306-310

Chapter 306: Are You Flirting with Me?

"Hey, Jen!"

It was midday at the elevator entrance on the ground floor of the 4 Times Square building.

Luca was waiting for the elevator when he saw Jennifer Aniston walking over with two assistants.

Her golden hair flowed down her back, and she wore a long brown trench coat. She looked stunning, with a sweet smile, truly deserving of her title as this year’s "Most Beautiful Woman in the World" according to People magazine.

"Luca, congratulations on winning the Silver Bear Award."

Aniston walked up and gave him a hug. "I was so surprised when I heard. I didn’t expect that you, this little guy, would become the Berlin Film Festival’s Best Actor."

"Thank you, but honestly, you shouldn’t be that surprised. We’ve worked together; you know my acting skills. Winning this award was purely based on my talent."

"Your talent?"

Aniston raised an eyebrow. "Your talent for stripping on set, you mean?"

Luca's face darkened instantly. "Jen, that was a long time ago. Can we move on?"

"Hehe."

Aniston shot him a teasing glance and walked into the elevator, chuckling.

Luca shook his head. That incident had turned into a permanent stain on his reputation, something he could never fully erase.

The elevator doors closed, and it began to ascend.

Luca and Aniston stood at the front, with Tony and Veena, their assistants, standing behind them.

"Have you been busy lately? I haven't seen any gossip about you in the papers," Aniston asked, her hands in her pockets.

Luca glanced at her. "What does me being busy have to do with gossip?"

"Doesn't it? I figured when you're busy, there's less gossip," Aniston replied, smirking.

Luca shook his head. "Last month, Step Up started filming. I’m the screenwriter and producer, so I’ve been too busy to stir up any gossip."

Aniston smiled faintly. "The news said you mortgaged your house to finance the film?"

"Yeah, no production company wanted to pick it up, so we had to invest ourselves," Luca said, spreading his hands.

"That’s risky," Aniston said, shaking her head slightly. "How confident are you in this project?"

"100%. We have the best director, the best writer, and the best actors. I’m sure we’ll succeed."

"100%?"

Aniston chuckled. "According to The Baltimore Sun, the Step Up production has faced a lot of internal problems. For example, a certain screenwriter is often absent, the producer Anne Fletcher and the director Billy frequently clash, and recently Billy was hospitalized. Now Anne, a rookie director, is leading the entire project. You still think you're 100% sure this will work?"

Luca frowned. "Jen, has that info been leaked? I thought we did a good job keeping it under wraps."

Aniston smiled wryly. "How long do you think you can hide things on a film set? Don’t forget, you were the most talked-about actor in 2003. Lots of people are watching you, waiting to see how badly you fail this time."

"Everyone wants me to fail?" Luca asked, frowning.

"Yep. The media reports on you with a tone of schadenfreude. People don’t want to see a Brazilian like you rise up, so you'd better work harder."

Luca nodded thoughtfully.

"If you need any help, let me know. Don’t always act so tough; it makes you look like you’re asking for a punch," Aniston teased, patting his shoulder.

"Haha, alright!"

Ding! The elevator stopped at the 32nd floor, and the group stepped out.

They arrived at the set for a commercial shoot, where the two separated to get into hair, makeup, and wardrobe.

This time, they were shooting ads and posters for the spring/summer suit collection—two lines for men and six new designs for women.

Once again, Luca played the supporting role to Aniston.

During the shoot, all he had to do was stand beside her like a handsome prop or backdrop, or maybe a cool sidekick. The work was easy, though it bruised his macho pride.

The handsome man was feeling a bit down.

"Cut! Luca, don’t look so gloomy. This shot needs a sunnier vibe," the commercial director called out.

"Got it!"

Luca shook off his mood, his face lighting up with a bright smile, warm as a spring day.

"Perfect!" the director exclaimed in delight.

That afternoon, after the shoot wrapped, Luca and Aniston met up for coffee to discuss The Blind Side.

That project had already been confirmed, with Universal Pictures and Aniston’s Echo Films co-producing.

The budget was $35 million, with Aniston’s salary alone being $15 million. Filming was scheduled to start in October, with a six-month shoot, and Luca would need to join the production.

When he heard the timeline, Luca just smiled. With Mr. & Mrs. Smith starting production soon, he wondered if she’d still be in the mood to film by then.

"What are you smiling at?" Aniston asked, staring at the corners of his mouth. "You’ve got a very punchable smirk right now, you know?"

Luca immediately dropped the expression and looked into her eyes seriously. "Jen, I’m just happy to be having coffee with you. It makes me feel good, and I can’t help but smile."

"Really?"

Aniston looked at him, her lips pursed. "Kid, are you flirting with me?"

"No, just admiring. You’re the most beautiful woman in the world. Having coffee with you is a dream come true for so many people, including me. I didn’t think it’d happen, but here I am."

Luca sighed and pointed at himself. "I’ve got to say, I’m one lucky guy."

Aniston smiled softly and brushed back her hair. "Kid, don’t try your tricks on me. That might work on young girls, but not on me."

"I know, that’s why I’m being honest. And can you stop calling me 'kid'? I’m not that young. If you keep calling me that, I’ll start calling you 'auntie.'"

"I’ll call you 'kid' if I want to. Kid, kid, kid! Dare you call me 'auntie'?"

Aniston bit her lower lip, raising her steaming coffee.

Luca immediately backed down, laughing. "No, no, I wouldn’t dare. Calm down, Jen!"

"Hmph!"

Aniston rolled her eyes at him. "A guy like you needs to be taught a lesson. I should’ve let them blacklist you last year."

"Blacklist?"

Luca looked at her in surprise. After facing rumors last year, his company had worked hard to smooth things over, and by October, the issue had disappeared. He had thought it was thanks to the company’s efforts and his own low profile, but now he realized Aniston had also helped.

"Jen, did you help me out last year?"

"Hmph, I shouldn’t have!"

After the rumors emerged, Aniston had immediately reached out to the media to suppress the stories. She had also spoken with Brad Pitt a few times.

Pitt had promised not to target Luca anymore.

"Going forward, be more careful. Last year, Pitt misunderstood something, and it cost you financially. Now, I have two options for compensation. The first is to give you a payout of around $1.5 million, and the second—"

"Stop! Jen, if we’re still friends, don’t mention compensation."

He had his pride. How could he accept compensation? Though, if it came from Brad Pitt, he might consider it. After all, it’s only fair to take from the enemy.

"Luca, Pitt’s actions impacted your work last year. You deserve this," Aniston said earnestly.

Luca shook his head. "No more, Jen. We’re friends. Besides, if I take your money, people might think you’re my sugar mama."

"Sugar mama?!"

Aniston raised her coffee cup again, her lips pursed in irritation. "You little punk, I’m tempted to throw this coffee in your face."

"You wouldn’t! If I get scarred, where will you find another face this handsome to look at?"

"Are you serious?"

"Ah, wait, Jen, I was joking! Please, don’t!"

"Hmph!"

By six in the evening, as the sky darkened and the streets of Manhattan glowed under the setting sun, Luca and Aniston chatted briefly by their cars before parting ways.

Aniston’s car beeped as it pulled away, merging into the busy traffic.

Luca smiled to himself and started his car.

Ring, ring, ring.

"Hey, Billy. What’s up? … What? Summit Entertainment is pulling out? Why? Didn’t we already sign the contract? … Alright, we’ll talk when I get back."

"Fuck!"

Luca slammed his phone down in frustration. Just as the production had stabilized, the investors decided to back out. It was infuriating.

Vroom!

Luca revved the engine, angrily merging into the stream of cars.

*Chapter 307: How Could an Independent Man Live Off a Woman?*

"What's going on with Summit Entertainment, Billy?"

The next morning, Luca drove to the hotel where the film crew was staying and found Billy to discuss Summit Entertainment pulling out of the investment.

At the start of filming, Billy had secured $4 million in funding from Summit Entertainment and Touchstone Pictures, which made up half of the total investment. After a little over a month of filming, Luca and two other investors had contributed their $4 million, and Touchstone had added its $2 million. However, Summit Entertainment had only paid $500,000 in the first batch, and the remaining funds had never been transferred to the crew's account.

Now, as the project reached a critical phase, production expenses were growing. Billy contacted Summit's production department to push for the remaining funds, but they initially delayed payment, and then yesterday, they outright refused and announced they were pulling out.

"Summit is very unhappy with the recent changes in the crew. They're against the decision to replace the director mid-production and no longer see this project as worth the investment," Billy explained with a frown.

"Didn’t we discuss the change in directors beforehand?" Luca asked, clearly frustrated. "You got sick and couldn't continue shooting, so to avoid delaying the schedule, we collectively recommended Annie to take over. Now the film is being co-directed by you and Annie—how does that hurt the project?"

Billy shook his head and sighed. "Changing directors is just an excuse. There have been a lot of problems with the crew lately, and some of it leaked to the media. Summit probably lost confidence in the project and decided to cut their losses early."

Luca nodded. In recent days, rumors about the film crew had been swirling. It was hard to say if someone inside the crew had been feeding information to the media, but stories about Luca mortgaging his house to fund the film, internal conflicts within the team, Billy fainting from stress, and the director change had all been circulating. Public opinion was overwhelmingly negative, so it was understandable why Summit had backed out.

Just then, Billy’s phone rang.

"It's Mr. Goldsman," Billy said, referring to Akiva Goldsman, the production manager at Summit Entertainment and the person in charge of their partnership.

After a brief conversation, Billy hung up, looking both relieved and confused.

“What happened?” Luca asked, curious.

"Mr. Goldsman wants to meet you for coffee to discuss the investment," Billy said, frowning.

"Discuss what with me?" Luca raised an eyebrow, but since the other party was asking to meet, he figured there was no harm in hearing them out.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Goldsman.”

That afternoon, Luca met Akiva Goldsman at a coffee shop on Sequoia Street in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. They had met once before, last year at a Greenwood Publishing celebration, when Akiva had approached Luca about the movie rights to Twilight.

Luca quickly realized why Goldsman wanted this meeting—it was about Twilight again.

After some brief pleasantries, Akiva once again brought up adapting Twilight into a film, expressing Summit’s strong interest in moving the project forward.

"If you agree, Summit Entertainment is willing to continue investing in Step Up, even though we don’t have high hopes for it," Akiva said.

“Mr. Goldsman, if you don’t believe in the movie, there’s really no need to force it,” Luca replied nonchalantly. He sat by the window, stirring his coffee slowly, the sunlight casting a soft glow on his fair, handsome face.

“Mr. Kelly, this is our show of good faith. We want to collaborate with you,” Akiva said.

Luca smirked. Two million dollars was a small investment—what did they mean by "good faith"? If they really meant it, they wouldn’t have pulled out at such a critical moment. Using this kind of leverage in negotiations hardly demonstrated sincerity. Not to mention, last year, Summit had participated in blackballing him in the industry after bad press surrounding his audition for Constantine, another Summit film, where they didn’t even offer him the sixth male lead.

Last year, they had also dangled the second male lead role in Mr. & Mrs. Smith as bait. Now, production was about to start, and they hadn’t even contacted him for an audition.

“I’m not interested in working with people like that,” Luca thought.

Shaking his head, he replied, “Mr. Goldsman, I think it’s better if we keep these two matters separate. If Summit still believes in Step Up, we can continue working together. If not, then feel free to exit. Filling a $2 million gap won’t be too difficult for me.”

Akiva furrowed his graying brows, then smiled suddenly. “Mr. Kelly, I heard you mortgaged your house to fund this movie?”

“Yes, I haven’t made much money as an actor or model,” Luca shrugged casually.

“Then—"

"But my sister has money,” Luca added with a grin.

Goldsman almost dropped his coffee cup. "You’re a grown man, and you're still asking your sister for money? Have some pride!" his face seemed to say.

Luca smiled, unfazed. “I believe Step Up will be a success, so even if I have to sell my house, I’ll see this project through to the end.”

Goldsman shook his head. “Mr. Kelly, investing in movies is like gambling. Until the film is released, all predictions are unreliable. I advise you to be more rational in your investments and listen to the advice of professionals.”

Luca nodded in agreement. “Thank you for your advice, Mr. Goldsman. But I’ve made up my mind. If this works out, great. If it doesn’t, well, it’ll be a learning experience. Failure is the mother of success, right?”

Akiva’s lips twitched. “You’ll learn the hard way how deep Hollywood really goes,” he thought.

“Good luck, Mr. Kelly.”

“Thanks!” Luca raised his coffee cup in a cheerful toast.

“Now, let’s continue our discussion about Twilight,” Akiva began again, though internally, he was growing frustrated. He couldn’t understand why Kate Kelly had entrusted such a significant matter to her brother, this carefree fool.

Since last year, numerous studios had been reaching out to Luca, trying to secure the adaptation rights to the Twilight series. But Luca had no concept of how to negotiate, and at times, he would make outrageous demands, leaving people at a loss for words.

“Mr. Goldsman, if you’re truly sincere, then let’s cut to the chase: one billion dollars for the entire Twilight series,” Luca said after some thought.

“A billion?!” Akiva nearly lost it.

Sure, the Twilight series was popular, but it wasn’t on the same level as Harry Potter. Even when J.K. Rowling negotiated with Warner Bros., she hadn’t asked for a billion dollars upfront.

Luca nodded. “Yes. I’ve seen my sister’s writing plans. The Twilight series will have six books in total. While it might not surpass Harry Potter, the difference isn’t that significant. Harry Potter has released three films so far, and they’ve made over $2.6 billion at the box office. Given the subsequent movies, the total could easily exceed $10 billion. So how much is the Twilight series worth? Is a billion dollars really too much?”

Akiva pondered for a moment before shaking his head. “Twilight won’t be as successful as Harry Potter. That series’ success is one of a kind.”

“Nothing’s impossible. Like you said, investing in movies is a gamble. I’ve placed my bet. Will you follow?” Luca smiled.

One billion dollars was a staggering sum, but not completely absurd. If Summit dared to match that, Luca was ready to sell. With a billion dollars, he could invest in ventures like the soon-to-IPO Google, the booming Apple, and the hot real estate market in the U.S.

But he knew Summit didn’t have the guts.

“Mr. Kelly, that’s not how business is done,” Akiva replied, exasperated. Normally, deals were negotiated gradually, with both parties leaving room for flexibility. But Luca’s approach left no room for further discussion.

“Mr. Goldsman, I’m not a businessman,” Luca said with a hint of regret.

Akiva sighed. “Mr. Kelly, I hope you seriously reconsider. We’re very sincere in our offer, and if you’re unsure, you should consult a professional. I believe they’ll offer more reasonable advice.”

“I’ll think about it,” Luca said with a nod. With the conversation at an impasse, there was little left to discuss. He bid Akiva farewell and left the coffee shop.

“Luca, how did your meeting with Mr. Goldsman go?” Billy asked when Luca returned to the hotel.

“We couldn’t reach an agreement. Summit is sticking to their decision to pull out,” Luca replied, taking a sip of water.

"What should we do now? The 8 million budget was already tight, and now they've suddenly pulled their funding. Ugh, this is all my fault. I was too impulsive before," Billy sighed.

A few days ago, during the shoot, he wasn’t sure what had gotten into him. He was just inexplicably irritated, feeling awkward and not wanting to continue filming.

After a few days of holding it in, he finally snapped and walked off.

Looking back now, he regretted it. Luca’s script was excellent, and filming it his way wasn’t a big deal. Unfortunately, he didn't realize it at the time.

Now that he understood, it was already too late!

Luca shook his head. "Billy, it's fine. It was just a small 2 million investment. It won't affect our work. You guys keep filming and maintain the crew’s morale. I'll figure out the funding."

"Alright," Billy sighed in relief. Luca wasn’t short on money, and 2 million wasn’t much if he was willing to invest.

But in reality, Luca was a bit worried.

He had indeed made quite a bit of money earlier this year, earning over 4 million from both commercials and movies. It sounded good.

But the expenses were huge.

He had invested over a million in a film in Brazil and over 2 million in the money-pit that was YouTube, leaving him with little pocket money.

Now that Peak Entertainment had suddenly withdrawn, how was he going to fill the 2 million gap?

Should he ask Kate for money?

That felt a bit like mooching.

And as an independent, self-reliant man, how could he do that?

"Luca, good news!"

The next day, just as he was reluctantly preparing to ask for help, Anne Fletcher brought in a middle-aged man.

"This is Mr. Chris Hahn, the general manager of Echo Films. He’s interested in investing in our movie."

"Echo Films?"

Luca was taken aback for a moment. Isn't that Aniston’s production company? Why is she getting involved?

*Chapter 308: Did You See Me Sleeping with Luca?*

At noon, after discussing an investment with Echo Films' general manager, Chris Hahn, Luca gave Aniston a call.

"Jen, are you serious about this investment?"

"Yes, last time I asked if you were confident, and you said 100%. I believe in you!" Aniston replied with a smile.

Luca felt a bit touched. "Investing just because of what I said, isn’t that a little impulsive? It's two million, you should be more cautious."

"Is two million a lot?"

Luca paused. Thinking about how her advertising income was over $100 million a year and her net worth was in the billions, he closed his mouth. She really was loaded.

"Thank you, Jen. The Step Up crew won't let you down."

Initially, Luca was going to cover the shortfall himself, hoping to make more when the film was released. Now, things were looking better—earning money together with Aniston would be mutually beneficial, and future collaborations would be smoother.

"Don’t thank me. If you really want to show your gratitude, I have a small request," Aniston said with a playful tone.

"What is it?"

Luca was curious and a little nervous, hoping it wasn’t some kind of “hidden rule.”

"Umm... you called me 'Jen' earlier. I like it. Can you say it a few more times?"

"Uh... this..."

"Are you shy?" Aniston burst into laughter.

Luca was feeling helpless. Talking with an older woman was dangerous—one wrong move, and you’re being teased.

"Jen, I’m a man of principles. I would never call you 'Jen' again. If I did, what would people think of me? They’d think I’m trying to sweet-talk you! So, don’t bring it up again. I won’t call you 'Jen'!"

"Haha, Luca, you’re too cute."

Cute?

A strong, masculine man being called "cute." He felt like he was losing face just for money.

Luca sighed. He was about to speak when he heard a man’s voice through the phone.

"Jen, I heard you’re planning to invest in Luca’s movie?"

It sounded like Pitt, and he didn’t sound happy.

Before he could listen further, Aniston said she would talk later and hung up the phone.

Luca frowned. Were they going to argue over this? If it caused issues in their marriage, the blame would fall on him, and that was something he didn’t want.

After thinking for a while, he sent Aniston a message.

Meanwhile, under the bright Los Angeles sun in Beverly Hills, Brad Pitt strode onto the villa's balcony in overalls.

"Jen, I heard you’re investing in Luca’s movie?"

"Who told you that?"

Aniston set down the phone and sat up from the beige sofa. Sunlight bathed her, casting a glow on her golden hair and dress, making her feel lazy and unwilling to move.

"Is it true?"

"Yes, is there a problem?" Aniston was a bit irritated.

The deal had just been finalized, and Pitt already knew. It was time to reevaluate the people around her.

"Jen, that project is doomed to fail. It has no investment value. I hope you reconsider."

Pitt sounded accusatory.

Aniston glanced at him and calmly replied, "We have a prenup that says we don't interfere in each other’s work. This is an Echo Films investment, and it has nothing to do with you."

Talking about Echo Films reminded Aniston of her frustrations. When they founded Plan B Productions, it was supposed to be their joint venture. But now, Plan B was entirely Pitt’s domain.

Last year, she wanted to shoot The Blind Side, but it didn’t get approved during the company meeting.

She was disappointed and decided to start her own thing.

"Alright, let’s be honest, Jen. Are you investing because of Luca?"

Pitt stood in front of the sofa, confronting her.

"Yes, it’s because of Luca. He’s talented and a friend. I want to work with him."

"Friend?" Pitt scoffed. "He’s just using you for fame. What kind of friend is that?"

"I don’t see it that way. Luca is talented and hardworking. He doesn’t need to use me for fame. Even if he were, it wouldn’t matter. I’m willing to help him."

"Even if it means generating scandalous rumors?"

"So what? It’s just gossip." Aniston’s voice remained calm.

Pitt’s expression darkened. "Jen, you’re my wife. When those rumors about you and Luca came out, did you think about how I would feel?"

"My feelings?" Aniston let out a laugh. "That’s funny. We just had coffee together, and you were upset. But when you slept with all those women, did you think about how I would feel?"

Pitt’s heart raced. "I—"

"Don’t lie. You think I don’t know just because you covered up the news? I know everything, Brad. Every. Single. Thing. I didn’t confront you before because I wanted to protect the scraps of love we had left in this marriage.

But I was wrong, so wrong. Every time I compromised, all it did was make you cheat more. Do you think I’m that easy to fool?" Aniston’s eyes filled with tears.

Pitt shook his head. "Baby, you’re misunderstanding—"

"Don’t touch me!" Aniston pushed his hand away. "You’ve been out partying, living your life, without a care for me. And now, just because I had coffee with Luca, you’re accusing me? Did you even have me followed?

Tell me, Mr. Pitt, after all this time, did you ever see me sleep with Luca?"

"...No."

"Then why are you using this to confront me?"

Aniston wiped her tears and sighed. "Luca is just a friend. What’s wrong with me investing in his film?

I know you don’t like him and have been targeting him. Last year, you got him blacklisted and cost him jobs. Wasn’t this sudden withdrawal of Summit Entertainment’s investment your doing too?"

"Baby, it wasn’t like that—"

"Stop lying, Brad!"

Summit Entertainment producer Akiva Goldsman had worked with Pitt many times. Now they were filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith together. Aniston didn’t believe it was a coincidence.

"...Alright, it was my suggestion. I don’t like that Brazilian hillbilly. Seeing him in the news makes me sick. I want him out of Hollywood. Is that so wrong?"

Pitt’s expression grew cold, his eyes flashing.

Even though Luca and Aniston never slept together, those photos of them smiling so brightly during their outings were like knives stabbing at Pitt’s heart. That was why he despised Luca, and he’d do anything to ruin him.

Aniston stared at him for a moment before sighing. "Fine, you can target him all you want. That’s your business. But I’m free to help my friend."

"Alright, alright. If that’s your decision, I won’t interfere. I hope you and Luca have a wonderful collaboration."

Pitt smirked, swiping a vase off the table.

Crash!

Shattered pieces scattered across the floor.

Aniston barely glanced at the mess, her gaze following Pitt as he stormed out.

"Wait!"

She spoke softly just as Pitt reached the door.

"I can agree not to work with Luca."

"Really?"

Pitt stopped, surprised.

"But you have to agree to something too."

"What’s that?"

"I don’t like Jolie. Can you stop working with her?"

Rumor had it that Jolie often developed feelings for her co-stars. She’d married both of her previous husbands after working with them, and they had both been married at the time.

Pitt had the same issue.

Aniston couldn’t help but feel uneasy about Pitt and Jolie filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith together.

Pitt frowned. "Jen, this is my work."

"Is that a no?"

Aniston stared at him intently, her eyes pleading.

"Baby, you know this project was designed for me. If I back out, the whole thing falls apart. The losses would be huge. I hope you understand. I promise you, you’re the one I love most."

"Really?"

Aniston pushed him away. "How many times have you said that? Did it ever mean anything? Please stop saying it. It’s disgusting."

"..."

Pitt’s face stiffened.

"Jen, whether you believe me or not, I always keep my word."

With that, he turned and left the room.

"Can you, really?"

Aniston stared blankly after him for a moment before shaking her head with a faint smile.

The sun was still shining brightly, and the flowers on the balcony were still blooming beautifully.

With a soft sigh, she lay back down on the sofa and lazily picked up her phone.

There was a message from Luca. She opened it and smiled.

"Don’t worry, little guy. Once I make a decision, I won’t back down. What’s two million? If I lose it, so be it"

Chapter 309: Heartbroken to the Point of Breathlessness

Ding-dong~

In Baltimore, Luca was busy on set when his phone buzzed with a new message.

He glanced at it and smiled.

"Alright, Ms. Aniston, happy to collaborate!"

With the investment from Echo Films, the production crew was back on track.

However, rumors outside the set were spreading fast. Some said the crew was about to split due to internal conflicts, others said they were facing financial issues and would soon abandon the project, and there were even reports that Luca had to borrow money to keep the movie going. Reporters often came snooping around, spreading false information.

Despite the rumors, the crew stayed silent and focused on making the movie as good as possible.

Luca also spent most of his time on set, though he did make a trip to Los Angeles for a casting call for Pride and Prejudice and attended the premiere of Mean Girls.

The casting call didn’t go well. The Berlin Best Actor didn’t make much of an impression on the British casting team and was eliminated in the third round.

After preparing for so long, this result was disappointing.

Luca felt crushed.

However, Mean Girls, released on April 8, performed incredibly well at the box office. It debuted in 2,839 theaters across the U.S. over its opening weekend and earned $24.43 million, topping the charts.

After a month, it grossed $73 million, with global earnings exceeding $100 million.

Based on feedback from theaters, the film had excellent occupancy rates, and they planned to extend its run. Global box office revenue was expected to reach $140 million, maybe even more.

Luca remembered the original box office prediction was $120 million—why had it exceeded that?

Could it be because of him?

He couldn’t figure it out but was still pleased.

Following the success of Mean Girls, Lindsay, Rachel, and Amanda, the main actresses, all rose to stardom and received plenty of praise.

But Luca was an exception.

There was little mention of his acting in the media.

Despite his impressive sports scenes, his beautiful kiss with Lindsay Lohan, and his solid performance overall, the same newspapers that had criticized him last year seemed reluctant to praise him now—it would be too much of a contradiction.

"Luca, do you need PR?" Ed asked over the phone.

"No, thanks. I’m just a supporting actor. No need for any promotion."

Luca declined Ed's offer and continued focusing on his work with the crew.

On April 25, the film The Notebook, starring Luca alongside Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, was released in North America.

It grossed $6.5 million on its opening day and $22 million in its first week, landing in second place at the box office, just $4 million behind Fahrenheit 9/11.

As a summer romance release, The Notebook performed remarkably well at the box office.

After the film’s release, Ryan and Rachel received a great deal of attention and instantly became the hottest young stars in Hollywood.

However, Luca, playing a major supporting role, only attracted a bit of attention.

When the media did report on him, their praise was sparse and reserved.

They acknowledged his improvement, said his acting was decent, and that he showed some potential. But they quickly shifted the spotlight to the director, Nick Cassavetes, praising his ability to guide actors, or to Rachel, who starred opposite Luca.

Luca didn’t mind. He was just the second male lead, so the lack of attention didn’t bother him. He remained busy with the production, ignoring the noise from the outside world.

But one day in early May, a swarm of reporters suddenly showed up outside the set, all eager to interview him.

Luca was confused. "Why do they want to interview me?"

It wasn’t until he heard their questions that he understood—it was all because of Buried.

Buried was a small, low-budget Brazilian film.

Before its release, Lionsgate didn’t expect much from it, so there was little promotion, and everything stayed low-key.

Even Luca didn’t know when Buried had premiered.

It wasn’t until Buried blew up that he learned from reporters what had happened.

On March 22, Buried had a limited release in 108 theaters across the U.S., grossing only $607,000 in its opening week—a fairly unremarkable performance.

But its momentum picked up. After a month in theaters, it had quietly grossed $12 million from just a few hundred screens.

Seeing an opportunity, the distributors increased its theater count.

By the sixth week, its box office had exceeded $20 million, ranking second among thriller films in the same period. On Rotten Tomatoes, it had a freshness rating of 8.9, with overwhelmingly positive reviews.

News outlets reported that the film had been made for less than $1 million, something the film’s director, Mr. Babank, had personally confirmed.

Boom~

Suddenly, it became a sensation.

A $100,000 budget yielding $20 million in box office revenue—a 20-fold return, with more still to come.

The entire film starred only one actor—Luca—meaning that he alone had pulled in $20 million at the box office.

It was a miracle!

The Hollywood Reporter ran the headline, "A Small Budget Movie Buried Has Captured Attention, Made in Brazil with a Budget of Under $1 Million, It Has Grossed $20 Million in Six Weeks—A 20-Fold Profit. Although Small Films Have Seen Higher Profits Before, This Movie Features Only One Actor, Luca Kelly, Who Single-Handedly Carried It to $20 Million. It’s a Box Office Miracle!"

The Los Angeles Times commented, "Buried is one of the best suspense thrillers in recent years, even surpassing Phone Booth.

This one-man show not only tests the writer’s talent but also puts immense pressure on the actor. It’s hard to craft an exciting plot with just one man in a coffin and simple props, but the film’s writer pulled it off.

And the same goes for the lead actor—holding the audience's attention for the entire film is incredibly difficult, yet the star of this film did just that.

What’s even more surprising is that the film’s writer and lead actor are the same person—Luca Kelly. His acting and talent are truly remarkable."

Famous film critic Rogers wrote, "This film is of exceptional quality, and Luca Kelly’s performance is absolutely stunning. The tension and suffocating suspense he creates completely blew me away. From the first second to the last, there wasn’t a single moment to catch your breath.

Through his brilliant performance, Luca perfectly conveyed the protagonist's emotions to the audience, expertly controlling their feelings. I believe his performance deserves a Berlin Best Actor award."

"Luca, you're on fire!" Ed shouted over the phone.

"Stop yelling, I’m still sleeping," a very tired Luca mumbled into his phone, lying in bed at the hotel.

"Luca, how can you still be sleeping? Tons of media outlets want to interview you. You need to come back!"

"I’m not coming back. I already sold the movie rights. No matter how much it makes, it won’t earn me a penny. Why should I promote Lionsgate’s movie?"

Luca was frustrated.

Most people would be thrilled to see the box office numbers soaring, but every time Luca saw them climb, his blood pressure rose along with them.

He regretted it deeply. Wasn’t the global box office supposed to be just over $18 million? How had the North American box office alone reached $20 million?

If it were released globally, wouldn’t it surpass $30 million?

But the movie had only sold for a little over $6 million.

His heart ached just thinking about it.

Ow~

Luca clutched his chest, feeling heartbroken to the point of breathlessness.

"Luca, come back, Woody Allen is looking for you."

"I’m not... wait, who’s looking for me? Woody Allen?"

Luca sat up. Woody Allen was a major figure, one of Hollywood’s top directors, with six Oscar nominations for Best Director, winning once, and over ten Oscar nominations for Best Screenplay.

His films were all classics, including Midnight in Paris, Match Point, Hannah and Her Sisters, Annie Hall, Crimes and Misdemeanors, and Interiors.

In the world of art films, he was even more famous than Spielberg.

"What does he want with me?"

"He mentioned Buried. He’s probably offering you a role. Are you coming back?"

"Emm~ I’ve thought it over. Yeah, I’ll come back."

After filming for over two months, the movie was almost done. As the screenwriter, Luca didn’t have much left to do on set.

The next day, he said goodbye to Annie and Billy and drove back to New York.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 310: I Will Absolutely, Absolutely Not Act Cute

At noon, on 76th Street of Third Avenue, the sunlight was especially bright.

Luca stopped his car, gazing at the tall buildings, the busy streets filled with cars, bustling sidewalks, high-end luxury stores, and long-legged beauties dressed in minimal clothing.

“New York is still the best!”

He sighed in admiration, humming a tune as he stepped into the elevator.

Ding ding ding~

Arriving at the door of a high-rise apartment, he rang the doorbell. He had been busy with his film crew for the past few weeks and hadn’t been home in nearly half a month. He missed the feeling of being home.

Click~

After a moment, the door opened. Standing there was a girl with a round face, round blue eyes, and small, round red lips.

She was wearing a white tank top and shorts, her tall figure and fair, soft skin giving off a sweet strawberry scent. She looked quite appealing.

“Hey~ Miranda!”

Luca smiled slightly, preparing to give her a Brazilian hug.

“Wait, who are you?”

Miranda pushed his arms away, looking at him with disdain.

Luca was taken aback. “Who am I? Miranda, did you lose your memory?”

“I don’t know you. Do you need something? If not, I’m closing the door.”

Miranda leaned against the door as she spoke.

“Miranda, stop joking.”

Luca shook his head and tried to push the door open to step inside.

“You’re not coming in!”

Miranda blocked the door and shouted, “Kate, Lima, come quickly! Some homeless guy is trying to barge in!”

“Miranda, hang on! We’re coming!”

Thud thud thud~ Kate and Lima appeared, each holding a baseball bat as they stomped to the door, looking fierce.

Luca couldn’t help but take a step back.

“Kate, Lima, I’m back!” he said with a slight smile.

“Who are you?”

“Is this your home?” Kate and Lima frowned at him.

“...”

Luca scratched his head helplessly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so caught up with work and forgot to come home. I’ll change that from now on.”

“Hmph, who cares if you change? First, tell us who you are!” Kate crossed her arms, scowling.

“I’m your brother, Luca!”

“No way!”

 Kate sneered. “My brother Luca is handsome and charming. Look at you—dirty clothes, rough skin, greasy hair, scruffy beard. How could you be Luca?”

“Agreed. You look like a homeless man,” Lima teased, twirling her bat.

“Wow, now I remember!” Miranda blinked. “Earlier, I gave a homeless guy a dollar. Was that him? Maybe he followed me here. Should we call the cops?”

“No rush, we’ve got weapons!” Kate lifted her bat, pointing at the so-called homeless man. “You’d better talk fast. Who are you? If you don’t speak up, we’ll use these.”

“Yeah, say something or we’ll hit you!” Miranda waved her chubby fist threateningly.

Luca twitched his lips. Had he really changed so much just from wearing the same clothes for a week and not shaving for four days?

He pulled out his wallet. “Look, here’s my driver’s license—Luca Cassef Domingos Kelly. And look at the photo—still as handsome as ever, right?”

He flashed a bright smile.

“Hm... it does look kind of like him.”

“Seems like Luca’s back.”

“Wait, just looking similar isn’t enough. What if he found Luca’s wallet?”

“Good point. A driver’s license alone can’t prove he’s Luca. So, what do we do now?”

The three beauties huddled together, whispering.

“I’ve got an idea!” Kate stepped forward, wrinkling her nose. “He smells terrible.”

“I just showered two days ago! How could I smell?”

“Two days ago? Ha!” Kate shook her head, resting her delicate chin on her hand. “Listen, homeless guy. Having my brother’s license proves nothing. But my brother has one special skill—he’s great at acting cute.”

“Acting cute?” Luca was speechless.

“Yes, my brother is very good at acting cute. If you can do it, then we’ll know you’re him.”

“Ha, that’s a great suggestion. Go ahead, act cute!” Lima held back her laughter.

Luca sighed. “Come on, I’m a tough guy. I don’t act cute!”

“Who’s joking? If you can’t act cute, you’re not Luca.”

“And if you’re not Luca, you’re not coming in.”

Kate and Lima slapped their palms with the bats.

“Luca, stop stalling and just act cute!” Miranda yelled.

“Fine!”

Luca wiped his stiff face, then suddenly pointed behind them. “Look, there’s a goat in the house!”

“...”

The three girls stared at him silently, not even blinking.

Luca felt utterly embarrassed. He gritted his teeth and stood tall. “Kate, Lima, Miranda, I’m telling you now—no matter what, even if you beat me to death, I absolutely will not act cute.”

“Smell that?”

“It smells so good!”

Half an hour later, the dining room was filled with delicious aromas.

Luca was slumped over the dining table, enjoying the food Katehad cooked—peppered steak, fragrant truffle soup, and a beautifully crafted meat pie. There was meat, vegetables, soup, and pie. It was all perfect.

“Kate, your cooking is amazing,” Luca praised as he sipped the soup.

“Then eat more!” Katesmiled, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

“Luca, when was the last time you got a haircut?” Lima asked, drying his hair with a towel. He had just showered, and his hair was still wet.

“About a month ago, I think. I’ve been too busy to get it done.”

Luca thought for a moment.

“A month?” Miranda shook her head. “No wonder you looked so scruffy in that newspaper photo.”

“Scruffy?”

“See for yourself!” Miranda spread out a copy of the New York Post entertainment section, showing a photo of him during an interview.

In the picture, he wore a hat and had a scruffy beard. He looked a bit messy but still ruggedly handsome.

Luca chuckled softly. “I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to read the papers. Miranda, what does it say?”

Miranda glanced at the article and smiled. “It says you’re the most valuable young actor.”

“No qualifiers?” Luca asked, confused.

“Nope! The article lists all your work from the past year. Last year’s Honey Hot Dance had a box office of $36 million, which was decent, but the home video sales were incredible—$46 million! And this year, you’ve been in three movies: Mean Girls, The Notebook, and Buried. Add in Honey Hot Dance, and that’s over $400 million at the box office! Not to mention your cameos in Along Came Polly and The Day After Tomorrow. The article says you’re a huge talent. You’ve starred in four movies, earned over $400 million at the box office, and even won the Berlin Film Festival award. You’ve got limitless potential.”

Miranda looked at him with admiration.

Luca shook his head. “That’s not much. I was just supporting roles in three of those films. It doesn’t prove my value.”

“But you were still focused on the fashion world last year and became the top-earning male model. You’re really something.”

Miranda’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“So, I’m doing pretty well?” Luca grinned.

“Yes, dear, you’re my pride and joy!” Kate smiled and kissed his forehead.

“And my treasure!” Lima smiled as she kissed his cheek.

“Thanks. I’ll keep working harder,” Luca promised the three of them.

“But don’t forget to come home!”

“Yeah, and if you do forget, just act cute!”

“Ha ha, Luca was so adorable when he acted cute earlier. I recorded it! I’m posting it on YouTube.”

“Noooooooo!”