angeles.

"Of course, we’re having breakfast. How was the shoot today?"

Kate asked cheerfully.

"It went well."

Luca shrugged and laughed, "I'm getting along great with Director Allen. He said this role suits me perfectly, that I just need to act naturally. It’s not too difficult."

"Oh, are you off work now? What are you doing?"

"I'm at the hotel, relaxing on the balcony and watching the view. The Thames looks beautiful from here. You can even hear the church bells."

Luca picked up his phone, and the faint sound of church bells could be heard in the distance.

"Are you alone?"

"Of course!"

"I don't believe you, and neither does Lima. Come on, tell us who’s there with you?"

The sound of laughter burst through the phone.

Luca rubbed his forehead and sighed, "Please stop joking around. I don’t know anyone in London."

"You can always meet new people. It’s lonely being by yourself in London—you should make some new friends."

Kate said softly.

"Good suggestion, maybe I will. How about you? Busy with work these days?"

Luca changed the subject.

"Not too bad. I’ve been spending most of my time in the studio working on designs since I’m doing fewer runway shows and endorsements. Oh, and your book—the one about the ‘bad guy’—is about to hit the shelves, so I’ll be busy with that soon. It’s all your fault, you know."

Luca chuckled. Before I Met You was being promoted and set for an August release. Once it launched, Kate’s reputation as a prominent author would be well-established.

"That book isn’t a ‘bad guy’ autobiography; it’s a novel you based on my story. Just make sure you don’t slip up and reveal that to the press."

"I won’t. But what if I feel guilty? It’s your book, after all."

"Stop saying that. What’s mine is yours, always. If you really feel guilty, could you at least hit me a little less? I mean, even domestic violence can make you feel guilty, right?"

"Haha, no way! I feel great when I hit you—it’s like a spiritual cleanse, like praying in a church. My soul feels renewed! Ah, but the thought of waiting until next month to hit you again makes me sad. How about I come to London soon and give you a beating?"

"…"

"What? You don’t want me to?"

Kate asked, displeased.

"Uh, of course I do! You’re always welcome to come to London and beat me up."

"Good boy!"

Kate laughed happily, and after some joking, they moved on to more serious topics.

Last time, Kate had mentioned selling some emoji rights, and after negotiations, they sold them to Google for $1.8 million.

Now that Google was close to going public, their financial advisor Martina suggested selling some Amazon stock and buying Google shares instead.

At the moment, Luca and Kate’s total assets were over $35 million, with income coming from royalties, endorsements, acting fees, fashion sales, movie profits, and runway shows. Last year, their stock market income was just under $3 million.

According to Martina, holding only Amazon stock was too conservative, and investing in Google was worth considering.

On April 29 of this year, Google filed for an IPO, expected to go public in August with an offering of 2.7 million shares at a price range of $108 to $135 per share. They had the opportunity to buy in at the first round.

Luca recalled a scene from a movie where Google stock initially traded at $85 per share and then multiplied in value over the next few months. There was plenty of potential for profit.

He called Martina to agree with her suggestion.

After chatting for half an hour, Luca ended the call and called Britney, Fanny, Aniston, Rachel, and Ambrosio.

Britney was struggling to write new songs. Last time, Luca had given her a classic track, California Gurls, which had motivated her to write not one, but two songs, hoping to outshine Young and Beautiful, Remember Me, and California Gurls.

Fanny was balancing school with working in the music studio, planning to release her first album next year.

Aniston was staying calm and focused, preparing for her new movie The Blind Side, which would begin filming in October.

Rachel was shooting a new movie, Wedding Crashers, in a supporting role, while Ambrosio was busy on the runway, occasionally traveling.

After catching up with the women, Luca called a few male friends. He talked business with Ed, discussed theater and literature with Mr. Ross, talked about film post-production with Billy and Annie, and chatted about football with Kaka, who was training hard for the upcoming Athens Olympics.

After two hours of phone calls, the sky darkened. The sun dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a soft golden glow.

The stars began to dot the dim sky, faintly visible. The moon appeared as a pale yellow circle, and the church bells rang out again in the distance. The lights on the Tower Bridge flickered on, and the streets grew quieter as fewer pedestrians passed by, and car horns became infrequent.

Compared to Los Angeles, the night here was much more peaceful.

Around 7 p.m., Tony called, inviting Luca to join him at a bar on King's Road, where a street full of bars was bustling with activity.

Luca declined. After all the phone calls and scenery-watching, his mood had fully recovered, and his fatigue had vanished. He no longer needed alcohol or loud music to forget his troubles.

He put down his phone, picked up his script, and continued practicing for tomorrow's scenes.

He had been scolded today, but maybe things would be better tomorrow?

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 329: You Need a Therapist*

In fact, he was overthinking it. A demon is still a demon, and they won’t change easily.

The next day, when he arrived on set, Director Woody Allen continued to nitpick. Every scene, every action, and every line was scrutinized, leaving him with no moment of peace.

He endured the awkwardness and pushed through, continuing his performance. Every day left him utterly exhausted, with mounting mental pressure. He couldn’t sleep at night and even lost his appetite.

His mental state was starting to deteriorate.

The cinematographer, Lemi Adefarashian, noticed the change through the lens.

“Director Allen, aren’t you putting too much pressure on Luca? Look, he’s lost a lot of weight.”

Lemi had worked with Woody Allen several times and was a familiar face on set. He couldn’t stand watching any longer.

“Has he? Well, that’s even better. It suits character,” Director Allen said, shaking his head as he watched the monitor.

“Luca, you don’t seem to be in good shape. Didn’t you sleep last night? You didn’t go out partying, did you?” Allen asked, frowning.

“No, I think I need to adjust a little,” Luca replied, wiping sweat from his brow as the heat became unbearable.

“Take a ten-minute break. I hope you can pull it together quickly. If you can’t handle it, I can give you a long vacation,” Woody Allen sneered.

“Director, I don’t need that. I’ll be fine,” Luca forced a smile.

After a brief rest, he focused again, dealing with Woody Allen’s relentless criticism.

A few days later, he had visibly slimmed down, and his complexion had paled. Yet, he was more immersed in the role than ever. Every day revolved around filming, and even during breaks, he was engrossed in the script, almost obsessed.

By July 20th, most of the main character’s scenes were shot, and the supporting actors, the secondary male and female leads, had joined the production.

The secondary female character, a wealthy woman named Karolyi, was played by British actress Emily Mortimer. Emily was from London, in her thirties, a graduate of Oxford, and exuded a classic British elegance.

In the film, she and Luca played a married couple, with her character serving as the male lead’s ticket into high society.

The secondary male character, Tom, a wealthy young man, was played by English actor Matthew Goode. Tom, the brother-in-law of the male lead Chris Wilton, was dating the female lead (played by Scarlett), while the male lead had an affair with her.

Both Emily and Matthew were talented actors, creating good chemistry with Luca during their scenes.

Once these supporting actors arrived, the filming pace picked up significantly.

During group scenes, Woody Allen relaxed a bit. He no longer halted scenes frequently, dragged them out, or criticized as harshly.

Luca thought his tough days were over, and that Woody Allen’s temper had improved. But he was wrong. When Luca was acting alone, Allen still criticized him furiously.

“Luca, I know you won the Silver Bear in Berlin, but do you really think you deserved it?

No, no, your win was pure luck. Look at your performance now — your emotions are off, your movements are stiff, and can you stop posing when you’re in a suit? This is a film, not a red carpet. I hope you understand who you are, what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it. Don’t sleepwalk through your performance!”

On the street set, Woody Allen shouted through a megaphone.

Luca’s face darkened, “I got it, Director Allen!”

“Alright, take a ten-minute break. I hope you won’t be sleepwalking in the next scene,” Allen snorted, taking a long swig of his drink. The hot, muggy weather had worsened his mood, but after shouting for a while, he felt much better.

“Director Allen, do you need a therapist? Your mood swings are becoming a problem,” Lemi Adefarashian, the cinematographer, said, approaching him.

“Really?” Allen frowned.

“Yes, the way you’re criticizing people is excessive and disrespectful. If I were Luca, I’d have punched you by now,” Lemi warned.

The assistant director Ian nodded secretly. The director was too irritable, almost like he had rabies, but he didn’t dare say it out loud.

Woody Allen scratched his messy hair, “Maybe you’re right, but I can’t let up right now. Luca’s performance is getting better and better, even exceeding my expectations. So I have to keep the pressure on, to sculpt this rough stone into a masterpiece.”

“You have a point, but not every stone is meant to be sculpted. If you push too hard, I’m worried you’ll break Luca instead of polishing him,” Lemi cautioned.

“I understand. I’ve talked to him about this before. He said he’ll do whatever it takes to cooperate with me, no matter how much pressure. And he’s proven to be strong,” Woody Allen smiled with satisfaction.

“Well, you’re the director, so you get the final say,” Lemi chuckled, leaving to adjust the camera.

Under a parasol in the break area, Luca sat with Emily Mortimer and Matthew Goode, chatting.

“Luca, do you have a grudge against Director Allen? He’s so harsh on you,” Emily teased, crossing her legs with a smile.

“No, it’s just his style. He wants me to perform better,” Luca shrugged, fanning himself.

“Getting criticized by Allen is actually a good thing. He’s a master director, and what seems like a perfect performance to us might look full of flaws to him,” Matthew Goode remarked, glancing toward the elderly director.

“True, I’ve heard that good actors enjoy being yelled at. You and Luca must be really good,” Emily joked.

Luca smiled. Matthew was right. For a new actor, even a flawless performance has gaps in the eyes of a great director. Allen’s guidance was valuable, like gaining experience for free.

With that thought, Luca’s frustration began to fade.

Ten minutes later, the next scene was ready.

Today’s scene involved the male lead, Chris Wilton, using his connection with the secondary female lead to land a job at a big company, where he received a promotion, a pay raise, and even a company car with a chauffeur.

After work, the male lead runs into an old tennis teammate.

Now, Chris has made a name for himself, while his former teammate remains unknown, still playing tennis.

This scene emphasized the script’s central message: “If time flies by and you’ve achieved nothing, how long can you keep going before you have to change course?”

“Scene 3, take 2, action!”

The filming began.

Luca, dressed in a suit, walked down the street with his hands in his pockets. The wind blew through his coat and long hair, and the sun illuminated his pale, handsome face — a picture of grace.

“Hey, Henry!” he called out as he approached his company car, confidently greeting his old friend.

“Hey, Chris! You’re looking great!” his teammate replied, dressed in casual clothes, eyeing Luca’s suit and car with a hint of envy.

“Thanks!” Luca shook his friend’s hand with a smile, “Still playing in the tennis circuit, Henry?”

“Yeah!” his friend replied, though he quickly shifted his attention to Chris’s car, “Look at that, what a beautiful car!”

“Oh, don’t make a big deal of it. It’s just a company car. I only get to use it,” Luca shrugged nonchalantly.

“That’s still pretty good. I know you lost your patience with tennis long ago, while I’m still running around hoping to make a name for myself. It’s all wishful thinking,” his friend sighed as he looked at the car.

Luca shook his head, “I just couldn’t stick with it.”

“Yeah, well, I hear you’re doing big business now?”

Luca smirked, “I’m really just running errands in an office.”

“Is that so? Even high-level errands sound pretty good,” his friend said, still fixated on the car.

Luca chuckled, “Not long ago, I met a fantastic woman. She’s incredibly wealthy — huge estate, servants, private stables. It’s all amazing.”

“Cut!” Woody Allen stroked his chin, “Luca, watch your pacing with the dialogue. You can slow down; we’re not in a rush.”

“Got it, Director!” Luca adjusted himself, and the filming resumed.

By around 5 p.m., the day’s filming wrapped up.

“Hey, Luca, want to grab a drink at the bar? We’ve got a lot of scenes together coming up. We should get to know each other better,” Matthew Goode and Emily Mortimer invited him as they stood nearby.

“Sure, give me a moment. I’m drenched in sweat.”

“Haha, alright!”

After Luca changed his clothes, the group headed to an Irish pub on King’s Road.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 330: Sparks Fly*

In the evening, at an Irish pub, the gentle sound of the piano created an elegant atmosphere.

The pub was lively, with more than twenty booths mostly filled.

In one of the central booths, Luca sat with Matthew and Emily, sipping drinks and chatting about things from the set and movies.

“Luca, I watched Buried. Your performance was incredible!”

Matthew said, taking a puff from his cigarette.

“Thanks!”

Luca chuckled.

“I actually preferred your role in The Notebook. You looked so handsome and dignified in that military uniform,”

Emily said with a smile.

Luca smiled and wanted to discuss their films, but since they’d mostly played supporting roles, nothing came to mind. So, he started sharing funny stories from filming Buried and The Notebook.

In short, his acting skills were honed by tough directors.

The two of them laughed heartily.

“Luca, are you just so used to being pushed around by directors that you didn’t resist when dealing with Director Allen?”

Emily teased.

“Exactly. I enjoy working with strict directors. They’re like tough teachers. Under their guidance, I can clearly feel my progress. I really like that feeling.”

“Luca, you’re a great actor. Your future will definitely be even brighter,”

Emily said, raising her glass.

“Thank you!”

Luca clinked glasses with her.

“Man, I wish I could get ‘pushed around’ by a famous director,”

Matthew said, feeling a little envious at 27 years old, still being a D-list actor, seeing the younger and more successful Luca.

Emily laughed, “Matthew, like it says in scripts, a large part of success in life depends on luck. Maybe your luck isn’t as good as Luca’s, or maybe your good fortune just hasn’t arrived yet. Don’t worry.”

“Yeah, I’ve been pretty lucky since I started out,”

Aside from two back injuries, being accused of using connections by the media, being blacklisted, and enduring tough times on set, his luck had indeed been pretty good.

“People with good luck are always enviable. Here’s to luck!”

Matthew raised his glass.

“To luck!”

The three of them raised their glasses together.

“Luca, the news said you’re also a screenwriter. Did you write Buried yourself?”

Emily asked after setting down her glass.

Luca smiled, “Yes, actually, screenwriting is my main job.”

“Aren’t you a model? I saw your runway show at Paris Fashion Week last year. It was awesome!”

Matthew asked, confused.

“No, no, the news said you were originally a soccer player for Brazil’s national team, played in international matches, and were even teammates with Kaká. Wow, you’re amazing!”

Emily praised.

“Well, yeah, I’ve done all those things. I’ve just switched careers a lot,”

Luca shrugged.

Emily laughed, “Matthew, now you know why Luca is famous? It’s not just luck—he’s genuinely talented. No matter what industry he’s in, he excels.”

“Emily, you’re right. I shouldn’t compare myself to Luca; he’s just too good,”

Matthew said with a smile, taking a drag from his cigarette.

Luca chuckled, shaking his head, “Don’t say that. I’m not that great. A lot of it was just coincidence... and some tabloid rumors—you know how it is.”

“Luca, you’re like Chris from the script: humble, rational, steady, and kind. I think Director Allen made a brilliant choice casting you as Chris,”

Emily said with a smile.

“Thanks. We’ll be working together a lot, so I hope you’ll accept me as Chris,”

Luca replied with a grin.

In the movie, the two of them played lovers and spouses, with many intimate scenes. Since Luca was 11 years younger than Emily, it was important for them to get comfortable with each other before filming those scenes, to avoid any awkwardness.

“I think I will!”

Emily looked at his face and smiled softly.

The three continued chatting, exchanging their thoughts on their characters. Luca learned a lot from the conversation. It was almost 7:00 PM by the time they finally said their goodbyes and left.

Emily, who had gotten married last year, lived in London and planned to go home that night. Matthew stayed at the hotel where the cast and crew were staying, but he had a date, so he grabbed a taxi and left.

Luca exited the pub and walked alone along the long street with his hands in his pockets. The nearby opera house, concert hall, art galleries, and elegant churches slowly faded into the dusk.

From King's Road to Fulham Street, separated by three blocks, Luca walked for half an hour before reaching the hotel. The sky had already darkened, and the bright streetlights stretched the shadows of passersby.

As Luca reached the hotel entrance, he felt like his shadow had been stepped on. Instinctively, he glanced back—and indeed, someone had stepped on his shadow.

Neon lights glowed brilliantly in front of the hotel, casting patchy reflections on the floor. A girl in a T-shirt and jeans with a ponytail strode toward him, followed by the crew's hospitality staff and two assistants pulling large suitcases.

“Hey, Luca, it’s you!”

The girl in front took off her hat and looked at him in surprise.

“Hi, Scarlett, long time no see!”

Luca smiled.

“Long time no see. Were you waiting for me here?”

Scarlett joked.

“Uh, yes, you stepped on my shadow.”

Scarlett glanced at the ground and then at him, laughing out loud.

In the elevator, the two chatted about their schedules. Scarlett had just come from the set of The Island. Luca had also auditioned for that film but didn’t get the part.

“Luca, if you had passed the audition, this would be our second time working together,”

Scarlett said with a smile.

“Yeah, too bad I didn’t land the lead role,”

Luca said with a hint of regret.

During the The Island audition, his career blacklisting had just begun. Many film companies had closed their doors to him, making it hard to land a lead role. Match Point would be his first Hollywood lead role, which made it very important to him.

After a few more words, the elevator reached the eighth floor. Luca stepped out, and Scarlett and her team followed.

“Scarlett, you’re staying on this floor too?”

Luca asked curiously.

“Yeah, I’m in H806.”

As they reached room 806, Luca was surprised to find they were neighbors.

“I’m staying here,”

Luca pointed to the room next door.

“Oh?”

Scarlett was a little surprised too.

“This was Director Allen’s special arrangement,”

the hospitality staff explained while opening the door. “Director Allen said you two have a lot of important scenes together, so he hopes you can get familiar before filming.”

“Is that so? Director Allen really thought this through,”

Luca shook his head. The two of them had some pretty intense scenes together. Being face-to-face all the time without it getting awkward seemed unlikely. Even if it wasn’t awkward, it could still lead to complications.

“Luca, let’s chat more when we have time. I don’t know many people here,”

Scarlett said with a gentle smile.

“Sure!”

Luca sighed inwardly. Putting firewood next to a flame for a whole month was dangerous. He’d need to be careful; one wrong move, and a rumor could easily start. He could already imagine the trouble he'd face back home.

So, he thought, better stay on the straight and narrow. Time to stop being reckless.