151-155

*Chapter 151: Kate Wants to Buy a House*

In the afternoon, the sun shone brightly over the small town, and by the shimmering waters of Ashley Lake, a tall figure paced back and forth in the shade of the trees.

“Kate, are you home?” Luca gently asked over the phone.

“Yes, I just got here!”

Inside the apartment on 76th Street, Kate was lounging on the couch in blue pajamas. She appeared relaxed, but her long legs and slender waist exuded an undeniable allure.

“Kate, here’s your orange juice!”

Gina walked out of the dining room with a glass of orange juice.

“Thank you, Gina!” Kate took a sip and then asked, “Luca, how’s the filming going?”

“Not bad! Filming an art film is a bit harder than a commercial one, but I’m doing pretty well,” Luca chuckled softly.

“When will you finish?”

Kate asked over the phone.

Luca glanced at the busy film set behind him. “It’s almost done. Maybe two more weeks, or less, depending on how the actors perform.”

“I really wish you could finish sooner.”

Kate lay on the couch, brushing her long, golden-brown curls back as they fell loosely behind her.

Click~

Gina opened the door, letting in a gorgeous woman with a curvy figure. She wore a white graphic T-shirt and jeans, her full chest pushing up the T-shirt, and a glimpse of honey-toned skin and sexy curves showing at her midriff.

“Lima, make yourself at home. I’m on the phone with Luca!” Kate said, covering the phone with her hand.

“Alright!” Lima shrugged, sat down on the couch opposite Kate, crossed her long legs, and grabbed a few macadamia nuts. She ate them while listening to the phone conversation.

Kate blinked and smiled, “Luca, do you have any beautiful women on set? Any chance of cheating?”

Lima chuckled softly from across the room.

“No beautiful women here. After seeing all you gorgeous ladies, my standards have gotten too high. I don’t even look at regular beauties anymore,” Luca laughed lightly.

“Haha, is that so? What about Rachel McAdams?” Kate smiled slightly at Lima’s suggestion. “She’s pretty good-looking. Have you hooked up with her after being there for a week?”

“Rachel?” Luca shook his head. “She’s dating Ryan Gosling. They’re the leads in the film and keep flaunting their love in front of me. It’s driving me crazy.”

“Hahaha~” Laughter rang out from the phone.

“Want us to come keep you company?”

“No need!” Luca hesitated, then said, “I should be done soon. I’ll probably be back in just over a week. You don’t have to come. It’s really hot here, and the best time to visit is in March or April. June is too hot, with lots of heavy rain—not great for a vacation.”

“Mmhmm, okay then!” Kate stretched lazily and sighed, “I’ve been flying around for two months. I don’t feel like going anywhere else. I just want to stay home, cook, garden, and shop.”

“Yeah, you’ve had a tough time lately. You should rest,” Luca sighed in relief, glad that Kate wasn’t coming. His performance on set wasn’t great, and if she saw him getting scolded, it would be a disaster.

“Luca, will you be filming in Los Angeles more often?” Kate suddenly remembered something.

“Probably, why?” Luca asked, confused.

“Remember we talked about buying property in Los Angeles once we had the money? We can afford a standalone house now. Do you think we should get a beach house or something in Beverly Hills?” Kate asked over the phone.

Luca thought for a moment. In the first half of the year, they had earned just over five million. Most of it was invested in stocks, leaving them with under a million. With a million, they could buy a nice house in other parts of Los Angeles, but in Beverly Hills, it would only afford a small property. However, property values there were rising fast, so buying in Beverly Hills could be a good investment.

Luca scratched his head, “Kate, I trust you. Whatever you pick will be the best choice.”

“Haha, alright, alright. I forgot you’re hopeless at shopping. Asking you is pointless.” Kate smiled as she hung up the phone.

“You’re planning to buy a house in Los Angeles?” Lima asked curiously.

“Yeah, Luca will be filming there often, and staying in hotels isn’t convenient. Having a house would be better. Plus, we’d have a place to stay when we go there for events,” Kate explained.

“That sounds nice. I envy rich people.”

“Haha, no need to be envious. We’re all family, aren’t we?” Kate smiled, sat up, and said, “Come on, Lima, I got you a gift.”

“A gift for me too?” Lima’s eyes lit up.

“Yes, everyone gets something!”

Chapter 152: A Battle Between Masters

After finishing the phone call, Luca paced into the set.

"Hey, Luca, want a beer?"

Ryan, sitting on the steps outside the attic, casually watched the performance with a beer in hand, looking quite relaxed.

"Thanks!"

Luca took a can of beer, sat beside him, and started watching the scene.

"They're doing really well!"

"Yes, very good, but still missing something."

"Missing something?"

On set, the crew was filming a scene between the protagonist Ellie and her mother.

Ellie had moved in with Noah, and now her mother had come to persuade her.

The focus of this scene was on Rachel and Joan Allen.

Joan Allen, in her forties, had been nominated twice for an Oscar for Best Actress and played Ellie’s mother, Annie, in the film.

This was an emotional scene, a tough one to pull off. Despite both actresses' great performances, they had already failed three takes.

“Ron’s coming over,”

In front of the white attic, Annie spoke with a complex expression.

Annie opposed Ellie and Noah being together. It was because of her that Ellie and Noah broke up the first time. After that, Noah wrote Ellie 365 letters, but Annie hid them all.

Now that Ellie was about to marry Ron Hammond, Annie thought the matter was over. But Ellie saw Noah’s news in the paper and reconciled with him.

“Your father told Ron about you and Noah. He couldn’t reach you last night, so he decided to come.”

Annie spoke slowly.

"Great! Just great!"

Ellie shook her head, her face showing a mix of pain, guilt, and sorrow.

Ellie deeply loved Noah, but she also loved Ron Hammond very much. Both men were good people, and no matter who she chose, she would hurt the other. This tore her apart.

If Ron arrived in the creek town, it would surely turn into a scene of heartbreak for everyone involved.

The key players in this conflict were Ellie, her mother, Noah, and Ron.

All three were her loved ones, and she didn’t want any of them to be hurt.

“That’s right—me, you, Ron, Noah. What a lively little family we have,”

Ellie said helplessly and sadly.

"Ah."

Annie turned around, her expression more filled with pain and helplessness than Ellie’s.

“CUT!”

The director called for a halt. “Rachel, your emotions aren’t quite there yet. You need to amplify them.”

Rachel nodded slightly, “Nick, I need five minutes.”

“Take five!”

The crew paused, and Rachel sat on the floor, hugging her knees and burying her head in them without moving.

"Did you see it?"

Ryan took a swig of beer and asked.

"See what?"

Luca was puzzled.

"Do you know why the director called for a stop?"

"Rachel's emotions weren’t strong enough?"

"NO!"

Ryan shook his head. "Emotions are relative. Let me put it this way: take the scene between you, Rachel, and Joan from yesterday. You had to redo it sixteen times. Do you know why?"

"My emotions weren’t strong enough?"

Luca frowned.

“Yes, although that’s not the main reason, it’s a big one. Yesterday, you and Rachel were both smiling in the scene, but it was clear that her smile outshone yours. Her smile was like a blossoming rose; yours—well, like this.”

Ryan picked a blade of grass from the ground.

“Compared to Rachel, your character wasn’t as striking or captivating, which is why the director wasn’t satisfied. If a less skilled actress had played Ellie, the scene would have passed easily, but the overall quality of the film would have dropped.

Nick is a strict director. He refuses to lower his standards, which is why he kept pushing you to perform better.”

Luca nodded. He could tell the director was pushing hard, but it felt awful being criticized repeatedly in front of the whole crew. Without a strong heart, one might crumble under such pressure.

"But I was surprised by your performance today."

Ryan tossed the blade of grass aside and patted Luca on the shoulder with a smile. “You stood tall and became someone entirely different, confident and composed, like a redwood tree shooting up from the ground. In that moment, you overpowered Rachel’s presence, and that’s why the scene passed.”

“So acting, emotions, presence—they’re all relative.

Some say the director’s level sets the height of the movie.

But when filming, the strength of your co-star determines your own.

Take yesterday’s scene. You were far below Rachel. The director had to do everything he could to elevate you.

If you were beyond saving, you would’ve broken down, and the director would’ve kicked you off the set. Luckily, you pushed through and did well. Now, today’s scene,”

Ryan pointed to the two actors on set, “is way harder than the one you had with Rachel. Rachel’s been prepping her emotions for a while and is doing great, but her opponent is even better.

And that’s not just about acting—it’s about adaptability.

Joan’s a seasoned actor, having performed in countless scenes, and she knows how to handle moments like this.

Both their emotions were at a peak just now, almost perfectly matched.

But then Joan turned around and stole the spotlight, leaving Rachel in the dust.”

Luca raised his eyebrows. “You sound like you’re narrating a boxing match.”

“Haha, exactly.”

Ryan stroked his beard with a laugh. “Acting and boxing are similar. A scene between two actors is like a duel, and group scenes are like a brawl. Everyone wants to be the winner, and the director is the referee. Yesterday, you lost sixteen rounds. Today, Rachel’s already lost twice against Joan.”

Luca rubbed his chin, thinking it made sense.

Ryan suddenly laughed, “Luca, you know what? You’re both lucky and unlucky.”

“What do you mean?”

Luca was puzzled.

Ryan grinned. “Lucky because we don’t have a scene together. Otherwise, I’d have made you cry.”

“F***! Am I really that bad?”

Luca said, dissatisfied.

“Of course! My acting is better than Rachel’s, and Rachel’s better than you. So what do you think would happen if we had a scene together?”

Ryan grinned like a fool.

Luca smirked. “So, what’s the unlucky part?”

Ryan chuckled softly. “Do you know the best way to improve your acting? It’s to face off with a master. When a rookie acts with a master, they grow immensely from the experience. And I’m a master. Too bad we don’t get to spar.”

“Alright, alright, you’re the master.”

Luca smiled and raised his beer. “We didn’t get a chance this time, but maybe next time we can be rivals.”

“Nice! You’re brave!”

Ryan laughed heartily.

Luca shook his head and looked back at the scene.

The fourth take began, but once again, Rachel couldn’t outshine Joan Allen.

Director Nick called for a pause, and after ten minutes, they resumed filming.

On the fifth attempt, Rachel still couldn’t succeed. She sat on the steps, hugging her legs, looking completely drained.

“Aren’t you going to comfort her?” Luca sighed softly.

Ryan shook his head. “If they keep shooting like this, Rachel will pull through. If I go over now, I’ll just mess things up, and Nick will tear me apart.”

“I’m starting to think acting can be pretty cruel.”

“It is, especially when you watch someone you love feel so helpless in front of the camera and you can’t do anything about it.”

With that, Ryan stood up, grabbed a beer, and slowly walked toward the lake.

“Scene 4, take 6, Action!”

As soon as Ryan left, the battle on set resumed.

“Ron’s coming over!”

In front of the white attic, Annie spoke with a complex expression. “Your father told him everything about you and Noah. He couldn’t reach you last night, so he decided to come.”

“Haha, great! Just great! You, me, Ron, Noah—we make such a lively little family,”

Ellie said helplessly as she lowered her head. The wind gently tousled her messy curls, her shoulders trembled slightly, and an unspoken sadness lingered around her.

Annie turned away, her eyes reddening.

When Ellie lifted her head again, her face was already streaked with tears.

“CUT!”

“That’s a wrap!”

*Chapter 153: Ryan's Threat*

"Go for it!"

On Tuesday morning, the eighth day of being on set, Luca stood in front of the mirror and pumped his fist energetically.

Today was finally the big scene, the one where Ron Hammond proposes to Ellie.

The scene takes place at a large party with over a hundred people, including a band, numerous dancers, and party guests.

The main characters for this scene are Ron Hammond, Ellie, Ellie’s parents, and the host. The actors involved are himself, Rachel, Joan Allen, Sam Shepard, and Ryan.

Other than him and Rachel, they were all seasoned actors. To avoid being overshadowed, he had to give it his all.

"How are you feeling, nervous?"

In the makeup tent, Rachel asked softly.

"A bit. I'm worried about dragging everyone down," Luca shrugged.

"It's okay. I'm actually nervous too."

"But you don't seem like it."

"Do you want to know why?" Rachel blinked playfully.

"What?"

"Have you heard the story about the two people who encounter a bear? You're the slower runner. With you around, I feel at ease," Rachel threw her head back and laughed.

"You're too cruel!" Luca shook his head. If they really encountered a bear, he was sure he'd run faster than Rachel.

"Luca, are you ready? We need to go on set."

"Ready!"

Luca glanced at the mirror. The person in the mirror was wearing a black pinstripe suit with a red bow tie. His thick, dark eyebrows stood out like sharp swords. In his deep eye sockets were a pair of shiny black eyes. Under his high nose bridge, a sexy, mischievous smile played on his lips.

He looked righteous, cool, and striking.

"Toni, don’t you think the makeup on my face is a bit thick?" Luca asked his assistant and makeup artist, Toni, behind him.

The original makeup artist was too talkative and not very skilled, so he was kicked out. Toni liked doing makeup and couldn't sit still, so he temporarily took on the role.

Toni shook his head. "This is party makeup. The lighting inside is a bit dim. To stand out, the makeup has to be a bit thicker."

"Alright then!"

Luca stood up.

Rachel stood up beside him too, wearing a red party dress and looking stunning with her radiant makeup.

"Rachel, you look beautiful!"

"Luca, you look very, very handsome!"

They both spoke in unison.

After speaking, they both burst out laughing.

"Miss Rachel, shall we go?" Luca extended his hand in invitation.

"Of course!"

Rachel placed her hand in his.

They shared a light laugh and walked out of the makeup room.

Today's set was in a luxuriously decorated banquet hall.

After the crew’s makeover, the banquet hall looked even more opulent.

A huge crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. Golden petals bloomed on the red carpet. The golden walls shimmered, making everything look splendid and magnificent.

As Luca and Rachel walked hand in hand into the hall, other actors and extras followed suit.

The men were in suits and the women wore 1950s-60s-style party dresses. The scene resembled a grand party.

Including the crew, there were over two hundred people on set, making it quite lively.

Seeing so many people made Luca feel a lot of pressure.

If they delayed the shoot, all two hundred-plus people would be held up. Each day of delay would cost the production at least a hundred thousand dollars.

No one wanted to be labeled as the weak link in such a setting.

"Hey, you two!"

As they were walking in, a young guy with a cheeky look jumped out from the crowd, blocking their way. He was wearing suspenders, a gray cap, and had a face begging to be punched.

"Ryan?"

"What are you doing here?" Luca and Rachel asked in confusion.

"Hmph, the shoot hasn’t started yet. Did you two really need to hold hands?" Ryan Gosling stared at their hands disapprovingly.

"Ryan, it's the director's request. We're supposed to enter like we're attending a party."

"But he didn’t ask you to hold hands," Ryan said, clearly not happy.

"Ryan, shut up. We’re shooting a scene here," Rachel gave him an annoyed look, noticing John approaching.

"John, what’s Ryan doing here?" Rachel asked.

"Ryan insisted on being here," John replied helplessly.

"You said this scene was like a grand party. How could I not join? Look, how do I look?" Ryan tugged on his suspenders and grinned.

"So you're here as an extra?"

"Yes, a free extra!"

"Alright, you can be an extra, but you can't interrupt our shoot. Otherwise, I'll file a complaint with the director. I'm not kidding," Rachel said with a frown.

"Okay, okay, I get it. I was just joking," Ryan chuckled.

"Alright, Ryan, we’re about to start filming. You should go to the back, and make sure you don’t get your face on camera," John reminded.

"I understand!"

Ryan pulled on his suspenders again and walked over to Luca. He whispered, "Buddy, good luck. This kiss scene better be done in one take. If you dare to delay, I'll push you into the lake tonight."

Then Ryan walked off.

Luca couldn’t help but smirk. This guy had already figured out where to push him.

"What did Ryan just say?" Rachel asked.

Luca shrugged. "I think he was cheering me on!"

At around one in the afternoon, everything was ready, and the shoot officially began.

Ding ding dong dong ding ding dong dong~

The music started playing on set.

In the middle of the hall, at a round table, Luca and Rachel were sitting together, acting out the scene where Ron Hammond proposes to Ellie.

"Ellie, I’ve been thinking lately, why aren’t we getting married?" Ron Hammond said, holding Ellie’s hand with a slight smile.

"Alright, then tell me, why aren’t we getting married?" Ellie asked curiously, as if joking, with a surprised smile on her face.

"That's the problem. I couldn’t think of a reason at first, and then it hit me—your parents."

Ron Hammond spread his hands and smiled. "I am the perfect candidate for their son-in-law."

"Really?" Ellie asked in surprise.

"Yes, I’m from the South, I’m wealthy, I have a good job, I’m a great dancer, I’m smart, and I’m handsome too."

"Ugh~" Ellie put a finger in her mouth, pretending to gag.

"Hahaha~"

Ron Hammond chuckled. "So I think we must get married."

"Cut!"

"Luca, your performance isn’t natural enough."

"Got it!"

Luca wiped his face and psyched himself up.

"It’s okay. I don't mind doing a few more takes indoors," Rachel smiled.

Luca shook his head. He didn’t want to be the weak link.

"Scene 13, take 2, shot 3, and... action!"

---

*Chapter 154: Midnight Encounter*

"Cut!"

"No, that won't work! One more time!"

"Luca, your movements are too stiff!"

"Cut!"

"Luca, focus! You're the center of attention. Your emotions are too flat, this won't do. One more time!"

"Cut!"

"Luca! You're not in the right state today. Go and adjust yourself; we'll shoot your scenes tomorrow!"

"Haha, see? I told you he wouldn't last long. He’s definitely going to mess up in the big scenes!"

"Yeah, models just can't act!"

"I heard a lot of people were fighting for this role. I have no idea how he got it."

"The production is going to lose a lot of money because of him again."

"Do you think the director will replace him if he doesn't perform well tomorrow?"

"Sigh~"

Nighttime, a bar, crowded and noisy.

In the dim light, Luca held his head in his hand, resting his cheek on the bar counter, staring blankly. In front of him were three empty glasses.

The filming started off pretty well today, but it got worse as it went on. Seven takes for one scene.

It was a group scene with lots of shots to film. If they kept focusing on him, the other scenes would be delayed, so the director decided to set his part aside and shoot the other scenes first.

After filming, Luca, feeling down, came to the bar. He ordered a few glasses of rum and tried to ponder his acting while drinking.

Sometimes he thought the scene was pretty simple and that he could perform it well.

But once on set, there were always issues, which was what the director referred to as being in a bad state that needed adjusting.

"Hey handsome! Are you here alone?"

A scantily clad woman approached him, draping herself over his shoulder, leaning against the bar, exposing most of her cleavage.

He didn't need to look at her face; her skin, shoes, and the scent of her perfume told him everything he needed to know.

"I need some peace and quiet."

Luca took out a green bill and waved it.

"F***~ So what if you have a little money?"

The woman cursed and walked away, swaying her hips. After a few steps, she turned back to snatch the money.

"Thanks, handsome!"

Luca shook his head, downed his drink in one go, and exhaled softly.

"Another one!"

He tapped on the bar counter.

"Sure thing!"

The bartender served him another glass of Charleston's special Pirate Rum, a strong drink with a refreshing fruity flavor, the sweetness of sugarcane, and a strong ginger taste, costing twenty-two dollars a glass.

Luca picked up a spoon, added a piece of crushed ice, and gently swirled it.

When he first decided to become an actor, it was just for fun; he never intended to take it seriously as a job. It was exciting back then—playing around without worrying about acting skills, without stressing over his state, without caring too much.

But recently, after meeting Tom Cruise and seeing the privileges of a superstar, he suddenly wanted to go all in. He wanted to take acting as a career, to achieve something, and then problems and challenges came at him all at once, leaving him overwhelmed.

"Should I go back to how I was before?"

Luca swirled his drink, the ice clinking against the glass.

"Isn't it good to just have fun?"

"Why aim to be a superstar?"

"This path is tough."

Luca shook his head, lifting his glass, ready to drink.

Slap!

Someone's hand was on his shoulder again.

The glass wobbled, and a drop of golden rum dripped onto the bar. Luca's eyes turned cold as he turned to face the intruder.

A tall, muscular man, dressed in a black tank top and jeans, looked quite intimidating.

"Got a problem?"

Luca frowned slightly, lifting his shirt to reveal the handle of a gun on his waist.

"Whoa~ Easy there, handsome. I don't mean any harm!"

The muscle-bound guy raised his hands in a placating gesture, quickly explaining, "I've been watching you for a while. I noticed you're sitting here alone, drinking, and even turned down Maria. Did you come to the wrong bar?"

"What?"

Luca frowned slightly.

"The gay bar is next door. Wanna join me?"

The muscular guy winked suddenly, his expression becoming sultry.

Hiss~

So cringe.

Luca covered his forehead, waving his hand. "Get lost; I'm not gay!"

"Sigh~ What a pity!"

The muscle-bound guy shook his head, looking regretful, and left.

"F***~"

Luca had come to the bar to lift his mood, but it just got worse.

He picked up his glass, enduring the strong ginger taste while savoring the rum's fruity sweetness. After four glasses, he was getting a little dizzy.

Leaving some tips, he planned to call Tony and leave.

Bang!

Just as he stood up, someone bumped his shoulder again. He lost his balance and fell back into his seat.

"Sorry!"

The apology came from a woman. Even before he turned around to look at her, he could guess a few things.

She was wearing a rare Chanel perfume, a 50ml bottle priced at $196, a favorite of Kate's.

A woman who could afford such perfume definitely wasn't short on cash.

Her apology sounded blunt, a mere formality without sincerity.

And for a woman to bump a tall, well-built man back into his seat, she had to be tall and... well-built.

He turned around just as the woman took a seat beside him.

"A glass of Pirate Rum!"

The woman tapped the bar.

As he guessed, she was nearly 5'11" and undoubtedly a top contender in the plus-size category. But she was tall, so she didn't look overly fat, rather she had a full, curvaceous allure.

She was fashionably dressed, wearing a designer black summer dress, with a golden ponytail, and like him, she wore glasses.

Her light brown tortoiseshell frame covered her eyebrows and eyes, giving only a general view of her slightly round face and fair skin. She moved elegantly as she picked up her drink.

"Kid, don't you recognize me?"

She took a sip of her drink and asked casually.

Luca raised an eyebrow. This woman looked to be only in her thirties, but she was speaking like she owned the place.

"Lady, are you someone famous?"

"Guess."

She adjusted her glasses.

"Not interested."

Luca glanced at her, not recognizing her, and stood up to leave.

Bang~

A hit to his right arm. He was tipsy, and with a stagger, he sat down again.

"Hey, lady, what are you doing?"

Luca asked in surprise.

"Drink with me."

She slid a glass of rum in front of him.

Luca was puzzled. "Why should I drink with you?"

"It's rare to meet an acquaintance in Charleston. How could I let you go so easily?"

"An acquaintance?"

Luca shook his head. "I don't know you."

"But I know you."

She gave him a once-over and smirked. "Mr. Big, right? What are you doing in Charleston?"

"I'm here for a shoot. I might have had a bit too much to drink. Sorry for not recognizing you. May I know who you are?"

"A shoot?"

She asked, intrigued. "What kind of project?"

"That's not fair. I answered your question, so you should answer one of mine."

"Alright, alright."

She smiled with a curve of her lips, then her expression changed, becoming cold and intense.

"My name is Aileen, Aileen Wuornos."

"Aileen Wuornos?"

Luca rubbed his temple. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it.

"I'm sorry, I can't recall. Are you a model?"

"No, no, no. I'm actually a killer!"

She said coldly.

"Really?"

Luca frowned slightly. A killer that pretty? A female killer?

"Want to hear my story?"

She raised her glass and asked.

"If I refuse, will you kill me?"

Luca smirked.

"You can try."

She squinted, her expression turning wild and erratic, with a hint of danger that couldn't be underestimated.

"Alright, listening to a story from such a beautiful killer is my honor."

Luca straightened up, clinking glasses.

"My name is Aileen Wuornos."

She sighed, slowly recounting, "I was born into a broken family. When I was two, my father was imprisoned for raping a girl. At four, my mother left me, and I was raised by my grandparents. I was raped by my grandfather's friend and got pregnant, giving birth to a child..."

Listening, Luca frowned, not because she was so tragic but because the story sounded so familiar.

"...Later, I provided *** services on Florida highways. Once, a man refused to pay and beat me, so I shot him. Over the next ten years, I killed six men, including a cop. I didn't want to kill them, really..."

She covered her face, her body trembling slightly, a dark aura surrounding her.

Thud~

Across the bar, the bartender's face turned pale, and he dropped a shaker.

"Hey~ buddy, relax."

Luca said quickly. "She's just kidding. She's telling the story of Aileen Wuornos, the first female serial killer. Aileen was executed last year."

This story was the same as the movie Monster. If he hadn't seen it, he might have been fooled.

"You've heard of this story?"

The woman lowered her hands, actually crying.

"Uh~"

That’s some serious role-play

"Not bad at all. Next year's Oscar for Best Actress is definitely going to Ms. Charlize Theron," Luca said with a confident smile.

"So sure?" The woman adjusted her glasses and looked at him in surprise.

Luca nodded firmly. "I heard that Ms. Theron gained 30 pounds for this role. With such a big sacrifice, she's bound to win the award."

"Hah, you're oversimplifying it. So many people are vying for the Best Actress spot. If it were just about sacrifices, who hasn't made a big one?" The woman sighed softly, resting her chin on the bar.

Luca glanced at the woman and suddenly smiled. "How about we make a bet?"

"A bet?" The woman asked with interest. "What's the bet?"

"If Ms. Theron wins Best Actress next year, you buy me a drink. If not, I'll buy you a drink."

"Deal!" The woman raised her glass.

"Alright!"

"Now it's your turn to answer my question. What movie are you shooting in Charleston?" The woman propped her head up with her hand and asked.

"The Notebook, based on Nicholas Sparks' novel. You should know it. I'm playing a supporting role," Luca said simply.

The woman nodded. "You're drinking alone. Are you in some kind of trouble?"

"Yes." Luca took half a glass of his drink and slowly began talking about the issues he encountered during filming.

Maybe it was the alcohol or the environment, but he talked a lot.

"Acting? Emotions? State of mind? Immersion?" The woman held her cheek with a slight smile. "None of those are the real problem. The problem is you've played too few roles. You lack experience. When you face a big scene with many actors who are better than you, you get nervous, you feel the pressure, and your performance naturally declines. It's a difficulty every new actor faces."

"You know how to act too?" Luca was a bit drunk, resting his head on his hand as he asked.

The woman's lips curled into a high smile, and she gestured with her fingers. "Just a bit more than you do."

"Is there a way to fix it?" Luca asked, leaning on the bar.

"Want to know?" The woman pushed a glass of wine towards him.

Thud! Luca took it and drank it all in one go. "Please, go ahead."

"Confidence!"

"Confidence?" Luca frowned slightly.

"Yes, you need to be confident. The reason you feel pressured, nervous, and your performance keeps declining is all because you lack confidence.

The first time you performed, you were well-prepared. You believed you could pass, and that was when you were at your best. Unfortunately, you didn't pass the first time.

The second time, you pulled yourself together, but still didn't pass. The third time, you tried your hardest but still didn't pass. Your confidence started to waver, and after that, your self-confidence seriously dwindled."

The woman spoke slowly, saying a lot of things—very professional, even more thorough than Ryan had told him.

"In fact, after the first, second, and third failures, you don't need to feel dejected at all. Sometimes it's just that the director thinks you can do even better, improving each time. This shows that you're becoming more successful, not less.

Why feel dejected then? You should push yourself to perform even harder, until you've used up every last bit of effort. When you act with everything you have, your potential gets unleashed."

Listening to her, Luca gradually had some realization.

"Thank you for your guidance, Ms. Killer!"

"You're welcome!" The woman smiled softly and raised her glass.

Clink~

"Want to hear my story?" Putting down her glass, the woman leaned on the bar and asked faintly.

"A female killer's story?"

"No, my story! I got too into character, got depressed, and wanted to kill someone."

Luca smirked. "Sounds thrilling and interesting. Please, go on."

"I wanted to kill a bad man but couldn't find the right one, so I came to the busiest bar and then met you."

"…"

"Haha, scared?" The woman patted his shoulder. "I'm just kidding. Let's drink."

"Of course I know you're joking," Luca said, raising his glass with a smile.

"You recognized me?" The woman propped her head with her hand, appearing a bit drunk.

Luca smiled slightly. "Not sure, unless you take off your glasses."

"If you want to know, drink first!" The woman pushed another glass of strong liquor towards him.

"Alright!" Luca downed it.

The woman slowly took off her...

*Chapter 155: After Drinking*

"Charlize Theron, ma'am?"

The next morning, Luca slowly opened his eyes and saw a woman standing in front of the floor-length mirror adjusting her dress. She had shoulder-length golden hair, fair skin, and a tall, slightly fuller figure.

"Don't tell me you didn't recognize me last night?"

Ms. Theron had a smirk on her face. Her expression was somewhat indifferent, but her voice was even huskier and more seductive than it had been the previous night.

Luca shook his head. "I wasn't sure last night, but now I am."

"So what?"

Ms. Theron said flatly, "You have a girlfriend, and I have a boyfriend. We drank too much last night and had a little misunderstanding, right?"

"Yes, that's exactly what happened."

Luca rubbed his forehead. Last night, they drank and talked; he shared the problems he encountered while filming, and Charlize spoke about her troubles. She had gained weight for a role, which had caused her to suffer from mild depression. After filming, she came out to unwind. They drank while chatting, got drunk, then returned to the hotel together and ended up in bed.

"Now that everything's clear, I'll be on my way."

Ms. Theron finished getting dressed, picked up her LV bag, and headed for the door.

"Sally, you're just going to leave like that?"

Luca sat up, revealing his well-defined chest muscles.

"Otherwise? Want to go again?"

Ms. Theron snorted, then suddenly sneered, "You know, the only reason you're still lying here talking is that you're lucky."

"Oh?"

Luca raised an eyebrow.

Ms. Theron sneered, staring at him coldly. "Last night, I told you I got into the role of Aileen and ended up with mild depression. The doctor said my condition was unstable. Last night, I had the urge to kill you. You're still lying here because I decided to show mercy."

"Really? Thank you, Ms. Killer."

Luca smiled faintly. "But it seemed like someone was shouting 'I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die' all night. I thought I was the killer."

"Bastard!"

Ms. Theron gritted her teeth and suddenly picked up a handgun from the pile of clothes, pointing it at him.

"Calm down, please!"

Luca's mouth twitched. If he'd known, he wouldn't have brought a gun last night.

"Heh, scared?"

Ms. Theron laughed coldly.

Luca curled his lip and took out a fifty-cent coin from his wallet.

"Ms. Theron, you got into the role, right? In the movie, you only kill men who don't pay you for the night. I gave you money; you won't kill me, will you?"

"Bastard! Do you want to die?"

Ms. Theron gritted her teeth, holding the gun tightly with both hands.

"Not enough?"

Luca chuckled.

"Are you trying to provoke me?"

Ms. Theron disengaged the safety, her voice cold. "You think I don't dare?"

"Of course, you dare!"

Luca smiled slightly. "Dear Sally, let me tell you a secret. There's no bullet in the gun!"

"What?"

Ms. Theron was stunned for a moment, then immediately became furious.

"No bullets? I'll smash you!"

Ms. Theron picked up the gun and threw it at him.

Luca quickly raised his hand to block, but unfortunately, the flying gun hit his arm, and he couldn't help but take a sharp breath.

"You're a crazy woman!"

Luca rubbed his arm, cursing.

"Heh, now you know? I'm not someone to mess with."

Ms. Theron sneered, took a few steps toward the door, then suddenly turned back and took the coin.

"We're done. Don't let me see you again. If I see you, I'll hit you."

Ms. Theron shook her fist and slammed the door behind her.

The door closed, cutting off the view, but the faint scent lingered in the air.

Luca shook his head. Sometimes women are more decisive than men, leaving without a trace of emotion!

He picked up the gun, re-engaged the safety, and removed the full magazine.

"Close call!"

"Hey, Luca, you did well today. Just three takes and it was good."

At noon on set, after finishing a shot, Rachel said in surprise.

Luca took a sip of tea from his cup and smiled. "Actually, I kind of hope Nick does a few more takes."

"Oh? Why? Wouldn't more takes be stressful?"

Luca shook his head, thinking of what Charlize had said last night.

"The more takes I used to get, the more pressure I felt, but I figured it out yesterday.

I'm a newbie actor, and what I lack the most is on-the-spot experience. The more takes there are, the more chances I have to practice. I can perform more in front of the camera, correct more, and explore more.

Through these repeated takes, my acting skills will gradually improve."

"That actually sounds pretty good."

Rachel blinked, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

"Of course, the set is the best training ground. There's a good director, good co-actors here, so why not take more takes? Anyway, the contract is signed, and we're halfway through filming. Nick can't fire me.

Nick is willing to spend time, money, and effort to guide me. Isn't that a cool thing? Why not take it?"

Luca patted his cheek and smiled. "As an actor, the most important thing is to have thick skin, right?"

"Hahaha, you make it sound so... burp~"

Laughing, Rachel suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes fixed on something behind him.

"What's wrong?"

Luca turned around in confusion.

Director Nick stood behind him, his mouth twitching and his face looking a bit complicated.

"Nick, do you need something?"

Luca stood up, asking calmly.

"I can't fire you?"

Nick asked flatly.

"Haha~ You can, of course, you can."

Luca gestured with his hands. "We all know this movie is your passion project. It can't have any flaws. If any actor's performance is not up to standard, they should be fired. No need for sentimentality.

But for a good, proactive actor, even if they've made mistakes before, you'd give them more chances, right, Nick?"

Nick's mouth twitched. "A good actor? Are you one?"

"Yes, I am a good actor."

Luca patted his chest confidently.

"Snort~"

Rachel couldn't help but laugh.

"Hmph! Stop talking nonsense. The next scene is where you announce your engagement. You must show excitement and give a good performance, or I'll kick you out."

Nick snorted and turned back to the director's area.

"That was close!"

Luca smiled slightly.

"Luca, your skin seems to have gotten thicker."

Rachel laughed.

Luca pinched his cheek and nodded.

"Much thicker indeed."

"Haha~"

"Everyone, get ready!"

After half an hour's rest, everything was in place. John shouted through a megaphone.

"Scene 13, Shot 5, Take 1, Action!"

Filming started, and Luca was still in his black suit. He kissed Rachel, stood up, and strode toward the stage.

"Have the band stop!"

Luca waved his arm with a large movement, looking very excited.

The orchestra on stage stopped, and the crowd turned to look at the stage.

He held the microphone, smiling coolly. "Excuse me, I want everyone to know that this lady is going to marry me!"

Saying this, he suddenly pointed toward the audience, as if shooting Cupid's arrow toward Rachel.

"Wow~ Luca's performance is really good. He's very excited, full of emotion."

John couldn't help but clap his hands. He glanced at the director, who didn't look pleased, so he quickly put his hands down. "Ahem, there's still some room for improvement."

On stage, Luca excitedly waved his hand, walked off the stage, and held Rachel, kissing her passionately.

Gasp~

In the crowd, a spirited young man in a flat cap clutched his chest.

"CUT!"

"One more time!"

Director Nick said flatly.

"Okay!"

John nodded. This was the norm. Whether it was good or not, Director Nick always shot a few more takes for comparison and improvement.

"Band, please pause!"

Luca continued acting. He ran back on stage and shook his shoulders, grooving to the band's accompaniment. Turning around, he shouted into the microphone:

"Ladies and gentlemen, excuse me, but I can't wait to tell you the good news. That beautiful lady is going to marry me!"

Luca paused for a moment and suddenly pointed both arms toward the audience, as if presenting something grandly, displaying extreme excitement.

After making the announcement, he walked off the stage, held Rachel's face, and kissed her passionately.

Gasp~

Someone in the crowd gasped.

"Cut!"

The performance ended, and everyone looked at the director. This time, it was even better, more engaging.

"Nick, this time—"

John asked.

"One more time!"

Director Nick said flatly.

"Uh, is there anything Luca needs to pay attention to?"

John asked tactfully.

"No, continue!"

"Okay!"

John was puzzled. It was pretty good this time. Why another take?

"Scene 13, Shot 5, Take 3, Action!"

Offstage, Luca took a deep breath, jumped in place a few times, and then walked back onto the stage. He shook his shoulders and swayed to the band's accompaniment, turning around excitedly to shout:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have great news that I can't wait to share with you. That beautiful lady is going to marry me!"

He paused for a moment, then suddenly pointed both arms toward the audience, as if he were grandly introducing something. He appeared very excited.

"Wow~"

The audience applauded enthusiastically.

Luca clapped his hands in excitement, ran off the stage, and embraced Rachel for a kiss.

Hiss~

In the crowd, Gosling scowled and looked toward the director's area. This time, the guy acted so crazily, like he had rabies or something. Surely this take would be the one, right?

"Again!"

Nick said calmly.

"Again?"

Ryan Gosling clutched his chest.

John shook his head.

Luca took a deep breath. Each time, he put in so much effort that his hands were starting to feel weak.

"Luca, be gentle. My lips are starting to swell."

Rachel pursed her lips and said helplessly.

"Alright, I'll be more careful."

Luca touched his lips; they were starting to feel warm too.

"Scene 13, Shot 5, Take 4, Action!"

"Scene 13, Shot 5, Take 18, Action!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have great news that I can't wait to share with you."

Luca's left leg gave way, and he knelt on one knee while extending his arms to the right, shouting at the top of his lungs:

"That beautiful lady is going to marry me!!!"

After saying that, he raised his arms, let out two loud roars, and then, enduring back pain and leg cramps, ran off the stage to kiss Rachel.

Even though they had applied ice several times, their mouths were still red, as if they were about to bleed.

"Nick!!"

Ryan patted his head, shouting in frustration, "Enough is enough!!"

"What's enough?"

Director Nick raised his head calmly.

Ryan took a deep breath and tried to speak as calmly as possible, "Isn't Luca's performance good? If it's his problem, we can just film the declaration part. Or, if it doesn't work, just replace him. Why involve Rachel? She's done great."

"Don't you think the last take was better than all the previous ones?"

Nick stroked his chin and said slowly, "A lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth. What about a performance repeated dozens of times? When an actor repeatedly does the same action, they become the character, fully immersed in the performance, and give their best."

"Luca and Rachel are both new actors. They're like pieces of iron that need to be constantly refined to shine. How do you refine without repetition?"

"So, a few more takes?"

Ryan asked helplessly.

Those around also had pained expressions, nearly pleading for mercy.

On set, Luca and Rachel kept wiping sweat and drinking water. Their pale faces were in stark contrast to their blood-red lips.

Nick curled the corner of his mouth, "Go ask Luca if he can keep performing."

"Uh~"

John scratched his head and walked over to Luca. After a while, he came back.

"How is it?"

Nick, stroking his beard, asked curiously.

John shook his head, "Luca said he wants to try again."

"Okay~ One more time!"

"..."

The whole set fell silent.

"Scene 13, Shot 5, Take 19, Action!"

John shouted hoarsely.

Luca slapped his face hard, using what little strength he had left to walk onto the stage.

Wave, declaration, action, jump offstage, kiss.

He was like a machine running at high speed, forgetting the performance, forgetting what he was doing. He operated entirely on Ron Hammond's programming, without a single extra thought other than the character's own. All the performance and actions became extremely simple, yet more powerful than a thousand words.

"..."

Behind the monitor, Nick stroked his chin, his mouth curling into a frightening smile.

"How is this possible?"

"That was amazing!"

"How did he do it?"

John, Ryan, and the assistant director were all stunned by the performance, their mouths agape.

"Haha, did you see that? Did you all see that? This is potential; he has enormous potential as an actor."

Nick chuckled softly.

"This guy!"

Ryan shook his head. This guy was progressing so fast. Next time, if they act together, could he still overshadow him?

No way!

Next time, he absolutely couldn't let it pass in two or three takes. He had to drag it out!

Ryan Gosling clenched his fist.

"Nick, do we need another take?"

John asked. This time he didn't oppose another take because one great scene is worth dozens of mediocre shots.

Nick shook his head, "That's enough. Let's call it a wrap!"

"Yeah!!!"

The entire crew cheered louder than if they had wrapped the whole shoot.

Bang!

On set, Luca's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, pale-faced and drenched in sweat. His arms and legs were trembling.

The injuries from the battle last night hadn't had time to heal, and today he went through a drill that nearly took him down.

He knew he could just find the director to protest or plead, and Nick would definitely let him off.

But he didn't.

He just said that repeated drills are like repeated battles, helping him grow quickly.

The director was willing to give him a chance, so why not cherish it? As long as he didn't die from exhaustion, it was a chance to gain experience. How could he level up and fight monsters if he didn't take the free experience?

"Luca, do you know who in this world I least want to kiss?"

Rachel sat down and sighed deeply.

"Who?"

"You!"

Rachel patted his shoulder.

Luca chuckled. The first kiss felt gentle, but the eighteenth kiss was like kissing shards of glass, each one accompanied by a prickling pain. It wasn't a pleasant memory at all.

"Me too!"

They looked at each other's blood-red lips and burst into laughter.

"Rachel, thank you!"

"Don't mention it; we're friends!"