"Luca, can you give me a ride?"
Just as Luca was about to drive off, a young girl with a guitar on her back appeared at the door—it was Fanny.
"I'm headed to NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Is that on your way?"
She stood on the curb, slightly on her tiptoes, hopeful.
"Alright, Fanny, I'm headed that way."
"Luca, you're so nice!"
Fanny hopped into the passenger seat, casually giving him a "nice guy" compliment.
Luca smirked slightly and started the car.
"Fanny, you're a student at Tisch?"
"Yep! I'm pretty good at music, got early admission to the arts school. I'm a freshman this year."
"Wow, impressive."
NYU's Tisch School of the Arts is ranked top three in the U.S., with an incredible faculty. In its forty years, it's produced over thirty Oscar winners, including Woody Allen, Angelina Jolie, and Martin Scorsese.
Only 20 students globally get early admission each year. Luca once wanted to snag one of those spots, but he didn't have the credentials. He didn't expect Fanny to manage it.
"Fanny, did you know I'm a college student too?"
"Really?"
Fanny looked at him in surprise.
"Yeah, I study acting at the Manhattan Academy of Performing Arts. Also a freshman, I guess."
"Haha, so we're in the same year!"
Fanny laughed out loud.
From the Upper East Side to Tisch was more than ten kilometers, and the night road was long. They started talking about the nightclub performance.
"Luca, how was my performance earlier?"
"It was cool, very cool. No one expected you to be so bold—you're really brave!"
"Haha, Luca, I got the inspiration from you."
Fanny laughed loudly.
"Because I took off my clothes earlier?"
"Not just this time."
"Oh?"
Luca was puzzled. "Did I take off my clothes in public before?"
"No, but some things don't require taking off clothes to have the same effect."
Fanny leaned back in her seat, staring out the windshield. The neon lights reflected on the glass, blurring as the car sped along, turning into streaks of light that flashed by in an instant, giving way to new colors.
"Luca, you know, ever since you grabbed my butt last time, I've been keeping an eye on you."
"Uh, Fanny, I'm really sorry about that."
"No, I should thank you. Because of you, I found the key to success."
Fanny said seriously.
"What?"
Luca glanced at her in surprise. The girl hadn't had anything to drink, so why was she suddenly talking nonsense?
"Have I been successful?"
"Yes, you have."
Fanny nodded with certainty. "Not even mentioning your past in Brazil, just the past six months—you've risen faster than anyone else."
"Risen?"
Luca chuckled, his face a bit flushed.
But Fanny wasn't laughing. She tapped her knee and said slowly, "Before December, in the U.S., in the fashion world, and in the entertainment industry, you had no fame at all. But in the past six months, you've risen quickly. You became Superman, Mr. Big, a CK underwear model, a supermodel, and even Britney Spears' rumored boyfriend.
"Recently, your popularity even surpassed that of A-list celebrities. You went from complete obscurity to being a superstar in just six months. Compared to the hundreds of thousands struggling in Hollywood, isn't that kind of speed considered a rise?"
"That's a good point. Please, continue!"
Luca slowed down, making the ride smoother.
"When studying you, I found that three events had the biggest impact on you."
"Which three?"
"The first was the 'Superman incident.' Before that, you were just an ordinary model, like tens of thousands of other models in America. But after that, you became the 'Superman model' and landed the Armani gig, which made you a near-first-tier model."
Luca nodded slightly. That was true. The Superman incident was key to his success.
Without it, he would've stayed in the entertainment industry, acting. He wouldn't have wandered into the fashion world. Maybe by now, he'd already be a big star.
"The second event was 'Mr. Big.' This made you the highlight of Fashion Week, the big star of the season, catching CK's attention and securing your spot as a supermodel. And then there was the third event, the 'car scandal.'"
Fanny paused and gestured with her hands. "The first event helped you gain a foothold in the fashion world, the second made you a supermodel and brought you fame, and the third made you famous across the U.S."
Luca shook his head, feeling like she was painting him as some scheming mastermind.
"If I told you all of that was just coincidence, would you believe me?"
"I believe you."
Fanny shrugged. "I didn't believe it before. When studying you, my partner and I concluded that all of this must've been part of your plan.
"But after meeting you, my opinion changed. You're actually a nice guy—sincere, polite, and warm. You don't seem like someone who'd do anything to get famous."
Luca smiled helplessly. "Thanks."
"No, thank you. Like I said, I've found the key to success by studying you."
"What's the key?"
Luca asked, intrigued.
"The key is to do everything you can to get attention."
Fanny swung her short legs, speaking seriously. "The first event, saving people, was about luck, kindness, perseverance, and your athletic talent. There were too many factors, both random and inevitable, that I can't replicate.
"The third, scandal, well, I can't use that yet.
"The second event, though, is what I focused on. On the most mainstream, serious, and professional stage, you did something shocking to get attention."
"Why not call it 'embarrassing'?"
Luca raised an eyebrow, smiling.
"Haha, yes, it was embarrassing. Just like my performance tonight. If I'd just sung seriously, how many people would've cared? Not many."
Fanny spread her hands. "But when I took off my clothes and set aside my pride and dignity, everyone started paying attention. Whether they cursed, criticized, or cheered, in the end, I succeeded."
"Fanny, you're brave."
"Thanks! But I'm not as brave as you, Mr. Big!"
"Haha!"
As they spoke, the car arrived at the entrance of Tisch School of the Arts. Luca slowly pulled over.
Fanny unbuckled her seatbelt, smiled at him, and suddenly said, "Hey, Luca, it's a long night, and I'm not sleepy. Want to come to my dorm for a drink?"
Luca hesitated. That line sounded familiar, like something he'd just said to Jessica.
"Haha, alright, alright. I know you have a girlfriend, and she's a hot supermodel. I'm jealous of her," Fanny said sincerely.
Luca wasn't sure how to respond, so he just smiled and said, "Thanks."
Fanny shook her head slightly, hesitated, then pulled out a cassette tape from her pocket. "Luca, I was going to give this to you tomorrow morning, after you woke up in my dorm. But you don't seem like that kind of guy."
"What's this?"
"A song I wrote. Could you give it to Britney for me?"
Fanny, who had been so bold on stage, now blushed. "I know it's a bit embarrassing, but you don't seem to mind that kind of success."
"Emmm, yeah."
Luca took the cassette. "In this world, there are only two types of people: the successful and the unsuccessful. Successful people stand on the brightest stage, showing their true selves.
"Unsuccessful people stand in the shadows. They want to be on stage but hesitate. They can't succeed, so they criticize those who do, pointing out their flaws, trying to bring them down."
Luca sighed, not sure why he was saying all this. "So, to me, there's no such thing as embarrassing. Anyone brave enough to chase success deserves applause."
"Thank you, Luca."
Fanny wiped her eyes, gave him a quick hug, then got out of the car. Carrying her guitar, which was almost as tall as she was, she stumbled into the night.
Luca smiled. "Seems like my 'poisonous chicken soup' has some nutritional value."
He put the cassette on the dashboard and then noticed something written on the case.
"L-A-D-Y G-A-G-A."
He paused for a moment, then quickly read it again.
"Lady Gaga?!"
(End of Chapter)