Chapter 988: Social Events

"If you ever get the chance, you have to come to my concert next time! Don’t worry, I’ll schedule it during the offseason, I promise! Just let me know in advance, and I’ll welcome you with open arms."

Adam Levine, the lead singer of Maroon 5, gave Lu Ke a friendly hug. After making a repeated agreement, he turned and left, walking toward his seat. This marked the end of this round of social pleasantries. Lu Ke finally had a chance to sit down.

The bystander, Leonardo, sitting next to him, greeted Lu Ke’s arrival with a smile. "The first time is always like this. You’ll get used to it gradually."

He could see a hint of fatigue in Lu Ke’s eyes. Leonardo couldn’t help but think back to himself fifteen years ago.

After becoming an overnight sensation with "Titanic," he also went through a similar process. He was instantly hailed as a star, as if he were at the center of the universe. But he gradually lost himself in the limelight. The attention and focus became an overwhelming pressure that almost suffocated him. So, he chose to escape and completely left Hollywood for two years.

The current Lu Ke seemed to be his past self. He had undoubtedly become the biggest star at tonight’s fashion show. Almost everyone wanted to get to know Lu Ke. From the moment he entered the venue until now, there had been a constant stream of people coming up to greet him. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

This was a double test of physical and mental energy for anyone. Socializing was definitely not as easy as it sounded.

"You don’t have to take Taylor Swift and Megan Fox’s contact information too seriously. They’re not interested in you; they’re interested in the quarterback who’s at a fashion show. If you don’t want to become a target for paparazzi and a headline on supermarket tabloids, it’s best to keep your distance. As for Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani’s concert invitations..."

Leonardo hesitated but finally offered a kind reminder. Then he saw Lu Ke show a friendly smile and took over the conversation. "They’re just concert invitations."

Leonardo couldn’t help but chuckle.

Clearly, the glitz and glamour and the overwhelming praise tonight hadn’t made Lu Ke lose his mind. He still had a clear head, which was a good thing. But thinking about it, the fact that Lu Ke could stay focused on the field amidst constant praise from the media and remain undefeated this season said a lot.

Leonardo also nodded in agreement and didn’t say anything more.

At this moment, a polite voice came from the other side. "Excuse me, is this seat still available?"

Lu Ke instinctively turned his head and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw two people, a man and a woman, standing in front of him with friendly and kind smiles.

Although Lu Ke was the social darling tonight, everyone kept coming and going, and a silent understanding seemed to have formed. No one had sat next to him yet. With Leonardo on his other side, the seat to Lu Ke’s right had subtly become a throne. Everyone wanted to sit there, but no one dared to do so easily.

Until now.

"Of course. Please, have a seat!" Lu Ke politely stood up and welcomed them. He nodded at the two people and then sat back down.

The two looked like a couple. The woman sat next to Lu Ke, and the man sat to her right.

After a short pause, the woman turned her head, and Lu Ke also turned his head. Their eyes met in aagreement and silent exchange. But neither of them spoke. They both seemed to have something to say but stopped. After noticing each other’s gaze, the words that were about to come out were swallowed back down.

Both of them were looking at each other. There was a little bit of unfamiliarity, a little bit of exploration, a little bit of curiosity, a little bit of doubt, and a little bit of testing. After only a brief moment of contact, they couldn’t help but feel awkward and looked away.

But then, they both looked back at each other again. A playful smile appeared in the depths of their eyes, which contained so many meanings. Finally, they both chuckled in disbelief.

In the end, it was Lu Ke who spoke first. "Did we meet somewhere before?"

The woman also nodded repeatedly. A similar look appeared in her eyes, and she said meaningfully, "Perhaps. Maybe I did meet you somewhere before. Perhaps!" Then, the woman extended her right hand. "Emma Stone. This is my boyfriend, Andrew Garfield."

"Lu Ke." Lu Ke also introduced himself. He shook hands with Emma and Andrew and nodded in acknowledgment. That was a greeting.

Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield, who became a couple after co-starring in "The Amazing Spider-Man," were now one of the most-watched young couples in Hollywood. Both actors’ careers were on the rise. Andrew became widely known for his role in "The Social Network," while Emma made her debut in "Easy A" and "The Help."

After looking away, Leonardo didn’t hide his sarcastic intent. He gave Lu Ke a playful look. "Is that line a bit outdated? You didn’t learn it from a 1980s soap opera, did you?"

Did we meet somewhere before? This could be considered the most vulgar pickup line, which was why Leonardo made that comment.

Lu Ke didn’t argue. He showed a big smile. "I learned it from ’Growing Pains.’" This classic American TV show, which started airing in 1990, happened to be Leonardo’s breakthrough work. At the age of 16, Leonardo found a role in this show and started his acting career.

It was originally Leonardo teasing Lu Ke, but he didn’t expect to be so strongly countered. He rolled his eyes and said decisively, "We are no longer friends."

Lu Ke didn’t continue to joke because the show was about to start, and the lights in the venue were slowly dimming.

By the way, the line Lu Ke used was not a pickup line; he was being sincere.

In the summer of 2004, after finishing his eighth-grade courses, he went to the Pacific Crest Trail for a hiking trip. During that trip, he unexpectedly met two companions, one with a dream of becoming a model and the other with a dream of becoming an actress. The three young, naive kids formed a friendship.

The former was Candice Swanepoel, and the latter was Emma Stone.

Unfortunately, they didn’t exchange contact information. It was just a chance encounter. A year later, Lu Ke and Candice unexpectedly reunited. And eight years later, Lu Ke and Emma reunited again at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, while Candice was about to go on stage for tonight’s performance. Fate is indeed a very interesting thing, isn’t it?

...

The annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show officially began.

He had heard before that the front-row seats at high-end fashion shows were highly coveted because they symbolized popularity and exposure. Only the most-watched top superstars could sit there. Although he had never personally experienced it, he had heard about it from time to time.

That was the truth. But there was a slight difference. There were no specific seat numbers here, but different seating areas. After entering the show, each guest could sit anywhere they wanted within the corresponding area based on the level of their invitation, freely choosing the best viewing angle or, in other words, the best angle for reporters to take photos of them.

For example, Lu Ke’s invitation was for "Front Row, Section D," which was on the right side of the runway, a short distance from the "T" shaped corner. This could be considered a golden area, suitable for reporters to take pictures and for watching the show. It was a true VIP seat.

When Adriana Lima made her dazzling debut, the flashes started to flicker like a sky full of stars. Even the lights in the venue were completely outshone. Her vibrant and passionate steps showcased her graceful curves and also matched the rhythm of the live background music, making every audience member feel immersed in the moment.

Then, Lu Ke saw Adriana turn around, facing him with her back. She playfully patted her right butt with her right hand, then turned around, winked at Lu Ke, threw him a seductive look, and even blew a kiss before continuing her lively walk.

Lu Ke, sitting in the audience, was confused. He just assumed that this must be part of the performance.

Adriana walked to the end of the runway and turned around to make her way back. At the same time, the second Victoria’s Secret Angel, Candice Swanepoel, walked out.

The first theme was "Circus." Candice wore a silver bra, a pair of red ankle boots, and a red sequined beret. Behind her was a pair of angel wings made of silver feathers, and she held a light silver umbrella in her hand. She appeared on the runway with a graceful walk.

A sweet smile spread across her lips. Her bright eyes sparkled in the lights. She turned around, and her eyes landed on Lu Ke. Cutting through the light and shadow, their eyes met. He saw her bite her bottom lip, wink at him, and then stick out the tip of her pink tongue, making a small, mischievous face. Her playful and spiritual side was brazenly challenging him.

Lu Ke proactively raised his hands and applauded Candice as a sign of respect. After experiencing it himself, he realized how difficult a model’s job was. He then mouthed a simple word, "Admire!"

Candice caught Lu Ke’s mouth shape and couldn’t help but chuckle happily. She looked back at Lu Ke with a glance and then continued to walk with big strides, confident and beautiful. "A single glance of a beautiful woman, and all the ladies in the court lose their beauty." This phrase could be used to describe this moment. It was stunning and admirable.

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