156-160

*Chapter 156: See You in the Next Crew*

At dusk, by the lakeside, the setting sun was as red as blood. The surface of the lake shimmered with dark red waves, and even when scooping up a handful of water, it remained the same wine-like hue.

"Is it beautiful?"

On the wooden dock, Ryan Gosling asked softly.

"It's stunning!"

Luca admired, somewhat entranced.

"Then down you go!"

"What?"

Luca froze for a moment, only to feel a sudden kick on his backside. He lost his balance, flailing his arms before plunging into the lake with a splash.

"Hahaha~"

Ryan Gosling roared with laughter from the shore.

"Ryan! You damn jerk!"

Luca wiped the water from his face and shouted angrily.

"Haha, Luca, isn’t it beautiful here? You can stay in a bit longer."

Ryan flipped him off and walked away.

"What a petty guy," Luca muttered, shaking his head. All that over a few extra kisses? Fine then, next time I'll kiss her even more.

After a major shoot like this, Luca’s acting skills had improved significantly.

He used to be a C-list actor with D+ level skills, but now he’d upgraded to a solid C. In certain situations, he could even reach a B-.

With more experience under his belt, handling simpler scenes became easy.

For example, the dating scenes between Ron Hammond and Allie took him and Rachel less than five days to wrap up.

Soon, only the final scene remained.

Ron Hammond had learned about Allie and Noah’s past, so he rushed from L.A. to the small town where he confronted Allie in a hotel for their last conversation.

That afternoon, inside the dimly lit hotel room, Luca paced by the window, a cigarette slowly burning down in his hand.

Rachel sat by the bed, her eyes swollen from crying.

"OK~"

After a long silence, Luca took a deep breath but accidentally inhaled too much smoke. He coughed violently, almost straining his voice.

Outside the set, John furrowed his brow.

That cough wasn’t part of the scene when they discussed it earlier. Luca was improvising.

He glanced at the director behind the monitor.

Director Nick was stroking his beard, staring at the screen without a word.

"OK~"

Luca rubbed his nose and sighed. "Now, I have three options: first, I shoot him."

"No~"

Rachel shook her head.

"Second, I could beat him up, or third…"

Luca paused before slowly saying, "I leave you!"

"No~"

Rachel shook her head again, looking up at him, tears streaming down her face.

"But none of these options are good."

Luca took two steps forward, reaching the bedside, staring at her with eyes full of indescribable reluctance, sadness, and pain.

"Close-up!"

Director Nick called out.

The cameraman immediately zoomed in on Luca’s eyes—deep black, pure and glistening with a faint sheen.

"Those are beautiful eyes, so expressive and pure. He’s better suited for artistic films," John couldn’t help but praise.

Nick, resting his chin on his hand, gave a slight nod.

Art films test an actor's skill the most and highlight their strengths. With eyes that could "speak" and the willingness to hone his craft, Luca would surely be welcomed by directors in that genre.

"You understand, don’t you?" Luca bit his lip, suppressing a hint of bitterness. "No matter what choice I make, I can't have you, despite everything that’s happened."

He blinked, softly adding, "I still love you."

"Ah~"

Rachel covered her mouth, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Cut!"

Director Nick shook his head, a bit helpless. "You two need to hold back a bit. There's still one more scene, and you’ve already hit such an emotional high. How are we supposed to follow that? Should we rewrite the script so Ron and Allie end up together?"

Luca smirked, "Honestly, I wouldn’t mind. I think Ron and Allie are a better match. Noah could pair up with the widow Martha."

"Do you want Ryan to push you into the lake again?"

Nick asked dryly.

Rachel chuckled through her tears.

The rest of the crew chuckled softly as well.

Luca shrugged, "If it means Ron and Allie can be together, I don’t mind a few more lake dives."

"That won’t be necessary."

Nick waved his hand. "Take five minutes to adjust. Keep things toned down at first, and let the emotions build slowly. If you reach the emotional peak too soon, the following scenes will feel flat. To be a competent actor, you not only have to nail every moment but also have a sense of the bigger picture."

Luca and Rachel quietly absorbed the advice.

"OK~ let’s get ready!"

"Scene 22, take 3, shot 3, action!"

The crew resumed filming. Luca and Rachel suppressed their emotions in the beginning, trying not to make the atmosphere too heavy or oppressive.

Luca attempted to manage his emotions more carefully. Previously, he would build up all his feelings and release them all at once during a performance, leaving nothing behind.

Now, he was learning to control his emotions, allocating them more reasonably, and using them where they were most needed, with moderation and restraint.

"When I put the ring on your finger, I meant every word."

Luca spoke softly.

"So did I," Rachel replied, wiping away her tears, gesturing with her hands. "But being with Noah feels completely different from being with you."

Luca lowered his head, grinding out the cigarette stub with his toe. He sighed softly and sat down beside Rachel.

"It’s normal not to forget your first love."

He kissed her hand gently, looking at her intently. "I love you, Allie, but I want you to make your own choice. I don’t want to convince my fiancée that she has to stay with me."

"No, you don’t need to."

Rachel shook her head. "I already know I should be with you."

Luca stared at her intently, and Rachel stared back. Neither moved.

"Cut!"

Nick replayed the footage three times, then waved his hand.

"That’s a wrap!"

Phew~

Luca let out a long sigh and lay flat on the bed.

"Haha, Luca, congrats, your scenes are done!"

Rachel laughed, patting his arm.

"Thanks!"

Luca sighed, covering his forehead.

"What are you going to do now that filming’s over?"

"Emm~" Luca rubbed his temples, "I don’t want to do anything. Filming these past few days has been exhausting, like I’ve been completely drained."

Rachel chuckled softly. "This film was tough, but Mean Girls will be much easier. Next time, it’ll be more relaxed."

"Mean Girls?"

Luca raised an eyebrow. "Do we have a kiss scene in Mean Girls?"

Rachel thought for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Looks like we do! Are you scared?"

"A little."

Luca spread his hands. "There’s no lake in L.A., but I’m worried Ryan will push me off a building instead."

"Hahaha~"

"Luca, you have so much potential. I hope you value it. If you’re interested in acting, consider doing more art films. They’ll help you grow even more."

At the evening banquet in the hotel, Nick patted him on the shoulder.

Luca nodded. "Nick, thanks for the advice and for all your guidance and support. I’ve learned a lot during this time."

"No need!"

Nick waved it off. "To be honest, many times we didn’t even turn on the camera during your scenes."

Luca blinked in surprise. "So, I was just performing for nothing?"

"Oh~ I guess you were," Nick smirked and walked away.

Luca clenched his wine glass, tempted to throw it at the shameless man.

"Hey~ Luca, your flight's tomorrow morning, right?"

Ryan approached, holding a glass of wine.

"Yeah!"

"Oh~ yeah~"

Ryan sighed in relief.

"What’s with that look? Do you want me gone that badly?"

Luca asked, annoyed.

"Haha, no, no, how could I want you to leave? Haven’t we had a great time together these past few days?"

"A great time?"

Luca scoffed. This guy spent his days either flaunting his relationship or jealously watching over him and Rachel during their scenes—a real pain.

"Luca, goodbye. I’ll miss you."

Ryan grinned, giving him a shoulder hug.

"...Thanks anyway."

Luca playfully punched Ryan a few times.

Ryan grimaced as he let go.

"Luca, see you on the next set!"

Rachel also came over to give him a hug.

"See you in L.A.!"

Luca smiled gently.

"Hey~ you two, enough already! That hug lasted five seconds!"

Ryan complained.

"Ryan!"

Rachel glared at him before laughing mischievously. "Luca, how about we hug again?"

"Sure!"

"Stop!!"

Ryan shouted, dramatically raising his nose in protest.

As he was about to leave, Luca passed by the bar again.

Just like the previous nights, the bar was bustling with people—men and women entangled in the lively night.

Luca lit a cigarette, standing there quietly for a moment. When it burned down to ash, he turned and walked into the night, becoming a faint silhouette.

"Luca, wait for me!"

"Luca, wait for me!"

Tony, after bidding farewell to a chubby girl, shouted and ran after him.

"Luca, I’ve been doing pretty well lately, right? You’re not going to kick me off, are you?"

"We'll see about that!"

*Chapter 157: Back to the Film Set*

Noon, Manhattan, New York.

"How has Tony been doing recently?"

In the coffee room at Ford Models, Ed placed down two cups of coffee and asked.

Luca shrugged. "He’s better suited to be a makeup artist."

"Should we pick someone new?" Ed suggested.

"No need. I don’t have much work right now. Having an assistant who can do makeup isn’t bad," Luca said with a slight, melancholic smile.

Ed studied his face for a moment. "You've changed a lot since coming back."

"Have I?"

Luca glanced at the cigarette in his hand, biting his lip before sighing. "Maybe. Acting isn’t as fun as I thought it would be. At first, I just wanted to play around, not caring about skill, box office, or fame. But somehow, I got serious and ended up on a real acting path. Now, I’m like this."

Ed frowned. "I have a friend who’s a therapist. Should I set up an appointment?"

"No need. I just pushed too hard while acting—big highs and lows. Stopping suddenly feels strange. I’m adjusting. I’ll be fine in a couple of days."

He smiled mischievously. "Besides, don’t you think I’m more attractive like this?"

Ed scoffed. "Not really. I just think you’re being dramatic."

"Cough~" Luca choked on his cigarette and laughed. "You don’t have to say it out loud! How am I supposed to maintain my brooding mystique? Look at those girls over there—they’ve been sneaking glances at me, eyes full of stars. They’re clearly captivated by my melancholic aura, totally falling for me. I bet if I crooked my finger, I could take them out."

"Sure. And I bet Lima's got her baseball bat ready. Want to test that?"

"You!" Luca pointed at him. "How am I supposed to enjoy working with you?"

Ed shrugged, opening a folder. "Speaking of work, let’s talk about upcoming gigs. Durex wants you as their brand ambassador."

Luca blinked. "You’re taking on ads like that? You short on cash?"

Ed blinked back. "Didn’t you once say, ‘Money is everything. If the price is right, anything goes’?"

Smack.

Luca sighed. "I was young and naive back then. Thinking it over, I’m a former Brazilian national footballer, the brother of a famous author, and a future superstar. I should be more serious about my reputation."

"Yes, it's time to start caring," Ed said with a big grin, flipping a page. "In that case, I assume you won’t accept the invitation to those rich women’s parties."

"What kind of rich women are we talking about?"

"Fees range from 50k to 100k, with trips to Hawaii for three days, or the Maldives for seven."

"Forget it! My back’s still not healed. I can’t handle rich ladies."

Ed smiled again, flipping another page. "Fashion season’s coming up. There will be a lot of fashion parties. Interested?"

"Do they pay?"

"Nope."

Ed shook his head. "Fashion parties are about networking—meeting designers and execs to land new endorsements. They don’t pay; in fact, you need a PR agent to even get an invite."

"Then forget it. My goal now is to become a movie star," Luca said firmly.

"Got it!" Ed flipped another page. "Leonardo’s new film The Aviator is looking for a sixth male lead. The company can get you a second audition. Interested?"

Luca thought for a moment, then smiled. "Leonardo’s the investor, lead actor, and producer. With our relationship, can I skip to the third audition?"

"Alright, I’ll leave it at that."

Ed closed the folder. "You can take a few days off. I’ll contact you when there’s more work."

"OK!" Luca nodded. "Ed, focus future work more on films. Also, keep an eye on the indie film scene—I’m really into art films these days."

"Got it."

Leaving the office, Luca wandered aimlessly through the streets of Manhattan, taking in the sights.

It was a bright, sunny noon. Summer in Manhattan offered beautiful scenery everywhere—not to mention the lush trees and flowers in Madison Park, or the koi fish in Bryant Park. But it was the girls on the streets that caught his attention, all with long, bare legs—black, white, black-and-white, white-and-black, and some with a hint of wicked allure.

"This is outrageous," Luca muttered, casting a critical eye as he walked.

When he reached the street in front of the public library, his car was stopped. A sign was posted: "Film crew ahead, road closed for three days from 10 AM to 6 PM."

"Filming?" Luca stopped his car and, curious, walked toward the crowd, seeing people lining up.

"Hey! No cutting. Get in line!" someone grumbled at him.

Luca adjusted his glasses. "Are they filming here?"

"No, they’re casting extras. Can’t you read the sign?" A burly man said irritably.

Luca finally noticed the notice: The film crew for The Day After Tomorrow was filming and needed extras over the next few days.

"Are you signing up?" a staff member asked.

"How much does it pay?" Luca asked with interest.

"Fifty dollars a day for regular extras, 100-200 for featured extras depending on the role. After the audition, we’ll decide on payment. Want to join?"

Luca thought about it. He had nothing better to do, and earning some pocket money didn’t sound bad.

"I’ll do it."

"Are you a celebrity?" the staffer hesitated after looking him over.

Luca smiled. "Who do I look like?"

The staffer studied him but didn’t recognize him, handing him a number and an information card before walking away.

Luca shrugged. Not long ago, he thought he was pretty famous, known by everyone in America. But after spending time in L.A. and Charleston, he realized the name "Luca" barely registered with anyone. He wasn't even as well-known as assassin Irene.

Turns out, New York was no different. This made him recognize a truth: there’s a vast difference between media-hyped stars and those truly recognized by audiences.

To become a big star like Britney Spears, Tom Cruise, or Jennifer Aniston was no easy task. Luca couldn’t help but admire them. Their success wasn’t just luck or timing; it involved countless struggles, challenges, and setbacks.

Just like the emotional ups and downs he experienced after filming, those stars likely faced similar difficulties. But they overcame them.

Nobody succeeds by accident.

"It’s your turn!"

The line moved quickly, and soon it was Luca’s turn for the audition.

The staff member handed him his information card. "Why didn’t you fill this out? Hurry up."

"Thanks!"

Luca took a pen and looked at the card. "Do I need to fill this out honestly?"

"Yes, sir," the staffer said flatly.

Luca hesitated but eventually filled it out—name, SSN, occupation, acting experience, and whether he was a registered union actor, along with his registration number.

"OK!"

After handing in the card, he was brought into the audition room two minutes later. Five desks lined up in a row, with two people behind each desk. Five people auditioned at a time, and almost everyone was chosen. They were just selecting featured extras.

"You’re a union actor?" One of the interviewers frowned, looking at his card.

"Yes. Is that a problem?"

Union actors’ wages are 30% higher than non-union, and many film crews avoid hiring them, especially for extras.

"Sorry, we don’t have any roles suitable for you."

The interviewer said with regret.

Luca smirked, not surprised.

"Wait!"

As he was about to take back his card, someone next to him adjusted their glasses. "Are you Mr. Luca Kelly?"

"Yes." Luca raised his eyebrow.

The man took his card and smiled. "Mr. Kelly, why are you interested in being an extra here?"

"I heard The Day After Tomorrow is a great movie. If I could get a part, even as an extra, it would be fun."

"Haha, Mr. Kelly, you’re quite the character," the man chuckled, stamping his card.

"Mr. Kelly, you’re in."

"Thanks. When do we start filming?"

"Right away!"

The man stood up. "Follow me, please!"

"Thanks."

That afternoon, the film set was bustling with activity. Hundreds of cars were scattered across the street, with hundreds of people standing around, listening to instructions. Some were on car roofs, others inside cars, and still others perched on buildings.

It was chaotic, like a disaster scene.

Luca glanced around and quickly figured out the plot. The main character’s son ran from school to seek shelter in the New York Public Library. Floodwaters engulfed New York, trapping countless people in the streets.

"Hello, Mr. Kelly. I’m assistant director Claude Brevig. Welcome to the set."

Once on set, a man with a megaphone approached and shook his hand.

"Thanks. So, Mr. Brevig, what should I do?"

"Emm..."

Brevig hesitated. In terms of fame, Mr. Kelly wasn’t any less known than the two leads.

"Please wait a moment!"

Mr. Brevig found two people to discuss something, then came back with someone holding a script.

"Mr. Kelly, you’re playing a husband coming home from work. When you see the flood, you’re first terrified, then calm, and you kiss your wedding ring as you die. Is that okay?"

"No problem!"

Over an hour later, filming began.

Luca sat in a white BMW, wearing a gray twill suit, a tie, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, and a small ring on his hand. His face had some light makeup, slightly concealing his handsome features. Overall, he looked like a man around thirty.

"Annie, what are you saying? I can’t hear you, oh~ damn it, why is there no signal?"

Luca cursed loudly into his phone, clearly agitated.

"Mine’s the same, fuck~ what’s going on?"

The driver next to him also yelled.

"No, I have to go back. Today’s Annie’s birthday."

Luca forcefully honked the horn.

"Haha, buddy, it’s useless. Even if you had a tank... Oh no, look over there!"

An extra beside him pointed and shouted between two tall buildings.

In the special effects, that’s where the flood was rushing in.

"What?"

Luca looked up, his expression turning to pure terror. His handsome face was full of disbelief, and his dark eyes lost focus in an instant.

He nervously shook his head, mumbling to himself.

"No, no, it shouldn’t be like this. I still need to celebrate Annie’s birthday."

After a moment, he regained his composure, made the sign of the cross on his chest, kissed the ring on his ring finger, and closed his eyes. His body jerked backward as if being knocked over by the flood, his face and hair distorting.

"That was amazing!"

The assistant director couldn’t help but praise him and turned to the stage manager, "Where did you find this extra? His acting is incredible! Just a few actions, and it’s so moving."

The stage manager grinned slightly, "Steve, don’t you think he looks familiar?"

"Familiar?"

"Luca Kelly, Britney’s rumored boyfriend. Do you know him?"

"Him?"

The assistant director was surprised, "What’s he doing here as an extra?"

The stage manager shook his head and laughed, "He said he liked this movie and wanted to play a role, no matter how big or small."

"Haha, what an interesting guy."

The assistant director glanced at the footage, "He did a good job, but the other extras’ performances need some tweaking, like this one, this one, and that one."

"Got it!"

The stage manager grabbed a megaphone, "Attention, Group H actors! Extra #108, you need to look more terrified. #122, if you sneak glances at Luca again, I’m kicking you out. And #68..."

"Scene 45, Take 16, third time. Action!"

*Chapter 158: Luca Is Not a Good Dad*

At dusk, the setting sun painted Manhattan's neighborhoods a fiery red, unbearable to look at. Luca, the extra actor, slouched his shoulders and slowly walked back to 76th Street, driven by the sunset's blade.

"Why are you back so late?"

Mrs. Kate Kelly crossed her arms, raising her sharp eyebrows in slight anger.

Luca shrugged with annoyance. "I didn’t even want to go out in the first place! You made me, and now you’re blaming me for coming back late?"

Seeing his pout, Kate couldn't help but smile.

Ever since returning from Charleston, Luca had become lazy. He lounged at home every day, unmotivated and unwilling to do anything. It was quite frustrating.

So, she dragged him out for a morning run before dawn and insisted he go out again after breakfast. But he didn't return until sunset.

"What were you up to? Why do you look so out of it?"

Kate handed him a glass of juice.

"Was an extra in a film," Luca smiled slightly.

"An extra?"

Kate was a bit surprised.

"Yeah!"

Luca shrugged and explained his day on set. He even waved two bills proudly. "Look, this is my pay."

"Wow, not bad!"

Kate smiled faintly but suddenly wrinkled her nose. "Did you smoke?"

"No!"

Luca quickly shook his head.

"Really?"

Kate reached into his pockets but only found his wallet and car keys.

"Kate, I swear, I didn’t smoke."

Luca looked sincere. Smoking? That stuff's deadly. No way he'd carry cigarettes around.

"Is that so?"

Kate lifted his left hand and sniffed it.

Luca's face paled. "That’s not..."

"No more excuses! Hand it over!"

Kate calmly extended her hand.

"Kate~ I barely have any pocket money left. Can’t I just keep this?"

The money hadn't even warmed his hands yet; parting with it was tough.

"Nope!"

Kate swiftly snatched the bills, chuckling softly. "We made a deal: for every time I catch you, $300 gets deducted from your monthly allowance. This is $200, so you still owe me $100. I’ll take it from next month’s allowance."

"Kate~ you can’t do this."

Luca drooped his head, secretly smug. The pay was actually $500; he'd stashed the other $300 in the car. There's always a way around rules!

"Forget the money. You reek. Go take a shower!"

Kate pushed his face away and kicked him into the bathroom.

"Alright, alright~ I’m going, I’m going!"

"Kate, what are you up to?"

Freshly showered, Luca walked into the studio in a tank top and shorts.

Kate was bustling around the studio, writing and drawing at the workbench, measuring something on a model. It looked like she was designing clothes.

"Done showering? Come be my model."

"Model?"

Luca took a bite of an apple. "You switching careers to be a designer?"

"I am a designer, thank you very much!"

Kate grabbed a tape measure and walked over, measuring his waist as she explained, "Polo Apparel is hosting a casual wear design competition. Lima and I are teaming up to design a casual T-shirt."

"Arms out!"

"Alright!"

Luca stood straight, arms outstretched, chest puffed as Kate measured his arm length, shoulder width, and chest.

Kate looked extremely focused while working. With her hair tied in a ponytail and lips tightly pursed, her long eyelashes didn’t blink. Her deep blue eyes were filled with contemplation.

Her face was naturally cold, and her expression stern, giving off a severe and icy vibe. Even Luca was a bit intimidated in her presence.

However, being so close, Luca noticed something that made him tilt his head.

"What’s wrong?"

Kate asked, confused.

Luca, biting his apple, shook his head.

"Say it!"

Kate snatched his apple and took a bite herself.

Luca glanced at her outfit—white tank top, puffy striped shorts, long, fair legs, and a hint of toned abs peeking through. Nothing was out of place, except...

He cleared his throat.

Kate looked down at her chest and grinned slyly, though she quickly composed herself.

"Is it that strange not to wear a bra?"

She asked, deadpan.

Luca shook his head, shutting his eyes as if he hadn’t noticed anything.

Kate smirked, jotted down a few measurements, and continued measuring.

Neither spoke after that, but the room filled with a pleasant scent.

"I only dress like this at home. It’s more comfortable."

Kate, now measuring his chest from behind, said softly.

"Is that so?"

Luca sighed in relief. "I thought it was part of some feminist movement."

"You’ve heard about that?"

"Yeah, I even know that, thanks to that movement, sexual harassment and assault cases in the U.S. went up by 10%. Traffic accidents related to it have increased too."

Luca chuckled.

"Don’t you support that movement?"

"I do!"

Luca shrugged, smirking. "It’s a perk for us guys. Why wouldn’t I support it? Ow~ Kate, why are you pulling my ear?"

"Perk? Do you enjoy staring at women’s chests?"

Kate, crossing her arms, was visibly upset.

"No, no, I was talking about other guys! I’m a celebrity—how could I ever sneak a look?"

Kate shot him a glare, shoved the apple back into his mouth, and resumed sketching.

Luca grinned, finished the apple, and grabbed a book, lying nearby to read.

Both fell into a quiet routine, only the sound of pages turning and Kate’s thoughtful movements breaking the silence. Her subtle scent filled the air.

Later, as the neon lights of Manhattan shimmered outside, Luca and Kate sat on their couch, glasses of Bordeaux wine in hand, admiring the sleepless city.

"I helped Jenna rent an apartment in Brooklyn. Check on her sometime, maybe get her a few things. She’s always too frugal."

Kate leaned against his shoulder, speaking softly.

Luca nodded slightly. "That’s good. She was too restrained living here. Now she can live freely."

"Exactly. And Emily is asking for the next book already. The publisher wants it soon."

"Already? The first book came out less than six months ago."

"They didn’t expect it to sell so well. Now that the series is popular, they want to plan the second book carefully, with a global release, tons of promotions. It won’t hit shelves until around Christmas."

"Got it."

Luca scratched his head. "I’ll submit the manuscript next month. I’ve been busy filming, so it still needs polishing."

Though he had already finished it, he planned to start writing the third one soon. Better hurry before he forgot everything!

"Okay!"

Kate sipped her wine, then looked up. "Luca, how about releasing the second book under your name?"

"Are you tired?"

Luca gazed into her eyes. "You don’t need to do world tours for signings. Novels aren’t fast food; they can spread slowly through word of mouth. We can just collect royalties."

Kate shook her head, cupping his face. "Twilight is your work. I want to return it to you."

Luca smiled softly. "Writers often call their work their ‘baby.’ If I’m Twilight’s dad, then you’re her aunt."

Kate burst into laughter, spraying him with wine.

Luca wiped his face and continued, "I’m a terrible dad. I’m leaving her in your care, Auntie. Unless, of course, you refuse. Then we’ll just toss her on the streets and let her fend for herself. Poor, unwanted thing."

"You idiot! You’re not a bad dad—you’re a bad mom! You birthed Twilight and abandoned her. What a jerk!"

Kate tugged his ears playfully.

"Yes, I’m a jerk, but you’re her kind, beautiful, and compassionate aunt. You’ll take care of her, right?"

"Sure, I’ll take care of her. But your allowance gets cut in half."

"Why? I only get $3,000 a month, and I already lose money for staying in bed, skipping exercise, and smoking! What’s next, a broken bone?"

Luca was ready to cry.

Kate snuggled into his shoulder, patting his chest gently. "Honey, since I’m raising your baby, shouldn’t you chip in for formula?"

"Formula?"

Luca was in full despair.

The night deepened. In the warm, cozy room, Luca and Kate chatted quietly on the couch until they drifted off to sleep, with Luca snoring softly.

"You’re such a pig," Kate murmured, waking up just long enough to pinch his nose.

"Luca, do you think I should get a boyfriend?"

"Mm-hmm!"

Luca brushed her hand away and continued snoring.

"You agree?"

Kate stared at him for a moment.

"Alright, no answer means yes."

She smiled, pulled up the blanket, closed her eyes, then reopened them to kiss his cheek.

"Goodnight, dear."

---

*Chapter 159: Domestic Violence is Wrong*

"333, 334, 335, 336..."

In the morning, Luca was in the apartment gym, dressed in a sexy tank top and shorts, working hard on the multi-purpose training machine.

Health is the foundation of success.

After returning from Charleston, he went to an orthopedic hospital to check on the recovery of his lumbar vertebrae.

The results showed he was recovering exceptionally well, with barely any signs of fractures on the injured vertebrae.

His doctor, Joel, was shocked by how quickly he had recovered in just six months.

Joel finally said he was ready for intense physical activity again.

Now fully recovered, Luca increased his daily training regimen, dedicating an hour to strengthening his waist and glute muscles in addition to his limbs.

His goal wasn’t to become a muscle-bound hulk but to last longer during filming.

"410, 411, 412, 413..."

He pulled six resistance bands while pushing against a leg press machine, simultaneously stretching his arms and legs.

This type of exercise effectively worked his abs, arms, thighs, shoulder blades, and back muscles. The benefits were great, but so was the energy drain.

After half an hour of intense training, sweat soaked his shirt and shorts. His muscles, now firm and defined, glistened under a sheen of sweat, as if he'd been rubbed with olive oil.

"That's enough, stop training so much. Bulking up too much doesn't look good."

Kate walked into the gym with her golden-brown hair loose, wearing a yellow apron that still carried the scent of cooking, mingling with her perfume.

"It’s fine. I’m not taking protein powder, so I won’t bulk up too much."

Luca let go of the handles and took a deep breath.

"Is that so?"

Kate poked his firm, well-worked chest muscle, which felt as solid and warm as a freshly baked giant hamburger, radiating an irresistible aroma.

"Haha, not much smaller than Lima's, huh?"

"Quit it. What's up?"

Luca swatted her hand away and asked.

"Here, Ed’s calling."

Kate handed him a phone, blinking playfully. "He sounds upset. Not in the best mood."

"Upset? Why would he be mad this early in the morning?"

Luca, surprised, took a sip of coconut juice before answering the call.

"Good morning, Mr. Dominique. How are we feeling today? Not great? Why’s that?"

"Luca, did you go be an extra yesterday?"

Ed’s voice strained with frustration.

"Yeah, is there a problem? How’d you find out?"

Luca asked, puzzled.

"How did I find out? It made the papers! How do you think I found out?"

"It made the papers? New York’s tabloids must be bored."

Luca was stunned and glanced at Kate, who just shook her head. She usually read the paper while sipping her coffee.

"Yes, the American Post, New York News, and a couple of smaller papers all reported on ‘big star Luca Kelly’ being an extra on The Day After Tomorrow set. No, actually, they called it a joke.

Haha, thank you, Mr. Kelly, for providing everyone with a breakfast laugh."

Ed's tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Luca scratched his head, still mentally foggy from the workout.

"Wait, Ed. I’m an actor. Being an extra on set—how is that a joke?"

"Luca~," Ed sighed over the phone. "Have you ever heard of eagles eating carrion?"

Luca rubbed his forehead. "Just get to the point. I’m still dizzy from training."

"Luca, different birds eat different food. Eagles don’t eat carrion; only crows and vultures do. And only weak eagles fight with crows for scraps.

That’s the law of nature.

And the same applies to careers.

People at a certain level don’t do jobs beneath them, like Kate and Lima—they wouldn’t endorse small brands. Not just because of their status, but also to avoid taking work from smaller models, which would annoy people.

You’re a supermodel, a star. You have plenty of resources. Why would you go be an extra?"

Luca frowned. "Ed, I like The Day After Tomorrow, so I wanted to play a role. I don’t see anything wrong with that. Is it really worth getting upset over?"

"No, you’re wrong. This affects the company’s image, my reputation as your agent, and your personal image.

Since coming to the office this morning, Andrew hasn’t stopped mocking me, saying I can’t get you proper gigs and that a big star like you has to settle for extra work."

Luca was annoyed. "So, you're venting on me because you’re mad?"

"Of course not!"

Ed took a deep breath. "Luca, if you like The Day After Tomorrow, I could’ve helped you get a role through proper channels. You could’ve appeared as a cameo, credited for your contribution.

But instead, you went to the set, asked how much they paid per day, and took whatever role they offered.

To make it worse, you even collected $500 afterward.

Luca, are you really that strapped for cash?"

"Well..."

Luca had no excuse.

"Ed, I just wanted some pocket money."

"Pocket money?"

Ed’s tone turned cold. "You’re under contract with the company. According to the terms, any money you earn during this period has to be shared with both the company and me, your agent. So, did you make $500 yesterday?"

"I have to report that?"

"Of course. Or are you planning on evading taxes?"

Ed laughed wickedly. "Thanks, Luca, for the $30 of pocket money you made for me. I needed it too. Hahaha~"

With a burst of malicious laughter, Ed hung up.

"Ugh, I only made $500 yesterday, and after splitting it up, I’ll have a few pennies left!"

Luca waved his fists angrily, feeling the urge to hit something.

"So you made $500 yesterday, right?"

Suddenly, a ghostly voice came from behind him.

Luca felt a chill run down his spine, icy coldness creeping from his tailbone to his skull.

He could clearly feel that his spine was fully healed—no leaks at the fracture site.

"Y-yes."

He turned around and gave a guilty smile.

"Really?"

Kate cupped his cheeks, smiling sweetly.

"Dear, tell me, where’s the other $300 hidden?"

The more Kate smiled, the colder Luca felt.

"In the car!"

He answered obediently.

"Oh, in the car, huh?"

Kate nodded slightly. "So, you’ve been hiding money often, haven’t you?"

"No, no! First time!"

Luca quickly shook his head.

"Oh, still lying? Triangle choke!"

Boom!

Luca was thrown to the plastic floor.

"Ahh, my handsome face!"

Smack! Crack!

"Ahh, my back is broken!"

"Don’t try to fool me. Your back has healed, so now I can finally give you a good beating! Hahaha~! Prepare to die!"

Crash! Bang! Boom!

"Mercy, my queen!"

"Ugh..."

At breakfast, steam rose from the beef soup in Luca’s bowl. Inside were golden corn chunks, red radishes, green celery, and pink onion rings, swimming in a rich, fragrant broth.

Luca took a sip with a spoon and winced, touching his swollen lips. He was about to cry. What a disaster...

"What’s wrong? Too hot?"

Kate, fresh from a shower and drying her hair, walked over.

"Not hot at all!"

Luca shook his head vigorously.

"Ah, Luca, why is your lip cut, and your eye black, and your ear red, and your hair all messy? I only took a quick shower. What happened to you?"

Kate gasped in surprise.

Luca winced, accidentally pulling at his lip wound, and hissed in pain.

"Dear, does it hurt?"

Kate gently tapped his lip with her finger, full of concern.

Luca tilted his head away. "I’m fine. Just...accidentally hit the table corner."

"Hit the table corner?!"

Kate bit her lip, her shoulders trembling slightly as she took a breath. "You’re a grown man, how can you be so careless? Look at your face—one, two, three, four... How many times did you hit the corner? Did the corner survive?"

Luca clenched his teeth. "Kate!!"

"What?"

Kate cupped his face again, pinching his ear gently. "Do you have something to say?"

"I..."

Luca squeezed his fists but lowered his head, mumbling, "The table corner...is fine."

"Oh, that's great! This table cost me ten grand."

Kate nodded in satisfaction, then pulled out a first aid kit. She took out cotton swabs, iodine, and ointment, and sat in front of him, smiling warmly.

"Now, give me your face. I’ll put some medicine on."

"No need, I’m fine."

Luca shook his head repeatedly.

"Be good!"

Kate’s expression grew cold.

Luca had no choice but to present his face.

"That’s better."

Kate dipped a cotton swab in iodine and began disinfecting his wounds.

"Ugh..."

Kate was a great model, chef, and fitness coach, but definitely not a good doctor. Her treatment methods were as rough as her beatdowns—quick and brutal.

Luca winced in pain.

"Does it hurt?"

Kate's eyes were full of tenderness, her face gentle, and if there were a halo over her head, she could totally play the Virgin Mary.

"It doesn't hurt!"

Luca gritted his teeth.

"Hmm~? Then why are you crying?"

"I'm moved!"

"Oh, really?"

Kate nodded, "Now do you realize how good I am? We're siblings, the closest family in the world. From now on, don't lie to me about anything, be honest, care about me, think of me often, and no other woman can come before me. Got it?"

"Got it!"

"Louder!"

"Got it! From now on, no matter what, I won't lie to you, I'll be honest with you, think of you always, and no other woman will come before you."

Luca shouted.

Kate smiled contentedly, lowered her head, kissed the corner of his injured lips, and mischievously licked the wound.

"So, dear, did you sleep with Britney?"

"."

"This time in Charleston, did you sleep with any other women?"

"."

"Tell me, and I'll keep count!"

"."

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 160: Borrowing Lips

"Ed, good news!"

At noon, in the Ford Model Agency office, Ed was working when his old rival, Andrew Fagan, barged in with a grin.

“What are you doing here again?”

Ed rubbed his forehead, clearly annoyed.

“Haha, Ed, you need to see this,” Andrew said, slapping a newspaper onto the desk.

“More news about Luca?”

“Haha, just take a look,” Andrew smirked as he sat across from Ed, propping his legs up on the desk, his greasy face full of satisfaction.

Ed frowned but picked up the newspaper.

The New York Forum, a mid-sized paper with 32 pages focusing on New York society and entertainment news, had published an article that had caught some attention.

“Yesterday, filming began for the new movie The Day After Tomorrow, directed by Roland Emmerich, at the New York Public Library. On the first day, the production recruited over 400 extras. Among them was well-known model Luca, rumored boyfriend of Britney Spears, who successfully passed the audition and secured a role as an extra.

As a rising fashion model, why would he take on such a minor acting role?

Reports indicate that in March of this year, Luca Kelly gained fame due to a scandal during Fashion Week and the infamous 'Britney car incident,' becoming the new face of CK’s underwear line.

He ranked as the highest-paid male model for the first quarter.

However, after the scandal’s buzz died down, Luca hasn’t landed any endorsements since April, with his earnings in May and June amounting to zero.

Meanwhile, his sister, supermodel and author Kate Kelly, earned $3.8 million in endorsements in the first half of the year, topping the global model income chart.

Luca Kelly’s meteoric rise and equally swift decline serve as a cautionary tale in the fashion industry—manufacturing scandals for fame is not a shortcut to lasting success.”

“Haha, Ed, did you see that? Zero income for May and June! Luca had a shot at being the top male model of 2003, but he chose the wrong agent. Such a shame, truly,” Andrew said, shaking his head in mock sympathy.

Ed glanced at him, replying coolly, “So what? Luca’s focus is on the entertainment industry now, not fashion. It’s normal to have no endorsement income.”

“Entertainment industry?” Andrew scoffed, sneering. “Do you think the entertainment world is easy? Competition there is way fiercer than in fashion. Tens of thousands of handsome guys around the world are trying to make it in Hollywood. What makes Luca think he can succeed? He’s just a freshly famous model, with no advantage over professional actors.

Ed, let me give you some advice. While Luca still has some popularity, shift his focus back to fashion. Let him establish himself as a top model first, build a fanbase, and make some serious money. Then, when you both move into Hollywood, he’ll have a better chance, like Brooke Shields, Elizabeth Hurley, or Heidi Klum.

Rushing into acting now, before Luca has solidified his place in fashion, is a mistake!”

Ed listened quietly, not interrupting. Once Andrew finished, he responded calmly, “You’re right.”

“Haha, see? I’m the best agent in the company, after all,” Andrew said, blinking his small eyes and smiling. “Ed, how about we partner up? You hand over Luca’s modeling contract to me, and you keep his acting contract. Together, we’ll make a fortune.”

Ed smirked. “There’s something you’ve never understood.”

“What?” Andrew’s gut churned; every time he saw Ed smile like that, he felt uneasy.

“Luca was never really a model. From the start, his and my goal has always been the entertainment industry. Modeling was just a side job.

Remember that Armani fashion show? He only did it for the $2,000 appearance fee, and it unexpectedly launched him into fame. Becoming a supermodel was purely accidental.”

Ed shook his head, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

Last November, Luca had been a small-time actor, but in just half a year, he’d become a supermodel. The transformation had been surreal, like a real-life American Dream.

“Heh, if you say it was an accident, fine. But everyone in the industry knows all that fame was carefully orchestrated by you two,” Andrew scoffed again, then sighed. “Ed, let’s cut the nonsense. I just want Luca’s modeling contract. You can’t take him further in fashion, but I can.”

Ed shrugged. “Sorry, I can’t give it to you.”

“What will it take for you to transfer it?” Andrew asked, his face darkening.

Ed shook his head, speaking evenly, “I’m not lying. Luca’s primary contract has always been for acting. Modeling was just an add-on.”

“So you’re saying you don’t even have Luca’s modeling contract?” Andrew smirked.

“That’s right.”

“Haha! Why didn’t you say so earlier? If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have wasted time talking to you.”

Andrew slapped his fat backside and stormed out without looking back.

“What an idiot,” Ed muttered, shaking his head as he glanced at the newspaper again.

“Zero income?”

"Edward had large golden eyes, filled with warmth, framed by thick, long black lashes. Staring into them made me feel... strange, like my bones had turned into sponge. I felt dizzy too, but that might’ve been because I forgot to breathe."

In his bedroom, Luca sat at his desk, typing away rapidly on the keyboard, stringing together beautiful sentences. He was ‘writing’ the third installment of Twilight: Eclipse.

Long novels often suffer from a common problem: the first half contains the most captivating parts, while the latter half tends to drag and lose its charm.

Twilight was no exception.

The first two books, Twilight and New Moon, had more engaging stories and elegant language. The third, Eclipse, fell short, with a plot that veered into melodrama.

As Bella and Edward’s love reached new heights, Bella also started flirting with Jacob the werewolf, even getting forcefully kissed by him—a scene that felt unnecessarily dramatic.

However, since most of the book’s readers were young women, the idea of being kissed by a strong, handsome werewolf wasn’t entirely unwelcome.

Luca, uninterested in editing, shamelessly copied the content from memory without a second thought.

Ring ring!

Just then, his phone rang.

“Ed, what’s up?”

“Luca, there’s a fashion party tonight at Court Tower. Wanna check it out?”

“What for?”

“To make some pocket money!” Ed chuckled over the phone. “You’re short on cash, right? Parties like these are full of opportunities. Land one endorsement, and you could earn hundreds of thousands. It’s way easier than being an extra. Why not give it a shot?”

Luca shook his head. “Ed, we agreed I’d focus on acting. Why bother with endorsements?”

“Luca, hear me out,” Ed continued. “In the first quarter, you were ranked as the top-earning male model. Now, without endorsement income in May and June, you’ve dropped to ninth. I’m thinking you should take on two more endorsements this year, secure a top-ten spot, and then next year, you’ll truly live up to the title of ‘supermodel.’ What do you think?”

Luca stroked his chin, thinking for a moment.

Landing two more endorsements wouldn’t be bad, but he’d already represented Armani and CK.

CK was a blue-chip brand, Armani a red-chip one.

His next endorsement had to be of a similarly high caliber.

Securing that level of deal, though, would be challenging.

“Ed, do you have any targets?”

“I’ve got one in mind. Let’s give it a try.”

“Alright, I’m in.”

---

Luca shrugged his shoulders and was about to hang up the phone when Ed spoke again.

"Luca, has Andrew reached out to you?"

"He has!"

"Did you agree to his offer?"

"I'm still thinking about it."

Luca smirked and said, "Andrew’s a good guy. He knows I like making friends. He told me that if I sign with him, he’ll introduce me to all the models at his company. Sounds like a pretty good deal, right?"

"Is that so?"

Ed chuckled lightly, "Luca, it seems like you’re getting bolder. Is it because Lima’s not in New York to keep you in check, and that’s why you're so daring?"

Luca’s face darkened. Even if Lima’s not around, there’s still Kate. Who says no one’s around to keep me in line?

"Alright, I gotta go create now, bye!"

He hung up the phone and returned to his creative journey.

Crackle, crackle.

"This is a face that any male model in the world would trade their soul for. His beauty is breathtaking. When his cold fingers touched mine, I felt a huge sense of relief, like the excruciating pain I was enduring suddenly stopped."

Around 5 PM, after finishing a chapter, Luca walked into the studio holding two cups of coffee.

The studio was a mess, with drafts, fabric, and magazines scattered everywhere.

"Jenny, that last design was pretty good, but it’s missing a sweet touch. Our designs need to highlight three things: youth, energy, and sweetness."

Beside the workstation, Kate was working with her assistant, Jenny.

On the wall next to them hung three newly designed t-shirts.

The first one was vibrant, made from seven or eight different colored fabrics, like a jigsaw puzzle.

Seeing this design, Luca finally understood where the inspiration for the rainbow sweatshirt came from.

The second one was bizarre, with one half made of white fabric and the other half black. There was a jagged line down the middle of the chest, looking like lightning or two complementary faces.

The third one was more normal: a yellow t-shirt with two pieces of pudding, one red and one blue, printed on the chest. They were semi-transparent and looked bouncy, creating a 3D visual effect.

These two puddings were modeled after the ones Kate had spent three days perfecting in the kitchen.

There were also several artistically arranged lines around the puddings.

Kate had scratched her head for days trying to figure out the arrangement of those lines. Thankfully, her hair was healthy, or she might have gone bald.

"Luca, this is our food-themed t-shirt. What do you think?"

Kate pointed at the third pudding t-shirt and asked.

"It’s not bad!" he said earnestly.

"Just ‘not bad’?"

Kate wasn’t satisfied. "Anything else to say, like about the design features, the line work, or the tailoring techniques?"

Luca shook his head, "I don’t know anything about that stuff. I just think it looks nice."

"Okay, sorry, I forgot you have no sense of aesthetics. Asking you was pointless!"

Kate waved her hand, a bit annoyed.

Luca smiled slightly. He really didn’t know much about design, but he did have some fresh ideas.

"Kate, I may not have an eye for aesthetics, but I’m smart. I’ve got lots of ideas in this brain."

"Is that so?"

"Just watch!"

He grabbed a pen and sketched out dozens of yet-to-be-seen emojis on a draft sheet: kissy faces, hush signs, big laughs.

"Hmm, these are pretty interesting," Kate said after watching for a bit, her deep blue eyes lighting up more and more.

"These emojis are really unique. Printing them on t-shirts might be a great idea."

"Heh, you said I’m smart! I’m just usually too lazy to think. If I weren’t, I’d already be the President of the United States!"

Luca puffed out his chest, feeling a bit smug.

"Yeah, yeah, I’m sure you could be, President Luca, haha~"

Kate hugged his neck and playfully ruffled his hair.

"Stop messing around. I have to go to a party later, don’t mess up my hair."

Luca pulled her hand away.

"What party?"

Kate stopped and asked.

"A Helmut Lang party," Luca said, adjusting his hair in the mirror.

"Helmut Lang?"

Kate shook her head. "I heard they’ve already picked their spokesperson. It’s fine to go and check it out, but don’t get your hopes up."

"I get it!"

Luca nodded and went upstairs to change.

Kate smiled slightly, then turned back to the draft filled with emojis and studied it for a while. Kok

With a smile tugging at her lips, she muttered, "This guy’s getting smarter. Guess I’ll need to keep him in check more often."

Assistant Jenny nodded as she looked at the emoji designs: "Makes sense!"

(End of chapter)