Chapter 279: Luca Still Soaking in the Pit

"Figure it out myself? How do I do that?"

Back home, Luca thought for a moment and then went to the city library to find some books, mainly on acting, psychology, and actor biographies.

After reading for three days, he made some small progress.

He also watched a few thriller films with similar plots, such as *Buried*, *Drishyam*, and *The Buried Child*.

He watched them several times, feeling like he had a faint understanding of what to do.

But he still couldn't quite break through the barrier.

"Sigh~ I guess I'll have to use the dumbest method."

Luca called to have a wooden box made, grabbed some tools from the tool shed—shovel, crowbar, bucket—and headed to the backyard to start digging a hole.

"Luca, what are you doing?" 

Massio squatted nearby, munching on a pear while asking.

"Digging a hole!" 

Luca said as he swung the pickaxe, breaking up a chunk of dirt.

"Why are you digging a hole?"

"I'm going to bury myself alive."

"Uh~" 

Massio looked at him like he was crazy, pausing for a moment. "Did you join a cult or something?"

"What?"

"A cult!" 

Massio gestured animatedly. "I heard there's a kind of cult that worships the power of the Grim Reaper. When followers get seriously ill, instead of going to the hospital, they bury themselves alive, offering their lives to the Grim Reaper. 

Eighteen years later, when someone digs them up, they turn into young, healthy children. I've heard many people believe this and bury themselves before they die. 

Are you planning to do that? But you don't seem sick—well, except maybe mentally—you seem pretty normal. So why are you burying yourself alive?"

Luca smirked, "I'm practicing acting. The other methods aren't working well, so I want to experience it firsthand. This is the experiential method in acting theory. Understand?"

"Nope!"

Massio squatted at the edge of the pit and said, "I just think you're out of your mind.

You're an international movie star, the world's top male model, with a supermodel girlfriend and rumors about several celebrity girlfriends. The papers say you earned millions of dollars last year. 

Your life is amazing—so many people envy you, but instead of enjoying it, you keep doing this weird stuff. You really aren't right in the head."

"Stop talking nonsense. This is my work, trying to do better. Never mind, I'm not explaining it."

Luca waved his hand and tossed a shovel to him. "Help me shovel. The ground here is too hard; I'm digging too slowly on my own."

"Fine!"

Working together, they quickly dug a hole more than three feet deep.

After a while, the wooden box arrived—an improvised box made from plywood, about two meters long and three feet wide.

"Why does this look like a coffin?" 

Massio knocked on the box. "Luca, are you really going to lie in here? Be careful if Kate finds out—she'll kill you."

Luca frowned, "It's noon now, Kate will probably be back around five. We've got five hours.

Once I'm inside, cover me with dirt, and at four in the afternoon, come and wake me up. 

Remember, don't be too early or too late. Too early won't have the effect, and too late—you know what'll happen."

"Got it, got it. But aren't you afraid you'll suffocate once the dirt's on?"

"No worries, there's a vent hole here!"

Luca stripped down to a tank top and shorts, climbed into the wooden box.

"Massio, you can cover me now."

"OK!"

Once Luca pulled the lid closed, Massio picked up a shovel and began filling the hole with dirt.

"Luca, can you breathe?" 

After covering the pit, he called out loudly.

"No... problem!" 

The response was muffled.

"Alright, take care, see you later!" 

Massio dusted off his hands, grabbed a bucket of beer, and sat in the gazebo, sipping and playing with the parrot while taking a nap.

He woke up, only to find it was just after 1 PM and he was a bit bored.

Ring~ ring~

His phone rang.

It was Marcel.

"Hey, Marcel, what's up? Drinking? Nah, I have important stuff today, you guys go ahead."

Massio smirked a bit, both disdainful and proud.

Before Luca and Kate became famous, those people looked down on him, a poor man. Marcel and his crowd? He couldn't even dream of joining them.

But ever since Luca made it big, and people saw him frequenting the Kelly estate, sometimes even hanging out with Luca, they started welcoming and respecting him.

Massio wasn't dumb; he knew it was Luca they valued.

Luca was a superstar, a billionaire. Building a good relationship with him could lead to big money.

But Luca lived a quiet life.

Aside from formal events, he avoided socializing, no longer even visiting his once-favorite nightclubs.

Those people had no chance to approach Luca, so they turned to Massio, hoping he'd act as a go-between.

"Marcel, I really have something to do. What? Caroline is coming to dance?!"

Massio stood up in surprise and paced around the room, checking the time—it was just after 1 PM. He figured he could make it in time.

"Alright, I'll come over in a bit. Luca?" 

Massio glanced at the backyard. "He definitely won't have time. He's working with the famous director Babank, you know how busy he is right now. 

Okay, after the movie's done, I'll let you know."

He hung up, walked around the yard once, then drove to the Degal Dance Hall.

The dance hall was lively, with people singing and dancing, and a group drinking in the booths near the stage.

"Hey~ Massio!" 

A middle-aged man with a gold chain called out.

"Hey~ Marcel, is Caroline here yet?"

Massio looked at the stage, where only a few regular dancers were performing.

"Haha, I knew you were eyeing Caroline. She's got another gig first, you'll have to wait a bit longer," Marcel laughed.

"Really?" 

Massio felt a bit disappointed—he was definitely interested in Caroline.

"Massio, it's the weekend. Luca's still busy?" 

"Yeah, he's practicing his acting at home. He even asked me to help earlier."

Massio shrugged and downed a glass of beer.

"Luca's practicing his acting, and what exactly are you helping with? Can you act?" 

Someone teased.

"Of course, I've even done some background acting!" 

Massio replied.

"Hahaha, I remember you played a corpse."

"Playing a corpse is still acting, okay?"

"Alright, alright, Massio, you're an actor too. But why aren't you in Luca's new movie?"

Massio shook his head. "Luca said this film only has him as the actor. Maybe next time."

"Uh~ Just one actor?" 

Everyone in the booth was stunned.

"How can one person act out a movie alone?"

No one believed it.

Massio shrugged, "I don't know, maybe it's a ghost movie with lots of special effects."

People nodded as if they understood.

"Massio, you said you'd invite the big star to hang out last year. It's been almost two months—when's he coming?"

"Yeah, Massio, I want an autograph from the star!"

"Massio, can you give us an update? Just say something!"

A few people asked.

Massio shook his head, "Luca doesn't like partying anymore. No fooling around, no drugs, no heavy drinking. He works out every day, reads, acts—barely leaves the house. If he doesn't want to come, I can't force him."

"How is that possible? He used to be quite the playboy."

"Yeah, didn't he have a drug habit? Did he really quit everything?"

"No way, Massio. He's probably sneaking around—you just don't know."

"Yeah, big stars are always image-conscious."

Everyone chattered.

"Believe it or not!"

Massio shrugged, sipping his beer as he watched the performance on stage.

"Alright, everyone, let's break it up!" 

Marcel waved his hand, then pulled Massio aside. "You mentioned before that Luca likes girls who read, so I found three great ones from some universities. You should ask Luca if he's interested."

"You really went and found some?" 

Massio was surprised—he had just mentioned it casually, but Marcel had taken it seriously. What a persistent guy.

"Yeah, it took me a lot of effort, but I found three smart, good-looking girls who love to read. Luca will definitely like them."

Marcel smiled.

Massio forced a smile, not really believing it. 

Luca's girlfriend was the supermodel Lima, plus there were rumors about other celebrity girlfriends—would he even be interested in anyone else?

"Alright, I'll ask."

"Haha, great!"

Marcel happily patted his shoulder. Luca was wealthy and successful, and plenty of people wanted to meet him, but the opportunity hadn't come. If Marcel could be the first to connect with him, the benefits would be huge.

"Caroline's here!"

Someone shouted.

Macio immediately stood up.

Marcel laughed and said, "Macio, go ahead, Carolyn's here to ask you to dance."

"Really?"

Macio excitedly walked over, smiling as he invited her to dance.

The girl happily accepted.

The two started dancing and drinking in the ballroom, becoming an enviable pair.

After who knows how long, the sky gradually darkened, and someone walked into the ballroom, drenched.

"Kura, did you fall into the sea? Why are you soaking wet?"

Macio leaned on the couch, holding half a bottle of whiskey, and asked with a smile.

"It's raining, didn't you know?"

The newcomer said.

"Is it raining?"

Macio glanced at the window. Outside, it was pouring, the streets were drenched and flooded, and no one knew how long it had been raining. A crack of thunder lit up the dim street.

Is it already dark?

Suddenly, he froze, feeling like he had forgotten something.

That's right!

Luca!

Damn it, Luca's still lying in the pit.

With such heavy rain outside, what if the air hole on the wooden crate gets blocked?

Swoosh~

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and the alcohol instantly sobered up. He braced himself on the couch and ran outside.

"Macio, where are you going?"

"Macio, are you heading home to get the laundry?"

"It's too late; it's been raining for over half an hour. The clothes are already soaked. Don't bother going back."

People around him shouted.

It's been raining for over half an hour?

Macio pulled out his phone and checked. His heart sank. It was 5:20 PM.

Damn it!

Damn it!

Drinking always causes trouble!

He ran outside while dialing his phone.

"Kate, are you home? Hurry to the backyard and dig up Luca. He's still soaking in the pit!"

(End of the chapter)