After Kate left the stage, a group of Brazilian supermodels surrounded her, including Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio (AA), and Isabeli Fontana, all top-tier supermodels.
Back in the day, in his free time, Luca loved looking at photoshoots of these models.
Sometimes it was Japanese actresses, sometimes Hollywood stars, but mostly Victoria's Secret models, which included the very Brazilian supermodels standing in front of him now.
Seeing them in person for the first time, Luca couldn't help but feel a little excited.
"Hi, dear Kate, your performance tonight was absolutely stunning. Many people in the audience were completely mesmerized!"
He walked up to Kate, arms wide open, ready to give her a congratulatory hug.
Smack!
Kate lightning-quick slapped her hand over his face and angrily said, "Luca, where were you this afternoon? You almost missed my show!"
Luca shrugged it off, "Kate, it was just a hat. You're a supermodel who's been through countless shows. You wouldn't let a hat ruin your performance, would you?"
"Hmph, was I waiting for a hat? No, I was waiting for *you*!"
She stared into his eyes, clearly emotional. "Luca, this is my first time walking the Victoria's Secret runway. I wanted you in the audience cheering for me. Don't you get that?"
Luca sighed internally. So it wasn't about the hat after all—it was because her little brother didn't show up, or worse, had something bad happen.
"Kate, I'm really sorry!"
"No need to apologize. You made it just in time, didn't you?"
Kate smiled slightly and gave him a light hug.
"Wow~ Such a close sibling bond!"
Lima teased with a smile.
Adriana Lima, at 21 years old, stood 178 cm tall, with sexy, full lips, a voluptuous chest, and beautifully toned honey-colored skin. She was the epitome of Brazilian beauty.
She and Kate had started their careers together, moving from Brazil to the U.S., and had a good relationship.
Luca smiled lightly and opened his arms, "Lima, your performance today was also incredible. How about a victory hug for me?"
"Hmph!"
Lima gave him a cold glance and walked away.
The others followed without acknowledging him either.
Luca awkwardly shrugged.
"Pfft~"
Kate couldn't hold back her laughter.
"Kate, they're all Brazilian. How could they treat me like this?"
Luca imitated his former self's tone, complaining.
"Do you really not know why?"
Kate raised her eyebrows teasingly.
Luca suddenly remembered. His former self, whenever tagging along with Kate to big events, would always try to hit on the models, sneakily taking advantage of them. Those Brazilian models had suffered from his antics, so why would they pay him any attention now?
Shaking his head, he said, "Kate, I'll change from now on."
"Fifty-six!"
Kate waved her hand and headed toward the dressing area.
"Fifty-six? What does that mean?"
Luca asked, puzzled.
"It's the fifty-sixth time you've said you'd change, but you never do."
Kate huffed in dissatisfaction, pulled aside a clothes rack, and walked into a makeshift dressing area between two rows of racks, with only a few garments hanging to block her from view.
Luca glanced for a moment and then turned his back to the racks, saying, "Kate, I'm serious this time. You have to believe me."
"Forty-eight!"
"I've said that forty-eight times? Oh, come on! That definitely wasn't me!"
Luca covered his forehead, frustrated. His past self had left him with too many messes: a bad back, a drug habit, poverty, and awful relationships. All huge problems.
"Twenty-five times!"
"Uh~ Kate, are you a devil? Why do you keep count of everything?"
"No, I'm an angel!"
Kate laughed and suddenly shouted, "Catch!"
"What?"
Before he could react, two small pieces of clothing flew over the racks and landed on his head, carrying a faint, peculiar scent.
He looked down and almost hurt his back again. It was a very sexy outfit, the one Kate had just worn for the show.
"Kate, why are you giving this to me?"
"Don't you like my worn clothes?"
"Do I?"
Thinking it over, Luca realized his past self did have that quirk.
Great, another thing to fix.
He examined the still-warm outfit, which was beautiful and delicate but made of poor-quality materials. The texture and comfort weren't great, which explained why Victoria's Secret's business had gone downhill before its eventual closure.
Setting the outfit down, he said, "Kate, I'm serious this time. I'm turning over a new leaf, and you'll see—"
Before he could finish, Kate grabbed him by the collar and pulled him behind the clothes rack.
"Kate, why are you pulling me?"
He glanced at Kate, then looked down. She hadn't finished dressing.
Unbothered by the little bit of exposure, Kate stared into his eyes and asked, "Did you get into trouble again?"
Luca sighed, feeling powerless. "I didn't."
"Then you must be broke. How much do you need this time?"
Kate, relieved, continued getting dressed.
"Kate, I don't need any money."
"You don't? Did you rob a bank?"
"No!"
"Did you kill someone? Oh my God, Luca, how could you?"
"Shut up, Kate!"
Luca stood up, grabbed her by the shoulders, and shook her gently. "Kate, stop joking. I'm serious this time. Can't you believe me just once?"
Kate looked into his eyes and then burst out laughing. "Haha, dear Luca, look at you! You've got no sense of humor at all!"
"Humor? Fine, you're hilarious."
Luca waved his hand and walked out from behind the rack, with the sound of Kate's laughter trailing behind him.
A little while later, Kate emerged in an angel costume, ready for the finale. She only had a shimmering silver robe thrown over it.
"Luca, something's different about you today."
Kate stood in front of him, giving him a strange look.
Luca froze for a moment. Had she noticed? No way, he'd been doing his best to act like his former self.
"What's different?"
Kate pinched her chin between her thumb and forefinger, thoughtfully. "You used to sneak peeks when I changed. Today, you behaved."
Luca sighed and said, "Kate, like I said, I've changed. It's not just talk. I'm going to prove it. That's a man's promise."
"Is that so?"
Kate smiled. "Even if you didn't look, I know you wanted to. You haven't really changed."
Luca, embarrassed that she'd read his thoughts, waved his hand and walked off.
"I've got nothing more to say to you."
"Hahaha~ Luca, I'm happy to see you're changing, though."
Kate linked her arm with his, clearly pleased.
Luca smiled. Having a sister like her didn't seem so bad after all.
"Hey~ Leo!"
Just as he was feeling happy, Kate let go of his arm and rushed into someone else's embrace.
It was none other than Leonardo DiCaprio.
Watching their intimate posture, Luca felt a pang of annoyance. This player. Let go of my sister!
(End of Chapter)