Model to Holywood

Around 10 a.m., Luca drove to the Manhattan School of Performing Arts.

After acting in a scene with Tom Cruise last time, Luca felt a bit confused and wanted to talk with his acting teacher, Ross.

Yesterday, he made an appointment over the phone, and upon arriving at the campus, he headed straight to the school's small theater.

Today, Ross was rehearsing the opera *Chicago* in the small theater.

The story is about two female dancers, Roxie and Velma, who, after being imprisoned for murder, manage to escape the death penalty and become celebrities with the help of a lawyer. It's absurd and highly satirical.

This musical is a classic, the longest-running revival musical in global history.

There weren't many people in the small theater. Onstage were five students and two instructors, while only a couple sat in the audience.

Mr. Ross, with his bushy beard, stood at the edge of the stage, shouting at a female student:

"Megan, you're playing Roxie Hart, an actress who was deceived by her lover and imprisoned for murder. To escape punishment, you must use every means to seduce Billy Flynn, the lawyer who can help you avoid conviction.

At this moment, you should be more wild, more alluring, more sensual. Look at your costume—it's not for warmth, it's to please men."

Luca smiled slightly, took off his hat, and sat in the front row, quietly watching the students perform.

The two lead actresses and three backup dancers were dressed in short black lace skirts, holding canes, and fully stretching out their long legs and flaunting their fiery figures.

They moved from playful teasing to seductive wildness—the scene was highly impactful.

The girl named Megan looked like Hollywood's famous bombshell Megan Fox. Unexpectedly, she was a fellow student.

"That's not right, this won't do!"

Ross suddenly shouted, "Megan, Minnie, you need to remember your roles—you're two prisoners who use their beauty to seduce men. Your bodies are your greatest tools, and you must learn to use them.

How do you use them?

Like streetwalkers use theirs.

Have you noticed them?

Whenever a man passes by, their eyes are unashamed—money in the left eye, sex in the right. I need you to be just like them."

"F***, damn Ross, I'm not going to play a slut!"

Suddenly, Megan angrily threw down her cane and stormed off the stage.

"Hey, Megan, we're in class. I'm talking about your inspiration," Ross called out, rubbing his forehead helplessly.

"F***, Ross, why do the other students get to rehearse *Hamlet* or *King Lear*, but we have to practice this kind of musical?

Oh, I get it now! It's because we're pretty, so you make us rehearse these raunchy scenes. Damn you, Ross! I'm going to complain to the school board about your sexual harassment!"

Megan fumed.

"Megan, this is art, not sleaze."

Ross retorted angrily. "The boys rehearse *Hamlet* because they're male students. You're female students, and *Chicago* is the best fit for you."

"Bullshit! There are plenty of female musicals. Why not *Wicked* or *Hairspray*? Why not *Rent*?"

"Because you're beautiful and have great figures. That's why I chose this show. The female leads in those other shows are average-looking or even ugly—think about it."

"Really?"

Megan's tone softened a bit.

"Yes!"

Ross exhaled in relief and suddenly noticed Luca in the audience. His eyes lit up, and he smiled. "Hey, Luca! You're here!"

"Good morning, Mr. Ross."

"Let me introduce everyone."

Ross loudly pointed to Luca. "This is Luca Kelly. Does anyone know Luca?"

"Luca? Big Luca?"

"Is he Britney's rumored boyfriend, Luca?"

"I know him! I applied to this school because of him and Ms. Aniston!"

Everyone in the room turned to look at Luca. He was tall and muscular, his features handsome, and his face was like a finely sculpted work of art, exuding a captivating charm.

The girls eagerly checked him out, squinting flirtatiously as their interest piqued.

"Yes, yes, he's the one who gave his all for art," Ross chuckled softly. "Luca, I've heard your acting has improved a lot. Would you like to come up and perform?"

Luca felt a bit speechless. He had come to chat with Ross, and now he was being used as a prop.

"Mr. Ross, what should I perform?"

Luca stepped onto the stage and asked.

"Hmm, how about you play Roxie?" Ross handed him the cane with a smile.

"Me, play Roxie?"

Luca had rehearsed *Chicago* before, but his role was the lawyer Billy Flynn. Now they wanted him to play a seductive woman?

"You can't do it?"

Ross frowned. "Don't tell me you're shy!"

"Of course not. Let's do it!"

Luca shrugged. His intimate scenes had been viewed by billions, so he had nothing to be shy about.

"Music!"

Ross snapped his fingers, and the music from *Chicago*'s prison dance scene blared through the theater.

Luca and another female student portrayed two flamboyant lead characters.

They twirled their canes, moving their bodies to the rhythm, striking seductive poses, as if their wild dance moves were a protest against the times—a declaration of "entertainment to the point of death."

"See that? See that?"

Ross called out to the students nearby. "Look at Luca's performance. That's what sexy is. He's wearing workout clothes but is still sexier and more eye-catching than Minnie in her short skirt. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

The three boys and the girl who had been arguing with him asked curiously.

"Because he's completely let go of his ego. He's not Luca right now; he's the character, Roxie.

Even though his moves aren't perfect, he's using his brain to control his body, doing everything he can to show off the character's allure.

This is what it means to break through yourself to portray a character, whereas Minnie hasn't fully let go yet."

Ross smiled as he critiqued.

"But it's kind of weird—a guy being so flirty, even more than the girls. Look at his eyes—they're just like a woman's. It gives me chills," Megan crossed her arms over her chest.

Ross shook his head. "Megan, acting is a visual art. If watching a performance gives you chills, it means it's stimulating you, and that means it's a success."

"Is that true?"

"Of course! If a performance leaves you with no reaction at all, can it be considered brilliant?"

Megan furrowed her brow and focused on the stage.

Onstage, Luca continued performing with enthusiasm. His movements were provocatively sexy, increasingly making the audience feel a bit uncomfortable—his acting was surprisingly good.

The scene was short, lasting only five minutes, and as the music gradually faded, the performance ended.

*Applause!*

Mr. Ross clapped as he walked onto the stage.

"Not bad, Luca! Your acting has improved a lot."

"Thank you, Mr. Ross, it's all thanks to your guidance," Luca said with a smile.

"Haha, yes, I wholeheartedly agree," Ross laughed happily.

"Luca, wait a moment. We'll talk about your questions in a bit."

"OK!"