211-215

*Chapter 211: Lindsay Gets Hit*

"Luca, I'm in San Francisco. Have you finished filming?"

"I should finish today. My flight is at 8 AM tomorrow."

At the Toronto set during a break, Luca received a call from Ed.

In recent days, the PR team for Honey had been promoting the movie in different cities. They arrived in San Francisco today, and Luca needed to attend the event tomorrow, so Ed had arrived early to discuss promotional plans with the team.

"Luca, there's still a lot of coverage about Britney's proposal. It's unavoidable that interviews will bring this up. I suggest you address it carefully and take the opportunity to explain. The current public opinion isn't in your favor."

Luca shrugged. "I can talk about it moderately, but the questions shouldn’t be too extreme."

"Haha, alright, I'll be careful!" Ed laughed lightly.

After hanging up the phone, Luca sighed softly and picked up The Los Angeles Times on his lap.

His name was in the entertainment section.

The news of Britney's proposal had been spreading for days, and its impact was growing.

When the story first broke, the newspapers reported that Britney had planned to propose to Justin at her concert. Since she had apologized and tried to clear her name beforehand, many believed she wanted to reconcile.

Justin's fans were thrilled by the news, with many suggesting online that he should forgive Britney and that the two should get back together.

The fans who once "shipped" the couple were heartbroken when the golden couple broke up. Now that they were supposedly reconciling, many voiced their support.

Britney's fans were also supportive because, well, Justin was considered more reliable.

Then, the media dropped another bombshell.

This report came from the music industry and was confirmed by many musicians, making it highly credible.

It was reported that on the night of the concert, Britney threw a huge party at her mansion, attended by many celebrities. At the party, Justin performed a brand-new song he had written, professing his love for Britney and hoping to win her back.

The rumor was that the song was so good that Britney was moved to tears, nearly accepting his proposal.

But just as the prince and princess were about to reunite, the villain appeared.

Luca, the villain, had also written a song, and it was rumored to be even better than Justin's.

The princess was enchanted by Luca’s song and didn’t agree to the reconciliation.

After this report, Justin’s fans were furious. The "Britney-Justin" shippers were furious. Even some of Britney’s fans were angry.

Britney and Justin had broken up last winter over a minor disagreement, and now, after reconciling, they were just about to get back together—like a fairytale where the prince and princess overcome all odds to live happily ever after. And then, suddenly, a third party shows up? What nonsense!

No way!

Fans started to bash the villain, accusing him of being shameless and calling him the devil in the prince and princess's fairytale.

The media, of course, fanned the flames, churning out stories about the love triangle between Princess Britney, Villain Luca, and Prince Justin.

"Damn media!" Luca shook his head and put down the paper.

"Luca, The Hollywood Reporter named you the most talked-about new male actor of the year. How do you feel about that?" Lindsay asked, putting down a newspaper with a smile.

Luca shrugged. "I’m innocent."

"Innocent? You have a girlfriend and still meddled in Britney and Justin's relationship, you bad guy!"

Lindsay said with a hint of disgust.

Luca spread his hands. "They broke up a long time ago!"

"But they still have feelings for each other."

"And what does that have to do with me?"

Luca spread his hands again.

"Ugh, you're really terrible," Lindsay said, pouting. She kicked her legs and teased, "Hey, devil, I suggest you stay in Canada a bit longer."

"Why?"

"To hide!" Lindsay smirked, clearly amused. "The news says you're the reason Britney and Justin can't reconcile. Their fans would love to take you down."

She pointed her fingers at him like guns and went, "Pew pew."

Luca shook his head, not too worried. This story was hot for now, but it would cool off soon enough. Even if it stayed in the spotlight, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

"Luca, Lindsay, get ready! Your scene is up next!" Ian, the director’s assistant, called out as he entered.

"We're coming!"

"What are you going to do after filming?" Lindsay asked as they walked.

"Probably just explore the city a bit."

"Too bad I still have scenes in the afternoon, or I’d join you."

"Thanks!" Luca smiled. "When we're back in LA, you're welcome to visit my place."

"Sure!"

"Scene 32, Shot 8, Take 2! Action!"

The set was ready, and the crew began filming. This was Luca’s final scene.

The female lead, Katie, after becoming the leader of a group of bad girls, invited Aaron to her house for a party. They talked in a room but parted on bad terms.

They had already filmed the downstairs scenes in the morning, and only the bedroom scene remained.

The cameras rolled, focusing on the bed, with one capturing the wide shot and another focusing on close-ups.

In the shot, the two sat on the bed, talking. Luca wore a T-shirt and shirt, his hair styled neatly, his features sharp. His eyes, both melancholic and soulful, stood out in the close-up, making him appear deeply captivating.

"Aaron, I lied to you about something. Please don't laugh when I tell you!" Katie smiled softly, dressed in a tight gown, her chest practically spilling out.

"Tell me."

Aaron spread his hands.

"I pretended to be bad at math to get you to tutor me. In reality, I’m pretty good at it. On the other hand, your math isn’t so great, so I intentionally failed."

"You failed on purpose? That’s dumb!"

Aaron shook his head.

"Yes, I just wanted an excuse to talk to you."

"Why not just be direct?"

"I couldn’t, because of Gina. You belong to Gina."

"I belong to her?"

Aaron frowned.

"No, shut up, that’s not what I meant."

"Don't tell me to shut up!"

Aaron cupped her face, his eyes filled not with admiration, but with disappointment, disgust, weariness, and even a hint of fear.

"You know, Katie, you're starting to remind me of Gina."

He pushed her away and stood up decisively.

"Cut!"

Director Mark and producer Tina Fey watched the footage from the cameras and couldn’t help but applaud. The face-holding move hadn’t been part of the original direction.

But Luca had insisted on adding it and performed the scene to convince them. His acting moved them, and they decided to give it a try. The result was fantastic, especially Luca’s eye work. It was brilliant.

"Luca did a great job! The exhaustion and disappointment he showed were perfect. Aaron’s breakup with Gina was never explained, but through this performance, the audience can sense that it might have been because Gina was too overbearing and controlling. Aaron thought he could start a new relationship, but just as he was about to embrace love, he realized the woman in his arms was his ex."

Tina Fey sighed. "It’s a nightmare. Luca has an excellent grasp of the character."

"Yes, and your analysis is spot on!" Mark said, eyes glued to the monitor.

"Too bad Luca is leaving. I’m really going to miss him," Tina laughed.

"Me too!"

Mark agreed, feeling a little reluctant.

During his time with the crew, Luca had developed great relationships with everyone. He was hardworking, eager, and sometimes offered helpful insights into the script. Working with him had been a pleasure.

It was just a shame his role was so small, leaving him little room to shine.

Mark shook his head and picked up the loudspeaker, announcing:

"I hereby declare that Luca's scenes are officially wrapped!"

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 212: The Wedding Car*

"Take care, Luca!"

"Luca, I’ve got scenes tomorrow, so I can’t see you off. Let’s grab drinks when we’re free!"

"Luca, you promised to invite us to your estate, don’t forget!"

"Goodbye, everyone!"

Luca packed his bags in the bedroom of the villa, ready to leave Toronto the next morning.

He had arrived with a somewhat dull mood, and now, as he prepared to leave, the same sense of melancholy lingered.

Over the past two days, his mood had improved slightly, but saying goodbye again, hugging everyone, brought his feelings back to square one.

He lazily packed his things, then grabbed a beer and walked out to the balcony. Lighting a cigarette, he stared blankly at the clouds.

Ring, ring~

His phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, Luca blinked twice. It was Kate calling.

They used to chat on the phone daily, often talking for hours without restraint, sharing everything. They were closer than friends, more intimate than lovers.

He loved that feeling.

But now, Kate had a boyfriend. She hadn’t mentioned it to him, and that left him feeling betrayed and incomplete.

It wasn’t quite heartbreak, but it felt worse in some ways.

He knew he shouldn’t blame her, shouldn’t be selfish, but he just wasn’t ready to face this change.

Luca rubbed his face and answered the call.

"Hey, Kate, good afternoon!"

It was an awkward start, Luca knew that. It wasn’t like before. He used to say things like, "Miss me?" or "How’s your mood today?" or "I miss you." But now, those lines felt awkward, and he didn’t feel like saying them.

"Luca, you haven’t called me in three days."

Kate’s voice was soft on the other end.

"Really? I’m sorry, I’ve been busy with my scenes."

Luca gave an embarrassed explanation.

"Excuses!" Kate said lightly.

Luca smirked. He had revealed too much in the past; with Kate, he couldn’t hide anything.

"Alright, you’re right. It’s all excuses. I’ve only got three scenes in Toronto, plenty of time to call. But what would I say?"

He exhaled, watching the dark clouds on the horizon. "This morning, I wanted to call you, but I was afraid a man would answer. That would’ve ruined my mood for the whole day.

At lunch, I stared at your number, wanting to complain about the terrible crew food, the beautiful scenery in Toronto, and the makeup artist who keeps farting.

But I thought, what if you’re eating with your boyfriend and don’t have time to hear me ramble?

At night, I picked up the phone again, thinking I’d say goodnight as usual. But you haven’t said goodnight to me in three days, have you? You’ve been saying it to someone else, right?"

Luca shrugged. "I guess you don’t need me anymore, do you?"

There was silence on Kate’s end of the line. He couldn’t tell if she was crying or laughing.

Luca sighed. "Alright, Kate, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be blaming you. You have a boyfriend now, and I should be happy for you, hoping you’re happier. Not sulking like this. I just… I’m not used to it yet. I haven’t fully accepted it.

Maybe in a while, I’ll be better. I’ll come visit you in New York. I wonder what my future brother-in-law likes as a gift. Oh, Canadian maple leaves are nice. I could bring him a few. What do you think?"

There was a soft laugh from Kate. "Yes, Canadian maple leaves are a good gift. But a few are too little; bring a whole box if you can."

Luca chuckled. "Is he Canadian?"

"No, he’s Australian."

"Alright then."

Luca leaned back, holding the phone, listening to the background noise, waiting for Kate to speak again or say goodbye.

"Is there nothing left for us to talk about?" Kate asked quietly.

"There is. Lately, I’ve done a lot of stupid things, but I can’t tell you because they might become jokes between you and him."

"Luca, actually, I..."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Kate sighed. "I called because I had something to ask you."

"Go ahead. It seems you don’t call unless there’s something you need."

"Jerk. You know, I feel like punching you right now."

"Alright, what do you need?"

"Remember last time when you brought Britney to my place? Was she wearing that rainbow hoodie?"

"Rainbow hoodie?"

Luca rubbed his temple. "Yeah, why?"

He had mentioned it to Kate, but he hadn’t detailed what Britney was wearing.

"Of course, it was you."

"What happened?"

"Nothing. When you get back to LA, I’m going to punch you hard, you stingy jerk!"

Beep beep!

Kate hung up the phone.

Luca shook his head, picked up his half-finished cigarette from the railing, and took a drag. He looked up at the sunlight streaming through the gaps in the trees. The light and shadows flickered, but there was no warmth. He missed California.

Honk honk!

Before he could finish his cigarette, two honks came from downstairs.

He glanced down to see a silver Porsche parked in front of the villa, with a floral wreath hanging on the front.

In the middle of the wreath was a sign that read "Just Married." It was clearly a wedding car.

The car door opened, and a slim woman stepped out.

She had brown, medium-length wavy hair, and wore a gray business suit with high heels and nude stockings—elegant, fashionable, and a bit sexy.

"Rachel, what are you doing here?"

Luca was surprised. Rachel had finished shooting yesterday and taken time off to attend her cousin’s wedding.

He hadn’t seen her when saying goodbye to the crew earlier and felt a bit regretful. He hadn’t expected to see her again.

"Haha, Luca, I’m here to keep our date. Come on down!"

Rachel leaned against the car door, looking up at the balcony with her signature red lips and a bright smile.

Seeing her, Luca’s mood lifted a little.

"Where to?"

"Niagara Falls. Remember? We talked about it on the plane. We’ve got half a day left, plenty of time for a round trip."

"Emm, sounds like a good idea."

"Is this a wedding car?"

"Yes, the decorations are beautiful, so I didn’t take them down."

"They are pretty, with a bit of a happy vibe."

Luca got into the wedding car and noticed a bouquet on the back seat.

"Did you catch the bride’s bouquet today?"

"Haha, yes. I was the wedding officiant and the MC, so when it came time to catch the bouquet, I shouted, ‘It’s mine!’ No one dared to compete with me."

Rachel laughed heartily.

Luca smiled gently. "Rachel, thank you."

"For what?"

Rachel tilted her head, her brown eyes bright under her fluffy bangs.

"Thanks for keeping our date. Otherwise, I’d have spent a boring afternoon alone."

Luca sighed.

"No need to thank me. If it weren’t for this date, I wouldn’t have found an excuse to escape from the wedding banquet."

Rachel laughed.

"Why did you run away?"

Luca asked, puzzled.

Rachel shook her head and sighed. "They were pushing me to get married."

Luca smiled. He wanted to ask if she and Ryan had any wedding plans, but then thought better of it. In the entertainment world, few couples made it to the end.

"Are you in a bad mood?"

Rachel suddenly asked.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Yes."

Rachel smiled slightly. "Just now, you were leaning on the balcony, smoking. You looked a bit melancholic, though it was kind of charming."

Luca shook his head. "I’m a little reluctant to leave the crew. To leave you all."

"Is that so?"

Rachel glanced at him, her lips curving. "You’re quite sensitive."

"You want to say I’m dramatic, don’t you?"

"Yes."

"Feel free to say it. I won’t get mad, but I might hit you."

"Haha~"

The wedding car left Toronto, crossing a sea bridge and heading down the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) toward Niagara.

The sky had been gloomy since noon, and now it was even darker.

"Do you think it’ll rain?"

"Rain makes the falls even more beautiful, doesn’t it?"

"Yes, we’re quite lucky!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 213: Don't Do That, Luca*

Rumble, rumble~

Around 4 PM, Luca and Rachel drove into Niagara Falls City.

This waterfall, located on the border between Ontario, Canada, and New York, USA, is one of the three largest transnational waterfalls in the world.

The waterfall originates from the Niagara River. In the Toronto section, the river plunges at a speed of 35.4 kilometers per hour, with the tallest waterfall reaching a height of 86 meters, forming one of the wildest whirlpool rapids in the world, known as the "Wrath of Thor."

As the mist rises, it forms a drifting cloud, like a bride’s veil.

The scene is majestic yet graceful, stunningly beautiful.

Standing at the bow of the boat, Luca felt the deck trembling beneath his feet. The sound of the rushing water was like thunder in his ears. The waterfall gushing from the horseshoe-shaped crest felt like the heavens themselves pouring down, creating an overwhelming sense of awe.

This feeling reminded him of the first time he saw the Hukou Waterfall, instantly overwhelmed by the sheer power, like a thundering herd of wild horses, impossible to resist.

"Nature is amazing!" Luca, wearing a blue raincoat, marveled while gripping the railing.

"What do you think, Rachel?"

"It's alright! But it's a bit less impressive than I imagined," Rachel shrugged.

"What?" The sound of the water was too loud. Luca turned and asked her with his ear closer.

"I've known about Niagara Falls since I was two or three years old. After that, I saw it in books, on TV, and in newspapers. In my mind, it was incredibly beautiful.

The 'Wrath of Thor,' 'Bridal Veil,' 'Maid of the Mist,' 'Moon Island,' 'Rainbow Bridge'—just hearing these names, they all sound so beautiful.

So beautiful that I didn't want to visit easily. I had planned to come here for wedding photos when I got married. But the falls aren’t quite as beautiful as I imagined."

Rachel blinked, tiny droplets of mist clinging to her eyelashes.

Luca spread his hands, feeling a bit apologetic.

Niagara Falls held a heavy place in Rachel’s heart, and his presence seemed to disrupt something.

"Rachel, the falls are indeed beautiful. Maybe today’s weather just isn’t great, and that’s affecting the experience. I’m sorry, Rachel. Perhaps next time, on a sunny day, you could bring Ryan and visit again."

Luca tried to make up for it.

Rachel smiled faintly and looked at him. "Why would you apologize for something like that? I’m actually very excited, but my expectations were just too high. It’s normal to feel a little disappointed when things don’t meet them, right?"

"You're right, but I still feel a bit responsible."

Luca shrugged, deciding not to apologize further. The boat was slowly approaching the base of the waterfall. As they got closer, everyone on the deck began to shout, and Luca joined in with loud roars.

"Roar! I'm the king of the world!"

Rumble~

The roaring waterfall drowned out his voice in an instant.

"Ahh! I’m the king of the world!" Rachel, leaning against the railing, shouted too, and burst into laughter.

At the base of the falls, the atmosphere was electric.

Around them, couples kissed, newlyweds posed for wedding photos, and elderly couples held hands, smiling. Shouts echoed all around.

As the yelling died down, Luca exhaled and looked down at Rachel. She looked up at him, and for a moment, their eyes met in the romantic atmosphere. Without realizing it, they embraced and shared a passionate kiss at the bow of the boat.

The boat slowly moved closer to the falls, the roar of the water growing even louder. Mist filled the air, and the spray of water enveloped them. Their figures gradually disappeared into the mist, becoming one.

At 5 PM, the boat turned back, and the tourists disembarked. They took off their raincoats, revealing faces still flushed with excitement.

"Was the waterfall beautiful?" Rachel asked with a smile, brushing aside her mist-dampened bangs.

"Beautiful! The most beautiful waterfall I’ve ever seen!" Luca reached out as if to fix her hair, but in the end, he adjusted his own instead.

Rachel noticed and burst out laughing.

Luca spread his hands, thinking that her smile was like a ray of sunshine—bright but not blinding. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant for him.

"Do you want to go see an even more beautiful view?"

Once in the car, Rachel started the engine and asked.

"Is there something more beautiful in Toronto?"

"Of course! The most beautiful part of Ontario isn’t the falls, it’s the tens of thousands of lakes."

Rachel spoke with confidence.

"Do we still have time?"

Luca glanced outside. The sky was growing darker, the clouds thicker, and the golden sunset peeking through the western sky hinted at unpredictable weather.

He suddenly felt reluctant to leave, unwilling to go back. Maybe, as Linsey had said, he had come here to escape. But even after a few days, the challenges in his heart remained unresolved.

Rachel smiled slightly and shifted the gears. The car suddenly roared into wild mode, speeding through the cloudy sky.

"Where are we going?"

"You’ll see when we get there!"

They drove along Queen Elizabeth Way for half an hour, then took the 407 highway westward for another half hour, finally turning onto a muddy, overgrown path lined with wildflowers and tall grass.

There were fewer buildings along the way, and they hardly saw any other people or vehicles. The scenery became more natural and wild, with green hills, red pine forests, and crooked road signs.

After twenty minutes of bumping along, a shimmering green lake appeared in front of them, crystal clear like jade. A ray of golden sunset fell onto the lake, casting magical reflections.

"Isn’t it beautiful?"

"Beautiful!" Luca slowly pulled his gaze away and realized the car had stopped by the lakeshore.

Rachel wasn’t admiring the lake, though. She was watching his expression with amusement.

Luca turned to look at her for a second, noticing her seductive red lips, playful eyes, and lively bangs.

Suddenly, he pulled her close, kissing her passionately. His hands gripped her shirt and skirt. He suddenly wanted something magical to happen in this beautiful place.

"Don't do that, Luca!" Rachel pushed against his hands, pressing her forehead to his chin and breathing heavily.

Luca snapped back to his senses, inhaling the scent of her hair. In the reflection of the mirror, he saw his own red eyes, filled with greed and desire, like a wild animal that had lost control.

He bit his tongue and quickly calmed down. Rachel was not only a friend, but also his friend's girlfriend. She had brought him here to cheer him up, but his actions were out of line.

"Rachel, I..."

He opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

An explanation or an apology would both feel lame. He muttered a "sorry," let go of her shoulders, and stepped out of the car.

By 6 PM, the sky was growing darker, the sunset reflected on the rippling lake surface.

Luca sat at the edge of the pier, swinging his legs, silently gazing at the water.

Thud, thud~

The sound of high heels on wooden planks grew closer, accompanied by a hint of jasmine in the air.

Rachel brushed her skirt as she sat down beside him, quiet and elegant.

Neither of them spoke, just watching the sunset, the lake, the wooden bridge, and the fields on the other side.

"Rachel, about earlier, I..."

"You don’t have to explain. I understand!"

Rachel stood up suddenly with a bright smile. "Wanna go check out the other side? There are lots of watermelons planted there. How about we pick one?"

"Sure!"

(End of this chapter)

*Chapter 214: The First Time Feeling Unskilled*

Under the setting sun, two people walked along the gravel path by the lakeside for more than twenty minutes. They crossed a creaky wooden bridge and arrived on the opposite shore of Emerald Lake.

The other side had slightly higher ground. Standing on the elevated land, the view of Emerald Lake was clear. The calm surface of the lake looked like a pure piece of glass, half green and half red. Occasionally, a white swan would take off, bringing the scene to life.

“This is really nice. Why isn’t this place a tourist attraction?”

Luca marveled.

“It’s no big deal. There are so many small lakes like this in the Great Lakes region. This one just hasn’t been discovered yet, which is lucky because if more people knew about it, it wouldn’t be as beautiful.”

Rachel crossed her arms and gazed at the sunset-lit lake, blinking her long lashes.

“How does this place compare to the Niagara Falls?”

“Stunning.”

Luca smiled slightly. “Niagara Falls is Ontario’s famous treasure, but this... this is Ontario’s private gem.”

“Well said. Only us locals know about this place.”

Rachel smiled proudly.

Luca curled his lips and, looking into her eyes, said, “Rachel, thank you for bringing me here. This trip has already exceeded my expectations.”

“Haha, you’re welcome!”

Rachel blinked and pointed to a distant watermelon field. “Wanna try some? The watermelons here grow with the lake’s water. If you eat one, it’ll be like tasting Emerald Lake itself.”

“That’s a great way to put it. Why not?”

They headed down toward the lakeside again and walked onto the sandy field, where sprawling watermelon vines covered dozens of acres. Countless watermelons, hidden among the vines, shone with a deep green hue, like emeralds.

As the watermelons grew larger, the vines became thinner, with wilting leaves barely covering the melons, almost like a mother protecting her child.

“Wait, I’ve got sand in my shoes again. I really shouldn’t have worn heels.”

The sandy field was soft and damp; one step in and half your foot would sink. Rachel leaned on Luca’s shoulder, took off her heels, and dumped out the sand.

“How about you wait here, and I’ll go pick a watermelon.”

Luca offered, holding onto her shoulder.

“Do you even know how to pick one?”

“Maybe!”

Luca crouched down and tapped on a watermelon.

It was early August, and these watermelons, known as ‘Emerald Watermelons,’ were in their ripening season. Each one was about the size of a soccer ball, round and plump.

“Why are you tapping it?”

Rachel followed in his footsteps, asking curiously.

Luca thought for a moment. “The sound is different between ripe and unripe ones.”

“Really?”

Rachel crouched down and tapped a watermelon. “Hello, little guy. Are you ripe? If you are, we’re going to eat you.”

Luca chuckled softly. “You have to listen carefully when you tap.”

“It’s not like we’re doing scientific research!”

Rachel rolled her eyes at him. “Luca, help me pick that one—it’s the biggest, so it must be ripe.”

“Alright.”

Luca walked over to the watermelon Rachel had pointed out and tapped it habitually. Boom boom~ The sound was too solid.

“Rachel, this one might not be ripe.”

“Nonsense!”

Rachel put her hands on her hips. “Luca, how about this: we each pick one, and whoever picks the ripest and sweetest wins. The loser has to bark like a puppy. Are you in?”

“Okay!”

Tapping watermelons was an old tradition in China, passed down for over a thousand years. With the wisdom of ancient ancestors backing him, Luca felt confident about the challenge.

Bang bang bang!  

Thud thud thud!  

Boom boom boom!  

“Hey~ enough already! You’re going to hurt the watermelons!”

Seeing him squatting and seriously tapping, Rachel burst out laughing.

“Don’t disturb the competition!”

Luca knelt, tapped a couple more times, and listened intently. Among all the watermelons he had tapped, this one had the best sound. What made it ‘sound good’ was more of a feeling, an experience of life—like taking a shot in basketball, sometimes you just know it’s going in before it even leaves your hand.

Tap tap tap!  

He picked the melon and smiled. “I’m done!”

Rachel glanced at his pick and shook her head. “That melon’s too small. It’s obviously unripe. Luca, you’re too cruel!”

Luca smiled lightly. “Shall we cut them open now?”

“Alright.”

They squatted down, placing their two watermelons—one large, one small—on the ground. Both had a glossy green rind, looking indistinguishable from each other.

“Wait!”

Rachel patted her big watermelon. “What if they’re both ripe? Who loses then?”

“I’ll lose, okay?”

“Haha, you’re definitely going to lose this time. You go first!”

Rachel smiled mischievously.

Luca rubbed his hands together, then karate-chopped the watermelon twice.

Suddenly, with a strong crack, the melon split open, revealing a bright red interior.

Luca pulled the watermelon apart, and the vibrant red flesh was fully exposed. It was so red, even deeper than tomato sauce. A layer of white sugar crystals quickly formed on the surface of the split, a sign of perfect ripeness, with red tinged with white.

“So beautiful!”

The contrast of the green rind, the red flesh, and the white sugar frost made it incredibly tempting, especially in the stifling heat.

Rachel licked her lips and patted her big watermelon.

“This time, mine will definitely look even better—it’s bigger!”

“Let’s see.”

Luca prepared to chop again.

“No, I’ll do it!”

Rachel took off one of her high heels and used the heel to strike five times, leaving a series of uneven holes in the rind, like a poorly arranged pattern.

“Make them in a straight line!”

“I know!”

Rachel tapped a few more holes, managing to form a rough vertical line.

“Alright!”

Luca split the watermelon, smiling. “Rachel, now it’s time to determine the winner.”

“Cut the talk! Just open it—it’s definitely ripe.”

Rachel grinned.

Luca split the melon.

Boom!  

He jumped, startled—not because a dragon emerged, but because a loud thunderclap boomed overhead.

Rumble rumble~  

They hadn’t noticed the sky darkening. The black clouds overhead rumbled again, followed by flashes of lightning, crackling and booming.

“It’s thundering and raining! Let’s run!”

Rachel stood up, kicking aside her watermelon, and shouted.

Luca sighed and pretended not to notice the pale pink flesh of her watermelon. He picked up his perfectly ripe melon and followed her.

After only a few steps, heavy rain poured down from the sky. Whoosh, like buckets being dumped, soon drenching the field, the lake, and the distant mountains under a white sheet of rain.

“Ah~”

As they ran, Rachel suddenly cried out in pain, squatting down.

“What’s wrong?”

Luca hurried over to her.

“I twisted my ankle!”

Rachel winced.

“Then let me carry you.”

Luca took off his jacket and placed it over her head, the heavy rain drumming against the fabric like raindrops on a lotus leaf, thud thud.

Rachel draped the coat over herself and climbed onto his back.

“Let’s go!”

Luca gripped her legs and charged forward through the downpour.

“Luca, there’s a shed over there. Let’s hide there for a while!”

Rachel pointed to a small shelter in the distance, shouting.

“OK!”

With Rachel on his back, Luca made a dash toward the watermelon shed, their figures soon disappearing into the thick curtain of rain.

(End of the Chapter)

Chapter 215: I Want to Kill You

"The rain is really heavy!"

Standing under the edge of the melon shed roof, Rachel looked back at the pouring rain and sighed.

"Yes, it is."

Luca removed the jacket covering her and shook it hard—it was soaked through.

Boom! Thunder and lightning lit up the distant mountains, but the brightness faded just as quickly.

Plop, plop. The torrential rain poured down, like a barrage of bullets, splattering the distant sandy fields and lakes into a mess. The rain created a mist that gradually merged with the night, slowly devouring the distant mountains, forests, lake, and the melon fields in front of them.

The sky was getting darker, and crossing the wooden bridge now would be dangerous.

"We'll probably have to stay here for a while," Luca said as he turned and knocked on the wooden door.

"Hey~ is anyone here?"

He shouted a few times, but no one responded.

"No one's here, let's go in."

The door to the thatched hut wasn't locked; it opened with a push.

Luca helped Rachel inside.

Boom! "Ahhh~"

The inside of the house was a bit dark. A flash of lightning illuminated the corner of the room, revealing several bodies lying there, some missing heads, others missing their lower halves. It was terrifying.

"Don't worry, don't worry, they're just scarecrows!"

Luca comforted her and pulled out a lighter to take a closer look. Sure enough, they were unfinished scarecrows.

"You scared me. I thought this was a crime scene!"

Rachel patted her chest, exhaling in relief.

"You've probably been watching too many crime shows."

Luca chuckled lightly, shining the lighter around the room. There was no electricity, just an oil lamp. He lit the lamp, and the room brightened up.

The room wasn't large and had little furniture: just a table, two chairs, some dry straw, wooden sticks for making scarecrows, and an empty bamboo basket.

"Sit down, let me take a look at your foot!"

Luca helped Rachel sit down on one of the chairs.

"It's nothing serious, I just twisted it earlier."

Rachel bit her red lower lip as she spoke.

Luca removed her right high-heeled shoe. Her stockings were soaked, and through the semi-transparent fabric, he could see her ankle was slightly swollen, with her big toe also a bit red.

"How did you hurt your toe?"

Luca asked, puzzled.

Rachel blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"It’s nothing. I kicked a rock. Why are you laughing?"

"Did I laugh?"

Luca pressed his lips together, suppressing a smile and avoiding mentioning the fact that she had kicked a melon earlier.

He massaged her ankle through the stockings.

"Ah~ it hurts a bit!"

"Hang in there, I’m trying to help."

"Massage? I’ve heard of this! My roommate does it too. It’s a traditional Chinese therapy, right? Also, acupuncture?"

Rachel took off her wet stockings as she spoke.

"Yeah, the team doctor used to do it, and I picked up a few tricks. How does it feel?"

"Hmm~ not bad."

Rachel blinked her bright eyes, staring at his face. "Thank you, Luca!"

"Don’t mention it. You’re my tour guide today; your injury is my responsibility."

"Emm~ good point, haha~"

Rachel tilted her head back and laughed.

Achoo! She suddenly sneezed and hugged her arms. "It’s a bit cold!"

"Yeah, it is."

Luca’s jacket, T-shirt, pants, and even his underwear were all soaked. He hadn’t felt it while running, but now that they were inside, the cold started to creep in.

"How about we make a fire?"

Rachel pointed at the pile of dry straw and wood.

Luca raised his eyebrows, "Good idea. We’ll leave some money for the owner when we go."

He dug a pit in the corner of the room.

The floor wasn't paved, just sandy soil like outside, making it easy to dig a fire pit.

He lit some dry straw and added a few bamboo sticks and pieces of wood.

The fire crackled and blazed.

The flames danced in the corner, making the room even brighter, casting a warm glow.

"This feels much better!"

Rachel sat by the firepit, watching Luca feed the flames. The orange-red light illuminated his chiseled face, making him look handsome and captivating.

"Luca, your head is steaming!" Rachel laughed, pointing at the steam rising from his wet hair.

Luca brushed his hair, noticing it was still wet. He glanced at Rachel and laughed, "You too!"

"Yeah, the rain was too heavy."

Rachel pushed aside the wet bangs stuck to her forehead. Her hair was soaked, clinging to her shirt, making her cold.

"Should we dry our clothes?"

"Sure!"

They found a roll of wire used for tying scarecrows and stretched it across the room near the firepit.

Luca took off his jacket and shirt, wrung them out, and hung them on the wire.

"Can you hang this for me?"

Rachel handed him her blazer. The rain had soaked through the back, making her jacket thoroughly wet, though not as completely soaked as Luca’s clothes.

After hanging her jacket, Luca asked, "Anything else?"

Rachel blinked and pointed at his wet pants. "Aren’t you going to dry those too?"

"Would you mind?"

"Haha, you’re nothing like a typical Brazilian," Rachel teased.

"I just didn’t want to offend you."

"We’re friends, right? I’m not that petty."

Rachel smiled playfully and slowly took off her wet gray skirt, which had also gotten thoroughly drenched in the rain.

Luca shrugged and took off his casual pants, hanging them beside hers.

With the clothes drying, Rachel was left in a white shirt, and Luca had only his underwear left.

The two sat by the fire, the warm light reflecting on their faces as the fire crackled and popped.

Outside, it was pitch black. Thunder roared occasionally, and flashes of lightning lit up the sky. Heavy rain continued to pour down, pattering on the wooden window and even splashing into the room, bringing a cold chill.

"Should we close the window?"

"Sure."

Luca got up and shut the door and windows, sealing them off from the outside world, creating an intimate, enclosed space.

With the firelight illuminating them, they sat face to face. The atmosphere suddenly became charged with tension.

"We might be stuck here for a while," Luca said, trying to fill the silence.

"Yes, probably two or three hours at least," Rachel replied, glancing at him with a sly smile.

"You have very pretty fingers," Luca said, warming his hands by the fire and admiring Rachel’s delicate, long fingers.

"You have pretty fingers too," Rachel replied, before suddenly breaking into a laugh.

"Why are you laughing?" Luca asked, puzzled.

Rachel smiled mischievously, "We’ve already filmed a kissing scene together, so there’s no need to be awkward."

Luca smiled back, gesturing to their half-dressed state, "Given the situation, anything we say will be awkward. How about you start a conversation?"

Rachel blinked and grinned, "What are you thinking right now?"

"Honest answer?"

"Of course, no need to hide anything now, right?"

Rachel laughed.

Luca nodded and then suggested, "How about we take turns asking questions?"

"Haha, fine. You really don’t want to lose out, do you?"

Rachel shot him a playful look. "I asked first, so you answer. What are you thinking?"

Luca looked into her eyes. "Promise you won’t get mad?"

Rachel glanced at him and chuckled, "You look like you're about to eat me alive."

"Since you guessed it, I won’t say it. My turn to ask."

"No, guessing doesn’t count!"

Rachel smiled.

"Alright, then!" Luca smirked. "You guessed right. I’m thinking: what a beautiful girl, so quiet and elegant, with a lovely smile. If she weren’t my friend’s girlfriend, I’d want to experience something wonderful with her here."

"You’re such a jerk!"

Rachel bit her lip.

Luca shrugged, "I’m a 21-year-old guy. In this situation, with someone like you, if I were thinking about philosophy, something would be wrong."

"Haha~"

"Okay, my turn," Luca said. "Miss McAdams, what are you thinking right now?"

"I want to kill you, you jerk!" Rachel grinned.

"Hey, no insults. You have to answer the question."

"You’re a jerk, that’s what I think."

"That’s not fair!"

"Haha, I’m a girl, so fairness is on my side. Now it’s my turn."

Rachel suddenly grew serious.

She pressed her lips together, looked him in the eye, and asked, "Earlier in the car, if I hadn’t resisted, what would you have done?"

Luca didn’t answer. He stared into her eyes, his gaze burning hotter than the fire.

Rachel bit her lip, her face flushed as she held his gaze.

Thump, thump. Their heartbeats were loud and clear.

Luca reached out, entwining his fingers with hers, and Rachel responded, their palms pressing together.

By the firelight, they drew closer, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. The chair toppled over, and they tumbled onto the pile of straw together.

Ring, ring, ring! Suddenly, the phone rang.

"Hey, Rachel, it’s Ryan."

end.