181-185

Chapter 181: The Kiss Scene

"Rachel, what's with the 'three legs'?"

Lindsay Lohan asked curiously.

"Yeah, is Luca a three-legged monster?"

Amanda laughed.

"Don't ask. You guys are still underage. Girls shouldn't know about that stuff."

Rachel laughed.

"Tsk~ You think we can't figure it out?"

Lindsay raised an eyebrow and glanced at a certain someone's lower half. Could he really have three legs?

Rachel chuckled softly. "Lindsay, what was that picture Luca sent you earlier? Why are you blushing?"

"Hmph, my nude photo."

"What?!"

Rachel was shocked. "Luca has your nude photo?"

"Yeah, look!"

Lindsay handed over a photo, and sure enough, it was a semi-nude picture.

In the picture, there was a four- or five-year-old girl with red hair and blue eyes, very cute. There was even a label for a "Little Red Umbrella Sunscreen" on it — it was an ad photo.

"This little girl is you, so pretty!"

"Thank you!"

Lindsay smiled and kicked Luca’s leg. "Hey~ drool guy, where’d you find this?"

"Stop calling me that."

Luca shook his head. "Last time, you mentioned you used to be a child model for Ford Models. I searched the archives and found your file. When I saw this picture, I thought it was really beautiful, so I kept it."

"Jerk, you violated my privacy. I'm going to sue you!"

Lindsay said fiercely.

"Go ahead!"

It was an ad photo, so it didn’t matter.

Luca smiled lightly and walked into the restaurant.

"Hey~ Director Mark, long time no see!"

"Haha, Luca, welcome to the crew!"

Director Marc Forster greeted him with a handshake.

"Thank you, Director Mark!"

Luca shook his hand.

"Haha, don't mention it. I heard from Billy that your movie Sweetheart Dance is about to be released, right?"

Director Mark asked.

"Yes, it's in the promotion phase now. It'll be released in about forty-five days,"

Luca explained briefly. The promotional activities were still being finalized, so he couldn’t go into much detail.

They chatted for a bit before Luca met screenwriter and math teacher Tina Fey, assistant director Louis, and director’s assistant Ian, among others.

Today, the crew was filming a restaurant scene. There were many scenes in the movie set in the restaurant, with dozens of different shots. Most of the earlier scenes were done, except for the two that involved him, which were just small, fragmented scenes.

"Luca, here’s your scene. Katie brings you breakfast, saying it's African cuisine. When you open the lunchbox, you're surprised and excited, and you devour it with great enjoyment. We only have one serving, so try to get it right in one take."

Director Marc Forster said with a grin.

Luca glanced at the plastic lunchbox and thought for a moment. Katie, played by Lindsay Lohan, is the lead, a quirky transfer student from Africa.

Katie has a crush on Aaron, Luca’s character, and brings him some African specialty food. Everything seemed fine, but he didn’t remember this scene from the script.

"Director Mark, I don’t recall this scene being in the script."

"This one's newly added."

Mark raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Alright then!"

Luca accepted the lunchbox.

"Snicker~"

As he walked to the table with the lunchbox, Amanda couldn't hold back her laughter. Opposite him, Lindsay Lohan's mouth curled up, and when she saw him looking over, she snorted. "What are you looking at?"

Rachel, the only one acting normal, was quietly eating her breakfast, already getting into character by chewing on a piece of bread.

"What's in my lunchbox?"

"Breakfast!"

Rachel replied calmly.

"Luca, don't open it early, or the effect will be ruined."

Seeing him about to open it, Amanda pressed down on the lunchbox.

"Do you know what's inside?"

"No idea!"

The three answered in unison.

"So this is your way of welcoming me, teaming up with the director to prank me?"

"Of course not, we're shooting a scene! Could you be a little more professional?"

Lindsay said.

"OK!"

Luca put down the lunchbox. As the three girls continued eating, he smirked. "I bet the lunchbox contains a rat, right? No? Maybe some chocolate poop?"

"Ugh~"

Amanda was eating chocolate and suddenly gagged at the thought.

"Not that? Is it something rotten, perhaps..."

"Stop it!"

Rachel and Lindsay Lohan shouted in unison.

Luca shrugged. Talking about gross things at the table wasn't polite, so he stayed quiet, though he was curious about the strange smell coming from the lunchbox.

"Scene 4, Shot 1, Take 1, Action!"

With everything ready, the clapperboard was struck, and the camera rolled. Everyone on set was watching Luca, waiting for him to dig in.

Luca slowly opened the lunchbox.

Ew~

An overpowering stench hit his nose, and he couldn't help but frown. Surely they didn’t put a dead rat in here, right? That would be too much.

Wait a second… that smell was familiar.

Stinky tofu?

His eyebrows shot up in surprise.

Inside the lunchbox were four small, golden-yellow tofu pieces, giving off a strong odor, sprinkled with green chives and red ketchup, looking quite appetizing.

"Hmm~"

Behind the monitor, Director Marc Forster grinned and turned to screenwriter Tina Fey.

"See? Luca’s acting is pretty good. Anyone else would’ve shown disgust, but not him. He adapted quickly and even looked delighted, like he was genuinely surprised. Feel better now?"

"Not bad,"

Tina Fey said.

Besides being the screenwriter, she was also the artistic director for this film, so naturally, she hoped the actors would deliver the best performances.

"Wait a minute…"

Just as they were watching, Luca speared a piece of stinky tofu and popped it into his mouth, chewing seriously, his face full of enjoyment.

"Not bad, not bad. Quick thinking, very professional. He’s a great actor,"

Tina Fey praised.

"Ugh~"

At that moment, someone on set gagged audibly.

"Cut!"

Director Mark called out. "Great job, Luca, that was perfect. You don’t need to eat any more. Someone, get him some mouthwash."

"No worries, it actually tastes pretty good. Where’d you get it?"

Luca took another bite.

"Ugh~"

Lindsay Lohan and the others pinched their noses in surprise.

"Luca, we were just messing with you. Why did you actually eat it?"

Rachel asked with a disgusted look.

"Yeah, we were trying to prank you, but you’re enjoying it so much that it's no fun anymore,"

Amanda said, disappointed.

"Not my fault. The food is delicious. It’s sour and sweet. Don’t believe me? Try some!"

He held out the lunchbox.

"NO!"

Lindsay waved her hands and left her seat.

"Luca, do you really like this stuff?"

Rachel asked curiously.

"Yep. Where did you get it?"

"From Chinatown, my assistant bought it."

"So you planned this surprise?"

"Too bad we couldn't prank you."

Rachel pouted in regret.

Luca just smiled and continued eating the stinky tofu.

"Luca, are you done?"

Assistant director Ian came over.

"All done!"

"OK, everyone get into position. We’re about to shoot Scene 9, Shot 4,"

the assistant director announced.

"Scene 9, Shot 4?"

Luca flipped through the script.

In this scene, Katie deliberately tricks Gina by giving her foot cream, pretending it's a pimple treatment.

Gina smears the foot cream on her face, and when Aaron, Luca’s character, kisses her, he smells a strong minty scent.

And Gina is played by Rachel.

Thinking about it, Luca smirked. "Hey~ Rachel, we’ve got another kiss scene. Excited?"

"What?!"

Rachel froze.

She quickly grabbed the script.

"No!!"

"Scene 4, Shot 1, Take 1, Action!"

(End of chapter)

Chapter 182: Bigger Movements Are Normal

"Cut! Rachel, your expression is too stiff. It doesn't look natural enough, let's go again!"

"Cut! Rachel, you're too nervous. Relax and let's try it again!"

"Cut!"

"Luca, I never want to do another kissing scene with you," Rachel said, touching her lips.

"You might be disappointed. We have five kissing scenes in this movie, and that was just the first one," Luca laughed.

"Oh, this is a nightmare," Rachel shook her head, glancing at him. "Why do you look so happy about it? I remember you said I was the last woman you'd ever want to kiss."

"Isn't it just work?" Luca shrugged, "For work, I have to smile through the pain."

"Haha!" Rachel threw her head back and laughed heartily.

"Rachel, the costumes are ready. You can change now," Rachel's assistant arrived with a set of clothes.

"Luca, I'm going to change now."

"Got it!"

Rachel grabbed the clothes and headed into the dressing room.

Luca sat on set waiting for the actresses.

In this film, the four main actresses had more than forty outfits each, with over ten different bags. They changed for almost every scene, and since there were more than ten scenes set in a restaurant, they each had to change outfits at least ten times.

Luca, on the other hand, only had two scenes in the restaurant and had to change into just two outfits. Compared to the glamorous wardrobes of the female leads, his clothes were simple—shirts, long and short T-shirts, jeans, and a rugby shirt. He could change on set.

"Luca, are you and Rachel dating?"

Lindsay Lohan walked in, wearing a tight white T-shirt and jeans that accentuated her slim waist and generous chest. At seventeen, her C++ bust showed she was developing well, but her rebellious and capricious personality made her difficult to deal with.

She asked the odd question as soon as she arrived. Luca set down his cup, "Rachel and I are just friends, not dating."

"Really?" Lindsay sat across from him, propping her arms and chest on the table, leaning her face on her hands and staring at him. "But when you two kiss, it looks like you're really into it."

"You're imagining things."

"Don't try to lie to me."

Lindsay smirked mischievously, like a kid who had just discovered a secret. She leaned in closer and whispered, "I saw it clearly. You both looked like you were enjoying it. Let me guess—you two were on set together for half a month playing a couple and had a lot of intimate scenes, right? You probably caught feelings, but since Rachel has a boyfriend and you have a girlfriend, you can't be open about it. So, you're just kissing as much as you can on set. Am I right?"

"…"

Luca wanted to knock her on the head, but they weren't that close. He shook his head and said, "Lindsay, it’s not like that. Last time Rachel and I were in a movie together, I messed up, and the director made us reshoot the scene nineteen times."

"Nineteen times?" Lindsay was shocked.

"Yes, Nick Cassavetes was the director. He's strict, and my acting skills aren't great. The scene was a kiss, and Rachel and I had to redo it nineteen times. Our lips were practically bleeding."

"Wow, that's intense!" Lindsay exclaimed.

Luca gave a small smile, "It wasn't exciting. By the end, Rachel was joking that I was the last person she'd ever want to kiss. I felt the same way. But today, our first scene was another kiss, so we had to take it seriously."

"Kissing scenes can leave you traumatized?" Lindsay blinked. "We have a kissing scene too. Want to try it out?"

Luca shook his head, opening the script. "Lindsay, stop with the crazy ideas. Can you help me run lines instead?"

"You barely have any lines, but fine, whatever."

After Rachel finished changing and the set was ready, the crew continued filming the restaurant scene.

Gina, in front of Katie, deliberately ran her hand through Aaron's hair to show off their affection.

Katie had feelings for Aaron, and seeing this made her jealous.

"Scene 5, shot 1, take 1. Action!"

The camera rolled. Aaron and Gina sat at the table, chatting.

He was holding a bottle of red juice, the color bright like tomato sauce.

This was cranberry juice. It’s made from cranberries, which grow in North America and contain vitamin C, flavonoids, antioxidants, and rich pectin. It’s great for beauty, helps with constipation, and removes toxins and excess fat from the body.

It was an obvious product placement.

"Gina, why are you drinking that?"

"This is cranberry juice. It'll burn fat in just 72 hours," Gina said, sipping the juice.

Just then, Lindsay entered as Katie. Katie liked Aaron, and Gina knew it, so she was flaunting her relationship.

"Sweetheart, your hair isn't styled right. Katie, tell Aaron that his hair would look sexier slicked back," Gina said, playing with Aaron's hair.

Katie glanced at Aaron, "Your hair would look sexier slicked back."

"Cut!"

Director Mark paused the scene and reviewed the footage. He sighed in relief.

The previous kiss scene had taken five tries, making him doubt the actors' skills.

But in this scene, both actors performed well. It was light and natural.

"That’s a wrap for this scene! On to the next!" the assistant director announced.

A first take? Luca raised an eyebrow. It had been a while since that happened.

On The Notebook, they never got a first take. Now, he was almost uncomfortable with the ease.

"How do you feel, Luca?" Rachel asked, smiling.

"A bit empty."

"Empty?"

"Yeah, after being tortured by the director on The Notebook, I got used to learning from each reshoot. Now that there's no torture, it feels strange."

"Haha! Maybe you need to see a therapist. You might have a masochistic streak," Rachel teased.

"No, I don’t!" Luca protested firmly.

"They seem to get along well," Amanda whispered to Lindsay nearby.

"Yeah, I bet they’re secretly hooking up," Lindsay smirked.

"No way. Rachel has a boyfriend, and Luca has a girlfriend," Amanda countered.

"So what? Luca’s hot. How could Rachel not fall for him? Amanda, you’re too naïve," Lindsay chuckled.

"Stop acting all grown-up. I’m a year older than you," Amanda said.

"So what?" Lindsay puffed out her chest.

"..."

Amanda couldn’t argue and backed down.

"Scene 5, shot 2, take 1. Action!"

The next scene started quickly.

This scene was Katie’s fantasy. After seeing Gina flaunting her relationship, she had held back her feelings, but in her mind, she turned into a wild beast, attacking Gina like animals fighting over a mate.

It was an action scene. Katie had to jump across the table and tackle Gina. It was a physically demanding and dangerous move. Lindsay, being a bit heavier, couldn’t jump that high, so two stunt doubles were brought in.

"Rawr!"

Lindsay’s stunt double leaped over the table, tackling Rachel’s stunt double.

The extras around them also acted like animals, baring their teeth and growling wildly.

Luca, playing a gorilla, bared his teeth, pounded his fists on the ground, and beat his chest like he was cheering on the two female gorillas. It was ridiculous.

"Luca’s stealing the scene," Assistant Director Ian said.

"That’s okay. This is a comedy, so having more funny moments isn’t bad," Director Mark chuckled.

In group scenes, actors often try to steal the spotlight, but as long as it doesn’t ruin the overall flow, it’s fine. Since this was a comedy, Luca’s over-the-top performance added to the humor, and it would’ve been a shame to cut it.

"Cut!"

Director Mark reviewed the footage. "Katie's stunt double, you need to move faster. Gina’s stunt double, don’t get up. Stay down and let her tackle you. Got it? Extras, keep moving. Let’s go again!"

"Scene 5, shot 2, take 2. Action!"

The second take went smoothly. After Katie’s stunt double knocked Gina’s double to the ground, Lindsay and Rachel stepped back into the scene.

Lindsay sat on top of Rachel, growling and tearing at her, while Rachel fought back. Luca, still acting as a gorilla, continued beating his chest and pounding the floor.

"Cut!"

*Chapter 183: Filming*

During the lunch break, the cast and crew of the film sat together to eat.

The food provided by the crew was abundant. There was a buffet with a variety of options: bread, pizza, rice, beef and potatoes, fried chicken, green beans, and more. There was also coffee and fruit—everyone could choose whatever they wanted to eat.

Luca got himself some fried chicken, beef with potatoes, rice, and two slices of orange, and sat down across from Amanda.

“Luca, are you Brazilian?” Amanda asked.

“Yes,” Luca raised his eyebrows playfully, “You’re not going to discriminate against me, are you?”

“Of course not,” Amanda rolled her eyes at him, “Do you guys eat the same food as we do?”

“Pretty much. Brazil used to be a Portuguese colony, so our eating habits are heavily influenced by European cuisine. We usually eat Western food—grilled meats, black bean rice, sushi, egg tarts. The only difference is our food tends to be spicier,” Luca explained slowly.

“I like spicy food too, but every time I eat it, my lips swell up, so I avoid it,” Amanda said, pouting her red lips, which looked quite appetizing.

“No worries, swollen lips can look even prettier—like Angelina Jolie,” Luca teased.

“Are you serious?” Amanda pouted, slightly annoyed.

“Okay, I was joking, but your lips really are beautiful,” Luca said with a light chuckle.

Amanda’s lips were glossy and plump, though not as big as Angelina Jolie's, they were still quite sexy—a highlight of her appearance.

“Thank you,” Amanda smiled, her lips still slightly puckered. “Your lips are quite... sexy too.”

Luca smirked slightly as he looked at the girl in front of him. Putting down his fork, he said, “Amanda, I feel like I should apologize to you for what happened during the audition.”

“It’s no big deal, you don’t need to apologize. We started it. I should apologize to you too,” Amanda waved her hand, remembering the last time they met. She blushed. He had held her hand that day, and they talked so much. She felt like a lovesick girl—it was so embarrassing.

“How about we call it even?” Luca offered his hand with a smile.

“Alright, classmate Ryan!” Amanda laughed and shook his hand.

“What are you two doing?” Rachel and Lindsay Lohan walked into the dining area after changing outfits.

“We had a misunderstanding last time, so we’re reintroducing ourselves,” Amanda explained with a smile.

“Reintroducing yourselves?” Lindsay Lohan raised her thin eyebrows, “Luca, are you trying to scam Amanda again? A new scheme?”

Luca glanced at her, tempted to knock some sense into her. But since they didn’t know each other well, he held back. Should he befriend her first, then knock some sense into her later?

“What are you planning, Luca?” Lindsay asked, holding a fork in front of her chest protectively, her expression showing a bit of fear because Luca’s gaze had suddenly turned scary—like a wolf’s.

“Haha, don’t be silly, Lindsay. Let’s eat!” Rachel laughed. Among the four lead actors in the crew, she was the oldest, eight years older than Lindsay, so she got along well with everyone.

“Fine,” Lindsay put down her fork, speared a green bean, and glanced at Luca before biting it in half with a crunch.

Luca smiled, picked up a plump chicken leg, and bit down, breaking the bone with a snap.

“...” Lindsay quickly lowered her head, thinking to herself, Too fierce—don’t mess with him.

Rachel noticed the scene and smiled softly. “Luca, Ryan said you bought an estate in Malibu. Is that true?”

“Estate?”

“Really?” Amanda and Lindsay both stopped to look at him.

“Yes, but it’s just a villa. It’s much smaller than the surrounding estates,” Luca replied.

“A villa is still impressive. I heard property there starts at five million dollars,” Amanda said enviously.

It was well known that houses in Malibu were expensive. Many big-name celebrities and wealthy Jewish families owned property there. But when she thought about him being a supermodel, and his sister being a famous writer, she wasn’t too surprised.

“I bought it on a payment plan, so the pressure isn’t too bad,” Luca said.

“That’s still great. When I become a big star, I’ll buy a house in Los Angeles too. I want to live in Beverly Hills—that’s where the real stars live. Malibu’s more for old men,” Lindsay said, casting a teasing glance at someone.

Luca smiled lightly. “You’re not wrong. Malibu has a population of just over ten thousand, so it’s pretty quiet. But the scenery is great, and it’s close to Zuma Beach.”

“Wow, that sounds amazing! I love the beach,” Amanda said.

“When we wrap up filming, I’ll invite everyone over for a party. How does that sound?”

“Sounds great!” Amanda and Lindsay agreed enthusiastically.

“It’s settled then!”

“Scene 6, Take 1, Action!” the director called.

After finishing the restaurant scene, the crew moved to a classroom to film scenes between Katie and Aaron.

“Hi, can I borrow a pen?” Luca asked, turning to Lindsay after rummaging through his bag.

This was the scene where their characters meet for the first time.

The female lead, Katie, sees that the male lead is handsome and has a melancholic look, and instantly falls for him.

So, Luca tilted his chin up, showing off his perfectly chiseled profile.

“Luca really suits the role of Aaron,” said Mark, the director, watching the monitor.

“Yes, but the only downside is that he’s almost too good-looking—he looks more like a movie star than a student,” joked Tina Fey, the screenwriter.

“That’s okay. If the male lead is more striking, it gives the female leads more reason to fight over him,” Mark replied.

“True!”

“Cut! That’s a wrap for this one. On to the next scene!”

The classroom scenes were very fragmented, with Luca often just needing to show up, say a couple of lines, and move on. In one afternoon, they shot four scenes, and he changed outfits four times.

The last scene was the one he auditioned for.

“Hey Aaron, I didn’t understand this problem. Can you help me with it?” Katie, the female lead, likes Aaron and tries to flirt with him in various ways. Though she’s a math genius, she pretends not to understand the problem so Aaron will explain it. Aaron, who isn’t good at math, pretends to know it all to impress her.

“No problem!” Luca turned around, smiling confidently. “See, this is factorial. Each one multiplies by another ‘N.’”

“And the sum is the same?” Lindsay, playing the role of Katie, looked at his face with admiration.

“Yes, the same.”

“Thanks, I get it now,” Lindsay said with a smile.

“Cut!”

Director Mark reviewed the footage. “Luca, at this stage, Aaron already knows Katie likes him, and he also likes her. So you need to be a bit more enthusiastic.”

“Got it!” Luca nodded.

“Luca, you messed up five times today. I only messed up four. Do you know what that means?” Lindsay teased, holding up her fingers.

“You’re trying to say I’m not as good an actor as you?” Luca quipped.

“Well, you said it, not me!” Lindsay grinned.

Luca smirked. Lindsay Lohan was one of those naturally gifted actresses—great looks, effortless acting talent, and every character she played was lovable.

He couldn’t help but admit she was better than him at the moment. But who knows about the future? He thought to himself, She’s not good at managing her career. This movie might be her peak.

Should he help her out?

Luca stared at her, pondering.

“Creep! Why are you staring at me?” she snapped.

Never mind. She doesn’t need help.

“Scene 10, Take 5, Action!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 184: The Murder Case*

"How was filming today?"

"Not bad, it went pretty smoothly."

In the afternoon, a bright yellow taxi slowly drove along Wilshire Boulevard towards Beverly Hills.

In the back seat, Luca sat with his legs crossed, making a phone call.

"Has the preliminary results for the POLO competition come out?"

"They have. Out of the four series, three made it through," Kate replied with a smile.

"Wow, three out of four, that's a pretty good result. Which one got eliminated?"

"The black-and-white series."

"Why? That series was very creative."

"Yeah, but it was accused of racial discrimination."

"What?"

Luca was stunned, completely taken aback that a clothing design could be accused of racial discrimination. He shook his head and laughed, "Maybe you guys should add some white to the black areas, and some black to the white areas, like the yin-yang symbol in Chinese culture."

"No, the black-and-white series was inspired by whales. Changing it would lose the original intention of the design."

"Okay then," Luca replied, not knowing much about design and dropping the idea.

"When are you coming over, Kate? I was thinking of inviting some friends from the crew for a party at my place, but it doesn't seem worth it without you guys."

"Britney is in LA, right? Don’t tell me you haven’t brought her over to your place yet. You could ask her to help entertain your friends," Kate teased.

Luca chuckled lightly.

"She’s been over a few times, but she's busy with rehearsals, so no time for a party. Besides, I don't want to upset Lima."

"Alright, I see you're in a bit of a dilemma," Kate joked again before continuing. "It'll probably be two or three weeks before we come over. If we make it to the finals, it might be even later."

"Should I hope you guys get here sooner or later then?"

"Definitely later! If we reach the finals, we’ll have a good chance to become real fashion designers and join the New York Designers Association. Then we can throw a big party at our new house!"

"Sounds great," Luca chuckled.

"But we don’t have a big chance. Vogue is a partner for the competition, and Anna Wintour is one of the four judges for the finals. The magazine is closely following the progress of the competition. If we win, it would be pretty awkward for Vogue, so our chances are slim."

"I heard Anna is part of the club too. Maybe we could find someone to smooth things over."

"That won’t help. The club is just a loose organization that only bands together on women's rights issues. On everything else, there are major differences. Nina and I have already tried talking to people, but it didn’t work. I'm just a writer for now and can't match her influence as the Queen of Fashion. She wants us to surrender, not negotiate."

Kate’s voice was calm and cold, but there was a strong sense of determination beneath her tone.

Luca smiled, "If that’s the case, there’s no need to negotiate. We can just wait for her to come to us."

"Dear, I love hearing you say that."

"Yes, we’re always together."

Luca smiled softly and hung up the phone. After a moment of thought, he called Lima. She had recently picked up a few more ads and was balancing work with school, making her even busier than Kate.

"Sir, we're at Canon Gardens. The fare is $68," the black driver reminded him.

"Keep the change!"

Luca stepped out of the car and walked south along Beverly Gardens. As he walked, he took in the surroundings, blending in with tourists thanks to the makeup Tony had applied.

Beverly Hills is a famous landmark in Los Angeles, with lush scenery in the summer. On its 6 square miles of land, there are more than 3,300 rare trees and 14 parks, earning it the title of "Tree City USA."

After walking over 500 meters, Luca reached the Beverly Hills mansion area. In a more prominent location, there stood a grand estate—Britney Beverly Hills mansion.

As Luca approached the estate, he noticed three tourists who looked like paparazzi hanging out on the street. They had cameras slung around their necks, smoking and chatting.

"I heard Luca is in LA."

"This time, we’ve got to catch a picture of him staying overnight at Britney place."

"Yeah, that would be big news."

While they were talking, they suddenly noticed someone standing beside them. The three men turned to see a man wearing glasses, sporting a scruffy beard, and looking pale, seemingly in his mid-thirties.

"Hey, I’m Lucas, an entertainment reporter from the New York Times. Mind if I join you guys?"

Luca flashed a press pass. He had done some promo work for Twilight before, writing over a hundred well-reviewed articles, and had casually picked up a press pass as a freelance critic.

"Are you new to entertainment reporting?" one of the skinny paparazzi asked.

"Yeah," Luca said, stroking his beard as he looked at the estate across the street. Behind a large lawn and a tall wall of trees, the house was hidden from view, providing excellent privacy.

"Do you guys stake out here every day?"

"Of course not. We only came because we heard Luca is in LA. Isn’t that why you’re here too?" another paparazzo wearing a hat said.

"Of course," Luca replied with a smirk. "But what can you even get from just waiting outside? Why not take a risk and sneak in for some real shots?"

"Sneak in?"

The three paparazzi looked at him as if he were crazy.

"Trespassing is illegal, you know that, right?"

"There are bodyguards in the yard. You could get killed."

"Yeah, and there are like seven or eight guard dogs in there too!"

Luca shook his head and sighed. "I know it’s dangerous, but Franklin once said that the secrets to getting rich are all written in the American criminal code. How can you make money if you don’t take any risks?"

"Good point!"

"That’s crap. If you’ve got the guts, go in yourself!"

"Yeah, talk is cheap," they goaded.

"Fine, I’ll go!"

Luca scoffed and strode confidently across the street.

"Wow, he’s walking with such determination, like a hero going to his death!"

The skinny paparazzo watched in awe.

"He’s just acting tough. I bet he won’t actually go in. Ten bucks says he won’t do it," the guy with the hat said.

"Look at him. Maybe he will..."

"Then let’s bet!"

"No betting... wait, I’m in!" the skinny one suddenly said excitedly.

"F***, does he have a death wish?" Hat guy's eyes widened as they watched the man push open the side gate and boldly walk in.

"Is this for real? Did he really go in?"

"New York paparazzi are hardcore!"

The three of them were in awe but couldn’t resist following him. They had only taken a few steps when suddenly a fierce barking erupted from inside the estate.

"Woof, woof, woof! Awooo!"

"Ahhh! Help! Help! Help!"

A man's voice screamed in agony, crying out for help.

The three paparazzi were startled, their footsteps halting as they nervously backed away, their faces twitching in shock.

"Should... should we call the cops?"

"What good would that do? He trespassed. Even if the bodyguards shoot him, he’d have it coming."

"I thought he’d be an amazing paparazzo. Didn’t expect him to meet his end here. Tragic."

"Ha, New York paparazzi are just dumb."

Inside the estate, Britney had rushed out after hearing the screams outside the mansion. She was shocked but quickly calmed down when she saw Luca on the lawn, playing with the dogs.

"Haha, it’s nothing," Luca said, tossing some pieces of raw meat he had gotten from a bodyguard to the dogs.

Once the dogs quieted down, he walked over and explained.

"Hahaha, you’re messing with the paparazzi outside?"

Britney laughed heartily.

Luca shrugged. "Just a joke. Wonder if they fell for it."

"I’ve got an idea," Brittany's eyes gleamed mischievously, her lips curling into a wicked grin.

"What? Don’t do anything crazy," Luca cautioned.

"Don’t worry about it. Now go take off that ugly makeup. You’re not kissing me with that face," she said, waving him off and heading eagerly into the kitchen.

"Mary, bring me some blood!"

Luca shook his head, hoping things wouldn’t go too far.

"Hey, look! The estate's gates are opening!"

Outside, the skinny paparazzo shouted.

Hat guy put down his phone and looked at the gates, where a white Mercedes van was slowly pulling out.

"That’s Britney assistant Felicia's car. Is Felicia heading home?"

"Wait, look closely. There’s blood on the trunk, and it’s dripping!"

"What the f***!"

The three of them stood there, dumbfounded. "Are they transporting a corpse? Isn't this a bit too intense?"

The car left the villa and sped off into the distance, leaving a few visible drops of blood on the street.

The paparazzo wearing a hat hurried over, dipped his finger in the bloodstains, and brought it to his nose for a sniff.

"Well?" the skinny paparazzo asked.

The one with the hat frowned, hesitated, and then bravely licked his fingertip. "Ptoo! Ptoo!"

"What happened?" the other asked.

"F**k... it's just ketchup!"

"Huh?"

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 185: An Impure Friendship*

“Hahaha~”

Inside the villa, Britney looked at the surveillance outside and chuckled softly.

Luca shook his head; Britney was more playful than he was.

After turning off the surveillance, the two of them headed to the dining room together.

As dusk settled, the dining room was brightly lit.

Britney’s dining room had a cozy atmosphere, with a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling and a U-shaped sofa wrapped around an oval dining table.

The table was set for dinner, with a rich spread: grilled lamb chops, creamy mushrooms, ham with green beans, fried onion rings, and fruit pastries, filling the room with a delicious aroma.

“What a feast!” Luca exclaimed.

“Thanks, I made all of this. Try it and tell me what you think,” Britney said, smiling and pulling him down by the arm to sit.

“You made this?” Luca asked in surprise. Looking closely, the ham was unevenly sliced, and the onion rings were burnt, typical of a beginner’s attempt.

“Yeah, it’s my first time. Give me some feedback!” Britney rested her chin in her hands, watching his every move.

Luca took a bite of the green beans. They were a bit salty, and the lamb chops were overcooked—flaws were obvious. But considering these dishes were made by Britney, even if she had just placed raw ingredients on the table, it would still count as a gourmet meal.

“How is it?” Britney asked nervously.

Luca pressed his lips together and said seriously, “I don’t believe it. These dishes are so perfect in color, aroma, and taste—better than anything a Michelin chef could make. How could you have cooked them?”

Britney laughed happily and extended her right hand, showing a white band-aid on her finger. “I really did! See, I even cut my finger.”

Luca paused, feeling a lump in his throat. His emotions became complicated. They had agreed to just be friends, but now, how could they keep things casual?

“Britney, you didn’t have to do all this,” he said, holding her finger and gently kissing it.

“You cook for me all the time. What’s wrong with me cooking for you once?” Britney smiled as she replied.

Luca shook his head and quietly cut into his lamb chop.

“Britney, we’re still just good friends, right?” he asked.

“Yes!” Britney blinked.

“We’re just friends, right?” Luca repeated.

Britney raised an eyebrow. “What are you trying to say?”

“You’re too good to me, and it’s making me feel pressured,” Luca said earnestly.

“I’m too good to you? Am I better to you than you are to me? If I don’t feel pressured, why should you?” Britney asked with a teasing smile.

Luca thought for a moment. “I’m afraid our friendship isn’t so pure anymore.”

“You’re afraid you’ll fall in love with me?” Britney asked.

“Your charm is impossible to resist,” Luca admitted.

“Why resist? Would falling in love with me be so bad?” Britney stared deeply into his eyes.

Luca hesitated, unsure of what to say, so he buried his head in his food. Though the dishes weren’t great, he finished them all.

“Did you really enjoy it? If you did, I’ll cook for you more often,” Britney said happily. Seeing him finish the food she made gave her the same sense of accomplishment as her songs topping the charts. She liked this feeling.

Luca forced a smile. “Britney, please don’t cook anymore. If people find out about this, your fans might just kill me.”

“I’ll protect you!” Britney patted her chest confidently.

“I’m a man. I don’t need your protection.”

“Ugh, more of that macho stuff. I despise you~” Britney said dismissively.

Luca shrugged. “Aside from being a man, what other advantages do I have as your friend?”

“How is gender an advantage?” Britney questioned.

“Of course it is—because I can easily pick you up,” Luca said with a grin, lifting her in his arms.

“Haha, stop it!” Britney giggled.

After some playful banter, they walked around the villa side by side. Though not too large, the villa was luxuriously decorated, with a music fountain, rose garden, small sports field, and home theater.

The villa was set in a high, secluded location, making it difficult for paparazzi to catch a glimpse.

“My concert is this weekend. Are you coming?” Britney asked as they sat on a garden bench, watching the sunset in the peaceful surroundings.

“I bought three tickets. I was planning to go with Kate and Lima, but they’re in New York, so I don’t know who to invite to your concert,” Luca said, gently running his fingers through her soft blonde hair.

“I can get you a seat as close to the stage as possible,” Britney offered.

“No need. I’d rather just blend in with the crowd and cheer like a normal fan,” Luca said.

“You’re my fan?” Britney smiled.

“Of course! No one loves you, your music, or your lasting legacy more than I do. I want you to be the forever-legendary Britney,” Luca said softly.

Britney tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you really my fan? Then sing one of my songs for me.”

“You really want to hear me sing?” Luca raised an eyebrow.

“Hahaha~” Britney couldn’t help but laugh, remembering the last time she heard him sing. He was completely tone-deaf, and it was hilariously bad.

“Yes, sing!” Britney insisted.

“Alright, you’re a brave girl for asking. Here goes,” Luca smiled and began belting out his favorite song, Sometimes:

“You tell me you're in love with me,

Like you can't take your pretty eyes away from me,

It's not that I don't want to stay…”

“Hahaha~” Britney laughed uncontrollably, kicking her legs as she listened to him sing.

Luca didn’t mind. After last time, his embarrassment threshold had risen dramatically.

After one verse, he even started dancing like in the music video.

“Sometimes I run,

Sometimes I hide,

Sometimes I'm scared of you…”

The music video for this song was beautiful—blue skies, green grass, and Britney in a white dress. Absolutely stunning.

The dance moves were great too. After filming Honey Dance, Luca had been practicing for Step Up, so he was familiar with the choreography.

“Wow, impressive!” Britney clapped and whistled.

“Britney, come on!” Luca said, pulling her hand.

“No way, I’ve forgotten it all!” Britney shook her head.

“No worries, I’ll teach you!”

“You’ll teach me? Haha, I helped choreograph this dance, and you’re going to teach me?” Britney laughed and crouched down.

Luca shamelessly continued, taking her hand and softly humming the song as they danced outside the garden.

“Britney, there are two police officers at the gate,” the chef and housekeeper, Mary, walked in and said.

“The police? Really?” Britney asked, surprised.

“Yes, they patrol the area regularly. Someone reported seeing blood at the gate, so they came to check it out,” the plump Mary explained.

“Go tell them everything’s fine,” Britney instructed.

“Got it!” Mary left, and the two of them went to the surveillance room and turned on the monitor. They saw Mary leading the two officers out of the villa.

Once they left, a swarm of reporters surrounded them, eagerly asking questions.

The police said a few words, wiped away some tomato sauce, and drove off.

Soon, the reporters left too, and peace returned to the villa entrance.

“Feel better now?” Britney smiled.

Luca shook his head. “This will definitely make the news tomorrow. The headline will be something like, ‘Blood Stains Found Outside Britney’s Villa—Possible Murder Scene!’”

“This is showbiz. What’s wrong with a little extra news?” Britney said nonchalantly.

“The celebrity effect can be overwhelming. You should let your publicist know, just in case. Better to stay ahead of the story,” Luca suggested.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you,” Britney said.

After making the call, she looked a bit upset.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“My manager yelled at me for goofing off. Now I have to practice an extra hour tomorrow,” Britney pouted.

“You do goof off a lot.”

“Jerk! It’s your fault, and you’re laughing at me?” Britney pounced on his back, hugging his head tightly.

“Haha, I’m sorry! Don’t bite!” Luca laughed, carrying her back inside the villa. The day was ending, and it was time to rest.

(End of chapter)