231-235

*Chapter 231: Nobody Cheats Casually*

"Luca, I'm here!"

It was a sunny morning with birds fluttering around.

Luca had only just woken up around 8 AM.

After just 30 minutes of exercise, he was drenched in sweat.

So weak!

Miranda laughed at him for a while, and Kate's teasing made Lima blush.

After breakfast, Luca was lying on the grass recovering when suddenly he heard the chirping of a lark.

He saw little Eve jump out of a car, rushing toward him like a butterfly.

“Haha, Eve! Long time no see, you’ve gotten prettier,” Luca smiled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

“Giggle~ Luca, I think I look pretty too.”

The little girl was wearing a cartoon t-shirt and blue short overalls with adorable bubble pigtails. Her big blue eyes sparkled, making her look cute and mischievous.

"Hey~ Luca, what happened to your hand?" she asked, blinking her big eyes while holding his hand.

"I accidentally got my finger caught in a door, and this is the result," Luca said casually.

"Haha, I got my finger caught in a door when I was little too. But it hasn't happened since I grew up. Luca, you're so clumsy!" she laughed heartlessly.

“Not everyone is as clever, smart, and adorable as you, Eve.”

“Hmm, maybe not. Hey, Luca, what’s that on your face? Did someone hit you?”

The little girl noticed the bruises on his face like she’d discovered something new and poked at the corner of his mouth and eyes.

“Ow, stop!” Luca winced and swatted her hand away.

"Does it hurt, Luca?" Eve's big eyes filled with tears.

“No, not at all!” Luca forced a smile.

Getting beaten up wasn’t a big deal for him—his thick skin helped. But when this little girl pitied him and gave him that look, he started feeling sorry for himself.

Suddenly, he felt really pitiful. What kind of man gets beaten at home every day?

Sigh~

How long must I endure this before I can stand up for myself again?

Nina and Ed walked over from the parking area.

“Mom, Dad, Luca got beaten up. You need to help him get revenge!” Eve shouted, turning to her parents.

Nina glanced at him, then said calmly, "Serves him right."

“…”

“Haha, Luca, did you get beat up again?” Ed approached, looking him up and down.

“Looks pretty serious. Was it Kate or Lima? Or did they team up on you?”

“…”

Luca lowered his head in shame.

"Luca, was it Kate and Lima who beat you up?" Eve asked, finally understanding and shrugging her shoulders.

“Luca, if anyone else had hit you, I’d help you get revenge. But Kate and Lima are really nice to me, so I can’t help you this time!”

"Don't worry about him. Men like him deserve to be beaten. He’s lucky it was just a dislocated finger this time," Nina said, pulling Eve along.

“Why does Luca deserve to be beaten?” Eve asked curiously.

"He cheated!" Nina said bluntly.

"Is that really so bad?"

Eve didn’t quite understand.

"Of course! Imagine if your desk buddy had not just you but three or four other buddies too. He sits with Lucy one moment, then with Linda the next, and then comes back to sit with you. Would that make you happy?"

Nina explained plainly.

Eve frowned, twisting her small face in thought before sighing, “Luca, you really messed up this time!”

"Haha, Eve, Luca doesn’t deserve any sympathy. It's hot outside; let’s go in," Kate and Lima came out to greet them.

“Luca isn’t coming in?”

“No, I’m staying outside to soak up some vitamin D.”

“Oh~”

Eve nodded and ran off with the group of women, leaving Luca outside to “soak up the sun.”

“Hahaha~”

Ed chuckled, his bright teeth gleaming in the sunlight.

"Does my injury make you happy? If I can't work, it means you’ll lose income too, you know?" Luca reminded him, displeased.

“No worries. It’s just a dislocated finger. You’ll be back in a week, so it won’t affect work much,” Ed shrugged, sitting down cross-legged beside him.

“Luca, I’ve told you before—don’t cheat, don’t fool around. Be a good man who stays loyal. Now look what’s happened.”

Luca rolled his eyes, "Loyal? That sounds easy enough, but do you even know the kind of temptations I faced before cheating?"

Ed was stunned for a moment. "Are you seriously expecting sympathy for cheating?!"

“No, no, I’m just saying it wasn’t easy for me either.”

"Yeah, sure. A man who gets beaten up three times a month definitely has it rough."

"..."

Luca pursed his lips. "Ed, let's get serious now."

"Alright."

Ed opened his work bag and took out the script for Brokeback Mountain, explaining,

“This project has been in the works since 2001. It’s controversial due to the subject matter, has a narrow audience, and requires a big investment. Many directors were interested but turned it down over concerns about recovering costs. Recently, director Ang Lee got the script, and the project is now moving forward, entering the casting phase.

A lot of people have the script, but they're hesitating. The project carries a lot of risks. Some conservative and religious groups even published an open letter in the Los Angeles Times opposing it. So, it’s up to you whether to take the role or not."

Luca flipped through the script. The screenplay was written by Annie Proulx, the author of the original novel, who had won the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize.

Overall, the script was even better than the novel, but it still didn’t quite match the depth of a film. After the movie came out, Proulx even criticized Ang Lee for making it too good and emotional, causing her a lot of pressure.

It showed how brilliant Ang Lee was. Working with him would be a great opportunity to gain experience.

Luca hadn’t gotten much experience lately, and he kind of missed being pushed to his limits by a director.

But this script felt dangerous.

Should he take the role?

Luca frowned, hesitating.

"Why do you look so torn?" Ed asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I only suggested auditioning. Do you think you’ll automatically get cast? Honestly, your acting is pretty average. You’d need four or five more years of practice to land a role like this."

“Uh…”

Luca was taken aback. That made a lot of sense.

Setting aside his acting skills, based on the conversation he’d had on that flight, he had made it clear he wasn’t a fan of the whole male-on-male theme. Why would Ang Lee cast him?

There was no need to stress over it—he wasn’t even in the running.

He glared at Ed, “You’re just a manager. What do you know about acting? Plenty of directors say I’m talented, with great instincts and explosive potential. What if I suddenly nail it during the audition?"

Ed glanced at him. "Not likely."

"..."

Luca shook his head. He was already thinking about getting a new manager. Working with someone so brutally honest was really killing his motivation.

"Besides Brokeback Mountain, there are a few other options:

A Detective in Hell, a minor role,

Phone Booth, a supporting role,

and Fantastic Four, a secondary lead.

All these projects are currently casting for shoots starting next year. You can give them a try, but don’t get your hopes up. You don’t have any work released yet, and your acting hasn’t been recognized. So just take it easy,” Ed kindly reminded him.

Luca shook his head. He wasn’t stressing, just weighing the options—they all sounded pretty good.

But Ed had a point.

Given his current situation, landing any role would be a win.

“Alright, let’s try them all. Whichever sticks, sticks. Which one should we start with?”

“Brokeback Mountain—its casting process is the longest due to the difficulty.”

“Okay, let’s go tomorrow!”

“You can’t go tomorrow.”

“You just said we could go anytime!”

Luca was confused.

Ed didn’t reply. He just pointed to Luca’s face and hand.

“Ah~ fine…”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 232: Why Are You Here?*

"This time the situation is urgent. Gucci hopes you can have the full set of designs ready by October, so it can be showcased at next year’s Spring-Summer Fashion Week."

"Alright, Lima and I will stay in the studio, working day and night without eating or sleeping, to finish the designs."

In the brightly lit studio, Kate, Lima, and Nina were sitting together discussing work.

On the central work table, there was a messy pile of design drafts, papers, pens, and coffee cups.

"What are you talking about?"

Luca pushed the door open and walked in.

Nina glanced at him and packed up her workbag.

"That's it for today. Miranda has an ad shoot, so I'll head out first!"

Luca felt a bit helpless. No matter how well or poorly he did, Nina never seemed to think much of him.

Kate smiled slightly, "Nina, Eve loves it here. Since you and Ed are busy with work, you can let her stay here for a few days."

"Do you have time to watch her while you’re rushing designs? Eve has become quite a handful lately," Nina shook her head.

"Nina, did you forget? We still have someone idle here," Kate patted Luca on the shoulder.

"Haha, this job is perfect for him," Lima chuckled softly.

Nina gave him a critical look, "Can you handle it?"

Luca nodded gravely. This was a matter of male pride, and he couldn’t refuse.

"Alright then."

Nina and Ed left, leaving the little girl behind.

According to Kate, with his current situation, Luca wasn’t likely to be running around freely. His most suitable job now was staying at home, doing laundry, cooking, and looking after the child—a stay-at-home dad.

Luca opened his mouth, wanting to protest, but fearing a beating, he chose to remain silent.

"Wow~! Mommy’s finally gone, I’m free now!"

As soon as Ed's car left the estate, the little girl threw herself onto the lawn, rolling around with giggles.

"You little actress!"

When they were saying goodbye earlier, she had looked so sad with tearful eyes, but as soon as her back was turned, she was all sunshine again.

"Brother Luca, can we go climb the tree?"

The little girl excitedly jumped up, eyeing the big pear tree to the west.

"No, it’s too dangerous," Luca stopped her.

"It’s fine. I climb trees all the time at school, even ones taller than this."

She said confidently.

"Is that so?"

Kate tousled her hair with a smile, "Eve is so brave. Go ahead then, climb up."

"Alright, Sister Kate, watch me!"

The little girl stood under the big tree, rubbing her hands together eagerly.

"Kate!"

Luca called out in displeasure.

Kate curled her lips slightly and took out her phone, smiling, "Go on, Eve, climb high. I’ll take a picture. If Nina sees it, she’ll definitely praise you."

"(⊙o⊙)..."

Eve blinked her big eyes and spread her little hands.

"Sister Kate, what are you saying? I’m a lady, I don’t climb trees!"

"Haha, Eve is such a good girl!"

Kate glanced at Luca triumphantly, smiling.

Luca smirked—women always know how to make things hard for each other.

With a little one now in the house, to prevent her from climbing the tree again, Luca rummaged through the storage and found a few things for her to play with: a trampoline, a swing, and a scooter.

The little girl had a great time, her laughter ringing constantly.

Her laughter must have been too contagious, as several other kids soon showed up, including young Theodore Hanks and his friends.

A group of kids ran around the yard, dragging cats, pulling dogs, kicking balls, causing chaos everywhere with their chatter.

"Ah, youth is wonderful!"

Luca sighed with a smile as he sat on a bench to take a break.

"It is!"

On the lawn, Kina watched the children from afar, her expression softening.

"Kina, how’s Yaya's condition?"

Luca suddenly remembered the little girl back home in China.

Kina nodded and smiled, "She’s doing quite well. The big hospital has great facilities, and as long as you have money, they’ll do everything to treat her with the best medicine. In just over half a year, her condition has stabilized, and she’s gained over 10 pounds."

"She’s all chubby and white now. Look, here’s a picture of Yaya."

Kina took out her wallet and pulled out a photo.

In the picture was a beautiful little girl. She wore a white princess dress, holding a few wildflowers, standing in a flowerbed. Her round, egg-shaped face was pale but adorable, with a sweet smile.

The most striking feature was her big black eyes, which seemed to speak, as if calling out for her mother.

Luca looked at the photo, then at Kina, "Yaya's dad must be a handsome man!"

Kina blushed, "What good is being good-looking? If you have no sense of responsibility, you’re still useless. Oh, sorry, Luca, I wasn’t talking about you, don’t take it personally."

"..."

Luca felt a bit stung. "Kina, I wasn’t thinking that at all. You didn’t need to say the last part."

"Oh~"

Kina glanced at him nonchalantly and carefully put the photo away.

Luca shook his head, feeling a bit helpless. Good-looking people always seem to be misunderstood—he had been misunderstood for a long time now.

"Kina, Yaya’s condition seems good. Maybe you could bring her to the U.S. for treatment."

Even though the little girl in the photo was cute, her pale lips and weak complexion were heartbreaking.

Kina nodded, "Right now, she’s already using imported medicine, so treatment is even more expensive in China. I’m planning to bring her over here next year or the year after."

"That sounds good. Let me know if you need any help. I have quite a few connections."

"Thank you, Luca!"

"No need, as long as you don’t think I’m living off a woman," Luca waved her off as he walked into the villa.

Kina chuckled softly. After working with Kate for over half a year, she felt quite good about everything.

Initially, she earned $6,000 a month. Now, it had increased to $10,000, with bonuses and allowances on top.

The job not only paid well, but also included food, accommodation, clothes, and a car.

The workload wasn’t heavy, and there wasn’t much danger. In half a year, she had only been involved in three altercations, something even a high-ranking official back in China wouldn’t tolerate.

On top of that, Kate’s circle was nice.

Maybe it was because they were foreigners, but there wasn’t any discrimination or bias. The atmosphere was very friendly, which she greatly appreciated.

She had managed to rent a place in New York and build up some savings. Her next goal was to save more and bring Yaya over.

Kina looked up at the eastern sky and exhaled lightly.

"Haha, Theodore, you lost! Bark like a dog!"

"Woof woof woof~"

"That’s not it! Your dad is an Oscar winner, you can’t be too bad. Try again!"

"Woof woof woof~"

Watching the little rascals, Kina smiled slightly. If Yaya came, maybe she could play with them too!

Ding-dong, ding-dong~

A little later, the estate’s front gatebell rang.

Kina went to the door to greet the guest. In the parking space outside, there was an orange-red sports car.

The door opened, and a long, fair leg stepped out.

A voluptuous woman got out of the car, her long hair flowing and wearing a long dress. Her red lips were strikingly alluring.

Kina was puzzled. Why is she here?

"Is Luca around?"

"Yes, Ms. Jolie!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 233: A Deadly Visit*

"Kate, lima, Ed suggested we throw a party at the villa. What do you think?"

Luca walked into the studio with two cups of coffee, taking on the role of a caretaker.

"We don't have time right now," Kate said, pausing to take a sip of juice before burying herself back in work.

"What are you working on?"

Luca approached the workbench, noticing many designs, colorful rainbow-themed outfits spread out on the table.

"Wasn't this design rejected? Why are you still working on it?"

"Yes, but didn’t I tell you we got another chance?"

"What chance?"

"A chance to showcase at Paris Fashion Week."

Kate smiled slightly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "We have you to thank for it, right, Lima?"

"Yes! We thanked you yesterday,"

Lima leaned back in her chair, pointing to her rear and laughing.

"Since when is hitting me considered thanking me?"

Luca protested.

"Of course it is. Did you think it was just a few taps?"

Lima tapped his knee with a pencil, smiling mischievously.

"We initially considered hitting you here for a complete fracture."

Luca's knees went weak.

"Stop joking. Just tell me how I helped you."

"There’s too much to explain. See for yourself!"

Kate tossed over a magazine.

It was Art Monthly, a French magazine, and it featured an article at the beginning.

In May, the World Photography Competition was held in the Netherlands.

Over 200 photographers participated, and American photographer Kevin Dono won the gold medal at the 65th World Photography Competition with his work "Sun."

A week after receiving the award, Mr. Dono passed away due to illness.

He had been a war correspondent and took many iconic photos throughout his life, winning two Pulitzer Prizes, three World Photography Competition gold medals, and numerous other accolades.

After his death, the World Photography Association held more than ten solo exhibitions of Mr. Dono’s work in the Netherlands, causing quite a stir in Europe.

Particularly the piece "Sun," which became a sensation in European art circles.

Many famous painters used the photograph as a blueprint for secondary creations.

Among them, painter Bo Rouen’s work was purchased by a private collector for £500,000, once again causing a sensation.

Luca looked through it and asked curiously,

"Did people become curious about the rainbow in the photograph after it gained fame, and then discover the rainbow series?"

"Exactly!"

Lima smiled faintly. "Two weeks ago, the POLO Design Competition ended, and our rainbow series was featured in the newspapers.

Someone noticed that the rainbow in the photo closely resembled one of our designs, and they reached out to us."

"Our rainbow series became famous and was praised by the arts community,"

Kate said proudly, her lips curling up.

"It wasn’t just the arts community; the fashion world took notice as well.

Several renowned luxury brands contacted us, hoping to collaborate on developing this series, and we chose Gucci."

"Yes, because Gucci offered the best conditions.

There was quite a buzz about this recently, and Kate and I were interviewed by many media outlets, appearing in i-D and Fashion Handbook. Didn’t you see it?"

Lima asked, puzzled.

Luca shrugged. "I was busy filming at the time, didn’t have time to read fashion magazines."

"Hah, if you don’t even read fashion magazines, you’re not fit to be a model,"

Kate scoffed.

"Agreed, but this guy’s still a supermodel and ranks high on the male model income list,"

Lima shook her head. "Kate, what do you think about that?"

"It just shows that the male modeling industry is in decline."

"Exactly!"

The two exchanged glances and burst out laughing.

Luca shook his head. Seeing how close the two were, he suddenly felt a bit out of place.

"Enough laughing!"

He frowned, his gaze sweeping over the two with dissatisfaction, his expression serious.

"What’s wrong? Are you jealous of how well we get along?"

Kate smiled slightly and suddenly kissed Lima.

"Kate, stop it!"

Lima glanced at him, blushing a little.

Luca felt even more out of place. He spread his hands,

"I get it now. The rainbow series was just an ordinary design.

But because of me, it suddenly became art and received a lot of attention.

You two took advantage of this opportunity to make a name for yourselves in the design world.

Now, you’re about to collaborate with Gucci and hold a rainbow series fashion show in Paris.

Am I right?"

"Mm-hmm, pretty much!"

Kate and Lima nodded.

"Great! Since I contributed to this, why did you hit me? Tell me!"

Luca slammed the table in frustration, questioning them.

Kate and Lima exchanged glances.

"Seems like we shouldn’t have hit him."

"Yes, with his contribution, it wasn’t fair."

"But we already hit him, so what now?"

"What’s done is done. He’ll mess up soon enough. Next time, we’ll let it go."

"Sounds fair!"

Luca nearly fainted as he listened to their banter. Do I really deserve this?  

Knock, knock.  

Someone knocked on the door.

"Luca, Angelina Jolie is here to see you!"

Gina reported from the doorway.

Luca’s heart skipped a beat. Why is she here?  

"Why is Jolie here? Are you two close?"

Kate asked curiously.

Luca shrugged. "I watched her kid for a bit yesterday, and the kid peed all over me. She’s probably here to apologize. You two keep working; I’ll go see her."

"We’ll come too. She’s a big star. We can’t be rude."

"Alright."

Hearing that Jolie had come dressed up, Kate and Lima couldn’t greet her looking shabby, so they both went to freshen up.

Luca breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to the front hall.

Jolie had indeed arrived. She was sitting on the couch with her legs crossed.

She wore high heels and a black off-shoulder dress with a high slit, revealing her long legs.

Her skin was fair and smooth, and her presence was commanding, almost untouchable.

Strangely, she looked much more vibrant than before, almost glowing.

"Jolie, welcome!"

"Luca!!"

Jolie lifted her head, their eyes meeting in the air.

"Hah, darling, did someone beat you up?"

Jolie noticed his disheveled state.

Luca’s lip twitched as he coldly replied, "Cut the crap. What are you doing here?!"

Jolie blinked. "We’re quite close now. Isn’t it normal for me to visit?"

"Just a visit?"

Luca frowned, staring into her eyes.

"We made things clear yesterday: the game is the game, life is life. Outside of the game, we have nothing to do with each other!"

"We’re neighbors!"

"Fine, as a neighbor, I welcome your visit, but I hope you don’t stir up trouble."

Thud, thud.  

Someone was coming downstairs.

Luca’s face changed, and he coldly said,

"Remember our agreement, or it won’t be good for anyone!"

"Darling, are you nervous?"

Jolie licked her red lips and tugged at her skirt.

"Do you know why I wore a dress today?

I want your sister and girlfriend to see what you did to me."

"Are you sure you want to do that?!"

Luca’s face darkened as he picked up a piece of fruit from the table.

"You!!"

Jolie’s shoulder trembled, as if she had thought of something.

"Are you sure?"

Luca grinned wickedly.

Jolie took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling. Suddenly, she picked up a fruit knife.

"Bastard, don’t think you can scare me. I’m not the lamb you could toy with yesterday!"

"No, no. You broke the rules first.

If you follow the agreement, I’ll keep playing along. But if you misbehave..."

Luca lifted her chin.

"What do you think will happen?"

"I told you, I’m just visiting, you hateful bastard!"

Jolie suddenly tilted her head, trying to kiss him.

Luca stepped back, wagging his finger, lowering his voice.

"Remember your words, woman. No tricks!"

"Don’t worry. I haven’t tormented you enough yet, played with you, or trained you properly. Why would I break the deal now?"

Jolie glared at him.

"Good. I’ll be waiting!"

Luca smiled faintly. Hearing footsteps approaching, his expression suddenly softened.

"Welcome, Ms. Jolie!"

Kate and Lima walked over together.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 234: The Women Aren't Simple*

"Ms. Jolie, would you like coffee, tea, or juice?"

In the living room, Kate asked politely.

"Kate, could you please get me a milk coffee? I'm injured, and the doctor suggested I get more protein."

"Jolie, are you hurt?" Kate asked, puzzled.

Luca hesitated, wondering what this woman was up to.

"Yes, I pulled a muscle in my thigh while filming," Jolie replied after a brief pause.

"Filming can be dangerous."

"Indeed. How did Luca get hurt? He seemed fine at the party yesterday."

"Nothing serious, just a small accident while we were playing baseball."

Lima chuckled softly.

Luca forced a smile and took the coffee from Kate.

"Ms. Jolie, here's your coffee!"

"Thank you!" Jolie glanced at him and smiled.

"Luca, I heard yesterday that you don't have any upcoming work. There's a role in my film, Random Killings, for a psychopath killer. I think you'd fit the part well. Interested in auditioning?"

"Ms. Jolie, thank you for the offer, but I'm aiming for hero roles right now. I haven't considered playing a villain."

Luca replied politely.

"Oh, what a shame!" Jolie's lips curled into a slight smile.

Half an hour later, an orange-red sports car slowly drove away from the Big Pear Tree estate.

Luca let out a sigh of relief.

Finally, she left!

Earlier, in the living room, Jolie, Kate, and Lima had gotten along well. They chatted about movies, fashion, and luxury goods, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

But Luca felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, worried Jolie might suddenly cause trouble.

After half an hour, his undershirt was soaked in sweat, and his entire body felt weak, as if he'd just run a marathon.

"Honey, why are you sweating so much today?"

Kate touched his forehead, her slender fingers sticky with sweat.

"It's a bit hot today," Luca said, glancing at the sun overhead.

"Or is it guilt that's making you sweat?" Lima teased, her fox-like eyes staring at him.

"Guilt about what?"

"Jolie!" Lima said casually. "There are rumors that Jolie is cold and hard to approach. But you just met her, and she's already offering you a role. Why?"

Luca shook his head, "Maybe she's into me."

"Really?" Kate and Lima both looked at him.

"Yeah, she's newly divorced, a single mom. Maybe she's looking for a stepdad for her kid. I'm handsome and in great shape. I might be on her shortlist."

"Are you going to say yes?"

Lima smiled lightly and said seriously, "If you're thinking about moving on, just tell me. Don't forget, we're not just lovers but also good friends. I'll support you. Now, be honest—have you thought about getting a new girlfriend?"

"I swear, I've never had that thought!"

Luca raised his hand and swore.

"That's more like it!" Lima kissed him and set down the baseball bat she was holding.

Kate smirked, poked his chest, and walked into the studio.

Luca shook his head and plopped down on the sofa, feeling emotionally drained and physically exhausted.

"Luca! Luca! Theodore climbed a tree!" Eve came bouncing into the living room just as he was catching his breath.

Her face was flushed, and sweat had dampened her hair, sticking it to her forehead and cheeks. Her overalls were dirty, and a few feathers were tangled in her hair, making her look like a little Native American girl.

"I told you not to climb trees! Why did he climb again? A bunch of little monkeys," Luca muttered, rubbing his face as he stood up and headed outside.

"Luca, it's not my fault! I told him it was dangerous to climb trees, that most people wouldn’t dare. But he pounded his chest and said he was great at climbing trees, and even promised to pick pears for us. I really tried to talk him out of it."

Eve spread her hands, looking innocent.

Luca smirked, knowing this little girl’s schemes.

She was pretty and smart. Just by saying she wanted pears, a bunch of little boys would eagerly scramble to climb trees for her. Bankers' sons, Jewish millionaires' heirs, or that actor's underachieving son—all were wrapped around her finger.

"Eve! Eve! Look, I'm almost up!" Theodore, hanging about three meters up the tree, had both hands gripping the bark tightly, his legs shaking as he struggled to climb, his face drenched in sweat. He seemed about to give up, but seeing Eve arrive gave him a burst of energy, and he called out, climbing further.

Seeing Gina nearby reassured Luca. He watched the kid inch along the tree, barely moving after a minute of effort.

Luca shook his head and shouted, "Theodore, come down!"

"No! I want to pick pears!" Theodore stubbornly replied.

"Don’t bother; I have a whole basket of pears at home."

He had hired workers to pick over 200 pounds of pears a few days ago and had given most away to neighbors and friends. The remaining basket at home was barely touched and starting to rot.

"The ones on the tree are sweeter," Theodore insisted.

"Who told you that?"

"Fanny!"

"... Come down, or I'll tell your dad!"

"My dad’s not home!"

"..."

"Theodore, come down. I don’t even like pears!" Eve called, batting her eyes.

"Oh, okay!" The little boy quickly slid down the tree.

Luca scratched his head, wondering if Tom Hanks had seen this, would he have considered having another kid?

"Morning, Ed!"

After a week of rest, Luca's injury was mostly healed. He drove to the Los Angeles branch of Ford Modeling Agency and greeted Ed in his office.

"Luca, you’ve had a week off, but you still look tired," Ed said, setting down his coffee.

"What week off? I’ve been cooking, cleaning, and doing chores all week. Plus, I've had to look after a bunch of kids. When did I have time to rest?"

Luca slumped onto the sofa, yawning.

These past few days, Kate and Lima had been busy with design work, and Miranda was occupied elsewhere, leaving him alone at home. He ended up doing all the chores, almost exhausting himself.

The biggest headache was those kids.

Eve, ever since she arrived, had been leading her little group on adventures all over—mountains, beaches, parks. They were practically feral at this point.

Yesterday, when Nina came to pick her up, the little girl cried, saying she didn’t want to leave her friends. In the end, Nina had to drag her away.

Before she left, Nina had shot Luca a glare, as if blaming him for not looking after her properly.

Luca was genuinely worn out.

Ed chuckled, "Luca, I see you’ve been through a lot. Are you ready for the audition coming up?"

"Yes, I’ve arranged a meeting with Director Lee Ann today."

"Alright, then go ahead with the Brokeback Mountain audition. Need any help?"

"No, I’ve got Tony with me!"

---

Thanks to reader ‘liuliuqiu lw’ for the reward.

*Chapter 235: This Foreigner Has Some Skills*

September 23, Northwest suburb of downtown Los Angeles, Universal Studios.

Universal Studios is the largest film set in Hollywood, with hundreds of movies and TV shows filmed there every year.

The studio is filled with buildings of various architectural styles.

There’s the Hollywood Bowl, the Amphitheater, the Greek Theatre, the Chinese Theatre, Victorian-era British streets, futuristic cities like those in sci-fi novels, and magical castles straight out of fairy tales.

Each street has its own distinct style.

Walking through these familiar structures feels like traveling through movies—from E.T. to Terminator to Fast & Furious.

Luca entered through the west gate of the studio, walked for half an hour, and stopped in front of a messy film set. He took off his hat and fanned himself.

This is the set for The Last Ride, and he’s here to meet Li An.

He’s about to start his audition.

The first project is Brokeback Mountain, a film set in Wyoming about a love story between two cowboys.

The lead actor had been switched four times already.

Now, it’s confirmed that Mark Wahlberg, an A-list star, will take the lead role.

However, rumors have surfaced that Mark has taken on a major production, Four Brothers.

So the lead role might change again.

The second male lead hasn’t been confirmed yet, and they’re still evaluating candidates.

Because casting has been difficult and there are many uncertainties, the production team hasn’t held a formal audition but is relying on recommendations.

The key decision-makers are producer James, director Li An, and screenwriter Annie.

If you can get a recommendation from any one of them, you have a chance.

Luca had been thinking it over for a few days and finally decided on Li An.

On that plane ride, Li An asked him one question: "What do you think about male relationships?"

Luca had pondered this carefully and thought that maybe Li An wanted to invite him to play the first or second male lead.

With his handsome looks, sharp features, strong physique, and brooding eyes, Luca thought he’d be perfect for a cowboy role.

But that day, he hadn’t thought it through and impulsively turned Li An down.

Looking back, Luca figured Li An must have been pretty disappointed. After all, they had been casting for so long without finding the right actor. Finally, they came across someone, but he wasn’t interested.

Sigh, too impulsive.

If only he had agreed then, he wouldn’t need to come begging now.

Yesterday, Luca called Li An, hoping to meet up and discuss the role in Brokeback Mountain.

But Li An’s tone was a bit cold. It’s unclear whether he’s already set his sights on someone else or if he’s secretly amused by the situation.

“Yah yah~”

“Hey, watch it, cowboy!”

An actor rode past on horseback and whistled at him.

Luca mimed shooting a gun with his fingers—bang—then took a few steps forward and spotted Li An loitering around the set.

This year, after finishing The Incredible Hulk, Li An had also worked on this film, which didn’t seem to have much impact and would likely flop.

"Luca, you’re here!"

“Mr. Li, sorry to disturb you.”

Luca took off his hat in greeting.

Li An approached and glanced at his outfit.

A black shirt, blue jeans, brown cowboy hat—the shirt tucked into his jeans made him look rustic yet cool.

A perfect fit for an American Western love story.

Li An scratched his face and thought, The fox finally shows its tail.

Last time, on the plane, he had acted indifferent. Then in San Francisco, he had left Li An, a big-time director, to eat fried chicken at McDonald's. Unbelievable.

Now, hearing about the casting, here he was again.

Heh, if only you’d known this earlier.

With Li An staring at him, Luca immediately became serious.

It’s said that Li An places great importance on his first impression of an actor. If he feels it, you’re in; if not, goodbye—even using his son as leverage wouldn’t work.

Luca wondered how this time would turn out.

"Let’s go sit over there," Li An pointed to a pavilion on the side.

"Okay!"

The weather was hot, and Luca had walked a long way. His vest was soaked with sweat, so he was eager to find a place to rest.

He sent a message to Tony and followed Li An.

"Luca, are you interested in Brokeback Mountain?"

Once seated in the pavilion, Li An finally spoke.

"Yes."

The audition had begun, and Luca answered seriously, "When I read the novel, it felt like just an ordinary love story between two men—nothing too extraordinary.

But after reading the script recently, I found it deeply moving.

The screenwriter specifically emphasized the meaning of 'Brokeback Mountain,' depicting an ideal world that exists within reality.

Especially the line, 'If I knew how to quit you, it would be easier,' which touched me deeply."

"Moved?"

Li An gave him a curious look. "But aren’t you uncomfortable with male relationships?"

Luca shrugged, "Yes, I have some homophobia, but I don’t reject a good story.

The relationship between Ennis and Jack isn’t just about two men. On a broader scale, it symbolizes love that isn’t accepted by society.

Some loves are illegal, some go against moral customs.

But love is a very personal thing. It existed long before morality was formed.

Using morality to define the legitimacy of emotions is too narrow—like modern people criticizing their ancestors' marriages as shameful.

I believe that as long as two people are in love, their relationship is pure."

Li An was silent for a moment. “What do you think Brokeback Mountain represents?”

Luca thought for a moment and said, "I’ve read many Chinese books, and one story called Peach Blossom Spring reminds me of Brokeback Mountain.

The village in the story is much like Brokeback Mountain—a beautiful, ideal world that seems real but is impossible to find again.

In Peach Blossom Spring, the fisherman, like Jack in Brokeback Mountain, leaves easily, only to realize later that the mountain was their lost paradise."

Li An rubbed his chin, a bit surprised. This foreigner knew Peach Blossom Spring and even understood it well. His strategy of playing to his tastes was working.

"Actually, everyone has their own Brokeback Mountain," Luca said with a slight smile. He had one too.

"Is that so?"

Li An glanced at him. His appearance and demeanor fit the role of the second male lead, and his understanding of the script was solid, but…

"Luca, your stinky tofu has arrived!"

Tony walked in with a box.

"Thanks, Tony!"

"This stuff smells so bad, I don’t get why anyone likes it," Tony said, fanning his nose and opening the box.

Inside were beers, fried chicken, pizza, a fruit platter, and two servings of fragrant stinky tofu.

"Mr. Li, I know you're busy, so why don’t we chat while we eat?"

It was mealtime for the crew anyway.

Li An scratched his face, thinking, This guy really knows how to work people. I only ate stinky tofu once in Toronto for fun, not because I love it.

Who likes this smelly stuff?

Li An raised an eyebrow, opened a box of stinky tofu, and took a sniff. His eyes lit up.

"Is this from Peace Hotel?"

Tony paused, then shook his head. "I’m not sure; the sign outside was black."

"Ha, that’s the one!"

Li An ate a piece and chewed for a bit. It was delicious!

"Luca, you like this too?"

"Yes, Mr. Li. When I first joined the Mean Girls cast, they played a prank on me by giving me stinky tofu. I tried it and ended up really liking it."

Luca opened two cans of beer and clinked one with Li An.

Li An took a sip of the cold beer and thought, This guy knows how to win people over, especially Chinese folks, by trying to make connections over food.

Too bad I’ve been in America for too long—I’m immune to that. All this effort will be for nothing.

(End of the chapter.)