171-175

Chapter 171: Aniston's Curiosity

"Let's sit here!"

It was just past 7 p.m., and after finishing their ad shoot, Luca and Aniston arrived at the café beneath the Koch Building.

After the two of them sat down, Aniston’s assistant, Vina, left the booth.

Now, only the two of them remained.

"Jen, here’s the script. Take a look!"

Luca handed Aniston a folder containing the script for The Blind Side.

"Thanks!"

Aniston opened the script and began reading it carefully.

Luca sat quietly across from her, not saying much. Occasionally, when he heard a soft chuckle from her, he would glance up and see Aniston smiling, clearly moved by the story.

The Blind Side tells the story of a young Black boy who becomes a football star with the help of a white family. It’s a feel-good, inspirational movie.

Unlike many other films with a similar tone, The Blind Side is interwoven with everyday life scenes and filled with humorous moments, making the audience both laugh and feel deeply touched.

"Mrs. Tuohy's husband is quite the character, and the two kids are also very interesting. The characters are well-rounded," Aniston commented as she read.

"Yes, it’s a white, upper-class family: a big house, loving parents, a well-behaved and beautiful daughter, and a cute, sensible son. It’s the kind of family everyone dreams of."

The protagonist, on the other hand, is a Black child who never knew his father, and his mother is a troubled woman with addiction issues. He has over a dozen siblings, but he’s never met any of them.

The intention behind this setup is to contrast the two families.

"Do you think there’s really a family like this in the world?" Aniston asked.

"Of course, the world is vast, and anything is possible," Luca replied with a smirk.

"So, you don’t believe it either, do you? I don’t believe it myself," Aniston said with a slight shrug. "In reality, can a family really be that perfect? Mrs. Tuohy is so strong-willed, wouldn’t her husband cheat? And Collins is so pretty, would she not date someone in school? And with all that money, wouldn’t they ever face investment failures?"

"Well, it’s a script, after all, Ms. Aniston," Luca reminded her.

"Haha, I’m just talking. All the families I know that are considered ‘white elite’ are perfect on the surface but actually filled with problems. I’m the same. The Tuohy family, though... it's quite enviable."

Aniston sighed softly.

Luca nodded slightly, choosing not to continue the conversation.

According to the news, Aniston’s parents divorced when she was young, and she lived with her mother. Before making it big, she worked as a waitress, saleswoman, assistant, and more, living a fairly average life.

Once she became famous and wealthy, she married Brad Pitt.

Two big celebrities, it seemed like a fairytale.

But Brad Pitt had constant negative press, including reports of marijuana use, heavy drinking, promiscuity, and emotional issues.

Clearly, Brad Pitt wasn’t as perfect as "Mr. Tuohy."

"This is a fantastic script," Aniston finally said after finishing. "Nia told me you were an Oscar-level screenwriter, and she was right."

"As long as you like it. I wrote it with you in mind," Luca said, not being modest, knowing the script was excellent.

"Thank you! I love it. It touches on race, humanity, society, family, and sports—all hot topics. I really like this script. So, let’s talk about the collaboration."

"Wait a minute!" Luca gestured toward the script. "Jen, there are a few issues with the script that I should mention."

"What issues?"

"First, I’m not very familiar with American football, so for the game scenes, we’ll need to consult an expert. Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone like that."

"Really?" Aniston raised her eyebrows with a smile. "You hid it well, I didn’t even notice. But that’s a minor problem."

"The second issue is that we haven’t received authorization from Michael or Mrs. Tuohy yet."

"That’s also a minor issue. I can have my legal team handle it. Anything else?"

Luca paused. "Nothing for now."

"Okay! So, can we discuss the collaboration now?"

"Sure!"

The main part of their discussion involved the transfer of the script’s rights. Aniston wanted to acquire the script outright.

Luca didn’t mind, but when it came to the transfer fee, they hit a snag.

Aniston, not short on cash, offered $500,000 for the script.

But Luca didn’t want the money. He wanted to use the script to settle a favor he owed someone.

Aniston, however, insisted.

In the end, they compromised.

Luca accepted a $200,000 transfer fee, and he agreed to serve as the executive screenwriter for the project.

"You’re quite the stubborn one," Aniston teased, waving a small silver spoon.

"Why?" Luca chuckled.

"I’ve already told you the reason I picked you for this endorsement is because you’re perfect for it, not because of me, and yet you keep going on about it," Aniston said, sounding annoyed.

"I wasn’t arguing. I’m a new screenwriter, and you’re the esteemed Ms. Aniston. The fact that you like my script is the highest form of praise. That recognition is more exciting than any amount of money. If I could, I’d trade this script for your autograph."

"Really?"

Aniston grabbed a pen and signed her name on a napkin. "Here, it’s yours. No more transfer fee."

"Thank you, Jen! I’m so grateful. I’ll treasure this, and looking at your signature every day will keep me motivated."

Luca carefully folded the napkin and placed it in his wallet.

"Haha, you’re such a charmer. If you weren’t so young, I’d think you were trying to flirt with me."

"I’m not that young," Luca countered.

"I know," Aniston replied with a wink, laughing softly.

Luca was a bit speechless. Aunt Rachel probably remembered the embarrassing moment he had the last time.

"Jen, I was talking about age. Many people say I’m like a 40 or 50-year-old man," Luca said seriously.

"I was talking about age, too. What did you think I was talking about?"

Aniston smirked, giving him a mock serious look.

"Uh..."

Luca felt a little awkward.

"Haha!"

Aniston chuckled. "Luca, I’ve been curious about something for a while. Can I ask you?"

"What is it?"

Luca looked puzzled.

Aniston brushed her hair back and slightly lowered her head. "Luca, do you have any... health issues?"

"Yes, I once fractured my spine, but I’m fully recovered now."

"That’s not what I meant."

Aniston rolled her eyes and pointed to his stomach. "Do you have any issues with your... prostate? Otherwise, how could that have happened so suddenly? Ahem. If it’s too personal, you don’t have to answer."

Luca’s mouth twitched. This question was a bit over the line.

"Jen, I’m fine. It... it’s fine."

"Then what about last time?" Aniston asked, making a small gesture with her hands.

"Last time... It probably had too much to drink. Yes, that must have been it. You saw that glass of champagne."

"Haha!"

"Listen! Jen is laughing again."

In the booth next to them, one of Aniston’s assistants was speaking with another.

"Jen has been down lately because of the gossip surrounding Pitt, but she’s already laughed over ten times today with Luca. She’s even laughed so much that her makeup is smudged," one young assistant remarked with a smile.

"Mmm-hmm," Vina responded, flipping through her schedule.

"Vina, rumor has it that Luca knows how to charm women. Do you think Jen..."

"Shut up!" Vina cut her off coldly. "Did you forget what I taught you? As an assistant, keep your curiosity in check, your mouth shut, and your focus on work."

"I know, but isn’t Jen’s mood part of our job too?"

"Yes, and as long as you know that, it’s fine. Just don’t talk about it with anyone else, especially about Mr. Pitt. Last time, someone said something about him to Jen, and she was really upset. I hope it wasn’t you."

"Of course not! I’m Jen’s assistant."

"Good. As long as you understand," Vina said, turning back to her work.

In her notebook was a diagram of Aniston’s personal relationships, with many names listed—Luca’s among them. Initially, his label was "friend -," but it had now been updated to "friend +."

This change meant the team would pay more attention to him going forward.

After making this note, she glanced at the time. It was past 9 p.m.—time for a break. Should she remind them?

"Luca, it’s settled then. See you on set!"

"Okay, Jen, see you on set!"

Hearing the farewell behind her, Vina quickly stood up and left the booth.

*Chapter 172: It Has to Be Big*

"Goodbye, Jen!"

At the café entrance, Luca waved as he said goodbye to Jennifer Aniston and her crew. He grabbed his car keys, ready to leave, but suddenly remembered he had forgotten something.

Right, Tony!

He took out his phone and called Tony, but after two tries with no answer, he had no choice but to go back into the café. Tony hadn’t left early, so he should still be there.

After circling the café and not seeing him, Luca pulled out his phone to call again. Just then, he heard a phone ringing nearby. Following the sound, he found Tony passed out, snoring on the couch.

Looking at this sight, and then thinking of Aniston’s well-trained assistants, Luca finally understood the meaning of professionalism—and how some people just don’t measure up.

"Hey! Wake up!"

Luca held back his frustration and gently tapped Tony a few times.

"Come on, babe, let me sleep a bit longer," Tony mumbled, waving his hand as he turned over to continue sleeping.

"Babe?" Luca was livid. He was this close to taking off his size 10 shoes and slapping Tony with them.

Smack! Smack!

He slapped Tony a little harder. "Tony, wake up!"

"I said, leave me alone! These last few days working with that damn slave driver, I’m exhausted!" Tony shouted, sitting up abruptly. When he saw Luca, he froze. "Uh... Luca? What are you doing in my house?"

"What do you think?!" Luca, his face dark with annoyance, snorted and turned to leave.

"Ah, haha! Luca, I forgot we were still in the café. I thought I was at home!" Tony quickly followed, trying to explain.

Luca glanced at him. Tony looked pale, skinny, and overly delicate. He was about to scold him but decided against it. They’d been shooting commercials non-stop lately. Luca wasn’t the only one exhausted; Tony had been running around just as much.

"Hang in there for two more days. Once we finish this ad shoot, you can take a couple of days off," Luca said, patting his shoulder.

"A couple of days off? Don’t we have to head to L.A. to film right after? Where’s the time to rest?"

"Los Angeles is a tourist city. Going there is like a vacation. A vacation is rest, isn’t it?"

"..."

Tony rolled his eyes. Typical slave driver.

"Stop dawdling. Get in the car!"

"On it!"

Once Tony was in the car, Luca revved the engine and merged into the traffic, becoming a streak of light on the city’s night streets.

After three more days of shooting, Luca finally finished his ad commitments for the year. But there was no time to rest. Lima had completed her tasks and returned to New York. Luca needed to be well-rested to pick her up, or face her wrath.

On Saturday at noon, Luca drove to JFK Airport, waiting at the exit. The summer airport was busy, with a constant stream of people and cars. Luca sent a text, then stood in the passenger lane, looking towards the exit in the distance.

"Hey, move your car up a bit!"

A blue Maserati convertible pulled up, and the driver leaned out, shouting, "Can I park my car in front of yours?"

"Why?"

Luca asked, puzzled. "What difference does it make where you park?"

"Of course it matters! Your ugly car is so tall, it’ll block my Maserati. When my girlfriend comes out, she won’t be able to see it!"

The driver was a white guy in his twenties, a bit chubby, dressed in an expensive white suit. He was sweating profusely, clearly not in great health. Yet, there was a bouquet of red roses on his back seat, signaling his intention to impress someone.

Luca shook his head. If you’re this weak, maybe don’t go chasing girls. Why put your body through this?

Seeing Luca shake his head, the driver pulled out a hundred-dollar bill. "One hundred bucks for your parking spot!"

Luca adjusted his baseball cap and smiled. "Do I look like someone who needs your hundred bucks?"

"Three hundred!"

The driver pulled out a few more bills and waved them around.

Luca shook his head again. "No deal."

"I’ll trade with you!" another driver nearby chimed in.

"No, I want his spot!" the Maserati driver shouted.

"I said no," Luca smirked.

"What will it take for you to agree?" the driver asked, frustrated.

Luca thought for a moment and pointed at the bouquet of roses. Lima had once mentioned she didn’t like flowers, so he hadn’t bought any for today, only bringing a cold drink. But, seeing this guy’s elaborate display, he couldn’t help but reconsider.

If this guy greeted his girlfriend with roses while Luca stood there with just a drink, even if Lima didn’t care, everyone else would think the girl with the roses was happier and luckier.

He didn’t want to shortchange Lima, even if it meant a little inconvenience for himself.

"Well, are you trading or not?" Luca asked. If not, he’d just drive off to buy a bigger bouquet and outshine the guy.

This wasn’t about being petty—it was about maintaining balance.

The Maserati driver hesitated, looking back and forth between the roses and the parking spot.

"Three... two... one..."

"Fine, we’ll trade!"

After a few moments, they swapped spots. The bright blue Maserati shone under the sun, but Luca’s larger Ford truck, parked behind it, wasn’t overshadowed.

"Hey, man, are you here to pick up your girlfriend too?" the Maserati driver asked, noticing Luca’s roses.

"Yep. Thanks for the flowers, by the way. I nearly forgot," Luca replied.

"Pfft. Flowers don’t matter. It’s the car that counts," the driver boasted, patting his car with a smug smile.

Luca nodded in agreement. After all, what’s the point of chasing girls without a nice car?

"Hey, buddy, I’m Jamie—Jamie Marzu. What’s your name?" the guy asked, striking up a conversation.

"Luca!"

Luca extended his hand for a handshake, but the other person didn’t react to hearing his name.

"Luca, what does your girlfriend do?"

Jamie Malzu leaned against the car and asked.

"Her? She doesn’t have a job, just plays video games all day," Luca said with a slight grin.

"Really?"

Jamie smirked and said, "Do you know what my girlfriend does?"

Luca gave him a look like he was talking to an idiot—how would I know what your girlfriend does when I don’t even know you?

Jamie felt a bit hurt by the look, laughed awkwardly, and said, "I’ll tell you—my girlfriend is supermodel Ambrosio."

"Ambrosio?"

Luca was surprised—it turned out they had a mutual connection. "Ambrosio is your girlfriend?"

"Ha! What, jealous?" Jamie boasted.

Luca shook his head, "Not at all. My girlfriend is also a supermodel."

"Your girlfriend is also a supermodel? You’re actually saying your girlfriend is a supermodel? Hahaha!" Jamie burst into laughter, losing his balance and falling onto the hood of his Maserati, making the car wobble.

"Haha, you? Driving this car, and you claim your girlfriend is a supermodel? Are you daydreaming?"

The others nearby laughed along with him.

Luca shrugged, not bothering to respond.

"Whoa! Look! A bunch of beautiful women are coming this way!"

Suddenly, someone shouted.

Everyone turned to the station’s exit. A group of tall women was walking over, seven or eight of them, pulling small suitcases and strutting like they were on a runway, grabbing everyone’s attention.

"Wow, they’re so elegant. I bet they’re models!"

"Look at those bodies—they’ve got to be models."

"I see Lima, Ambrosio, and Fernanda. They’re all supermodels!"

All the men in the plaza craned their necks, wide-eyed, talking excitedly.

"Haha, Ambrosio, I’m here!" Jamie straightened his white suit and blue tie, spreading his arms wide as he walked toward them from a distance.

Luca smirked, holding a bouquet of flowers, and walked toward the honey-skinned beauty in the middle.

Lima was dressed in a white camisole with a black lace top over it, paired with plain pencil pants. Her whole appearance was both sharp and sexy, with a flawless figure.

"Luca!!!"

Lima screamed, dropping her suitcase, and rushed over in her high heels.

"Haha, Lima! Welcome back!"

Luca hugged her tightly, spinning her around in a dramatic scene that could’ve been from a romance drama.

"Haha, Luca, stop it! Put me down!"

"Hold on, just a little longer!"

"Hahaha!"

Lima’s laughter and the spinning pair formed a somewhat bitter sight in the plaza.

"No way!" Jamie's eyes widened in disbelief as he saw them embrace.

It was hard to believe—a guy who couldn’t even afford to buy a single rose had a supermodel girlfriend, and it was the stunning Lima. How did he manage that? Jamie shook his head, trying to suppress his confusion, as he turned to the other beauty.

"Hey, Ambrosio, welcome home!"

"Jamie?" Ambrosio paused for a moment. "Why are you here?"

"I’m here to pick you up!"

Jamie smiled awkwardly.

"That’s not necessary. We’ve already broken up."

Ambrosio pulled her suitcase and walked forward.

"Ambrosio, let me explain. I was drunk last time and ended up in the wrong bed. I know I messed up. Please give me another chance!"

Jamie followed closely behind.

"You want me to give you another chance?"

Ambrosio glanced at him, then looked at Luca, who was holding a drink and a bouquet of bright red roses. She looked back at Jamie, standing there empty-handed.

"Is this how you’re apologizing?"

"I—" Jamie spread his hands. I was going to bring roses.

At that moment, they overheard Luca nearby saying, "Lima, I swear to God, I found these roses. Didn’t spend a penny."

Jamie winced. Damn it! Those were my flowers! I spent $180 on them. Now I regret it.

"Ambrosio, come over here. Check out my new ride—the latest Maserati. Isn’t it stunning?"

Jamie pointed proudly to his flashy Maserati.

"Hmph!"

Ambrosio glanced at it and then turned to leave. "Luca, can I get a ride?"

"No problem, Ambrosio. Hop in!"

Luca packed Lima’s luggage, then placed Ambrosio’s on the car as well.

"Ambrosio, come ride with me. I’ll take you for a spin!"

Jamie hurried over, trying to catch up.

"Go take a spin by yourself!"

Ambrosio snorted and climbed into Luca’s Ford, slamming the door shut.

"Ambrosio! Ambrosio! Let me explain!" Jamie Malzu banged on the window.

"Hey, Jamie, stop banging. You’ll break it!" Luca walked over, smiling.

"Luca!"

Jamie glared at him. "You’re that Luca who got caught with Britney in a car, aren’t you?"

"Watch what you say, or I’ll sue you for defamation!" Luca shot back, annoyed.

"You’re really Luca, but why are you driving such a beat-up car?"

Jamie asked, confused.

Luca shook his finger, "Doesn’t matter if the car’s old. What matters is size—it’s gotta be big. You get it?"

"Big?"

Jamie frowned, trying to grasp the meaning, but before he could, there was a loud roar as the old Ford, billowing black smoke, drove off from the parking lot.

"Ambrosio! Ambrosio!"

Jamie snapped back to reality, quickly jumping into his car to give chase. He was confident his Maserati could easily catch up to that old Ford.

But the car got stuck behind traffic. By the time he made it to the street, the old Ford was long gone.

"Fuck! Damn you, Luca!"

end

*Chapter 173: Which Orthopedic Hospital is Best?*

"An-An, Jamie's catching up!"

In the car, Lima glanced at the rear window and gave a heads-up.

"Ignore him!"

Ambrosio waved dismissively, annoyed. "That jerk says he's here to apologize, but he didn't even bring a single flower. With that attitude, I'll never forgive him."

"But he has a sports car. He could take you for a spin."

Lima laughed lightly from the back seat.

"After being out for a whole month, who even wants to go for a drive? He doesn’t understand girls at all."

“Hahaha~”

Lima, holding a bouquet, couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Luca shrugged. He also didn’t quite understand women. Lima once said she didn’t like flowers, but here she was, happy with them. Clearly, she liked them.

He thought about explaining things for Jamie but decided against it. Better Jamie take the fall; as long as Lima was happy, that’s what mattered.

"Stop laughing."

Ambrosio said, displeased. "Lima, you’re so smug now. Be careful, or one day Luca might run off with another woman."

"He better not, or I’ll break his legs!"

Lima replied fiercely.

"Oh really?"

Ambrosio smiled mischievously. "Luca, I heard news recently about you having a late-night date with Rachel. Care to explain that to Lima?"

"No need. Lima’s cool like that; she won’t believe those rumors."

Luca responded nonchalantly.

"Lima, you really don’t care?"

Ambrosio asked, puzzled.

Lima shrugged. "Rachel’s 35 already. If Luca’s really into her, he’s welcome to go ahead."

"Haha~ Lima, since when did you get so chill?"

"I’ve always been this way!"

Lima flipped her hair proudly.

Luca chuckled. If he hadn’t reported everything in advance, Lima would’ve probably come home today swinging a baseball bat.

"Lima, should I learn from you and forgive Jamie this time?"

Ambrosio asked.

"Up to you, but don’t forgive him so easily. I’ve got a suggestion. Want to hear it?"

"What is it?"

Ambrosio asked curiously.

"Break his legs. Every time he cheats, break one leg. If he can handle that, then maybe you can consider forgiving him."

"Uh… Isn’t that a bit extreme?"

"Yes, you have to be ruthless with cheaters. Right, Luca?"

Lima asked casually.

"That makes sense!"

Luca wiped the sweat from his forehead and sped up the car. No way he was slowing down—not with these two ruthless women plotting. In no time, they reached Tribeca.

"Luca, why are you driving so fast? Haha, no need to explain, take care of yourself~"

Ambrosio joked as she stepped out of the car.

"An-An~ these are for you!"

On the street outside the apartment, Jamie saw Ambrosio approaching and, wiping sweat from his face, hurried over with a bouquet of roses.

Ambrosio ignored him and pulled her suitcase toward the apartment.

"An-An, I know I messed up. Please forgive me this one time. I promise, I won’t cheat again."

Jamie chased her to the elevator, pleading for forgiveness.

"You really want me to forgive you?"

Ambrosio blinked, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

"Yes, yes, An-An, please give me another chance."

Jamie nodded vigorously.

"Okay, but only if you agree to one condition."

Ambrosio said coolly.

"Whatever it is, just say it! Even if it’s ten conditions, or a hundred, I’ll agree!"

Jamie slapped his chest.

"Alright, here’s my new rule: Every time you cheat, I break one leg. Cheat twice, I break both. As long as you can handle the pain, you can cheat as much as you want. Deal?"

Jamie was stunned. Was this even real?

"An-An, are you joking?"

"No, I’m dead serious."

"An-An, can we change it? Breaking legs is way too painful."

"What’s a little pain? Do you know Luca? The last time he cheated, Lima broke his back."

"Luca’s back got broken?"

Jamie froze. He remembered hearing on the news that Luca had broken his back twice. Could Lima have been responsible?

Yikes.

Lima was brutal.

Luca was even crazier. With such a fierce girlfriend, he still dared to cheat? What a wild guy.

"Think it over. Come back once you’ve made up your mind."

Ambrosio smirked and slammed the door in his face.

Jamie stood there holding the flowers, dumbfounded. Should he agree or not?

"Hey Jack, do you know which orthopedic hospital in New York is the best? What? Mount Sinai Hospital? Dr. Joel?"

"Ah~ finally home."

Back at apartment 43, Lima flopped onto the sofa as soon as she got inside, not moving an inch, like a lazy pig.

Luca set down the suitcases and placed a glass of orange juice on the small table.

"Drink something."

"Don’t want to. I just want to lie here."

Lima lazily murmured from the couch.

Luca smiled and started massaging her shoulders. To take good care of Kate, he had gone to Chinatown and learned massage techniques from a master. Now, his skills were pretty good.

"Mmm, that feels amazing. Don’t just focus on the shoulders, though—do the back, the legs, everything. This is heavenly."

Lima groaned with her eyes closed.

"Tough day at work?"

"Yeah, exhausting. We were in Detroit for a car show the last few days, standing for three days straight. My legs nearly gave out."

Lima lifted her head slightly and nestled into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist, humming contentedly.

"Lima, maybe you should stop taking such tiring gigs. I’ve got enough money to take care of you now."

Luca gently suggested.

"No way. I can make my own money. Sure, it’s tiring, but I enjoy it."

Lima smiled proudly.

Luca shook his head; he didn’t like seeing her so worn out.

"Hey, how about switching careers? You love gaming—maybe you could become a game designer. I’ve got a few ideas I could share with you."

Luca proposed.

"I couldn’t do it. Game design involves too much computer programming. Just looking at code gives me a headache."

Lima scratched her cheek.

Luca chuckled. He’d skimmed through the books she brought home about programming—he couldn’t understand them either. If he couldn’t, no way Lima could, having dropped out of high school.

"How about acting? I could find you a few good roles. You know I’ve made connections with big stars like Tom Cruise, Jennifer Aniston, and a few directors. It’d be easy to get you a role."

"Would acting be easier?"

.....

"Being an actor seems to be more tiring, and it doesn’t make much money."

"What about being a screenwriter? I can write a lot of scripts and give you the credit. In the future, I can focus on acting, Kate can be a writer, and you can be the screenwriter."

Smooch!

Before he could finish, Lima sat up and gently kissed him.

"Darling, I know you're worried about me, and that makes me really happy. But I've been a model for five and a half years now. I'm considered an experienced, elite-level model, and I’m very familiar with the industry. If I switch to a different field, I don’t feel confident that I’d do well. So right now, changing careers isn’t a wise choice."

Luca nodded, understanding her point. Although he, Kate, Lima, Bundchen, and Anan were all supermodels, there was a big difference between them.

The difference wasn’t in income but in professional experience. Kate and the others could leave the modeling industry and become modeling coaches, fitness trainers, nutritionists, agents, fashion magazine editors, or fashion designers. But Luca didn’t have those options.

"Lima, I didn’t think it through. That was my mistake."

Luca said sincerely.

"No, you weren’t wrong. You were just worried about me, and I can feel that."

Lima pressed her hand against his chest.

Luca held her hand. "But what's the point of just worrying? Bundchen and Fernanda's boyfriends can provide them with lots of opportunities, but I feel like I can't help you enough right now, and I’m really sorry."

Lima shook her head. "You’ve done plenty, honey. You know, in the past, flying around for events used to make me feel exhausted and even a little emotionally empty."

"But not anymore. Now, when I get tired, I can just call you and listen to your voice, or maybe yell at you a bit, and it makes me feel happy and energized."

"Before, I knew why I was leaving New York, but I didn’t know why I came back. Now I do. It’s because you're here, waiting for me at home."

Lima said emotionally, her face lifted toward him.

Luca stared into her eyes, leaned down, and softly kissed her red lips.

After some passionate moments, both of them lay on the carpet, exhausted.

"It used to be six or seven times, but we were short one today. Come on, tell me, did Rachel take that extra round? You jerk!"

Lima teased, biting his ear.

"Haha, don’t be ridiculous. We might’ve done it less, but the quality was better—it lasted half an hour longer than usual."

"Okay, I’ll let you off this time!"

Lima smiled and rested her face against his chest, closing her eyes again.

"Don’t fall asleep, you little lazybones. You said you were going to discuss the fashion design plans with Kate."

"Mmm... Just let me nap a little longer. It’s so comfy sleeping in your arms. I could stay like this forever."

Lima murmured lazily.

Luca smiled gently and kissed her hair.

"Sweetheart, you said we were one short. How about we make up for it?"

"No way, I’m too tired!"

"Haha, come on, don’t be shy!"

Luca suddenly pulled the blanket over their heads.

"Ahh! You jerk, stop it!"

After another playful session, they finally left the apartment around five in the afternoon and headed to 76th Street.

"Kate, we’re back!"

Luca brought Lima into the apartment.

The Polo clothing design competition was about to begin, and Lima was meeting with Kate to discuss their competition designs. If they did well, Lima could switch careers and become a fashion designer.

Kate came out of the studio, having just returned from work. She was wearing a white shirt and a gray pencil skirt, looking stylish and chic.

"I thought you two wouldn’t be up until tomorrow morning."

Kate teased as she looked at them.

"Haha, no way, Luca couldn’t handle that."

Lima said casually.

"Luca couldn’t handle it?"

Kate raised her eyebrows. "Luca, should we get you a doctor?"

"Don’t listen to her nonsense. I’m perfectly fine."

Luca said, his face dark.

"Your back isn’t fine. Your back can’t handle it. Am I wrong?"

Lima teased, despite feeling tired herself.

Kate chuckled softly and playfully slapped Lima’s butt. "Come on, little troublemaker, let’s check out our designs."

"Ugh, you’re such a tease!"

Lima rubbed her backside and followed Kate into the studio.

"This time, we have four series: the Rainbow Series, Black-and-White Series, Food Series, and the Emoji Series."

Kate pointed to several design sketches on the wall.

"What’s the Emoji Series? I haven’t heard of that."

Lima asked, puzzled.

"That one was Luca’s idea. Check out these cartoon emojis—aren’t they fun?"

Kate pulled out a stack of design drafts, showing over eighty different cartoon faces.

Originally, Luca had only drawn thirty-eight, but Kate thought they were amusing and asked him to create more.

Luca insisted that he was out of ideas, but after getting a playful beating, he managed to come up with another forty-eight to complete the emoji collection.

"Wow, these are so fun!"

Lima looked through them and praised, "These emojis look super simple, but they clearly express emotions. Luca, did you come up with all of these? How did you think of so many?"

Luca smirked. "It wasn’t much. There are already lots of simple emojis online. I just tweaked them a bit. It wasn’t that hard."

"Really? Well, your emojis are much more interesting than the ones online. Honey, you’re so smart."

Lima kissed him happily.

Luca smiled, suddenly remembering something.

"Kate, can we apply for copyright for these emojis?"

"Of course! Every design element in fashion represents a designer’s intellectual property. When we file the designs, we’ll also apply for copyright to prevent anyone from stealing them. I’ve already applied for the copyright on all four series. We’re just waiting for approval."

Kate explained.

Luca nodded, unsure if they’d get it, but figured it was worth a shot. If it worked, it could be another source of income.

"With these four series, I’m confident our designs will be selected. Well, at least one series."

Lima said confidently.

Kate shook her head, her expression gradually growing serious.

"What’s wrong?"

Lima asked, confused.

"I got some news today. Apparently, the organizers invited Anna Wintour to be a judge. Our chances just dropped."

"Anna?"

Lima suddenly remembered. There had been rumors that Kate offended Anna during a magazine cover shoot in March, and they hadn’t worked together since.

In the past few months, Kate had become a supermodel-turned-author, gracing the covers of ELLE, Rolling Stone, i-D, and other magazines, but VOGUE had been completely silent, not even mentioning her name. It was practically a ban.

Now, with Kate entering this competition, and Anna as a judge, the outcome seemed predictable.

"Lima, I’ve been thinking, and there’s only one solution."

Kate crossed her arms and thoughtfully tapped her chin.

"What’s that?"

"This time, you should be the lead designer."

"Kate, there’s no need for that. There are more judges than just Anna. Can she really sway everyone?"

Lima tried to reassure her.

Kate shook her head. "Luca, what do you think?"

Luca thought for a moment. "There are three rounds, right? I heard most of the participants are professional designers, so getting to the final round will be tough. Worrying about this now doesn’t help. Let’s focus on making it to the last round first."

"Luca’s right, Kate. Let’s focus on doing our best now. If our work is good enough, it won’t go unnoticed."

"Alright, let’s get through the preliminary round first."

Kate nodded slightly.

In the studio, Kate and Lima got down to work, fully absorbed in their designs.

Luca poured them each a cup of coffee and quietly went up to the bedroom. There were still two chapters of Eclipse left to write, and he had to finish before Monday.

Meeting Polly was about to start filming.

The next day, after finishing the third part of Eclipse, Han Li came over with a new contract. The first Twilight book had become a huge success, and the new contract terms were more favorable than the original one for a newcomer.

"Kate, Twilight has just been fully released in Brazil, and it’s doing really well."

Sitting on the couch, Han Li flipped through the manuscript for the second book, New Moon, as she spoke.

"Oh, how many copies have sold?"

Kate asked curiously.

"It’s sold 1.68 million copies in two months across the English, Portuguese, and French versions."

"That doesn’t sound like much."

Luca remarked, noting that Brazil’s sales seemed small compared to a single U.S. state.

"That’s already a lot. The market in Brazil just isn’t as enthusiastic about books."

Kate smiled lightly.

Han Li nodded. "Even though it’s just 1.68 million, it’s topped the Brazilian bestseller list."

"That’s great! Twilight has never hit number one on The New York Times bestseller list."

At this point, the Twilight hype had

Han Li nodded, "Even though it was only 1.68 million copies, it still topped the bestseller list in Brazil."

"Haha, that's not bad. Twilight never managed to reach number one on the New York Times Bestseller list."

Now that the hype for Twilight has died down, it’s barely holding onto a spot in the top twenty of the New York Times Bestseller list.

"Yeah," Han Li smiled. "Kate, are you planning to return to Brazil this year? Maybe hosting a few book signings would boost your sales even more."

Kate thought for a moment. "Luca, do you want to go back to Brazil?"

"I'm fine with whatever you decide!"

"Alright, if we have time, let’s go back to Brazil around Christmas," Kate said, patting her knee.

"Kate, are you heading back to Brazil? I’m planning to go back and visit too," Lima said as she came out of the studio.

"Haha, sounds good! Let’s go together!"

After finishing Eclipse, Luca had a few days to relax. He joined Kate and Lima at a few fashion shows, cocktail parties, and even went shopping with them a couple of times.

On the third day, he boarded a flight to Los Angeles.

He had already purchased a new villa in Malibu, just north of Los Angeles, not far from Zuma Beach—one of the top ten golden beaches in the area. He wanted to check it out.

*Chapter 174: Annoying Kids*

“Luca, pass the ball!”

“OK! Here it comes!”

It was summer at Zuma Beach in Malibu, Southern California, with the sun shining brightly.

Under the clear blue sky and the vast expanse of ocean, golden sands stretched out, while tall coconut palms swayed their frizzy tops in the sea breeze like a group of rock stars on something.

In the afternoon, the beach was bustling. Some people were strolling, some were running into the sea, and others were sunbathing on towels.

In the middle of a flat area of the beach, eight young people were playing beach volleyball. The guys were shirtless in swim trunks, and most of the girls wore bikinis, full of youthful energy.

Among them, one guy stood out the most. He was tall and muscular, with a strong, V-shaped body that made the men envious and the women stare. His tanned, bronzed skin shimmered like metal, making him even more attractive.

“Luca, it’s up to you!”

“Got it, Todd! Watch me!”

With a shout, the strong Luca leaped into the air, swinging his right arm and hitting the volleyball with precision.

Bam!

The volleyball shot out like a cannonball, landing hard on the sand.

“Yeah!”

“We scored again!”

“Luca, you’re amazing!”

Two girls and a guy shouted excitedly.

Luca laughed loudly, raising his arm to high-five his three teammates in celebration.

“This time it was our defense that slipped up, but next time we won’t!”

“Yeah, don’t get too excited yet!”

“Luca, this time I’m keeping my eye on you.”

The four guys on the other team shouted back.

“Haha, alright, let’s keep going!”

Luca tossed the volleyball into the air and slammed it down with force.

“Ah, sneak attack! Miller, catch it!”

“Haha, got it! Way to go, Miller!”

Another round of the volleyball battle began. The two teams of eight, with four substitutes, battled on the sand for over three hours until the sun began to set. Finally, the group dragged their tired bodies off the beach.

“Hey, Luca! Come to the bar with us.”

“Yeah, Luca, your girlfriend’s not around, now’s the perfect time to cheat!”

“Come on, Luca!”

As they hit the street, the group of young people called out.

“No, I’ve got to head to a film shoot tomorrow. I need to rest. See you later!”

Luca waved and rode off on his bike.

“Luca’s such a weird guy.”

Watching him leave, a guy with messy hair said.

“What’s weird about him?”

“Well, he’s been coming to play beach volleyball every day lately, but after that, he just goes home. He doesn’t join us for anything else.”

“I know why. Luca said he got a role as a beach diver and needs to tan his skin.”

“He’s just here to get a tan? That’s such a waste! If I were him, I’d be dating the hottest girl on the beach.”

“Pfft, his girlfriend is supermodel Lima. His rumored fling is Britney. Do you really think he needs to ogle other girls?”

“It’s not just Lima and Britney, okay? There’s also Bündchen, Rachel. Wow, all the girls he dates are big stars.”

“Yeah, amazing! If I could date Britney, Rachel, Bündchen, or Lima, I wouldn’t look at anyone else either.”

“Haha, dream on. You don’t stand a chance.”

“True, Luca’s not just handsome and fit, he’s rich too. He just bought a multimillion-dollar house in Malibu.”

“Just being rich won’t get you with big stars like Britney and Rachel. They’re worth billions!”

“Then how did Luca get them?”

“Luca’s nickname is Mr. Big. Haven’t you heard? Rumor has it he’s packing half a meter.”

“Half a meter?!”

---

“Hey, Kate, just finished volleyball. I’m almost home.”

On the main road to Malibu’s 117th villa district, Luca pedaled his bike while talking on the phone.

“How’s the new house?”

Kate asked over the phone.

“Not bad, but it’s a bit big. It feels too quiet living here alone.”

Luca shrugged.

“How could it feel quiet with so many celebrities living around, and the beach so close? You could bring girls home anytime. Don’t tell me you can’t get a date.”

“Kate, stop joking. I wouldn’t just bring anyone home.”

“Haha, alright. How about this: when I’m done with things here, I’ll come keep you company.”

“Sure! Has the design competition started?”

“Yeah, the initial designs have been submitted, and the preliminaries have begun. Oh, and Luca, I called to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the copyright application for that cartoon set. Twelve of them didn’t pass review because they’re too similar to others. Only seventy-four are considered original and can apply for copyright.”

“I see. Well, seventy-four is still a lot. Leave it to you.”

“OK!”

After hanging up, Luca pedaled harder and soon entered a lush forest where a large white building appeared.

This was the new property Kate had bought, a two-story villa.

It had a large lawn, driveway, tennis court, swimming pool, gazebo, and fruit trees. The entire estate covered 0.6 acres.

The interior was 4,174 square feet, with 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, and a 2-car garage. The total value was $5.5 million.

In 2003, Malibu’s real estate hadn’t yet exploded, so a five-million-dollar villa was considered a luxury home. If it hadn’t been burned down in the fire, it would be worth over ten million in a few years.

The villa was under Luca’s name, with an initial payment of $2.2 million.

That year, Luca’s net income from ads, acting, and writing was less than two million. After buying the house, he was officially in the red.

Once again, he found himself living the busy life of paying off a mortgage.

In the garage, he hung his bike on the wall.

There were two other vehicles in the garage: a brand-new BMW X5, a gift from Kate, and a red Dodge W250, an old pickup from 1989, thrown in with the house purchase.

The truck was so old that when Luca bumped it while putting away his bike, the door fell off.

He grabbed some tools and reattached the door, making a mental note to take it to the shop for a full repair. Driving a pickup truck on the beach could be fun.

Clunk!

While fixing his old pickup truck in the garage, Luca suddenly heard the sound of glass shattering from upstairs. He immediately rushed out and saw that the decorative glass window in the storage room on the east side of the second floor had broken again.

Yes, again.

The day before yesterday, after returning from sunbathing at the beach, that same window had shattered into pieces. Thinking there was a burglar in the house, he grabbed his gun and searched twice, but found no one. Instead, in the corner of the room, he discovered two pebbles. It was clear the glass had been deliberately smashed.

Today, he finally caught them in the act.

With a wrench in hand, he bypassed the pavilion and the swimming pool, heading into a grove of trees.

It was summertime, and the forest was lush with greenery. There were a few palm trees, thick walnut trees, and dozens of neatly arranged pyramid-like pine trees inside the fence.

Amidst these trees stood a giant pear tree, towering at 124.684 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 11.2 feet, casting a vast shadow over everything. Compared to it, the surrounding trees looked like mere saplings.

Under the pear tree’s shade, two kids around six or seven years old were leaning against it, whispering while pointing at the broken window on the second floor.

“Theodore, see? I told you no one’s home. We broke his window, and no one came out.”

“There must be someone. George and I smashed that window the day before yesterday, and it’s been replaced. That means new neighbors moved in. We should leave before we get caught.”

“Scaredy-cat! What are you afraid of? We’re just kids. Even if we get caught, nothing will happen. Look at that stained glass window! It’s so pretty. How about we smash that one?”

“We’ve tried, but we can’t hit it.”

“Ha, you guys are just too weak. Watch me!”

At this point, Luca couldn’t hold back any longer. These two brats were asking for it.

“What are you two doing?!”

“Ahhh!”

The two kids turned around, screaming.

The taller one was so scared he trembled, dropping the stone in his hand.

The smaller one froze for a moment, then plopped down on the ground and started crying.

At that moment, Luca, with his messy hair, cold expression smeared with black oil, was dressed in a tank top and shorts, his muscles bulging. Even more terrifying, he was holding a large wrench, looking just like a hitman from a movie.

“Waaaah, Mommy! There’s a bad guy!”

The little boy on the ground began wiping his eyes, crying harder.

The taller one hesitated for a second, then took off, quickly scrambling through the wooden fence and disappearing in an instant.

With his friend gone, the small boy cried even louder.

Luca felt awkward.

He had only yelled once, and somehow made the kid cry. Maybe the little guy realized he was wrong and his conscience was getting to him. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to forgive him this time.

“Hey, little guy, stop crying. I’m not a bad guy!”

“Waaah, Mommy, Daddy, there’s a bad guy!”

The kid cried with his eyes shut.

Luca was helpless. He forced a smile and tried to speak gently, “Hey there, cute little guy, look at me. How could someone as good-looking as me be a bad guy?”

The kid sniffled, slowly lowered one of his hands, and cautiously opened his eyes. When he looked up, he cried out again, “Don’t eat me! I’m not tasty!”

Luca’s face darkened. Do I really look that scary? And what’s with this talk about eating people?

“Stop crying. I’ll buy you a hamburger, KFC, and ice cream.”

“Really?”

The kid immediately stopped crying, blinking as he asked.

Luca was speechless. This kid’s dad must be an Oscar winner.

“Uncle Hanks, hurry! Theodore’s been caught by the bad guy! Over there!”

Luca looked up and saw the kid who had run off earlier dragging a chubby middle-aged man to the fence. The man had messy hair, wore a T-shirt and baggy shorts, and looked like a homeless person. But this guy was none other than the world-famous actor, Tom Hanks.

“Hi, Mr. Hanks, good afternoon!”

He greeted him through the fence.

“Hi, hello!”

The celebrity blinked his small eyes and replied.

“Mr. Hanks, is this your kid?”

“Yes, it is!”

Great!

Now Luca faced a dilemma. The glass windows of his house had been smashed twice by Tom Hanks’ kid. Should he ask for compensation or not? That was the question.

*Chapter 175: Britney’s Here*

Compensation was definitely required—Tom Hanks said so. However, it wasn't him who would be paying; instead, it would be deducted from the little guy's allowance.

The two custom-made glass pieces had a wholesale price of $150, and with the labor costs, the total came to $180.

Little Theodore Hanks received a $200 monthly allowance. After deducting $180, he was left with just $20. Poor Theodore counted on his fingers, tears streaming down his face. He was heartbroken. The adults were so shameless, even taking money from a kid. The world was too cruel.

Aside from little Theodore, Mr. Hanks also shared some responsibility. As a parent, he hadn’t kept a close enough eye on things. To make amends, he invited Luca over for a beach barbecue at his house.

Luca didn’t refuse.

Upon arriving at the Hanks' home, Luca felt a little embarrassed. Earlier, he had complained over the phone that his new house was too big. But when he saw Mr. Hanks' mansion, he finally understood what a big house really was.

Luca's own mansion covered 0.6 acres, but Mr. Hanks’ place sprawled over 1.6 acres.

The Hanks' mansion was situated at the foot of Mount St. Vincent.

The property had mountains, water, woods, a sports field, a stable, a half-mile-long beach, and a private dock—something that would make anyone envious.

The mansion was sold five years ago for $18 million. Now, it was worth over $20 million, a figure Luca could only dream about for the time being.

The barbecue was held on the beach, with the sunset, ocean, sand, pier, and children running around.

The party was lively. Besides Luca, everyone else was a member of the Hanks family, including Mr. Hanks’ wife, Rita Wilson, their son and daughter, and some cousins.

There was singing, dancing, and chatting. At one point, Luca showed off some fancy soccer moves, earning a round of applause.

Around six in the evening, after the beach barbecue, Luca was ready to leave.

“Hey, big guy! You’re not leaving!”

Mr. Hanks’ youngest son, Theodore, stopped him.

“Haha, Theodore, what’s up?” Luca crouched down and asked.

Next to him, the middle-aged Mr. Hanks chuckled.

“You said you were going to buy me a Baskin-Robbins ice cream. You’re an adult, and adults can’t go back on their word.”

The little guy spoke seriously.

Luca smirked. What he had actually promised was an ice cream, but he never specified Baskin-Robbins. A regular ice cream costs a few cents, but Baskin-Robbins ice cream was $20. This kid was sharp.

“Alright, but before you get your ice cream, you need to answer a question.”

“What is it?” Theodore blinked.

Luca pointed to his face and smiled. “Theodore, take a good look at me and tell me again—do I look like a bad guy?”

“You still do!” the little guy firmly nodded.

“Haha!”

Mr. Hanks couldn’t help but laugh. “Theodore, this is Mr. Kelly, our new neighbor. He used to be a soccer player, a really good one. You saw it earlier, didn’t you?”

“Well, Mr. Kelly, in honor of your soccer skills, I’ll consider you a good guy for now. If you can teach me how to kick the ball high and catch it again, I’ll consider you a real good guy.”

“Hahaha!”

Everyone laughed at Theodore’s negotiating.

“Alright, little guy. When you have time, you can come find me. I’ll show you how to kick the ball high.”

“Is that a promise?”

The little guy extended his tiny fist.

“Haha, yes, it is!”

Luca bumped fists with him, ruffled his curly hair, and then said his goodbyes, leaving the Hanks’ mansion.

He had walked over with Mr. Hanks.

Their homes were less than a mile apart, both in the 117 Villa District. They were the closest neighbors, though other big-name stars like Spielberg, Angelina Jolie, and Julia Roberts lived nearby too. Some of them, however, only bought houses for investment or tax purposes, not to live in.

After a leisurely ten-minute walk, Luca arrived at the entrance of his villa. To his surprise, there was a red Ferrari parked outside, with local plates.

He walked around the car and saw a girl slumped in the seat, her face covered by a golden baseball cap, sleeping peacefully.

Golden hair, a delicate chin, luscious lips, and a voluptuous figure—there was no mistaking it.

“Britney?”

Luca was surprised.

Knock, knock~

He tapped on the car window. The girl inside stretched, her cap slipping from her face to her chest. Sure enough, it was Britney Spears.

“Hey, Luca!”

Britney rolled down the window, annoyed. “Where the heck were you? I’ve been waiting for ages.”

“Why didn’t you call me before you came?”

Luca chuckled.

“I wanted to surprise you, but you weren’t here. So I waited and fell asleep.”

Britney yawned.

“Has rehearsal been exhausting?”

Britney was preparing for her tour and had been rehearsing in LA lately.

“Of course! I’ve been rehearsing since 8 a.m. today until 4 p.m. After that, I came to find you, but you weren’t home, and I was so mad!”

“My bad. I was at Tom Hanks’ place. You really should’ve called, silly girl!”

Luca playfully pinched her nose.

“You’re a big dumb idiot!” Britney bit his finger and quickly spat it out. “Ew, why do you taste like charcoal?”

“Haha, we were just having a barbecue.”

“Really? I want some barbecue too!”

“No problem!”

Britney hadn’t eaten yet, so Luca headed into the kitchen to whip up a yogurt fruit salad, a veggie wrap, and some grilled meat.

The kitchen had all the necessary ingredients and tools, so it wasn’t difficult to prepare.

Sizzling~

On the rooftop terrace, Luca was grilling skewers of meat and onions on the electric stove, drizzling them with lemon juice. The air was soon filled with a rich aroma.

“Smells amazing!”

Britney, fresh out of the shower and wearing a white shirt with her half-dried hair, appeared on the terrace, smelling of soap.

“Try this. It’s my first time grilling. Let me know what you think.”

Luca set a plate of grilled meat on the table.

“Your first time grilling?” Britney raised an eyebrow, grabbing a skewer and taking a bite.

“Ah, it’s spicy!”

She stuck out her tongue.

“Spicy? I only used a little chili powder. Here, dip it in this blueberry sauce, and it won’t be spicy.”

“Alright, let me try. Hmm, not bad at all!”

“Then have some more. You seem to have lost some weight.”

“No, I haven’t. Feel for yourself.”

“Alright!”

“Wait, stop. Your hands are greasy!”

“Haha~”

After finishing the barbecue, they lounged on the sofa, gazing at the distant ocean. Above them, the stars were scattered across the sky. They ate grilled meat, sipped cold beer, listened to music, and shared whispered conversations.

“Luca, this place is amazing,” Britney said, resting her pale legs on the couch. “You’ve got the Santa Monica Mountains at your back, the Pacific in front, without the noise of Santa Monica or the crowds of Beverly Hills. It’s close to LA, and the scenery is beautiful everywhere. I’m thinking about buying a house here.”

Luca thought for a moment. “In recent years, the weather has been unpredictable. There are frequent fires in the Santa Monica Mountains to the north and rising tides in the Pacific to the south. The property value here doesn’t have much potential for growth.”

“I’m not buying it as an investment. I want a home.”

“Well then, this place would be perfect.”

“Alright, I’ll start looking for a real estate agent tomorrow.”

Luca smiled. He remembered seeing in the news that both Britney and Lady Gaga owned mansions in Malibu. Now Britney was here—could Gaga be far behind?

After a few beers and more conversation, Britney eventually dozed off on the couch.

Luca gently stroked her hair and carried her petite frame downstairs.

(End of Chapter)