291-295

*Chapter 291: The Carnival*

Knock knock knock

"Luca, are you ready?"

It was the afternoon, and Kate called from outside the door.

"Ready for what?"

"The Carnival party, did you forget?"

Kate asked, clearly displeased.

"Uh… okay, I’ll be right there!"

Luca shook his head, realizing just how busy he’d been lately. He had forgotten all about the Carnival.

When he opened the door, there stood Kate, dressed up to the nines.

Kate looked incredibly sexy.

Her golden-brown curls cascaded down her smooth, fair shoulders.

She wore a blue lace bustier that showed off her collarbone and toned abs, with faint hints of her abs showing.

She paired it with denim shorts.

Her long, slender, pale legs were pressed tightly together with no gap in between.

Her entire look radiated sexiness, fire, and wildness.

"Idiot, what are you staring at?"

Kate crossed her arms, a playful smile curling at the corners of her lips.

"My dear, you’re absolutely stunning. No queen at any Carnival party in the world could compare to even one of your toes."

Luca praised her.

"Of course!"

Kate smiled slightly and pointed to his outfit. "Are you seriously going to the Carnival dressed like that?"

He was wearing the Brazilian three-piece set: a t-shirt, baggy shorts, and flip-flops.

"What’s wrong with this?"

"No way, we’re together, so your outfit has to match mine."

Kate pushed him into the bedroom.

"Hurry up and change!"

Luca reluctantly swapped into something a bit more lively and smeared some face paint on, transforming himself into something resembling a parrot.

After finishing their outfits, the two left the manor together.

It was Carnival time.

Held annually in mid-to-late February, the Carnival is celebrated in Christian countries for four days.

During Carnival, everything except pharmacies, hospitals, and bars shuts down—factories stop, stores close, schools are off. People of all ages, dressed in vibrant colors and heavy makeup, flood the streets to dance and sing. The entire city erupts in celebration, swept up in the feverish excitement.

Kelly Manor wasn’t far from the bustling streets. Once they left the villa district, they could see thousands of people dressed in all sorts of strange costumes, beating drums, cans, and boxes as they surged toward the liveliest area, like rivers flowing into the sea.

On the busiest Samba Avenue, countless people, perhaps tens of thousands, packed the streets. The mass of people was overwhelming.

Amidst the joyful rhythms, everyone danced the samba together—there was no poverty or wealth, no class, no racial discrimination. People forgot their worries, immersed in music and samba, laughter, and joy.

Each person was like a joyous wave, and together, tens of thousands became a sea of happiness.

Luca pulled Kate into the crowd. Following the dense drumbeats, they shook their bodies freely, muscles rippling and hips swaying. This was samba, a dance more liberating and universal than street dance.

Kate danced beside him, even more passionately and wildly. Sometimes, they danced together as a pair.

In the crowded throngs, the two danced with abandon, sweat pouring down their bodies.

"Look, the floats are here!"

By the afternoon, the streets filled with strange and wonderful floats.

There were beautiful forest fairy floats, scary skeleton floats, elephant floats, puppet floats, giant turtle floats, Buddha floats, and more.

Each was unique and vibrantly colored.

Even the smallest float was five meters tall and over ten meters long, as grand as a building.

The float parade was the highlight of the Carnival every year.

These floats were designed by various samba schools, and they were often manned by scantily clad women—some wore bikinis, some were topless, and some were adorned with jewels, barely covering their skin.

As the floats moved forward, the women on them danced samba, intensifying the feverish atmosphere.

"Let’s go, it’s time for the party!"

Kate tugged his arm.

"Let’s go!"

Each year, Rio’s city government hosts a Carnival banquet at a high-rise viewing platform, inviting the city’s elite, including figures from politics, sports, fashion, culture, and entertainment.

This year, Luca and Kate had received invitations as well.

Kate was one of the most famous female authors in the world and a prominent figure in both Brazil’s cultural and fashion circles.

Luca was an international movie star, the first Brazilian to win Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival, making him a major celebrity in the entertainment world.

Their arrival together quickly drew attention, especially Luca, who didn’t often make public appearances. He received special treatment.

"My dear, I’ll leave you here. I need to talk with Lydia."

"Alright!"

Before the crowd could surround him, Kate walked to the center seating area with Gina.

Once Kate left, people started approaching Luca one after another—some to greet him with a drink, some to discuss potential film projects, some to hand him business cards, and even a few women trying to cozy up to him.

"Mr. Kelly, congratulations on winning Best Actor in Berlin!"

"Mr. Kelly, you’ve brought pride to Brazilian cinema. Let me toast to you!"

"Mr. Kelly, I have a film project—can we talk about it sometime?"

Luca dealt with these interactions for half an hour, sweating by the time it was over.

"Hey, Luca, we meet again!"

Just as he caught his breath, another person came up. This one was a man in his fifties, slightly bald, and dressed casually in a yellow short-sleeve shirt.

This was Donald Ranward, the chairman of Riofilmes, one of the most powerful film companies in Brazil. They had been involved in classics like Central Station, City of God, and The Motorcycle Diaries.

Donald was a heavyweight in the Brazilian film industry.

"Good evening, Mr. Ranward!"

Luca greeted him.

"Luca, you gave us quite a surprise this time."

Donald laughed as he sat down.

"Surprise?"

"Yes, before filming started, no one believed you could pull off the role. They thought you’d ruin the movie with your insistence, but not only did you nail it, you won Best Actor in Berlin."

Donald sighed deeply.

Riofilmes had considered investing in Buried but Luca and Burbank hadn’t accepted their offer.

Now that Buried had grossed over six million dollars, Donald couldn’t help feeling a bit bitter.

"I’ve never met someone as outstanding as you."

Donald praised him.

"It’s nothing. I just chose a good director."

Luca replied modestly.

"No, it’s because you’re exceptional!"

"Thank you!"

Luca wasn’t fooled. Donald was obviously here to talk business, and in business, only cold, hard cash speaks.

Sure enough, Donald soon brought up the new film, Infernal Affairs.

"Luca, what made you decide to adapt this film?"

"I’ve seen the original movie, and it was fantastic. I wondered whether it could be adapted."

Luca shrugged. "I thought about it for a long time and decided to give it a shot. Brazil’s gang problem is just as bad as in the movie—gangs have become part of Brazil’s identity, known around the world.

The success of City of God shows that audiences are still interested in gang films, and I happen to enjoy them, so I wanted to give it a try."

Donald nodded. "You’ve got great foresight. Since City of God blew up last year, several films about gang conflicts and crime in the favelas have hit theaters, and they’ve all done well. Every major company has plans to produce similar movies, but you’ve moved ahead of us."

"Really?"

Luca was surprised. He thought he was the only one betting on crime films.

"Yes, Luca, there are many projects in the works. But finding something on par with City of God is difficult. I’ve read a lot of scripts recently, and yours stands out—it's excellent. Are you still looking for investors for your project?"

Donald wanted to collaborate, adding that he had connections within law enforcement, which could help reduce filming obstacles.

In the past, the biggest challenges in making crime films were gang threats and scrutiny from the police.

The police were strict in their review of films, ensuring they didn’t tarnish the department’s image or glamorize gangs. Many movies were blocked from release for failing to meet these criteria.

Luca thought it over and decided to agree.

Riofilmes had significant influence in the industry, and Donald’s connections were strong. With them on board, the movie would be even more secure.

"Luca, will you be acting in this film?"

"I’m not sure yet, but I’m considering it."

"You’re very popular right now. I hope you’ll take a role. We’re willing to match Hollywood’s pay."

Luca nodded, saying he’d think about it.

Once Donald left, three more film companies approached him, hoping to collaborate.

Luca didn’t turn them down.

The more, the merrier—getting people to invest in Brazilian cinema was essential.

Worst case scenario, he could always borrow a few more scripts from classic Hong Kong movies. There were plenty of them to use as references.

"Hey, Mr. Kelly, mind if we chat?"

Just as he was about to take a break, another person greeted him.

Luca frowned slightly. It was Carnival, couldn’t he have some time to enjoy himself?

But when he saw who it was, he couldn’t help but smile.

"Hey, Ricardo, long time no see. When did you get here?"

'I’ve been here for a while. I wanted to say hello, but there was always someone around you. I didn’t want to cut in line.'

Luca laughed and gave him a hug.

This guy was none other than the "Prince of Football," Kaka.

Back when they were both in the youth team, they trained together for over a year and had a good relationship.

But after Luca retired from football and moved to the U.S., and with Kaka frequently playing abroad for AC Milan, they lost touch.

Now that they met again, they had a lot to talk about.

'Luca, how did you become an actor, and even win Best Actor in Berlin?'

The two of them were sitting on a lookout point, drinking beer and watching the parade floats on the street below.

'After I got injured, I thought about doing something else. After weighing my options, acting seemed like the best fit,' Luca said, touching his handsome face.

'That makes sense,' Kaka laughed and nudged him on the shoulder. 'You’ve always had a talent for acting. I knew it back then.'

'Oh? You knew?'

'Of course. Do you know the two things I admire most about you?' Kaka smiled, raising his index finger. 'First, your skill with women. During training, there were always beautiful women coming to see you. We were all envious.'

'You weren’t bad either! Is she your girlfriend?' Luca asked, pointing at a girl in the crowd.

Kaka blushed and nodded. 'Yes. But don’t change the subject. The second thing I admire about you is your diving skills. Your fake falls looked so real—it’s definitely an acting talent, right?'

'No, it's not talent; it’s the result of hard work. Even when I was playing, I was practicing my acting. Now it’s finally paying off.'

Kaka chuckled and raised his glass for a toast.

'Ricardo, stop chatting and come dance!' Kaka’s young girlfriend, Caroline, ran over.

'Caroline, this is Luca. Do you know him?' Kaka introduced.

'Of course! Supermodel Luca, the youngest winner of the Berlin Best Actor award. Don’t forget, I’m in the fashion world too,' Caroline laughed.

Luca smiled, 'Hi, Caroline, nice to meet you!'

Caroline was also a model. Her mother, Rosangela, was the Brazilian representative for the French luxury brand Christian Dior, and Caroline was Dior's local brand ambassador.

She was not yet 17, but the two had been dating for two years already. If this were China, Kaka would definitely get roasted for it.

After chatting for a bit, Caroline dragged Kaka away to dance.

Luca stayed on the lookout tower, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation.

He scanned the crowd with his drink and spotted Kate in the VIP section.

She was surrounded by a group of influential women, including Rio’s deputy mayor, Lidiane Gorostiza, along with lawmakers, lawyers, and other female elites.

At this moment, Kate was no longer just a model, writer, and designer. She was a billionaire and the United Nations Women’s Goodwill Ambassador for Brazil, fulfilling her duties.

Seeing him look over, Kate winked before resuming her dignified demeanor.

Luca smiled and continued to enjoy his drink.

'Hey, Luca!'

Ambrosio came over, followed by Jamie Marzu.

'Hey, Ambrosio, Jamie. You two made up?' Luca glanced at Jamie’s leg, seeing it was fine.

'Hmph!' Jamie glared at him. Apologizing used to be enough for cheating, but now it wasn’t. Ambrosio had learned bad habits from Lima—it seemed breaking legs was the new penalty.

'Luca, our Ambrosio is kind-hearted, so she spared my legs,' Jamie boasted.

'Hmph, did I say I wouldn’t?' Ambrosio snapped. 'This time, I mean it. You’d better make up your mind, or don’t blame me for not giving you another chance.'

She waved goodbye and left.

Jamie shook his head. 'Luca, this is all your fault. Now the whole modeling world is talking about how breaking legs can prevent cheating.'

'They’re not wrong. Look at me. Ever since my waist and fingers got broken, I’ve never cheated again. You should give it a try.'

'Tch, only an idiot would want their legs broken. We get women with our brains, not our legs.'

Jamie grinned smugly and hurried after Ambrosio.

Luca shook his head, wondering what the future held for this pair.

As night fell, the samba avenue lit up in a dazzling array of lights. With the entrance of ten top samba teams, nearly a thousand professional samba dancers began dancing around the floats.

Tens of thousands of spectators on either side of the avenue cheered loudly as the atmosphere reached its peak.

Chapter 292: I’m a Man of Principles

After the carnival, Kate returned to New York to continue her fashion empire.

Luca still had some unfinished work and needed to stay in Rio a little longer.

In the morning, after finishing his workout, Luca drove to Toucan Films.

The company was located in a high-rise office building on Atlantic Business Street, not far from Kate’s small café.

The company wasn’t large, with only ten people in total, including Luca as the boss.

Their main tasks were managing the investment, budgeting, and production of two new projects.

The first project, Saving Ronaldo, had entered the production stage.

It was a small production, with no big-name stars, and the total budget was only $1.2 million.

The film had three producers: Marcel’s VOD Films, Paragua Films, and Luca’s Toucan Films.

Luca was cautious about this collaboration and only invested $400,000.

Currently, the company was focusing on producing the Brazilian version of Infernal Affairs.

“Mr. Kelly, the budget for Infernal Affairs has been completed,” said the production manager as he walked into the office holding a document.

Luca took it and flipped through the pages. The film had three producers: Toucan Films, Rio Pictures, and the Brazilian branch of Columbia Pictures. The total budget was $3.5 million, or about 15 million reals.

It was a big investment, and the film needed to make at least 50 million reals at the box office to break even.

But Brazil, like China, had a major issue with rampant piracy, which made it difficult for Brazilian films to perform well at the box office.

Currently, Brazil's highest box office record was held by Titanic with 78.9 million reals.

Last year’s top-grossing film, Bruce Almighty starring Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston, only made 33.3 million reals.

Reaching 50 million reals would not be easy.

In the budget, the biggest expense was actor salaries. They were hiring big-name stars, which meant higher salaries.

The budget for actor salaries alone was $1 million.

In addition to the salaries, there were several special expenses.

One was insurance for the cast and crew, which exceeded $200,000.

Another was consultation fees for the police department, which came to $300,000.

Along with other expenses, this part of the budget was nearly $800,000.

These extra costs, along with the actor salaries, made up half of the budget.

Even though it seemed wasteful, the money had to be spent. Without these expenses, the film wouldn’t be completed smoothly, and even if it were, there was no guarantee it would be released.

This was the reality of the country. To make money in Rio, you had to accept these facts.

Luca reviewed everything and signed the document.

“Mr. Kelly, Director Jose is asking when you’ll be available. He’d like to discuss the script with you,” Luca’s assistant asked.

"Tell him to meet me at Kate’s café at 2 PM for coffee."

“Got it!”

After the assistant left, Luca poured himself a cup of coffee and continued working.

In the afternoon, Kate’s café was bustling, with Aunt Regina hard at work.

Since Luca and Kate returned, business at the café had been booming. Where once only a few people would visit daily, now hundreds, even thousands, crowded the small shop, packing it to the brim.

There were fans, movie enthusiasts, tourists, and some who came looking for opportunities.

There were even a few instances where women would intentionally spill coffee on Luca and pretend to clean it up, forcing him to stop visiting the café as frequently.

But Regina’s cooking was great, so after Kate left, Luca still came to the café daily for meals.

“Regina, is lunch ready?” Luca asked at the counter.

“Luca, you’re here. Here’s the barbecue meal you ordered,” Regina said, handing over a few lunch boxes.

“Thank you, Regina. I can’t live without your cooking!” Luca joked as he smelled the food.

“Haha, as long as you enjoy it,” Regina replied happily. “Oh, Mrs. Ambrosio is here. She’s upstairs having coffee.”

“Oh, is she alone?”

“Yes, she just arrived. It was too crowded downstairs, so I seated her upstairs.”

Luca nodded, greeted her, and carried his lunch up to the second-floor office.

He knocked on the door and saw Mrs. Ambrosio sitting by the window, legs crossed, playing on her phone with a frown on her face.

"Anan, what brings you to the café today?" Luca asked curiously.

In the Brazilian modeling world, Ambrosio was one of the top five most popular models and was constantly busy, traveling between the U.S. and Brazil.

“I just had a fight with Jamie, so I came here to chill,” Ambrosio shrugged and tossed her phone onto the table.

Earlier, when they were out, she went to the bathroom, only to return and find a lipstick mark on Jamie Mazur’s face, along with another woman’s perfume on him.

Jamie claimed he had been taken advantage of and had no idea where the lipstick mark came from, looking completely innocent.

Ambrosio didn’t bother arguing, storming off and ending up here to avoid him.

“Didn’t you two make up?” Luca asked, puzzled.

“Of course not. He said he was willing to accept punishment, but before I break his legs, he wants to walk around a bit more. You know, because he might not get another chance,” Ambrosio said with a smirk.

“Fair point!” Luca grinned as he rolled up his shirt sleeves and sat down to start lunch.

Just as he was about to dig in, he noticed Ambrosio staring longingly at the food.

“Anan, if you don’t mind, we can share,” Luca offered as he opened the lunch boxes, the smell wafting through the room.

“Thanks, I won’t hold back then,” Ambrosio said, picking up a fork and taking a bite of the steak.

“Mmm~ this is delicious!” she exclaimed.

Lunch consisted of four dishes: two meats, two vegetables, a large serving of rice, and a pomegranate juice — more than enough for two people.

“Anan, are you really going to break Jamie’s legs this time?” Luca asked between bites.

“Of course. I was going to do it in the U.S., but the bastard said he wanted to come to Rio first. Now, after two days here, he’s saying he’s not ready. Do you think he’s having second thoughts?” Ambrosio pouted.

“Probably,” Luca smiled. It was a classic stalling tactic, but who knew if Jamie could pull it off?

“I knew it!” Ambrosio huffed. “Luca, you haven’t been involved in any scandals for a while. Has Lima cured your cheating habits?”

“I never had that problem!” Luca protested.

“Yeah, sure,” Ambrosio chuckled, clearly not buying it.

“Okay, fine, I’ve been cured,” Luca said, resigned.

Ambrosio smirked, “Care to explain how?”

Luca thought for a moment and then asked with a grin, “Anan, how do you think I look?”

Ambrosio studied him. His sharp features, clean-cut smile, and the mature, confident aura he exuded made him more attractive than ever.

She blinked and smiled, “Not bad. You’re still Brazil’s number one heartthrob, haha.”

“Exactly! I’m the number one heartthrob in Brazil. I used to feel like I was winning whenever I slept with a woman. But now, if I sleep with another woman, I feel like I’m losing.”

Before he could finish, Ambrosio burst into laughter.

“I’m serious!” Luca said, his expression serious. “I used to feel like a hunter with a shotgun, shooting at whatever I could hit. But now, I’m the prey. The women around me are all predators. I’m a man of principles; I can’t just let myself get caught so easily.”

“You, you’re unbelievable!” Ambrosio doubled over, laughing uncontrollably.

Knock, knock—

Regina knocked on the door.

"Luca, Mr. Jose is here!"

"Got it!"

Luca took a sip of juice and stood up.

“Are you discussing work?” Ambrosio asked.

“It’s just a casual chat, no worries. Keep eating!” Luca replied.

“Alright then!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 293: Interested in Playing a Small Role?*

In the second-floor office, sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee. Luca and Jose sat together, chatting about the movie.

"Is the budget approved?"

"Yes, $3.5 million."

"That's good!"

Jose sipped his coffee and said, "I’ve pulled the crew together, all familiar faces. Once the funds are in place, the project can officially start."

Luca nodded. "Casting needs to start soon. This time, casting will be handled by you and the production department. We’ve got the budget, so let’s bring in some strong actors."

"I understand."

Jose pondered for a moment, then pulled out some documents. "Luca, what do you think about having Rodrigo Santoro play the second male lead? His acting is solid, and he’s got the looks. You two would make a great pair on screen."

"Santoro?" Luca glanced at the document.

Santoro was 30 years old, having debuted in 1998. He had starred in four films: Hurricane Hilda, Brainstorm, The Other Side of the Sun, and Carandiru. He was a B-list actor in the industry, with good looks and solid acting skills.

Before the last film, Burbank had considered using Santoro to replace him. If Santoro were to take on that role, it seemed like a good fit.

"I don’t have a problem with it, but you’ll need to discuss this with the production department," Luca said.

The production department consisted of producers from three different film companies. From project approval to the film’s release, they handled everything. Since Luca was already playing the lead, he didn’t want to seem too controlling by also selecting the second male lead.

"Actually, Santoro was the production department’s suggestion. But since you don’t seem to like him much, I wanted to check with you first to avoid any conflicts," Jose said hesitantly.

"Do I not like him?" Luca frowned.

Jose smirked. "Definitely. Every time Santoro’s name comes up in the crew, your face goes dark. It’s pretty obvious."

Luca shook his head and laughed. "Before we shot Buried, Mr. Burbank mentioned replacing me with Santoro, which put a lot of pressure on me. But now that the film’s done, I have no issues with him."

"Haha, that’s great." Jose sighed in relief. Since the film revolved around Luca, if he didn’t approve, Santoro wouldn’t get the role.

"Luca, do you have any recommendations for the female actors?" Jose asked.

"There aren’t many scenes for women in this film, so the actress needs to be beautiful, in great shape, and of course, she should have decent acting skills."

Luca thought for a moment and suddenly glanced at Ambrosio, who was sitting nearby.

"What do you think about Ms. Ambrosio?" he asked.

"She’s great," Jose agreed.

Ambrosio was gorgeous and quite famous. She had even appeared in the American film Entourage. The only question was whether she would be interested.

"Why are you two staring at me?" Ambrosio asked, putting down her phone.

"Hey, Ana, interested in playing a small role?" Luca invited.

"Me?" Ambrosio was surprised. "Why not ask Kate or Lima?"

"They can’t act as well as you."

"Haha, well, for that compliment, I’ll do it. But just to be clear, I’m not doing any erotic films."

Ambrosio laughed.

"Come on, we’re all professionals here," Luca said, handing her a script. "Take a look. You’d be playing a psychologist—smart and cool."

"OK!" Ambrosio took the script and began reading it seriously.

Meanwhile, Luca and Jose started discussing the gunfight and action scenes in the script. These scenes were unavoidable in a crime film, but Brazilian films didn’t excel at them.

Luca had watched a few films, and they often featured characters shooting guns in a crude, bloody manner, lacking the elegance of stylized violence. He suggested they bring in two action directors from Hong Kong.

Hollywood had done something similar when remaking Infernal Affairs, hiring many people from the original team.

Jose agreed with his suggestion.

"Ana, how’s the script? What do you think of the role?" Luca asked from the front seat of the car in the afternoon.

"It’s not bad," Ambrosio replied, putting down the script. "Did you write it?"

"Not entirely. I borrowed a lot from Hong Kong films."

The original script was 70% inspired by Infernal Affairs, but after several rounds of revisions, only 40% remained, and it had evolved into a distinctly Brazilian film.

"That’s impressive! You seem to excel at everything now—modeling, acting, even winning Best Actor. How did you suddenly become so good at everything?" Ambrosio looked him up and down, amazed. Was this really the same guy everyone used to dislike?

Luca smirked. "I’ve always been great. I just kept a low profile."

"Yeah, right." Ambrosio chuckled. "Back then, the only thing you were good at was playing soccer."

"Was I really that bad? At least I looked good."

"Haha, a chubby guy? Where did you even get that confidence?" Ambrosio laughed.

Luca shook his head. Living as a big guy among a group of supermodels, he had to endure a ton of blows to his ego. It was a wonder he survived.

Half an hour later, the car arrived at the outskirts of a slum.

In Rio, there were two types of favelas. One was “tamed” by the government—though poor, these favelas had decent security. The other was untamed, where even the police didn’t dare to enter, even with guns.

Thanks to efforts by law enforcement in recent years, over half of Rio’s favelas had been cleaned up—some were demolished, some turned into tourist attractions, and others into film sets or sports courts.

The set for Saving Ronaldo was in one of the tamed favelas. Police patrolled the streets, and security was relatively good.

Filming had begun, and Luca was there to check on things. Ambrosio, bored, had decided to tag along for fun.

When they arrived on set, Luca got out of the car, wearing a baseball cap. Ambrosio, in a hat and sunglasses, followed behind him.

The set was in a narrow alley in the favela. With the crew and bystanders, there were hundreds of people crowding the space.

Luca followed the assistant director to the center of the action.

The crew was shooting the third act’s action scene.

Marcio, playing a small-time gang leader, was chasing down Ronaldo to collect a debt.

Ronaldo had just received his wages, which he needed to buy medicine for his mother, so he couldn’t give the money up.

He dribbled a soccer ball through the alley, dodging gang members with parkour-like moves, somewhat resembling kung fu soccer.

Marcio, thin and out of breath, chased after him, shouting and occasionally tripping, which made the crowd laugh out loud.

"Why don’t they just shoot him? One bullet would solve the problem," Ambrosio asked.

"They can’t shoot him," Luca chuckled.

"Why not?"

"That kid running with the soccer ball is Ronaldo, the film’s main character. He’s a promising young soccer player. His father, a gambler, racked up debts with the gang. Now that his father’s dead, the gang is after him for the money. If they kill him, who will pay the debt?"

"That makes sense," Ambrosio nodded, accepting the explanation.

"But why did those two guys fly through the air when he barely moved his leg? There’s at least ten meters between them. Does the main character have superpowers?" she asked, pointing at the alley.

"No, in reality, the protagonist kicked the soccer ball, knocking them over. That part will be shot separately and enhanced with special effects."

"Kicking a soccer ball can send people flying? That sounds ridiculous."

"It’s a movie!" Luca reminded her.

This film wasn’t strictly a crime drama—it had a lot of comedic elements and was meant to be fun.

"Stop! Don’t run!" the thug shouted.

Boom! Boom!

Ronaldo took down two people blocking his path. He smiled smugly, "You think you can stop me? You’ll need to run faster."

"Is that so?"

Marcio appeared out of nowhere, holding a gun to Ronaldo’s head. "How about you keep running? Let’s see if the bullet can catch up."

Ronaldo froze, giving up.

The crowd burst into laughter.

"This is pretty funny," Ambrosio said, smiling.

"Cut!"

The director called a halt, preparing for the next scene.

"Luca, how was I?" Marcio asked, running over, proud of his performance.

"Not bad. You’ve got a knack for comedy!"

Marcio was skinny, with expressive facial features and a knack for physical humor, perfect for comedic roles.

"Luca, I’ve always told you I’m good. I just never got the chance to show it. Will you write more scripts for me in the future?"

"Of course. Nail this role, and there’ll be plenty more roles for you."

"Haha, that's great!"

Maceo, acting like a drama king, was so happy he started dancing around comically, making Ambrosio burst out laughing.

"Maceo, get ready!"

The stage manager called out.

"On my way! Luca, I’m off to film now, don’t let me interrupt your flirting."

Maceo chuckled and ran onto the set.

"Attention, everyone. Scene 5, shot 4, take 1. Action!"

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 294: I Swear I'll Never Cheat Again*

"Luca, I’ve heard there’s a lot of shady stuff going on in the movie industry?"

In the evening, Luca and Ambrosio left the set together.

"Yeah, money and beauty— that’s showbiz for you," Luca said as he drove.

"Now that you're the boss of a film company, have you ever taken advantage of any actresses?" Ambrosio asked with a half-smile.

"Of course not!" Luca replied. He hadn't even been involved in casting this time and didn’t even know what the lead actress looked like. Besides, he didn’t care. The most beautiful Brazilian women were in the modeling world, like Ambrosio beside him. Her figure and looks were way better than any actress.

"There are so many gorgeous women in the entertainment world. How do you resist?"

Ambrosio was skeptical.

"Why wouldn't I? I just told you, I’m Brazil's number one heartthrob. People envy me; I have to be careful not to let anyone take advantage of me."

"Tch." Ambrosio rolled her eyes. "You're just a little better-looking than other guys and maybe a bit sexier, but not by that much."

Luca smirked. "Don’t forget, I’m also Mr. Big."

"Mr. Big?" Ambrosio’s gaze shifted downward, then quickly looked away, her face slightly flushed.

"Are you flirting with me?" she asked, eyes fixed on his face.

"Emm… yes!"

"You’re such a bad guy!" Ambrosio huffed lightly, gazing out the window as the sunset bathed her face, golden hair, and fair skin, with a slight glimpse of her chest.

Luca drove steadily, going from the slums to an upscale apartment complex.

"Luca, thanks for driving me home!"

"No problem!" Luca said as the car stopped. Ambrosio unbuckled her seatbelt and got out.

"Do you... want to come up for a coffee?" Ambrosio hesitated for a second before asking.

"Just for coffee?" Luca teased.

"What else?" Ambrosio rolled her eyes again.

"If it's just coffee, no problem. You know, I have to look out for myself, make sure no one takes advantage of me."

"Come if you want!" Ambrosio slammed the door and walked toward her apartment, her long legs, hair blowing in the wind, and white dress all accentuated by the twilight, making her look stunning.

Luca chuckled and followed her out of the car.

"Aren't you afraid I’ll take advantage of you?" Ambrosio teased in the elevator.

"I'm not worried. I’m stronger than you. If you try anything, I’ll fight back!" Luca said as he stepped into the elevator.

"You’re shameless." Ambrosio's face turned red, brushing her hair as his teasing was getting to her.

The two stood shoulder to shoulder, suddenly caught in an awkward silence.

The elevator climbed slowly, the temperature rising as a pleasant fragrance filled the air, making hearts race.

Their shoulders brushed even closer, and they could feel each other’s warmth intensifying, like a spark ready to ignite.

Suddenly, the elevator jerked, and Ambrosio stumbled forward.

Luca gently caught her.

Their eyes locked, and Luca leaned in as Ambrosio wrapped her arms around his neck.

The two shared a passionate kiss in the elevator.

Ding! The elevator reached the tenth floor, and the doors opened.

“Mmm... we’ve arrived. Be careful, someone might see us,” Ambrosio murmured, adjusting her clothes as they stepped out of the elevator.

"Ambrosio, your apartment has a nice view," Luca commented, sitting on her balcony, looking out over the Copacabana beach, with the ocean and islands in the distance.

"Of course. I wouldn't have bought it if the view wasn’t good," Ambrosio replied, handing him a cup of coffee as she joined him on the balcony.

"Thanks!" Luca smiled. "I didn’t think you’d really invite me up just for coffee."

"What did you expect?" Ambrosio laughed.

"I thought maybe some soda, beer, or bottled water."

"Is that really what you thought?" Ambrosio asked, curling up on the sofa, her scent filling the space.

"Of course not!" Luca chuckled, leaning in to whisper something in her ear, then kissed it lightly.

Ambrosio shivered and fell into his arms, her face flushed in the sunset's glow.

"You jerk. I knew you were eyeing me!" she teased.

"And you still invited me up?" Luca smiled, caressing her cheek.

"Why not?" Ambrosio playfully poked his chest with her delicate finger. "Looks like I’ve got you now."

"Fine, you got me," Luca said, leaning down.

“Mm-hmm~”

The sun dipped below the horizon, leaving the land in darkness. The night spread like a blanket over the earth.

On the distant coast, waves crashed rhythmically against the cliffs with a deep, steady beat.

The balcony of Ambrosio’s apartment was swallowed by the night.

Two figures on the sofa merged into one in the darkness, forming a soft blur.

Knock, knock, knock.

After who knows how long, the sky was completely dark when a soft knocking came from the living room door.

"Someone’s here," Ambrosio whispered, startled.

"Ignore it," Luca murmured, pulling her closer, both lost in the moment.

“Ambrosio, I’m sorry. Please open the door. I know I messed up. I swear, I’ll never cheat again. Please believe me!” a voice suddenly called from outside.

"Jamie!" Ambrosio sat up, quickly pulling a blanket over herself.

"Ambrosio, please open the door. I know you're home. I saw the lights on. I swear I’ll never cheat again. Please, Ambrosio, I’m serious this time!" the voice pleaded from outside.

"You’re going to open the door?" Luca whispered in her ear.

"No," Ambrosio shook her head.

Luca let out a sigh of relief. This was the tenth floor, and he definitely didn’t want to jump out.

"Then let's pretend he doesn't exist. Tonight is our date," Luca said, his hand on her waist.

Ambrosio moaned softly and collapsed back into his arms.

"Okay, bad boy. I’ll ignore him. Every time he cheats, I’ll just come to you. How’s that?"

"I’m your revenge tool now?" Luca teased.

"Don’t you want to be?" Ambrosio asked, tracing his chest with her finger.

"Of course I do. Friends should help each other out."

"Then it's settled." Ambrosio wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, her voice sweet and soft. "You bad boy, I can’t bear to leave you. You’re too amazing. You give me more pleasure than I’ve ever known. I enjoy it so much!"

"Then let’s keep the pleasure going," Luca replied.

"Mm~ gentle, please!"

The night deepened, as did their connection. Outside, someone continued to repent.

"Ambrosio, open the door. I swear I’ll never cheat again!"

"Mm~"

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 295: I'm Going to Be a Dad*

In mid-March, after finishing his work, Luca was preparing to return to the U.S.

In Rio, Salvation had already begun filming, and Infernal Affairs was in the pre-production phase, with casting, set construction, and location scouting underway.

These tasks were for the production and directing teams, and had nothing to do with him.

The preparation phase would last for about a month, so he needed to take this break to handle things in the U.S.

Earlier this month, the Step Up crew had arrived in Baltimore to start shooting; Mean Girls was about to be released, with the premiere set for early next month.

Now that 2004 had begun, several brands he endorsed needed to shoot new season commercials, and there was a ton of work to do!

"Busy, huh?"

Luca put away his folder and stepped off the plane.

In March, winter had just ended in New York, and the weather was slowly warming up. Despite wearing a long-sleeve sweatshirt, Luca could still feel the chill in the air.

"Luca, you’re finally here! If you didn’t come soon, I was going to lose my job."

On the airport boulevard, Tony greeted him.

"Aren’t you working as a makeup artist?"

Luca handed over his luggage.

"Being a makeup artist is just part-time. My main job is still being your assistant."

"Getting two paychecks isn’t bad either."

Luca smiled slightly and got into the car.

Tony had previously been a makeup artist but was forced to switch to being an assistant due to rumors.

As an assistant, he had worked diligently. However, whenever Luca was unlucky, people would bring up old rumors, like last year when Luca was blacklisted. Some in the makeup artist community whispered that Tony had brought bad luck to him.

But this year, Luca had become the highest-paid male model, graced the covers of numerous magazines, and recently won the Best Actor award at the Berlin Film Festival. His reputation was skyrocketing.

The rumors about Tony bringing bad luck had been completely debunked, and models from Ford Models often hired him as a temporary makeup artist because of his skills.

Now, Tony made more money as a makeup artist than he did as an assistant, but makeup artist work, like modeling, was unstable. It had busy and slow seasons, whereas the assistant job was more secure. Otherwise, Tony would have quit by now.

"Luca, I’m getting married next month. Can I invite you to the wedding?"

"Married?"

Luca asked in surprise, "Tony, congratulations! What made you decide to get married?"

"I... I’m going to be a dad," Tony said with a wide grin.

"Wow, double congratulations! You’re one lucky guy!"

Luca marveled.

Last year had been rough for Tony. He had faced unemployment and even argued with his girlfriend. But now, his income had doubled, his girlfriend was pregnant, and they were getting married. It seemed he had made it through his rough patch and was entering a new phase of life.

"Thanks! I wasn’t planning on getting married this early, but Ed kept telling me that with a child, you have to think about providing a stable environment for them—a complete, happy home.

That’s what a responsible man should do.

I thought he made sense, so I’m getting married," Tony said with a shrug and a smile.

"Yes, all for the child!"

Luca smirked. Who would’ve guessed that Ed had the potential to be such a counselor?

"Ed also said that my getting married would be good for you too."

"For me?"

Luca was taken aback.

"Yeah, Ed said that once everyone around you is married, it’ll start to affect you too. You’ll start thinking about settling down early, focusing on work, and stop messing around. Isn’t that a good thing?"

Tony chuckled.

Luca shook his head, surprised to be getting marriage pressure—from two guys, no less. It was hard not to want to roll his eyes.

"Well, Ed sure is thoughtful, but I’m not going to be influenced by you guys. Marriage is the graveyard of youth, and I’m still in my prime."

Tony nodded, "You’re right. I didn’t want to get married because I wanted to keep having fun. But now that I’m going to be a dad, I suddenly feel like I’m done with the fun. So, I’m getting married and wrapping up my extended adolescence."

Luca smiled. It seemed that having a child had made Tony more mature.

Half an hour later, they arrived at 76th Street in Manhattan’s DC district.

Luca went back to his apartment, changed into a suit, and then headed to the bustling Fifth Avenue.

Fifth Avenue runs through the heart of Manhattan in New York, intersecting with 47th Street.

It’s the most famous upscale shopping street in the U.S., a hub for business, culture, residence, and tourism in New York, and one of the top ten most expensive commercial streets in the world.

Along this luxurious road, you’ll find almost every luxury brand store imaginable—jewelry, leather goods, clothing, cosmetics, and more. Anything you can think of, you can find here. It’s a shopper’s paradise.

Today, at Gucci’s exhibition center on Fifth Avenue, Sun-Gucci was hosting its New Year’s fashion show. Kate and Lima were both designers and spokespeople, busy preparing at the exhibition center.

"Luca, you finally decided to show up!"

Outside the exhibition center, Ed stubbed out his cigarette and strode over, giving Luca a tight hug and a hard pat on the back, almost knocking the wind out of him.

"Ed, I was only in Brazil for two months. Is this really necessary?"

Luca complained.

"What do you mean, only two months? You left in December and didn’t come back until mid-March—almost half a year!"

Ed frowned, his face tanned from the sun.

"Alright, alright. I’m back now. You can start scheduling work."

Luca said as they walked inside.

"Too much work—movies, ad campaigns, interviews. We’ll talk details tomorrow at the office."

"Okay!"

Luca adjusted his sleek suit and followed Ed into the exhibition center.

The fashion show was about to start. The room was filled with people from the fashion, design, and media worlds, along with several familiar celebrities.

Among the attendees were North American Gucci President Girent, IMG Vice President, Mackenzie Bezos, Wendi Deng, A-list actress Julia Roberts, Al Pacino, Claudia Schiffer and her husband, and Paris Hilton.

The place was filled with stars, turning it into a massive party.

"Luca, congratulations on becoming the Best Actor in Berlin. Your talent is truly remarkable!"

Some old friends, Felix and Han Li, had also arrived.

"Luca, you and Kate must be the most talented sibling duo in the world!"

Han Li complimented.

Luca smiled and hugged them both.

"How have you two been lately?"

"Great!"

Felix beamed widely.

Since the Twilight series had taken off, his career had suddenly skyrocketed. His previously chaotic company had finally hit its stride. Company debt was reduced by 50%, the publisher’s market value had soared to $120 million, and Felix’s net worth had increased significantly, making him a star in the publishing world.

The second Twilight book, New Moon, which launched this year, continued to be a bestseller. It topped the charts in various countries across Europe and America, selling over five million copies, making another huge profit for the publisher.

"Luca, Kate’s been really busy this year with lots of projects. Can you nudge her to finish the third book quickly? A lot of fans are eagerly waiting for it."

Felix laughed.

"Nudge her? Felix, remember last year when you said you’d pay me a commission for nudging her? Where’s my commission?"

Luca teased, rubbing his fingers together.

"Haha, no problem! Jessica’s birthday is coming up, and I’ll make sure to give you a red envelope."

Felix glanced at Han Li, "Darling, isn’t that what it’s called?"

"No, it’s called a big red envelope!"

Han Li corrected with a laugh.

"Yes, yes, a big red envelope, filled with cash! Emily said that’ll bring good luck."

Felix gestured.

Luca smirked. A red envelope at Jessica’s birthday party? Wasn’t that just going to go straight back to Jessica? These two were really good at saving money.

"Alright, I’ll make sure Kate keeps writing."

"Thank you, thank you!"

Felix smiled and then brought up another issue: the film rights to the Twilight series.

With the series blowing up, the movie rights had attracted the attention of film companies. Many of them had reached out to the publisher, hoping to negotiate.

However, the film rights weren’t with the publisher, so they went to Kate, who pointed them to Luca. But Luca hadn’t budged, leaving everyone without a chance.

Felix’s point was that turning the novels into films would help promote the books and boost sales significantly. He hoped Luca would consider this carefully.

"I'll think about it," Luca nodded. He had already considered this matter for a while. He had thought about selling the rights before, earning ten or twenty million, but now that small amount of money no longer interested him.

He planned to wait until his film company was strong enough before collaborating with other companies to develop the series.

The "Twilight Morning" series had grossed over three billion dollars at the box office, ranking in the top ten of film franchises.

It was a gold mine, and he didn't want to let anyone else have it cheaply.

After chatting for a bit, Luca mingled with the crowd and met several fashion show VIPs and celebrities, including Mrs. Bezos, Wendi Deng, Julia Roberts, and Al Pacino.

In Brazil, he was considered a big name, but in America, compared to these world-class stars, he felt his own stardom dimmed quite a bit.

"I need to work harder!" Luca silently encouraged himself.

"Luca, the fashion show is about to start," Ed reminded him.

"Got it!"

Luca stopped in his tracks. He had planned to go backstage to greet a few people.

"By the way, there's a surprise in store."

"Surprise?"

(End of Chapter)