ch 51-55

*Chapter 51: Nightfall*

The dark blue night sky held a full moon and a few cold stars.

In the moonlight over the Manhattan district, neon lights were dazzling, lively, and bustling.

Luca drove a black Ford through the busy streets, like a streak of black light in the night sky.

From Third Avenue to Downtown Manhattan and then to 43rd Street, they had been driving for who knows how long. By the time they reached Lima's apartment building, only Luca and Lima were left in the car.

Screech~

The car came to a stop as Luca gently parked.

"Lima, we're home!"

He unfastened his seatbelt and glanced toward the back seat.

Lima was asleep, arms crossed, slumped in the backseat. Her brown puffer jacket wrapped around her curvy figure, and her tight jeans accentuated her shapely waist and hips. Her long legs were casually propped up on the seat, with an almost carefree attitude.

"Lima, wake up. We're home; you can sleep inside!"

Luca cupped her face and gently shook her.

Lima slowly opened her eyes, her long, curled lashes fluttering, revealing a pair of blue-gray eyes, bright with a hint of amusement.

"Darling, carry me inside!"

Lima stretched out her long arms, her seductive lips curving into a slight smile.

"Alright, Miss Lima, it would be my honor!"

Luca smiled gently and leaned down to lift her by the shoulders, her arms tightly wrapping around his neck.

"Fool, kiss me!"

Luca chuckled and lowered his head, kissing her full, rosy lips.

The evening wind swept through the underground parking garage, a faint whistling sound echoing through the passageway.

"Okay, that's enough. Come on, get up!"

After a while, Luca gently said as he held her by the shoulders.

"I'm too tired, you’ll have to carry me inside!"

Lima clung to his neck, refusing to let go, her voice soft.

"No way!"

Luca replied, a bit like a typical tough guy, "You're so heavy, and you want me to carry you? You trying to kill me?"

"Did you just call me fat?"

Lima widened her eyes in surprise.

"Yeah, look at your butt, so much meat! And your chest, so big! You're not fat?"

"Ahhh! Luca, you damn jerk! How dare you call me fat? I'm going to bite you!"

Lima hugged his neck tightly and bit his ear.

"Ouch! That hurts! Lima, are you a dog? Let go!"

Luca winced in pain.

"No! You called me fat; I’m going to bite you to death!"

Lima muttered through clenched teeth as she continued biting his ear.

Luca gritted his teeth, feeling like his ear was about to be torn off.

"Lima, darling Lima, I was wrong! I was really wrong! My ear’s about to fall off!"

"Now, do you still think I'm fat?"

Lima released her bite, still fuming.

Luca shook his head, "Not fat, just... a little thick!"

"Jerk! Do you have a death wish?"

Lima raised her fist, ready to punch him.

"Haha, come on then!"

Luca got out of the car with a grin.

"Stop right there, jerk!"

Lima wasn't lazy anymore; she swung her long legs and chased after him.

Breathing heavily, the two of them dashed into the apartment.

Slam!

The door shut heavily behind them.

In the small apartment, along with the big, chaotic city of New York, the night took on an even more fevered pace, making this city of desires truly live up to its name.

Chop, chop, chop~

The next morning, the rhythmic sound of chopping vegetables came from Lima's apartment kitchen.

Inside, Luca, wearing a pink apron, was busy at the counter. His knife skills were sharp and swift, and he quickly prepared breakfast: fried eggs, toast, two glasses of skim milk, and a fruit salad.

"Lima, breakfast is ready!"

Luca called out toward the bathroom.

"Coming!"

After a while, Lima came out wearing a bathrobe, wiping her brown curls. She looked radiant and alluring.

"Luca, Kate called earlier. She asked how your back was and if you needed to see a doctor."

"Haha, I'm so strong! Why would I need a doctor?"

Luca flexed his muscular arm.

"Hmph, you're fine, but I almost couldn't get out of bed."

Lima twisted her waist, her face showing a mix of irritation and amusement.

Luca laughed sheepishly, "I didn’t expect to be that strong either."

"Hmph! Help me dry my hair!"

"Alright!"

Luca took the towel and gently began drying her long hair.

Ring, ring, ring~

The phone rang.

"Must be Kate," Lima said, smiling while sipping her milk.

"Nope, it's Ed!"

Luca answered the call, "Good morning, Ed! What? You're not doing well? Are you sick? The newspaper? No, I haven’t looked at it yet. Alright, I’ll check now."

"What did Ed say?" Lima asked, curious.

Luca frowned slightly, "He told me to check the newspaper. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Haha, do you even need a feeling?" Lima chuckled, leaning on her hand. "After what happened at last night's fashion show, with New York’s tabloid culture, plenty of papers are probably running front-page stories about it. Stuff like 'Superman Causes Scene at Fashion Show,' or 'Superman's Impressive Size Shocks the Crowd.' Some might even speculate if your public... reaction counts as harassment."

"No way," Luca said, starting to sweat.

"Why don't you just check the papers and see for yourself?" Lima said with a soft smile as she slipped on her shoes and left the apartment.

A couple of minutes later, Lima returned with a stack of newspapers. She flipped through them, laughing.

"Wow, Luca, today's papers are lively! Your news actually overshadowed New York Fashion Week! You made the front page of multiple papers."

"Lima, this can't be real."

Luca shook his head, refusing to believe the tabloids would be this ridiculous.

"See for yourself!"

Lima dropped a few papers in front of him, an amused grin on her face.

Just one glance, and Luca felt a headache coming on. These shameless tabloids were indeed full of nonsense.

The entertainment papers not only reported the incident but also published embarrassing photos from the scene.

There were shots of him having his "physiological reaction," his face showing awkwardness, pictures of him standing tall while his pants seemed to exaggerate his posture, female audience members gasping in shock, and plenty more, leaving none of his embarrassment hidden.

"Darling, you look absolutely stunning in this one," Lima laughed, pointing to one of the photos.

In the picture, Luca stood proud, chest puffed out, exuding confidence. If you only looked at his upper half, it was fine, but the full shot made the whole photo look... odd.

As the New York News put it, Superman Luca wasn’t showing off his CK outfit but rather his masculine "attributes," which were, to say the least, impressive.

Luca held his head in his hands, thoroughly embarrassed. He never imagined in two lifetimes that he’d make headlines for something like this.

"Darling, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. You should be proud!" Lima teased, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Proud?"

Luca shook his head. "I bet from now on, anyone who sees me will point and say, 'Look, there's that guy from the 2003 Fashion Week who—' Ugh, these photos will be a stain on my life."

Lima smiled softly, "Honey, it’s no big deal. Men will envy you, and women will find you even more attractive. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise."

"A blessing?"

Luca glanced at the scathing articles criticizing him, calling him unprofessional, labeling him a "fashion world thug," and even suggesting brands blacklist him for bringing shame to Fashion Week.

Luca smirked. Maybe it was a blessing—his fashion career was clearly over, which meant he could focus on acting. He just hoped he wouldn’t make a fool of himself in Hollywood, or he’d be out of options.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 52: The Fashion World Can't Do Without You*

"Sigh~"

In Brooklyn, at the high-rise apartments on Atlantic Avenue, Ed sat at the dining table, reading the newspaper with a deep frown.

"What's wrong?"

Mrs. Nina walked out holding a plate of fruit pudding. She swatted away a small, dirty hand trying to sneak a taste, and pointed to the bathroom with her chin. Little Eve, pouting with a look of grievance, climbed down from the table.

Ed put down the newspaper, sighed, and said, "It's only been a day, and even a major paper like the New York Post is covering this now."

"What are they saying?"

"What else can they say? They think this incident is the biggest scandal to hit Fashion Week in recent years. They're criticizing Luca, calling him unprofessional, inexperienced, and unworthy of the title of a supermodel."

Ed shook his head. In the past, there had been instances where models had physiological issues during smaller shows, but those were minor venues with little impact. This time it happened at the CK show during Fashion Week, which was a big deal. This incident might become a "classic case" in model training classes in the future.

Nina frowned. "Luca will have to quit the modeling world now."

"Pretty much!" Ed picked up two slices of white bread and, while dipping them in ketchup, said, "Luca's reputation is ruined. No brand will want him on their runway anymore. What else can he do but quit?"

"Isn't that a good thing? Luca can focus on being an actor now," Nina said with a soft smile.

"It's not the same. We had thought about him leaving the fashion world, but now he's being kicked out. That's different."

Ed, munching on his bread, said helplessly.

"Same thing."

Nina scoffed. "You guys kept saying you'd leave the fashion circle, yet two months later, you're still in it. Now he's being kicked out—it’s even better. At least this way, Luca won't have any more incidents that might affect Kate's career."

Ed chuckled softly.

Luca fainted the first time he stepped onto the runway. This time, he just wanted to make some extra cash, but another accident happened. Maybe Luca was just destined to clash with the fashion world.

"Mom, I'm done!"

Little Eve came out of the bathroom, holding up her hands for her mom to inspect.

Nina took her tiny white hands and looked them over.

"Alright, let's start eating!"

"Wow~, finally! I'm starving."

Eve clutched her little tummy and slumped onto the table.

"Eve, you just ate an apple. How could you be starving?"

Mrs. Nina divided the pudding and eggs as she spoke.

Eve touched her lips and said, "An apple is nothing! Luca said I'm at the age where I'm growing, so I need to eat more."

"Really? Luca said that?" Nina asked skeptically.

"Yep!" Eve took a small bite of egg and continued, "Luca said I should eat lots of chocolate, ice cream, chicken nuggets, waffles, chips, and hamburgers while I'm growing."

As she listed the foods, Eve counted them on her tiny fingers, wiping her mouth as she spoke.

Nina and Ed exchanged glances and chuckled softly.

"And if possible," Eve wiped her mouth, "Luca said I could drink a glass of red wine every day. It’s good for my skin."

Ed covered his face, laughing silently.

Nina's face darkened. She sternly asked, "Did Luca really say all this?"

"Emmm~, yes! Luca said it. He said that if I eat well, I'll grow tall and beautiful."

Eve frowned, her tiny brows scrunched together as she spoke earnestly.

"Drinking a glass of red wine every day for beauty—did Luca say that too?" Nina asked, holding back her anger.

"Yes!"

Eve nodded so hard her chin nearly hit the table.

"Ed, call Luca and ask what exactly he's been telling her."

Nina said coldly.

"Mom, Luca is very busy with school, studying, and writing scripts. He's really tired. You shouldn't bother him," Eve rushed to Ed's side, hugging his arm to stop him from making the call.

"Hmph!"

Nina glared at the little girl. "Eve, children who lie aren't good kids."

Eve tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Luca said kind lies aren't really lies."

Nina held her head, swaying slightly, and then glared at Ed. "Take Luca to Hollywood as soon as possible. Don’t let him stay here and corrupt Eve."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Ed nodded repeatedly, not daring to say a word.

After breakfast, Nina took Eve to school while Ed drove straight to work.

As soon as he entered the building, he spotted that annoying guy, Andrew Fagan. He was leaning over the reception desk, harassing the new phone operator.

Ed tried to slip past quietly, but Andrew seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He turned around suddenly.

"Ha! Ed, I've been waiting for you!"

Andrew laughed loudly, his belly shaking.

Ed scowled. "Why are you waiting for me?"

"Heh heh, Minnie, tell Ed about the calls you received."

Andrew winked at the receptionist.

Minnie, the receptionist, looked at a notepad and said, "Mr. Ed, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Cole, and several other brands called earlier to terminate their contracts with Luca Kelly."

"Ha ha ha~! Ed, aren't you thrilled to hear this?" Andrew laughed so hard his back teeth showed, his eyes squinting.

Ed signed the document and sneered, "Of course I'm happy. This incident has made Luca even more famous. His name is bigger than Noah Mills’ in the industry now. You know as well as I do that fame in fashion is money. Surely you understand that?"

"But his fame is bad fame," Andrew shot back coldly.

"So what? Some designers like using bad-boy models. Think Alexander McQueen, Mia Dodds, Yohji Yamamoto, and others. Do you need more examples?"

Ed stared him down.

Andrew’s face shifted. He knew Ed was right—some designers favored notorious models for their rebellious image, which conveyed an anti-mainstream spirit.

"Ed, don’t kid yourself. Luca's done for this time. There's no comeback."

"And what does that have to do with you?"

Ed pushed past Andrew and walked into his office.

Sigh~

Even though he had out-argued Andrew, Ed couldn’t feel happy. He understood the gravity of the situation but hadn’t expected the brands to start pulling out just a day later.

What he was most worried about now was Armani.

Luca had a two-year endorsement deal with Armani, and last week they finished shooting the ad campaigns. If Armani terminated the contract early, both he and Luca would face significant financial losses.

Ring ring~

Suddenly, the phone on his desk rang. Ed frowned slightly. Could this be Armani calling?

"Hello, this is Ed Dominic."

"Ed, come to my office."

"Alright, Katie!"

Ed breathed a small sigh of relief, adjusted his suit, and knocked on Katie Ford's office door.

Moments later, he stepped out with a strange expression on his face.

"Ed, did you get a scolding from the boss?" Andrew teased.

Ed glanced at him, handed him a file, and said, "Take a look."

Andrew opened the folder, his face turning pale. "No way. This can't be!"

"Sigh~" Ed shook his head. "Luca and I were planning to leave the industry, but it seems the fashion world just can't let us go. Honestly, it’s a bit frustrating."

"You!!"

Andrew roared in frustration, nearly collapsing.

Ed's expression changed as he rushed to support him. "Andrew, are you alright? I was just kidding. Don’t take it so hard."

"Hmph! Don’t get too cocky, Ed. I don’t believe you'll stay lucky forever."

Andrew pushed Ed’s hand away, huffing as he stomped off.

"Friends, huh? Why the drama?" Ed muttered, shaking his head. He pulled out his phone to call Luca.

"Luca, what are you doing? Practicing acting in class? Don’t stress about that too much. The fashion world might still need you, so maybe work on your runway walk instead."

Chapter 53: It Was All Luca’s Plot

On February 20th, New York Fashion Week concluded smoothly.

The New York Post published a report that same day, summarizing the event.

According to the statistics, this year’s Fashion Week saw participation from 220 clothing companies, with 280 fashion shows held over seven days. Over 1,500 models showcased collections, attracting more than 500,000 visitors.

The report highlighted that the biggest success of this year’s Fashion Week was record-breaking sales, with transactions exceeding $5 billion in just seven days. A new record was set.

The most popular fashion element this season was military style.

The best-selling fashion item was the CK military-style denim, with hundreds of buyers reportedly placing orders with CK.

However, the biggest news from Fashion Week was the incident involving the famous supermodel, Luca Kelly, drawing a sword at the CK fashion show.

Following the incident, New York media outlets had a field day, mocking the fashion world’s drama.

But yesterday, the situation took a surprising turn.

CK Clothing Company held a press conference.

At the press conference, CK’s design director, Raf Simons, publicly apologized to Luca.

Raf Simons stated that Luca was not just a model but also a hero who acted courageously and was a loyal CK user.

He explained that the incident during the show wasn’t Luca’s fault but due to major design flaws on their end.

Simons admitted that their designs failed to adequately consider the needs of men with larger builds like Luca, which led to the mishap.

To make amends, CK decided to hire Superman Luca Kelly as their new spokesperson, focusing on CK’s men’s underwear line and other male products.

“Damn!”

In the Elite Models office, agent Ben Hill slammed the newspaper on his desk, his face red with anger.

“James, I need an explanation!”

He gritted his teeth as he spoke.

“Explanation? What kind of explanation?”

James, sitting behind the desk, looked up slowly and asked.

“Hmph!”

Ben Hill leaned over the desk, his eyes red as he glared at James. “That day, you told me yourself that Mr. Curtis was very impressed with me and planned to use me as CK’s underwear spokesperson.”

“Yes, I did say that,”

James replied, wiping the saliva off his face.

“Ha! But why did CK choose Luca, that rookie who’s only been in the industry for less than six months?”

Ben Hill fumed.

James lit a cigarette, leaned back in his chair, and slowly said, “That day, Mr. Curtis did say that. He said you were good and that he would consider using you. Consider, do you not understand what that means?”

“Of course, I understand. Mr. Curtis said he would consider me, meaning I had a big chance. To seize that chance, I gave my all at Fashion Week, putting in 100% effort. But what about you?”

Ben Hill leaned forward, his neck stretched, shouting, “All you’ve done these past few days is smoke, drink, and get your hair done! If you had worked as hard as I did, I wouldn’t have lost that endorsement! That damned Luca wouldn’t have risen up from the ashes. This is all your fault! You’re incompetent, James!”

“Incompetent?”

James laughed coldly, holding the cigarette between his fingers. “Ben, you know what? I gave up on that endorsement long ago.”

“What?!”

Ben Hill’s eyes turned bloodshot, and his face twisted with fury like a wolf ready to devour its prey.

Grabbing James by the collar, Ben Hill snarled, “Why did you do that? Why?!”

James brushed his hand away with a cold smile. “Ben, you should know why.”

“Know why?”

“Yes, because of you. Because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut.”

James crushed the cigarette butt and stood up abruptly.

“The day I told you that Mr. Curtis liked you, you went around bragging, saying that Curtis had already decided to use you as the new spokesperson. Do you know the consequences of doing that?”

“What consequences?”

Ben Hill’s voice softened as he realized his mistake, but then he quickly straightened up and said, “So what? What I said was true.”

“Hmph!”

James gave him a disdainful glance, frustrated. Ben Hill had good looks and worked hard, but he wasn’t very bright.

Shaking his head, James sighed, “The consequence is that Mr. Curtis will never use you again, no matter how hard I try.”

“How is that possible?”

Ben Hill refused to believe it.

James smiled faintly. “Mr. Curtis only said he would consider you. But you claimed he had to use you. When that word got back to Mr. Curtis, it sounded like you were pressuring him. If he used you now, where’s his dignity?”

“This...”

Ben Hill’s body went limp, and he slumped into a chair. His face paled as the chair wobbled beneath him. Suddenly, he erupted in anger.

“It wasn’t me! It was Luca! That damned Luca said it out loud in front of everyone! Oh, I get it now... I see it clearly. This was all Luca’s plot! He used tricks to steal my endorsement, the endorsement that rightfully belonged to me. That despicable, shameless villain!”

“Luca isn’t simple.”

James sighed and picked up a copy of the New York Post. Besides the news about Luca becoming CK’s new spokesperson, another article featured Luca’s sister, the supermodel Kate.

The report mentioned that Kate Kelly had a passion for literature and had spent three years writing a 400,000-word vampire novel called Twilight, set to be released on February 22nd.

“Impressive. Both siblings are extraordinary.”

Regardless of the sales of Twilight, supermodel Kate would now carry the title of “author.”

That title held weight.

Most people in the modeling industry weren’t highly educated, usually not going beyond high school. Few held college degrees, which was one reason models were often looked down upon.

If Kate gained the title of author, it would give her a prestigious label, opening doors to higher society and intellectual circles. Her future would be much broader.

“Smart move. I wonder if it was Kate’s idea or Nina’s. Ed, that lucky bastard,”

James muttered, thinking of his early days when he, Ed, Nina, and Andrew had entered the industry as young agents. Nina had been sharp, capable, and beautiful, yet she had chosen Ed in the end. It still baffled him.

Just as he was lost in thought, a heavy breathing sound, like a lion exhaling, startled him.

He jerked back to see Ben Hill, red-eyed and snarling like a starving wolf leaning over the desk.

“Ben, what are you doing?”

James frowned.

“James, I want a chance. I want to be a supermodel. I want to defeat that damned Luca!”

Ben Hill gritted his teeth, his words practically seething from between them.

“Ben, don’t rush. You’ve only been in the industry for two years. You’ve got plenty of time. The fashion world is full of opportunities. As long as you follow the plan, you’ll become a supermodel one day.”

James patted him on the shoulder, trying to calm him down.

“No! I want to be famous now! I want to be a supermodel now! I want to beat that damned Luca now!”

Ben Hill screamed through clenched teeth, consumed by frustration.

There was something he hadn’t told James. He had tried to sabotage Luca backstage during the fashion show.

Knowing they’d be on the runway together, Ben had bought a special perfume from a friend at a bar, designed to stimulate a man’s desires.

He’d planned to humiliate Luca on stage, ruining his career in the fashion industry.

The plan had worked—Luca had been embarrassed on the spot.

But the reports claimed CK chose Luca as their underwear spokesperson precisely because of his physical “assets.”

Since women often bought men’s underwear, using Luca as a model would attract female attention. CK’s decision was brilliant.

When Ben saw this news, he was furious. He had tried to sabotage Luca, but ended up helping him secure the CK endorsement and rise to supermodel status.

“Aaaah!”

Every time Ben thought about it, his heart felt like it was being torn apart by thousands of ants—itching, painful, filled with regret and hatred, driving him mad.

“James, do you have a chance for me?”

Ben Hill’s voice turned dark and low.

James looked at him and saw a hint of madness in his eyes, along with a willingness to do anything. If he didn’t give Ben a chance, the guy might lose his mind.

Sighing, James pulled out a business card.

“LV’s director, Marc Jacobs, is hosting a private party and needs a few handsome male models.”

“That pervert?”

Ben Hill frowned.

James said nothing, just quietly looking at him. There were slow paths to success and quick shortcuts. This was a choice. He hadn’t planned to offer it to Ben, but now that Ben was practically finished, James figured it was time to make some fast money off him.

Ben stared at the business card, his expression growing more intense. Finally, he snatched the card from James’ hand.

“Luca, this is all your fault... all your fault...”

Chapter 54: It’s Really Famous Now

“Jeez, it’s almost March, why is it still so cold?”

It was noon at the Ford-Models agency, and Luca and Ed were lounging in the company’s coffee room. The red sun had just peeked over the Empire State Building across the street, streaming through the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a crimson glow over the two of them, as if splashing them with blood.

Luca glanced at Ed, whose dark skin had taken on a reddish hue. He couldn’t help but laugh, “Ed, looks like luck’s really on your side lately.”

“What?”

Ed gave him a puzzled look.

Luca shrugged. “Never mind if you don’t get it.”

“So, Ed, why did you call me here today? Something going on?”

“Can’t I just call you over without a reason?”

Ed set down his coffee cup, a little annoyed. “I haven’t seen you for three days! If Kate hadn’t told me you were still around, I would’ve thought aliens had abducted you for research.”

Luca chuckled, leaning back into the cream-colored leather sofa. “Didn’t I tell you I’d be busy these past few days?”

“Busy? Busy with what? Romancing Lima?”

Ed’s tone was sharp.

Luca raised an eyebrow. “Ed, you’re not sounding quite right today. Did Nina catch you sneaking out for drinks last night?”

Ed’s face turned red. He didn’t have many hobbies, but drinking was one of them. Every time he went out for drinks, he couldn’t resist downing a few, though his low tolerance often left him calling Nina to pick him up. Nina had scolded him plenty of times for it, and both Kate and Luca knew about it, which is why Luca teased him now.

But today, Ed’s bad mood had nothing to do with drinking. It was because of Luca.

“Luca, just look at yourself! Your hair’s a mess, you’re pale, there are bags under your eyes, and even in this sunshine, you’re shivering.”

Ed shook his head. He knew about Luca’s relationship with Lima and supported it, but now Luca looked utterly exhausted, and Ed couldn’t help but worry.

“Luca, you’ve got to take it easy. Overindulgence will wreck your health.”

“Overindulgence?”

Luca nearly splashed his hot coffee at Ed. “You can’t seriously think I’ve been spending all my time in bed these past few days?”

Ed didn’t say anything, but his expression gave him away.

Luca chuckled and grabbed a stack of over ten newspapers and magazines from the rack beside him.

“Take a look!”

“At what?”

Ed was confused.

“Check out all the press coverage for Twilight.”

Luca leaned back into the sofa, half-closing his eyes as he watched Ed.

Ed flipped through the papers, which included The New York Post, New York Daily News, New York Tribune, Book Magazine, and The New Yorker, among others—both large and small publications.

Each one reported the same thing: supermodel Kate Kelly was releasing a book and hoped for public support.

The reports detailed the novel’s style and unique features, highlighting what set it apart from other vampire novels on the market. They even quoted specific excerpts and scenes for analysis and critique. The articles were well-written, likely by veteran editors.

“Luca, why are you showing me this?”

Ed had already known about Kate’s book release and had forced himself to read Twilight. He wasn’t curious anymore.

Luca, with his legs crossed, yawned and said, “I wrote all these articles.”

“You wrote them?”

Ed was surprised.

“Yep. I know Twilight inside and out, so it made sense for me to write the promo articles. I wrote over a hundred in the past three days, and this is just the first batch. The rest will be published when the book hits the shelves.”

Ed was impressed. “You wrote that much in three days?”

“Yeah, that’s why I have bags under my eyes from staying up late. What, did you think I was up to something else?”

Luca folded his arms and let out a small huff.

Ed glanced at the newspapers and then at Luca. Suddenly, he pointed to Luca’s neck and said, “So, did you also get that hickey from staying up late writing?”

“Uh…”

Luca quickly covered his neck, a little embarrassed. Of course, the hickey wasn’t from writing—it was from Lima, who had a habit of nibbling on his ear and neck like a vampire when she got excited.

“Anyway, let’s get down to business!”

Luca uncrossed his legs and asked seriously, “So, Ed, why did you call me over? You haven’t actually told me yet.”

Ed shot him a look and pulled out a document.

“This is the contract for the Calvin Klein endorsement. Take a look, see if you have any issues.”

“Alright.”

Luca skimmed through the contract.

It was a result of multiple negotiations between Ford-Models and CK, with every clause meticulously examined. There weren’t any major issues.

He focused on the endorsement fee.

“One million over three years, with two ads per year, including print and video, plus event promotion.”

Luca smiled. “I’m really climbing the ranks fast.”

Ed shook his head. “You’re not worth that much. It’s what’s below the belt that’s worth the money.”

Luca froze for a second before bursting into laughter.

“Ed, I didn’t expect you to be so funny!”

“I’m dead serious, not joking!”

Ed’s expression remained stern.

Luca couldn’t help but laugh again.

“You’re right, Ed. Tons of newspapers and magazines have run photos of it, and its fame is no less than some D-list celebrities. It’s what landed me the CK deal, so it’s definitely valuable.”

“As long as you understand.”

Ed pulled out another document.

“Women’s Health wants to do a nude photoshoot with you. Are you going to take the gig?”

“A photoshoot?”

Luca thought for a moment. “How much?”

“About ten photos for one issue. Five thousand per photo.”

“Forget it. Do I look like someone who needs fifty grand?”

Luca responded smugly.

Ed nodded and moved on without comment.

“Director Michael Winterbottom has invited you to audition for his new movie, 9 Songs.”

Ed paused and glanced at him. “It’s an erotic film. Are you going to take it?”

“9 Songs!?”

Luca thought for a moment before his eyes widened. Holy crap, it’s that movie! The film was a classic, famous for its real, unsimulated scenes. Director Winterbottom had insisted on full authenticity from the actors. This wasn’t just media hype; it was true.

Luca had read about it in the news recently—over three thousand men had applied for the lead role, while female applicants were few.

He hadn’t expected a personal invitation. Could it be because of his “asset”?

It seemed like his... friend was really becoming famous.

“Luca, you’re not actually…”

Ed gave him a skeptical look.

“Huh? Haha, no way! I wouldn’t take a role like that.”

Luca quickly shook his head, pretending to be disgusted.

Ed breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t want to be managing an actor in erotic films.

“One last invitation. I hope you’ll consider it.”

“What is it?”

“Britney Spears’ team is shooting a music video for her album Blackout. Apparently, Britney saw your fashion photos and thought you looked cool, so they’ve invited you to appear in one of the videos.”

Ed’s gaze was intense. Although his tone was calm, he was clearly excited. Britney Spears was a global superstar, and being in her music video would be an incredible opportunity.

“How much are they offering?”

Suddenly, Luca asked.

“What?”

Ed looked stunned.

“They’re asking me to be in the video, right? Aren’t they paying?”

Luca frowned.

Ed didn’t say a word and just stared at him. This kind of opportunity was priceless, yet all this guy could think about was money.

Feeling a bit awkward under Ed’s gaze, Luca shrugged. “Alright, alright, I’ll do it, even if there’s no pay.”

Ed covered his face with his hand, sighing. He was genuinely exasperated.

“They’re offering two thousand per scene, but you only have a few shots.”

“Hmm, not bad.”

“Hmph!”

Ed gave him a sidelong glance. “The shoot starts this week. Get yourself ready. I don’t want to see you looking all worn out next time.”

“Got it, got it.”

Luca scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed.

The sun was fully up now, and the booth had warmed up. After chatting for a bit longer, Luca started feeling drowsy.

He stretched and stood up, ready to head home for a nap.

“Oh, Ed, tell Eve I’m done with my work. She can come hang out whenever she wants.”

Cough cough.

"Cough, cough~"

Ed was drinking coffee and almost choked when he heard this. He wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin and asked in a low voice:

"Luca, for a child Eve's age, shouldn't she be eating more?"

"Huh?"

Luca was taken aback for a moment by the question. "Yes, a ten-year-old is still growing, so eating a bit more is good for them."

"Then should things like chocolate, ice cream, chicken nuggets, waffles, chips, and burgers be eaten more often?"

Luca thought for a moment. "Kids have a sweet tooth. It's okay to let them eat a little of that."

Ed gripped his coffee cup tightly. "So, Eve saying that drinking a glass of red wine every day for beauty is something you taught her?"

"Drinking red wine for beauty?"

"Hmph, Eve said that you were the one who said all this."

"Hehehe~ Little Eve is being naughty. How could she lie?"

"A well-intentioned lie doesn’t count as deceit, right? Isn’t that what you said?"

"Ah~ Ed, I just remembered, I have something to do, I’ll be leaving now, bye~"

Luca grabbed his things and quickly ran off.

Ed let out a deep sigh with a dark expression on his face. This time, Luca hadn’t managed to get kicked out of the fashion circle. The most disappointed person wasn’t anyone else—it was Nina. Nina was fed up with Luca, thinking he was a bad influence on Kate and a bad influence on Eve.

Ed held his head and thought for a moment. He realized he needed to push forward with the casting for the production team. Getting Luca to Hollywood wasn’t just for work; it was for the sake of family harmony, too.

(Chapter end)."

*Chapter 55: Kate's on a Date*

That afternoon, Luca left the office and gave Kate a call on his way out.

After New York Fashion Week ended, the busy models finally had a brief break, and Kate was no exception.

Luca had been busy writing promotional articles and dating Lima, so he hadn’t spent much time with Kate. Now that he was free, he intended to make up for it.

Beep beep...  

The first call went unanswered.

On the second attempt, it rang for a long time before Kate picked up. Before she could say anything, a wave of noise came through the receiver—there were voices singing, instruments playing, people laughing, and the clinking of glasses.

"Kate, where are you?"

He had to shout the question twice before he could hear Kate mention a bar called “The Rose Ritual.”

After hanging up, Luca shrugged with a helpless smile. He knew the bar—it was on 9th Street in Manhattan, not far from Washington Square Park. It was pretty upscale, and their signature cocktail, Rose Tea Infused, had a light flavor, which was a favorite among women.

Since there were lots of beautiful women, naturally, there were also lots of men, making it a popular spot for dates.

*Was Kate on a date?*

Luca raised an eyebrow and quickly drove to the Rose Ritual. Unfortunately, single men weren’t allowed to enter.

The bar had a strict policy: women could come and go freely, but men had to be accompanied by a woman to get in.

Luca was speechless. *Who would come here to pick up women if they already had a date?*

He made a quick call and waited outside for a while until Kate appeared at the entrance.

Her blonde curls cascaded over her shoulders. She wore a black cropped jacket with white fur trimming the collar and sleeves, paired with a white cartoon T-shirt underneath. The outfit was a perfect blend of cool and playful. Her tight black pants and fur-lined boots showed off her incredible legs and fiery figure.

In a crowd, she was always the most striking one.

"Luca, why did Ed call you to the office?" Kate asked, waving him over.

"To sign a contract, the CK endorsement deal," Luca said casually.

"How big is the deal?"

"Not much, just a million over three years."

"Three years, a million?!" Kate was a bit surprised. "That’s more than $300,000 a year. Plus, Armani pays you $250,000 annually. You've made over $500,000 in just the first quarter. Based on last year’s male model income rankings, you’re already in the top 50. You’re a legit supermodel now!”

"Haha, that’s right! Your little brother’s a supermodel now. Pretty cool, huh?"

Luca raised his chin proudly and strutted toward the steps.

Bang!  

Before he could take another step, he felt a kick on his butt.

"Kate!"

He stumbled forward, almost falling, but thanks to his quick reflexes, he managed to grab onto a nearby girl’s waist at the last second.

“Fuck!”

The girl shouted angrily and turned around, ready to curse him out, but when she saw his handsome face and muscular body, she paused, suddenly excited.

"Are you... Luca Big?"

“I…”

Luca really wanted to deny it, but ever since that incident, people had started calling him “Mr. Big.” It seemed like everyone knew about a certain, um, attribute of his.

He nodded slightly. "Sorry, miss, I didn’t mean to."

“Wow, you really are Mr. Big!”

The girl squealed.

“Luca?”

“Where’s Luca?”

“Where’s Mr. Big?”

Suddenly, all the girls around the entrance turned to look.

“Ah! It really is Luca!”

“Luca, let’s go on a date!”

A group of ten or so women surrounded him, all reaching out to touch him.

Luca was stunned. *What’s happening here?*

"Idiot, run!"

Kate rushed over, grabbed him by the neck, and dragged him into the bar. They ducked into an elevator, finally escaping the mob of screaming women.

Luca wiped the sweat off his forehead, still shaken. "Am I really that famous now?"

"You?"

Kate shot him a glance, her expression unimpressed. "No one knows your face. They only know your, well, big thing."

Luca rolled his eyes. *Sis, you’re too blunt.*

"Kate, why are you at the bar today?" he asked.

"Ann invited me. Come on, let me introduce you to some new friends."

Ding!  

The elevator doors opened.

The moment they stepped out, Luca was hit by a wall of noise, the smell of alcohol and food, perfume, and dazzling lights. The crowd of partygoers was thick, and the place was buzzing with energy.

Luca hesitated. He wasn’t used to being in such loud, busy places. He usually preferred staying home. All the sights and sounds overwhelmed his senses.

"Come on, don’t just stand there!"

Kate looped her arm around his neck and dragged him into the crowd. After bumping into a bunch of people, they finally reached a lively booth.

“Hey, everyone, look who I brought!”

Kate shouted as she released her grip on Luca, giving him a chance to look around. There were about seven or eight people at the booth, including familiar faces like Alessandra Ambrosio, Fernanda, and Isabeli Fontana, all supermodels. There were also three handsome men, one of whom was Matt Monda, while the other two seemed familiar.

"Wow, Mr. Big!"

The three women laughed loudly.

Luca felt a little awkward.

"Hi, Ann, Fontana, Fernanda," Luca greeted them softly.

Ambrosio chuckled, "Luca, Kate says you’ve been shacking up with Lima for three days straight and only came out today."

Luca shot Kate a look. *Three days straight? Really?*

Kate shrugged innocently.

Luca smiled and corrected, "Actually, I’ve been working on a script."

"Wait, you’re a screenwriter?"

Matt Monda asked with a hint of confusion.

Matt and his friend Ben Affleck had won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay with Good Will Hunting, so he was particularly sensitive to the word "script."

"Matt, Luca's script has already caught the attention of Walt Disney Studios. They’re planning to make it into a movie, so you might see it hit the big screen this year," Kate said with a proud smile.

“Is that so?”

Matt nodded but said nothing more.

Luca could sense Matt’s coldness, along with a strange hostility. *What’s that about?*

Was it because he was too handsome, or something else?

"Luca, this is Matt, this is Heath, and this is Ryan. They’re all big Hollywood stars. You know them, right?" Kate introduced the group.

Luca nodded. Matt Damon didn’t need an introduction—he was an A-list star, thanks to The Bourne Identity. Heath Ledger, the quiet guy, was a rising star after his performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight. As for Ryan Gosling, though still a C-list actor, he was beginning to make a name for himself.

Luca greeted the three politely.

Each reacted differently. Matt smirked, Heath gave him a quick nod and smile before looking away, while Ryan Gosling offered a friendly smile and greeting.

Because of Matt and Heath’s aloofness, the atmosphere around the booth became a bit awkward. Luca realized he wasn’t exactly welcome.

Trying to break the ice, he asked, "Ann, what were you guys talking about?"

Ambrosio gave the men at the table a glance and smiled knowingly. "We were just talking about Kate’s novel, which is about to be published. We’re planning how to celebrate it. I’m thinking of buying 100 limited editions to give to friends."

"Me too!"

Isabeli and Fernanda raised their hands, laughing.

"Thanks for the support!"

Luca raised his glass with a smile.

“I’ve got to go, everyone. See you later!”

Matt Monda said, grabbing his coat and leaving.

Heath Ledger hesitated for a second, stood up, said his goodbyes, and followed Matt out.

Everyone turned to look at Ryan Gosling, curious to see if he would leave as well.

Gosling awkwardly smiled, raised his glass, and said, "Kate, here’s to the success of your new book!"

"Thanks!"

Kate smiled and clinked glasses with him.

With a polite nod, Ryan finished his drink, said goodbye, and left the bar.

The booth was silent for about three seconds before the four women burst into laughter.

"Haha, Luca, you really are the king of killing the mood!"

"Luca, you’ve ruined our gathering again!"

"Luca, why do all the guys seem to dislike you? What’s up with that?"

Luca threw up his hands. *I have no idea.*

Honestly, he felt like he’d behaved pretty normally, with no inappropriate words or actions. Yet somehow, he’d managed to offend the three men.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin your dates,"

Luca said, raising his glass apologetically.

"It’s fine, we’re used to it!"

Ambrosio laughed.

"Luca, Kate said you've changed a lot these past few months and wouldn't ruin the vibe at gatherings anymore, but..."

Ambrosio spread her hands, "It doesn't seem like you've changed at all."

The girls started laughing again.

Luca shook his head and said seriously, "At least I’ve gotten more handsome, right?"

"Hahaha~ Luca, you’ve gotten funnier."

"Not just that, you used to be Luca, but now you’re Big Bird Luca."

"Hahaha~"

They all joked and laughed for a while, and by around 5 p.m., the gathering wrapped up early.

"Sorry, Kate. I ruined your gathering again," Luca said apologetically as they drove.

"It’s fine. Didn’t Ana say we’re all used to it?" Kate leaned back in her seat, a playful smile on her lips.

Luca said helplessly, "Kate, I didn’t do anything to ruin the vibe, did I?"

"Didn’t you?"

"Did I?"

"Of course you did!"

Kate glanced at him. "Matt’s a big star, right?"

"Yeah, maybe not as big as Leo, but still a big star."

"Then why were you so cold when you saw him?"

"Cold?"

Luca frowned, "Was I cold? I greeted him, but he ignored me. Was I really the one who was cold?"

Kate slapped her forehead, "When you see a big star, aren’t you supposed to be more enthusiastic and go up to greet them? You made me introduce you, making Matt feel like a small star. Do you think he’d be upset?"

Luca understood now. Matt Damon probably felt slighted, which is why he decided to leave.

"Haha, he’s a big star, and I’m a supermodel. Am I acting proud?"

"Heh~"

Kate poked his forehead with a smile, "You're just a little male model, what's there to be proud of?"

Luca chuckled softly, "Kate, a guy like Matt is way too sensitive, with that whole celebrity attitude. Why would you even hang out with him?"

Kate shook her head, "We weren’t on a date. Ana met him at Fashion Week, and we all just sat and chatted."

"I see."

Luca let out a sigh of relief, "Kate, 'Twilight' is about to be released. If it doesn’t do well, don’t feel too pressured."

"Pressure? Why would I feel pressure? You’re the original author, aren’t you?"

Kate laughed lightly.

Luca shrugged, "Alright! But once 'Twilight' is out, some media outlets will probably make a fuss about your involvement. Don’t get upset if you see it."

"Don’t worry, I can handle it!"

Kate patted her ample chest confidently.

"That’s good to hear!"

(End of Chapter)