121-125

Chapter 121: The Videotape

"Luca, are you ready?"

"Ready!"

"Let's go!"

After two days of rest, the injury on Luca's arm had improved significantly, and the day of the trial had quietly arrived.

"Gisele!"

"Kate!"

As Kate got out of the car at the courthouse entrance, she ran into Gisele. Their eyes met, and both their expressions gradually turned cold, their auras becoming sharp and domineering.

Gisele wore a long purple velvet gown that trailed on the ground, her golden curls flowing freely. Her slender waist, curvaceous figure, and tall, sexy frame radiated fierce confidence.

Kate was dressed in a burgundy off-the-shoulder gown, her fair skin and delicate features striking. Her chestnut-golden hair was partially pinned up, exuding a noble elegance with a hint of untamed wildness—graceful and captivating.

The two women stared at each other intensely, as if engaged in a mental battle, the atmosphere tense and fierce.

"Their presence is so overwhelming!"

Not far away, Miranda, the rookie, cupped her round face, blinking her wide eyes in admiration as she looked at the two powerful queens.

"Don’t be too envious. After a few more years of experience, you can be as impressive as them," Ms. Nina said calmly.

"Can I really?"

Miranda bit her lip, then smiled, revealing her round dimples—part innocent, part sweet, and part naive.

Ms. Nina shook her head quietly, thinking it might not be likely.

Miranda's charm lay in her innocent, sweet, and pure nature. If she lost that, she'd lose her uniqueness. She could never imitate the styles of Kate or Gisele, nor did she need to.

"Hey, you two, could you not do this?"

Lima pushed her ample chest forward and inserted herself between the two auras. She spread her hands and smiled, "We all come from the same place, so we should support each other. Why fight to the death?"

Kate's lips curled slightly, her expression softening a bit.

"Gisele, thank you for being willing to testify."

"Heh, no need to thank me. Someone paid a hefty price to ask me for help, so of course, I had to agree."

Gisele glanced at someone before walking into the courtroom first.

"Delia, did you pay a hefty price to invite her?"

Kate frowned slightly.

Ms. Delia shook her head, "No, I asked her to testify, and she just agreed."

"Then who invited her? Was it the Balmain family?"

Kate raised her sharp eyebrows, radiating a murderous intent.

"It doesn’t matter whether we have a witness or not, does it?"

Ms. Delia said confidently.

"Exactly!"

Kate pursed her lips and strode up the courthouse steps.

"Luca, it seemed like Gisele glanced at you just now?"

Lima stared at him in confusion.

"Me?"

Luca was puzzled. "Did Gisele just look at me? Could she have a secret crush on me?"

"Hahaha~"

The group burst into laughter.

"Hmph, laugh while you can. Soon, you’ll be crying!"

Hubert Balmain sneered coldly as he led his group into the courtroom.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 122: The Trial Begins

*Knock, knock, knock—*

At 10 a.m., the Bordeaux District Court.

In the solemn main courtroom, the judge, clerk, and a jury of nearly 20 people sat in the upper seats.

Opposite the bench were the parties involved, witnesses, and the audience.

Today's hearing had drawn a large crowd, with over a hundred people filling the seats. Among them were prominent local figures, notable individuals from the fashion world, media personnel with permits, and friends and family members.

Luca, Lima, Nina, and Han Li sat in the audience, directly behind Kate.

Surprisingly, Raul, who had been completely covered in plaster casts and was sitting in a wheelchair, was wheeled into the courtroom, perfectly garnering sympathy from the jury.

*Clang, clang, clang!*

The trial began, and the defendant's lawyer, Ms. Della Coble, started her defense. However, with the evidence and exhibits from the Balmé side destroyed, Della struggled to present compelling proof and was clearly at a disadvantage.

"Your Honor, at 10 p.m. on the night of April 9th, after the party at Commandy Estate, Raul Balmy drugged Miranda and forced her into a car," Della began.

But she was quickly interrupted by the plaintiff's lawyer, "Objection! The defendant's lawyer is slandering my client."

"Objection sustained. Defendant’s lawyer, please present evidence to support your claim," the judge reminded with a knock of the gavel.

Ms. Della produced a cellphone and printed text messages. "On the night of the incident, while my client was urgently searching for Miranda, she received a text message stating that Raul Balmé was seen forcing Miranda into a car. This message was sent by Ms. Gisele Bündchen, who can testify that the message is true."

"Please call the witness to the stand!"

The judge summoned, and a guide escorted Bündchen to the witness stand.

"Ms. Bündchen, did you personally compose and send this text to Ms. Kate Kelly’s phone?" the judge asked.

"Yes," Bündchen replied after a brief glance.

The plaintiff's lawyer stood up to question her, "Ms. Bündchen, did you personally witness my client helping Miranda into the car that night?"

"Yes," Bündchen said calmly.

"Did you see my client helping, holding, or forcing her?" the plaintiff’s lawyer asked.

"Helping," she replied.

"Based on your observation, did Miranda have the ability to move on her own?"

"No," Bündchen confirmed.

"Very well," said the plaintiff’s lawyer, nodding. He then turned to Raul, "Mr. Balmé, why did you help Ms. Miranda Kerr into the car?"

Raul chuckled, "I’m a gentleman. I saw Miranda was drunk, so I was just trying to take her home, but then I was attacked on the way."

He shook his head, looking indignant.

The plaintiff’s lawyer smiled lightly and looked toward the witness stand, "Ms. Miranda Kerr, how well do you handle alcohol?"

"Quite well," Miranda confidently answered.

"How much red wine did you have that night?"

"Less than two glasses," Miranda said firmly.

"You're lying. That night you were examined at the hospital, and your blood alcohol level exceeded 90 mg/100 ml, meaning you were intoxicated."

"I’m not lying. I only had two glasses, and I took a small sip of Raul Balmé's drink before passing out," Miranda explained.

"This is the blood test report from Bordeaux General Hospital’s Hematology Department. The data clearly shows you were drunk," the lawyer added.

"Objection!" Della protested. "I question the fairness of this report."

The judge reviewed the report and had it verified. "The test report is valid. Objection overruled."

"Thank you, Your Honor!" The plaintiff’s lawyer gave a small bow and continued, "Miranda, you were intoxicated and asked Mr. Balmé to take you home. Mr. Balmé, out of goodwill, agreed, but the situation was misunderstood, leading to this accident. I believe Ms. Kate Kelly is largely responsible."

A murmur swept through the courtroom as the spectators began to discuss the validity of this argument.

Luca glanced at Della, wondering if there was any way to prove that Miranda wasn’t drunk. Without such proof, there was no evidence to support the righteousness of Kate’s actions.

"Don’t worry, Della has a plan," Lima whispered softly.

"You know Della’s ace?" Luca asked, confused.

"Yes," Lima smirked. "Knowing the ace is like knowing the movie’s ending—it makes the trial seem boring."

Luca chuckled, a bit envious. "Dear, there’s something I’ve never understood. Why is Della so guarded against me and keeps things secret from you and Kate?"

"Don’t you know why?" Lima laughed softly, covering her mouth.

Luca thought for a moment. "Because I’m a man?"

"That’s not the point. The point is you cheated, and that’s something Della can’t tolerate."

"Ow, Lima, don’t hit me!" Luca winced, grabbing her playful hand.

"Hmph, didn’t you deserve it?"

"Okay, okay, I deserved it," Luca admitted, defeated.

Ms. Della then stood, "Your Honor, I have evidence to prove that my client acted justly. Raul Balmé tampered with the wine, causing Miranda to pass out, not mere drunkenness."

"Please present your evidence!"

Vito, one of Della’s assistants, handed over a videotape. "This is surveillance footage from the night of the incident. It clearly shows Raul Balmé’s disgraceful actions."

"Surveillance?" Raul’s eyes widened in shock. He had no idea there was surveillance footage from that night.

The courtroom buzzed with excitement. If there was surveillance footage, this trial seemed pointless. Some spectators even glared angrily at Crowley, the owner of the Commandy Estate.

"Is this the ace?" Luca asked in confusion.

"Of course not!" Lima smiled, pointing to the audience seats where Hubert Balmé and his companions were sitting. "Look at their expressions."

Luca glanced over and saw Hubert and his group looking relaxed, with smug smiles on their faces.

"Why aren’t they worried?"

Just as Luca was wondering, the courtroom erupted in laughter.

Looking up, Luca saw a cartoon of Tom and Jerry playing on the courtroom’s projector, with the mouse chasing the cat around, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha!" Hubert and his group laughed especially loud, their back teeth showing.

"Did they bring the wrong tape?" Luca raised his eyebrows, perplexed, when he overheard a conversation nearby.

"Hubert, what’s going on?" asked Crowley, the owner of the estate.

When the tape was first produced, Crowley thought they were doomed, but to his relief, it turned out to be a cartoon.

Hubert Balmé shot him a nasty look and replied nonchalantly, "I spent 5 million euros to buy that tape."

"Five million euros?" Crowley was shocked.

"Hmph. I’ll spare no expense to beat these women!" Hubert clenched his fist, a pained expression on his face. He then sneered coldly, "Astin, you’ll have to compensate me for my loss, or I’ll tell everyone about your secret filming at the party."

"Oh, dear Hubert, please don’t! We can work something out," Crowley pleaded.

"Hmph, since we’re old friends, I’ll give you one chance," Hubert replied disdainfully.

Crowley nodded repeatedly. "Hubert, how did you manage to buy such a crucial piece of evidence? Della wouldn’t have sold it to you."

"Della may not care about money, but others do. That foolish woman was careless enough to let her assistant handle such critical evidence," Hubert laughed smugly.

"Brilliant! Your strategy is ingenious, Hubert. As the saying goes, you ‘pulled the rug out from under them.’ Let’s see how Della responds to this," Crowley praised with admiration.

"Small matter. A bunch of women think they can take me on," Hubert chuckled darkly.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 123: The Plot Thickens

"Ahhh~"

On the screen, a mouse set a trap at the hole, and the big cat got caught, hopping around holding its foot.

The whole audience burst into laughter.

Thud!

The judge banged the gavel once, and his assistant immediately turned off the projector. The cat and mouse disappeared from the screen.

“Don’t turn it off, we want to see more!”

Someone shouted loudly, sparking another round of laughter.

“Order in the court!”

The judge pounded the gavel several times, his face dark, as he turned to Della. “Is this your evidence?”

“Hahaha~”

Hubert and his crew burst out laughing.

"This time, Della Cobell, the famous lawyer, really embarrassed herself."

"This whole thing is going to become a joke in the legal community."

"Hmph, let’s see how arrogant Della can be now!"

Hubert and his group despised Della and the feminists backing her. These people often represented women in court for free, constantly opposing them. They were incredibly annoying, but now, they finally had their revenge.

"Hubert, did you tamper with the evidence?"

Ms. Della suddenly turned to face the audience.

“Haha, lawyer, what are you talking about? I don’t understand a word!”

Hubert squinted, smiling.

Bang, bang, bang!

The judge struck the gavel again. “Defense attorney, answer my question!”

Della shot a cold glance at Vito.

“Haha, Della, how does it feel to be betrayed by your own assistant?”

Hubert chuckled.

“It's cool.”

Della smirked, glaring at Vito coldly. “What are you waiting for? Hand over the real evidence.”

"Got it!"

Vito chuckled, pulling out a disc. “Sorry, Your Honor, I grabbed the wrong one earlier. This is our actual evidence.”

“What is that?!”

Hubert's face tightened from the audience.

"Hubert, you got played. Della made backups in advance."

Crowley looked at him like he was a fool.

"Impossible. It takes at least two days to make a copy of that tape. I got the original yesterday. They couldn’t have made a backup."

"They could’ve just recorded it again."

While the two speculated, sound and images appeared on the screen, showing the party from that night. The footage was clearer than the tape, and with sound, it felt like watching a movie. The star? Raul.

“Is this Della’s ace card?”

Luca smirked.

"Yes!"

Lima glanced at the stunned Hubert and his group and whispered with a smile, “Della said that since the last lawsuit, they hired three private detectives to follow Raul. Every time Raul attended a party, the detectives would sneak in and secretly film him, collecting evidence of his crimes. The evidence before wasn’t strong enough to take him down, but this time, at the Commandy Estate, the detective happened to catch Raul drugging, knocking out, and kidnapping Miranda.”

“With this, why bother with the tape? What’s the point?”

Luca was speechless. All that for nothing.

“Didn’t Della tell you? The tape was just for money.”

Lima whispered, “That tape? Della sold it to Hubert through Vito for 3 million euros.”

Luca glanced at Hubert in the distance. Didn’t the old guy just say it was 5 million?

What a scheming old fox.

“The first reason was for money, but the second was to distract Hubert and his people, so they wouldn’t do anything rash before the trial.”

Lima explained quietly.

Luca nodded. From the gunman Hubert hired the other day, it was clear that if they made no moves, Hubert would have been uneasy, unsure of their strategy.

Once Hubert got the tape, he focused all his attention on it and didn’t stir up trouble.

“The third reason was to really infuriate Hubert. Look at his face now.”

Hubert looked terrible, his forehead darkened, his lips pale, clutching his chest like he was about to vomit blood.

“No, no, this can’t be!”

Hubert kept shaking his head, completely in disbelief.

The real culprit, Raul, also widened his eyes. He never imagined someone had been following and filming him the whole time.

"They violated my privacy! I’m going to sue them!"

Raul shouted.

“Shut up!”

The audience was enjoying the show and didn’t want him to interrupt.

Suddenly, the projector showed footage of someone driving a car, following Raul’s Maserati Quattroporte. Shortly after, a Porsche RV appeared, with Nina shouting something loudly from the car.

But the detective’s car was too far away to pick up the audio.

"The driver was Gina. That night, while Kate and I headed west, Gina drove the Porsche and took Nina east, where they first encountered Raul."

Bang, bang!

Raul suddenly popped out of the car window and fired two shots, shattering a window.

Gina slowed down and followed from a distance.

Ten minutes later, a silver Ferrari zoomed up and started racing Raul’s Maserati.

“We’re here!”

Lima said excitedly.

Bang, bang!

Raul fired repeatedly from the window.

Kate’s car windows shattered front and back, and with a screech, the car stopped.

Bang, bang!

Raul fired two more shots, dancing and shouting excitedly, full of arrogance.

"That bastard!"

"Raul deserves to die!"

"Why doesn’t this scumbag just die?!"

People in the gallery cursed, and even the jury members were whispering in anger.

Screech!

A few seconds after Kate’s car stopped, Raul’s car was about to merge onto the highway when suddenly, a large truck barreled down from the highway, moving fast.

Just before the collision, Raul’s driver swerved.

In an instant, Raul, who had been shouting from the window, was flung out.

“Wow, amazing!”

“This is God’s punishment!”

“Raul deserves this!”

The audience erupted in cheers.

“You, you all!”

Raul was so angry, his face turned white, almost fainting.

Cough, cough!  

Hubert clutched his chest and coughed repeatedly. So much money, wasted. Damn that woman!

"Your Honor, since the defense did not present their evidence earlier, leading to unexpected developments during the trial, we request a recess!"

The plaintiff’s lawyer shouted.

“Objection!”

Della replied, “With the evidence we have now, it's enough to prove my client’s innocence. I ask the judge and jury for a verdict.”

The judge pondered for a moment, then consulted with the jury.

After a brief discussion, the jury handed their opinion to the judge.

The judge read it and announced, "After deliberation by the court and the jury, we unanimously find that Ms. Kate Kelly is not at fault in this car accident and should not face any charges!"

“Yeah!”

The courtroom erupted in cheers.

“Additionally, the court and the jury find Raul Balmay guilty of multiple crimes, and we hereby file charges against him.”

“No! It’s all lies! It’s all lies! I did nothing wrong! You damn women, when I get out of here, I’ll...”

Raul shouted as he was dragged out, almost going mad.

"Luca, was our ace strong enough?"

Kate turned to Luca with a smile.

Luca shook his head. "Don’t pull stunts like that again, okay?"

“Got it!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 124: The Second Time*

*"A High-Profile Lawsuit"*

*"Trial Concludes: Supermodel-Author Kate Kelly Found Not Guilty"*

*"The Full Story of the Bordeaux Car Crash Case"*

*"Reflections on the Bordeaux Trial: How Many More Raul Barmeis Are There in the Fashion World?"*

*"Winning the Case but Losing the Future: How Much Further Can Kate's Supermodel Career Go?"*

A few days after the trial, newspapers, radio stations, and television networks around the world reported on the event.

Some focused on the celebrities present at the trial, calling it a "high-profile lawsuit."

In the courtroom were the defendant, supermodel-author Kate Kelly, witnesses Adriana Lima, Miranda Kerr, and Gisele Bündchen. Also in attendance, sitting in the audience, were Luca Kelly and several French actors and models who came to observe.

Everyone was dressed to impress, turning the courtroom into something akin to a mini fashion show.

Other newspapers focused on the events of the case.

The Guardian covered the entire story in great detail in its social news section, from the fashion party that night to Raul Barmei kidnapping Miranda, to Kate and Lima's rescue attempt, the chase, the shootout, the car crash, and finally the court battle.

The reporting aimed to remain neutral, without praise or criticism.

But after reading the article, readers could clearly see Kate and Lima's bravery and kindness, as well as Raul’s despicable and shameless actions.

Some reports focused on Raul, the true villain of the story, listing several of his past actions.

In the last five years, Raul Barmei had been a defendant in at least four cases, all involving allegations of sexual harassment, indecent assault, or rape.

The author then shifted focus to other cases in the entertainment and fashion industry involving similar figures like Raul.

In these cases, women were the victims. They faced harassment in their work, but justice was rarely served, and their rights remained unprotected.

Some newspapers centered on Kate Kelly herself, describing her as a standout in this situation—just, courageous, kind, and compassionate—like a female superhero.

At the same time, these reports expressed concern over her approach. Handling the issue with such force would inevitably make her a "unique figure" in the modeling industry.

One newspaper called her the "female Don Quixote"—brave but perhaps overly ambitious. It also suggested that her career would undoubtedly suffer as a result.

In addition to covering Kate, Adriana Lima, Gisele Bündchen, and Miranda Kerr were frequently mentioned.

Lima was seen as Kate's close ally, and the two worked together to rescue the "Snow White" from the evil villain.

Brazilian newspapers praised not only Kate and Lima but also Gisele, who alerted authorities and testified in court, calling the three of them the pride of Brazil.

Finally, there was Miranda, who narrowly escaped becoming the victim.

Both TV and newspapers featured photos of Miranda, portraying her as innocent, fragile, and sweet, evoking a desire to protect her. Thanks to this ordeal, she gained significant popularity worldwide.

"Miranda, the Barmei family wants you to drop the lawsuit and is offering compensation. What do you think?" asked Nina, putting down her phone at the hotel.

"Settle?"

Kate raised her eyebrows and glanced at Miranda. After the last trial, Delilah had become Miranda's lawyer and filed a lawsuit against Raul Barmei. With video evidence, the chances of winning were high.

"Kate, should I drop the lawsuit?"

Miranda sat cross-legged on the sofa, resting her chin in her hands as she asked.

After some thought, Kate replied, "Drop it. You're new to this industry, and there's no need for you to fight them head-on like I do. It won't benefit you. Like the papers said, you might win the case but lose your future. Now that they've offered to settle, take it. You avoid making enemies, and you can make some extra money. You won’t have to worry about rent for a while."

Nina nodded slightly, adding, "Kate's right. You're new here, so no need to get a 'feminist' label like Kate. It won't help your career. As for the compensation, I'll make sure the company negotiates the best terms for you."

"Thank you, Nina, but..." Miranda pointed outside, cautiously saying, "Delilah and her team are still busy with the case. Wouldn't it be wrong to suddenly drop it?"

"It's fine, Miranda. The Barmei family has already lost their reputation and a lot of money. Raul is still lying in the hospital. Delilah has basically achieved her goal," Kate said with a knowing smile.

That night, the private detective had planned to capture the entire attack on Miranda, hoping to use that strong evidence for a large payout.

But luckily, Kate and Lima had arrived just in time, stopping Miranda from being hurt.

Because of that, the strength of the evidence was significantly weakened. Even if they won, Raul wouldn't go to jail. Dropping the case was the best option.

"Alright, Nina, I'll agree to drop it!"

"Great! We'll start negotiations immediately." Nina grabbed her phone and hurried out.

"Nina misses Eve. She wants to go home," Kate said with a soft smile, watching her leave.

"Yeah, I want to go home too."

Miranda stood by the window, gazing out at the Garonne River. The sunlight glimmered on the water as boats passed by, a beautiful scene.

Stretching, she sighed, "I used to think Bordeaux was beautiful. Now it just feels tiresome. I want to go back to New York."

"New York? I thought you'd want to go back to Australia."

"No, I love New York!" Miranda smiled, dimples showing on her round face.

"It won’t be too long now," Kate said, also gazing at the sunshine outside. She was beginning to miss New York too—with family, friends, and her career, how could she not long for it?

"Kate, the book signing is about to start. Can we go now?" Han Li asked as she entered.

"Let's go!"

The first Bordeaux signing had been interrupted, and Kate had promised to hold a second one, once again at the Bordeaux City Art Museum.

"Miranda, care to join us?"

"Why not!"

Bored at the hotel, Miranda decided to tag along.

The museum wasn't far from the hotel, and after just a few minutes, they arrived at the plaza in front of it.

"Wow, look at all the people!" Miranda exclaimed, covering her mouth in surprise.

"Haha, Kate, stop with the phone calls! Get ready for a surprise!" Han Li laughed loudly.

"Surprise?" Kate glanced out the window. On the plaza, there were two long lines of people, each holding copies of Twilight and posters, waiting for autographs. Most were teenagers and young adults, both boys and girls.

Outside the lines, many more onlookers stood around, and dozens of reporters moved through the crowd, turning the small square into a bustling scene.

Compared to the quiet first event, this felt more like a small concert.

"Are there really this many book fans in Bordeaux?" Kate asked curiously.

"Not just from Bordeaux. Fans from other regions came too. After what happened, your popularity skyrocketed in France. Twilight's sales have nearly doubled."

"Kate, I love you!"

"Kate, we support you!"

"Kate, I came all the way from Switzerland! We support you!"

As the car pulled into the plaza, the shouting from outside grew louder. Fans turned to the car, and reporters rushed over, snapping photos like they were welcoming a celebrity.

"Luca, I’m at the art museum. Thousands of fans are here—listen to their cheers! Way better than the first time. Thanks for everything. Hope things are going well for you in LA."

Kate spoke quickly, hung up the phone, flicked her golden hair, and stepped out in her high heels. Cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Kate, I love you!"

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 125: A Cameo*

Ding-dong~

It was mid-June, and the afternoon sun was blazing over Los Angeles. On the eastern shore of Santa Monica Beach, there was a stretch of beachfront villas. These villas belonged to Hearst Properties and were primarily rented out to vacationers visiting Los Angeles.

During the tourist season, the monthly rent for a beachfront villa could reach $20,000.

Due to its proximity to the beautiful Santa Monica Beach, the demand for these villas was high. Compared to last year, short-term rental prices had risen by 15%.

Ding-dong ding-dong~

The golden sun hung high above the villa area. A tall young man stepped out of a car and rang the doorbell of one of the villas.

He wore a yellow straw hat, a blue floral beach shirt, and leather sandals, giving off a very casual vibe.

Click, the villa door opened, and a man in his forties appeared, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and sporting a beer belly. He looked at the visitor with a puzzled expression.

Before the man could speak, the visitor removed his hat, flashing a bright smile. “Hello, Director Forster. I’m Luca Kelly, a new actor.”

“Oh~, you’re Luca! Billy mentioned you. He said you’re a good actor. Come in, let’s talk!”

“Thank you!”

Luca sighed with relief, holding a bottle of wine as he walked into the villa.

The sun shone peacefully over the villa and the green lawn in front. After about twenty minutes, Luca put his straw hat back on and walked out, heading to a car parked by the road.

In the driver’s seat was a middle-aged man with dark skin, slumped back in his seat, snoring. His baby-faced appearance showed signs of exhaustion, with a few more strands of white hair at his temples glistening in the sunlight.

Knock-knock~

Luca tapped on the car window. “Ed, why don’t I drive?”

“Oh~ Luca, you’re back. How’d it go?”

Ed wiped his face and asked.

“Smoothly. Director Marc Forster thinks I’m a good fit. He’s close with the screenwriter and casting director, so the role should be mine.”

“Wow~, congrats, Luca! You’re going to be the male lead!”

Ed grinned, showing off his white teeth.

“It’s not a big deal,” Luca shrugged. “The story of Mean Girls mostly revolves around the four girls. The male lead, Aaron, has less screen time than the fourth female lead.”

“But he’s still the male lead, right?”

“Fine, I guess I’m finally the male lead. Should we hit a bar and celebrate with some cold beers?”

Luca raised his eyebrows with a smile.

“Cold beer?”

Ed gulped dryly, “That sounds like a great idea, but we’ve got more work today. We should get going.”

“Alright.”

Luca climbed into the passenger seat. “Ed, maybe you should find me an assistant so you don’t have to follow me everywhere.”

“Yeah, I’m already working on that.”

The car engine rumbled and shook a bit before slowly pulling onto the road. Ed turned his head and asked, “What kind of assistant do you want? I’d like to hear your thoughts to get a sense of what you need.”

“Hmm~, first, I’d prefer a female assistant. They tend to be more detail-oriented.”

“No problem.”

“Second, they should be professional.”

“That’s a must.”

Ed nodded.

“Lastly, they should be punctual, discreet, and trustworthy.”

“That won’t be an issue. Punctuality and confidentiality are essential for an assistant.”

“Then I don’t have any other requirements.”

“OK!”

Ed nodded, glancing at Luca’s clothes. “We’re heading straight to the set later. It’s a cameo role, and you need to bring your own outfit, so let’s find somewhere for you to change first.”

“Alright. I’m getting a bit excited about working with Tom Cruise,” Luca said with a slight smile.

“Just don’t get too nervous!”

“Why would I?”

The car slowly left Santa Monica behind. The view of the sea, sand, and bikinis gradually gave way to towering skyscrapers, crowded streets, and endless traffic.

The sounds of waves and seagulls were replaced by honking horns and loud music.

They arrived at 7th Street in downtown Los Angeles, near the Metro Center station.

Today, the Collateral crew was shooting a scene here.

Luca was set to play a small cameo role.

Collateral was a new film starring Tom Cruise, produced by DreamWorks.

In the movie, Cruise played a hitman who receives a kill list and starts a killing spree in Los Angeles.

Luca’s role would appear in the film's opening scene, meeting Cruise’s character at the subway station and handing him a black briefcase.

The scene lasted less than two minutes, and it was very simple.

This was one of the roles the company had arranged for him. Despite only having a few seconds of screen time, sharing a scene with Tom Cruise in a major movie’s opening was still a rare opportunity.

The car stopped in front of a celebrity makeup and styling shop, and they both walked inside with a suitcase.

About ten minutes later, Luca emerged transformed. Dressed in a black suit and white shirt, his hair slicked back, his facial features suddenly appeared sharper. He had gone from a sunny beach boy to a cool, model-like figure—a dramatic change.

“Not bad. Let’s head to the set.”

They quickly arrived at Metro Center station. Amid the busy underground hall, they found the crew preparing for the shoot.

The scheduled time was 2 p.m., and Luca arrived 30 minutes early.

“Mr. Kelly, welcome, welcome!”

The segment producer greeted him.

“Thank you, Mr. Norton!”

Luca politely shook his hand.

“Mr. Kelly, Mr. Cruise hasn’t arrived yet. We’ll need you to wait a bit longer.”

“No problem!”

Luca and Ed stood quietly to the side.

The director and several assistants were guiding the extras. Although the scene only involved two main characters, there were over a hundred extras, making the set busy and noisy.

The weather was hot, and Luca, dressed in a suit, stood there for half an hour, sweating profusely. His clothes were nearly soaked.

“It’s time. Where is he? I’ll go ask!”

Ed went to check, returning with a slightly frustrated look. “Luca, we’ll have to wait a bit longer. Tom Cruise is still filming on another set.”

“Alright.”

After waiting over two hours, the superstar finally arrived.

Tom Cruise, dressed in a gray suit, walked into the subway hall with five bodyguards and assistants in tow—a grand entrance.

As soon as the superstar arrived, the surrounding passengers and extras all looked his way. Some even shouted his name, to which Cruise responded with a charming smile and a wave.

Tom Cruise was indeed very handsome. Even as he aged, he remained an attractive older man. Unlike Leonardo DiCaprio, who had become a bloated, greasy figure as he aged—truly an unprofessional idol.

“Mr. Cruise, this is Luca Kelly, who will be playing the contact man in this scene.”

When the superstar arrived on set, the segment producer introduced him.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Cruise!”

Luca gave a polite smile.

Kate had mentioned before that his face had a naturally cold look, which could come off as unfriendly if he didn’t smile. He had already offended Matt Damon once because of this, and he didn’t want to make a habit of offending Hollywood stars.

“Good afternoon!”

Tom Cruise nodded, flashing his signature charming smile, then walked over to a nearby sofa, where the segment producer and director hovered around him.

“Jealous?” Ed teased.

“Just a little.”

Luca chuckled. Only a little.

Upon closer inspection, Luca realized that even with lifts in his shoes, Tom Cruise was about 5'8" (173 cm) at most, and probably only 5'7" (170 cm) without them. He wasn’t envious of that but did envy Cruise’s beautiful ex-wives.

Once the superstar arrived, Luca put on his jacket, ready for the shoot.

Suddenly, the segment producer approached, speaking in a low voice. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Cruise’s assistant feels that Mr. Kelly is too tall for this role.”

“Are they recasting?” Ed asked in surprise.

“Yes,” the segment producer said, a bit helpless. “We didn’t realize before, but Mr. Kelly is much taller than Mr. Cruise. In this scene, the two of them have a shoulder-bump moment, so… this is our mistake. I’m very sorry.”

Luca was speechless. Just a moment ago, he had been thinking about Cruise’s height, and now he was being replaced because of it. How ironic.

He glanced at Ed, since this role had been arranged by the company.

Ed frowned slightly. “Mr. Norton, we’re already here, and everything is ready. If the crew has to recast, it will delay filming another day. I hope Mr. Norton and Mr. Cruise will reconsider.”

Norton hesitated. “Please wait a moment.”

“How do you feel?” Ed asked calmly.

“Nothing much. If I were Tom Cruise, I’d do the same.”

“You think he’s in the right?”

Ed asked in surprise.

"Big stars always get special treatment, don't they?"

Luca chuckled lightly. "When I become a big star in the future, I'll have special treatment too. Anyone more handsome or taller than me won't be allowed to act opposite me. Ed, you need to remember that."

"Sorry, I can't do that!"

Ed shook his head regretfully.

"Can't do it?!"

"No!"

Ed looked at him and sighed. "I don't think there's anyone in the world who's both more handsome and taller than you."

Luca was stunned for a moment. "Haha, Ed, you're absolutely right. I've never agreed with you more than I do now."

"It's the truth!"

Ed said without blushing.

After a while, the unit production manager, Mr. Norton, slowly walked over.

"Ed, do you think Tom Cruise will change his mind?"

"... Mr. Norton's footsteps are heavy. It seems the communication failed."

"Is that so? That's really unfortunate news!"