Chapter 986: Chapter 986: A Foreign Away Game

Chapter 986: A Foreign Away Game

"Buzz buzz buzz!"

"Rumble rumble rumble!"

"Clatter clatter clatter!"

The commotion from behind the red carpet came like a wave, one after another. Even the hot air began to ripple and distort. In a trance, it seemed as if the red carpet beneath his feet had turned into a burning fire. This caused Leonardo DiCaprio to stop in his tracks and instinctively turn around, casting a curious gaze.

In all of Hollywood, there were only a handful of top superstars who could cause such a level of commotion among reporters and the audience, and there were even fewer among the guests who arrived tonight. Leonardo could be counted as one, but even he didn’t receive this level of cheers and commotion when he first walked onto the red carpet. Now, it felt as if the entire island of Manhattan had been turned upside down.

He turned around and saw Lu Ke.

Although the red carpet was bustling with people, Lu Ke’s height and build still made him stand out like a crane among chickens.

His first reaction was a slight愣 stun, as the answer was completely unexpected. He never thought that the person causing such a stir would be Lu Ke. But after thinking about it, the smile on Leonardo’s face grew wider. He stopped his steps toward the armory and waited quietly for Lu Ke’s arrival.

Tonight, Lu Ke looked a little awkward. He seemed uncomfortable with the attention coming from all directions, so his walking posture was a little stiff. This was a far cry from the formidable number 14 player who controlled the entire field.

In the entire world of fame and fortune, such a pure existence was now almost extinct.

"Pure." When this adjective appeared in his mind, Leonardo couldn’t help but laugh happily. Especially when Lu Ke walked down the red carpet at a frantic pace and appeared in front of him, his smile became even more hearty. It was obvious at a glance that this was a rookie in the entertainment industry, and he didn’t even try to hide it.

Leonardo couldn’t help but make fun of Lu Ke. In his excitement, he actually forgot that this guy’s verbal skills were always unyielding. Maybe he wasn’t used to tonight’s occasion, but even with only 50% of his power, he might not have the upper hand.

Looking at Lu Ke’s deadpan, joking expression, Leonardo rubbed his nose and pretended not to hear the suggestion. He changed the subject on his own. "I thought your regular season was not over yet and that training and games were the most important thing. How did you end up here?"

"Phew, I’m not so sure myself. Honestly, I still feel a little bit like Alice in Wonderland." Lu Ke also spread his hands and looked back at the surging crowd around him. He subconsciously started to complain. "I feel like they don’t even know who I am. They just saw the reporters getting excited, so they followed suit."

As if they had heard Lu Ke’s words, some audience members next to them cheered excitedly. "Bambi! Great win today!"

Was this... a public slap in the face?

Leonardo looked at Lu Ke’s blinking, embarrassed expression, held back his laughter, but couldn’t hold it back anymore. He quickly turned his head to hide his smile.

Luckily, the television broadcast team came up next, which prevented Lu Ke from noticing Leonardo’s expression. He just noticed that a large team was approaching quickly.

A cameraman with a camera on his shoulder, a beautiful female host with a microphone, and two assistants behind them who were in charge of maintaining order. They made sure the cameraman wouldn’t trip or collide with anyone. The team of four moved like a small tank.

For Lu Ke, it was like a cloud was approaching. This meant... a storm was coming.

At the end of every year, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was a major annual event that attracted countless eyes in and out of the entertainment industry. In 1999, the organizers started a live online broadcast. In 2002, after officially signing a broadcast agreement with CBS, one of the three major public television networks, it became a viewing ace in the industry.

In the past three years, this fashion show had attracted more than 15 million viewers, and the ratings among the main demographic of 18 to 49-year-olds had consistently exceeded 10. It was one of the ace viewing programs on television. Besides NFL sports events, this annual event could be called an authentic ratings bomb.

This year was no exception. CBS sent a live broadcast team to truly record the behind-the-scenes of the entire show and then officially air it one or two weeks later.

Now, they were in the middle of recording.

Lu Ke naturally assumed that they were here to interview Leonardo, so he took the initiative to nod at Leonardo and prepared to leave. But unexpectedly, Leonardo followed him in the direction he was moving with two quick steps, and the camera caught Lu Ke.

Leonardo saw Lu Ke’s shocked and disbelief, but he pretended not to see it. He adjusted his steps and stood shoulder to shoulder with Lu Ke on his right side, sketching a calm and composed smile for the camera. At the same time, he said to Lu Ke in a low voice, "Smile for the camera."

"I don’t know you," Lu Ke replied in a low voice. He turned his head, faced the camera, showed a smile, and then nodded slightly in apology, as if he were an insignificant passerby who had accidentally entered the frame and was about to turn around and leave. Leonardo had dug a pit, and he was not going to jump into it himself.

But at this moment, the host spoke up to break the situation. "Lu Ke, welcome to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. This should be your first time attending this event. How do you feel?"

"..." Lu Ke stopped in his tracks. Judging from the host’s gaze, Leonardo’s gaze, and the direction of the camera lens, he hadn’t misheard. The question was directed at him. "I don’t belong here...?" Lu Ke’s voice rose slightly at the end, asking a rhetorical question with a sense of humorous contrast.

The host laughed brightly. "Strictly speaking, none of us belong here. The models who can stand on that runway don’t get the chance easily." Then, she continued to ask, "If I’m not mistaken, before the show started tonight, I just read a CBS sports news report that you defeated the New England Patriots in a road game with a last-minute comeback. How does that feel?"

"Phew, even though I don’t want to go through such a thrilling moment again, honestly, compared to now, I’d still rather go back to Gillette Stadium and relive that moment. That’s what I’m good at. Standing here, I feel like I’m not wearing any clothes. It feels very strange." Lu Ke said honestly.

He was being serious, but everyone thought he was joking and laughed a lot. Lu Ke said that he was helpless.

"This morning you were in Foxboro, and tonight you’re in New York. It’s the middle of the regular season, but you’re here at tonight’s fashion show. What reason brought you here?" The host asked another question.

Now, Lu Ke had finally calmed down. Compared to the red carpet, the interview segment was still a familiar part for him. His tone also became a little more relaxed. "I guess such a grand event always needs more diverse elements. There are singers, actors, and models. Of course, why not add an athlete? So, here I am. Obviously, I’m not the main character tonight."

As he spoke, he gestured to Leonardo, subtly shifting the attention over.

As expected, the host then started to interview Leonardo. It was clear that Leonardo was a regular at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. He could even be considered a semi-regular guest, and the questions and answers were naturally much easier.

In the end, before the interview ended, the host threw the question back to Lu Ke. "Last week, you were voted the sexiest football player in the US in a survey. Tonight, you’re at the sexiest fashion show in the US. Does this mean that you might appear more in front of Hollywood cameras in the future?"

"Oh!" Lu Ke frowned, with a look of difficulty on his face. "Let’s take it one step at a time. I’m already starting to miss my training field. Who knows what the future holds? Just like a year ago, you didn’t even know me. Let’s slow down and not look at the future so quickly."

Amidst the laughter, the interview came to an end.

The television interview team left, and Lu Ke and Leonardo looked at each other again. After a pause, Leonardo said meaningfully, "She deliberately brought up this morning’s game, didn’t she?"

Lu Ke didn’t react at first. After thinking about it, he finally understood. Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, Brady’s wife Gisele Bündchen, and then Leonardo DiCaprio in front of him. It was a circle.

Lu Ke laughed. "Even though you don’t care anymore, the fact is, he’s the only quarterback you know, right?"

Leonardo shook his head seriously. "No, I know more than one quarterback now."

After saying that, Leonardo turned around and took a step forward. Lu Ke stood there, nodding slightly, and couldn’t help but smile. Then he quickly caught up and walked side by side with Leonardo again. "What do you say? Do you mind being a tour guide tonight? I’m a little unfamiliar with this kind of setting."

"Just relax and enjoy it. There’s no secret," Leonardo said simply, looking at ease. "But, if we run into any other friends later, I can introduce you to them. Candlestick Park is your home field, and this is my home field. I’m a hospitable host. So, is there a Hollywood actor you want to meet?"

"You’re not expecting me to say your name right now, are you?"

"...Can we still be good friends?"

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