66-70

*Chapter 66: Amazonian Warrior*

"Wow~ is this why Britney helped promote the book?"

That afternoon, in a luxurious mansion in Tribeca, Manhattan, Bundchen was watching the news on TV, stunned for a while before reacting.

She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes with a cold smile. "What a good little brother. Sacrificing himself to help Kate promote her book."

"Yes, quite the sacrifice."

Her agent, Bella, chuckled softly. Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "Wow!"

On FOX News, they were broadcasting a fashion show—specifically, the CK show. Luca's changing expressions and body movements were clearly visible on screen.

Bella and Bundchen were left dumbfounded. FOX News had no boundaries, broadcasting anything for ratings. And Luca? No wonder he was called Mr. Big.

Bundchen licked her lips and let out a cold laugh. "Very well. Since everyone knows about this, we don't need to bother finding clues anymore!"

"Bella, get someone to write an article saying that Kate had Luca seduce Britney to sell her book. What a cunning woman!"

"Got it. I bet we won't even need a PR push. By tomorrow, plenty of media outlets will be covering this."

Bella smiled softly and left the apartment.

Bundchen stared at Luca on the TV for a while, then laughed lightly and pulled out her phone to make a call.

"Hi~ Lima, how are you? Great. Wow~ you haven't heard yet? Turn on the TV. That scumbag Luca cheated on you."

"What? Luca cheated?"

In her downtown Manhattan apartment on 43rd Street, Lima was gaming with her legs crossed. Upon hearing that Luca cheated, she froze in shock.

"Okay, got it."

Lima hung up the phone, frowning. Bundchen calling to tell her that Luca cheated—it all seemed a bit off.

"Escape begins!!"

A game prompt blared from her computer.

Lima glanced at her screen, hesitated for a moment, then shrugged it off. She continued playing. The latest release of Vice City was quite fun—a survival game in an urban setting where you could fight, kill, rob, and race cars. It was exhilarating.

Lima had just gotten the game and wasn't done enjoying it. She picked up a glass of coconut water, took a sip, and resumed playing.

Ring, ring~

A while later, Bundchen called again.

"Lima, have you seen the news? Luca is unbelievable. How could he do this? I think you should speak out."

"Speak out about what? I haven't even seen the news yet."

Lima tilted her head, holding the phone between her shoulder and ear as she continued gaming.

"You haven't seen it? What are you doing? Vice City? What is that? A game?! Wow~ Lima, you're amazing. Your boyfriend cheated, and you're still gaming? Fine, fine, continue playing!"

Beep, beep~

The call was abruptly hung up.

"Why is she so mad?"

Lima shook her head, confused. She sat dazed for a moment, then put down her game controller and lazily walked over to the TV.

Perhaps this news was just too explosive. By that evening, every entertainment channel was covering it. Pop queen Britney, Mr. Big Luca, car sex, applause, intense drama—it was as if everyone had witnessed the scene firsthand.

Lima, with a serious expression, flipped to the FOX News entertainment channel. She saw Luca climbing into Britney's luxurious limo. Moments later, the massive vehicle began to gently shake.

"That bastard!"

Lima bit her lip, her blue-gray eyes filled with rage.

She and Luca had started as friends before becoming lovers. They gamed together and hung out, getting along great—just like buddies.

This relationship made her feel comfortable, and she wanted it to last.

But Luca had cheated.

His actions weren't just a betrayal of their love; they were a betrayal of their friendship.

This, she could not forgive!

"He needs to be taught a lesson!"

Lima angrily turned off the TV, glanced out the window as the sun set, casting a rosy glow on the windowsill.

"Forget it, it's too late. I'll deal with it tomorrow."

She returned to her computer and picked up the game controller.

Ring, ring~

The phone rang again.

Lima glanced at the caller ID—it was Luca.

"Hmph, in a hurry now? Where were you earlier?"

She ignored the call, skillfully maneuvering her character to knock over a businessman and steal a stretch limousine, barreling recklessly through the city.

Woop, woop~

Suddenly, cop cars came from all directions. She started a high-speed chase with the police.

Screech~

A tire got blown out by a police spike strip. Her car broke down, and she quickly jumped out to flee. Police cars closed in from every side—it was a tense situation.

Ring, ring~

But the phone kept ringing incessantly.

Distracted, Lima accidentally made her character jump off a bridge and die.

"Shit! Shit!!"

Frustrated, Lima threw down the game controller.

"That jerk is so annoying. I need to teach him a lesson!"

Biting her full lips, Lima made a cruel decision.

Moments later, a woman dressed in black leather emerged from her room.

The tight leather outfit hugged her sexy, curvy body, highlighting her ample chest, toned legs, and slim waist. A hint of honey-colored skin showed, making her look incredibly seductive.

She tied up her hair, her eyes cold and indifferent, gripping a baseball bat as she left the apartment—like an Amazonian warrior.

"Luca, you're going to pay!"

---

"My calls aren’t going through. Lima must be mad."

In a high-rise apartment on 76th Street, Kate shrugged, holding her phone.

"Forget it, I'll go to Lima's place and explain everything in person."

"Explain?"

Kate crossed her long legs and pointed at the TV. "With all the evidence, how will you explain? By lying?"

"Oh, Kate, I'm telling the truth. Britney and I are innocent. We were just singing and dancing in the car."

"Keep going! Keep making things up!"

Kate pursed her lips in frustration. "I can understand you lying to others, but why lie to me, Luca? I’m really disappointed in you."

"I'm not lying, I—"

Ding dong~ ding dong~

The doorbell rang.

Luca opened the door to find Ednina and little Eve standing outside.

"Wow, Brother Luca, long time no see! Eve missed you so much!"

Little Eve rushed over, wanting to hug him.

"Stop right there!"

Nina tightly grabbed the little girl's arm. "Eve, stay away from him from now on!"

Luca awkwardly withdrew his hand and sighed. "Nina, the news is fake. Ask Ed. He was there waiting for me the whole time."

"Is that so?"

Nina turned to Ed. "You were there? Why didn’t you say anything earlier?"

Ed froze for a second, his face changing. He stretched his neck and said, "Luca, how could you accuse me? I arrived late that afternoon. Britney’s car had already left. Isn’t that right, Luca?"

Luca covered his face, too frustrated to deal with this pushover.

"Luca, say something! What have I always taught you? I’ve urged you to be a good man, loyal to one person, just like me. Isn’t that right, Luca?"

Ed spoke righteously, "Luca, what have I always told you?"

"Daddy, why do you keep winking?" Little Eve suddenly asked innocently.

"Uh..." Ed forced a smile. "Daddy got some dust in his eye."

"Enough!"

Nina shot him a glance, then led Eve into the living room.

Luca and Ed exchanged awkward looks before turning away from each other.

"Alright, let's all sit down and discuss a strategy," Nina said, as she and Kate took seats on the main sofa.

Little Eve's wide eyes curiously darted around the room. She wanted to run off and play, but her mom held her hand tightly, leaving her no choice but to sit obediently beside her, fidgeting.

Ed initially sat across from Luca but, sensing the tension, moved to the side and positioned himself as more of a "witness."

Luca, now facing Kate and Nina alone, felt the pressure.

He sighed. "First of all, let me clarify something: Britney and I didn’t sleep together."

"That doesn’t matter anymore," Nina replied, pointing to the TV screen, where the car was visibly shaking. "Whether you did or didn’t, how many people do you think will believe you now?"

Luca rubbed his forehead and gave a helpless smile. The footage on TV was so suggestive that no explanation would clear his name.

"What we need to focus on now," Nina continued calmly, "is minimizing the damage."

"Exactly!" Ed nodded seriously. "No matter what, this cannot affect Kate."

Nina agreed. "The first thing we need to do is get in touch with two people immediately. One is Britney—so we can coordinate our stories and manage the PR. The second is Lima."

Ding dong~ ding dong~

The doorbell rang again.

Luca opened the door, and his eyes lit up. Lima stood there, dressed in leather, looking effortlessly cool.

"Lima, what are you doing here?" he asked excitedly.

"What do you think?" Lima replied with a cold smile as she suddenly pulled a baseball bat from behind her back.

Luca was taken aback. "Oh~ Lima, what are you doing?"

"Bringing you a cane. Catch!"

"Lima, wait! You promised me at the hospital that you wouldn’t hit me!"

"But you interrupted my gaming."

"What?! Ah~ not the face!"

---

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 67: The Confession*

"I’m really innocent!"

In the apartment living room, Luca rubbed his shoulder, feeling a bit aggrieved.

“Oh~ Luca, the video of you and Britney is already on the news, and you’re still lying?”

Lima twirled a baseball bat in her hands, speaking with an imposing air.

“Lima, don’t be mad! We have to believe Luca; he’s never lied to us,” Kate said, holding Lima by the shoulder.

Lima tilted her head and thought for a moment. That seemed to be true.

She nodded slightly, “Alright, I’ll give him one more chance to explain.”

Kate smiled softly. “Luca, you better use this time wisely and explain. Stop saying you’re innocent—we want to hear the truth. Why did you get in the car? Why was it shaking? And what’s with the clapping sound?”

Clap clap!

At that moment, little Eve clapped her hands and spread them open, asking, "Luca, big brother, why is that?"

Nina’s face darkened, realizing the little girl was still in the living room.

“Eve, go play in the gym.”

“No, I want to listen too!”

“Eve, listen to me,” Nina said sternly.

“Hmmph~” Eve pouted, reluctantly got up, and wiggled her way to the hallway. She immediately stopped in her tracks, her big eyes blinking, tilting her little ear to eavesdrop on the living room conversation.

Luca, feeling wronged, said, “That day, Britney invited me to drink in her car. I was planning to refuse at first.”

“Cut the nonsense, get to the point,” Lima said coldly, twirling the bat.

“Yeah, Luca, just tell us what happened. What did you do in the car?” Kate added.

Luca sighed. “I had a drink with Britney, made some small talk, and then I proposed a deal.”

“Oh?”

Now, the three judges—Kate, Lima, and Nina—along with witness Ed and little Eve, the secret audience member, all paid close attention.

“What deal? Did you offer to sleep with her in exchange for her helping you promote your book?” Lima asked with interest, rubbing her chin.

Luca shot her an annoyed glance. “I wrote a song and asked her to help promote Twilight in return.”

“A song?”

“You can write songs?”

“You wrote a song for the famous Britney?”

None of the three judges seemed to believe him.

“Yes. I had some inspiration once and wrote a song. I showed it to Britney that day, and she liked it.”

“That’s all?”

Kate asked, puzzled. “Writing a song shouldn’t cause such a big commotion, right?”

“There was... a commotion because I was dancing,” Luca said, embarrassed. If it weren’t necessary, he wouldn’t have mentioned the dancing—it was too awkward.

“Dancing?”

“Yes, I made up a simple dance to go with the song.”

“I don’t believe it!” Lima shook her head. “I can believe you write novels, but since when can you write songs and choreograph dances?”

“Luca, just tell the truth,” Kate sighed. “If you’ve been unfaithful, we won’t blame you. You’ve cheated thirty-four times already, and Lima knows about it too.”

“Yes, I know. I’m prepared for that,” Lima said indifferently.

Luca held his face in his hands, sinking into deep frustration.

What a pain~ Why do I have a sister who loves keeping count?

“Luca!” Kate called again. “Just confess. At worst, Lima will hit you a few times, but she won’t leave you. If you lie, though, you know what that means, right?”

“You’ll lose our trust!” Lima said calmly.

“Yes, Luca, be honest,” Judge Nina said sternly.

“Fine!”

At this point, Luca knew he had to throw caution to the wind.

He took off his jacket and slowly said, “Just so you know, this dance is a bit awkward, and I’m not very good at it. You’re not allowed to laugh.”

“We won’t, we won’t. Hurry up and dance!”

“Stop stalling, dance already!”

Everyone urged him in unison.

“Alright, you’re forcing me to do this,” Luca muttered, cracking his neck. He suddenly blinked and, in a sweet voice, sang:

"Are you ready?"

Pfft~

Ed, who had been drinking water, spit it out in shock.

Luca ignored him, fully immersed in his performance. He didn’t care what anyone thought now.

"I want nobody, nobody but you

I want nobody, nobody but you

How can I be with another

I don’t want any other"

He pinched his voice, singing in a high-pitched tone, wiggling his hips, and sensually rubbing his waist and hips from bottom to top.

All four people in the room were stunned, their mouths twitching uncontrollably.

"I want nobody, nobody but you"

Clap clap!

He winked at Kate and Lima, then adorably clapped his hands.

“Ew~”

Lima shuddered, dropping the baseball bat, which clattered loudly to the floor.

“Hahaha~”

Kate covered her eyes, collapsing onto Lima’s shoulder, her body shaking with laughter.

"I want nobody, nobody but you"

Clap clap~

He clapped his hands again, throwing a flirtatious glance at Ed.

“Ugh~”

Ed covered his mouth, turning away in discomfort. He finally understood why the clapping had such a rhythmic sound that day. He thought Luca had been using a new position, but now he realized Luca had really been clapping his hands.

"I want nobody, nobody but you"

Clap clap~

Luca, fully committed, sensually touched his waist and hips.

The English version of “Nobody” was released in 2008 and quickly became a hit across Asia and even worldwide. It inspired countless people to imitate it, with over 3,000 parody or cover videos uploaded to YouTube.

When Luca met Britney, he thought of copying the song.

However, his mind was full of Chinese songs, and he didn’t have a single complete English one in his repertoire. Out of desperation, he borrowed this overplayed song and its particularly awkward dance, which he had learned during a blind date at a square when he was bored.

Wiggle wiggle, touch your chest.

"I want nobody, nobody but you"

Bang!

Just as Luca was dancing, a loud thud echoed behind him, followed by the sound of someone laughing uncontrollably.

“Cluck, cluck, cluck~”

He turned around in surprise and saw little Eve lying on the floor, clutching her belly, laughing so hard she was calling out in pain.

“Enough, stop dancing!”

Nina shouted, her face covered in exasperation.

Phew~

Luca let out a sigh and slowly finished his performance.

Seeing everyone's strange expressions, Luca felt awkward for a moment. If it weren’t absolutely necessary, he would never have danced that routine a second time.

Fighting the embarrassment, he asked, “Now you believe me, right?”

Nina looked at Kate, Kate looked at Lima, and Lima shrugged.

They had no choice but to believe him. After seeing that dance, it was clear why the car had shaken, why there was clapping, and why Britney had laughed seductively.

“Hmph, Luca, that chick Britney is pretty hot and a big star. Don’t you want to sleep with her?” Lima asked with a teasing smirk.

“I do!” Luca answered honestly.

“Wow~ then why didn’t you?”

“Because of you, of course. I’m your boyfriend, and I can’t do anything to betray you,” Luca said.

“Haha, good man,” Lima chuckled, punching him lightly in the chest.

Luca forced a smile and took hold of her hand.

Smack!

Kate slapped the sofa firmly and declared with a serious expression, “I now declare that due to insufficient evidence, the suspect Luca is found not guilty and is hereby released!”

“Thank you, judges. Thank you, witness Ed Dominic. Thank you, little audience member Eve Heath. Thank you, everyone, for clearing my name.”

“Wow~ Luca, big brother, you’re finally innocent!” Eve exclaimed.

“Eve, stay away from him!” Nina said sternly.

“Huh~ why?” Eve pouted.

“Anyone who can dance like that definitely has something wrong with them,” Nina said, tapping Eve’s little head.

Luca: ￣□￣｜｜

Special thanks to reader ‘Vitamilk Plus You’ for the donation!

(End of chapter)

Chapter 68: Do You Still Want Your Diaper?

After a round of internal family deliberations, Luca was finally cleared of any suspicions, and harmony was restored within the family. However, dealing with the outside world was a different story.

That evening, at the Lima apartment, Luca lay in bed texting Britney, discussing how to explain everything to the public.

"Explain? Why do we need to explain anything?" Britney asked.

Luca smirked. "This kind of news could damage your reputation."

"Reputation is crap. I don't care about that, do you?" Britney asked.

Luca chuckled. "Of course, I don't care. I'm just a small-time model."

"Haha, you're Mr. Big! How could you be small?" Britney said.

Luca grinned. This girl sure knew how to say things that could get someone into trouble. Just as he was about to reply, Britney called him.

He glanced at the bedroom door and answered the call.

"Hey, Luca, good evening! Are you asleep yet?"

Britney’s voice was lively and contagious, instantly putting him in a good mood.

"No, just lying in bed, making calls."

"Wow, me too. I'm not wearing a bra, by the way. What about you?"

"…"

"Haha, you're probably embarrassed again. You're too cute."

Britney laughed a few more times. "Do you have time this weekend? I'm filming a music video in Times Square. You should come by!"

The weekend?

Luca was speechless. This girl was bold. Their rumors were already flying everywhere, and if they were seen together this weekend, they'd be caught red-handed.

"I can't, Britney. The day after tomorrow, I have to go to Hollywood for a movie audition."

"An audition? Oh, that's a shame!"

As they continued talking, Britney suddenly shrieked.

"What’s wrong, Britney?" Luca asked urgently.

"Haha, guess what I just found in bed?"

"A cat?"

"NO! It's something very personal."

Luca thought for a moment and laughed. "Britney, it wouldn't be… adult toys, would it?"

"Haha, of course not. It's something for kids."

"Emmmm~ no idea."

"Hahaha~ it’s your diaper, Luca! Your diaper is still here with me. When are you coming to get it? If you don’t want it, I’ll put it up for auction on eBay. A Mr. Big diaper—I'm sure lots of people would want to collect it! Hahaha~"

Britney was laughing hysterically.

Luca’s face turned dark. Last time, he was supposed to dance, and wearing a diaper was inconvenient.

Britney had suggested he take it off.

He did, and then forgot to take it with him when he left. He never imagined Britney had kept it, adding yet another embarrassment to his list.

"Britney, I’ll definitely come pick it up soon."

"Okay, okay, I’ll be waiting for you!"

Luca awkwardly hung up the phone and lay in bed, feeling uncomfortable for a while. Suddenly, he realized that Lima hadn’t come in yet.

"Lima, aren’t you done with your shower?"

"Almost!" Lima's voice came from the next room.

Luca sighed and patted the bed. It was late, and she was still in the game room?

He got out of bed in his pajamas and saw the beautiful Lima, dressed in a bathrobe, sitting at her computer desk, completely focused on her game, completely forgetting her boyfriend lying in bed.

His face darkened as he approached her, ready to carry her into the bedroom for a playful spanking.

But then he saw Lima controlling a female character in the game, brutally kicking a man to death, with blood pooling on the ground.

He hesitated, then decided against it. After all, in relationships, peace was key.

"Oh, darling, why did you come out here?"

Lima glanced back at him.

"What do you think? I’ve been waiting for you for almost an hour."

Luca said, his face dark.

"Emmm~ darling, I just finished my shower, and my hair's still wet, so I’m drying it here."

Lima rubbed her hair and smiled apologetically.

Luca shook his head and grabbed the towel nearby to help dry her hair. Lima’s hair was a rich chestnut color with soft curls, thick and shiny. Blow-drying didn’t help much, so she always liked to air-dry it after washing.

"Lima, which one’s more important: me or the game?"

Luca asked casually as he dried her hair.

"The game... Oh, wow, it’s over!"

Lima blinked and turned to him. "What did you just say, darling?"

"What do you think, chubby?"

Luca was annoyed. He picked her up by her long legs and slung her over his shoulder, giving her a playful slap as he marched toward the bedroom.

"Ahhh! Luca, you big pervert! What are you doing?"

"Don’t move!"

"Haha~ I’m sorry, Luca! You’re the most important, the most, most, most important!"

"Now you say that? Too late!"

With a loud bang, the bedroom door slammed shut.

Luca spent the night stirring up a storm, and by the next morning, the city was buzzing with gossip.

When he turned on the TV and opened the newspapers, it was all news about him and Britney's car scandal.

The Washington Post reported on March 3, "Yesterday afternoon, FOX News aired a very interesting video. According to Nielsen’s statistics, the broadcast garnered 38.3 million viewers, surpassing the popular show Joe Millionaire by 10 points.

"The video showed Britney and Ford model Luca Kelly in a car affair. After the incident was exposed, it caused a huge stir in the entertainment industry. So far, neither party has made a statement."

The Los Angeles Times reported on March 4, "Shocking news: Superstar Britney and a small-time model were caught in a car scandal. Can you believe it? Of course you can, because you’ve seen the video, right?

"What you might not know is that the small-time model already has a girlfriend—none other than supermodel Adriana Lima, a smoking-hot Brazilian beauty.

"On one side, we have superstar Britney, and on the other, supermodel Lima. Honestly, I’m a bit jealous of that small-time model."

The New York Times also reported on March 4, "Yesterday, two big events happened in America. One was the anti-war protests across the country, and the other was Britney’s car scandal.

"In the midst of the anti-war outcry, it’s surprising that Britney’s scandal generated even more attention than the protests."

Countless entertainment tabloids also picked up the story, mostly focusing on the scandalous details.

At LaGuardia Airport's Terminal 3, Luca flipped through several newspapers, sweating slightly.

He knew the news would cause a stir, but he didn’t expect it to blow up this much. Almost every newspaper was covering it.

Britney’s influence was undeniable.

"Luca, congrats! You’ve gone viral!" Ed said, putting down a newspaper with a smile.

Luca shook his head. "Ed, this isn’t funny at all."

Ed laughed. Though he was teasing, he was also being truthful. Luca's name, once known only in fashion circles, was now on everyone’s lips. He had truly "crossed over."

Unfortunately, it wasn’t because of his work, but because of a scandal. It felt a bit hollow.

But, with this newfound fame, he could achieve a few things.

For example, the upcoming audition—before, he only had a 50% chance. Now, it was 100%.

The only dilemma was which to choose: Under the Tuscan Sun or Underworld?

Ugh, such a tough decision!

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please..."

The airport's announcement echoed.

Ed stood up, adjusted his suit, and said excitedly, "Luca, it’s time to conquer Hollywood. Let’s go!"

"OK, let’s go!"

Luca flicked the hem of his coat and swaggered into the boarding gate.

(End of this chapter)

*Chapter 69: Three Things That Made Nina Happy*

"Finally, he's gone!"

In the office of the IMG modeling agency, Nina put down her phone and let out a big sigh of relief.

Kate lowered her newspaper and chuckled, "Nina, Luca has improved a lot lately, hasn’t he? Why are you still so nervous about him?"

"Improved?" Nina raised an eyebrow. "During Fashion Week, he embarrassed himself on stage. A few days ago, while filming a music video, he got involved in a car sex scandal, and now the whole world knows he’s been cheating. Is that what you call 'improving'?"

Kate smiled slightly. "I think it's good. Before, Luca had no fame at all. Now, thanks to a few incidents, his fame is higher than some C-list celebrities. Isn't bigger fame better in the entertainment industry?"

"Sure, he's famous, but what about you? Look at what these reports are saying. They claim you used your brother Luca to promote your book, portraying you as a scheming woman who will stop at nothing for fame and fortune."

Nina shook her head. The media kept harping on about the book promotion and the car sex scandal, deliberately trying to ruin Kate’s reputation.

She and the company had to manage PR, and all this extra work came from Luca’s actions.

Kate just laughed it off. "What does it matter if they say I’m greedy for fame? As long as Twilight sells well and makes more money, it's all worth it."

She pointed to The New York Times and asked with a smile, "Nina, can you guess how many copies Twilight sold yesterday?"

"How many?"

Nina was curious.

"Just yesterday, both online and in stores, it sold 210,000 copies."

"210,000 in a day?!"

Nina was shocked. Before the scandal, the best daily sales were around 100,000 copies. Now it had surpassed 200,000. Incredible.

"Yes, according to The New York Times, in twelve days of release, Twilight has sold 820,000 copies. Today, it finally made it to eighth place on the New York Times Best Sellers list, knocking out Annie Nais' Blood Song from the spot."

Kate clenched her fist. She still remembered how Annie Nais had insulted her, saying, "Not everyone can bask in the glory of literature," as if writing a book was some monumental achievement.

Well, what about now?

Twilight was firmly outselling Blood Song.

And what did that prove?

It proved that Ms. Nais couldn’t even compete with someone she considered uneducated.

Hahaha~

So satisfying!

Kate punched the air. "Nina, do you still think Luca is a hassle?"

"Not a hassle? Don’t forget about the book signing!"

Nina knocked on the table, calmly reminding her.

The book signing?

At the mention, Kate sighed. Emily Han had said that with Twilight's success, they would hold signings in major cities across the U.S., which meant she'd be flying all over the place for the foreseeable future.

It was all Luca's fault!

Nina was right—he really was a hassle.

Kate cracked her knuckles, wanting to pull Luca’s ear, but alas, he wasn’t around.

"Forget it, let’s not talk about Luca. I have a signing at the public library this afternoon. I need to go meet Emily."

"Go ahead, but be careful with the reporters and answer questions carefully."

"Got it!"

Kate grabbed her bag and, with the click of her heels, swept out of the office like the wind.

Nina shook her head in resignation. At twenty-three, Kate was still like this. Luca seemed more mature by comparison.

Wait, mature?

Nina shook her head again—no, that was definitely just an illusion.

Ring~

The phone on the desk rang.

It was the assistant from the CEO’s office, notifying her of a meeting.

Nina touched up her makeup, grabbed her laptop, and headed to the elevator. The company was undergoing some personnel changes, and she wondered who the lucky one would be.

In the elevator were other agents, seven in total—four men and three women. The men were effeminate, and the women, not so attractive. Each managed a supermodel, making them the top agents in the company.

"Hey, Nina, congrats on managing a best-selling author."

"Nina, now that Kate is a top supermodel, you’ve become a top agent."

"Yeah, Kate's about to be the company’s number one."

The supermodel agents greeted her, some sincerely, others not so much.

"Thank you."

Nina nodded modestly, hugging her laptop.

"Haha, Nina, congratulations!"

Gisele's agent, Bella Schaefer, walked in, smiling. "Nina, you came up with the idea for Britney to promote the book, right? Brilliant move!"

Nina frowned slightly and replied coolly, "Kate and Britney are friends. Kate asked Britney to help, and Britney was willing. It's friendship, not a business deal."

"Friendship? Hahaha~"

Bella Schaefer laughed, and the others joined in. The papers had made it clear—Britney promoted the book right after the car sex scandal. Was it even a question whether it was a deal?

Nina kept a straight face, ignoring them. When the elevator doors opened, she stepped out first.

"Hmph, she used to claim she wouldn’t mix business and pleasure, but now she’s an expert at it."

Bella Schaefer sneered as she watched Nina walk away.

"Yeah, having Luca seduce Britney—that's some creative thinking."

"Nina's smart. We could all learn from her."

"Learn what? Do you have a Mr. Big?"

"Nope, hahaha~"

The other agents joked as they walked into the meeting room.

"We’ve called this meeting to announce something."

The IMG vice president smiled at Nina as he pulled out a document. "The board has decided that Nina Systre will serve as the deputy director of IMG's agent department, effective immediately."

"What?!"

Bella Schaefer and the other agents were stunned. How did this happen?

They had been fighting tooth and nail for the position, which not only increased power but also came with company shares and an annual bonus of tens of thousands of dollars.

How had this position gone to Nina?

Nina herself was shocked. How had she suddenly been promoted?

There had been rumors that Bella was most likely to get the job.

Could it be because Kate became a best-selling author?

The surprise was so overwhelming that she barely had time to process it before delivering a brief acceptance speech, which was met with scattered applause.

It seemed this news had left many people unhappy.

But Nina didn’t care.

After the meeting, she excitedly called Kate, but couldn't get through. Kate was probably at the book signing.

So she called Ed.

"Hey, Ed, great news—I’ve been promoted to deputy director of the agent department! My salary’s going up again. Oh, honey, don’t feel any pressure. Really, you’ll be making more than me soon as an entertainment agent."

Nina chuckled softly. She had been so excited that she forgot to consider Ed’s feelings.

"Ed, how’s it going in L.A.? Have you guys landed a role yet? Luca’s already auditioning. Confident? A hundred percent?

Oh, that's awesome!

Ed, don't worry about things here. The weather's great in L.A., so stay a bit longer. No rush to come back. Alright, bye!"

Nina hung up the phone, stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, and smiled at the clear blue sky. What a beautiful day—except for that dark cloud to the west.

Oh well, never mind.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 70: Three Things That Depressed Nina*

On the afternoon of March 12th, the sky over New York was covered with dark clouds, signaling a heavy downpour.

At LaGuardia Airport in Queens, Ms. Nina stared at the crowded exit with a gloomy expression, matching the weather.

The past few days had been filled with good news, but today, one bad thing after another kept happening, leaving her frustrated.

The first thing: when she woke up in the morning, she found Eve dancing on the balcony, to none other than the song "Nobody," shaking her little hips and touching her chest—nothing ladylike about it. Clearly, she had picked up bad habits from Luca.

Nina angrily scolded little Eve, who pouted and left for school looking upset. Nina, equally frustrated, went to her office.

But once she arrived at work, something else annoyed her.

Vogue magazine sent a statement terminating their collaboration with Kate Kelly effective immediately, saying Kate’s photo would not appear on the March cover.

They also added a remark: “Since she doesn't want to cooperate, we won't cooperate in the future either.”

“Fuck!”

Nina was so angry that she smashed her coffee cup.

In recent days, Twilight continued to be a bestseller, steadily holding a spot in the top ten. Kate had transformed from a model into a bestselling author known for both beauty and talent, causing a sensation in the fashion world.

Nina had thought Anna would give the rising star some leeway and overlook Kate's offhand remark, but instead, she got this response.

“Fuck!”

Nina furiously tore up the statement, scattering paper all over the floor.

Before she could call someone to clean the room, something even more irritating happened.

Ed called—he was back, and he had brought Luca, the troublemaker, with him.

"Didn't you two go to conquer Hollywood? Why are you back so soon?"

Standing at the airport exit, Nina watched the two approach, looking even more annoyed.

When they left, they were all dressed up, confident, and full of pride, proclaiming they were off to conquer Hollywood.

But now?

They looked exhausted and defeated, clearly worn out. Seeing them like this evoked both pity and frustration—what was the point of talking big if they couldn’t back it up?

"Well, say something. Have you conquered Hollywood?"

Nina blinked as it began to rain. Raindrops landed on her eyelashes, making tiny splashes. She let out a small snort, opened the car door, and got in.

Ed and Luca followed, the two downcast friends—one black, one white—looking both pitiful and amusing.

Nina handed them two cups of hot coffee, then started the car in silence.

"Sigh... it’s a long story."

Ed took a sip of his coffee and sighed lightly.

"Yes!"

Luca also sipped his coffee and nodded in agreement.

“Well, after we got to Hollywood, we immediately went to audition for Under the Tuscan Sun. Unfortunately..."

Ed sighed and shook his head.

“Unfortunately, the director wanted an Italian guy with Italian charm, but I’m just a Brazilian guy.”

Luca spread his hands in regret.

"Exactly!"

Ed nodded. “Luca is a bit mature, but the director said his performance was too stiff—not Italian enough.”

"No, my failure had nothing to do with my acting!"

Luca retorted indignantly, “I got insider info—the male lead was already chosen because he was the producer’s lover. Ed just didn’t do his job, so I went all that way for nothing.”

"How is that my fault?"

Ed complained, "If your acting had been better, the director would have chosen you over the other guy. You just weren’t good enough."

"Haha, that’s ridiculous. I’m fresh out of school—how good could I be?"

"Still not my fault."

"Enough!"

Ms. Nina, her face dark, interrupted their argument.

They both seemed so reliable before—how did one trip to Hollywood turn them into this?

Was it true that adversity reveals character?

She shook her head and turned on the windshield wipers.

The rain fell more heavily, pattering on the windshield and obscuring the road, the cars, and the Queensboro Bridge ahead.

The wipers swished back and forth, clearing the rain and restoring her view.

“And the other movie? With Luca’s current fame, he should’ve been able to land at least a big supporting role.”

She asked casually.

"This failure was unavoidable."

"Yes, truly unavoidable!"

Luca nodded in agreement.

“The director of this film, Len Wiseman, is reportedly pursuing the lead actress, Kate Beckinsale. And since Luca is Mr. Big, and also very handsome, Wiseman was worried he might end up in the wrong trailer, so he refused to let him play the lead.”

Ed said, clearly unhappy.

“Exactly. At the audition, he glanced at me and asked, ‘Are you Mr. Big?’ I said ‘yes,’ and that was the end of it.”

Luca shook his head, frustrated.

“So, does this mean your plan to break into Hollywood failed again?”

Nina held her head in her hands, feeling even more exasperated.

Since the day they signed, these two had been bragging about their journey into the entertainment industry, aiming to become Hollywood stars. But half a year had passed, and they had only landed one small role in one film.

She wasn’t sure if they were worried, but she certainly was.

Having Luca in New York made her uneasy.

She was tempted to take over as Luca’s agent herself—no matter what it took, she wanted to shove him into Hollywood so he wouldn’t have the chance to influence Kate or corrupt the kids.

But as she glanced in the rearview mirror at the two men looking down, their faces somewhat gloomy, she felt a bit sympathetic.

She was about to say something to comfort them when they suddenly exchanged glances and burst out laughing like lunatics.

“Haha, sorry Nina, but this time, we didn’t actually fail.”

Grinning widely, Ed pulled two scripts from his bag. One had “Honey” on the cover, the other said The Notebook.

“Nina, we lost two bad ones but got two much better ones. We came back with more than we hoped for!”

Luca smiled slightly. The two films were Honey, starring Jessica Alba, and The Notebook, starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling.

Both movies were better in terms of box office and reviews than the previous ones.

Plus, Luca had more scenes in these films.

"Yes, Nina!"

Ed laughed heartily. “Sorry for not telling you right away—we wanted to surprise you.”

"Is that so?"

Nina raised an eyebrow. "If you got these roles, why didn’t you stay in Hollywood to shoot? Why come back?"

"Haha, no need, Nina. Honey is being filmed in New York, and The Notebook is being shot in Charleston, South Carolina—still on the East Coast."

Screech~

Nina gripped the steering wheel tightly. "So, you’re saying you’ll be staying in New York for the foreseeable future?"

"Yes, Nina. Surprised? Excited?"

Luca asked with a big grin.

Surprised?

More like shocked. She had been hoping Luca would stay in Hollywood and stop influencing Kate and Eve. But now, here he was, right back again.

Vroom~

Nina slammed on the gas, and the car shot forward.

"Ahh~ Nina, slow down! I’m in no rush to get home!"

Luca clutched the seat tightly.

"Nina, it’s raining, the road’s slippery. Don’t drive too fast!"

Ed said nervously.

“Don’t worry, no one’s dying today!”