**Chapter 128: Luca is a Big Liar**

"Luca, the audition is about to start, where are you?"

In front of Paramount Studios that morning, Ed shouted into his phone.

The audition for *Mean Girls* was set for 10 AM, but it was already 9:40, and there was no sign of Luca, making Ed a bit anxious.

"Ed, I'm almost there, just got caught in some traffic. Five minutes, tops."

"Alright, just hurry!"

Ed shook his head and hung up the phone, standing at the street corner, scanning the road ahead.

A moment later, a Porsche SUV slowly pulled up to the curb.

Luca finally showed up. He was wearing a white baseball cap, a yellow T-shirt, jeans, and white sneakers, looking very stylish. With his handsome looks and bright smile, he resembled a cheerful, carefree guy.

"Sorry, Ed, we had a party at Britney's last night and stayed up pretty late," Luca apologized.

"It's fine, we still have ten minutes, let's go upstairs."

"Alright!"

The audition for *Mean Girls* was being held on the second floor of Paramount's division building.

Since the movie had many female roles, the room was filled with a large group of young women, mostly in their twenties, all dressed up, looking gorgeous and sexy.

They gathered in groups, chatting excitedly, filling the air with youthful energy and a pleasant fragrance.

Among the women were a few men, their eyes blazing, talking loudly. It seemed like they weren't there for the audition but rather to pick up girls.

Looking at this crowd, Luca felt like he was back in school.

"Whoa, look, a hot guy just walked in!"

As soon as Luca entered the hall, a girl's voice rang out, followed by curious, heated glances directed at him.

"Wow, he's got such a sexy body."

"His butt is so perky! I want to smack it!"

"And he's really handsome. Too bad he's wearing a hat, you can only see half his face."

"Who wears a hat indoors? He's either a celebrity or bald. I bet he's totally bald!"

"No way, he's definitely a hottie!"

Hearing the chatter from the crowd, Luca adjusted his cap and walked toward the men's waiting area. As a married man, he always remembered one rule: stay faithful and keep your distance.

But the attention from the girls was overwhelming. Initially, everyone was scattered around chatting, but as Luca walked, more and more girls moved toward the edges, making the space around him feel tighter and tighter.

"Oops!"

Suddenly, a girl sat down on the floor right in front of him.

"Amanda, are you okay?" her three friends immediately asked with concern.

"He… he touched my butt!" The girl blushed, her face filled with embarrassment and anger, pointing straight at him.

Nice acting, Luca thought, smirking. He glanced at the girl, who looked familiar. Blonde, blue-eyed, with a doll-like face and fair skin—she resembled Amanda Seyfried, who was up for a role in the movie, a girl who looked a bit like Miranda.

"Hey, tall guy, Amanda says you touched her butt. Is that true?"

"Bold move to grope someone in front of so many people!"

"Give us your phone number right now, or we're calling the cops!"

The three girls quickly surrounded him, making a scene, their eyes fixed on his face. The more they stared, the wider their eyes got, and their faces turned redder.

The other girls in the room glanced at him with increasing disdain.

Luca smirked and flashed a charming smile. "Miss Amanda Seyfried, are you sure I touched your butt just now?"

"Uh..." Amanda on the ground was momentarily stunned, blinking. "How do you know my name?"

"Amanda, have you forgotten? We were in elementary school together! My name's Ryan, the chubby kid from the class next door. I used to have a round face, freckles, and I could eat three burgers at once. Remember?"

Luca spoke with excitement, gesturing as he talked.

"Ryan?" Amanda blinked rapidly, thinking hard. There was a chubby kid in the class next door in elementary school, but was his name Ryan or Tom?

The three 'accomplices' looked at Amanda, then at Luca, completely unsure of what to do next. Their original plan was to get the handsome guy's number or MSN contact this way, but if he was Amanda's elementary school friend, this tactic wasn't needed.

"Amanda, the floor's a bit dirty. Let me help you up." Luca extended a friendly hand.

"Oh, thank you!" Amanda took his hand, her cheeks turning even redder when she touched him.

"You're welcome!" 

Luca gently led the girl forward. "Amanda, are you here to audition too?"

"Yeah, I want to go for the role of Regina, the second lead. What do you think?"

"Second lead, huh?"

Regina was a proud, arrogant, and domineering queen bee. The role required not only acting skills but also a strong presence. Amanda, being only 18, less than five feet three, and lacking experience, probably couldn't pull it off.

"Amanda, the role of Karen, the third lead, is also a great part. Maybe you should consider auditioning for that."

He subtly suggested.

Amanda frowned, "Anna also said I'd be better for the third lead, but I still want to try for Regina."

"Give it a shot. You're really pretty and photogenic. No matter which role you audition for, I'm sure the casting director will give you an important part."

"Thanks, Ryan!" Amanda smiled happily, then looked up at him. "Ryan, you used to be short and chubby, but now you're tall and cool, like a big star!"

Luca smiled slightly. "Haven't you heard? Every fat kid is a hidden gem."

"Hidden gem?"

Amanda burst into laughter.

"Ugh, bitch."

"They're totally gonna hook up tonight."

Jealous whispers came from the crowd around them.

Neither of them paid any attention, continuing their conversation like long-lost friends.

"Quiet down!" 

A bald man with a staff badge stood in the middle of the crowd, shouting, "The audition is about to begin. Male actors on the left, female actors on the right. We'll call your name, so line up quickly!"

Boom! The room came alive as the auditioning actors got moving.

"Amanda, go get in line. We'll talk later."

Luca patted her on the shoulder.

"Okay, Ryan, see you later!"

"See you!"

Luca smiled as he headed into the men's line.

"Amanda, stop daydreaming. He's not Ryan!"

After Luca walked off, Amanda's friends came up to her.

"What?" Amanda looked puzzled.

"Look at this." One girl held up a magazine and pointed to a picture. "His name is Luca Kelly, Britney Spears' rumored boyfriend. The magazine says he's Mr. Big."

"I thought he looked familiar. I compared him to the magazine, and it's exactly the same."

Amanda looked at the magazine. It was an article about Luca and Britney's rumored relationship, with three pictures of Luca on the runway. Tall, handsome, with long legs, a great butt, sharp features, and perfect lips—it was an exact match.

"That liar!!"

Amanda angrily threw the magazine to the ground and stormed off.

"Amanda, calm down!"

"Amanda, the audition is about to start, and it's almost your turn."

Her three friends quickly grabbed her.

"No! Let me go! I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."

Amanda, her face flushed, shouted about fighting, but being too small, she was no match for her friends and was dragged into the crowd like a giant rag doll.

"Luca, you big liar!"

Staring at the tall, handsome figure in the crowd, Amanda shouted loudly.

The handsome guy in the crowd raised his hand and flashed an "OK" gesture before heading into the audition room with the staff.

"Hmph, big liar, just wait. I'll see you on set!"

Amanda clenched her fists. To get back at him, she was determined to land an important role.

"Amanda, you can do it!"