206-210

*Chapter 206: The Girl on the Plane*

Lima came by briefly and then left, staying only for two days.

Luca was also getting ready to head to Toronto with the film crew.

The "Mean Girls" crew had been filming in Los Angeles for a month, covering most of the scenes including the school, cafeteria, and auditorium. Only a few outdoor scenes were left to be filmed in Toronto.

Toronto, on the eastern coast of Canada along Lake Ontario in the Great Lakes region, is the country's political, economic, cultural, and transportation hub, and its largest city. Because of its prominence, the capital, Ottawa, has long been overshadowed.

Toronto boasts beautiful scenery and a pleasant climate, and most importantly, it’s affordable.

Once on the plane, the crew began chattering about where they would go for fun. They talked about activities like boating on Lake Ontario, fishing on Lake Erie, visiting Niagara Falls, and horseback riding on the prairies. With filming nearly complete, everyone's mind was already off work.

"Luca, where are you planning to go?"

Amanda asked from the seat next to him, putting down a travel brochure.

Luca shook his head. "I probably won't have the time."

"Of course, a certain playboy's house is on fire, and he's busy putting it out. Who has time for sightseeing?"

Next to Amanda, Lindsay Lohan chimed in, her tone sarcastic.

Everyone around burst into laughter.

"Luca, is that true?"

"Luca, have you put out the fire in your backyard yet?"

"Luca, are those scratches on your neck from Lima?"

"Haha, Lima's amazing. That playboy really deserved a beating!"

Lindsay and the other women teased loudly.

Luca's face darkened. When Lima came by a few days ago, it was reported in the papers that she had come to assert her dominance.

The next day, he took the day off, and by the third day, he returned to the set. Despite putting on makeup in advance, observant people noticed something was up, especially after connecting it to the news of Lima's visit to Los Angeles. The reason was obvious, and the crew started gossiping.

Hearing the chatter around him, Luca put on his headphones and closed his eyes to rest.

"Hey, Luca, why aren't you saying anything?"

Lindsay teased.

"Lindsay, give it a rest. Can't you see Luca's already having a hard time?"

Rachel laughed.

"Hard time? Isn't it funny when a cheating guy gets what he deserves?"

Lindsay was still fuming about being stood up by him in the dressing room.

"Haha, good point!"

The women around her all agreed.

Rachel smiled lightly, agreeing inwardly. But she didn't find Luca, her cheating friend, entirely unforgivable.

Luca was Mr. Big. He had the tools for the job, natural charm, stunning talent, and an appearance to die for. His personality easily won over women.

For someone like that, it would almost seem odd if he didn't stray.

Vroom, vroom, vroom~

The plane sped down the runway, its wide wings slicing through the air.

At 12:40, the plane took off. The flight would last four and a half hours.

"Rachel, are you taking a nap? But be careful!"

Lindsay pulled out her sleep mask.

"Careful of what?"

Rachel asked curiously.

Lindsay smirked. "I was in your seat last time. Some guy drooled so much that my underwear got soaked."

Boom!

Everyone around burst into laughter, waking up those who had been napping.

Luca twitched. This girl was just too vicious. If he had known, he wouldn't have let her off the hook in the dressing room that day.

"It's fine, Lindsay. You go ahead and sleep!"

Rachel chuckled. When the cabin quieted down, she nudged Luca's arm. "Luca, are you okay?"

"Huh? What did you say? I was listening to music, didn't hear a thing!"

Luca replied, removing his headphones.

Rachel saw his expression and couldn't help but laugh again.

Luca spread his hands and asked with a serious face, "Miss Rachel, may I ask what's so funny?"

"Nothing!"

Rachel covered her mouth, suppressing a giggle. "Do you want to sleep? You can use my shoulder if you want."

Luca glanced at her. "Is your bra waterproof?"

"Hahaha~"

Rachel covered her face, laughing uncontrollably.

Luca quickly put his headphones back on and closed his eyes.

"Rachel, what's going on?"

Amanda asked, putting down her magazine.

"Rachel, did that bad guy flirt with you again?"

Lindsay asked, half pulling off her sleep mask.

Rachel shook her head, still giggling. "No, I just figured out why Luca was drooling."

"What?"

Everyone looked puzzled, and even Luca was curious.

He squinted his eyes open slightly and saw Rachel pointing at Lindsay's chest.

"Oh~~"

An understanding murmur went around. Lindsay's chest had always been the subject of envy, and anyone who rested their head on her shoulder for a few hours would definitely drool.

Luca's face darkened. He hadn't expected a "good comrade" like Rachel to roast him too. Disappointing.

Lindsay looked at her chest and quickly zipped up her jacket.

"Rachel, did he say that himself?"

Lindsay asked, with a murderous tone.

Rachel felt a tight grip on her arm. Suppressing her laughter, she replied, "Okay, I guessed it."

"Rachel, I think you guessed right!"

Amanda chuckled.

"This perv, I'll deal with him when we get off the plane!"

Lindsay glared at Luca furiously before crossing her arms and going to sleep.

Everyone else laughed lightly and went back to what they were doing.

"Luca, you're hurting my wrist!"

Rachel complained, rubbing her wrist.

Luca slowly opened his eyes, frowning. "Rachel, how could you slander me like that? Am I really that perverted?"

"Not a pervert, but still a cheater."

"..."

"Haha, I'm just kidding. Don't mind me."

Rachel chuckled softly.

Luca shook his head. Women are so troublesome. He wished he could go to a world with no men.

"Luca, you seem down lately. Are you feeling alright? Do you want to go for a walk in Toronto? My home is in Toronto,"

Rachel murmured, leaning back in her seat, eyes half-closed.

Luca remembered that both Rachel and Ryan were from Ontario. Rachel graduated from York University, located on the outskirts of Toronto. This trip was like going home for her.

Luca shrugged. "I'd like to see Niagara Falls, but I only have three scenes to shoot. Once I'm done, I have to go promote the film."

"Is that so? I’ve never been to the falls either,"

Rachel replied.

"You’ve never been?"

"Yeah, it's too close, so I never bothered."

"... Makes sense!"

Luca smirked.

"If we have time, let's go see the falls together."

"Sure!"

Rachel smiled softly and yawned.

"I'm going to sleep. Are you?"

"Not yet."

"Mind if I use your shoulder? Don't worry, I won't drool."

Rachel teased.

Luca shook his head and shifted to make room.

Rachel smiled faintly and leaned on his shoulder, drifting off to sleep.

Luca put his headphones back on and picked up a book to read.

By evening, the plane landed smoothly at Toronto Pearson International Airport, and the crew took a bus to North York.

Before they arrived, another team had already shot many outdoor scenes here. Once the main crew arrived, the two teams merged seamlessly, and filming continued without delay.

"Are we staying here for the next three weeks?"

Lindsay asked, sitting on her suitcase in front of a small red cottage.

"Yes, this is your dorm!"

The staff member handed the keys to the four girls—Rachel, Lindsay, Amanda, and Lacey—who would be staying together. Their assistants were housed next door.

"Luca, where are you staying?"

Rachel asked, taking the keys.

Luca pointed to a red house opposite. "I only have three days of scenes left, so I’m crashing with Director Mark for now."

"Wow, that's great!"

Lindsay patted her chest. "Thank goodness that cheating guy isn't staying here. Otherwise, I'd have to keep a knife under my pillow."

Rachel and the other two laughed lightly.

Luca snorted. "What good is a knife? You should probably keep a gun. I heard this cottage is haunted."

"What?!"

(End of chapter)

---

*Chapter 207: Congratulations, Ms. Kelly*

Luca made a little joke and then dragged his suitcase into the villa across the street—a red, pointed-roofed, gothic-style building.

In the yard, two tall red maple trees grew, their branches lush and full in the summer. Sunlight filtered through the leaves into the windows, accompanied by the chirping of cicadas.

Sss~ Sss~

The sound wasn’t exactly friendly.

The villa had two floors. Upstairs, there were three large bedrooms, one for him, director Mark, and assistant director Luis.

Luca stayed in the east guest room. It was fully furnished, with new bedding and a stylish interior design.

The window faced the main road of the villa area, where cars came and went, giving it a lively vibe.

After closing the window, he opened his suitcase and organized his belongings. With only three days of work, he hadn’t brought much besides some books and clothes—not even Tony.

He sat on the bed and stared out at the maple tree leaves for a while.

Ring, ring, ring~

His phone rang.

"Hey, Luca, how’s the view in Toronto?"

Kate asked on the phone.

"It’s similar to New York, just with maples instead of pine trees."

Luca lay down, staring at the ceiling, and replied softly.

"That’s such a boring explanation."

Kate chuckled lightly. "Are you coming back to New York after filming?"

Was he going back?

Luca thought about it. Toronto was near New York State, less than 800 kilometers from New York City, which would take less than half a day by car.

"I won’t be going back for now. After this, I’ll be heading to San Francisco with the 'Honey' crew for promotions."

"Is it because I’m dating someone?"

"What?"

"I’m in a relationship, so you don’t want to come back to New York to see me?"

"Oh, it’s not that."

Luca sat up and said, "You know, I used to encourage you to find a boyfriend. I don’t mind at all. I’ll be back after the movie promotions."

"You encouraged me before?"

"."

Luca thought for a moment. "Maybe, probably!"

"Haha, well, I took your advice. Are you happy now?"

"Yeah, sure."

Luca forced a smile.

"Really? Well, enjoy your time in Toronto!"

Kate smiled, biting her lip, and put her phone away as she walked back into the hall.

In the lobby of the fifteenth floor of Trump Tower, Manhattan, lights shone brightly, and people bustled about.

Today was the second round of the Polo Design Contest.

More than fifty design groups were displaying their work in the hall for guests to view, including Kate and Lima’s Expression series and Rainbow series.

After the exhibition, the organizers would announce which designs made it to the finals.

Both Kate and Lima had been invited to the party.

"Hi, Ms. Kelly, it’s great to see you!"

"Ms. Kelly, your work is impressive!"

"Hi, Ms. Kelly, I’m registered designer Porter Grant. It’s a pleasure to meet you!"

As Kate passed by, men eagerly greeted her—some were competing designers, others judges, and some were fashion industry elites.

They were all captivated by Kate’s presence.

She was tall, dressed in a white shirt and black wide-leg pants. Her simple black-and-white outfit carried an effortless charm. Wearing only a platinum necklace and watch, she still exuded a luxurious aura.

In a crowd of fashion elites, she shone like a diamond—impossible to ignore.

Kate responded politely before making her way to Lima.

Lima stood in front of the exhibition platform, her shiny chestnut curls flowing down her back. She wore a light purple off-the-shoulder dress, her figure sensually striking.

"Your butt looks even bigger!"

Kate smirked as she walked over and gave her a hug.

"Lima, what are you looking at?"

"Nothing, Mr. Graphie was just explaining his work to me."

Lima pointed to the man in his thirties beside her.

"Ms. Kelly, I’m Michael Graphie, a registered designer with Checkered House. It’s an honor to meet you."

The man introduced himself politely.

Kate nodded slightly and glanced at the displayed work. "Mr. Graphie is very talented!"

"Haha, thanks for the compliment! I graduated from the University of Chicago’s design program and interned for three years in Helena’s fashion department.

"After that, I fully entered the design field, participating in three major competitions and winning third place.

"My designs were even featured in Vogue, and I received praise from Anna Wintour. In terms of design, you could say I’m half her student."

He spoke proudly.

Kate pressed her lips together slightly. "Mr. Graphie’s resume is impressive!"

"Yes, I just need an opportunity. If I get one, I’m sure I can lead global fashion trends like Ms. Wintour. This competition is my chance. I’m confident my work will be selected."

The man said excitedly.

Kate glanced at Lima. This guy was amusing.

Lima shrugged. She had already heard this spiel once—it was an unimpressive brag. Clearly, his emotional intelligence was lacking.

"Everyone, please pay attention. The second-round results are in!"

The music stopped as a man in his fifties took the stage, catching everyone’s attention.

This man was Ralph Lauren, chief designer at Polo and a legend in the fashion industry.

"Kate, the results are about to be announced. Are you nervous?"

Lima asked, looking at the stage.

"Not really. I have a feeling our design will make it."

Kate smiled.

"That’s unlikely!"

The man next to them chimed in, "Twenty of the works that made it this far were created by professional designers. You’re just amateurs, so making the finals will be tough."

"Is that so?"

Kate raised an eyebrow and looked toward the stage.

Of the 53 entries, only 8 would make it to the finals.

"Bike Series!"

"Holiday Series!"

Mr. Lauren announced seven finalists, each causing a round of cheers. When it came to the eighth, he paused slightly.

"It has to be mine. It has to be mine!"

Graphie clenched his fists.

"The eighth group!"

Mr. Lauren scanned the room and shouted, "Rainbow Series!"

"Kate, we actually made it!" Lima said, surprised.

"How is that possible?"

Mr. Graphie exclaimed, "I saw your designs—the Expression series is too simple, and the Rainbow series lacks a primary color scheme. How could you be chosen?"

Kate glanced at him. "Maybe you’re right, but some competitions aren’t just about the work."

"What do you mean?"

Graphie didn’t understand.

Kate didn’t respond. Instead, she grabbed Lima and headed toward the stage.

"Ms. Kelly, congratulations!"

"Ms. Adriana, congrats to you both!"

"You’re the only non-professional group to make it! That’s amazing!"

People around them congratulated the two women.

"Thank you!"

"Kate, how did you know we’d be chosen?"

That night, after the exhibition, Lima and Kate climbed into a Mercedes.

Gina started the car slowly.

"It’s simple. First, for amateurs, our designs are pretty good. Second, compared to the other designers, we’re more famous. Having a celebrity team like ours brings more attention to the contest."

Lima frowned, thinking her logic made sense.

"So we were just used by the organizers?"

"What does it matter? For our first design competition, making the finals is already great."

Kate stretched out her legs and gently massaged her ankle.

"So, this is as far as we go?"

"Probably. Winning is hard—unless a miracle happens."

Kate shook her head.

Even a miracle wouldn’t help. Anna Wintour was one of the final judges.

She sighed softly and, while pressing on her ankle, asked, "Lima, how’s Luca been these past few days?"

"Not good!" Lima chuckled, "Ever since he found out you had a boyfriend, he’s been in a terrible mood. Every morning, he’s been punishing himself in the gym—like he’s torturing himself."

Lima laughed again.

"That petty guy!"

Kate cracked her knuckles, itching to tug on someone’s ear.

---

*Chapter 208: Morning with Rachel*

"Ahhh~~~"

At night, the full moon hung in the sky, slowly moving across the Toronto skyline.

Toronto was asleep, and so was Luca. But in the middle of the night, a sudden scream outside the window woke him up. He quickly sat up, blinked, and glanced outside.

The road under the moonlight was a pale gray, the green lawn was pitch black, and the tall maple trees swayed their branches in the wind, rustling as if murmuring drunken words to the starry sky.

"Is this Toronto?"

He blinked, sighed softly, pulled the blanket back over himself, and went back to sleep.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, everything outside the window was silent. Luca turned over, got out of bed, put on a Nike T-shirt and sweatpants, and headed out for a run from his villa.

This was Bayview Avenue in North York, less than five kilometers from Lake Snow Pine. The area was lined with villas, quiet and clean—a typical wealthy neighborhood.

"Hey, Luca! Wait for me!"

Barely two hundred meters into his run, he suddenly heard someone shout from behind. He turned to see Rachel catching up with large strides.

She had her hair tied up in a high ponytail and was wearing a light green sports vest and shorts. Her skin was fair, her figure was graceful and sexy, and she exuded youthful energy.

"Good morning, Rachel!"

Luca waved.

"Good morning, Luca!"

Rachel caught up and gave him a once-over with a smile. "Luca, you look younger in workout clothes."

"You too. You look even more beautiful in sportswear."

Luca said as he jogged.

"Is that just a polite compliment?" Rachel said with a playful smirk.

"No, I mean it. You're even more stunning than I imagined."

"Haha, thanks!"

Rachel's laughter was bright and infectious.

Luca smiled to himself, feeling much more cheerful.

"Do you run every morning, Luca?"

"Pretty much. Back when I was on the team, I used to run ten miles every morning. But I took a break for two or three years and turned into a big fat guy. My body nearly fell apart. Now I have to stick to exercising, or I'll get fat again."

"You look great now. It's hard to imagine what you'd look like fat."

Rachel chuckled.

Luca shook his head. "Ugly, really bad. If you saw me once, you'd never want to look again."

Rachel smiled softly and glanced at him. The morning light cast shadows from the branches onto his face, giving it a cool, serene glow. His determined brows, melancholic eyes, and stubborn lips were captivating. Even if he were fat, he'd still be a very handsome guy.

"Luca, I hear you're a fast runner!"

"Yeah, faster than you might think."

Luca grinned confidently.

"Let's race and see who gets to the lake first?"

"Sure! I accept this no-challenge challenge!"

"Haha, don't be too cocky. Whoever loses buys breakfast! One, two, three, go!"

Rachel suddenly sped up, quickly overtaking him, her high ponytail swaying side to side, carrying a pleasant scent on the breeze.

Luca chuckled and sprinted after her. How could a Brazilian forward lose in speed to a Canadian woman? If people found out, they'd laugh at him for days.

An hour later, he lost the race.

They had jogged side by side most of the way, but in the final stretch, Rachel took a shortcut and reached the lake first.

"Haha, Brazilian forward, you lost!"

By Lake Snow Pine, Rachel wiped the sweat from her forehead and laughed heartily.

Behind her, a clear lake stretched out.

Under the sunlight, the blue-green water mirrored the sky. The lake turned bluer, reflecting the pine forest on the shore. The water grew greener and, with a beauty standing by it, even more beautiful.

Luca walked slowly up to the lake. "You know this area well?"

"Yes!"

Rachel grinned and pointed to a tall building in the southwest. "Do you know what that is?"

"What?"

"York University. I lived here for four years, so of course, I know it well!"

"Alright, you won. But next time, I definitely won’t lose."

"Hah! Do you even know how many shortcuts there are around here? How about we race again tomorrow?"

Rachel extended her hand with a smile.

"Sure!"

Luca, accepting his defeat, treated Rachel to a Chinese breakfast of soup dumplings, potstickers, and black rice porridge.

It was at a Chinese restaurant right on Bayview Avenue.

There were many Chinese people in Toronto—about one in ten had an East Asian face. Chinese restaurants were everywhere, and Luca caught a whiff of pork and green onions in the air. Feeling hungry, he suggested Chinese food, and Rachel didn’t object.

"How's the food, Rachel? If you don’t like it, we can go somewhere else."

Luca had a soup dumpling and thought it wasn’t bad.

"It’s good! I had a Chinese roommate in college who used to cook in our dorm. I ate with her a lot. That’s how I found out about stinky tofu!"

Rachel winked with a smile.

Luca wrinkled his nose. "I smell something familiar... is that stinky tofu? Want to try some?"

"No way! Not today!"

Rachel said firmly.

"Why not?"

"Because we have a kissing scene tonight!"

"Haha, alright."

The film crew had been prepping all day, and by the afternoon, they were ready to shoot the Halloween scenes. They had two kissing scenes left, and once those were done, Luca’s part would be almost over.

"I'm really too busy this year to go back to the island. The shoot for 'The Last Ride' isn’t finished yet, and I’ve got a new script. This year and next year, I’ll be in Toronto. We’ll take a family vacation in Toronto during the summer."

While eating, Luca overheard someone speaking in a Taiwanese accent behind him, seemingly talking to a director. He turned around and saw a familiar face.

A man in his 40s or 50s with a round, kind face, eating stinky tofu while talking on the phone. It was a bit much for the early morning.

Luca raised an eyebrow and, after the man finished his call, excused himself and walked over with Rachel.

"Are you interested in starring in Director Li An’s new film?"

Around nine, after they left the restaurant and returned to the villa, they chatted along the way.

"Not really. Gay films are too intense for me. I just can’t do it."

Luca frowned. He didn’t have an issue with it, but kissing another man was a line he couldn’t cross, no matter what.

As they reached the villa's front door, just before parting ways, Rachel suddenly smiled.

"Luca, watch out for Lindsay the next couple of days. She’s planning to get back at you."

"Get back at me?"

Luca was stunned. Was it about the dressing room incident? Ugh, young girls can be so tricky.

"Yep. Yesterday, you said the villa was haunted. Lindsay went to the bathroom in the middle of the night and saw a pair of glowing green eyes at the window. She screamed, and we were all woken up."

"Glowing green eyes?"

"It was a wildcat. They’re common in Canada, but Lindsay had never seen one before, and at night, she thought it was a ghost. She was so scared she couldn’t sleep and now says she’s going to mess with you."

Rachel laughed a few times and waved as she walked back to the villa.

Luca shrugged. What could he do? He’d deal with it as it came!

(End of the Chapter)

*Chapter 209: Playful Antics in the Dressing Room (Bonus Update)*

"Extras, get moving! We're about to start filming!"

In the afternoon, in a villa on York Mills Street in Toronto, the crew of Mean Girls was preparing for a shoot.

Today's scene was set at a Halloween party. On Halloween, Aaron invites the lead, Cady, to a party at his house.

This scene is from earlier in the movie when Cady, who just returned from Africa, is unfamiliar with American customs.

She dresses up as a zombie bride for the party, excited to attend Aaron's event. However, everyone else at the party is dressed glamorously as bunny girls, in bikinis, or as elves. Cady feels out of place, gets upset when she sees Aaron kissing Regina, and leaves the party heartbroken.

It was a group scene, with about thirty to forty extras dressed in various costumes, filling the villa's living room.

Luca, wearing a blue football jersey with large shoulder pads, stood behind the director and head cameraman, listening as they discussed how the actors would appear on camera and the best shooting angles.

Since Luca had some experience with similar scenes, he occasionally offered suggestions that resonated with both Director Mark and the head cameraman, making them excited and treating him like a trusted confidant.

“Luca!”

As they were talking, Lindsay’s assistant approached and said, “Lindsay wants to rehearse with you while she's getting her makeup done. Is that okay?”

“Sure!”

Luca nodded, said goodbye to the director and cameraman, and walked out of the hall.

The makeup room was on the second floor.

Knock knock 

He knocked on the door of the makeup room. “Lindsay, are you in there?”

“Come in!”

Lindsay's voice called from inside.

Luca opened the door, and the room was pitch black; even the windows were tightly covered, leaving the space completely dark.

“Lindsay? What are you doing?”

Suddenly, there was a faint click from the corner of the room.

He turned to look, and what he saw startled him.

In the corner, a small green light flickered, illuminating a bloody face with messy hair, heavy eyeshadow, dark smudges across the cheeks, and blood-red fake teeth with long, sharp fangs.

He froze for a moment, then, realizing what was happening, suddenly covered his face and screamed.

“Aaahhh~”

He spun around, ready to bolt for the door. But as he reached out to open it, his hand brushed against something soft and warm.

Click 

Another small green light switched on, revealing another bloody face, with blood oozing from its closed eyes and mouth.

“Luca, I’m going to eat you!”

A strange, eerie voice said coldly.

“No, don’t eat me!”

Luca screamed, playing along, acting terrified.

Creak 

A closet door swung open.

Two more bloody monsters jumped out.

“Luca, I’m going to eat you!”

“Luca, you damn fool! You deserve to go to hell!”

“Luca, confess to the bad things you’ve done!”

The four monsters advanced on him, yelling.

Luca, pretending to be frightened, said, “Please, great spirits, don’t eat me! I’m a good guy!”

“Idiot! If you're a good guy, there are no good guys left in the world. Bark like a dog, or I’ll eat you!”

The monster with the bloody teeth said coldly.

“Luca, bark like a dog, or I’ll eat you!”

“Luca, do it, hurry!”

The four "monsters" circled him, taunting.

Luca grinned secretly and shook his head. “No way. I’m a man of dignity. I can't bark like a dog. You might as well just eat me.”

“Ugh! You stinky man, your meat would taste awful! Who would want to eat you?”

The monster with the fake teeth said disdainfully.

Bang! 

As they spoke, someone stepped on his foot.

Slap! 

In the darkness, someone swatted his backside.

“Alright, you four, that’s enough. I can’t even play along if you keep this up,”

Luca said, spreading his hands. The moment he saw the "monster" with the fake teeth, he realized it was Lindsay in her zombie bride costume from the scene.

Realizing it was one of Lindsay’s pranks, and recalling their playful feud, he pretended to be scared to avoid provoking her further.

But he hadn’t expected the four of them to gang up on him like a bunch of hooligans, making it hard to continue playing along.

“Luca, weren’t you scared?”

Lindsay asked, unsatisfied.

“Of course not. Your costumes were terrible. I could tell right away.”

“You’re lying! You covered your face in fear. Don’t pretend you weren’t scared. You’re such a liar!”

Lindsay said angrily.

“Heh, stop talking! Let’s beat him up!”

One of the girls said in a strange voice.

“Yeah, get him!”

The "monsters" charged at him.

"Scene 12, Take 6, Action!"

At 7 p.m., the crew officially began shooting. Luca pushed through the crowd and greeted Lindsay.

"Hey~"

Lindsay, dressed in a bunny outfit, greeted him.

"Haha~ Seriously? No one told you it was a costume party tonight?" Aaron teased as he looked her over.

"Don't laugh at me!" Lindsay slapped his shoulder lightly and said, "I need to talk to you. Do you know Katie?"

"Yeah, she's cool. I invited her tonight," Aaron replied, glancing at the crowd in the distance, his eyes landing on Katie.

Lindsay frowned a little. "You better be careful because she likes you."

"Really? How do you know?" Aaron was pleasantly surprised.

Lindsay, clearly a bit annoyed, rolled her eyes and said, "She told me. She told everyone. It’s kind of childish. She’s like a little girl, scribbling 'Mrs. Aaron' in her notebook and wearing a T-shirt that says 'I love Aaron.' I’m not saying she’s a stalker, but she kept a tissue you used, and she’s planning on using some African witchcraft to make you fall in love with her."

"What?" Aaron's face turned weird as he looked over at Katie again.

Katie waved happily from afar, her actions combined with her outfit giving off a slightly creepy vibe.

"I know she’s socially awkward, but she’s my friend. Can you promise me you won’t mess with her?" Lindsay asked, pretending to be concerned.

"Of course I won’t!" Aaron assured her.

Suddenly, Lindsay stood on her tiptoes and, right in front of Katie, kissed Aaron.

Katie, who had thought Lindsay was helping her, was shocked to see Lindsay kissing Aaron. Furious, she stormed off.

"Cut!"

"Prop team, get a stool for Rachel. Luca is too tall, and Rachel’s tiptoeing for the kiss looks awkward. And those two extras, stop looking at the camera!" Director Mark said, watching the playback.

"Got it, Director!" The prop team quickly brought a stool for Rachel to stand on, while the assistants repositioned the extras. The camera crew adjusted the shot, ready to film the scene again. It was a hassle, as everything had to be reset.

"Luca, looks like we have to kiss again," Rachel said with a soft laugh.

Luca shrugged, "Maybe it’ll be the last time. My character’s almost done."

"The last time? How about we shoot it a few more times?" she joked.

"Sounds good to me!" Luca replied playfully.

With that joke, they started filming again. It was a night scene, and by 11 p.m., the crew finally finished shooting the 12th scene.

"Hey, Luca!" As they wrapped up and left, Rachel approached him.

"Hey, Rachel!"

"How about we walk back together?"

"Sure, I was thinking of taking a walk too!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 210: A Night with Rachel

“Where’s Lindsay and the others?”

“They got sleepy and went back early. Are you not waiting for Director Mark and the rest?”

“Forget it. They’ll probably be busy until dawn!”

It was nighttime in Toronto, and the moon hung high in the sky.

On York Mills Avenue, Luca and Rachel walked side by side, their steps illuminated by the neon lights.

Bayview Street was east of York Mills, with half a block between them, about a four-kilometer walk. Walking seemed like a good option.

“Luca, I heard from Lindsay that she played a ghost prank in the dressing room, and you screamed and covered your face. Is that true?” Rachel smirked.

“You heard?”

Luca glanced at her. Even though the room had been dark, he could still distinguish who was who by their scent. The one who had shouted "Get him!" had been none other than Rachel.

“What are you looking at?” Rachel frowned, looking serious. “You don’t think I was part of it, do you?”

“Weren’t you?”

“Ha, such a childish game. Do you really think I’d participate?”

Rachel scoffed.

Luca shrugged. “Okay, I didn't think the graceful and elegant Miss McAdams would partake in such childish games… unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Unless you’d lost your mind!”

“Haha, you're the one who's lost it!”

Rachel laughed heartily and playfully smacked his shoulder.

Two sound-activated streetlights flicked on, casting the dark street in a dim yellow glow.

In the circle of light, their figures were exposed as if they'd stepped onto a stage under a spotlight.

The two didn’t speak for a while as they walked another twenty meters. The streetlights dimmed, and the road plunged back into a hazy gloom, with the flashing neon lights deepening the sense of mystery.

“Fine, I was involved too,” Rachel chuckled softly. “Guess which one was me?”

“The one behind the door, right?”

Luca smiled knowingly.

“How did you figure that out?” Rachel looked surprised.

“Simple. The person behind the door had to turn off the lights and close the door, preventing my escape. Such an important task would naturally fall to the graceful and elegant Miss McAdams.”

“Haha, stop calling me graceful and elegant. You're no different! You always act like an old man, but this afternoon you screamed like a girl in the room. Who's the childish one now?”

Rachel gave him a sidelong glance and bumped his arm with her shoulder.

Luca shrugged again. “That was my acting. Lindsay wanted to play, so I had to join in. How was my performance?”

“Not great. Too over the top. I could tell you were faking it right away.”

“Not my fault. When I'm really scared, I just freeze up. But freezing isn't dramatic enough, so I had to scream a bit to make Lindsay happy. I sacrificed a lot to calm her down.”

“Haha!”

Rachel stifled her laughter, and this time, the streetlights stayed dark.

Suddenly, a group of four or five young Asian men approached from the shadows. They were smoking, shirtless with their T-shirts slung over their shoulders. Their arms bore blue tattoos, and as they got closer, a whiff of fried food filled the air—they must have worked in a restaurant.

“Damn that boss! All he does is make us work overtime without extra pay! Screw him!”

“Yeah, once I save enough money, I’ll quit!”

The group grumbled in Cantonese and other dialects, cursing their boss angrily.

As they passed by, Rachel suddenly clung tightly to Luca’s arm.

Luca smiled softly and put his arm around her shoulder, walking past the group.

“That white guy is so buff and handsome!”

“The chick he's holding is hot!”

“Rich guys always get the pretty ones. I’m gonna be rich too!”

Their voices faded into the darkness with more muttered curses.

Luca let go of Rachel, rubbed the back of his head, and glanced at the night sky.

“Thanks,” Rachel said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

“No problem. That’s what I’m here for.”

“Alright then.”

Rachel glanced at his tall figure, admiring his broad, muscular back, and then suddenly smiled. “Now that you know it was me behind the door, don’t you think you owe me an apology?”

“Apology?” Luca turned to her. “Why?”

Rachel locked eyes with him and, after a moment, bit her lip and puffed out her chest.

Luca blinked, suddenly recalling the soft sensation from earlier. He cursed himself inwardly.

Scratching his head, he sighed. “Fine, I’m sorry… wait, no, I don’t have to apologize.”

“Why not? You did something inappropriate. Don’t you think you should apologize?”

Rachel pouted slightly, clearly dissatisfied.

Luca shook his head with a grin. “You smacked my butt.”

“What? I didn’t… okay, fine, I did. But it wasn’t on purpose, I swear!”

Rachel’s face flushed as she admitted it, lowering her head.

“Yeah, it’s hard to imagine the graceful and elegant Miss McAdams…”

“Enough!”

Rachel shot him a glare, then broke into laughter again. She extended her hand. “Let’s call it even, okay?”

“Alright.”

Luca clapped her hand, sealing the truce.

As they walked into the neighborhood where the crew was staying, the neon lights faded, and the night grew deeper. Only the stars twinkled above.

“How many times did we kiss today?”

The two strolled side by side down the long, dark sidewalk.

“Six times. We had to redo the second kissing scene three times. You cracked up twice, and I laughed once,” Luca chuckled.

“Did you do it on purpose?”

Rachel blinked.

“Well… not really. We’re too familiar with each other, so it’s hard not to laugh during kissing scenes.”

“Yeah, we’ve known each other for less than three months, and we’ve kissed… what, forty times?”

“More than that. We kissed twenty times in that one scene alone. It’s got to be over seventy or eighty by now.”

“That many?” Rachel smiled as she looked at the villa not far ahead. She suddenly stopped.

“Want to kiss one more time? It might be our last.”

Luca turned to face her, seeing Rachel gazing deeply into his eyes, her full red lips curving upward with the elegance of Julia Roberts.

He didn’t say anything, stepping forward as Rachel did the same.

They embraced tightly and kissed deeply.

Beep, beep~

After who knows how long, two honks rang out from a distance, and the streetlights turned on again. The couple, lost in the moment, quickly parted.

“Still up for a run tomorrow?” Rachel asked, standing on the curb, wiping the corner of her now even redder lips.

“Of course. We made a deal!”

Luca smiled gently.

“Goodnight then!”

Rachel waved as a car passed by.

“Goodnight!”

Luca waved back.

Rachel laughed heartily and walked into the villa with a breezy smile.

Luca stood there for a moment, shaking his head before dragging his tired feet back to his place across the street.

Creak~

On the second floor of the villa, Rachel quietly pushed open the bedroom door.

The bedside lamp cast a warm orange glow across the room, where Lindsay Lohan sat cross-legged, wearing a tank top and playing a video game like a little sorceress burning the midnight oil.

Seeing her enter, Lindsay looked up, unable to suppress a mischievous grin.

“You’re back!”

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Rachel frowned.

“I was scared to sleep alone,” Lindsay laughed.

“You? Scared?” Rachel shook her head. If she wasn’t so young, Rachel would’ve kicked her out long ago.

Rachel took off her jacket and lay down on the couch, staring blankly at the flickering TV screen. She absently touched her slightly swollen lips.

“Rachel, why are you back so late?” Lindsay cracked open two beers, handing one to her.

Rachel took a sip, licking her lips. “I’m going home tomorrow. I need to discuss tomorrow’s schedule with the director.”

“That’s all?”

“What else?”

“You weren’t waiting for Luca?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Now go to sleep!”

Rachel put down the beer and headed to the bathroom.

“I’m not being ridiculous. You like him, don’t you?”

Lindsay leaned against the bathroom door, grinning.

Rachel, sitting on the toilet, rolled her eyes and ignored her.

“Haha, I was right, wasn’t I? Luca may have a bit of a bad boy side, but he’s fun, super cool, and really hot. Most importantly… Mr. Big lives up to his name!”

Lindsay grinned wickedly, making a hand gesture.

“How do you know? Did you two sleep together?”

“Last night in the dressing room. I accidentally touched him.”

“...”

Rachel stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter. “You’re way too bold!”

“What’s there to be scared of? It was dark, no one saw, and Luca doesn’t know who did it.”

Lindsay shrugged, unfazed.

Rachel shook her head, getting up to close the door. “Get lost. I’m taking a bath.”

“Wait, are you running tomorrow?”

“Yep.”

“Count me in! I want to run too!”

“Alright.”

Rachel smiled as she shut the door.

With Lindsay, Amanda, and Lacey all hanging around Luca, tomorrow’s race would be a breeze.

(End of Chapter)