章 96: **Chapter 96: The New Film**
At noon, on Daimler Street, in LUIS Café.
This café had two levels: the lower level was a bustling hall, while the upper level had a semi-open balcony.
On the balcony, there were four small round tables, seven or eight casually placed sofas, and a few coffee trees used for decoration, their branches stretching quietly in the sunlight.
It wasn't clear how long the trees hadn't been trimmed, with some branches long, some short, some tall, and some short. In the flowerpots, there were even a few discarded condoms, which looked pretty disgusting.
Despite the café's somewhat shabby and chaotic appearance, it was the highest-end, most popular café on Daimler Street.
It was said that LUIS Café was part of a crime boss's operation, so no one dared to cause trouble here.
The April sunlight was bright, especially around noon. Just looking at it made one feel warm all over, and basking in it was a perfect experience.
"Ahh~"
After finishing lunch, Luca strolled up to the second floor, leaned back on the sofa, and took a nap. Around 2 p.m., he stretched lazily and was about to get up when he saw Jessica slowly walking up the stairs.
"Hey~ Jessica."
"Hey~ Luca!"
Jessica glanced around at the seating options but ultimately chose to sit across from him.
Luca shifted in his seat; leaving now would seem impolite. He picked up the coffee pot and poured Jessica a cup.
"Thanks!"
Jessica took a sip from the cup, then set it down, slightly curling her lips.
"Not good?" Luca raised his eyebrows.
"What do you think?" Jessica shot him a glance. Just as she was about to speak, the server brought over another pot of coffee.
"Thank you!" Jessica handed over a five-dollar tip, refilled her cup, took a sip, and a satisfied expression crossed her face.
"Your acting's really good!" Jessica said slowly after a while.
"Thank you. Your acting is great too."
"You're really insightful about the script."
"Thanks, but—" Luca shrugged. "The plot of this movie is pretty simple. It's like an extended music video, so it's not that hard to understand."
"True," Jessica nodded, her face showing a rare hint of emotion—worry and anxiety.
"How much do you think this movie will make at the box office?"
"Hmm?" Luca thought for a moment. The box office for *Honey* hadn't been ideal; it had a $17 million investment and only made $35 million, but it had earned a fortune in VHS and DVD sales, grossing over $80 million worldwide.
"This film should do well. I think it can hit $40 million."
A flicker of delight crossed Jessica's face.
"You have high hopes for this movie?"
"I have high hopes for you."
"Oh?" Jessica furrowed her brow in confusion.
Luca sipped his coffee. "You're beautiful, you have a great figure, and your dancing is very sexy. You're the biggest selling point of this film. You deserve the box office success."
Jessica smiled, raising the cup to her lips. "Thanks."
"No problem. Plus, Billy's been trying hard to appeal to a diverse audience. I think $40 million is doable."
Jessica gave a small smile, her eyes narrowing, and her lips curving into a seductive grin, sweeter than Miranda's.
"Why don't you mention yourself?" Jessica asked, looking at him. "You're a supermodel, a star, Britney's rumored boyfriend—you're just as famous as me. You have box office draw too."
Luca shook his head. "I'm just a supporting role, a villain at that. I don't have much influence."
Jessica didn't say anything further, sipping her coffee quietly. As the wind tousled her hair, she casually tucked it back, making her look even more beautiful.
"Hey~ So this is where you two are."
Just as Luca was debating whether to leave or stay to admire the beauty, Billy, the director, lumbered up to the balcony, panting.
Seeing them together, he chuckled, "Looks like you two are getting along well."
Jessica smiled politely.
"Billy, want some coffee?" Luca poured a cup and slid it over.
Billy took a sip, then spat it out. "Oh my God, what is this? It tastes like it was brewed with vinegar. Too sour!"
Jessica's lips twitched, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"Is it that bad? This is coffee from my hometown."
Luca took a sip himself. They had chosen Bourbon Santos from Brazil, a coffee with a subtle aroma and slight bitterness, smooth and velvety, perfect with fresh milk. The downside was that it had a bit of acidity, but for him, the taste was just right.
"I can't drink this. It gives me heartburn," Billy shook his head.
"Billy, how about Blue Mountain coffee?" Jessica asked softly.
"Thank you, Jessica."
"No problem." Jessica poured him a cup from the new pot.
Billy took a long sip, exhaling in satisfaction.
"Luca, you're almost done filming your scenes. Have you picked up any other roles?"
"Yeah, when I went to Hollywood last time, I landed a supporting role in *The Notebook*."
"*The Notebook*?" Jessica frowned slightly. "That's a New Line film. I auditioned for it, but they ended up going with Rachel McAdams."
Luca smiled. "Maybe you were too beautiful for the role."
Jessica shot him a glance, her lips curling. "Thanks."
"No problem."
"Can I say something?" Billy interrupted, clearly annoyed.
"Alright, go ahead, Billy," Luca gestured.
"Luca, Paramount is starting a new film. My friend Mark is directing, and they're casting next weekend. Do you want to give it a try?"
Luca felt touched.
Though Billy wasn't always the most morally upright guy, he still had a good heart.
"Thanks, Billy."
"Haha, it's nothing. My friend told me the lead role requires a sexy, brooding guy, and I thought of you right away. Go for it, Luca. I believe you'll nail it."
Billy patted him on the shoulder with a grin.
"Alright!" Luca smiled. "Billy, what's the movie called?"
"Emm... *Temptation 3*."
"Pfft!" Luca covered his mouth. "Are you serious?"
Jessica raised her eyebrows, a smirk flashing across her face.
"Haha, just kidding. The new movie's called *Mean Girls*. It's a female-led film."
Billy laughed heartily.
"*Mean Girls*, huh?" That movie sounded promising. Although the male lead didn't have many scenes, it had a strong box office appeal. Worth a try.
"Alright then."
"Haha, it's settled. I'll recommend you to Mark."
"Thanks!"
At 2 p.m., the three of them headed downstairs and back to the film set.
"Scene 22, Take 1, Action!"
(End of chapter)
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