"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)