ch 11 - 15

*Chapter 11: Aggression*

In the morning, Luca and Kate were having breakfast when Ed called to inform him of the interview result.

He landed an important supporting role with three scenes, totaling over six minutes of screen time. However, two of the scenes were bedroom scenes that would require exposure above the waist.

Ed reminded him to keep working out to maintain a sexy physique.

Luca shook his head helplessly. "So they want me to go for the sexy route?"

"Luca, what's up?" Kate asked curiously.

Luca smiled, "I got a small role in Sex and the City."

"That's great, and then?"

"Well, there are two bedroom scenes."

"Bedroom scenes? Hahaha~"

Kate covered her mouth, letting out an unrestrained laugh.

Luca glanced at her and chuckled, "Do you know who I'm doing the scenes with?"

"Who?"

Kate stared at him without blinking, clearly intrigued.

"The second female lead, Kim Cattrall."

"Kim?"

Kate's eyes widened in surprise. She laughed even louder, "Oh~ poor Luca, she's 46 this year. How are you going to do a bedroom scene with her? Hahaha~"

Kate slapped the table and laughed so hard she almost fell to the floor.

Luca calmly looked at her. He was used to it—Kate kept a cold demeanor in public to create a high and aloof image, but in private, she was always laughing and had a very low threshold for humor.

Kate laughed for quite a while before wiping her tears and saying, "Luca, are you sure you want to take this role?"

"Of course. I'm just a newbie actor; I have to seize every opportunity," Luca said as he continued eating.

"Mm-hmm! Makes sense. You go ahead and act; I won't laugh at you."

Kate blinked and said seriously.

"Then can you stop biting your lip?"

"Pfft~ Haha, Luca, don't get mad. I'll control myself soon. Haha~"

"Hmph!"

After finishing their meal, Luca continued working out, attending classes, and studying scripts. On the weekends, he accompanied Kate to three winter fashion shows. His schedule was busy yet leisurely.

Soon, it was time to join the production for filming, and things were about to get hectic.

Early in the morning, Luca arrived at the set.

The set was in a regular apartment on 42nd Street in Manhattan.

This apartment was the home of the second female lead, Kim Cattrall, in the show.

Today's shoot involved interior scenes and bedroom scenes, with no extras.

Only the director, cameraman, makeup artist, prop master, lighting technician, and sound engineer were present—about a dozen people bustling around, each doing their own thing with little conversation.

"Hello, Mr. Star, my name is Luca. I'm playing the role of Chip."

Luca entered the room and greeted the director.

Sex and the City employed a split-shooting method, with four female leads filmed separately in four different locations.

The segment director here was Darren Star, responsible for Kim Cattrall's scenes.

He was a man in his forties, thin, with deep-set eyes and thick eyebrows that were often furrowed, giving him a critical gaze.

"You're Luca?"

Director Darren rubbed his chin, sizing him up.

Luca's character, Chip, was a successful man in his thirties.

Previously, Darren had seen Luca's profile, noting that he was only twenty—a newcomer still learning acting.

He worried Luca might not exude the maturity required.

But upon seeing him in person, he changed his mind.

This young man looked only twenty but carried an air of maturity and composure beyond his age. His dark eyes reflected a worldliness unusual for someone so young.

Darren extended his hand, "Luca, welcome to the set!"

"Thank you, Mr. Star!"

Luca shook his hand lightly, maintaining an attitude that was neither arrogant nor subservient, exuding calmness and poise.

"Luca, here's the scene. In a moment, Samantha will knock on the door while you're in a bath towel. The towel should only cover the lower half, exposing your sexy V-line."

Darren began explaining the scene, even wrapping a towel around himself to demonstrate. This was to accommodate Luca's inexperience, offering hands-on guidance to avoid reshoots.

"Mr. Star, I understand."

The scene wasn't complex.

Luca's character, Chip, was a stockbroker.

Kim Cattrall's character, Samantha, was a PR manager.

Samantha was outgoing and full of desire, often taking the initiative to flirt with men.

She wanted to get some insider stock tips and took the initiative to seduce Chip.

Chip wasn't exactly a gentleman. Faced with a woman throwing herself at him, he didn't refuse and even provided some inside information.

Both were consenting adults, and things quickly escalated.

That's Sex and the City for you.

"Darren, good morning!"

After a while, Kim Cattrall arrived, her golden hair draped over her shoulders. She wore a green long dress, and despite being in her forties, she had maintained her figure quite well.

"Good morning, Kim."

Darren introduced, "This is Luca; you two should get acquainted."

"Good morning, Ms. Cattrall!"

Luca flashed a handsome smile.

This was his first time meeting her in person.

They hadn't worked on building rapport before shooting.

However, when choosing the role of 'Chip,' the production had fully respected Ms. Cattrall's preferences, providing her with photos of the ten shortlisted candidates. She got to pick which handsome guy she'd be doing the scenes with.

Thanks to Ed's public relations efforts, she chose Luca.

Kim Cattrall eyed him with satisfaction. The young man was very handsome, with deep brown hair neatly styled, chiseled features reminiscent of Greek sculptures, and those sensuous lips.

He was even more attractive in person than in the photos.

"Luca, the profile says you're only twenty, but you don't look it. Oh, sorry, I don't mean you look old, just more mature for your age."

Luca smiled, "Ms. Cattrall, you're right. People who know me say I grew up too fast."

"Hahaha~"

Kim laughed, "Luca, you have a good sense of humor. You can call me Kim."

"Hello, Kim!"

They chatted for a bit, lightening the atmosphere.

Once the set was ready, the director called out, "Luca, take off your clothes and get ready."

"OK!"

Luca replied, then turned to Kim, "Kim, do you mind if I change here?"

Kim smiled, "Luca, we're about to shoot a bedroom scene. Should I be concerned about that?"

Luca gave a slight smile and took off his sweatshirt and pants, leaving only his shorts.

"Wow~ Luca, you have quite the body!"

Kim exclaimed.

His muscles were tight and well-defined, lean yet powerful.

She bit her lip, suddenly looking forward to the scenes.

Director Darren nodded approvingly after a few glances. Luca had an excellent appearance, fitting demeanor, and a top-notch physique—not surprising, given he was a Ford model.

"Makeup, spray some water on Luca's hair and body to make it look like he just got out of the shower."

"Got it, director!"

"Kim, stop gawking. You need to get ready too."

"Alright, Darren!"

Kim went out to prepare.

Ten minutes later, filming began.

There were two camera setups, one at the door and one inside.

One captured Luca as 'Chip,' the other focused on Kim as 'Samantha.'

"Knock, knock, knock!"

The door knocked.

Chip walked out of the bathroom and opened the door, wearing only a white towel around his waist, barely covering the essentials—though he was actually wearing small briefs underneath.

"Welcome to the neighborhood, handsome!"

Samantha smiled slightly, her gaze fiery, openly seductive.

Chip clutched the towel around his waist, flashing an embarrassed yet polite smile. "Hi~ Sorry, I was just in the shower."

"I brought a gift basket to welcome you as my new neighbor. It has cheese, ham, a full set of condoms, and handcuffs."

Samantha held up a gift basket, smiling slyly.

"Handcuffs?"

Chip raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, they're from the adult store next door. Enjoy them!"

Samantha offered the gift basket, smiling seductively.

Chip shrugged, "If I take it, the towel will fall."

Samantha smiled slightly, her eyes blazing, "I know."

Chip boldly pulled off the towel around his hips.

Samantha looked down, as if not seeing the shorts, eyes hot as she glanced over. With a toss of her hair, she walked straight into the apartment.

"Cut!"

The director called for a stop. "Luca, I need your performance to be more aggressive, with bolder, more shameless eyes. Don't treat Kim like a big star; she's Samantha now, a woman who's about to have you."

"Hahaha~"

Everyone on set laughed.

Ms. Cattrall also laughed, "Luca, this is Sex and the City, not Friends. Our audience is all adults; don't be so reserved."

Luca thought for a moment—he needed to be a bit more flirtatious.

"I understand, Kim. Thank you!"

"Director, I'm ready!"

"Alright, let's go again!"

(End of this chapter)

*Chapter 12: Mount & Blade*

At noon, the crew took a break, and Ed arrived, dressed in a sharp suit and carrying several coffees for the team.

"Luca, how does it feel shooting your first scene?" Ed asked as he set down the coffee.

"Not bad!" Luca smiled. "It's just a little cold filming without clothes."

"Hahaha~" Ed patted his arm. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it!"

"Get used to it?" Luca raised an eyebrow, slightly displeased. "Ed, don't tell me you're planning to have me keep playing these kinds of roles?"

"Haha, no, no," Ed laughed, then brought up something else.

"Luca, there's an Armani ready-to-wear fashion show at Lincoln Center next week. I submitted your portfolio along with some other models, and you got an invite. Interested in earning some extra cash?"

"Armani?" Luca was surprised. "That's a world-class brand. My portfolio clearly states that I'm a rookie. Why would they choose me?"

After joining Ford Modeling Agency, there were free training sessions for models. Out of curiosity, he participated for a while, but it was just practice—he hadn't actually done a runway show yet and wasn’t a full-fledged model.

Ed chuckled softly. "Because you're with Ford. Models from Ford are always a good value. Plus, you're new. New faces are cheaper and fit fresh designs better."

Ed then explained the rules of the modeling industry. It’s highly competitive and rapidly evolving. New faces are popular but also easier to replace.

Statistics show that among the models who walk the runways during the Big Four Fashion Weeks, about 47% vanish without a trace after their brief moment in the spotlight. So, using new talent is the norm in the fashion world.

Using only supermodels is too expensive, and sometimes, a famous model's face can overshadow the clothing.

Luca started to understand, "How much is the appearance fee?"

"Two thousand dollars."

"That low?"

Kate’s starting rate was thirty thousand, and the highest-paid model at the time, Gisele Bündchen, earned two hundred thousand per show—one hundred times what Luca would make.

"Luca, you're new. The Armani fashion show is a big stage. It's also a great learning opportunity."

"Alright, I’m in!"

Two thousand dollars for a runway show, about ten dollars per step, compared to the fifteen hundred dollar fee he got for playing a minor role—where he had to strip and get ridden by someone.

Modeling seemed like quicker money in comparison.

"By the way, Ed, did you read the script I gave you?"

A few days ago, Luca had finished writing Goal, registered the copyright, and handed it to Ed.

"Luca, your script is amazing. The quality is so high that I can't believe a beginner like you wrote something this mature. It's impressive!"

Ed praised him repeatedly.

"It's nothing, just my own story," Luca smiled modestly.

"Haha, I can see that. I'm just surprised by your writing skills. It's rare. You might want to consider writing a novel."

Luca smiled faintly. "I'll think about it, Ed. But right now, I’m more concerned about the script. Do you think a film company will pick it up?"

"Luca, don’t rush it. I submitted the script to several film companies and even pulled some strings for an early review. It takes time to get feedback."

"Alright!"

Break time ended, and filming resumed.

This was the second bedroom scene. In this part, Chip and Samantha were in bed when several FBI agents barged in, arresting Chip on charges of insider trading.

The reason? In the previous scene, Chip had revealed stock market secrets to Samantha while they were in bed.

"Yeah! Yeah!" Luca, lying in bed, shouted excitedly.

"Luca, give me more! Be more excited!" Director Darren shouted.

"Yes, sir!" Luca replied.

"Sorry, Kim, I’ve dragged you into this again," Luca apologized to the actress on top of him, Ms. Kim Cattrall.

Kim smiled lightly. "It’s alright, Luca. With such a strong and handsome prince, I don’t mind staying on top a bit longer."

Luca smiled sheepishly.

Even though he had lived two lives, when it came to feeling embarrassed, he still couldn’t outdo this foreign woman.

"Scene two, take two, action!"

The clapperboard snapped.

"#$%^&*" Luca shouted louder, letting himself go completely. Back when he worked as a screenwriter, he often hung out on set, watching many actors perform and directors teach newbies.

Directors would often tell beginners that being an actor was like becoming a monk—you first had to learn to let go of yourself. Let go of manners and shame, unconditionally liberate yourself, and constantly push your limits in order to tap into your full potential.

In simple terms, learn how to be shameless.

"Oh@*%%" Luca shouted excitedly, vibrating with energy.

"Haha~" Kim couldn’t help but laugh.

"Kim, is there a problem?" The director sighed, forced to stop again.

"No, hahaha~" Kim giggled as she lay her head on Luca’s chest.

Luca raised an eyebrow. Was it really that funny?

"Sorry, Luca," Kim straightened up, still laughing. "Looks like I’ll have to sit on you a little longer."

What could Luca say? "It’s my honor?"

"Scene two, take three, action!"

The clapperboard snapped again.

"Oh yeah~" The set grew lively once more.

This time, the shoot went smoothly and wrapped in one take.

After two bedroom scenes, Luca’s voice was hoarse, and he was freezing.

Thankfully, there was only one scene left—the first time Chip and Samantha meet.

It was nighttime, under the dim lights of an apartment building.

Luca, dressed in a luxury suit and sporting a slick hairstyle, stylishly stepped out of a Hummer.

This Hummer was part of the new H2 SUV concept series. Its black, shiny body, rugged lines, and large, imposing size made it look fierce, though it wasn’t as smooth as a Ferrari.

Both the Hummer H2 and the suit he wore were product placements, meant to show that Chip was a successful man.

Chip shut the Hummer door, holding his keys as he walked to the apartment entrance and opened the door.

"Please wait!" Samantha called out, running up to him and smiling as she stood in front of him. "Thank you, I live here. These are my keys."

Chip introduced himself. "I’m Chip Gickandy. I just moved in."

"Samantha Jones. I live on the third floor!" Samantha said, her eyes burning with intensity.

"I live on the fourth. You're right below me," Chip said with a smirk, his tone slightly flirtatious.

"Haha, what a coincidence."

Samantha glanced at his car and smiled. "That’s a nice ride. I love Hummers."

This line was both an advertisement and a way to seduce Chip, using the Hummer as a metaphor for a strong man.

Chip glanced at the Hummer behind him, flashing a charming smile.

"Cut!"

Chip and Samantha’s scene was done.

Three scenes in a day—not fast, but not slow either.

Luca removed his suit and handed it to the crew’s wardrobe staff.

"Luca, want to grab a drink?" Kim waved from her car as she prepared to leave.

Luca hesitated for a moment. Was this a date?

He shrugged and replied, "Kim, I’m too tired today. All I want is to find a bed and sleep."

"Haha, alright. Goodnight!"

Kim started her car and drove off.

"Luca, you missed a great opportunity!" someone on the crew teased.

Luca shrugged. "Mark, you know I’ve been ridden all day. Even a horse would be tired."

The crew froze for a second before erupting into laughter.

"Oh, poor Luca. You’ve had a rough day."

"Luca, you were yelling so loud during filming, I thought you were enjoying it!"

"Hahaha~"

Suddenly, a fiery red Ferrari screeched to a stop by the roadside.

"Luca!" someone called from the car.

Everyone turned to look. Wow, what a beauty.

The woman behind the wheel was stunning, with flowing blonde hair, full, sexy red lips, and a low-cut white rock-style blazer. She looked effortlessly cool and incredibly alluring.

"Kate, what are you doing here?"

"I finished my shoot and thought I’d swing by. Hop in!" Kate tilted her head.

Luca smiled, said goodbye to the crew, and got in the car.

Vroom~

The red Ferrari shot off like a rocket into the distance.

"Wow~ what a stunner."

"Luca’s in for a great night!"

"Lucky guy!"

The crew watched the car speed away with envy. No wonder he turned down Kim’s invitation—he had such a gorgeous girlfriend. It made them all jealous.

Chapter end.

*Chapter 13: Undergoing Calibration*

“Kate, let me drive. You take a break,” Luca said softly from the car.

“No need.”

Kate brushed her blonde hair aside and smiled, “Did you enjoy acting?”

Luca shook his head. “It’s fun watching others act, but actually doing it is a bit dull.”

“Haha, Luca, I heard you had a bed scene with Jin. Wasn’t that exciting?”

In the back seat, Lima lay casually, resting her feet on the back of his seat. Her silk skirt slipped slightly on her smooth thighs, but she didn’t seem to care.

Luca glanced at her and shook his head. “Our bed scene was simple—lots of action, looks intense, but nothing special.”

“Are you disappointed? Hmph, I knew you were still that perverted guy.”

Lima wiggled her feet, nearly hitting him in the face.

Luca glanced back at her, “Lima, your feet stink.”

“Lies!”

Lima blushed and poked him angrily. How could a model have foot odor? That would drive away the audience.

Kate shook her head and smiled, “Luca, apologize to Lima!”

“Lima, I’m sorry. I was just kidding.”

“Hmph!”

Lima turned her head to look out the window at the night, deciding she wouldn’t talk to him anymore.

Watching the two bicker, Kate smiled slightly. “Lima, why did you leave in such a hurry last week? Did he bully you?”

“Last week?”

Lima suddenly remembered and blushed a little. Last time, she found him working and thought he was charming, even felt a bit moved. Thinking about it now, how could she have been so blind?

“Lima, I didn’t bully you, did I?”

Luca asked, turning back.

“Hmph, you have the nerve to ask? Last time you tried to take advantage of me, touching my chest—did you forget?”

“Luca, is that true?”

Kate asked sternly.

Luca looked helpless. “Lima, God as my witness, say that again!”

Lima, a Christian, snorted but didn’t say more.

Kate shook her head slightly. “Why can’t you two get along? I was hoping you might even become a couple.”

“Me and him?”

Lima shook her leg in disgust. “He’s a perv, rude, always causing trouble—not my type!”

“Thanks, I was worried you might like me, given how handsome I am,” Luca said casually.

Thud—

He got poked in the shoulder again.

“Shameless!”

“Sigh~”

Kate had given up. Thank goodness they weren’t dating, or they’d be fighting all the time.

“Luca, relax your body while walking the runway. Be natural, not stiff!”

“Luca, relaxed doesn’t mean lazy. Stay focused, or your walk won’t have any impact!”

In the high-rise apartment on 76th Street, next to the gym was Kate’s studio.

On the left side of the studio, rows of clothing racks held all kinds of branded apparel, lingerie, and fashion. The right side featured bookshelves full of fashion magazines, jewelry guides, beauty and makeup tutorials, and design books, including Vanity Fair, Fashion Handbook, Jewelry & Jewels, and Body & Clothes.

In the center of the studio was a space about ten meters long where Kate practiced runway walking every day.

Luca, dressed in sportswear, was walking confidently to the rhythm of the music, stepping from one end to the other.

In the corrective mirror on the wall, he balanced a tray on his head, barefoot, expressionless, chest held high, with synchronized arm swings and steady shoulders.

He was practicing his runway walk.

The ARMANI Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show was coming up.

Worried he’d mess up, Kate had been training him intensely for days, at least five hours a day. It was more exhausting than standing at attention in the military.

“Luca, focus on your expression. This isn’t a Victoria’s Secret show—it’s a formal runway. Models are just moving hangers; no extra expressions on your face.”

Kate folded her arms, watching him intently. When working, she became serious, strict, and a bit like Ms. Nina Syster.

“Got it.”

“Keep going!”

Queen Kate waved her hand.

Luca continued walking, his legs and heels sore with every step, eyes fixed forward. He couldn’t daydream because Kate’s eyes were too sharp. The moment he lost focus, she’d call him out or even hit him.

“Luca, keep it up!”

Lima, who didn’t have work today, walked in with a plate of nuts, laughing gleefully.

“Luca, now you see how hard it is to be a model? Hmph, but the hardship you’re going through is nothing compared to ours.”

Luca walked past her without a word, expressionless.

A few days ago, when Lima teased him, he snapped back and got scolded harshly by Kate. Lima nearly laughed herself to tears.

This time, Luca didn’t take the bait, and Lima pouted in disappointment.

Sitting beside Kate, she crossed her legs and snacked on cashews before a mischievous smile appeared on her face.

“Kate, runway walking is not just about steps, confidence, and movement. It’s also about overcoming embarrassment. Luca walks fine with clothes on, but what about without them? Can he still be that confident?”

Kate glanced at her and chuckled softly.

When Luca walked by, she said sternly, “Luca, take off your clothes.”

“What?”

Luca was stunned.

“Hurry up, or I’ll hit you!”

Lima waved her nutcracker around, bossing him playfully.

Luca crossed his arms and looked at Kate. Sure, he lived off her, but he still had his pride.

“Lima, hold off,” Kate said calmly, holding back the over-excited Lima. “Luca, do you know who the greatest model in history is?”

In history?

The question was too broad for Luca to answer.

“Who?”

“The king in The Emperor’s New Clothes.”

“Uh…”

“That’s fictional, isn’t it? Why?”

“Because the king had no shame. His courage was unmatched. Even when a major crisis occurred, he still had the poise to walk confidently in front of everyone, stark naked. Could you do that?”

Luca shook his head. That king was crazy; no one would be like him.

“You can’t because you lack the mental fortitude. You’re too self-conscious. So, I want you to walk the runway in just your underwear. Understand?”

Kate said seriously.

“Alright!”

Luca smiled slightly. If they had told him from the start he could keep his underwear on, he wouldn’t have been so nervous. As an actor who had done bed scenes, he wasn’t afraid of undressing.

In less than a minute, he had taken off his shirt and pants.

“Pfft—SpongeBob!”

Lima covered her mouth, laughing.

Luca looked at his yellow SpongeBob boxers and blushed a little. Kate bought all his clothes, and he had no say in what he wore.

Kate glanced at him and, with a straight face, said, “Begin.”

“Oh.”

Luca walked forward to the beat of the music. Walking the runway with clothes on was one thing, but without outerwear, it felt like exposing himself, giving him a sense of vulnerability.

“Keep going. You’ll get used to it.”

Kate said calmly.

Alright.

Practice makes perfect.

This also helped Luca improve his acting skills. Next time he had to do a bed scene, he felt he could be more daring.

“Kate, Luca’s body looks great. How did I never notice before?”

Lima smiled, watching him from behind.

Kate shook her head. “Strictly speaking, Luca’s muscles are too bulky, and his body fat is too high—not model standards. He’ll need more training before walking an underwear show.”

“But that body is strong and sexy,” Lima said, eyeing Luca’s muscular legs and toned backside.

“Lima, do you like Luca? Want to go on a date with him?”

Kate teased.

Lima blinked her amber eyes. “I’m a girl; I can’t ask him out, right?”

“Then I’ll have him ask you.”

“Hmph, as if he’d dare.”

“You never know!”

Kate chuckled. “Luca, keep walking. In your current state, you’re nowhere near ready for the big runway. You’re my student—don’t embarrass me.”

What could Luca say? He had no choice but to keep practicing, tears in his eyes.

This must be the price of living off someone else!

Thump, thump—

Move those hips!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 14: The Green Hat*

On a weekend afternoon, an Armani ready-to-wear fashion show kicked off at Lincoln Center.

The organizers selected 42 male and female models from over ten modeling agencies in New York. Among them were Kate Kelly from IMG Models, Adriana Lima from Elite Model Management, and newcomer Luca from Ford Models.

Before the show started, the three were still wandering around Hearst Plaza.

"Kate, Lima, we should head back and get ready."

Luca glanced at his watch—it was already past two o'clock. He had to hurry the two women, who were still casually browsing.

"We've got over two hours left, no need to rush."

Kate picked up a wide-brimmed vintage hat and put it on her head. Wearing an oversized knitted sweater and a knee-length leather skirt, she looked like a noblewoman from the Victorian era with the hat.

Beside her, Lima was also trying on hats. She turned back and laughed, "Luca, you're too nervous. We agreed you wouldn't check your watch, but you've already done it. Kate, how many times has he looked at his watch?"

"Thirty-two times," Kate replied casually.

"Ha, thirty-two times!" Lima teased.

Luca curled his lips—yeah, right.

"Luca, stop checking the time."

Kate took a bowler hat and placed it on his head, speaking gently, "Your walk and outfit are fine. All you need to do now is forget about the time, forget about the show, and completely relax. This is just a regular runway show, and you're an actor. There's no need to overthink it."

Luca pondered for a moment—he was indeed a bit nervous.

It was his first time walking a show, and not just any show, but for Armani, a world-renowned brand.

He was worried about wearing the wrong clothes, messing up the order, tripping on stage—so many worries, like giving a presentation for the first time, with his mind in a jumble.

But Kate was right. He was an actor, and modeling was just a side gig. If he failed, it just meant no more modeling gigs. What’s the big deal?

He exhaled and smiled, "Got it!"

Kate smiled slightly, putting an arm around his shoulder and leading him to a full-length mirror. "How's this hat? Do you like it?"

Luca hadn’t paid much attention earlier. Now, looking closely, his face darkened—it was a green hat. A dark green one, at that.

"This hat doesn’t suit me. Let’s check out others."

"What about this one?" Lima held up a gray-green wool hat.

Luca curled his lips again—why do they keep picking green?

"Let me pick for myself!"

"You? Your taste is terrible. We can't trust you."

"Alright!"

With his nerves eased, he focused on shopping with the two of them.

Before they knew it, they had lost track of time. By the time they left the mall at 4 PM, there were only about thirty minutes left before the show started.

"Luca, why didn’t you remind us?"

Lima complained.

"You told me to forget about the time."

"But you shouldn’t have forgotten completely."

"I—"

What could he say?

Luca was bitter.

"Don’t worry, we have plenty of time," Kate said with a smile.

Hearst Plaza was right next to Lincoln Center, just a five-minute walk away. With their long legs, they moved even faster, reaching the road outside Lincoln Center in no time.

"Help! Help!!"

As they were about to cross the street, a sharp cry suddenly came from the other side of the intersection, switching between English and Chinese.

Luca looked over in surprise. On the slope across the street, a baby stroller was rolling downhill, gaining speed as it neared the street.

About ten meters away, a young Chinese woman was screaming for help while chasing the stroller. But the downhill momentum was too strong; her legs couldn’t keep up with the wheels, and in her panic, she fell.

Beep, beep, beep!

Just as the stroller was about to roll into the street, a bus came speeding down the road.

Due to a curve between the slope and the bus, the driver couldn’t see what was happening. The bus was headed straight for the stroller.

"Oh my God!"

"Someone save that baby!"

People on the street noticed the danger, but they were too far away to reach the stroller in time.

It seemed a tragedy was inevitable.

"Help!!" The Chinese woman’s screams grew more desperate as she lay on the ground.

"Poor thing," Lima sighed softly.

"Oh God, someone save that baby!" Kate crossed herself.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept past them. Kate turned to see Luca sprinting toward the intersection, racing toward the rapidly moving stroller.

He moved with powerful strides, like a cheetah. In the blink of an eye, he had covered over ten meters, rivaling the speed of a track athlete.

Watching him sprint, Kate was reminded of three years ago, at the World Youth Football Championship, where he had thrown himself into the game despite injuring his ankle to fight for his country. Was he going to do it again today?

But he was injured, and he wasn’t as fast as before. Why was he still being so reckless?

"Luca!"

She saw Luca charging toward the stroller as the bus sped closer. If Luca was determined to save the baby, he would surely be hit by the bus. Yet, seeing the oncoming bus, Luca didn’t hesitate—he rushed straight ahead.

"Stop!!"

Tears welled up in Kate’s eyes.

Bang!

It was too late. The sound of a collision echoed through the intersection. The stroller was flung into the air, its wooden frame shattering. Luca rolled in front of the bus, disappearing from sight.

Kate froze, her body trembling as she stumbled forward, trying to rush over.

"Kate, don’t worry, Luca will be alright," Lima said, unsure how to comfort her.

She had been stunned when Luca suddenly dashed out. In Brazil, people were used to seeing gang violence and death; the idea of risking your life to save someone was foreign.

She never expected Luca to act that way, and with such speed. It was like watching him dribble past opponents on the soccer field again, but this time he wasn’t facing an opponent’s defense—it was a bus. So reckless.

"Look! He’s standing! He’s not dead!"

Suddenly, someone shouted from the street.

Kate and Lima looked up and saw Luca emerge from behind the bus, holding a baby above his head, shouting with excitement.

"Oh my God, he caught it! He actually caught it!"

"Wow, thank God! Is he a superhero?"

"He saved the baby! Is he an angel sent by God?"

The crowd buzzed with excitement and admiration.

Everything had happened so fast. When the bus approached, everyone thought tragedy was unavoidable. No one expected someone to rush out at the last second, run past the stroller, and keep going without stopping.

No one saw how he grabbed the baby, so they assumed the rescue had failed. But he had done it—it was unbelievable.

His bravery and quick actions earned everyone’s applause and cheers.

"Kate, I’m fine! I didn’t get hurt!" Luca shouted from across the street, still holding the baby.

Kate bit her lip, her chin trembling slightly.

"Kate, Luca’s amazing! He’s a hero!" Lima exclaimed, staring at Luca in admiration.

Kate shook her head. She didn’t need a hero, nor did she want Luca to act like one.

"Hey, Kate, why are you crying?"

Luca handed the baby back to the woman and walked over with a big grin.

"You idiot! I told you to stop—didn’t you hear me? Are you deaf?!"

Kate grabbed his ear, scolding him, "You’re injured, you’re not the soccer genius you used to be, why are you still risking your life? Are you stupid?"

"Ow, ow, it hurts! Kate, let go! I won’t do it again!"

Luca grimaced, pretending to be in great pain.

Lima couldn’t help but laugh. Was this how a hero should be treated?

"Kate, don’t be mad. Luca’s really hurting," Lima said, trying to ease the tension.

"Hmph!"

Kate let go of his ear but grabbed his collar. "We’re going to the hospital!"

"I’m fine, Kate," Luca said, spinning around in place and even jumping a little. "I moved fast—I grabbed the baby and rolled across the street, just like tackling on the field. Except this time, it was a handball. Hopefully Coach Luis didn’t see, or he’ll scold me for being slower than a penguin."

"You’re still afraid of the coach, even though you don’t play soccer anymore?" Lima teased.

"Of course I am!"

Luca said in a voice that was just loud enough, "Lima, I’ll let you in on a secret. There are two people I fear most—Coach Luis and Kate. When Kate gets mad, she’s scarier than the coach."

"Haha!"

Lima laughed softly. Watching the man beside her, she suddenly found him very charming, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint why.

Kate bit her lip to keep from smiling. She helped Luca straighten his clothes and lightly pressed on his waist. "How’s your back? Is it broken? I hope it is!"

Luca gritted his teeth. He had actually twisted his back earlier and heard a cracking sound, thinking he might be paralyzed again. But to his surprise, he was able to stand up and

 keep moving.

The bus driver was stunned when he rushed over, thinking Luca would be crushed to death, but Luca had saved the baby and shielded his own head in time, avoiding the wheels. He wasn’t sure how he managed to dodge the impact.

Seeing her eyes turn red,

Luca spoke softly,

"Kate, I'm really fine. Let's get going, it's almost showtime."

"After such a big accident, you're still thinking about the show?" Lima asked in surprise.

"What else? Should I just give up the $2,000 appearance fee?"

"$2,000? We’re getting $50,000!" Lima responded.

"Are you showing off?" Luca asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, I am!" Lima said, flashing a cheeky smile.

"You two are amazing!" Luca sighed with mock exasperation as he hurried the two of them toward Lincoln Center.

*Chapter 15: Special Effects Makeup Artist*

When he arrived at the fashion show area, Luca went straight to the men's dressing section.

"Luca, why are you just getting here?"

Seeing him arrive, Ed put down his phone and his worries. He had been concerned that Luca might back out at the last minute, something that often happens with new models.

Luca smiled apologetically, "Ed, I'm not late, am I?" His phone had been confiscated by Kate to prevent him from checking the time. With such a bossy older sister, what could he do?

"No, but next time you should come earlier."

"Kate and Lima said there’s no need to come too early for a fashion show. If you arrive early, there’s nothing to do backstage anyway."

"Haha, did they say that?"

Ed shook his head teasingly, "They’re supermodels. Do you know what that means? They’re the big stars of the modeling world, but you're just a newbie. Can you really compare yourself to them?"

"Alright, next time I'll be here early."

Ed patted him on the shoulder but then noticed the dust on Luca’s clothes. "Weren’t you just taking a stroll? How’d you end up like this?"

Luca shrugged and replied as they walked, "On my way back, there was a car accident. A baby stroller accidentally rolled onto the road and nearly got hit by a car. I acted on impulse, ran out, and grabbed the little one. It went smoothly, and I wasn’t hurt."

"You went and rescued someone just now?"

Ed looked at him in surprise.

"Just happened to be there," Luca smiled.

Ed shook his head and sighed, "You always do surprising things. Be careful next time!"

"I will."

"Come on, let’s get you into makeup."

Ed led him into the makeup area.

In the makeup area, over 20 male models were there, all of them ridiculously handsome. The bearded German hunk Ben Hill, the blue-eyed British hottie David Gandy, and the ruggedly handsome Eric Rutherford—every type of model you could imagine, in all different skin tones.

In his previous life, standing among such an attractive group, Luca might have felt too self-conscious to even lift his head.

Now, he could walk among them with his head held high, even drawing envious glances from a few of the guys. This feeling was absolutely exhilarating!

Luca greeted a few models from his agency and headed into the makeup room. He took off his jacket and pants and sat down in front of the mirror, waiting for makeup.

"Wow, Luca, what happened to your arm?"

The makeup artist Tony exclaimed in a flamboyant tone.

"Luca, what’s going on?"

Ed saw that Luca had scrapes on both elbows, shoulders, and knees. He immediately became concerned.

Luca glanced at himself. He’d only been thinking about his back pain earlier and hadn’t paid attention to anything else. Now that his clothes were off, he saw two more serious scrapes on his left shoulder and knee. They were red but hadn’t bled.

"Tony, can you cover these up?"

Ed asked.

"No problem, I’ve done special effects makeup on set before. These little scrapes are nothing."

Tony took out his makeup kit and started applying special effects makeup. He used realistic skin patches to cover the serious scrapes, making them look like medical patches.

For the less serious injuries, he just applied makeup to hide them.

"Luca, does it hurt?"

Tony poked at his wounds with a makeup brush.

Luca rolled his eyes. Even a normal person would feel pain if poked like that.

"It doesn’t hurt. Just do your thing, Tony."

"Oh, Luca, I just love tough guys like you."

Tony smiled coyly.

Luca closed his eyes. If all the makeup artists here weren’t like this, he’d definitely ask for a mute one instead.

A little while later, when he opened his eyes, all his wounds had been covered, and it was impossible to tell there had been any injuries.

"Tony, now I believe you’ve worked as a Hollywood special effects makeup artist."

"Haha, I really have!"

Tony said proudly.

"Hah, Tony, didn’t you once say you worked at a funeral home in Newark? When did you ever go to Hollywood?"

A bearded makeup artist nearby chimed in.

Upon hearing this, Luca’s face turned dark. *WCTMD*, is that for real?

"Luca, I only worked at the funeral home for three years. You don’t mind, right?"

Tony asked sincerely.

*Fuck*, it’s true!

Luca's neck stiffened as he gritted his teeth and said, "I! Mind!"

"Well, too bad. I’m already done with your makeup, hahaha~"

Tony covered his mouth with his hand, giggling mischievously.

Luca was deeply frustrated. How unlucky does one have to be to run into a mortuary makeup artist?

After finishing makeup, Luca went to the dressing area and started putting on his first outfit.

Armani has 13 main fashion lines, and their fall-winter collections include suits, sportswear, and denim, like Emporio Armani and A/X Armani Exchange.

This year, the Armani series incorporated many Eastern elements—kimono-style shirts, Mao-inspired jackets, and even a robe-like trench coat.

Today, Luca had to wear three different outfits, one of which was a Mao-style jacket, a variation of the Zhongshan suit.

It felt quite familiar, though the fabric was rough. Without an undershirt, it chafed a bit.

"Luca, are you nervous?"

Ed asked with a smile.

Luca shook his head. Compared to rescuing someone earlier, walking a runway was nothing.

"Alright, guys, get ready! You’re about to go on. Everyone, take your positions!"

Once dressed, the male models lined up at the exit under the director's orders.

They had all rehearsed over the past two days—who would go first, what order to walk in, what route to take, and where to stand. Everything had been pre-arranged.

The group quietly waited at the exit, each model looking cold and aloof, like a pack of zombies about to be released.

At 5 p.m., the music started playing.

Kate and Lima, the big-name supermodels, were on stage.

Modeling is a female-dominated industry. Not only do female models earn more than male models, but they also have higher status. Therefore, supermodel women usually open the show, while male models play a supporting role.

The female supermodels strutted onto the stage.

Kate led the way, wearing a white, low-cut women’s suit with wide-leg trousers and T-strap heels. She looked dashing and full of energy as she circled the palace-like hall and walked back.

The rectangular runway was about 300 meters long, requiring about 400 steps and five minutes for a full lap.

As Kate exited from the left and re-entered from the right, she winked at Luca.

Luca froze for a moment, then subtly curled his lips in response.

Kate’s expression quickly changed, raising her eyebrows in a way that seemed like she was about to hit him.

Luca thought to himself, *Is this a trap?* He immediately shifted to a zombie-like expression, staring straight ahead.

Kate smirked and brushed past him, leaving a trail of perfume.

A little while later, Lima walked by and threw him a flirty glance.

Luca didn’t react at all, which seemed to annoy her as she walked off.

"Alright, boys, it’s your turn!"

The upbeat music switched to a Britney Spears track as the male models took the stage.

*Hit me baby one more time*

*Oh baby, baby*

*Oh baby, baby*

*Ah, yeah, yeah*

(End of the chapter)