Knock knock knock
"Luca, are you ready?"
It was the afternoon, and Kate called from outside the door.
"Ready for what?"
"The Carnival party, did you forget?"
Kate asked, clearly displeased.
"Uh… okay, I'll be right there!"
Luca shook his head, realizing just how busy he'd been lately. He had forgotten all about the Carnival.
When he opened the door, there stood Kate, dressed up to the nines.
Kate looked incredibly sexy.
Her golden-brown curls cascaded down her smooth, fair shoulders.
She wore a blue lace bustier that showed off her collarbone and toned abs, with faint hints of her abs showing.
She paired it with denim shorts.
Her long, slender, pale legs were pressed tightly together with no gap in between.
Her entire look radiated sexiness, fire, and wildness.
"Idiot, what are you staring at?"
Kate crossed her arms, a playful smile curling at the corners of her lips.
"My dear, you're absolutely stunning. No queen at any Carnival party in the world could compare to even one of your toes."
Luca praised her.
"Of course!"
Kate smiled slightly and pointed to his outfit. "Are you seriously going to the Carnival dressed like that?"
He was wearing the Brazilian three-piece set: a t-shirt, baggy shorts, and flip-flops.
"What's wrong with this?"
"No way, we're together, so your outfit has to match mine."
Kate pushed him into the bedroom.
"Hurry up and change!"
Luca reluctantly swapped into something a bit more lively and smeared some face paint on, transforming himself into something resembling a parrot.
After finishing their outfits, the two left the manor together.
It was Carnival time.
Held annually in mid-to-late February, the Carnival is celebrated in Christian countries for four days.
During Carnival, everything except pharmacies, hospitals, and bars shuts down—factories stop, stores close, schools are off. People of all ages, dressed in vibrant colors and heavy makeup, flood the streets to dance and sing. The entire city erupts in celebration, swept up in the feverish excitement.
Kelly Manor wasn't far from the bustling streets. Once they left the villa district, they could see thousands of people dressed in all sorts of strange costumes, beating drums, cans, and boxes as they surged toward the liveliest area, like rivers flowing into the sea.
On the busiest Samba Avenue, countless people, perhaps tens of thousands, packed the streets. The mass of people was overwhelming.
Amidst the joyful rhythms, everyone danced the samba together—there was no poverty or wealth, no class, no racial discrimination. People forgot their worries, immersed in music and samba, laughter, and joy.
Each person was like a joyous wave, and together, tens of thousands became a sea of happiness.
Luca pulled Kate into the crowd. Following the dense drumbeats, they shook their bodies freely, muscles rippling and hips swaying. This was samba, a dance more liberating and universal than street dance.
Kate danced beside him, even more passionately and wildly. Sometimes, they danced together as a pair.
In the crowded throngs, the two danced with abandon, sweat pouring down their bodies.
"Look, the floats are here!"
By the afternoon, the streets filled with strange and wonderful floats.
There were beautiful forest fairy floats, scary skeleton floats, elephant floats, puppet floats, giant turtle floats, Buddha floats, and more.
Each was unique and vibrantly colored.
Even the smallest float was five meters tall and over ten meters long, as grand as a building.
The float parade was the highlight of the Carnival every year.
These floats were designed by various samba schools, and they were often manned by scantily clad women—some wore bikinis, some were topless, and some were adorned with jewels, barely covering their skin.
As the floats moved forward, the women on them danced samba, intensifying the feverish atmosphere.
"Let's go, it's time for the party!"
Kate tugged his arm.
"Let's go!"
Each year, Rio's city government hosts a Carnival banquet at a high-rise viewing platform, inviting the city's elite, including figures from politics, sports, fashion, culture, and entertainment.
This year, Luca and Kate had received invitations as well.
Kate was one of the most famous female authors in the world and a prominent figure in both Brazil's cultural and fashion circles.
Luca was an international movie star, the first Brazilian to win Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival, making him a major celebrity in the entertainment world.
Their arrival together quickly drew attention, especially Luca, who didn't often make public appearances. He received special treatment.
"My dear, I'll leave you here. I need to talk with Lydia."
"Alright!"
Before the crowd could surround him, Kate walked to the center seating area with Gina.
Once Kate left, people started approaching Luca one after another—some to greet him with a drink, some to discuss potential film projects, some to hand him business cards, and even a few women trying to cozy up to him.
"Mr. Kelly, congratulations on winning Best Actor in Berlin!"
"Mr. Kelly, you've brought pride to Brazilian cinema. Let me toast to you!"
"Mr. Kelly, I have a film project—can we talk about it sometime?"
Luca dealt with these interactions for half an hour, sweating by the time it was over.
"Hey, Luca, we meet again!"
Just as he caught his breath, another person came up. This one was a man in his fifties, slightly bald, and dressed casually in a yellow short-sleeve shirt.
This was Donald Ranward, the chairman of Riofilmes, one of the most powerful film companies in Brazil. They had been involved in classics like Central Station, City of God, and The Motorcycle Diaries.
Donald was a heavyweight in the Brazilian film industry.
"Good evening, Mr. Ranward!"
Luca greeted him.
"Luca, you gave us quite a surprise this time."
Donald laughed as he sat down.
"Surprise?"
"Yes, before filming started, no one believed you could pull off the role. They thought you'd ruin the movie with your insistence, but not only did you nail it, you won Best Actor in Berlin."
Donald sighed deeply.
Riofilmes had considered investing in Buried but Luca and Burbank hadn't accepted their offer.
Now that Buried had grossed over six million dollars, Donald couldn't help feeling a bit bitter.
"I've never met someone as outstanding as you."
Donald praised him.
"It's nothing. I just chose a good director."
Luca replied modestly.
"No, it's because you're exceptional!"
"Thank you!"
Luca wasn't fooled. Donald was obviously here to talk business, and in business, only cold, hard cash speaks.
Sure enough, Donald soon brought up the new film, Infernal Affairs.
"Luca, what made you decide to adapt this film?"
"I've seen the original movie, and it was fantastic. I wondered whether it could be adapted."
Luca shrugged. "I thought about it for a long time and decided to give it a shot. Brazil's gang problem is just as bad as in the movie—gangs have become part of Brazil's identity, known around the world.
The success of City of God shows that audiences are still interested in gang films, and I happen to enjoy them, so I wanted to give it a try."
Donald nodded. "You've got great foresight. Since City of God blew up last year, several films about gang conflicts and crime in the favelas have hit theaters, and they've all done well. Every major company has plans to produce similar movies, but you've moved ahead of us."
"Really?"
Luca was surprised. He thought he was the only one betting on crime films.
"Yes, Luca, there are many projects in the works. But finding something on par with City of God is difficult. I've read a lot of scripts recently, and yours stands out—it's excellent. Are you still looking for investors for your project?"
Donald wanted to collaborate, adding that he had connections within law enforcement, which could help reduce filming obstacles.
In the past, the biggest challenges in making crime films were gang threats and scrutiny from the police.
The police were strict in their review of films, ensuring they didn't tarnish the department's image or glamorize gangs. Many movies were blocked from release for failing to meet these criteria.
Luca thought it over and decided to agree.
Riofilmes had significant influence in the industry, and Donald's connections were strong. With them on board, the movie would be even more secure.
"Luca, will you be acting in this film?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I'm considering it."
"You're very popular right now. I hope you'll take a role. We're willing to match Hollywood's pay."
Luca nodded, saying he'd think about it.
Once Donald left, three more film companies approached him, hoping to collaborate.
Luca didn't turn them down.
The more, the merrier—getting people to invest in Brazilian cinema was essential.
Worst case scenario, he could always borrow a few more scripts from classic Hong Kong movies. There were plenty of them to use as references.
"Hey, Mr. Kelly, mind if we chat?"
Just as he was about to take a break, another person greeted him.
Luca frowned slightly. It was Carnival, couldn't he have some time to enjoy himself?
But when he saw who it was, he couldn't help but smile.
"Hey, Ricardo, long time no see. When did you get here?"
'I've been here for a while. I wanted to say hello, but there was always someone around you. I didn't want to cut in line.'
Luca laughed and gave him a hug.
This guy was none other than the "Prince of Football," Kaka.
Back when they were both in the youth team, they trained together for over a year and had a good relationship.
But after Luca retired from football and moved to the U.S., and with Kaka frequently playing abroad for AC Milan, they lost touch.
Now that they met again, they had a lot to talk about.
'Luca, how did you become an actor, and even win Best Actor in Berlin?'
The two of them were sitting on a lookout point, drinking beer and watching the parade floats on the street below.
'After I got injured, I thought about doing something else. After weighing my options, acting seemed like the best fit,' Luca said, touching his handsome face.
'That makes sense,' Kaka laughed and nudged him on the shoulder. 'You've always had a talent for acting. I knew it back then.'
'Oh? You knew?'
'Of course. Do you know the two things I admire most about you?' Kaka smiled, raising his index finger. 'First, your skill with women. During training, there were always beautiful women coming to see you. We were all envious.'
'You weren't bad either! Is she your girlfriend?' Luca asked, pointing at a girl in the crowd.
Kaka blushed and nodded. 'Yes. But don't change the subject. The second thing I admire about you is your diving skills. Your fake falls looked so real—it's definitely an acting talent, right?'
'No, it's not talent; it's the result of hard work. Even when I was playing, I was practicing my acting. Now it's finally paying off.'
Kaka chuckled and raised his glass for a toast.
'Ricardo, stop chatting and come dance!' Kaka's young girlfriend, Caroline, ran over.
'Caroline, this is Luca. Do you know him?' Kaka introduced.
'Of course! Supermodel Luca, the youngest winner of the Berlin Best Actor award. Don't forget, I'm in the fashion world too,' Caroline laughed.
Luca smiled, 'Hi, Caroline, nice to meet you!'
Caroline was also a model. Her mother, Rosangela, was the Brazilian representative for the French luxury brand Christian Dior, and Caroline was Dior's local brand ambassador.
She was not yet 17, but the two had been dating for two years already. If this were China, Kaka would definitely get roasted for it.
After chatting for a bit, Caroline dragged Kaka away to dance.
Luca stayed on the lookout tower, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation.
He scanned the crowd with his drink and spotted Kate in the VIP section.
She was surrounded by a group of influential women, including Rio's deputy mayor, Lidiane Gorostiza, along with lawmakers, lawyers, and other female elites.
At this moment, Kate was no longer just a model, writer, and designer. She was a billionaire and the United Nations Women's Goodwill Ambassador for Brazil, fulfilling her duties.
Seeing him look over, Kate winked before resuming her dignified demeanor.
Luca smiled and continued to enjoy his drink.
'Hey, Luca!'
Ambrosio came over, followed by Jamie Marzu.
'Hey, Ambrosio, Jamie. You two made up?' Luca glanced at Jamie's leg, seeing it was fine.
'Hmph!' Jamie glared at him. Apologizing used to be enough for cheating, but now it wasn't. Ambrosio had learned bad habits from Lima—it seemed breaking legs was the new penalty.
'Luca, our Ambrosio is kind-hearted, so she spared my legs,' Jamie boasted.
'Hmph, did I say I wouldn't?' Ambrosio snapped. 'This time, I mean it. You'd better make up your mind, or don't blame me for not giving you another chance.'
She waved goodbye and left.
Jamie shook his head. 'Luca, this is all your fault. Now the whole modeling world is talking about how breaking legs can prevent cheating.'
'They're not wrong. Look at me. Ever since my waist and fingers got broken, I've never cheated again. You should give it a try.'
'Tch, only an idiot would want their legs broken. We get women with our brains, not our legs.'
Jamie grinned smugly and hurried after Ambrosio.
Luca shook his head, wondering what the future held for this pair.
As night fell, the samba avenue lit up in a dazzling array of lights. With the entrance of ten top samba teams, nearly a thousand professional samba dancers began dancing around the floats.
Tens of thousands of spectators on either side of the avenue cheered loudly as the atmosphere reached its peak.