86-90

Chapter 86: Tears Flow Like a River (Revised)

A white Maserati sped along Grant Avenue in Brooklyn.

"Woohooo~"

The blonde driver, Britney, rolled down the window. Her long golden hair danced in the wind as she pumped her fist outside and shouted enthusiastically, a little wild.

Whoosh~

Even though it was March in New York, the wind was still cold.

In the passenger seat, Luca's face was pale.

It was freezing.

He had left his jacket with the crew, and the chilly breeze made his whole body shiver. Hugging himself for warmth, he looked a bit wimpy, but at least he was staying warm! Britney, noticing his state after a few more shouts, couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

"Hey~ Luca, you're just too cute like that!"

Britney closed the window, still giggling.

"Thanks!"

Luca let go of his arms and asked, "Britney, is your music video finished?"

"Nope, I’ve still got two more to shoot here in New York. One of them is for your song, ‘Nobody.'"

"Oh, you guys decided to go with that one?"

Luca had been worried the song wouldn’t make the cut.

"Yeah, my team thinks the song is super sexy, and the choreography is really creative. It fits perfectly with the vibe of my new album, so we all agreed to include it."

"That's great!"

Luca breathed a sigh of relief. If Britney hadn’t picked the song, he might have had to offer... other favors.

"Luca, I’m shooting the ‘Nobody’ music video next week. How about being my backup dancer?"

Britney asked, chewing gum as she turned the music back on.

"Me? A backup dancer?"

Luca was confused. "Isn't the dance supposed to be for girls?"

"Nooo~"

Britney wiggled her finger. "I saw you dance last time, and it was amazing—super sexy! I mentioned it to the team, and they thought using male dancers would be more cutting-edge. So, are you in?"

"Emmm~ sure!"

Considering how much of an advantage he'd already gained with his song, agreeing to dance was no big deal.

"Luca, thank you!"

Suddenly, Britney leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. In the process, she accidentally jerked the steering wheel, causing the car to swerve sharply into the oncoming lane.

*Honk honk!*

A large truck was barreling straight towards them.

"Watch out!"

Luca shouted.

"Haha, relax, I got this!"

Instead of slowing down, Britney stepped on the gas, speeding toward the truck.

"Britney, what are you doing?!"

Luca’s heart was pounding.

"Haha, trust me!"

Britney accelerated, and with less than three meters to spare, she swiftly turned the wheel.

*Whoosh!*

The two vehicles barely grazed each other, with no more than a hand's width between them.

*Screeeech~*

The truck came to a halt, and the driver got out, cursing loudly, "F**! You crazy b***!"

Britney calmly stuck her middle finger out the window.

"So, Luca, how was my driving?"

Britney grinned, eyes gleaming.

Luca shook his head, staring at her flushed cheeks. "Britney, are you on drugs?"

"Nope, but I’m high."

"What?"

Luca was sweating now.

Britney laughed and grabbed his hand. "Luca, you're my drug. Whenever I’m with you, I’m on a constant high."

Luca smirked. "In that case, Miss Spears, for your safety, please let me out of the car."

"Haha, no way! I’m having too much fun with you."

Britney let out another shout and started singing along with the music blaring from the speakers.

"Across the endless sea, I’d die in ecstasy...

...I’m alive, but barely; a walking corpse..."

Britney's singing turned to shouting, then gradually faded. She messed up her hair, making her golden locks even more tangled.

"Luca, I saw Jessica Alba at the set earlier."

"Yeah, Jessica’s the lead actress. I’m just a supporting actor."

Luca briefly explained the filming.

"Wow, you’ve been shooting together for two weeks? Has she made a move on you yet?"

Made a move on me?

That phrasing felt weird. He shook his head. "I barely know Jessica. We've spoken fewer than ten times off-camera."

"But you don’t need words to do that. She could just scream, ‘Oh, oh!’ and it’d be done."

Britney imitated some dramatic moans, laughing.

Luca stared at her. "Britney, are you being serious?"

Britney nodded earnestly but then burst out laughing again. "Alright, alright, but seriously, why haven’t you hooked up with her? She’s super hot."

"Jessica doesn’t like me. She has some issue with me, so there’s no chance we’ll be sleeping together."

"No way, you’re so sexy and sweet. What woman wouldn’t want you?"

Britney looked surprised.

That compliment felt great. Luca silently praised Britney's taste—she had a sharp eye for talent. A hundred points for that.

"Britney, have you heard any rumors about me lately?"

Luca asked, changing the subject.

"Rumors?"

Britney licked her lips. "You mean the one where they say you're packing half a meter?"

Luca felt awkward.

Britney had been in LA lately, but apparently, she'd caught wind of that rumor, too.

"Not that one. There’s talk that I staged the whole car incident to get famous. People are saying I’ll do anything for fame, and Jessica believes it, so she doesn’t like me."

"Oh, so that’s how it is! Great! I haven’t hooked up with you yet, and I can’t let anyone else beat me to it."

Britney seemed genuinely happy about it.

Luca was speechless.

Their thoughts were on completely different wavelengths.

"Britney, what do you think about the video from last time?"

He asked.

"Think about what?"

"The rumor that I’m using you to get famous."

Luca looked at her profile.

"Who cares!"

Britney waved it off with a laugh. "It’s not like I actually hooked up with you, but now everyone in the world thinks I did. Wow~ that’s super cool. I should thank whoever leaked that video."

Luca raised his eyebrows. This was cool? Shouldn’t she feel embarrassed? Was she still the same Britney?

*Wee-woo~ Wee-woo~*

"Oh, damn. Cops!"

A police car appeared in the rearview mirror, sirens blaring.

Britney immediately shifted gears and floored the gas pedal. The car roared ahead, quickly hitting 180.

Luca glanced at the mirror. "Britney, shouldn’t we just pull over and talk to the cops?"

"No, no, that’s not cool!"

Britney drove with one hand and called someone on the phone. "Tom, bring the car up and cover me!"

After hanging up, she smiled. "Handled!"

A Ferrari soon appeared in the mirror, pulling ahead and intentionally crashing into another car, blocking the police’s path.

"Hahaha~ how’s that?"

Britney boasted.

Luca was speechless. This girl was living in a real-life Need for Speed.

After driving for a while, they left Brooklyn, and the scenery outside became unfamiliar.

"Britney, where are we going?"

Luca asked, curious.

"To my place, of course!"

"Your place?"

He thought they were headed to a bar or a music venue.

"What for?"

"To hook up with you, obviously."

Britney winked. "Honey, do you know why I came back so early? Because I couldn’t wait any longer. You slipped away last time, but this time, there’s no escaping me. Haha, are you scared?"

"..."

Luca stared out the window. Should I jump out of the car to preserve my dignity?

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 87: Britney's Obsession (Revised)*

"Have a drink!"

"No more, the sunset is beautiful enough."

"What's the point of beauty if you can't sleep with it?"

"Good point."

In Long Neck Town on Long Island, New York, atop the roof of Britney’s estate, the orange-red sunset blanketed the town, the estate, and the roof of the mansion.

At the highest point of the roof, Luca and Britney sat side by side, watching the sunset.

Scattered around them were seven or eight empty beer cans, resting on the red glass tiles.

As the evening breeze blew, the cans high up made hollow whistling sounds and clattered as some rolled to the edge, falling to the ground below with a clanging noise.

"Have another drink. You won’t be so nervous when I climb on top of you later," Britney said, opening a beer and nudging his arm.

"Britney, can you please talk normally?" Luca said, accepting the can, exasperated.

By now, he knew Britney pretty well. She was wild by nature but not loose. Though she constantly threw around phrases like "fuck," she didn’t actually mean it. She once explained that talking this way felt exciting and boosted hormone levels.

"Haha, can’t handle it?"

Britney tilted her head, gazing at his profile. The sunset highlighted his brow and temple, just as handsome as ever. His deep, dark eyes blinked slightly, as captivating as the night sky.

She gently brushed aside a strand of wind-blown blonde hair. "Luca, are we friends?"

"I think so!"

"Friends should be honest with each other, right?"

"Good friends should be, yes."

"I want to sleep with you. I’m not hiding it from you, so what’s wrong with that?"

Britney smiled mischievously, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Emmm... you’re good. I have no response."

"Hahaha, Luca, you’re too cute."

Luca shook his head, lying down with his arms behind his head, staring up at the sky. He watched the sunset paint the western sky with vibrant colors, saw seabirds landing on distant branches, and noticed how the sunset's orange-red hues made the girl beside him even more alluring.

Turning his head slightly, he said softly, "Britney, it’s best to keep things simple between friends. Once you cross that line, the relationship gets complicated. We won’t be able to just sit here quietly watching the sunset anymore."

"Is that so?"

Britney laid down beside him, trying to get comfortable. Not finding it easy, she grabbed his arm and pulled it under her head.

"Much better."

She exhaled, letting the alcohol-laced breath drift into the air, and closed her eyes gently.

"Don’t fall asleep, or I’ll throw you off the roof."

Luca chuckled softly.

Britney smirked. "Luca, do you want to sleep with me?"

"Em..."

"Be honest, we’re friends."

Britney nudged his stomach to push for an answer.

"Alright, sure, I’ve thought about it. You’re beautiful, have an amazing body, and you’re a superstar. I think anyone who isn’t dysfunctional has probably fantasized about you."

"Then why haven’t you made a move? I’m right here in your arms."

Britney leaned in suddenly, kissing his ear.

"Stop it!"

Luca covered her face with his hand. "I have a girlfriend, Lima. You know her, right? She’s a really good girl."

"Lima, I know. Big chest, curvy hips, very sexy."

Britney drew an exaggerated hourglass shape in the air with her hand. "Lima’s great, but are you really going to stick with just one woman your whole life?"

Luca shrugged. "I don’t know. A lifetime’s a long time, who can say for sure? But for now, having her is enough. Life is comfortable this way. Having two women would probably be exhausting, right?"

"Not necessarily. What if the other woman only wants to sleep with you and doesn’t care about a relationship?"

Britney turned her head, looking at him.

"Is that so?"

Luca glanced at her and grinned. "That could work... as long as that woman isn’t you."

"Why not?"

Britney shouted in frustration, "Why can’t it be me?"

"Because we’re friends!"

"Fuck! Damn friends. I don’t want to be your friend; I just want to sleep with you."

Britney suddenly sat up, straddling his waist. She glared at him. "Luca, do you know why I brought you up here for drinks?"

"Hmm?"

"Because I knew you weren’t ready, and I didn’t want to force you. I wanted to set the mood first with some drinks, but you’re so dense. Now, don’t blame me for being rough."

"Hahaha, Britney, stop it. We’re on the roof!"

"I don’t care. If you resist, I’ll drag you down with me."

Clang!

Just as they were teasing each other, the iron door to the rooftop opened.

Mr. Jamie Spears stepped out, holding an empty beer can, rubbing his forehead, muttering, "Damn it, how did beer cans fall from the roof?"

He looked up and saw the two on the ridge of the roof. "Oh, damn it, what are you two doing?"

"Oh, fuck!" Britney groaned lazily, "Dad, nothing. We’re just watching the sunset."

"Did you throw this?" Mr. Spears angrily waved the beer can.

Seeing the large bump on his head, Britney stuck out her tongue, stifling a laugh.

"Hello, Mr. Spears!" Luca quickly stood up to greet him.

Mr. Spears squinted, glaring at him coldly. "You’re Luca?"

"Yes, Mr. Spears!"

"Were you behind that videotape incident?"

Mr. Spears was nearly six feet tall, with slicked-back hair and a large hooked nose, which made him look rather intimidating.

"Dad, that video had nothing to do with Luca. It was made by Adnan Ghalib, a paparazzo who’s been following me for two years. I recognized his voice in the video."

Britney quickly explained.

"Hmph. Who knows if he’s in cahoots with that paparazzo."

"Mr. Spears, I don’t know that man," Luca said.

Mr. Spears snorted, clearly not buying it.

"Britney, you’re a big name now. You need to be careful about the people around you. Some make friends with you for money, some for fame, and some just want you for yourself, like this guy next to you."

Mr. Spears paused, frowning at Luca. "Can you tell me, what are you trying to get from Britney?"

Luca shrugged. "Mr. Spears, I have to thank Britney for promoting my book. I’ve benefited a lot from her."

"No, no, Luca, it was a fair deal. You gave me a song, I helped promote your book. It was fair," Britney interjected.

Luca shook his head slightly. "Britney, a song isn’t worth much, and you’re a superstar. You don’t need more songs. I gained a lot from this deal. I owe you a big thank you."

"Heh."

Mr. Spears sneered. "The rumors about Mr. Big being polite and gentlemanly are true, I see."

Luca felt awkward for a second, realizing Mr. Spears was calling him a hypocrite.

"Mr. Spears, I won’t deny that I’ve gained a lot from Britney—fame and money included. If I ever have the chance, I’ll find a way to repay her."

"Repay her?"

Mr. Spears scoffed. "Britney is a world-class superstar, knighted by the Queen herself, with millions of fans. You, a mere model—what do you have to repay her with?"

"Luca, you could repay her with your body," Britney suddenly chimed in.

The rooftop fell silent. The only sound was the wind blowing the empty cans around, clattering softly.

Mr. Spears twitched, looking at his daughter.

Luca wiped sweat from his forehead.

"The sun’s going down," Mr. Spears said calmly.

"Britney, I should get going. Goodbye, Mr. Spears. Goodbye, Britney!"

Luca made a hasty exit, but as he descended the stairs, he could still hear the father-daughter argument above.

"Britney, stop right there!"

"I’m going to see Luca off!"

"No, you’re staying home for the next few days. You’re not going anywhere."

"You can’t take away my freedom!"

"Freedom? Your idea of freedom is embarrassing the family in Manhattan?"

"Haha, did I embarrass you? I’m a global superstar. Has anyone in the Spears family ever been more famous than me?"

"...You’re not going anywhere!"

"I’ll sue you!"

"Go ahead!"

At the estate’s gate, Luca glanced back at the luxurious country-style mansion. Not bad. If I ever get rich, I could consider buying a place like this.

Honk honk~

"Taxi!"

Luca caught a taxi with ease.

Ding ding~

His phone buzzed with two new messages.

The first read: “Luca, I’ll let you off this time, but next time I’m definitely going to sleep with you. Don’t doubt it, I didn’t even play my trump card just now. Wanna know what it is?”

The second: “Here’s a hint: My limo has cameras. If you don’t lie down and let me have my way with you, you can guess what’s next, hehe~”

Luca let out a deep sigh. Being famous could be such a hassle.

*Chapter 88: Mr. Big is Hurt*

“Kate, I’m back!”

It was past 8 p.m. when Luca returned to Apartment 76.

The living room was brightly lit, with soft music playing from the TV speakers, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

“Mr. Kelly, Kate is in the studio!” Gina stood up and said.

“Oh, thank you, Gina. Go ahead and keep watching TV.”

Luca switched his shoes and quietly walked into the studio.

“Ugh, why is this so hard to write? It feels like every word is wrong!”

At the computer desk, Kate had her hands tangled in her hair, frustrated. She had clearly run her hands through her blonde, wavy hair multiple times, turning it into a messy nest.

Luca smiled softly as he quietly approached her from behind. On the computer screen, he noticed a Word document open.

At the top of the document was the title, “Twilight Saga, Book Two—New Moon.”

Beneath the title, there was just the first chapter heading: "Party." And below that, the rest of the page was blank.

Kate scratched her head as if she had just remembered something, then opened another document.

This one was over 10,000 words long, full of detailed outlines and summaries for each chapter of the second book.

“The first chapter is about Bella having a nightmare, where she dreams she’s become an old woman—wrinkled, gray, and worn out—while Edward, beside her, remains 17, youthful, handsome, and smooth-skinned like jelly. Then she wakes up scared… How should I write a dream sequence?”

Kate rested her chin on her hand, thinking for a while. Then, she returned to the other document and began typing a few lines slowly with her long fingers.

“Early morning, Bella woke up from her dream. Yawning, she stretched and sat in front of the mirror.

Suddenly, she was startled. In the mirror, she saw the reflection of an old woman.

Her hair was gray and her skin sagged, covered with wrinkles. Her eyes drooped, resembling pieces of worn cloth, and her lips were dry, her mouth full of cracks like parched earth.

Bella blinked, and something terrifying happened: the old woman in the mirror blinked too, and the ‘pieces of cloth’ under her eyes even swayed.

Bella couldn’t resist touching her cheek, only to realize the figure in the mirror was copying her exact movement. An old, shriveled arm, marked with brown spots, reached out.

Bella looked down and, to her horror, discovered that the arm was hers.

Ahhh!!

Bella screamed.

Then, the dream ended abruptly!”

Kate stopped typing and silently read over the passage.

“No, no, something’s off,” she muttered. She scratched her head again. “Oh, damn, I forgot Edward! That forever-17 vampire should be in the dream too! Damn it, I have to rewrite it again!”

She slammed her fist onto the desk in frustration. “Luca, that jerk! Why did he come up with this scene? He’s definitely doing this to make things harder for me! When he gets back, I’m totally going to twist his ear and pinch his face.”

Luca, standing behind her, flinched as he felt his ears and cheeks start to burn.

“...and then I’ll pull his hair and slam him on the floor!”

Kate raised her arm and swung it backward forcefully.

Thud! Her left elbow hit Luca precisely between his legs.

“Oof~”

Luca let out a muffled groan, clutching his crotch as he slowly sank to the floor.

Hearing the noise, Kate turned around in surprise. “Oh! Luca, when did you get here?”

Luca crouched on the ground, unable to answer.

“Wow, Luca, what’s wrong? Why do you look so pale? Why are you sweating so much?”

Kate looked worried as she grabbed some tissues to wipe the sweat from his forehead. She yelled toward the living room, “Gina! Call an ambulance! Luca’s having an emergency!”

“No! No need!” Luca bit his lip and waved Gina off. “No, I just... cramped my leg.”

“A cramp?” Kate noticed where he was holding himself and suddenly realized what had happened. She touched her right elbow and smirked.

“Uh, Luca, did I, um... hit you there?”

Kate asked, stifling a laugh.

“No, no, I just have a stomachache,” he replied hastily.

“Wasn’t it a leg cramp?”

“. . . Never mind!”

After a few more seconds, the pain began to subside.

Luca wiped the sweat from his forehead and slowly stood up. This was one unlucky disaster.

If only he were a little smaller, he thought, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. Size does have its downsides.

“Luca, are you really okay? You’re still pale—like a vampire,” Kate said as she dabbed his forehead with the tissue.

“I’m fine now.” Luca pulled up a chair and sat down, crossing his legs protectively.

“So, Kate, are you getting started on the writing?”

“Yes,” Kate shrugged and then shot him an annoyed look. “It’s your fault! Why did you insist on giving me co-author credit? Now I’m pulling my hair out! Look, I’m going bald!”

She ran her fingers through her messy hair, which released a light fragrance into the air. She held out her hand, revealing... nothing.

The moment was a bit awkward.

Luca forced a smile, pretending not to notice.

“Kate, I read what you wrote earlier, and it’s really good—better than what I wrote at first! I’m sure that soon you’ll be able to write your own outline and novel.”

“Really? But my writing feels so much worse than yours,” Kate said, doubtful.

Luca shook his head gently. “Don’t compare yourself to me. Compare yourself to who you were yesterday. As long as today’s writing is better than yesterday’s, that’s progress.”

“But I’ve written nothing all day,” Kate pouted.

“It’s okay, Kate. From now on, don’t worry about the outline, plot, or even the writing style. Just write down whatever comes to mind. How does that sound?”

“Hmm... I can try that,” Kate agreed, nodding. Then she waved her hand dismissively. “Okay, I get it. You may leave now!”

“Sure, Your Majesty!” Luca smiled and gave a mock bow.

“Wait!” Kate suddenly turned back to him. “Luca, didn’t you go on a date with Britney today? Why are you back so early?”

“Early? It’s almost 9 p.m.,” Luca pointed at his watch. “You should rest, too.”

“No way! Didn’t you and Britney... you know, sleep together?”

“Of course not. We’re just friends.”

“Friends? Oh, Luca, how many ‘friends’ have you slept with over the years? Let me count. At least—”

“Stop!” Luca covered his ears and, still aching, ran back to the bedroom.

He sighed as he lay down on the bed and pulled out his phone. He considered calling Lima, realizing it was about 1 a.m. in London.

After a moment’s thought, he typed out a short message explaining Britney’s visit that day, to prevent any misunderstandings when the news broke.

Ding! Before the message could settle, his phone rang.

“Lima, why are you still awake so late? Oh, you just woke up? I think I hear the sound of a game. Was that a ‘Double Kill’?”

Beep! The call ended before he could finish his question.

Luca sighed and sent another text: “Sweetie, try to get some rest. I’ll play games with you when you get back.”

“I miss you so much. I can’t sleep!” came the reply.

Silly girl~ Luca sighed softly and called her back, prepared for a long conversation.

*Chapter 89: Kate’s New Outfit*

“Britney Visits Luca, Sparking Dating Rumors”

“Britney Drives Luxury Car to Pick Up Mr. Big for Overnight Stay at Mansion”

As expected, multiple newspapers reported on the events of the previous day from different angles.

Some said Britney was being promiscuous, playing the part of a homewrecker. Others called Luca a scumbag, cheating while Lima was away. Some speculated that Mr. Big and Britney were likely striking another deal, debating what the deal might be this time.

Taking advantage of this wave of media coverage, Luca, Lima, and the Honey film crew all gained varying degrees of exposure.

But Director Billy showed no signs of joy on his face. Grabbing a megaphone, he yelled, "Mark, get rid of those damn paparazzi—they’re going to disrupt my shoot!"

"On it, Director!"

Crew member Mark went off to chase away the photographers with cameras.

Sigh…

Billy put down the megaphone and chugged some coffee.

"Hey, Luca!"

Seeing Luca arrive, Billy greeted him.

"Billy, good morning!"

Luca pointed at the Ford parked outside the set. "Someone scratched my car and wrote a discriminatory word on it. Can I call the police?"

Billy glanced at the car and burst out laughing. "Oh, Luca, you should be glad the car’s still there rather than whining about some nasty graffiti."

Luca shrugged. "Fine, fine, I forgot we’re in Daimler."

"Exactly."

After a few words, the rest of the crew arrived: Jessica Alba, Joy Bryant, Mekhi Phifer, and a group of Black extras.

"Hey, Luca, the papers said you spent the night at Britney’s villa last night. Is that true?"

Joy grinned as she teased him.

Luca was looking at the shooting schedule. He glanced at Joy and smiled. "Of course not. Do you really believe tabloid gossip?"

"Haha, we didn’t, but—"

Joy folded her arms and circled around him, inspecting him up and down.

"But what?"

"But after seeing you in person, we believe it now."

Joy pointed at him, laughing. "Look at those dark circles! And your complexion—so tired. You definitely didn’t sleep well last night, right, Mr. Big?"

Joy winked at him with a mischievous smile.

"Not true, I slept great. Yawn..."

Just as he was explaining, he accidentally yawned.

Everyone froze for a second, then burst into laughter—busted!

Luca rubbed his eyes helplessly. Last night, he had a long phone call with Lima, talking until midnight. She fell asleep, but he couldn’t.

"Luca, I think you need this."

A hot cup of coffee was handed to him from the side.

Luca blinked. "Thanks, Jessica!"

"You’re welcome, Assistant!"

Once the actors had gathered, the crew officially started shooting, and Luca resumed his role as assistant director.

"Scene 10, Take 2, First shot—Action!"

Today, they continued filming scenes between the main characters, focusing on Honey and Chaz.

In this scene, Honey is upset after being blacklisted by Michael and is taking a walk in the park with Chaz.

"Sigh… I can’t find any work now. Michael’s got me blacklisted everywhere," Honey lamented.

"Honey, are you sure?" asked Chaz, the Black male lead.

"Yes, all he has to do is say the word, and I’m done in this industry."

Honey shrugged and sat dejectedly on a park bench.

Chaz sat beside her, incredulous. "Oh, what kind of idiot tries to stop someone from earning a living?"

Honey curled her lips sadly. "I think he’s just trying to prove a point—that he can make me, and he can break me too."

"Hey, Honey, he never gave you anything."

Chaz furrowed his brow, speaking seriously. "You got that job because of your talent, your passion. That job was yours—it wasn’t something he handed to you."

Behind the monitor, Luca smirked. He finally understood why this male lead won over the female lead—he was always dishing out motivational pep talks. Whenever Honey felt down, Chaz was there with a fresh bowl of emotional support.

But having a Black barber and former street thug as a life coach?

Luca shook his head. Only a Black screenwriter could come up with a lead character like this.

"Luca, is something wrong?" Billy asked, puzzled.

"No, Mekhi’s acting is pretty good," Luca replied.

With the Black screenwriter nearby, he wasn’t about to speak carelessly.

"Of course! Spike Lee thinks he’s a genius actor," Billy added.

"Well, okay then, a genius."

Luca shrugged.

Around 3 p.m., he said his goodbyes and left the set early.

Last weekend, Twilight had officially surpassed 2 million copies sold in the U.S.

Greenwood Publishing was hosting a celebration party to commemorate the milestone.

As the author, Kate had to attend, and Luca, being a key figure in marketing, was also a must.

Back at the apartment, Kate was sitting on the couch, reviewing documents.

She wore gold-rimmed glasses and a white Chanel suit, with her golden-brown hair loosely braided. This outfit gave her an air of elegance and tranquility.

Her lips pressed together, and her sharp eyebrows slightly furrowed as she seriously reviewed the papers. There was a poised and composed aura about her.

Luca was impressed—this look was stunning, with a regal vibe.

"How’s the outfit?" Kate suddenly looked up, blinking with a playful smile.

That smile shattered the whole image.

Kate was still the same lively, carefree sister, always blunt and a bit violent when dealing with her brother.

Luca shrugged. "Kate, your outfit is perfect. I’m sure you’ll wow everyone."

"Thanks!" Kate lifted her chin proudly.

"Luca, you need to change too. You always dress so casually. It’s embarrassing to take you anywhere."

Kate tossed aside her papers, pushing him into the closet and picking out a light blue Dior suit for him.

"Isn’t this color a bit too flashy? I prefer black suits," Luca said.

"Flashy?" Kate shot him a glare. "You’re 21! If you’re going to a party, you should look more stylish!"

"I have a girlfriend. Why do I need to look sexy?"

"What does one have to do with the other? Stop complaining and get changed—Nina’s waiting."

Kate waved him off, impatiently urging him to hurry.

"Alright, alright!"

Luca took off his shirt and was about to change his pants when he noticed Kate watching him intently.

"Tch," Kate huffed, turning her head aside. "I’ve taken care of you long enough—what haven’t I seen?"

Luca smirked, resigned to changing into the flashy suit right in front of her, slicking his hair back in a cool style.

Once ready, Kate called out, "Jinna, are you ready to go?"

"Yes, Kate!" Jinna responded, striding confidently into the room.

Pfft!

Luca couldn’t help but laugh.

Jinna was sporting a slicked-back hairstyle, a black suit, tie, sunglasses, and black leather boots. With her straight posture and cold demeanor, she looked like a mob boss.

"What are you laughing at?" Kate shot him a look of disapproval. "Isn’t Jinna’s look cool?"

"Cool! Very cool!"

"Good. Let’s go!"

With a commanding wave, Kate led the way, followed by Luca and Jinna.

Kate walked in front, looking dashing in her white suit and glasses, embodying both elegance and power—a perfect blend of a queen and a writer.

Luca walked beside her, his sleek blue suit showing off his athletic build and long legs, giving him a striking appearance—like a handsome playboy.

And then there was Jinna.

Wait, where was Jinna?

Bang, bang!

The sound of knocking came from the hallway.

Luca turned, startled, to see Jinna pushing the apartment door forcefully.

"Don’t be surprised. Jinna’s just making sure the door’s locked," Kate explained calmly.

"Obsessive-compulsive disorder?" Luca asked.

"Yes."

Luca wiped his brow. Having a bodyguard with OCD was going to be a headache.

The three of them got into the elevator and headed downstairs.

A brand-new Mercedes van was waiting at the entrance.

A female assistant stood by the door.

"Hurry up, you two!" Nina called from the car.

"Sorry, Nina. It’s all Luca’s fault. He’s useless at picking clothes, shoes, styling his hair, and choosing accessories. I had to do everything myself. Honestly, Luca’s such a hassle," Kate said, exasperated, as she got into the car.

Luca’s mouth twitched. He wanted to kick her, but he didn’t dare.

Nina, meanwhile, frowned slightly as she scrutinized their outfits.

Kate’s outfit had been professionally designed and was flawless, but Luca’s seemed a bit too playful.

It was a literary event, and most of the attendees were from the cultural sphere.

While his outfit highlighted his handsomeness and athletic build, it seemed a bit too casual.

"Nina, Luca likes blue!" Kate interjected before Luca could say anything.

"I…" Luca began.

"You what?!"

Kate stared with wide eyes and said, "You like blue, don't you?"

Luca shrugged, "Yes, Nina, I like blue. I absolutely love it, haha~"

"Alright then!"

Ms. Nina shook her head, her gaze showing a bit of helplessness.

Kate smirked and turned her head, "Gina, let's go!"

"Okay!"

The car slowly started moving.

Ms. Nina took out a document and said, "Kate, there's going to be a press interview later. Have you gone over the questions?"

"No problem!"

Kate adjusted her glasses, a confident smile on her face.

"Just be careful. Some reporters like to ask strange questions. You have to handle them cautiously. If there's something you can't answer, leave it to me. No matter what, don't get angry or upset. The moment you do, it'll become big news."

"Got it!"

"And one more thing!"

Ms. Nina glanced at Luca.

Luca paused, "Nina, do I have a problem?"

"What do you think?"

Nina patted a stack of newspapers beside her. The top one had a headline about him and Britney.

She shook her head, "Kate, this is an unexpected situation. We weren't prepared for it. If anyone tries to ask about Luca and Britney, don't give any comments. Just say it's Luca's personal matter, and you're not informed."

"Got it!"

Kate smiled slightly, covering her forehead dramatically, "Luca, you're such a headache."

"Haha~"

Luca wiped his face and gazed out the window as the car sped across the Queensboro Bridge, with the distant silhouette of the Bucky Building in view.

Thank you, Soy Sauce Diva, for the generous reward! Much appreciated!

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 90: Luca's Dedication*

43rd Street, Queens. Bucky Tower.

The building is over twenty stories tall.

The lower floors house supermarkets, shopping malls, and hotels.

The upper floors are office spaces.

The famous Greenwood Publishing headquarters is located on the 16th floor.

Today, however, the general manager of the publishing house, Mr. Felix Mason, wasn’t working late in his 16th-floor office. Instead, he paced back and forth in front of the lobby on the first floor of the building’s east wing.

"Emily, where are Kate Luca and the others?"

"They’re almost here!"

Hanli put down her phone and glanced at the street in the distance. A silver-gray Mercedes van was approaching from the west.

"They’re here!"

As she spoke, the van slowly pulled up at the entrance.

With a swoosh, the door opened.

First to step out was a stunningly dressed, even more stunningly handsome man.

"Haha, Luca, your outfit today is absolutely striking. I’ll give you a perfect ten!"

Felix laughed heartily as he approached.

Luca smirked and shook hands, asking, "Is ten the highest score?"

"No, no, Luca, ten is the full score."

Felix laughed again.

"Oh, really? If you gave me a perfect score, then what would you give her?"

Luca smiled and pointed toward the car door.

Click, click! 

The sharp sound of high heels echoed as Kate Kelly, the eldest daughter of the Kelly family, made her dazzling entrance.

With delicate features, fair skin, and dressed in a stunning white suit, Kate looked elegant and poised. Her hair was tied back into a sleek braid, and she wore refined gold-framed glasses, adding an air of sophistication.

Her earlobes, peeking out from beneath her hair, were adorned with tiny diamond studs that glittered like snowflakes.

Her sharp eyebrows hinted at both grace and a hidden fierceness, and her seemingly endless legs added a sexy, commanding presence.

Passersby couldn’t help but stop and stare.

"Wow, that’s the supermodel Kate with the long legs!"

"Yes! She’s not just a supermodel; she’s also the author of the bestseller Twilight!"

"Oh wow, both beautiful and talented. She’s got to be the world’s ninth wonder. Praise the Creator!"

Hearing the admiration around her, Kate smiled gracefully, her lips curving slightly.

"Wow, Kate, you look stunning today!"

Hanli clapped her hands in admiration.

"Thank you!"

Kate gently hugged her. "Emily, is everything ready for the press conference?"

"Yes, please follow me!"

Hanli led Kate, Nina, and the others to the lobby on the first floor.

"Felix, how would you score Kate’s outfit?"

With his hands in his pockets, Luca stepped up the stairs.

Felix rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment. "One hundred."

"Hmm?"

Luca raised an eyebrow. "I thought ten was the full score?"

"No, one hundred is the full score."

Felix said seriously.

"So I only get ten?"

"Yes, you only get ten! Hahaha!"

Felix extended his hand as they both rode the escalator to the second floor.

"Let’s go check out Kate’s press conference!"

The two of them walked through the glass corridor and reached the second-floor hallway, where a small conference hall below was hosting a press event.

There were over fifty reporters present, both male and female.

"Ms. Kelly, good afternoon! It’s reported that Twilight has sold over two million copies worldwide, making you a bestselling author. What are your career plans moving forward?"

A short, stocky reporter stood up, microphone in hand, asking the question.

Kate, Nina, Emily, and the host stood in a line at the front of the room.

Kate smiled calmly and said, "I’d like to correct that number. As of yesterday, Twilight has sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide, not 2 million as reported last week."

Applause erupted.

After the applause subsided, Kate added, "As for my career plans, I’ll continue to focus on the fashion industry for the next five years."

"And what about your writing?"

A reporter asked.

"My writing?"

Kate smirked slightly, replying, "Writing is just a hobby. I’ll write when I have free time."

The audience gasped. Some marveled at her nonchalance, while others scoffed at the idea of writing as a mere pastime.

Luca smiled to himself, quietly giving her a thumbs up. She really knew how to put on a show.

"Ms. Kelly, I’m a reporter from Book Weekly and also a fan of yours. It’s said that Twilight is just the first book in a series. Now that the first book has achieved such success, when can we expect the second one?"

The Book Weekly reporter, a young woman in her twenties, looked at Kate with admiration in her eyes.

Kate smiled gently at the reporter, "Thank you for enjoying my work. I’ve already started working on the second book in the series. The tentative title is New Moon. In this installment, I plan to include more fantastical experiences, breathtaking settings, and interesting characters—like werewolves."

"Luca, has the second book really begun?"

Felix asked excitedly from the second floor.

Hearing the question, Luca tried to forget the image of a frazzled Kate, her hair a mess, as she struggled at her computer. He replied seriously, "Yes, Kate is outlining the story. I’ve read the draft. It’s even better than the first."

"Wow, that’s fantastic!"

Felix couldn’t help but punch the air in excitement.

The publishing house had been struggling for years, on the verge of bankruptcy.

But then they signed Twilight.

The discovery was made by Emily, as the author was Luca’s sister, Kate.

They initially signed the book out of a sense of obligation, as a favor.

Little did they know, they had struck gold—found a lifeline.

Now, Twilight had sold over 3.5 million copies globally. After accounting for distribution, marketing, and author royalties, the company would retain at least 30% of the profits, plus revenue from various rights. The income exceeded 30 million.

And that was just from the first book. If there’s a second, third, fourth... how much more could they make?

Felix clenched his fists tightly, his face flushed with excitement.

"Luca, did Kate mention when she’ll finish the second book?"

"Listen!"

Luca pointed downstairs as Kate’s voice echoed upward.

"... If I have time, I’ll write. If I have a lot of free time, I might finish it by next year. If not, it could take until the end of the year or early next year, at the latest."

Felix’s face twitched. He was relying on this book to save the company, and she was taking her sweet time. He had to push her.

"Luca, could you please urge Kate to devote more time to writing?"

Luca smirked to himself. Felix had picked the right person.

The second book was already finished and just sitting on his computer.

But since Kate hadn’t even written a short story yet, he didn’t want to reveal it too soon. He didn’t want to dampen her creative enthusiasm—or risk getting scolded.

"Luca, I’ll pay you a commission—a commission for pushing her to write."

Felix squeezed his shoulder.

"No problem!"

Luca didn’t mind earning a little extra.

"Ms. Kelly!"

Suddenly, a loud voice came from downstairs.

"I’m a reporter from The New York Times. It’s well known that Twilight was not well-received initially, nearly getting pulled from shelves. But shortly after, it skyrocketed in popularity, selling 3.5 million copies. Ms. Kelly, who do you believe contributed most to its success?"

"Luca! My brother Luca!"

Kate answered without hesitation.

"This reporter is setting a trap!"

Felix couldn’t help but frown.

Luca smiled slightly. Even though the answer was wrong, it was touching.

Sure enough, the reporter’s tone changed.

“Haha, yes, Ms. Kelly, I agree with your point of view. Just like Dr. George Pallard, professor at NYU’s College of Arts and Sciences, said in the newspaper:

‘Twilight’ is an outstanding piece of literature.

And without the sacrifice of Mr. Luca Kelly, this work would have been buried.

The fans of ‘Twilight’ should be grateful for Luca’s dedication. Without him, they wouldn’t have been able to experience ‘Twilight.’ The literary world should thank Luca for his sacrifice. Without him, the history of literature would be missing a classic.

Professor Pallard believes that Luca’s sacrifice for the sake of literature was meaningful, and it may even be remembered in the annals of literary history.”

Hahaha~

Laughter erupted in the room.

Kate’s expression changed as she calmly said, “Britney recommended ‘Twilight’ because she genuinely liked it. Now, ‘Twilight’ is a bestseller, proving Britney’s recommendation was right. Thank you, Ms. Britney Spears. Next question!”

Without waiting for another question from the reporter, Kate pointed to another one who seemed pleasant.

The friendly-looking reporter stood up and asked with a smile, “Ms. Kelly, you just said that Luca played a key role in the turnaround success of ‘Twilight.’ Does this mean you admit that Luca got Britney’s endorsement through a physical relationship?”

Boom~

This question instantly electrified the room.

It had always been a rumor that people knew about, but now it was laid bare and bluntly asked. The scene became intense.

On the stage, Kate clenched her fists, wanting to punch someone. These reporters were too annoying. Why couldn’t they ask normal questions instead of setting traps?

She raised her sharp eyebrows and said, “I’ve already said, Britney and Luca are friends. She wanted to recommend ‘Twilight’ both because she liked it and out of friendship. I want to thank two people here. The first is my brother, Luca.

Yes, despite your doubts, I still want to thank him.

Creating isn’t an easy thing. During the writing process, I encountered many obstacles and often thought about giving up, but I pushed through.

Because Luca was by my side, constantly encouraging me and supporting me, I was able to continue down this path and finish writing ‘Twilight.’

Without Luca, there would be no ‘Twilight,’ so I want to thank him.”

Clap clap clap~

Applause broke out.

“Clap!”

Felix clapped his hands vigorously, moved, and said, “Luca, thank you for your encouragement, which gave us ‘Twilight.’”

“You’re welcome!”

Luca secretly admired his sister. She was impressive, lying without even preparing.

He glanced at the stage and then at Ms. Nina next to him. Hmm, Nina must have been the one to corrupt Kate.

“The second person I want to thank is Ms. Britney Spears. I’m a fan of hers. Thank you for helping promote ‘Twilight.’”

“Ms. Kelly!”

Before she could finish, a female reporter stood up and shouted in a sharp voice, “You just said Luca and Britney are friends. Does a small-time model even have the qualifications to be friends with Britney?”

Bang!

Before the reporter finished, Kate slammed the table with a cold face.

“Kate, calm down. She’s deliberately provoking you!”

Nina gently tugged at her sleeve.

“Hmph!”

Kate coldly glared at the reporter. “Why can’t a small model be friends with a big star? Are you discriminating against models? All people are born equal. Do we need qualifications to be friends? I refuse to answer your question, as it’s full of ignorance and prejudice.”

“Kate, if you don’t admit to a physical relationship between them, how do you explain Britney promoting ‘Twilight’ the day after they were seen together in a car?”

“That’s just a coincidence! They weren’t having sex in the car—they’re friends!”

“As far as we know, Luca is not among Britney’s known friends.”

“Bullshit! Does Luca need to announce his friendships to you?”

Kate clenched her fists, raising her eyebrows.

“The ‘Twilight’ press conference is over. Thank you for coming!”

Seeing Kate start to swear, Nina quickly grabbed the microphone and ended the conference early.

“Sorry, Luca, I didn’t handle this well.”

From the second floor, Felix said helplessly.

These reporters had been invited by the publisher, with the expectation that only soft questions would be asked. But someone had intentionally steered things in a different direction.

“It’s okay, Felix. Surprises happen, don’t they?”

Luca shook his head and walked over to Kate, wondering if she was furious.

(End of Chapter)