191-195

Chapter 191: Little Mouse on the Lampstand

"Fanny, I’m going to the TV station to record a show this morning. You can do whatever you like at home. The piano is in the small living room on the east side, and the computer is in the study."

Luca said this while eating breakfast at the table.

"Got it!"

"Beer is in the fridge, wine is on the rack—you can have some, but no hard liquor."

"Understood!"

"The water’s too cold in the morning, so it’s best not to swim until noon, but don’t stay in too long. The pool’s not freshwater, it’s pretty salty."

"No problem, Uncle Luca. Anything else?"

Fanny put down her fork and asked, lips pursed.

"Alright, I’ll stop nagging."

Luca shrugged and focused on his breakfast.

Fanny smirked, silently counting to herself—one, two, three.

"And one more thing—no climbing trees!"

"Ugh, you're so annoying!"

Outside the villa, Fanny watched as Luca's car slowly drove away. She shook her head. Sure, he's gentle and considerate, but sometimes he's a bit much—always treating her like a kid.

"Good morning, Lima!"

Once the gate closed, Fanny pulled out her phone and called Lima.

"I checked the villa, and there’s no trace of another woman. It’s spotless, no signs of anything out of place. But Luca is very meticulous, so I can't rule out that he cleaned up beforehand... Yes, okay, I’ll keep watching."

After hanging up, Fanny touched her chin, her eyes wandering around the villa.

Luca had been in Los Angeles for over two weeks—there’s no way he hasn’t brought a girl home. That’s impossible. Even if Luca is self-disciplined, those shameless women in Hollywood wouldn’t leave Mr. Big alone, would they?

No issues? Well, that’s the biggest issue.

Fanny smirked, slipping into her slippers as she strolled around. She had checked the rest of the house the night before and found nothing suspicious. Only his bedroom remained.

Should she take a peek?

Standing outside the master bedroom on the second floor, Fanny hesitated. Eventually, impulse won over reason, and she pushed open the door.

The bedroom was of moderate size, with white walls and light-colored furniture. The decor was stylish and elegant. On the east side, a panoramic floor-to-ceiling window provided a view of the distant blue sea, sky, and beach palm trees.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on the bed. The high, soft pillows looked like cotton clouds.

"Quite the life of luxury!"

Fanny took a few steps back and playfully fell onto the bed, bouncing slightly as she landed.

The bed was soft and clean, and the blanket carried a pleasant scent—Luca’s scent mixed with a woman’s perfume, along with a long, golden hair. It looked like Britney’s hair color.

"Ha! Caught you!"

She pulled open the drawer under the bed, discovering two acting books and a box of BILLYBOY condoms—ten-pack, with only two left.

"Hmm... should I poke some holes in these?"

Lying on the bed, she held the little packet, a mischievous thought crossing her mind.

"Forget it, that’s too mean to a friend."

Fanny smirked, pulled the blanket over her head, and quietly drifted off to sleep.

Ding dong! Ding dong!

Around ten o'clock, Fanny was practicing piano in the living room when the sound of a doorbell echoed from outside.

She checked the security camera and saw a little boy standing on his tiptoes, repeatedly pressing the doorbell. After a while, he stood on his toes and peeked inside. Not seeing anyone, he looked disappointed and began to walk away with a football in his arms, followed by a nanny.

"Hey!"

Fanny walked to the door and shouted, "Are you looking for Luca?"

The little boy stopped, blinking his eyes. "Who are you?"

"I’m Fanny, Luca’s friend. What about you?"

Fanny opened the door and asked.

"My name is Theodore Hanks."

The little guy said politely.

"Hanks?"

Fanny looked him over—a big forehead, black hair, brown eyes. "Is Tom Hanks your dad?"

"He is!"

The boy puffed out his chest and declared loudly.

"Haha, so you’re little Hanks. Would you like to come in, Mr. Little Hanks?"

Fanny ruffled his hair and asked.

"Sure!"

The little guy, holding his football, stepped inside. "Fanny, do you know how to play soccer? Mr. Kelly said he’d teach me, but he’s been away a lot lately, and no one will play with me."

"Does Luca usually play soccer with you?"

Fanny led the little boy to the lawn.

"Only three times. The first time doesn’t count; he was playing tennis with my dad and left me alone. They’re so mean."

"Haha!"

Fanny chuckled softly. "Theodore, Luca won’t be back until noon. Do you want to wait for him here?"

"Um, okay! My mom and dad are at work, and my brothers won’t play with me. Fanny, can you play with me?"

The little guy tilted his head up and asked.

"Soccer? I don’t know how."

Fanny shook her head.

"I can teach you. I already know how to dribble!"

The boy placed the football on the lawn and started running with it. He wasn’t fast, but he wasn’t bad.

"Fanny, how’s my dribbling?"

After running a lap, the little guy’s forehead was dotted with sweat.

"Wow, great job!"

Fanny patted his shoulder. "Keep practicing, and you’ll get even better. Go for it!"

"Okay!"

The little guy started running with the ball again.

Fanny smiled softly, fetched her guitar from the house, sat cross-legged on the lawn, and watched the boy play soccer. In the sunlight, she began to gently strum the strings.

"Fanny, Fanny, look what I found!"

After a while, the boy came back from the woods, holding his football and a pear the size of his fist.

"Where did that come from?"

Fanny put down her guitar and asked.

"A seagull was stealing pears from the tree, and it fell down. It almost hit me!"

The boy pointed to a pear tree in the distance.

Fanny washed the pear in the fountain. "Do you want to eat it?"

"Yes!"

The boy took a big bite.

"How’s it taste?"

Fanny asked curiously.

"Wow, super sweet!"

The boy’s eyes lit up in surprise. "Fanny, you should try it!"

"Thanks!"

Fanny took a bite. It tasted really good—the skin was thick, but the flesh was crispy, sweet, and refreshing.

"It’s pretty good. Want more? I can pick some from the tree."

Fanny walked over to the big tree, patting the thick trunk. It was a rough, gnarly tree, but climbing it wouldn’t be too hard.

"Climb a tree?!"

The little guy looked up at the 100-foot pear tree, his mouth wide open. "It’s too high! Pete and I tried a few times, but we couldn’t make it up. Let’s not."

"Haha, no problem for me. I’m a tree-climbing pro. Watch this!"

Fanny cracked her knuckles, stretched her arms and waist, and began to climb.

"Fanny, go! Go!"

The little boy clapped and jumped in excitement, eyes full of admiration.

Fanny climbed steadily, advancing upwards—victory was within reach.

"Luca, help! I climbed up to get a pear, and now I’m stuck!"

"..."

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 192: Call Me Daddy*

"Fanny, you're something else! You're grown, but you still like climbing trees. Aren’t the pears at home sweet enough? Why eat the ones from the tree?"

It was afternoon at the Malibu Costco store. Standing in front of the dairy section, Luca was picking out milk while lecturing someone who had clearly messed up.

"I didn't know I’d get scared of heights after climbing! When I was little, I used to jump off tree branches without fear. Now I can't even compare to my younger self. Luca, do you think I'm regressing?"

Fanny, pushing a shopping cart down the aisle, said this with some embarrassment.

Earlier that morning, under Theodore's encouragement, she climbed up the first branch of a tall tree in a rush of enthusiasm. She was about to flash a victory sign to the little guy but made the mistake of looking down. She almost wet herself, her head spinning as she nearly fell.

Clinging tightly to the trunk, she froze in place, too scared to move. After a while, swallowing her pride, she called Luca for help, and he came with a ladder to get her down.

Now, though, she regretted asking for his help. He had been nagging her since 2 PM, going on and on for hours. It was driving her crazy.

"This isn’t regression; it’s just ignorance," Luca replied, picking up a large jug of milk, checking the expiration date before putting it back. "When you were little, you touched live wires without a second thought. Would you do that now? When you were a kid, would you have pulled a trigger on a gun pointed at yourself? You used to jump from tree to tree because you didn’t understand the fear of death. And your parents were too soft to discipline you. If you were my daughter, I would've spanked you from day one, until you learned to behave."

Wham!  

Before he finished talking, Luca felt a swift kick to his calf.

"Luca, are you this obedient now because you were beaten too much?"

Fanny pulled her foot back and teased him with a grin.

"Of course not," Luca scratched his ear. "I’ve been ‘beaten’ by society. That’s why I’m like this now. After you’ve experienced enough, you’ll calm down too."

"Maybe, but I won’t be as ‘good’ as you. You’re practically a model citizen now: no smoking, no heavy drinking, no drugs, no messing around with women. You’re just not cool anymore."

Fanny crossed her arms, leaning against the shelf.

"That’s me—unique, like a different-colored firework."

"So, you've spent ten minutes just choosing milk. Does the brand even matter? Can’t you just pick any carton? Your time gets wasted on these little things."

Fanny spoke with a bit of disdain.

Luca chuck

led, then finally selected two cartons of Clover milk and placed them in the cart. This brand was from Sonoma County in Northern California, where the cows were fed organic grass with no added hormones or growth stimulants. The milk was consistently high-quality with a smooth texture.

"Fanny, do you know why home-cooked meals always taste better than restaurant food?" Luca asked, pushing the cart forward.

"Why?"

Fanny playfully nudged his hand away and took control of the cart.

"Because the ingredients at home—bread, milk, oil, vegetables—are all carefully chosen by your mom. She picks the safest, most nutritious options for the family. When she cooks, she considers everyone’s health and tastes. That's why home meals are more refined, while restaurant chefs just cook without that personal touch."

He paused, glancing at the milk cartons. "I take time picking milk because there are so many brands, and it takes effort to find the best. One carton’s low-fat for me since I’m trying to stay fit, and the other is full-fat for you. You're too skinny and need the extra nutrients. Also, always check the expiration date—the fresher, the better."

As Luca spoke, Fanny leaned on the cart, watching him carefully select items. She smiled slightly.

"Luca, you must’ve been a stay-at-home mom in your past life."

"Wrong. I was still a man."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because—Daddy!"

Luca froze as a little voice interrupted. He looked down to see a small boy, around two or three years old, hugging his leg. The kid had black hair, dark eyes, and yellow skin—he looked like he could be Chinese.

For a second, Luca was stunned. If he ever had a son in this life, he was sure he wouldn’t look like this. Could it be a son from his past life, chasing him all the way to America? No, that didn’t make sense.

"Luca, is this your son? He’s so big already! But why is your son Asian?" Fanny laughed, covering her mouth.

"Quit messing around. He’s probably a lost kid."

Luca put down the whipped cream in his hand and knelt beside the boy. "Hey there, little buddy, what's your name?"

"Daddy!" The boy clapped his hands and shouted again.

"Ha! Luca, you’ve picked up a son at the supermarket today!" Fanny teased, also kneeling beside them, holding a tub of whipped cream.

"What’s your name? Where’s your mom?" Luca asked in Mandarin.

The boy ignored him, gnawing on the whipped cream container.

"Konnichiwa, onamae wa nandesuka?" Luca tried Japanese next.

"Annyeonghaseyo~" he greeted again in Korean, but the boy still didn’t respond.

"Luca, what are you even saying?" Fanny asked curiously.

"I’m asking him his name. Looks like the only word he knows is 'Daddy.'" Luca sighed, waving down a store clerk to help find the boy's parents.

Just then, a woman with a stunning figure came rushing down the aisle, calling out, "Maddox! Maddox!" She seemed frantic, clearly looking for someone.

"Is that... Angelina Jolie?" Fanny gasped.

Luca raised his eyebrows. He saw the famous red lips and instantly recognized her. Was the child hers? He recalled she had adopted a kid from Cambodia.

"Laura, Sue, have you found Maddox yet?" Two other women, one dressed like a nanny and the other like an assistant, soon followed.

"No, not here!"

"Still can’t find him!"

"How could three adults lose track of one kid?" Jolie complained.

"Hey, Ms. Jolie, are you looking for this little guy?" Luca asked, lifting Maddox up.

"Wow, Maddox! How did you get over here?" Jolie sighed with relief, clutching her chest.

"Mommy!" Maddox shouted, his face covered in whipped cream as he reached for her.

The nanny rushed over, scooping him up and cleaning off his face.

"Thank you, sir!" Angelina Jolie smiled, offering her hand, her lips curling in that iconic way.

"No problem, Ms. Jolie," Luca replied, shaking her hand.

"Luca, she didn’t even recognize you!" Fanny giggled.

"I’m just a small-time actor. It’s normal she doesn’t know me," Luca said, pushing the cart towards the meat section for beef and lamb.

"Well, she might not have recognized you, but she was definitely checking you out. She said you had a good look and even gave you her card. Looks like she's trying to flirt!" Fanny teased.

"Of course, with my good looks and charm, what woman wouldn’t like me?"

"Ha! So full of yourself!" Fanny smirked, tossing a tub of popcorn into the cart.

Luca smiled gently. "Fanny, there are some pears ahead. Want to grab some?"

"No thanks, I don’t like pears."

"Then why’d you climb the tree?"

"Can we please drop this already, Uncle Luca?!"

"Ha! Alright, alright!"

Not far off in the baby aisle, Angelina Jolie snapped a few pictures with Maddox before handing him to the nanny.

"Laura, that guy looked familiar. Did you recognize him?" Jolie asked, frowning slightly.

Her assistant, Laura, nodded. "He’s Luca Kelly, Britney Spears' rumored boyfriend."

"That’s Luca? Mr. Big?" Jolie gasped.

"Yes, that’s him!"

"He’s even more handsome and charming in person," Jolie murmured to herself as she casually tossed a couple of diapers into her cart.

Her assistant said nothing.

"Why was he here?"

"Judging by what he was buying, it looks like he lives nearby."

"Really? An interesting new neighbor," Jolie smirked, pushing her cart away.

That evening, Luca returned home and began organizing the groceries, putting snacks in the cabinets, and storing vegetables, meats, and milk appropriately.

"Do you always live like this? So... meticulously?" Fanny asked, munching on a bag of chips from behind him.

"Of course. Why wouldn’t I?" Luca replied, removing the packaging from the lamb chops and placing them in the freezer.

"Once you have money, you could hire someone to do this for you. Get a housekeeper, and you’d be free from all these little tasks."

"And then what? Start smoking, drinking, and messing around because I’m bored? Like all those rock stars? They only do that because they’re bored out of their minds."

"Hey, I’m in a rock band too, you know!" Fanny retorted.

"And aren’t you bored?" Luca gestured at the chips in her hand. "We’re having dinner soon, so maybe go easy on those, or you won’t have an appetite."

Crunch!

Fanny defiantly bit into a chip, chewing loudly.

Luca shrugged. "Fine, whatever. You're in your rebellious phase, so I won’t argue. And stop rolling your eyes—go watch a movie. Dinner will be ready soon."

"I am not in a rebellious phase!" Fanny huffed, walking off to the home theater with her bag of chips. After a few bites, she set them aside.

Luca's cooking smelled too good. Giving up the chips felt like admitting defeat, and that annoyed her.

"Hey, Lima, can I ask you something? You’ve been with Luca for six months. Don’t you ever get tired of him?"

"Haha, Fanny, only one day and you’re already tired? Tell me, what did Luca do to annoy you?"

"Okay, let me tell you everything," Fanny said, sprawling on the couch and diving into a phone call.

Near the doorway, Luca overheard part of the conversation. He couldn’t help but grin. Was he really that annoying? He wondered if he’d end up as the subject of one of her future songs. For some reason, that thought made him a little nervous.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 193: What Have You Sacrificed?*

The weekend had arrived, and Britney’s concert was about to begin.

This was a small live concert promoting her new album, In the Zone, meant to build anticipation for its release.

The concert was held at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in the Los Angeles Music Center, which had a total of 2,265 club seats and a capacity of 6,000 people. Due to the limited number of tickets, they sold out in less than a day, generating $830,865 just from ticket sales.

"Luca, hurry up! The concert’s about to start!"

"No rush, we’ve still got half an hour."

That afternoon, Luca was driving slowly through the traffic on Figueroa Street. The concert hall was located in downtown Los Angeles, so the traffic was a bit heavy.

"Aren’t you going to the backstage to talk to Britney?" Fanny teased him.

Luca shook his head. "What’s there to say? Cheer her on? She’s done three world tours. She’s not going to be nervous for such a small concert."

Fanny nodded and leaned back in her seat, staring at the distant traffic. The street was clearly busier than usual today, with more police cars and ticket officers around.

"Luca, are you planning to continue this relationship with Britney?" After a moment, Fanny asked.

"Isn’t it fine the way it is, like friends?" Luca replied.

"We’re not talking about friends. We’re talking about lovers, aren’t we?" Fanny reminded him.

"Lovers?" Luca thought about the word. "No, we’re friends, not lovers. Lovers, even without the legal formalities, have a sense of belonging to each other in their hearts or in the eyes of others. Britney and I don’t have that. I have a girlfriend, and Britney will find a boyfriend in the future. We’ll still be friends. I won’t interfere with her life."

Fanny thought for a moment. "But if Britney wanted to be your girlfriend, would you say yes?"

Luca paused. "We’re not a good match."

"Why not? Britney is a world-class superstar, she’s beautiful, sexy, and rich. She’s ranked number one in surveys of men’s dream partners."

Luca smirked. "You’ve just answered the question. She’s a superstar. If I became her boyfriend, people would call me 'Britney’s boyfriend,' just like when Brad Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston. Despite his fame, some still referred to him as 'Rachel’s husband.' Same with Nicole Kidman—people used to call her 'Mrs. Cruise.'"

"So you don’t want to be seen as just her accessory?" Fanny was beginning to understand, and she let out a sigh of relief, realizing Luca’s girlfriend Lima didn’t have to worry about him being stolen away.

"Exactly. If I were a superstar myself, I might consider it. But I’m not, and I hate being labeled."

"If you did become a superstar, would you dump Lima and choose Britney?" Fanny asked curiously.

"Of course not!" Luca shook his head, then smiled. "After spending two days with me, don’t you find me annoying?"

Fanny blinked. "Haha, no way! How could I?"

Luca chuckled softly. "By now, you must know my problem. I’m a talker, and I’m very controlling. Most people can’t handle it. If I had a headstrong girlfriend who hated being controlled, we’d be fighting all the time. But Lima doesn’t mind."

Fanny unconsciously nodded. Lima had a great personality—bold, generous, and smart.

"The reason Lima and I have lasted so long is because she can tolerate my behavior. She’s a lingerie model, and she used to participate in lingerie shows regularly. But she knows I don’t like that, so she’s gradually cut back on those events. That’s compromise and sacrifice. If she couldn’t tolerate it or wasn’t willing to change, we would’ve had problems and maybe even broken up by now. Do you think Britney could do the same?"

"Britney’s a big star with a strong personality. She wouldn’t like being controlled," Fanny thought out loud.

"Exactly!" Luca agreed.

This was clear from Britney’s strained relationship with her father, Jamie Spears, who was also very controlling. Britney disliked being restrained, which caused their relationship to deteriorate over time.

As friends, Luca couldn’t interfere too much, so there were no conflicts. But if they became lovers, Luca felt entitled to some control, which would lead to fights, and eventually, they wouldn’t even be friends anymore.

Luca sighed and instinctively reached for a cigarette, though he hadn’t brought any.

"Britney’s a superstar. She belongs to music and to her fans. She has a responsibility to both her company and her fans. Sometimes she’ll drink, smoke marijuana, wear revealing clothes while dancing on stage, or party in clubs. If I became her boyfriend, I’d have to accept all that and overcome some aspects of my nature—mainly my controlling side. I doubt I could do that," Luca shrugged.

"Even the revealing clothes?" Fanny frowned. She often performed in revealing outfits on stage as well.

"Aren’t Brazilians known for wearing revealing clothes and being sexually open? Brazil has drug dealers everywhere—what’s the big deal about smoking weed? You don’t seem very Brazilian," Fanny teased.

"…" Luca had no response. Another person with regional stereotypes.

"You’re such an old-fashioned guy. I can’t believe Lima puts up with you," Fanny mocked.

Luca smiled softly. "You’re right. It’s not easy being my girlfriend. I’m a failure in some ways. When you choose a boyfriend, be careful. If you don’t want to change, don’t date a guy like me."

Fanny smirked. "If I had a boyfriend like you, it’d be worth making some sacrifices."

"Really? Weren’t you just complaining that I’m a nag and a busybody?"

Luca joked.

Fanny burst out laughing. "You said Lima made sacrifices in the relationship. What about you? What have you sacrificed?"

Luca smirked mischievously. "You know, I’m naturally a very lustful guy. If it weren’t for Lima, I’d have been with more women than a small army by now."

Fanny was startled for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Would I be part of that army?"

"Most likely, as long as you’re female and warm."

"Pervert!"

Fanny laughed heartily.

At around 2:00, the car finally arrived at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, a newly completed modern building with a metal-clad roof that reflected the sunlight brightly. Its museum-like design had quickly made it a new landmark in Los Angeles.

After parking, Luca made a call. "Hey, Ryan, are you here?"

"Yeah, we’re in the parking lot by the front plaza," Ryan Gosling answered.

"Really? I’m parking here too!"

"Haha, I see you!" Ryan and Rachel McAdams walked over.

"Is she part of your army too?" Fanny whispered, looking at Rachel.

"Stop it. She’s Ryan’s girlfriend."

"But she’s female and hot."

"…"

Chapter 194: Before the Concert Begins

“Wow~ so many people!”

The concert hall was packed with people. After passing through the ticket checkpoint, the crowd grew even more dense. The four of them held hands as they walked forward, careful not to get separated by the surging crowd.

After moving through a passageway, they reached the seating area. The crowd began to spread out and everything became more orderly.

The walls of the passage were lined with massive posters of Britney Spears. She was dressed in a stunning, diamond-studded, sexy short dress, standing on a stage surrounded by thorns. She looked dazzling and breathtaking.

The posters also listed many of Britney’s recent achievements: the world’s top-selling female artist, the youngest female artist ever to achieve diamond album status, and the best-selling teen artist of all time.

“Britney is amazing!” Ryan exclaimed.

Luca nodded in agreement.

At just 22 years old, Britney had already achieved so much. Even for someone like Luca, who had lived two lifetimes, achieving this level of success at her age would be difficult.

“Ryan, back when you, Britney, Justin, and Christina were all in the Mickey Mouse Club, how come they became singers and you ended up becoming an actor?” Luca asked as they walked.

Ryan smirked. “You won’t believe this, but I have stage fright.”

“What?” Luca looked surprised. “But you don’t seem nervous at all when you’re performing on set.”

“It’s true!” Ryan shrugged. “Back in the club, I was the best at everything—singing, dancing, performing. I outshone all of them.

“But when I was 12, we had our first big performance on a stage with over a thousand people. That’s when it all went wrong. As soon as I stepped on stage, I froze. I got so nervous I couldn’t move, let alone perform.

“I tried everything to overcome it afterward, but nothing worked. I can handle small performances with dozens or even a few hundred people, but put me on a stage in front of thousands, and I start to panic. I can’t breathe. It’s something I just couldn’t get past, so I couldn’t be a singer. I had to become an actor instead.”

“That’s such a shame. You’d probably be a huge star by now,” Luca said, patting him on the shoulder.

“Am I not a big star already?” Ryan shot back, a little indignant.

“Alright, alright, you are!” Luca chuckled, thinking Ryan was being a little too full of himself.

“Hey~ you two, hurry up!” Rachel and Fanny called from up ahead.

“Coming!” Ryan and Luca quickened their pace to catch up with them.

Their seats were in the middle of the front rows, close to the stage. Aside from the VIP boxes, they had the best view in the house.

“Hey~ Ryan, long time no see!”

As they were finding their seats, a young man in a white shirt and tie stopped Ryan.

“Justin! You’re here too!” Ryan smiled and gave him a hug.

“Hey~ Ryan! Don’t forget about me. It’s been a while!” A girl wearing a hat stood up and hugged him as well.

“Is that Justin and Christina? Why are they here at Britney’s concert?” Fanny asked, surprised.

“Maybe their relationship isn’t as bad as the tabloids make it out to be,” Luca smiled. The guy was Justin Timberlake, Britney’s ex-boyfriend, and the girl was Christina Aguilera.

The news always claimed that Justin and Britney were on terrible terms, and that Christina and Britney didn’t get along either. There were always stories about the two fighting, portraying them as rivals.

In reality, Britney had once said it was all just a marketing strategy. They were all from the same company and big stars, and the so-called rivalry made for better headlines.

Christina wasn’t as popular as Britney, so this rivalry gave her a chance to ride on Britney’s coattails.

“Hey~ Luca, let me introduce you,” Ryan said with a grin, pulling Luca by the arm. “Luca, this is Justin. Justin, this is Luca. Have you two met before?”

Rachel quietly tugged at Ryan’s sleeve, trying to keep things from getting awkward. After Luca’s infamous car scandal with Britney, there were rumors that Luca had come between Britney and Justin, causing the pop world’s golden couple to break up.

A reporter once asked Justin if he knew Luca, to which Justin had dismissively replied, “Who’s that?” It hadn’t been a friendly response. Now, seeing them face-to-face, what if things escalated?

“Mr. Timberlake, nice to meet you. I’m Luca Kelly,” Luca said with a polite smile, extending his hand.

Justin looked him over for a moment before slowly shaking his hand. “Hello.”

Rachel chuckled quietly; the tension in the air was palpable.

Both men were good-looking, but Luca was slightly more handsome, taller by two inches, and more physically fit. He looked more grounded and confident.

But Justin was a superstar, and his fame gave him a stronger presence.

“Wow, our seats are right next to each other! What a coincidence. How about we grab a drink at a bar after the concert?” Ryan said, slinging his arms around both of them, trying to ease the atmosphere.

“Sorry, Ryan, I have plans tonight,” Justin replied with a cool smile before sitting back down.

“Oh, that’s too bad. Maybe next time,” Ryan shrugged, flashing Luca a mischievous wink.

Luca shook his head and took his seat next to Christina, who was sitting between him and Justin.

“So, you’re that Luca?” Christina leaned over, adjusting her hat as she eyed him.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Aguilera,” Luca greeted her politely. Christina hadn’t put on any weight yet and was still quite beautiful.

“Ha! Justin, Luca’s better-looking than you, and in better shape too. Britney made the right choice dumping you,” Christina teased with a smirk.

Justin ignored her, taking a sip of water and focusing on the stage.

“Luca, mind if I ask, when did you and Britney start hooking up? Wasn’t she still with Justin at the time?” Christina continued with a sly smile.

Luca’s lips twitched—she was obviously trying to stir things up.

“Sorry, my English isn’t great,” he replied, trying to deflect.

“Oh, don’t play dumb. Britney told me you two hooked up. She even said you were, like, way bigger than Justin,” Christina said with a smirk.

“That’s enough, Christina,” Justin said, his face darkening.

“What? I’m just saying,” she teased, still smiling. “Hey, Justin, I heard Luca’s packing a full three feet. You got that beat?”

Justin said nothing.

“Haha, guess not!” Christina laughed, turning back to Luca. “By the way, that car video with you and Britney was wild! Was that after you two shot her music video? I bet it wasn’t your first time together. Britney’s not the type to jump into bed with someone she just met.

“So, based on my calculations, you guys must’ve hooked up sometime last winter. That was when Britney and Justin were still together, right? Wow, Justin, looks like you were getting played.”

Justin snorted in frustration and stood up to leave.

“Relax, Justin, I’m just joking!” Christina laughed, pulling him back into his seat. She turned back to Luca, but he had already swapped seats with a white-haired girl.

“Tch, what a boring guy,” Christina muttered, unimpressed.

At 2:30 p.m., the big screen lit up with a Check-In performance introduction. After that, the lights on stage brightened, music began to play, and a stunning figure slowly rose from the center of the stage. The concert had begun.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 195: I Feel Like You're Flirting With Me*

"Baby, can't you see I'm calling

A guy like you should wear a warning

It's dangerous, I'm falling

There's no escape..."

On the dazzling stage, Britney sang and danced, her long blonde hair flowing freely. She wore a sparkling outfit, looking like a Bond girl with a hint of Eastern influence—sexy and captivating. A group of energetic backup dancers surrounded her, performing alongside her to the hot and intense beats.

This song was "Toxic," from her fourth album, a pop-electronic track full of hip-hop flavor.

The song had a strong rhythm, and the dance performance was equally explosive. The audience waved glow sticks in time with the beat, creating a sea of light like fireflies. From the very beginning, the atmosphere of the concert was electric.

"Britney's style has become more mature and sexier. This performance is so cool!" Fanny said, looking up at the stage like a student paying close attention.

"It's cool, but I still prefer her earlier style," Luca shrugged. Ever since Britney shed her innocent image at the 2000 VMA Awards by stripping off her jacket on stage, she had declared her transformation from the girl-next-door to a wild, untamed persona.

In her third album in 2001, she used a sultry photo for the cover and made "I'm a Slave 4 U" the lead single, officially embracing her new sexy image.

Her fourth album, In the Zone, was packed with 14 songs, all with sensual music videos.

That was why the steamy track "Nobody" was chosen.

"Luca, you're too old-fashioned. Female singers nowadays all take the sexy route. It's mainstream. If Britney didn't evolve, her career would have faded, and fans would have forgotten her," Fanny said confidently.

Luca knew this, and he also knew that the young girl beside him would one day follow the same path, pushing sexy to the extreme—so much so that it bordered on shocking.

He glanced at the innocent-looking girl next to him, wondering what could possibly lead her to become so daring in the future.

"Luca, why are you looking at me like that?" Fanny asked, confused.

"Nothing," Luca replied, then added, "Fanny, no matter what happens in the future, remember that you always have me as a friend."

"Why do you sound like some old wizard? Haha, okay, Luca, we'll always be friends," Fanny giggled as she grabbed his hand and playfully shook it in the air.

"Too high

Can't come down

It's in the air and it's all around..."

After a sizzling dance, Britney, drenched in sweat, quickly refreshed her makeup and started performing her next song, "Overprotected." Like the first, it was an upbeat, rhythm-driven track. Her third song, "Boys," kept the crowd hyped as she continued dancing.

Three high-energy songs in a row whipped the audience into a frenzy. Britney moved non-stop on stage, and the fans' cheers echoed endlessly below.

When the first segment of the performance finally ended, Britney stopped, sweat dripping from her, smiling sweetly as she greeted the crowd.

"Hello, everyone! Thank you for coming to the live concert for my fourth album, In the Zone," Britney said.

"Britney!"

"Britney, I love you!" screams erupted from the crowd as soon as she spoke.

"Thank you so much! So many of my good friends are here tonight. I'm really happy!" Britney said, waving to the audience as cameras zoomed in on the crowd.

Luca flashed a charming smile, while Fanny and Rachel happily waved their glow sticks. Ryan, with a smug expression, twirled his fingers, somehow having removed his glowing headband at some point.

To Luca’s right, Christina Aguilera tugged her hat lower, hiding most of her face.

Her fans often clashed with Britney's, so openly attending Britney’s concert felt like she was betraying her side or spying on the competition. Justin Timberlake, too, had discreetly donned a baseball cap. His fans and Britney's had been at odds ever since their breakup, so he kept a low profile as well.

While those two were sneaky, other stars greeted the cameras confidently.

"Hey, Britney! I'm over here!" a beautiful woman stood up from the crowd, holding a microphone and waving to the camera. Her image soon appeared on the big screen.

"Wow, it's Avril Lavigne!"

It was none other than pop sensation Avril Lavigne, who had released her debut album Let Go last year. In just one year, the album sold 15 million copies and earned her eight Grammy nominations. She was only 18 years old and was currently one of the fastest-rising young artists.

On stage, Britney smiled slightly. "Hi, Avril! Come sing with me!"

"It would be an honor!" Avril was one of tonight’s guest performers.

After exchanging a few words, the two sang "Showdown" together. Avril walked from the audience to the stage as they sang, hand in hand, which stirred excitement among the crowd.

After Avril, other artists like Enrique Iglesias, B2K, and Blue Cantrell performed.

By the 11th song, it was Britney's time to shine again.

She stepped onto the stage in a white, sexy short dress, moving gracefully like a swan on ice. She looked breathtaking.

"Thank you, everyone. This next song, 'Everytime,' I wrote while traveling in Germany last year. I hope you like it."

As the soft, delicate sounds of the piano started, the pianist raised his hands, and a deep, emotional melody filled the air.

"Hey, Justin, I heard this song is Britney's apology to you, a response to your song 'Cry Me a River' from last year," Christina whispered to Justin.

"I know," Justin smirked.

"Hey, Luca, listen closely. After hearing this song, you’ll realize Britney still loves Justin," Christina teased Luca with a mischievous smile after she finished teasing Justin.

"Maybe," Luca replied. He had heard the song many times before and liked it the most out of Britney's songs. He never got tired of it.

"Notice me

Take my hand

Why are we strangers when

Our love is strong

Why carry on without me?"

On stage, Britney stood still, gently holding the microphone, her voice tender and emotional. The piano, violin, cello, and harp came together to create a serene, intimate, and heartfelt performance.

"This song is so beautiful! This is the kind of music I love," Rachel clapped lightly in admiration.

"Hey, Luca, what do you think?" Ryan smirked at him.

"Yeah, I used to love Britney's 'Sometimes,' but now this is my favorite," Luca replied sincerely.

"You're just pretending!" Christina scoffed, though she had to admit, the song was amazing.

"I feel so small

I guess I need you, baby

And every time I see you in my dreams

I see your face, it’s haunting me

I guess I need you, baby..."

As the song ended, the crowd responded with soft, respectful applause.

"Hey, Justin, did that move you?" Christina couldn't resist teasing again after Britney left the stage.

Justin shrugged, "It's all in the past."

Christina smiled and turned back to Luca. "Luca, what did you feel after hearing those lyrics?"

"It was amazing. Britney really is America’s best female pop singer—gorgeous, sexy, with great singing, songwriting, and dancing skills. She’s perfect," Luca clapped.

Christina snorted. "Don’t try to hide it. From the lyrics, it’s clear Britney's true love is Justin. Aren’t you feeling a bit down now?"

"No."

"Really?"

Luca didn’t respond, just turned to gaze at her. His dark eyes were deep and serene, like the night sky—peaceful and beautiful.

"Why... why are you looking at me like that?" Christina asked, flustered.

"Eyes are the windows to the soul. Whatever you see and feel in mine is what I’m thinking," Luca blinked and smiled.

"I feel like you’re flirting with me!" Christina said.

Luca shook his head. "Impossible."

"Why not?"

"We just don’t have that kind of chemistry."

"..."

Christina glared at him. "You’re the least gentlemanly guy I’ve ever met!"

"That’s a shame," Luca replied.

"Hmph!" Christina turned away, frustrated.

Fanny chuckled softly, "Luca, don't take the lyrics too seriously. Singer-songwriters often write about their exes. No matter how touching it sounds, it usually doesn't mean much."

"I get it. Heartbreak is a great source of inspiration. Some female singers even keep changing boyfriends just to find inspiration for their next song."

"Are there really singers like that?" Fanny asked curiously.

"Of course. One day, you’ll write about your ex-boyfriend too," Luca teased.

"Will I?" Fanny blinked and then smiled. "I don't know if I’ll write about others, but I’ll definitely write about you."

"Please don’t. We’re friends," Luca replied.

"Haha, don’t worry, I’ll write only good things about you," Fanny laughed.

"Should I say thank you?"

"You're welcome!"