ch 56-60

*Chapter 56: A Painful Realization*

On February 22nd, a rather fitting date for a quirky debut, Twilight hit the shelves, stocked in sixty-eight major bookstores across New York State. On its first day, the novel sold over 3,800 copies, a decent performance for a debut author.

However, just as the media was starting to hype up supermodel Kate’s transition to author Kate, the sales took a nosedive over the next two days.

Only 1,000 copies were sold on the second day.

On the third day, fewer than 1,500 copies were sold.

With this sharp decline, the media quickly shifted gears to ridicule the situation.

Max, a well-known New York Times critic, gave a scathing one-liner about the book: "A naïve young girl fantasizing about romance with vampires and werewolves."

The New York Post critiqued it as well, stating, "This book feels entirely like Ms. Kate Kelly’s personal fantasy. There’s no immersion. It barely has any sexual content, and Ms. Kelly seems to advocate for abstaining from premarital sex. Really? This might be suitable for readers under eighteen."

Meanwhile, The New York Tribune’s book section, which regularly reviews books from new authors, took the opportunity to critique Twilight, perhaps because of Kate Kelly’s fame.

The Tribune’s review read, "When I first read that supermodel Kate Kelly was writing a novel, I was intrigued. Finally, a talented female writer from the modeling world, and a stunningly beautiful one at that! I was eagerly anticipating the release."

"I bought the book a couple of days ago, expecting it to be as beautiful as its author. However, I was disappointed. The story revolves around a love triangle between a daydreaming girl and two handsome vampires, completely lacking the suspense and excitement you’d expect from a vampire novel."

There were both criticisms and praise from the press.

The Pyramid Times had a glowing review, stating, "What a surprise! It’s hard to believe such an epic, breathtaking piece came from the hands of Ms. Kate Kelly, a mere 23-year-old! The novel is filled with tension between love and hate, yet refined and elegant, like the works of Jane Austen. It’s the pinnacle of romance novels. The best book recommendation of the year!"

Another Tribune review said, "Set against a faintly Gothic backdrop, Twilight weaves a haunting love story intertwined with supernatural elements, delivering a heart-pounding, emotional experience. Highly recommended!"

The New Yorker commented with admiration, "Kate’s work is imbued with a passionate intensity, and the supernatural elements are utterly captivating."

In the first few days, public opinion was polarized, and the sales rebounded, reaching 4,000 copies sold on the fourth day.

The initial 10,000 copies sold out.

Greenwood Publishing quickly printed an additional 50,000 copies.

On the fifth day, the book sold 10,800 copies.

Just when it seemed like Twilight was on the verge of becoming a hit, an interview with The New York Times derailed the promotional efforts of Luca and Felix, who had been trying to boost sales through PR strategies.

On the fifth day, The New York Times interviewed Anne Rice, the “mother of vampire fiction,” and asked if she had read Twilight and what she thought of it.

Anne Rice bluntly replied, "Twilight? The novel by supermodel Kate Kelly? I’m sorry, I don’t have time to read a book written by someone who hasn’t even finished college. This isn’t about discrimination, it’s just the truth."

"A woman like Ms. Kelly, who didn’t finish college and is focused on her modeling career, how much literary value can her novel have? My advice to her is to stay in the fashion world. The brilliance of literature, like sunlight to a vampire, isn’t something just anyone can handle."

With that single comment about Kate’s lack of education, Anne Rice dismissed the book as lacking literary merit and not worth reading.

Sales plummeted. On the sixth day, only 3,400 copies were sold. By the seventh day, fewer than 1,000 copies were sold.

The novel had flopped.

Greenwood Publishing couldn’t move the second batch of printed books.

More articles criticizing Kate began to appear in the press.

The New York News said she wasn’t writing out of a love for literature but to gain a shiny new label to boost her status.

Book Weekly delivered the hardest blow, providing undeniable proof of Twilight’s sales manipulation.

According to Book Weekly, their reporter saw Kate Kelly purchasing a truckload of her own books from a bookstore — at least 1,000 copies.

Furthermore, many of Kelly’s friends had bought significant quantities of the novel. For example, Gisele Bündchen had bought 100 copies. It was no wonder that everyone in the modeling world had a copy of Twilight, explaining the 3,800 sales on the first day.

This revelation confirmed that the initial sales figures were inflated.

"Fuck, Gisele, that bitch!"

At Kate’s IMG agency office, she almost exploded with rage upon seeing the report.

She and Gisele weren’t even friends, and she hadn’t asked Gisele to buy her book.

Why could everyone else buy 100 copies, but Gisele’s purchase made the news?

"Kate, calm down. Remember, you’re a model. Being an author was just an accident. My advice is to pull Twilight from the shelves and let this whole thing blow over, or it will hurt your career. Understand?"

Nina, Kate’s manager, spoke sternly.

"Take it off the shelves? But what about Luca..."

Kate was hesitant. Lucahad worked hard, writing for so long, despite his injuries, to finish the book. Could they really just pull it?

"Nina, why should we take it off? I think Twilight is a great read."

Miranda, who had been sitting quietly on the couch, suddenly spoke up.

She had picked up the book out of curiosity after hearing about Kate’s novel, and ended up binge-reading it for two days, even skipping meals. She thought it was fantastic.

Nina shot her a glare. Just like her daughter, Miranda was a naïve reader, drawn to a sappy romance story with a sugary-sweet heroine.

Miranda stuck out her tongue and, knowing she had overstepped, retreated with her copy of Twilight to read in peace.

Nina turned back to Kate, who was still hesitant, and sighed, "There’s something else I need to tell you. Because of all this, last year’s Best Model of the Year award is pretty much confirmed to go to Gisele."

"What?!"

Kate’s eyes widened in disbelief. Vogue magazine selected one Best Model each year. This year, the top three contenders were Gisele, Kate, and Karolina Kurkova (the model famously born without a belly button).

Kate had originally felt no chance of winning, but her "superwoman incident" had won her a wave of popularity, giving her a real shot at becoming one of the top three finalists.

Initially, she didn’t care much about the award.

But now, hearing that Gisele had secured it, she was fuming.

"Is there any way we can help Karolina win?"

She asked with a cold expression.

"Are you serious?"

Nina snapped, annoyed.

Kate and Gisele were both IMG models, while Karolina worked for a rival agency. Was Kate really asking her to help the competition?

Kate smirked, "Never mind, pretend I didn’t say anything."

"Hmph."

Nina pointed to the scattered papers on the floor. "Clean this mess up and go home. Stop worrying about the book. And tell your brother to stop meddling. You guys aren’t short on money anymore. Why even bother writing a novel? It’s a dead end."

"But, but..."

Kate scratched her head in frustration. "So, Gisele wins this round?"

"Are you going to punch her?"

"Do you think I won’t?"

"Go ahead then."

"I will!"

Kate, known for her temper, even took swings at her brother when provoked, so Gisele would be no exception.

She stomped out in her high heels, ready for battle.

Nina rubbed her forehead, quickly following after her.

As luck would have it, Kate ran into Gisele as soon as she stepped outside.

"Hey, Kate! I heard over 1,000 copies of Twilight sold again today. Not bad at all! Keep it up, big-shot author, hahaha."

Gisele and her little entourage covered their mouths and giggled.

Creaaaak

Kate stomped her heel hard, ready to go on a rampage.

Nina quickly grabbed her hand and whispered, "Calm down, or you're just falling into her trap."

Phew

Kate quietly exhaled, gently brushing her blonde hair behind her ear, and smiled. "Thanks, Gisele. Thanks for buying 100 copies to support me."

"No need to thank me! We're all friends here!"

Gisele gave a snort, raised her long neck, and strutted off arrogantly.

"That b****," Kate muttered coldly.

"Don't get mad. The more upset you are, the happier Gisele gets," Nina said wisely.

Kate shot her a glare. As Luca would say, "It's easy to talk when you're not the one dealing with it."

"Alright, stop standing around. Let's go home and rest," Nina suggested.

"But I really want to punch someone!"

"Then go home and punch Luca. He definitely deserves it."

"Emmm... you're right!"

"Luca, Luca, where are you?" Kate called out as she got home, not even bothering to change her shoes. The clacking of her heels echoed on the hardwood floor as she went upstairs.

Without waiting for a response, she burst into the room and saw Luca typing at the computer. The moment he noticed her, he scrambled to shut it down.

"Stop!" Kate swiftly reached out and yanked his ear.

"Ow! Ow!" Luca gasped. "Kate, what are you doing?"

"Oh, what am I doing? You've been hiding upstairs like a ghost for days, and every time I come in, you shut down your computer. Care to explain why?" Kate twisted his ear, demanding an answer.

"Uh, nothing much. Just writing a script," Luca replied through gritted teeth.

"A script?" Kate shoved him aside and scrolled through the document. It was filled with over 100 reviews of Twilight, both positive and negative.

"Luca, don't tell me all those reviews in the media about Twilight recently were written by you?"

"Emmm, yeah, most of them. Think about it – the book had just hit the shelves. How could there be so many reviews already? Felix and I came up with the idea to stir things up. I wrote the articles, and Felix handled the PR. That's why it’s been so lively in the papers lately," Luca admitted shamelessly.

Kate shot him a sideways glance. "You're pretty sneaky, huh?"

"Sneaky? Oh no, Kate. I think you meant smart. 'Treacherous' doesn’t mean smart, you know," Luca quickly corrected.

"No, I said sneaky, and sneaky is exactly what I meant," Kate retorted, raising her eyebrows.

"Uh... okay, fine, I admit it. I’m a little sly," Luca said, covering his face like he was about to cry.

"Don’t give me that act. I’ve got a question!" Kate grabbed his collar and pointed at the computer. "If you were trying to stir things up, why did you write so many negative reviews? Why not just write good ones?"

"Well, this gets into mass communication theory. In public opinion, what catches the most attention isn't just heaps of praise or total dismissal. It’s the debate – when there’s a contentious topic, both sides argue, and you get opposing opinions. That creates interest."

"Speak plainly!" Kate snapped, frowning.

Luca forced a smile. "You’ve seen a propeller, right? The bigger the propeller, the faster the plane flies. The propeller’s arms represent public opinion. One side is positive reviews, the other is negative. Only when both sides are balanced can the propeller keep spinning. The more opinions on both sides, the more media get involved, generating more energy. This increases the topic’s heat."

"When Twilight first hit the shelves, there weren’t any reviews, so we created a debate to draw attention. Soon, more media started covering it, and we got the most return on our investment with minimal promotion."

Kate nodded as she began to understand. "You really are sneaky."

Luca covered his forehead, wanting to hit something. "That’s called being smart, okay? Ugh, whatever, she's my sister... I’ll let it go."

"So you’re telling me that most of the reviews in the papers in the first few days were written by you?"

"Emmm, yep. The first three days, all of them," Luca confirmed.

Creaaaak

Kate slowly ground her heel into the floor. "So, that article saying I’m pretty but have no writing talent and that my leg length is inversely proportional to my skills – you wrote that one too?"

"Oh, Kate, I told you, it’s all for the publicity. You promised you wouldn’t get mad!"

"Hahaha, am I mad? No, I’m not mad at all! I just want to teach you a move from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu... a triangle choke from the bottom."

Bam!

"Ah! My spine!"

Slap! Thud!

"Ow! Kate, not the face! Don’t hit the face – I have a music video shoot tomorrow!"

"Hmph, fine. I won’t hit your face."

Smack, smack, smack!

"Ahh! My butt! Mercy, my queen, mercy! I was wrong!"

@﹏@

Luca regretted it all. Why did he even bother changing the original story? If he hadn’t, maybe the book would’ve been a hit from the start, and he wouldn’t have to work so hard to sell it. Ugh, next time he copies a book, he should just stick to being a shameless plagiarist.

"Oh, what a painful realization..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 57: Britney Spears is Here

"Ow~"

The next morning, Luca bid farewell to Kate and climbed into Ed's car, rubbing his sore arms and legs.

"Oh, Luca, what happened to you? Looks like you got beat up!" Ed asked, surprised.

Luca looked through the window and saw Kate heading back, letting out a sigh of relief. "I did get beat up."

"Oh? Who hit you?" Ed asked curiously.

"Who do you think? Who else but Kate would dare to hit me?" Luca responded.

Ed smirked. These two siblings were truly something else.

"So, why did Kate hit you this time?"

"It's a long story," Luca sighed, reclining in the backseat, stretching out his long legs, and began explaining the marketing scheme.

It was something he and Felix had agreed upon.

Twilight had only released its first 10,000 copies. Greenwood Publishing wasn’t planning to invest much in this small project.

But Luca still thought it needed some promotion. First, because he had revised the book, making it less impressive than the original, and second, because the author had changed. Kate was a complete newcomer—no high academic background, no connections in the literary world.

The original author was a well-respected intellectual, already established in literary circles. Her book would get recommended even without much publicity.

Even without recommendations, based on its quality, the original Twilight would have still been a hit. But it wouldn’t have made it into the top five of the New York Times bestseller list in the first week.

Getting on that bestseller list wasn’t necessarily about having the best quality, but about having a publisher that knew how to work the system.

And that "system" was all about gaming the charts.

In New York, some companies specialize in this, informally known as "book laundering." Authors or publishers pay them, and they hire workers nationwide to buy books from various retailers using different cards, shipping addresses, and payment methods, all in small batches. With that kind of operation, getting on the list wasn’t hard.

It's said that $100,000 could get a book on the list, and $1 million could place it in the top ten—the more money, the better the ranking.

Kate had thought about hiring one of these companies. After all, she wasn’t short on cash.

But Luca had stopped her. It wasn’t worth it—too expensive, and being a celebrity, getting exposed would damage her reputation. Plus, he had faith in Twilight.

So, he personally took charge of the promotion, using the most economical and common tactics. At first, it worked. Sales of Twilight steadily increased, and if it hadn’t been for Annie Nace's harsh criticism, it would’ve made the bestseller list.

Unfortunately, after all his hard work over the past half-month, Kate still beat him up, but oddly enough, he felt refreshed in the morning.

"Ed, you know I only wrote those negative reviews as part of the hype, just making stuff up. I didn’t mean to insult Kate, but she still went hard on me."

Ed chuckled. "Luca, quit complaining. Kate's under a lot of pressure right now. Not only is she dealing with public backlash, but in the company, she’s also been clashing with people like Bundchen. Yesterday, Nina told me that Kate had a good chance of winning Model of the Year in 2002, but now the fashion world is judging her because of this."

"Is that so?" Luca rubbed his chin, frowning slightly. He had intended for the book to help Kate transition careers, not realizing it would impact her modeling career. If he’d known, he would’ve handled things himself.

"Luca, I’ve been keeping an eye on Twilight's sales. Even though it hit a bump, overall sales are still climbing daily. You don’t need to put more energy into promoting it," Ed sighed softly. "You should focus on acting. Don’t forget, our goal is for you to become a Hollywood star—not a model, not a screenwriter, and definitely not some damn author."

Ed slapped the steering wheel in frustration. He had hoped to turn Luca into a Hollywood star, but after all this time, they were still stuck in New York. So far, Luca had only landed a minor role, and the road to stardom was still far away.

"Calm down, Ed!" Seeing Ed’s frustration building, Luca patted his shoulder. "I’ll listen to you on this. I won’t focus too much on Twilight anymore. I’ve already done what I could, and there’s not much more I can do."

"You’ve done more than enough," Ed said quietly.

After knowing Luca for nearly half a year, Ed was more and more impressed with him. Luca had shown remarkable talent and potential. Whether it was writing novels, screenplays, handling PR, or continuously improving his acting and runway skills, Luca had it all—and he was only 21.

If he focused solely on acting, he might just become an A-list star.

Ed pondered for a moment and said, "Luca, get ready. We’re going to L.A. for an audition this weekend."

"What? So soon?"

"Is it? I told you last week."

"Oh, alright, Ed. I’ll follow your lead."

Luca spread his hands and lay back in the seat again. His body still ached from Kate’s rough treatment, but it wasn’t painful—more like an itch deep in his bones. He couldn’t help but wiggle around in the seat.

Ed glanced at him in the rearview mirror and shook his head. "Luca! We're about to get to the set. Pull yourself together. Remember, you're the unstoppable Luca!"

"Oh, Ed, why are you bringing up that stupid nickname?" Luca groaned, covering his face in exasperation.

Ed grinned, flashing his white teeth, and laughed heartily. "What’s wrong with that nickname?"

"I’d prefer to be called Tough Luca, or Superman Luca, not something that makes me sound like a dog in heat."

"Hahaha!"

Amid their laughter, they arrived at the HELM production base in Queens.

HELM was one of the largest film production sites in New York, with dozens of massive sound stages and streets lined with various architectural styles. It was also a tourist attraction.

By 10 a.m., the base was bustling with activity, with several film crews already shooting.

Luca and Ed walked through, taking in the sights, until they reached Studio 17.

Britney Spears was shooting the music video for one of the tracks from her new album In the Zone here.

"Good morning, Roy!" Ed greeted loudly as they entered the studio.

The man with a clipboard was Roy Hamilton, the director of the music video—an aging, bald director.

He was barking orders at the crew, telling them to get moving because Britney was about to arrive. When he saw Ed, he turned, his face showing a hint of confusion.

Ed smiled and gestured toward Luca. "Roy, this is Luca!"

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Hamilton. I’m Luca Kelly."

Luca stepped forward, standing tall and confident, a complete transformation from his relaxed posture in the car.

"Oh, Big Bird Luca! I recognize you!" Roy said, glancing down at Luca’s pants.

Luca’s smile stiffened slightly. Ever since his… fame, people’s eyes seemed to gravitate toward his pants, ignoring his striking good looks and athletic physique. Great.

"Welcome aboard!" Roy said with a big grin, shaking Luca’s hand.

"Thank you," Luca responded, his smile still a bit strained. Did this guy just compliment me after only looking down there? Were they only going to shoot that part?

His question was soon answered.

"Luca, for the scene, you’ll sit here," Roy said, leading him into a cylindrical structure.

From the outside, it looked like a rough airplane model, but the interior was something else.

It was a one-to-one replica of a Boeing 747 cabin.

Luca entered and saw several people already seated. Roy pointed to a middle seat and said, "During the shoot, Britney, playing the flight attendant, will accidentally spill a drink on your pants and then take a towel to wipe them."

Uh...

Luca wiped his brow. So this was his role?

How… awkward.

"Got it, Roy," Luca replied, sitting down.

"Good. Everyone, get ready. Oh, Jimmy, stop smoking in here, or I’ll throw you out!"

"Alright, alright, Roy!"

The cameraman quietly put out his cigarette.

Just as Roy was about to speak again, a staff member rushed in. "Mr. Hamilton, Ms. Spears has arrived."

"Great, let’s start shooting!"

Chapter 58: Whoa

The filming set was brightly lit.

Upon hearing that Britney Spears had arrived, the extras in the cabin couldn’t help but glance back. At this time, Britney was practically at the height of her fame. In the global music scene, only Michael Jackson and Madonna could rival her.

But with MJ arrested over child abuse allegations and Madonna cutting down on public appearances due to health reasons, Britney’s future fame would soar. No one could compare to her.

Luca had heard about Britney before. Aside from seeing her referenced in comedy sketches, like the "Sweet Britney" joke from A Chinese Odyssey, there was also her never-ending news scandals: a 55-hour marriage, dating a paparazzo, shaving her head, drug arrests, one-night stands, legal battles with her father, and more.

But all those events happened after 2003. Right now, at just 22, Britney was still a slender, idolized pop star.

"Britney!"

Suddenly, someone shouted her name.

Then many people started yelling "Britney" and "I love you!"

Luca glanced back. Britney, dressed in a sky-blue flight attendant uniform, walked into the cabin. When she heard people greeting her, she smiled sweetly and waved back, fitting the "Sweet Britney" image perfectly.

"Quiet!"

Just as Britney was interacting warmly with the extras, the director, Roy, yelled through a megaphone. His voice was so loud, and the space so confined, that everyone instinctively covered their ears.

Britney clutched her chest and said, "Oh, Roy, you scared me!"

"Britney, we’re on set for a music video, not a fan meet-and-greet. And everyone, listen up: no unnecessary interaction or conversation with Ms. Spears during the shoot!" Roy barked, his face stern.

The extras and dancers obediently returned to their seats, and the cabin quieted down again.

After establishing order, Roy began explaining the performance process to Britney and the four backup dancers.

“Wait, Roy, has Mr. Luca arrived yet?”

Britney suddenly spoke up, scanning the cabin.

"Luca?"

Director Roy looked towards the middle.

Following his gaze, Britney immediately spotted the tall, handsome, and artfully chiseled Luca standing among the crowd.

"Hey, Luca! You were so cool at the CK shoot last time!"

Britney pushed the chubby director aside and walked straight over to Luca. As she spoke, her eyes drifted downward, taking in his full appearance.

Here we go again! Luca awkwardly smiled and said, "Hello, Miss Spears. I really like your music. Could I get your autograph?"

Luca pulled a blue-covered album from his pocket, Britney’s third album Britney.

It was Kate who had prepared this album.

The last time Luca had a minor incident with Matt Damon at a bar, it left Kate with the impression that he wasn’t good at dealing with celebrities.

To avoid another mishap, Kate had prepared the album, instructing him to greet Britney as a fan.

"Wow, thank you for liking my music!"

Britney took the album case, grabbed a pen, and as she signed, asked, "What’s your favorite song from this album?"

Uh...

Luca froze. He had no idea what songs were on the album. How should he answer this?

"Sometimes!" he blurted out.

"Are you serious?" Britney fluttered her long eyelashes at him and smiled. "Too bad you guessed wrong. That song is from my first album, not this one."

Luca flushed a bit, realizing he’d messed up his celebrity encounter yet again.

"Okay, Britney, I don’t actually remember the songs from this album. My sister is a big fan of yours and she wanted your autograph," Luca shrugged, coming clean.

"Haha, Luca, you’re so cute. Has anyone ever told you that?"

Sweet?

Luca felt awkward. After two lifetimes, this was the first time someone had called him "cute." For a 6’2” guy, that word didn’t feel like a compliment.

"Hey, Britney, is your fan meet-and-greet over? We need to get started," Director Roy interrupted, looking irritated. His earlier command for no distractions had been completely ignored, which wasn’t sitting well with him.

"Relax, Roy. I’m almost done!" Britney waved him off, then leaned in close to Luca’s ear and said,

"Luca, did you know? I was at the CK fashion show last time too. You were so cool, like a soldier with a rocket launcher, so heroic, hahaha!"

She patted his chest and laughed before walking away.

Luca forced a smile and awkwardly sat back down.

That embarrassing stunt he had pulled at the CK show, forced under pressure, always made him sweat when he thought about it. Now, he’d met someone who had witnessed it live. So awkward!

"Okay, everyone, attention! We’re starting the first shot for the ‘Toxic’ music video!"

"Music, please!"

With the director’s shout, the music began playing.

*Baby, can’t you see I’m calling

A guy like you should wear a warning

It's dangerous, I’m falling...*

With the beat of the music, Britney and her dancers began their routine. All five of them wore specially designed flight attendant outfits, revealing and incredibly sexy.

After two hours of filming, it was finally time for Luca’s scene. Roy stood in the aisle, explaining the upcoming performance to Britney, who was leaning on a trolley.

"Britney, in a moment, you’ll dance past Luca and accidentally spill a drink on his pants. You’ll wipe it up, strike a few sexy poses, sit on his lap, and kiss him."

"Sure thing, Roy, I’ll do great!" Britney whistled and smiled.

Roy nodded. "Luca, when Britney’s dancing, I need you to keep your eyes on her—hot and intense."

"You mean, like I want to take her to bed?" Britney interjected.

Roy scratched his thinning hair. "Exactly, Britney. You’ve got it."

"Luca, you know how to act that, right?" Britney asked, blinking playfully.

Luca smirked and replied, "Britney, I’m actually an actor."

"Wow, really? I thought you were a model?" Britney asked, intrigued.

"Modeling is just a side gig. Acting is my profession," Luca said confidently.

"So, you’re saying your acting is pretty good?" Britney tilted her head, touching her chin, her long eyelashes batting mischievously. From Luca’s angle, her eyes held a playful, almost naughty glint.

Luca suddenly felt uneasy. Was she planning something?

"Hmmph!" Director Roy grunted disapprovingly. "Hey, I’m the director here. Could you two please respect my authority?"

"Okay, okay, Roy, hurry up! I’m excited to perform!" Britney waved him off and leaned back on the trolley, playfully twirling a white cloth.

Roy glanced at her, then at Luca, rubbing his shiny forehead. He had completely lost his train of thought.

"Luca, do you remember what I told you earlier?"

"Yes, Roy!"

"Good, then. ‘Toxic,’ take five, first scene! Music!"

*Don’t you know that you’re toxic?

It’s getting late to give you up...*

As the music started, Britney pushed the trolley, strutting seductively. She sang along to the lyrics, mouthing the words as she tossed items from the trolley to the seated passengers in a playful manner.

Britney was in the midst of a career transition. Her songs and album style had significantly changed.

In her first two albums, she was the sweet, innocent Lolita type, with pigtails and cheerleader outfits. But starting with her third album, Britney, and the single I’m a Slave 4 U, she began embracing a sexier, more mature and rebellious persona.

Now, in her fourth album, her performances were even more sultry and provocative.

*I took a sip from my devil’s cup

Slowly, it’s taking over me...*

When Britney reached Luca’s seat, she picked up a small glass of whiskey, spun around, and spilled it right on Luca’s pants—perfectly on target.

Luca was wearing his CK military-style jeans, tough fabric but not waterproof.

But he didn’t have time to think about his pants.

He was an actor now—a professional one.

As per the director’s instructions, he gazed intensely at Britney. Her golden hair was pinned up, her flight attendant uniform was revealing, and she looked incredibly sexy.

He didn’t need to act much; simply appreciating her as any man would a beautiful woman was enough to meet the director’s demands.

Director Roy, watching through the camera, was pleased. Even though acting skills weren’t essential for a music video, working with a smart, cooperative person was always nice.

In the frame, Britney bent over, wiping the spill with a white cloth, while Luca’s gaze stayed locked on her, his eyes smoldering with desire.

"Good!" Roy praised quietly. But then he noticed Britney was still wiping—too thoroughly and too forcefully.

"CUT!" Roy shouted. "Britney, you just need to go through the motions. Don’t overdo it, and don’t use so much force."

"Okay!" Britney signaled with a hand gesture, a mischievous smile on her lips.

"Alright, let’s go again!"

---

Author's note: Thank you to reader “No Cigarette” for your support! Thanks, everyone, for the votes!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 59: Can I Take a Look at Your Diaper?

"Ha~a~

The taste of your lips makes me feel like I’m floating.

Your poison, like heaven, is slowly dripping down."

"I’m addicted to you, don’t you know that you’re toxic?"

Ha~a~

On set, inside the airplane cabin, the MV crew was still shooting.

With the intense music blasting, Britney Spears swung her pale legs and struck a seductive pose, sitting between Luca’s legs.

As she sang the lyrics "taste of your lips, I'm on a ride," she turned and gently kissed Luca on the lips.

Luca loosely held the woman in his arms, his eyes burning with passion, though there was a hint of helplessness. The director had only asked for a brief kiss, just for show.

But Britney was being a bit playful, clearly taking advantage of the situation.

Without hearing the director yell "Cut!", Luca continued the scene without flinching, maintaining his performance. After all, he was a professional actor, and a little surprise wouldn’t throw him off.

Britney licked her lips and gave a cheeky wink with her back to the camera, the mischief gleaming in her blue eyes.

Luca, still expressionless, kept acting.

"Hmph."

Britney wrinkled her nose and got up again, throwing her long, pale legs.

Luca leaned forward, extending his arms as if to hold her, his eyes full of longing and reluctance.

Britney recited the lyrics, casually turning her head and poking his forehead with a playful finger.

Luca fell back into his seat.

"Good! We got it!"

Director Roy wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, quietly relieved. They finally got the shot.

That scene took over an hour to shoot.

Britney kept teasing Luca, intentionally or unintentionally. His pants had to be cleaned multiple times, and halfway through, Luca even had to step out to the bathroom to cool off before they could continue.

The kissing scene alone had to be reshot five times, and even though the most recent take still had issues with Britney’s playful moves showing on camera, it didn’t matter—any problems could be edited out. If not, they’d just skip them.

Roy didn’t want to waste more time on minor details.

"Oh, Roy~"

Britney arched her back and said with slight dissatisfaction, "There were still issues with that last take. Let’s do it again. I can do it better this time."

Luca’s lip twitched. Another take?

He looked over at Roy.

Roy, just as exasperated, also twitched his lip and replied, "Britney, your performance was perfect. Plus, we’re almost done for the day—we don’t have time for another."

"Oh, almost done already?"

Britney checked her watch. "Wow~ Time flies. Okay then, let's finish up quickly. I can’t wait to wrap this up."

Roy sighed in relief and shouted, "Toxic, take eight, scene one, action!"

"I'm addicted to you,

Don't you know that you're toxic?"

The music started again.

Luca leaned back in his seat, exhaling. They finally made it through.

He scratched his head a little, thinking about how hard it was working with 46-year-old Kim Cattrall during his last shoot, and now with this little witch, Britney. If the first two times were this challenging, what would the third time be like?

Hopefully easier, without any more complications.

"Intoxicate me now with your lovin’ now,

I think I’m ready now."

As the music played, Britney and her backup dancers started performing again, and Luca became part of the background, quietly watching her dance.

There was supposed to be one more scene between him and Britney.

But Roy, not wanting to risk any further interactions, decided to change it to them flirting from a distance.

"Perfect!"

After the tenth shot, Director Roy checked his watch and yelled for wrap-up. The crew began packing up and leaving.

Luca’s scenes were done too. He stood and exited the cabin.

The cabin was a closed set, with fake blue skies and clouds painted on the windows, so it was impossible to see the outside world.

Once he stepped out, he noticed the sun had already set, and the sky was bathed in the warm hues of the sunset. The sprawling set buildings were soaked in a nostalgic, golden light, adding a touch of warmth.

As the day neared its end, the main roads around the lot were filled with cars, and many tired crew members shuffled toward their rides, heading home.

Ed pulled the car up to the studio entrance.

"Whew!"

Just as Luca was about to head over, he heard a playful whistle behind him.

He turned around in surprise and saw Britney, dressed in a blue uniform, walking toward him with a sweet smile.

"Luca, can I ask you a question?"

Britney, who stood a little over 5'3", tilted her swan-like neck slightly. The soft sunset light hit her fair cheeks, and her long eyelashes and sapphire-blue eyes made her look even more stunning. However, there was always that mischievous smile on her lips, making it hard for Luca to take her lightly.

Luca smiled softly, "Britney, what’s the question?"

Britney stared at his face, seeming to get lost for a moment.

"Britney? Britney?"

He called out to her twice, snapping her out of her daze. Her cheeks seemed to flush slightly, or maybe it was just the glow of the sunset.

"Luca, you’re really pretty!"

Britney looked up at him, admiring his face under the sunset—his forehead, brow, cheekbones, and jawline, all finely chiseled like a Renaissance sculpture, but with a softer, more graceful edge.

His black eyes, deep like the night sky, were warmer and more tender than any darkness.

And those lips—arguably the most sensual lips on any man in the world.

Britney unconsciously licked her lips and took a deep breath. What a gorgeous man.

"Pretty? Britney, is that a compliment?"

Luca asked with a helpless smile.

"Of course, you’re very pretty."

Britney insisted on using that word to describe him.

Luca shrugged, "Alright, thanks for the compliment, Britney. You said you had a question?"

"A question?"

Britney seemed to have forgotten for a moment. She tilted her head in thought, then suddenly clapped her hands. "I remember now!"

She giggled, covering her mouth, her gaze dropping down as she pointed toward his pants. "Luca, earlier when you went to the bathroom during the shoot, it seems like something went missing. Where did it go?"

Luca wiped his forehead as if he was sweating, then spread his hands, "Nothing serious. I just changed into a bigger diaper."

"A bigger diaper?"

Britney froze for a second, then burst out laughing, covering her mouth.

Luca gave a helpless smile. He had to wear one—he’d had so many shots of whiskey that he was about to burst, and needed to be cautious.

"Luca, I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble during the shoot earlier," Britney said, trying to stifle her laughter.

"No, Britney, I found it quite fun. Otherwise, the shoot would have been pretty boring."

"Wow~ You think just like me! I hate following the director’s orders—it’s so dull. Luca, you really surprised me."

"It’s no big deal, Britney. I think a lot of actors feel the same way."

Luca chuckled softly.

Britney shook her head, gazing at him, "Luca, how about a drink?"

She pointed to a customized Mercedes parked not far away. "By the way, are you still wearing that diaper?"

"Uh… of course!"

"Oh, that’s great! Can I take a look at your diaper?"

Britney licked her cherry-colored lips, her eyes burning with intensity.

Luca, no stranger to this sort of thing, knew exactly what such an invitation meant.

He hesitated for a moment, then glanced over at Ed, who was waiting by the car.

"Britney, I need to check in with my agent first."

"OK, I’ll wait for you!"

As she watched him walk away, Britney’s excitement was tinged with a hint of disappointment.

PS: Happy National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival! Hahaha!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 60: The Shaking Van*

"Hey, Ed!"

Luca greeted as he walked over to the van.

"Are we ready to go, Luca?"

Ed asked, putting down his phone.

"Emmm, maybe we should wait a bit. Britney invited me for a drink, and I couldn't say no!"

Luca pointed at the van nearby.

Ed froze for a moment, glanced at Britney's van, and understood what he meant.

"Luca,"

he hesitated for a moment and then said, "I remember telling you before that I hope you can have a stable and happy home. Do you get what I'm saying?"

Luca smiled lightly. "Of course, Ed. You don't want me to mess around in the entertainment industry and turn into a reckless and self-destructive star, right?"

Ed nodded. He appreciated Luca's understanding but still glanced at the luxurious van, showing some doubt in his eyes.

"Ed, when I said we're having drinks, it's really just drinks—nothing else!"

Luca said earnestly.

Ed gave him a look. "Alright, go ahead. How long will it take?"

"Ten, maybe twenty minutes—half an hour at most."

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

Ed got into his car and drove it to a nearby empty lot.

Through the windshield, he watched Luca get into the van.

Ed smiled a little. He didn’t really believe Luca's words.

Luca was only 21, full of youthful energy. How could he possibly only be having drinks with someone like Britney, a sexy pop star?

But he didn’t try to stop him or lecture him on being a loyal, good man. As a manager, it's his responsibility to advise and guide, but not to make decisions for his artist or restrict their freedom. That would be overstepping.

If Luca wanted to pursue Britney, that was his choice.

Ed shrugged, took out his phone, and messaged Nina to let her know he might be home late tonight.

Squeak  

After a while, the luxurious van not far away began to sway gently.

At the same time, the sound of crisp clapping and Britney's laughter rang out.

"Luca, that guy..."

Ed sighed softly. While he understood Luca, deep down, he still hoped he could settle down and be a loyal, good man someday.

But it seemed unlikely now.

After about half an hour, Luca came out of the van, putting on his jacket.

Beep beep  

Ed honked the horn and drove over to meet him.

"Sorry, Ed, I made you wait!"

Luca climbed into the car, smelling strongly of perfume.

"It’s no problem."

Ed smiled lightly and handed him a tissue. "Here, wipe that off."

"What?"

Luca glanced in the mirror and saw a pink lipstick mark on his cheek. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he said, "Oh, Ed, don’t get the wrong idea. It was just a friendly goodbye kiss."

Ed started the car and chuckled. "Luca, you don’t need to explain. I get it."

"Ed, I’m serious. We were just singing and dancing."

"You? Singing and dancing? Hahaha!"

Ed burst out laughing.

Ring, ring  

Just as Luca was about to explain further, his phone rang.

It was Felix calling.

"Hey, Felix! How’s your day going?"

Luca answered cheerfully.

"Not so good, Luca."

In the Greenwood Publishing office at Bucky Tower, Felix stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the setting sun.

The blood-red sunset reflected his mood, as the publisher’s declining fortunes weighed heavily on him.

"Oh, Luca, I have some bad news. Today, across eighty physical bookstores, we only sold 1,500 copies of Twilight. Yes, eighty stores, less than 1,500 copies sold. The company has decided to cut ties with some of our partner stores, leaving only the eighteen stores under our direct management. What? You’re suggesting we delay by a week?"

Felix frowned.

"Felix, ready to go?"

Han Li opened the door and stepped into the office.

"Just a moment, darling."

Felix gestured with his hand. He spoke into the phone, "Can you give me a reason for delaying by a week? No, Luca, you only have three days. We’ll keep the current channels open for three more days, but after that, the costs are too high."

"What?"

Suddenly, Felix’s expression changed drastically, full of disbelief. "You want to print another 100,000 copies of Twilight? Luca, are you crazy? We still have 30,000 copies sitting in the warehouse!"

Next to him, Han Li’s eyes widened, and she shook her head slightly.

Initially, they had only printed 10,000 copies as a favor, then printed another 50,000 because they admired Luca’s marketing strategy.

But things didn’t go as planned. Just when Twilight was gaining momentum, Anne Nes and Gisele Bündchen publicly criticized it, halting its rise.

With 30,000 unsold copies sitting in the warehouse, if they couldn’t be sold, the company would lose a lot of money.

Now Luca wanted to print 100,000 more?

That seemed like a joke.

While the Mason family appreciated Luca for saving little Jessica, business is business, and favors are another thing entirely.

Luca’s request was a bit much.

"OK, OK."

Felix waved his hand. "Luca, if the sales pick up tomorrow or the day after, we’ll restock, don’t worry. But can you tell me what your plan is this time? Alright, alright, I’ll wait to see what you’ve got."

"Felix, what did Luca say?"

Han Li asked curiously.

Felix paused for a moment, then smiled. "Luca said he’s willing to put up $1 million as collateral if we print 100,000 more copies of Twilight and expand the sales channels."

He gestured with his hand, "Luca says he wants to go from New York to the whole U.S., and eventually worldwide."

"Worldwide? Wow, is Luca crazy?"

Han Li gasped, covering her mouth.

Felix shrugged. "I don’t know, but he sounded serious. It didn’t feel like he was, um, what do you call it in Mandarin?"

"Blowing smoke,"

Han Li blurted out, then blushed.

"Yes, blowing smoke. Luca didn’t seem like he was just blowing smoke."

"Did he say what his plan is?"

Han Li asked, intrigued.

Felix shook his head slightly. "No, he said it’s a secret for now."

"So should we trust him?"

Han Li frowned.

Felix pondered for a moment. "I trust Luca. He’s more mature and thoughtful than he looks. He’s also smarter. His marketing strategy so far has been excellent. But…"

Felix spread his hands. No need to say the rest.

Han Li shook her head. "I don’t agree. We can’t just print 100,000 more copies and expand the channels based on his word alone. That’s impossible."

Felix nodded. "It’s impossible. But we should still be prepared."

"Darling, are you working late again?"

"Yes, I need to contact the printing factory and get things ready. Even if there’s no miracle, we can’t stop hoping for one."

"Emmm, alright. I’ll make you something to eat."

"Oh, darling, you’re the best!"

---

(End of chapter)