ch 31 - 35

Chapter 31: The Uncertain Future of the Novel

At dusk, the orange glow of the sunset illuminated 76th Street.

Han Li waved out the car window as she left Kate’s apartment.

"Philly, Kate voluntarily lowered the royalty rate. She probably figured out that we were helping," Han Li softly asked after securing little Jessica in the backseat.

"Maybe!" Philly chuckled while driving.

When they discussed the publishing agency terms earlier, Kate had waived her manuscript fee and reduced the royalty rate from 15% to 12%, leaving only the highly improbable film adaptation rights. Philly thought Kate and her brother were both great—neither seemed greedy.

"Philly, do you think the company might lose money on this deal?" Han Li asked with concern.

"Don’t worry, Emily. Kate’s fairly well-known, and her novel’s quality isn’t bad. As long as we control the marketing and distribution costs, we might even turn a profit," Philly said, especially now that Kate had voluntarily lowered her royalty share, increasing the company’s potential profit margin.

"Alright, but you know old Schwartz is going to give you a hard time again," Han Li sighed softly.

"Hmph! Handling publishing agency matters is my job, but old Schwartz always has something to say. He’s overstepping his boundaries," Felix grumbled.

"Don’t argue with him when you go to the office, Philly. After all, he’s your elder," Han Li gently advised.

"Yeah, I know," Felix muttered.

The next day, Felix went to work and asked his assistant to draft a publishing agency contract. He sent his editorial and legal teams to negotiate the signing with Kate.

Just as he finished giving orders, an elderly man with graying hair stormed into his office. It was the publisher’s chairman, old Schwartz.

"Young Mason, look at what you’re doing! You’re actually planning to publish a vampire novel? I’m seriously questioning your professional judgment!" Old Schwartz shouted, pounding his fist on Felix’s desk.

Felix wiped the spit from his face, irritated. "Old Schwartz, this is my job. I don’t need to explain it to you."

"Hmph, your job, your job. Ever since you took charge of the company’s publishing business, the performance has declined year after year. That proves your incompetence!" Old Schwartz criticized bluntly.

Felix furrowed his brow, his face darkening in frustration.

This publishing house had been co-founded by his grandfather, Harold Mason, and old Schwartz’s father, Lot Schwartz.

Harold Mason had been a professor and librarian at NYU, while Lot Schwartz was an antiquarian bookseller—one had talent, the other had money. Together, they founded Greenwood Publishing in 1965.

Harold became the chief editor, managing editorial and publishing affairs, while Lot handled marketing and distribution.

Through the efforts of two or three generations, the small press had grown into a mid-sized publishing house valued at over a hundred million dollars. After several mergers, it became a shareholder-owned company.

The Schwartz family held 42% of the shares, while the Mason family owned only 26%.

According to an agreement made by their predecessors, old Schwartz served as chairman, overseeing distribution and sales, while Felix was the general manager, responsible for the publishing business.

In recent years, as the internet and e-books had become more popular, the print book market had suffered greatly. The company hadn’t published a bestseller in years, so declining performance was inevitable.

Felix didn’t think it was entirely his fault, but old Schwartz liked to nitpick, hoping to pressure Felix into giving up the general manager position.

Not wanting to argue, Felix sighed and said, "Old Schwartz, you’ve got heart issues. Let’s sit down and discuss this calmly before you trigger a heart attack."

"Are you cursing me, you wicked Mason boy?" Old Schwartz’s mustache bristled in anger as he prepared to hurl more insults. Suddenly, he felt a twinge of discomfort in his chest. He took a deep breath and slowly sat down, looking pale.

Felix grinned to himself and poured a cup of coffee, setting it in front of the old man.

Old Schwartz took a sip and immediately spat it out. "Ugh! Damn it, Mason! Are you trying to burn me alive so you can take my chairman position?"

Felix rubbed his temples in exasperation. The older the man got, the more unreasonable he became.

"Old Schwartz, do you know why I’m publishing this novel?"

"Because you’re blind!"

"..." Felix took a deep breath. "Old Schwartz, I’m not going to argue with you. The reason I’m publishing this book is actually personal."

"Personal?" Old Schwartz blinked his gray eyes. "Young Mason, aren’t you afraid I’ll fire you at the next board meeting for admitting that? No, no. You’re too cunning for that. You’ve got to be setting me up for something, right? Trying to trick me into a trap?"

Felix facepalmed, realizing this conversation wasn’t going anywhere.

"Well, say something, Mason! I’m curious to see what kind of scheme you’ve cooked up for me," Old Schwartz said, stroking his beard with amusement.

Felix took a moment to gather himself. "Old Schwartz, do you know who the author of this novel is?"

"Who? Some woman named Kate, right? She’s not Princess Kate, is she? Hahaha!" Old Schwartz laughed at his own joke.

Felix stared at him without blinking, waiting for the laughter to subside.

"Uh... hehe." Old Schwartz coughed awkwardly. "Alright, alright. So, who’s this Kate?"

"Do you know supermodel Kate Kelly?" Felix asked calmly.

"A model? A model wrote this book?" Old Schwartz blinked, then leaned forward conspiratorially. "Hey, young Mason, is this model your lover? Is that how you’re trying to win her over? If that’s true, you definitely wouldn’t admit it to me. You must think I’m senile!"

"It’s true."

"She’s really your lover?" Old Schwartz jumped up, pointing a finger at Felix’s nose. "How dare you, young Mason! You’ve been married to Emily for less than five years, and Jessica isn’t even one year old, and now you’re messing around? Do you have any conscience?"

Felix wiped the spit from his face again and sighed, "I said Kate’s a supermodel, but I have no personal relationship with her."

"You think I’ll believe that, you shameless boy? You probably cheated on Jenny the same way, didn’t you?" Old Schwartz sneered.

Felix was at a loss for words. He’d dated Schwartz’s daughter Jenny when he was 18 or 19, and they’d parted amicably. That was more than ten years ago, but old Schwartz still hadn’t let it go.

"Old Schwartz, calm down," Felix said. "Kate is Luca’s sister. You understand?"

"Luca? Who’s that?" Old Schwartz was getting confused. This young man was clearly trying to cloud the issue with names.

"Superman Luca. Remember now?"

"Wow! The one who saved little Jessica? I’ve been wanting to meet him and thank him for saving my granddaughter. When are you inviting him over for dinner?"

Though Old Schwartz despised Felix, he adored little Jessica. Every time he saw her, he’d plant kisses on her cheeks, making her cry while he laughed gleefully.

Felix felt safe sharing the truth with old Schwartz because of Jessica. He believed the old man would understand.

"Luca’s still recovering, but once he’s well enough, I’ll invite him over. Now, do you understand why I’m publishing this novel?"

"You think I’m senile, don’t you? You’re doing this to thank Luca, aren’t you?"

"Exactly," Felix said, relieved to have explained everything.

"Hmph! I’ve got to say, young Mason, you’re much dumber than your father or grandfather. If you want to thank him, you could give him money, offer him a good job, or do something else. But this? This is just dumb."

Felix didn’t argue, instead calmly saying, "Kate’s a supermodel. Last year, she was ranked ninth on the global supermodel income list, earning 5.5 million dollars—more than our publishing house’s annual profit. Do you think they need money?"

"Is that so?" Old Schwartz stroked his beard, falling silent.

Felix continued, "Kate’s a supermodel, so regardless of the quality of her novel, it’s going to have a market. As long as we control the print run and marketing costs, we won’t lose money—maybe we’ll even make a profit."

Old Schwartz shook his head. "You’d need to sell at least 10,000 copies to break even. Can this book sell that many?"

Felix frowned. The answer was no.

In recent years, Anne Rice, the "mother of vampires," has published a series of vampire novels, including "Interview with the Vampire," "The Vampire Lestat," "Pandora," "The Vampire Armand," "Blood and Gold," "Blackwood Farm," and "Blood Canticle."

These novels have achieved remarkable sales. Last year's "Blackwood Farm" and this year's "Blood Canticle" have consistently ranked in the top ten on The New York Times Best Seller list. Currently, "Blood Canticle" even holds the fifth position.

The popularity of this series has led to a surge in the number of aspiring vampire novelists. Statistics show that more than one-fifth of the manuscripts received by major publishing houses are vampire-themed. Consequently, editors have developed an aversion to vampire stories. This is the primary reason why Kate's novel has been overlooked.

Furthermore, the market is saturated with vampire novels, making it extremely challenging for a new one to sell even 10,000 copies, even if the author is a supermodel like Kate.

"Young Mason, even though your approach is foolish, I support you!" Old Schwartz patted his shoulder and left the office with his aged, hunched back.

Watching his retreating figure, Phoenix smiled faintly.

"Ned, go and sign Ms. Kate Kelly!"

"Yes, Mr. Mason!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 32: The First Date

At the Central Perk café by the lake in Central Park.

The afternoon sun, like golden velvet, wrapped itself around the windows, casting a warm, orange glow inside the café.

In the sunniest window seat, a man and woman were on a date.

The man was tall, muscular, and strikingly handsome. His sharply defined features were like a Renaissance sculpture, giving him a presence that stood out even among other attractive men. His deep, dark eyes held a slight melancholy, adding an artistic flair to his charm, making him even more unique.

Sitting across from him was a stunningly beautiful woman with an exceptionally curvy figure.

She was dressed in an oversized, form-fitting sweater paired with knee-high boots, perfectly highlighting her voluptuous curves and long legs.

In the golden sunlight, her honey-colored skin glowed with a soft red hue, like melted honey, giving the air around her a sweet and sultry aura.

"Brown gave a silent compliment, set down two cups of coffee, and smiled, 'Enjoy!'"

"Thank you!"

Luca nodded politely.

"Luca, has the issue with the book publication been resolved?"

After the waiter left, Lima stirred her coffee and asked softly.

"Yes, the contract is signed. The physical book should be out next month."

The signing process had gone smoothly. Kate wasn’t in it for the money; she just wanted the novel published and was willing to compromise on royalties.

Felix, on the other hand, saw it as a favor, never expecting the novel to become a hit.

It was a simple deal.

"Congratulations, Luca! You're about to become a famous author!"

Lima raised her coffee cup in a toast.

"No, Kate is the author," Luca corrected.

"Alright, a toast to the great author, Kate!"

Lima took a sip of her coffee, then suddenly smiled. "But it seems you’ve put Kate in a tough spot again."

"What do you mean?"

Luca was confused.

Lima shrugged and started explaining slowly.

A few days ago, Kate’s submissions had been repeatedly rejected, and somehow, word of this spread in the modeling world.

Whenever people saw her, they teased her by calling her the “great author.”

Those who didn’t get along with Kate gossiped behind her back, saying she was uneducated and vain for thinking she could be a writer. Many people took pleasure in her rejections.

Some even said her writing was trash, which is why it was turned down.

Kate was really upset and even had a huge argument with one of them.

"Ugh, I didn’t think it would turn out like this."

Luca rubbed his forehead.

Originally, he thought the book would be published without a hitch, hoping it could help Kate transition from modeling to writing. But now, seeing how many times it had been rejected, he regretted making Kate bear the burden.

Kate had never brought up these troubles at home, which made Luca feel even guiltier.

"It's alright. Kate doesn’t care about these things," Lima said with a soft smile.

Luca shook his head, feeling like ever since he entered Kate’s life, he had only brought her more trouble. From her breakup with Leo to the car accident to this novel writing business—he wondered when he’d finally just be a peaceful, untroubled man.

"Luca, look over there!"

Lima suddenly raised her eyebrows toward the entrance.

Luca turned to look and saw Leonardo and Gisele holding hands as they walked in.

The golden couple instantly drew everyone’s attention as they entered, though the clientele here were discreet enough not to make a fuss.

Leo was heading for a corner booth—he was a huge celebrity and didn’t like sitting in obvious spots.

But Gisele tugged his hand and pointed to Luca and Lima.

Leo looked surprised but followed Gisele over.

"Hey, Leo. Hey, Gisele," Luca and Lima greeted them.

"Wow, Luca, and Lima, are you guys on a date?" Gisele asked, surprised.

"Yes, Luca and I are on a date," Lima said with a smile.

Gisele’s lips curled slightly in a thin smile. "Lima, I have to say, you’ve got quite unique taste."

The word "unique" was emphasized, and with her expression, it was clearly meant as a jab.

It was both an insult to Lima’s taste and a dig at Luca. Even though Luca had gained a bit of fame recently, the general perception of him was still that of a washed-up, crippled loser.

Lima narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled. "Gisele, your taste is also quite unique. You and Leo make a perfect match."

Leo had a notorious reputation as a womanizer. After breaking up with Kate, people even called him a jerk. Naturally, a perfect match for a jerk could only be a “jerkette.”

"Thank you!"

Gisele swayed her hips as she moved to a booth nearby.

"Ha!"

Leo, caught in the middle, let out a couple of awkward laughs and asked, "Luca, how’s your back?"

Luca gave a slight smile, "Almost healed. Thanks for asking."

Leo nodded and gave a thumbs-up. "I saw your interview with Superman last time—you were really brave."

"Thanks!" Luca smiled.

"Yeah, but let me give you some advice: you should be resting at home, not out here chasing girls with an injured back. That’s not bravery!"

Leo laughed and returned to his booth, clearly still holding a grudge about the last time Luca hung up on him.

Luca smiled awkwardly. He had hoped that Leo was over their past conflicts and that they could talk normally. But the sudden jab showed that Leo hadn’t forgotten. What a sneaky guy.

He and Lima exchanged helpless glances. A perfectly nice date, ruined by running into those two—what bad luck.

"Luca, maybe we should go. The movie’s about to start," Lima suggested.

"Alright."

Luca stood up, leaning on his cane, when he overheard Gisele and Leo talking.

"Haha, Leo, did you know Kate’s writing a novel? She actually thinks she can be a writer!" Gisele laughed.

"Really? I thought she only did one year of college," Leo replied.

"Yup! She finished a novel about vampires and submitted it to several publishers. But guess what? They all rejected it! Haha!"

"Is that so?"

Leo mumbled, then turned to Luca. "Hey, I know a few publishers. If Kate needs help, I could introduce her to some."

"Leo!"

Gisele’s tone was filled with displeasure.

"Gisele, we’re all friends. It’s no big deal," Leo insisted.

"Leo, thank you on Kate’s behalf," Luca smiled.

"Ha!"

Gisele scoffed. Of course, she would still need Leo’s help.

"But no need," Luca added. "Kate’s novel has already been signed. It’ll be on shelves next month. If you’re interested, feel free to check it out."

"No way!"

Gisele was shocked.

"Haha, it’s true, Gisele. Greenwood Publishing is a very reputable company," Lima chimed in with a smile.

Gisele’s face darkened but then smiled sarcastically. "Well, even if it’s published, it probably won’t sell."

"We’ll see!"

Luca grinned, helped Lima into her coat, and said goodbye as they left the café.

In the sunlight outside the door, the two walked closely together, drawing the eyes of onlookers—a tall, handsome man and a sexy, curvy woman.

"They really do make a good pair," Leo said with a soft laugh.

"Hmph, just a loser who relies on women!"

Chapter 33: Did You Two Kiss?

Central Park, Delacorte Theater.

The lights in the theater were dim, and the seats were filled with rows upon rows of heads.

Among the crowd were Luca and Lima.

On the screen, the image flickered. Under a gray, gloomy sky, a gray, gloomy forest appeared.

The fog that drifted through the woods made the scene feel eerie.

In the middle of this creepy forest, there was an old, dried-up well that rose half a meter above the ground.

In the movie, the main character stood staring quietly at the well. Suddenly, a pale hand clawed its way out of the well, followed by a ghost with long, black hair climbing out.

“Ah~”

A piercing scream echoed through the theater.

Luca shook his head. This version wasn’t as good as the 3D version of The Ring.

“Oh, Luca, it's so scary!”

Lima clung tightly to his arm, her face a little pale.

“It’s okay, it’s okay!”

Luca put his arm around her shoulder and patted her gently.

Originally, they had bought tickets for Catch Me If You Can, but after running into Leo, Lima didn’t want to watch it anymore. Instead, she picked the new horror movie The Ring, and Luca didn’t mind.

He just hadn’t expected Lima to be this scared.

"Lima, if you're really scared, we can switch to another movie."

"No, I actually like horror movies. I was too scared to watch them alone before, but now that you're with me, I want to watch more."

Lima clung tightly to his arm.

At that moment, the ghost that had crawled out of the well on the screen moved through the television and fell onto the floor. Its pale hand looked like a corpse preserved in formaldehyde, and its long black hair was thick like coagulated blood, creeping closer to the protagonist.

"Ahhh!"

Lima screamed again, diving into his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist, and saying how terrified she was.

Luca smiled slightly and held her tighter.

Lima seemed to enjoy being in his embrace.

She buried her face against his arm, sneaking peeks at the screen as if that would make her less afraid. But when the ghost with disheveled hair showed up, she screamed once more.

By the time the movie was over, Lima’s voice was hoarse.

"Luca, you're so brave. That movie was terrifying, and you didn’t even flinch."

As the movie ended, they walked out of the theater, hand in hand, with the crowd.

"Honestly, I was scared too. I just pretended to stay calm to make a good impression on you."

Luca laughed softly.

"Really?"

"Yeah, my palms are still sweaty."

Lima touched his hand, and sure enough, it was damp. She giggled lightly.

"Luca, you don’t need to do that. We’re already good friends, and even though we're on a date, we can still act the way we always have."

"The way we always have?"

"Yes, just like before. You can call me a dummy, and I can call you a perv. We don’t need to put on a perfect act for each other. It’d be too uncomfortable."

Lima smiled, tilting her head and looking at him with her sparkling blue-gray eyes.

"That actually sounds pretty great!"

Before the date, the two had been really close.

When they were together, they could joke around and say whatever they wanted, just like best friends. But once they started dating, they had to face the awkward transition from friends to something more. Things didn’t feel as easygoing as before, and sometimes it even got a little awkward.

But now that they’d talked it out, it felt much more relaxed.

"So, Lima, are we still going to that concert?"

He wasn’t a fan of those kinds of places.

"Hmph, you know I don't understand music at all. Do you really want to see me fall asleep at a concert?"

Lima teased him without holding back.

Luca chuckled. "Honestly, I don’t get music either."

"Then why did you get tickets?"

"Kate set it up. She said for a first date, we should go somewhere classy."

"Kate?"

Lima frowned, annoyed. "That girl knows us better than anyone. She knows we both hate places like that, and she still suggested a concert. She’s definitely messing with us on purpose."

"Uh, really?"

Suddenly, Luca remembered Kate’s mischievous smirk when they left that morning. He hadn’t understood it then, but now it made sense—that was definitely a teasing smile.

"Kate would totally pull something like this. How could you, dummy, fall for it?"

"Alright, my bad."

Luca smiled helplessly. "So, where should we go now?"

"Let’s just head home. I know you don’t like walking around outside, right?"

Luca nodded. "Lima, you don’t really like shopping either, do you?"

"Exactly!"

Lima glanced at him, and he looked back at her.

"So why are we wandering around outside?"

"Ha, let’s go back and play some video games at my place!"

"Sounds good!"

As evening fell, their date ended, and Luca returned home.

In the brightly lit living room, Kate was lounging on the couch, dressed in pink pajamas, lazily reading a book.

When she saw him return, Kate put down her book and smiled softly. “How was the date?”

“It went well!”

Luca smiled slightly and glanced at her book—Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. It was his recommendation. Since Kate’s book Twilight was about to be published, whether it did well or not, she needed to look the part of a serious author, which meant reading more classic novels.

“Did you go to Lima’s house?”

“Yep.”

“Oh, what did you guys do?”

Kate asked with a mischievous grin.

“Played video games—Call of Duty.”

“Just video games? Oh~ such a perfect opportunity, and you only played games? I remember when you used to go all the way on the first date.”

Luca shook his head, smiling. “Lima’s our friend, isn’t she?”

“Emm~ well, I hope you take her seriously.”

Kate stood up and helped him hang up his coat. “After walking around all day, does your back feel sore?”

“No, most of the time, I was sitting. Didn’t walk much.”

“Sitting too long isn’t good either. Lie down on the couch, and I’ll give you a massage.”

“Alright.”

Luca lay on the soft couch in his T-shirt and shorts.

Kate sat on his legs and used her fists and elbows to massage his lower back, easing his muscles. She’d learned this technique at the hospital, and she massaged him whenever she could—it worked wonders.

After a while, his lower back felt warm and comfortable, and he couldn’t help but let out a soft groan.

“Too much pressure?”

“No, it’s perfect.”

Luca mumbled into the soft pillows.

“Kate, I ran into Bundchen at the café today.”

“Oh, did you talk?”

“Yeah, she brought up the novel.”

“Heh, I’m sure it wasn’t anything nice. That arrogant brat!”

Kate sounded annoyed, and her hands pressed harder.

Luca sighed. “Kate, I’m sorry the novel got rejected and embarrassed you. Ah~”

Before he could finish his sentence, she pressed hard on his lower back, making him cry out.

Kate giggled softly. “This is my problem to deal with. Don’t worry about it.”

“But I feel bad for causing you so much trouble again.”

“Haha, you dummy!”

Kate playfully ruffled his hair and laughed. “You wrote such an amazing story. I’m so proud of you. No matter what happens with Twilight, in my eyes, you’ll always be the most talented writer.”

“Kate~”

Luca felt a little guilty. After all, he’d copied it.

“Luca, don’t worry about what other people say. Just keep writing, and I’ll always support you. I know you’ll write something that’ll blow those haters away.”

Kate said softly.

“Kate, I’ll do my best.”

Luca sighed lightly, wondering if he should try writing a novel of his own.

Hmm, maybe not. Even copying might flop, so writing one himself would be a disaster. Better not take the risk!

“Luca, do you have another date tomorrow?”

“No, tomorrow I have a photoshoot for Armani.”

“You should be resting more. You don’t need to work so soon.”

“Kate, it’s just a photoshoot. It’s not exhausting.”

“Not exhausting?”

Kate raised an eyebrow and laughed mysteriously.

Chapter 34: The Shoot

In the morning, Manhattan's midtown streets were bustling with traffic. The constant honking made the city's pace even more frantic.

At a crosswalk, the light turned red. The long line of cars split in two—those ahead had passed, while those behind waited at the intersection.

Ed pulled the handbrake and stopped the car.

"Luca, were you on a date with Lima yesterday?"

"Alright, so you know," Luca smiled helplessly. He and Lima had gone shopping the day before, and apparently, a reporter had caught them and published a tabloid story about the supermodel Lima dating the 'Superman' Luca. Ed must've seen it too.

"Haha, it's no big deal. But Dr. Joel was right—you need to rest that back injury for a while. No intense activity in the short term."

Luca rubbed his forehead. "Ed, it was just a casual date."

"I'm just reminding you," Ed replied with a grin, showing off his pearly white teeth as the car slowly started moving again.

Luca shook his head. Ed didn't need to remind him; he had no intention of getting too intimate with Lima anytime soon. They were friends, close ones at that, and crossing the line would mean committing to a long-term relationship. He couldn’t just treat her like other women, with a "one-night and we’re done" attitude.

They arrived at Broadway, in front of the Woolworth Building. Luca and Ed got out of the car.

The Woolworth Building, with its 57 stories and a height of 241 meters, was once the tallest in the world, a neo-Gothic building with a pointed roof. Over nearly a century, it had been overshadowed by surrounding skyscrapers, becoming a relic of a bygone era—and a prime filming location.

Today, Luca was here to shoot an Armani fashion ad.

The advertisement had two parts: a print ad and a fashion video.

Inside the building, the shooting area was bustling with activity—staff members, photographers, and several models moved around.

"Hey, Ben!" Luca called to a familiar face—Ben Hill, a rugged-looking male model with a beard. They had walked the same runway at Lincoln Center once, exchanging a few words. Not exactly close, but familiar.

Ben gave a tight-lipped smile and walked past without a word.

Luca raised an eyebrow. Interesting.

"Don't mind him," Ed said, walking out from the studio. "He was one of the ones who tried to smear you last time."

"Oh?" Luca slipped his hands into his pockets and walked inside.

"Last time, Mr. Frank chose you, and after that, rumors came out about you passing out from a drug overdose. Frank handed the ad to Ben, but before the deal was signed, you became 'Superman,' and Ben’s hopes were dashed."

Ed smiled. "You two are competitors. I have every reason to believe he was involved in that attack on you."

"Then why is he here?" Luca glanced at Ben, still loitering around the studio.

Ed shrugged. "It's the brand’s arrangement. Probably to compensate him."

"Alright, I see." Luca nodded and headed to the dressing room.

"Hey, Luca! Long time no see!"

Just as he walked in, he encountered someone he wasn’t keen on seeing—Tony, the makeup artist who had spent three years as a mortuary beautician. Tony was wearing tight pants, light purple lipstick, and thick eyeliner, his flamboyance bordering on creepy.

"Haha, Luca! You must be thrilled to see me, right?" Tony winked, holding a makeup brush in hand.

"Yeah, sure," Luca muttered through gritted teeth.

"Haha, I’m thrilled to see you too. By the way, I heard you were in the hospital recently. I was so worried about you!"

Tony’s overly dramatic tone and drooping eyebrows were anything but convincing.

Yeah, right! If he were really concerned, why didn’t he show up at the hospital with flowers?

"Thanks for your concern, Tony. I’m fine now."

"God bless, that’s wonderful! Just wait a moment. I’ll be with you after I finish up here."

Tony was busy applying makeup to another male model, sweeping the brush across the man’s face with vigor.

"Ugh, Tony! Could you be a little gentler? This is my face, not the floor!" the model grumbled.

"Oh, sorry! I’m used to it," Tony replied.

"Used to it?" The male model didn’t understand, but Luca did. Tony was used to applying makeup on corpses—no complaints from the dead, no matter how rough. Luca had already experienced Tony’s heavy-handedness once and had no intention of going through that again.

He quietly slipped out, looking for another makeup artist. After searching around, though, he realized there wasn’t anyone else available.

"Haha, Luca! Where did you go? I’ve been waiting for you!" Tony, holding an eyebrow pencil and razor, grinned broadly.

Luca forced a smile. "Tony, please don’t tell me you’re the only makeup artist today?"

"Bingo! You got it!" Tony smiled smugly.

Damn it! Luca cursed under his breath but resigned himself to entering the makeup room.

"Tony, I’ll leave it to you!"

"Hehehe..."

"One, two, three, four—Luca, focus on the camera!"

"Turn your head. Lift your chin a bit more."

"Oh, what a perfect profile—just like a sculpture!"

After the makeup was done, Luca, dressed in a new set of denim fashionwear, began the shoot.

The photographer was David LaChapelle, a renowned fashion photographer who had worked with stars like Angelina Jolie, Britney Spears, and Madonna. He was famous in the industry.

In the fashion world, photographers were considered artists—sculptors of beauty.

A good photographer was like a master artist. They could refine the model’s best features with a few simple instructions, making them shine in front of the camera.

Compared to photo-editing apps, a great photographer was far more powerful. Apps could turn a cat into a tiger, but a skilled photographer could make a cat exude the presence and ferocity of a tiger.

To capture the most powerful images, Luca followed David’s instructions, striking a variety of poses—free, rugged, sexy, and even a bit flamboyant.

Two hours later, the first set of shots was done.

Luca wiped the sweat from his brow as he stepped out of the studio.

"Luca, do you want to take a break and shoot the rest in the afternoon?" Ed handed him a cup of hot coffee.

Luca stretched and checked how his body was feeling.

"Ed, I’m good."

He had gone to the hospital last week, and Joel had said his recovery was remarkably fast. There were no signs of spinal damage anymore, as long as he didn’t engage in strenuous activity.

After a brief rest, they moved on to the second set.

This time, they were shooting a group ad, featuring Luca and several other models—one of them being Ben Hill.

The shoot didn’t go smoothly. Ben wasn’t happy playing second fiddle and looked down on Luca, trying to outshine him as the lead.

Luca wasn’t about to back down. He went all out, using his presence, acting skills, and looks to fight back.

The two of them engaged in a silent battle in front of the camera—an intense clash of egos.

Luca thought the photographer would call for a break, but David, holding his camera, was enjoying the spectacle. Sometimes, he’d even egg them on with his words, deliberately fueling the rivalry.

"Come on, Ben, more intensity! Don’t let Luca outshine you!"

"Haha, yes! That’s it—more attitude! Show me your power!"

David kept stoking the fire, encouraging the competition.

With the photographer’s support, Ben pushed himself even harder.

Luca focused all his energy and rose to the challenge.

After the second set of shots, both men were exhausted.

"Haha! These shots are fantastic! This is the best fashion shoot I’ve done all year! Luca, Ben, you both killed it!" David shouted excitedly, reviewing the photos.

"Hmph," Ben sneered at Luca before walking away, a cold smile on his face.

Luca shook his head. Why the sneer? So annoying.

"Ed, can we replace Ben Hill?"

"Of course. You’re the one Frank values as the spokesperson."

"Good. Shooting with him is too tiring."

"Done!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 35: We'll See*

"Ben, Luca is the lead spokesperson. You should show him some respect!"

In the Woolworth Building parking lot, Ben Hill had just gotten into the car when his agent gave him a piece of advice.

"Why? He's just a rookie, a cripple who relies on women to get by. I need to give him special treatment? Ha!"

Ben Hill leaned lazily into the seat, pulling out a white metal box from his pocket. He took out a custom-made cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.

Ahhh~~ The satisfying taste made him let out a moan.

Just now, going head-to-head with Luca in front of the camera had drained a lot of his energy and focus.

He had assumed Luca would be an easy target, being new to the industry. However, Luca had an unexpectedly strong on-camera presence, remained calm, and handled every challenge with ease.

Ben had tried hard, but hadn’t gained an upper hand.

"Fuck~ Luca, damn you!"

James, his agent, shook his head at the sight of Ben blowing smoke in the back seat. "Ben, Luca was personally chosen by Mr. Frank as the spokesperson. Cooperating with him is part of your job."

"Fuck~ That spokesperson role was supposed to be mine—mine!"

Ben sat up straight, hitting his chest angrily. "It's all because of your mistake that I lost the opportunity. If you had found the CBS footage sooner and destroyed it, I would've landed the deal and become a top model. Now I’m just a background extra."

"Sigh~"

James sighed. He hadn’t expected Luca to have actually saved someone’s life, and it had been caught on camera by a CBS reporter. Luca just got lucky.

"Ben, regardless, Luca became a hero for saving someone. The media's calling him a Superman—that’s a fact."

"Hero? What a load of crap. Why didn't he just get run over and die?!"

Ben cursed, kicking the back of the seat.

James flinched but just frowned in disgust. "You're over 20 years old, and still this immature? You’re nothing compared to Luca."

He shook his head and said in a low voice, "Ben, we’ve already lost. Now you need to learn patience. Understand?"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it!"

Ben waved dismissively, plugging in his headphones.

Hmph! Patience?

With a rookie? A cripple?

Not a chance.

Damn Luca, I wasn’t ready today, but tomorrow, I’ll make sure you pay.

The next day, Ben arrived at the shoot, full of energy. He flashed a cold smirk at Luca, chin raised in a provocative gesture, as if to say, "Ready for round two?"

But Luca just smiled back faintly, a strange expression on his face.

What does that mean?

Ben frowned.

Suddenly, he heard James shouting from the studio, "Oh, Mr. Stone, why? Why are you replacing Ben?"

Ben’s frown deepened. Mr. Stone was the head of Armani's ad department, in charge of this shoot. Was he really about to replace him?

No way!

That can't happen!

Even as a supporting role, this was a big international Armani ad. Just showing his face would be a great opportunity, not to mention the $50,000 spokesperson fee.

He couldn't let this chance slip away!

Ben rushed toward the studio. Just as he reached the entrance, his agent stormed out, looking furious.

"James, what happened?"

Ben asked, anxious.

"Stone terminated your contract with Armani early, citing poor work attitude and delays in the shoot," James said coldly.

"Oh~NO!!"

Ben grabbed his head and shouted. He glanced at the studio, suppressing his anger. "David can vouch for me. My work quality was great! How could I be delaying the shoot? James, go talk to Mr. Stone again!"

"It’s no use."

James held up a piece of paper—it was the termination contract, along with a compensation fee.

"Why is this happening?"

Ben clenched his fists, veins popping on his forehead and neck.

"Hmph, why? You should know the answer to that yourself,"

James scoffed and walked away.

I should know?

Ben froze, suddenly recalling Luca's smile.

"Luca—it’s Luca, isn’t it?"

James didn’t respond.

"Oh~ Luca, damn you! It’s you, right? You’re behind this, aren’t you?"

Ben screamed at Luca in rage.

Luca stared back, expressionless, silent.

"You despicable bastard! How could you do this? You’re just a cripple, how dare you—"

"Shut up!"

Ed barked loudly, "This is your one and only warning. If you continue insulting Luca with offensive terms, we’ll see you in court."

"Ed, my apologies. Please forgive Ben, he was just acting out of impulse!"

James quickly stepped in, apologizing repeatedly.

"James, you and I go way back. You know exactly why this is happening, don't you?"

Ed asked calmly.

This wasn’t just about Ben’s temper tantrum in front of the camera; it was also about that smear campaign in the papers.

"Ed, I understand. This is Ben’s fault. We’ll be leaving now."

James sighed and turned to Ben. "Let’s go, Ben. Stop making a scene."

"Why should I?"

Ben gritted his teeth, unwilling to back down.

"Because he’s Superman. He was on CBS, and now millions of people know him. You? You’re just a small-time model."

A small-time model?

Ben opened his mouth but found nothing to say. In the modeling world, he outranked Luca, but in terms of fame and influence, he was far behind.

"Let’s go, Ben. Anger will only make you miss out on more opportunities."

James sighed, walking downstairs ahead of him.

"Hmph!"

Ben shot one last icy glare at Luca. "We’ll see about that!"

Luca shook his head. This kid was too impulsive, too unrefined. It wasn’t a good sign.

"Luca, time to start shooting!"

"On my way!"

Luca walked into the studio. Armani had paired him with a more easygoing partner this time—a blue-eyed Australian guy with a boyish, shy smile.

Perhaps having seen what happened to Ben, the new guy was very polite.

They worked well together.

Only the lead photographer, David LaChapelle, seemed dissatisfied. The new shots were too calm, missing the intensity and conflict from yesterday’s shoot. They lacked depth and artistic merit.

"Luca, take a look at these shots. I still think you and Ben had the best dynamic,"

David said, reviewing the photos on his laptop during a break.

Luca glanced at the images.

The shots with Ben were indeed striking. Both of them wore the new denim line, exuding sharp, edgy energy, like two swords clashing, sparks flying—there was a lot to admire.

But so what?

He wasn’t David LaChapelle.

David was a photographer, seeking the most powerful images.

Luca was just a part-time model.

He wasn’t here for the sake of art or to become a famous model. His goal was simple—$500,000.

So why not choose the easy way to get the job done?

"What do you think?"

David asked, looking over.

Luca smiled slightly. "I still think Thomas is the better choice. Don’t our photos look more harmonious?"

The Aussie guy, Thomas, smiled back, grateful.

"Harmonious? That’s crap!"

David shook his head. Discussing art with a model—what was he thinking?

"Let’s just keep shooting!"

(End of Chapter)