301-305

*Chapter 301: The Story of..

“Remember me

Though I have to say goodbye

Remember me

Don't let it make you cry”

Noon, at the Jive Records studio in New York.

In the first recording studio, Britney was wearing headphones, fully engrossed in singing the song.

Outside the large glass window, Luca leaned against the mixing console, listening to Britney’s voice through his own headphones.

Compared to the original version's clear tone, Britney’s voice was sweet, sultry, and playfully distinctive, making it highly recognizable.

With his arms crossed, Luca nodded to the rhythm. Maybe it was his affection for her, but he felt Britney's version of Remember Me sounded better than the original.

*Beep beep beep~*

Suddenly, a harsh buzzing sound echoed in his headphones.

Luca looked up in confusion at producer Chris Carlson. Why was he pausing the session for no reason?

*"Hmph!"*

Mr. Carlson shot him an annoyed glance.

*"...?"*

Luca was baffled. He hadn’t moved, so why was he being glared at?

Just because you’re older and more experienced doesn’t mean you can glare at me, he thought. If I get mad, I’ll even fight myself!

As he was complaining internally, Mr. Carlson picked up the microphone and spoke loudly,

“Britney, dear Britney, this song has a melancholic tone. It’s meant to convey sadness and longing. So why does your voice sound so cheerful, so excited?”

Britney must have said something in response because Mr. Carlson continued loudly,

“Don’t make excuses. A few days ago, during recording, your mood was perfect—your expression was sorrowful, and your voice was filled with longing. But today, it’s suddenly so happy, like you're ready to party. This happened the first time, then again the second and third time. Why?”

“Oh~ I know! It’s because of him, isn’t it?”

Mr. Carlson suddenly glared at someone. “It’s definitely because of this guy. Ever since he arrived, your voice changed, and your focus shifted away from singing. You’re ruining the song.”

Luca smirked, “Mr. Carlson, I think she sounds great.”

*“You think?”*

Carlson rolled his eyes. “This is a recording studio. Your opinion doesn’t matter. Only mine does. I’m the music producer for this song, and you’re just the songwriter.”

*Tsk~*

The other studio staff chuckled softly.

“Okay, okay! Maybe I’ll step outside?” Luca joked.

Carlson furrowed his brows and nodded, “That’s a good idea. Mr. Kelly, please excuse yourself.”

*"...?"*

Luca’s face froze. Did I just dig my own grave?

He waved towards the soundproof glass.

Britney stuck out her tongue playfully, gave him a sweet smile, and blew a kiss.

“Go on, go on!” Carlson’s face darkened further.

Luca quickened his pace out of the studio, lest the old man decided to punch him.

“Alright! The distraction is gone. Let’s do it again!” Carlson called out enthusiastically.

*"...?"*

Outside the first recording studio, Luca shook his head. Old folks are so temperamental.

“Luca, come sit. I’ve got something to discuss with you,”

Britney’s assistant, Felicia, followed him into the lounge.

“Is it serious?” Luca joked.

“Of course!” Felicia huffed, displeased. Who would discuss unserious matters with you, you shameless guy!

She pulled out a folder from her work bag. “Young and Beautiful was released this month, and it’s doing well. Here are the sales figures from various platforms, along with your share of the earnings.”

Luca took the folder and skimmed it. On Valentine’s Day, February 14th, Britney had released her first single of the year, Young and Beautiful.

It sold 420,000 copies in its first week, topping the Billboard 200 chart and staying in the top five for three consecutive weeks.

This was Britney’s second-best performance on the chart. Her best was Baby One More Time, which held the top spot for six weeks straight.

“This is just okay?” Luca looked at Felicia in surprise.

“What else did you expect?” Felicia glanced at him, her feelings a bit complicated.

Last year, after Britney’s breakup, she wasn’t in a good mental state, and she was at a crucial transition point in her career.

Her team, Felicia included, didn’t object to Luca dating Britney, hoping he could help her bounce back.

Yes, they saw Luca as just a pretty tool.

But they hadn’t anticipated that this tool was not only good-looking but also highly talented—he could even write hit singles.

'If only these two could stay together, it would be perfect,' Felicia thought. Too bad this guy is a total player, she fumed, glaring at him.

“What now?” Luca asked, confused as to why she was glaring at him again.

“Have you finished looking?” Felicia asked, collecting herself.

“Yes.” Luca signed the paperwork and handed the folder back to her.

“The royalties will be deposited into your account by the end of the month. Keep an eye out,” Felicia said as she clicked away in her high heels, leaving Luca alone in the lounge.

Luca touched his cheek. Still handsome, so why am I suddenly not liked?

Sigh, being this handsome is lonely!

He picked up Britney’s guitar and began playing melancholically.

His mind drifted to the contract he had just signed. According to their agreement, songwriters would receive 5% of a single’s earnings.

In the first month, Young and Beautiful sold 2.2 million copies, meaning his cut was $380,000.

At that rate, he could make over a million dollars a year by doing nothing else. What would happen if he wrote a few more hit songs?

He decided—he would continue to “borrow” songs. After all, plagiarizing songs is like cross-dressing; once you do it, you either stop or keep doing it endlessly.

But he only had a handful of complete movie soundtracks in his head. Finding the right song for Britney wasn’t easy.

What should the next song be?

It was such a dilemma!

“Luca?”

As Luca, the master songwriter, pondered his next classic hit, a small hand waved in front of him.

He snapped back to reality to find a pretty face before him, and the air now smelled faintly of irises.

“Hey, Christina!”

It was none other than Christina Aguilera. She was dressed casually in a punk T-shirt and jeans, looking fresh and cute—though a bit petite and mischievous.

“Luca, what are you doing here?” Christina asked, glaring at him.

“Britney’s recording here. I just came to observe,” Luca said, gesturing toward the studio behind him.

“Is that so? You’re pretty brave, showing up here with a girlfriend and still hanging out with Britney. Aren’t you afraid Britney’s fans will beat you up?” Christina teased.

“I’m not worried. Britney and I are colleagues now. We’re together for work,” Luca replied with a smile.

“Work? You’re an actor. What are you doing in a recording studio for work?” Christina was skeptical.

“Don’t forget, I’m also a songwriter,” Luca said, strumming the guitar.

“Oh?” Christina blinked, suddenly remembering.

This was the guy who helped Britney score another No. 1 single. And apparently, Britney’s new song was also written by him, though he used a pen name, so no one knew.

“Luca, you’re pretty good at writing songs,” Christina said, sitting down next to him.

“Thanks, I’m just okay,” Luca replied, discreetly moving away. Christina was trouble, and it was best to keep a distance.

*"...?"*

Christina was annoyed. What was that about? Was this jerk afraid she’d take advantage of him?

Suppressing her anger, she continued, “Can you write one for me? I’ll pay well!”

Luca thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. “Sorry, Christina. Britney is my muse. I only get creative when I’m with her, and I only write for her.”

Christina pursed her lips. “Muse, huh? You just want to sleep with her.”

“No, we’re truly in love!” Luca replied.

“Love? Then why don’t you two get married?” Christina retorted.

*"...?"*

“Ha! Men!” Christina smirked, leaning closer to him. “Come on, be honest. Have you ever wanted me?”

“You?” Luca shook his head. “No. Even if I slept with you, I’d be the one losing out.”

*“What?!”*

Christina angrily kicked him a few times. “You shameless jerk! A small-time model and actor like you would lose out by sleeping with me, a pop diva? Do you even have any shame?”

“Nope! Why would I need that? Is anyone’s face as good-looking as mine?” Luca shot back.

*"...!"*

Christina was trembling with anger. She couldn’t understand why every time she saw this jerk, she got so mad, sometimes she just wanted to kill him.

Creaaak~

The door to the lounge opened, and Britney walked in.

Tears welled up in Christina’s eyes.

“Christine, what’s wrong?” Britney asked curiously.

“Boo-hoo~ Britney, that shameless Luca touched my chest!” Christina sobbed, covering her not-so-full chest.

“Really?” Britney looked at Luca.

Luca shrugged, holding a guitar in his arms.

Britney smiled slightly. “Christine, it’s okay. Don’t you always complain about your chest being too small? Let Luca touch it, and maybe it’ll grow.”

Luca nodded silently, thinking, Touch it to make it bigger, touch it and it’ll grow.

“You—you guys!” Christina was unusually furious. How could her best friend say something like that?

She stomped her foot and stormed out. But after a few steps, she stopped and turned around, winking at Luca.

“Luca, remember our little secret. Don’t forget to keep it, okay?”

“Secret?” Britney asked, curious.

Luca was confused for a moment. What secret?

“Britney, there’s no secret between us,” he quickly clarified. But thinking about how this might look suspicious, he had no choice but to explain.

He smiled wryly. This is definitely a trap.

How sneaky!

But as a descendant of Chinese wisdom, a little trick like this was nothing.

“Britney, how about I tell you a story from Chinese history?”

“Sure!” Britney said, leaning on his shoulder with a smile.

Luca organized his thoughts and began slowly,

“More than 1,800 years ago, during the late Han Dynasty in China, warlords were fighting for control. One warlord, Peter Cao, wanted to attack another warlord, Jack Ma.”

He told the story of Cao Cao's altered letter to Han Sui.

In the year 221, Cao Cao led his army to attack Ma Chao in the west. Before the battle, he met privately with Ma Chao's ally, Han Sui, which made Ma Chao suspicious.

Then, Cao Cao sent a letter to Han Sui with some intentional alterations in key places, making sure that Ma Chao would see it.

Ma Chao thought Han Sui had deliberately altered the letter, and despite Han Sui’s explanations, they grew suspicious of each other, allowing Peter Cao to defeat them easily.

“Wow~ The Chinese are so clever! Using people's natural suspicions to create division. There's no way to explain that kind of situation,” Britney marveled.

“Exactly. This story is just like what Christina said earlier. If I told you there’s no secret between us, would you believe me?”

“You told that whole story just to explain that?” Britney laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck affectionately. “Honey, you don’t have to do all that. I know what Christine is trying to do, and I trust you. Even if there was some ‘secret,’ it wouldn’t matter to me. I don’t think she could steal you from me.”

Britney spoke confidently.

“Thank you, Britney. But Christina is dangerous.”

Luca sighed with relief, thankful for the ancient wisdom that had helped him avoid a trap.

“Ha, you don’t need to be afraid of her. Next time she tries something, just push her down and take her on the spot! And then snap a picture like this, like this…”

“…”

Outside the lounge, Christina was eavesdropping. She had hoped to hear an argument but was shocked by what she overheard instead.

“Ugh! What a pair of scumbags!” Christina clenched her teeth and slammed the door shut.

Bang!

Outside, Britney and Luca exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

“Britney, stop laughing and get ready!” Mr. Carlson shouted with a scowl.

“Coming, coming, geez, you’re so naggy! Mr. Carlson, you must be going through menopause,” Britney teased.

“…”

Britney left, and Luca continued to practice his guitar, hoping to find some inspiration.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 302: Disputes on Set*

March 22, Baltimore.

Baltimore is located on the west coast of the Atlantic, on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay, about 60 kilometers from Washington, D.C., and less than 280 kilometers from New York City. It’s Maryland’s largest city and a famous seaport with beautiful scenery.

Baltimore is also a major cultural hub on the East Coast, home to many universities, including Johns Hopkins University, Morgan State University, and the University of Maryland.

The main filming location for Step Up is the Maryland Institute College of Art, the most renowned art school in Baltimore.

The Maryland Institute College of Art is situated in Baltimore's Midtown cultural district, near the Baltimore Penn Station.

Around noon, Luca walked out of the train station, arriving at his destination, the Maryland Institute College of Art, in less than ten minutes on foot. The campus boasted a strong cultural atmosphere.

"Hey, Luca, you’re finally here!"

Mr. Ross waved at him from the steps in front of the school's main entrance.

Luca smirked. He had only spent a few months in Brazil, but this was always the greeting when they saw each other again.

"Hey, Mr. Ross, how have you been?"

Luca gave him a brief hug.

"Not good!"

Ross shook his head.

"What’s going on?"

"I’ll explain later."

Ross motioned for him to walk inside as they spoke. "I saw in the news you were in New York last week. Why are you only getting to the set today?"

Did I arrive last week?

Oh, maybe I did!

But what did I do last week? Where did all my time go?

Luca quietly tallied his schedule. He had spent seven days and nights with Kate, Lima, and Britney. In between, he attended little Jessica's birthday party and signed the Fifty Shades of Grey contract. He also squeezed in three commercials, two interviews, and talk shows.

Man, time flew by so fast.

"Mr. Ross, with you here on set, I’m not worried. Does it really matter if I’m around or not?" Luca laughed.

"Quit joking! You’re off gallivanting while dumping this mess on me, an old man. Doesn’t your conscience hurt?" Ross huffed angrily.

Luca paused for a moment. Nope, no guilt at all.

"Mr. Ross, the crew is fully staffed. With you, Billy, and Annie around, how is it a mess? Besides, I asked you here for another reason—Baltimore’s scenery is beautiful, so I thought you could have a little vacation."

"Vacation?! What vacation? I’ve been swamped with work, it’s been exhausting! And you have the nerve to call this a vacation?"

Ross’s eyes turned red with frustration.

Luca raised his eyebrows. "Mr. Ross, you’re the producer. You’re in charge of overseeing things, not doing the grunt work. What’s there to be stressed about?"

"Ugh, it’s a long story," Ross sighed, then began explaining his troubles.

In early February, as the weather warmed up, the crew arrived in Baltimore to start filming. Ross served as the project’s producer, overseeing finances, daily expenses, and the shooting schedule.

Billy was the director, handling the filming, actors, and musical aspects. Annie Fletcher was the supervising producer, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the production while also serving as the artistic director.

At first, everything was running smoothly, with everyone doing their jobs. But after a week, tensions arose between Billy and Annie. They had different opinions about the storyline and the way scenes should be filmed. Initially, they tried to discuss things calmly, but their differences were too vast, and they couldn’t find common ground. Now, whenever they saw each other, they would argue, making it impossible to work together.

Ross had to play the mediator, trying to keep the peace between them, but after more than half a month, he was mentally and physically exhausted.

"How did it come to this?"

Luca furrowed his brows. Annie was Billy’s long-time collaborator, and they got along well. He had even worried that they might team up against him, which is why he placed Ross on set. But now, those two were the ones falling out.

So much for his dream team—it was more like a fragile alliance.

How was he supposed to fix this?

"Mr. Ross, the director and Ms. Annie are arguing again."

Henry Scott, the production assistant, rushed out.

"Again?" Luca and Ross hurried upstairs.

On the way, Henry explained the situation. They were filming scene 23 at the school, where the male and female leads were practicing dance in the rehearsal room.

The female lead, Nora, is a talented ballet prodigy from a privileged background and a star student at the art school, preparing for the school's most prestigious dance competition. Unfortunately, her partner was injured before the competition, leaving her without a dance partner.

After searching for a long time, Nora discovered that the male lead, Tyler, had impressive dance skills.

Tyler is a street kid and breakdancer, sentenced by the court to perform community service at the school after vandalizing its property.

Nora notices his talent and invites him to be her partner.

Tyler loves dance, is drawn to the school, and is also quite taken with Nora, so he agrees.

However, their different backgrounds and approaches to dance cause a lot of friction during training.

Today, they were filming the scene where the male and female leads practice together for the first time. The scene needed to highlight their contrasting personalities—Nora is serious and disciplined, while Tyler is carefree and spontaneous.

But how could the differences between the two be best portrayed?

This was where Billy and Annie’s disagreement arose.

"Mr. Ross, whose opinion do you think is better?" Luca asked as they walked.

Ross thought for a moment. "In areas of expertise, we should trust the professionals. I don’t know which approach is better, but Annie is more experienced with dance."

Luca nodded, feeling a bit relieved. It’s not unusual for a team to have conflicts, but what’s important is that the third person mediates instead of avoiding the issue. Ross had done a good job in this respect.

"Annie, I’m the director. This way, the scene will look better on film!" Billy, the director, said loudly, his face flushed with frustration.

"But it undermines their contrast and affects the overall tone. This is a lighthearted musical, and each scene needs to fit into that framework. Your shots are too serious," Annie said calmly, her arms crossed.

Billy, in his forties, and Annie, in her thirties, were having a heated argument, while the production was at a standstill. The lead actors, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, as well as the cinematographer Michael Seresin and over forty other crew members, stood by awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

When Ross arrived, everyone looked to him for help.

Ross shook his head and glanced at Luca, signaling for him to solve the issue.

Luca frowned. How was he supposed to fix this?

*Chapter 303: I'm in a Tough Spot Too*

"Good afternoon, Billy and Annie. I brought you guys some gifts, want to take a look?"

Luca said with a gentle smile.

Billy and Annie glanced over, their expressions easing a bit.

"Luca, you're finally here. We can talk about gifts later; let's discuss work first,"

Billy sighed.

"Yes, Luca, you're the screenwriter. You can't just disappear all the time,"

Annie complained.

Luca chuckled awkwardly. "Alright, alright, my bad. How about we take a half-day off, and I'll treat everyone to drinks?"

"..."

Billy and Annie were silent for a moment, then both nodded.

There was a serious conflict between the two that needed to be resolved immediately. If they couldn’t fix it, this project would be a disaster.

The three of them were investors, and none of them wanted to lose money. They decided to use this chance to lay everything out on the table—continuing to argue wasn’t going to help.

"Okay, the crew is off for half a day. We’ll resume work tomorrow morning!"

Ten minutes later, the crew disbanded, just in time for lunch.

Luca, Billy, Annie, and Mr. Ross—along with some key members of the crew—headed to a restaurant.

The situation with the crew was serious, so no one was in the mood to eat, not even Luca.

During the meal, Luca took turns talking to Billy and Annie about the issues with the production.

Billy expressed his frustration.

Annie was too controlling, often interfering with the filming process, which left Billy feeling sidelined and stripped of his authority as the director.

"Haven’t you worked with her many times? Don’t you know what kind of person Annie is?"

Luca said while eating a slice of pizza.

Billy sighed, putting down his fork with little appetite. "I know she’s a strong woman, but I didn’t realize she’d be this overbearing."

In their previous collaborations, Billy was the director, and Annie was the choreographer. They each stuck to their roles.

Annie was excellent at choreography; no matter what kind of dance was required, she could deliver it perfectly.

But now that Annie was both the producer and an investor in the film, she had more say, and she’d become even more assertive.

"Alright, I get it."

This was a power struggle within the crew.

Luca wiped his mouth and went over to talk to Annie.

When he brought up Billy's frustrations, Annie said that as the producer and an investor, she had to be responsible for the movie and the company.

She felt that the way things were being filmed wasn't working—not just today's scenes, but the entire recent filming hadn't met her expectations.

"Luca, your script is excellent. It’s almost like a director’s script, and it aligns very closely with my vision. If we follow your script, the movie will definitely turn out great.

But Billy thinks you're just a screenwriter, and that your script isn’t practical, so he’s been changing the shooting plans on his own. That’s why I’m upset with him."

Luca nodded. Changing the shooting schedule would undoubtedly increase the budget and could lead to a movie that was too different from the original plan. Could it still be a hit if it deviated too much?

Annie’s concerns were valid.

"Luca, I have a bone to pick with you too!"

Annie glared at him. "You’re the screenwriter and producer, so you need to take responsibility. If you had been on set, some of these conflicts could have been avoided."

"…"

Luca broke into a cold sweat. Why was this falling on him now?

"Annie, I’ve been really busy lately…"

"Busy?"

Annie was clearly unhappy. "You mortgaged your house to invest in this film because you want to make money, right?

But how are you going to make money if you just ignore everything? You don’t think you can just throw money at the crew and expect to harvest the profits in the fall, do you?"

That was exactly what Luca had been thinking.

He figured that with Annie, the original director Billy, and the experienced Mr. Ross on the crew, plus the same lead actors and his own director’s script, the filming would go smoothly.

But, as always, things are easier said than done.

For instance, this current conflict was something he hadn’t foreseen.

"Annie, you’re right. I’ll take responsibility for my part."

Luca spoke earnestly.

When dealing with women, he felt it was wiser to admit fault first, especially since he genuinely hadn’t been handling things well.

Annie nodded slightly. "So, how do you think we should solve this?"

"I—"

"Let me be clear!"

Annie raised a finger and said firmly, "I don’t accept any 'meet in the middle' approach. If you side with him, I’ll stay quiet. If you support me, then we’ll film according to my vision and your script.

I’m not letting my investment go down the drain."

"...Alright!"

Luca was at a loss for words. He understood both sides, but he had to make a decision.

Billy was a famous director, and of course, he had his own ideas during filming.

But Luca had provided a solid director’s script before they even started shooting "Step Up." Annie had been overseeing the process and giving feedback along the way.

This left Billy with little room to exercise his own creativity, which was probably why he was unhappy.

Understanding is one thing, but support is another.

Luca decided to first review the footage that had been shot before making a final decision.

---

That afternoon, in Washington D.C., at the "Step Up" production office.

The office was set up in a hotel.

After shooting, the crew’s dorms, cafeteria, warehouse, editing room, makeup room, and other departments all operated out of this location.

It was essentially the crew’s headquarters.

Every day after filming, the film reels would be brought back for editing.

Once the editing was done, the director would watch the footage and decide if any scenes needed reshooting.

Today, Luca stayed in the office to review the day’s footage.

"Luca, this is the footage from this morning’s shoot. We did eight takes in total. We could’ve wrapped up sooner, but Annie kept pointing out problems,"

Billy shrugged.

"I’m the producer. I have to be responsible for the film's quality. If the footage isn’t up to par, it’s my duty to call for a reshoot,"

Annie said calmly.

"But I’m the director! I’ve been making films for decades. Don’t you think I know whether something is good or not?"

Billy retorted.

"Decades? Ha!"

"What are you laughing at? What’s so funny?"

Billy snapped angrily.

"Alright, both of you!"

Luca stepped in, cutting off their argument. "Can you two hold off for a bit? Let me watch the footage first."

"Fine, go ahead,"

Annie waved her hand dismissively.

"Thanks,"

Luca shook his head, then sat at the workstation to carefully review the footage from today.

They’d filmed eight takes in total, and the edited clips added up to over ten minutes of footage.

Luca watched frame by frame, taking notes as he went along. It took him over an hour to get through it all.

When he finished, he furrowed his brow. The scenes were markedly different from what he’d envisioned, filled with Billy’s personal style.

He couldn’t say they were bad, but they weren’t what he wanted.

"Luca, what do you think?"

Billy and Annie asked in unison.

Luca set down his notebook. "Why do these scenes feel so inconsistent, like they were shot by two different people?"

"That’s because they were! Annie kept interrupting me during filming, insisting that I do things her way,"

Billy explained.

"You’re wrong. I didn’t insist on doing things 'my way.' I wanted you to follow the script. But you didn’t,"

Annie countered.

Billy threw up his hands. "No director follows the script exactly during filming. You need to trust me—I know what I’m doing to make this movie better."

"Really? Fine, let’s settle this. Luca, you decide how the film should be shot."

Annie tossed the ball back to Luca.

"Alright."

Luca, holding his notebook, picked out several scenes he thought were well done.

"I think these scenes turned out great."

"Ha! Luca, those are the ones I directed according to my vision!"

Annie laughed, losing her composure for a moment.

"Luca, do you really think that’s the better way to shoot?"

Billy asked, frowning.

"Yes, I do. I think it fits better."

Luca stood his ground.

These scenes were shot according to his script, exactly like he had envisioned.

He thought for a moment and decided to stick with the original plan.

Of course, if Billy could produce better shots that exceeded the original, Luca would support him. But so far, Billy hadn’t.

"Luca, you should review the other footage too,"

Annie said, pulling out some film reels and playing them in the editing room.

They had been filming for over half a month, so there was plenty of material to review.

As it got dark, Luca had skimmed through most of the footage, taking notes and marking down the shots he approved of.

When he finished, Annie took a look at his notes and couldn’t help but laugh.

"Luca, you and I are on the same page. The shots you approve are exactly the ones I want. Are we telepathic or something?"

Mrs. Annie, excited, gave him a quick kiss on the forehead, then turned with a smile. "Billy, what do you think now?"

Billy looked at his notes, and his face darkened. With trembling hands, he placed the notebook on the table.

"Since you all think shooting it this way is better, why don’t you do it yourselves? I’m done!"

He turned and walked out of the room.

"Billy!"

Luca called out.

Bang!

Billy slammed the door shut.

"Ugh, what a mess," Luca said, pinching the bridge of his nose, feeling helpless.

What was supposed to be a pleasant collaboration had turned into something completely unexpected.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 304: How About We Just Drink and Talk About Adult Films Tonight?

Knock knock knock!

It was nighttime at the hotel.

Luca knocked on Billy’s door.

"Mr. Kelly!"

Billy's assistant opened the door, greeted Luca, and quietly exited the room.

The living room was brightly lit, and Billy was slumped on the couch, staring blankly at the TV without focus.

“Billy, watching an adult film?”

Luca walked over with a bottle of whiskey.

“Hmph!”

Billy glanced at him briefly and then closed his eyes.

He sat with his arms crossed, slouching on the couch, his greasy, pudgy face scowling, every part of him screaming two words: *I’m angry.*

“Heh~”

Luca chuckled, pouring two glasses of whiskey. “Billy, care for a drink?”

"…"

Billy remained silent, keeping his miserable expression.

“What a pity. I know you love whiskey, so I brought this Portuguese Royal Whiskey all the way from Brazil. Cost me 800 bucks. Man, it pained me.”

Luca swirled the glass, the golden liquor swirling inside, its fragrance filling the air. He downed it in one gulp.

“Ah~ refreshing!”

He poured himself another glass, and the room’s air grew even richer with the scent of alcohol.

Whoosh~

Suddenly, Billy’s eyes snapped open. With lightning speed, he grabbed a glass and gulped it down.

“Ahh~”

Billy let out a long sigh, his fat body trembling slightly.

“Good, isn’t it, Billy?”

Luca asked with a playful smile.

“It’s okay.”

Billy set the glass down, his tone indifferent.

Luca smiled and filled it up again.

“Billy, do you enjoy shows like this?”

On the TV was a late-night adult variety show called Island Lovers. Eight teams of men and women, wearing barely anything, lived on an island for four weeks. Occasionally, the show featured nudity.

But the bodies of these participants were quite average, which made Luca, who was surrounded by supermodels daily, a bit nauseous.

Billy glanced at the TV and blushed.

How did the channel end up here?

It must’ve changed automatically!

“Haha, Director Billy, don’t be shy. We’re all adults here. Watching some adult entertainment is perfectly normal.”

Who’s shy?  

Billy shot him a glare, downed another glass, and remained silent.

Luca shrugged. “Billy, did you know? Back in the day, I almost became a glorious adult film star myself.”

“Huh?”

Now Billy was curious.

“I’m serious.”

Luca shrugged again. “Back when I was just a lowly assistant, I dreamed of making it big, experiencing the glamorous world of showbiz. But being a Brazilian with some old injuries, it seemed impossible to make it the regular way.

So, I agreed to follow an agent into San Fernando Valley and began my journey toward becoming an adult film actor.”

“You did porn?!”

Billy’s eyes widened in shock. “Tell me what you did! How come I’ve never heard of this?”

Luca smirked. Typical men.

“Wait, wait, wait. If you’d done something like that, it would’ve been huge news. How come there’s no record? You’re lying!”

Billy glared at him.

Luca shook his head. “I’m not lying. After I got to the set in San Fernando Valley, I was totally captivated by the wild, free atmosphere. I went a bit crazy, you know, trying to ‘blend in.’ But my back injury acted up before shooting even began. I had to leave and take care of myself.

So, my adult film career ended before it even started.”

“That’s it? That’s all?”

Billy rolled his eyes. “You can’t call it a career if it never even started! Total nonsense!”

“I said I almost became an adult film star. Almost. You missed the key word, so you can’t say I lied.”

Luca laughed.

“Hmph!”

Billy downed another glass. “So why are you here? Trying to convince me to follow your plan for the movie? Sorry, no can do.”

“No, no. I’m not here for work. Tonight, we’re just drinking. Just talking about adult films.”

Luca raised his glass with a grin.

“Talk about what? You never even shot one.”

Billy wasn’t amused.

Luca raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Billy, who’s your favorite adult film star?”

“Why should I tell you?”

“Maybe I’ve worked with her.”

“…”

Billy blinked, his small eyes gleaming. “Wait… are you serious?”

“Of course. Don’t forget who I am. Mr. Big. I’ve got the looks, the body, and I studied hard. During my time in San Fernando, I crossed paths with many actresses.”

Luca smiled faintly.

“Tera Patrick, too?”

“Her?”

Luca chuckled, pulling out his phone. “I still have her number. Want an introduction? Tera’s been looking to transition into more mainstream films, but she hasn’t had the chance. You’re a big director; maybe you could be friends. Want her number?”

Billy thought about it, then waved it off. “Nah, nah. I’m too old for that.”

“It’s fine. You can just be friends. Tera’s actually a very decent woman. No need for anything more.”

Luca kept pushing with a grin.

“No, no. Knowing myself, I might not be able to control myself.”

Billy refused.

“You’re really weak-willed, you know that?”

Luca sighed in relief but kept going. “During my time in the Valley, I didn’t just meet actresses. I met some directors too. Some of them were originally professional directors with amazing skills. In their hands, even the most explicit scenes became beautiful and artistic. They could turn an ordinary actress into someone truly captivating.

In some ways, I think they’re even better than some big Hollywood directors. Like that famous scene in Titanic where Jack draws Rose? That was inspired by a work from an adult film director.”

Billy nodded. “Some of those directors really are talented. I’ve been blown away by some shots in adult films. If I had to do it, I might not be able to do as well.”

“Exactly. There are so many talented people out there, but very few get the chance to show their skills. If those people were given the opportunity, who knows what they could achieve?”

“Opportunity…”

Billy sighed, downing his drink.

Luca refilled his glass and continued, “Yeah, opportunity changes everything.

Take me, for example. I’m not exceptionally talented.

Before I became famous, I was desperate for any chance to make it big. I prayed to God every day for just one small opportunity, and I swore I’d shine.

Maybe God heard me. He kindly gave me that chance.

I seized it, became a supermodel, won the Silver Bear in Berlin, and saw my scripts and songs turned into real projects. In a way, I’ve made it. I became a minor celebrity. I was proud, maybe a bit cocky at times, but I never felt I was that great.

The one who’s truly great is God. If He’d given those chances to someone else, they’d have succeeded too—maybe even more than I did.

Don’t you think so, Director Billy?”

Billy stared at his drink, deep in thought.

Back when he graduated from college, Billy dreamed of becoming a big director like Spielberg. But things didn’t go as planned. Instead of making films, he became a music video director.

After several years of ups and downs, he believed his talent was on par with top film directors—just that he hadn’t been given the right opportunity.

Last year, he finally got his chance. He directed Honey with the big star Jessica Alba.

He was thrilled, thinking his dream of becoming a big-time director was within reach.

But unfortunately, the film’s box office results were mediocre, and he faced a lot of criticism.

He reflected on it, identified his weaknesses, and became more confident. He believed that if he got another chance, he could do much better.

That’s why when he got the script for Step Up, he was eager to film it. He wanted to prove his talent—he knew he wasn’t any less capable than anyone else.

The first failure was just due to inexperience. The second time, I’ll nail it.

That was his mindset.

But he didn’t expect to encounter so many “weak links” this time—more than one, actually, a whole team of them.

Billy took another gulp.

“Luca, just say it straight. Don’t beat around the bush. You’ve been talking for ages. Are you telling me to seize the opportunity? In this case, it’s not me wasting it. It’s you guys dragging me down.”

Dragging him down?  

Luca rubbed his cheek in frustration. After all that, he’s blaming me for being the weak link?

“Director Billy, do you remember what made you decide to shoot Step Up in the first place?”

Luca asked directly.

Billy thought for a moment. “I liked your script. I wanted to make it into a movie.”

Luca nodded with a smile. “Thanks for liking my script. But after seeing the footage, I noticed you made a lot of changes. Can I ask why?”

Billy hesitated, then sighed. “A script is just a reference. When it comes to actual filming, things always need to be adjusted. No director follows the script exactly. If they did, why have a director at all? Might as well just let the writer do it

Luca smiled gently, "Yes, writing a script is easy, but actual production is difficult. I don’t oppose revising the script; it's the director's right. But I still don’t understand why you changed it. Was there something wrong with the script design?"

"No, the script is solid," Billy frowned.

"Then why change it? Are you avoiding difficulties?"

"What?" Billy was confused.

Luca shook his head. "Billy, I watched a few scenes you shot. It’s still your usual style. Do you think that’s a good or a bad thing?"

Billy blinked but didn’t respond.

Luca patted him on the shoulder. "Billy, I used to hear you say you wanted to push your limits and become a true filmmaker. But during production, your old habits kicked in. You stuck to what you’re comfortable with and did what felt easiest.

Think about it carefully. Did you change the script because there were actual problems with it? Or was it just because it didn’t fit your familiar style? Or maybe, you lacked the confidence to shoot it as written?"

Billy opened his mouth, and a sheen of sweat appeared on his chubby cheeks.

"Billy, you're both the director and the investor. I don’t oppose you changing the script. If you can come up with a better director's script, I’ll fully support you.

If you believe your approach will make a better film, I’ll support you 100% as well. Director Billy, do you have that confidence?"

Billy stood there, stunned, unable to respond.

Luca sighed quietly to himself. Billy had great talent but struggled with execution.

He was an experienced director with his own ideas about film. He didn’t want to follow the script and just be a tool; he wanted to make changes. But he lacked the ability to improve on the script, leaving him in a tough spot.

La la la~

The TV program ended.

"The show’s over, and I should be going. Billy, you’re not young anymore. Watch less of these kinds of shows—it’s bad for your health."

Luca patted his shoulder and left the room.

Everyone has their own reasons for doing or not doing something. Billy had to figure this one out for himself.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 305: Daily Life of the Film Crew*

"Scene 2, Shot 1, Take 1, action!"

The next morning was bright and clear, with a gentle breeze and crisp air.

On the set of the Maryland Institute College of Art, the crew of Step Up continued filming.

Director Billy sat firmly in the director's chair, staring at the monitor with a blank expression, like a serious, robotic worker.

In the dance rehearsal room, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan danced in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror.

Ms. Anne stood with her arms crossed, focused and meticulous.

From morning until afternoon, they filmed three scenes, all strictly according to the script. The process went smoothly, and surprisingly, Billy and Anne didn’t argue even once.

The crew members were stunned—what was going on?

"Luca, how did you manage this? The results are amazing!" Mr. Ross asked in confusion.

"Nothing much, I just had a little chat with him about, you know, adult films," Luca shrugged.

"Adult films?" Mr. Ross was puzzled.

Luca laughed, "Just kidding. Honestly, I didn’t do much. Billy figured it out on his own."

"Alright then!" Mr. Ross shrugged as well.

Luca smiled faintly, remembering something. "Mr. Ross, do you happen to know any professors who teach British drama or dance? Preferably someone from the UK."

"Why do you ask?"

"I have an audition coming up for a film, a true British production."

It was for Pride and Prejudice, and the audition was starting soon.

The role he was going for was a British character, and to land it, having just a British look and gentlemanly manners wasn’t enough. He’d need to master a British accent, etiquette, habits, traditional English dance, and more.

"Mr. Ross, do you know anyone who fits the bill?"

Mr. Ross thought for a moment. "Ms. Nia is British, and she studied classical British drama. She could give you some guidance. As for traditional British dance..."

He glanced at Ms. Anne nearby. "Do you think there’s anyone more suitable than her?"

Luca blinked. That seemed right.

Ms. Anne Fletcher was a master of all kinds of dance—modern, classical, you name it. She had even danced in Titanic.

Suddenly, Luca realized how many talented people surrounded him.

After finding the right teacher, Luca got busy again.

He spent most of his time on set, focusing on his role as a screenwriter, discussing the script with Anne and Billy, and making sure the film’s quality stayed intact, preventing Billy from going too far off-script.

Aside from his work with the crew, he carved out time each day to learn traditional British dances from Ms. Anne, like circle dances, noble ballroom dances, and courtship dances.

Every week, he also made time to head back to Broadway in New York to study with Ms. Nia, learning how to behave like a proper Brit.

Occasionally, he would squeeze in time to chat, shop, or work out with Kate, Lima, and Britney.

On top of all that, he also had work to manage in Brazil, copying down the second book of his series.

After a few days, he felt utterly exhausted.

But no matter how tired he was, the work still had to get done.

April 1st was Tony’s wedding day.

That morning, the weather was perfect with a light breeze. The wedding took place in front of a church in Brooklyn, where a band played Richard Marx’s Now and Forever.

*Now and forever

I will be your man

Sometimes I just hold you…*

About 50-60 friends, family members, and colleagues sat on either side.

As the music played, Tony walked out with his fiancée Vanessa. Vanessa was about 5'7" and weighed over 180 pounds. She wasn’t particularly beautiful, but she had a gentle personality and knew how to manage a household—more than a match for Tony.

"What a happy couple!" Ed praised.

"Yeah, they really are," Luca clapped and smiled.

"Luca, when do you plan to get married?" Ed asked, flashing his pearly whites.

"Marriage is just a formality. Whether it happens sooner or later doesn’t really matter, does it? And can you stop pushing me about it? If I get married, I might leave the entertainment industry to become a stay-at-home dad. Do you really want me to quit?"

Luca glanced at him irritably. The most annoying thing at weddings was people pushing him to get married. Ed was such a buzzkill.

"Alright, alright," Ed laughed and then brought up something else.

"By the way, the Helmut Lang ad team reached out this morning. They want to shoot the ad this week. Can you spare two days?"

"Got it!" Luca nodded. The Helmut Lang team had originally planned to shoot the ad in mid-March, and he had rushed over to do it, but Jennifer Aniston was still filming elsewhere, so it got delayed until now.

"You may now kiss the bride!" the wedding officiant announced from the front.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Vanessa grabbed Tony and kissed him passionately—smooch, smooch, smooch.

"Whoa~" the crowd cheered and laughed.

Luca and Ed burst into laughter.

"Tony’s so weak! He’s definitely going to be bossed around at home. No backbone at all!" Ed chuckled.

Luca nodded in agreement. "Yeah, yeah. He’s no match for Vanessa. She’s going to bully him every day. Not much of a man, is he?"

After a moment, they exchanged glances—why did this feel a little awkward?

Riiiiing!

Suddenly, Luca’s phone rang.

He glanced at the number and walked to the edge of the lawn.

"Mr. Ross, what’s up?"

"Billy fainted."

"Fainted?" Luca was shocked. Billy was a bit chubby, but generally healthy. How could he suddenly collapse?

"Here’s what happened…"

Everything was fine during the morning shoot, but then Billy suddenly lost his temper, threw his cup, and shouted that this wasn’t the movie he wanted to make. After a few shouts, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

"I see. I’ll be right there."

Luca sighed. Things had just been quiet on set for a few days, and now this.

He quickly said his goodbyes to Ed and Tony and left the wedding early.

"Anne, how’s Billy doing?" Luca asked that afternoon at Baltimore Harbor Hospital, where Ms. Anne was waiting.

"It’s just high blood pressure, nothing too serious," Ms. Anne frowned.

Luca breathed a sigh of relief.

"Luca, you should be prepared—Billy probably won’t be able to continue directing," Ms. Anne said.

Luca nodded. He understood what she meant.

After their last talk, Billy had reluctantly followed his advice, sticking strictly to the script and acting like a tool, but his mood had been down ever since. He barely spoke and seemed like he was holding something in.

Had he finally reached his breaking point?

Luca sighed and walked into Billy’s hospital room.

Billy lay in bed, his face pale, but he was awake.

"Luca, you’re here!" Billy smiled weakly.

"Yeah, I heard you fainted. I was worried. How are you feeling now?" Luca handed some flowers to the nurse.

Billy hesitated for a moment before saying, "Luca, I don’t think I can continue directing."

Luca nodded. "Focus on getting better. We can delay the shoot and continue later."

"No, Luca. I mean, the crew should keep filming without me. There’s too much money on the line to stop now."

Luca raised an eyebrow. "But you’re the director. How can we continue without you? Just rest and recover. We’ll wait."

"No, Luca. I think there’s someone better suited to direct than me."

"Who?"

"Anne!"

A while later, Luca walked out of the room.

"How did it go?" Ms. Anne asked.

Luca shook his head. "Billy needs more time to recover. He suggested replacing the director so we don’t fall behind schedule."

"Replace him? We’ve already shot a third of the film. Who’s going to take over such a mess? How could he do this?" Ms. Anne was furious.

Her voice was loud, probably so Billy could hear it.

"Anne, calm down," Luca pulled her aside. "Billy said he’s willing to continue directing, but only if he can do it his way."

"No way! If he does it his way, the film will flop!" Ms. Anne’s face darkened.

"Then we’ll have to replace the director."

"With who?"

"Billy recommended someone, and I think they’re the best choice."

"Who?"

Luca stared at her without saying a word, a faint smile on his face.

Annie was a bit taken aback. "You're not talking about me, are you?"

Luca nodded, still smiling. "Yes, Billy and I both agree that you're the most suitable candidate."

"Me?"

Ms. Annie raised an eyebrow. "No way, I've never directed before. I wouldn't be able to handle it. This is a multimillion-dollar production."

"Annie!" Luca looked her in the eyes seriously. "You've been in the film industry longer than both Billy and me. You have more experience, and you've produced several films. You know everything there is to know about how a film crew operates.

Since Step Up was greenlit, you've put more time and effort into this project than anyone else. I don't think anyone understands this movie better than you, and no one is more qualified to direct it.

Annie, I believe you can do it!"

Ms. Annie pondered for a moment, then suddenly put on a stern face. "Fine, I'll take over this mess, but from now on, the crew has to listen to me."

"Of course! You need people? You'll get them. You need money? You'll get it. Whatever you need, I'll support you fully!"

Luca said firmly.

"Good. I want you to stay on set for the entire time!"

"..."

Am I just shooting myself in the foot here?

After Annie took over the mess, she immediately transformed into a powerhouse, handling everything with swift and decisive action.

First, she kept a certain restless screenwriter on set.

Next, she restructured the crew, firing several of Billy's old staff and hiring a few new people.

Finally, she demanded Billy be named assistant director and executive producer, forcing him to stay on set and claiming publicly that they were co-directors.

If Billy dared to refuse, she would represent the company in firing him and even file a lawsuit.

Billy had no choice but to stay on set, acting like a frustrated subordinate, a far cry from his previous days of total control.

However, under Annie's leadership, the crew quickly underwent a transformation. Everything became organized, work efficiency skyrocketed, and the shooting schedule sped up.

Annie's performance left everyone in the crew in shock. But she was so forceful that working with her was extremely stressful.

Luca had to be extra careful whenever he asked for time off, afraid he might upset her.

Luca was feeling frustrated. At home, he had to deal with the Ice Queen, a powerhouse of a woman. At the company, there was another powerhouse in Katie Ford. And now, on set, there was Annie.

"Why are there so many powerful women in the world?" Luca sighed softly.

"Because you're too soft!" Tony grinned.

"What did you say?!"

"Uh, nothing!" Tony chuckled and drove toward Times Square.

The Helmut Lang ad shoot was about to begin.

(End of chapter)