Re:life with Karmic Gacha (Modern Family)-Chapter 366: Ring

[Edward POV]

In the living room, we were playing a game on the console together. My aunt and I sat back as we watched Vanessa play against my mother in Street Fighter.

"Ness, how are you losing?" I asked Vanessa in disbelief.

"SHUT UP! She spammed all the buttons at once! There's no strategy at all!" Vanessa said, agitated.

"There is a strategy! It's called winning!" My mother replied before using her avatar, Cammy, to kick Vanessa's Ryu and win the match.

"NO!!!" Vanessa yelled in despair.

"YESS!" My mother jumped up and raised both hands in celebration.

My aunt suddenly said, "Miranda, it's time for bed."

"What—five more minutes!" My mother tried to persuade my aunt, who she thought was her aunt too.

"That's what you said ten minutes ago," I teased. Miranda glared at me and said, "Why doesn't Ed need to go to bed?"

"Because I'm already an adult!" I said, grabbing the controller from her hand.

My mom gasped and teared up, but my aunt comforted her, saying, "It's fine. You can play the game tomorrow. For now, let's take your medicine and go to bed."

"Hmmm... okay." She nodded obediently before waving goodbye, "Night night, Edward. Night night, Ness."

"Goodnight, Mir," Vanessa said, while I casually waved back. After living with me for a while, she had regained her previous appearance before she left the family.

We ate well in this house, and there wasn't a day when my mother didn't clean her plate.

I turned to Vanessa and said, "Up for a game?"

"For sure! I need to practice to beat her in the match tomorrow," Vanessa said begrudgingly.

After twenty minutes, we weren't playing anymore. My aunt came down and told me that my mom was already asleep. Aunt Camila had been quite stressed for a while; she sat by the pool and drank beer almost every day, which has nothing to do with the stress, she just liked the new beer.

"Where are you going?" Vanessa asked as I left the couch where we had been making out.

"There's not a lot of time until the wedding. I think I'm going to focus on the ring before flying out to New York tomorrow," I replied with a smirk.

Vanessa placed her finger on her lower lip and said, "Will you be making the ring topless, with sweat glistening on your abs as you face the forge fire, your arm muscles bulging as you strike the iron with the hammer?"

Slightly taken aback, I stared at her blankly for a few seconds before asking, "Would you like me to make the ring like that?"

"Yes. Definitely." She nodded excitedly.

I smirked and said, "Too bad. I'm going to be wearing clothes. But you can still see my arm muscles if you'd like."

Vanessa exclaimed in disappointment, "Aww."

"Are you not going to come?" I asked after taking a few steps.

Vanessa jolted up from the couch and ran towards me. "No. I'm going to see!"

We moved to the detached house where there was a forge and all the equipment needed for me to do some metalwork.

"Should I film this and post it online? Hmm, it could be dangerous for Frankie if some obsessive fans decide to target her."

Vanessa agreed, saying, "You better not. But if you want to make something else, maybe you can post that."

I smiled and turned to Vanessa. "Maybe something for you?"

"A—A wedding ring? W—we're still too young—I'm not ready yet. Am I not ready yet?" She whispered the last sentence to herself.

I stared at her blankly again and said, "A normal ring. Not a wedding ring."

"Aww..." She exclaimed in disappointment before smiling. "Okay. It can be my birthday gift."

I grimaced. "Your birthday's in December. And don't say it's going to be your last year's gift because I gave you that Hermes bag."

Vanessa bit her tongue playfully and kissed me on the cheek. "Right. And I love that bag. Although it's not comparable to a ring you make yourself~"

I almost rolled my eyes at her. She had been getting free access to many of my jewelry and ornament sets even before she became my girlfriend, but I guess she had been waiting for me to create something specifically for her.

Vanessa recorded me as I lit the blowtorch and melted some gold in a crucible. Her work was sloppy, so Yuri took over the filming while she sulked on the side.

"Don't look at me like that. You kept breathing so heavily that it felt like I was being filmed by a pervert," I said to her as she glared at me.

Vanessa posted a few images of the creation on her Instagram stories, which were viewed by 100,000 people in just under 15 minutes. She made sure to snap pictures from angles that showcased my prominent bicep muscles, causing a frenzy happening online.

"Uh, why are there a lot of people DM-ing me asking for your number?" Vanessa groaned.

I chuckled at her misery, "You're the one who decided to post it on your story. So they know we're hanging out together now."

"So they're hoping to get your attention through me? Damn, I can't even block them cause then I'll seem rude." Vanessa gritted her teeth slightly.

I just laughed at her misery. In just under two hours, I was almost done with the ring to give Vanessa. It was a rose gold ring with a red ruby placed in the center of a treble clef.

There were 4 thin lines on the ring, and music notes on the lines as it circled around back to the treble clef.

Vanessa didn't realize it at first and was at awe with the beauty of the ring. Yuri recorded the scene where I handed it to Vanessa before she uploaded the video on my Instagram.

"Oh my god ba– Ed, it's so beautiful!" Vanessa squealed in excitement as she placed the ring on her left middle finger. It was specifically made for that position.

Vanessa snapped a picture of the ring and uploaded it to her insta stories too.

"Wait, the music notes– Is it a score? For what song?" Vanessa finally realized it and she looked intently at the ring, trying to figure it out.

"It's the opening score of Sneakernight–"

Before I could finish, Vanessa chased after me with a fierce expression. I predicted it and ran away immediately. After a while, we returned back to the workshop and I finally stopped running away from her.

After a while, she finally figured it out, "It wasn't Sneakernight!" Vanessa grumbled as she watched me create the ring for my dad and Frankie.

I smiled at her and asked playfully, "Did you find out yet which song is it?"

"I just need a piano, then I'll figure it out." She said before rushing out of the room. I mumbled to myself as I watched her walk away, "Or you can just check your comments on social media. I'm sure someone there has already figured it out."

Suddenly, I stopped what I was doing and said, "I haven't bestowed any characteristics on the ring yet. Should I do it?"

There was another problem. How could I take it away from Vanessa since she was already quite attached to it.

...

[General POV]

People in Hollywood love to throw parties. Some do it to facilitate networking, some attend just to drink and do drugs, and some are the entertainment of the party.

At a yacht party thrown by a foreign billionaire, Abed met Margot Robbie in the hallway where they could be alone.

"Look at this camera angle; he definitely knew what he was doing. I'm sure many of his fans will have sleepless nights because of this," Abed said as he watched Edward's jewelry-making video.

There were tens of thousands of comments underneath the video. Edward captioned it, "Training ring before I make the wedding ring for my dad," receiving a lot of support and adoration from his fans.

"Can you stop commenting on that for just a minute?" Margot said, exasperated.

They had met at the party, and Margot knew Abed was one of Edward's close friends and the director of the incredibly popular Netflix show Community.

"When the main character of this fiction is posting a video to thirst trap his community of fans, I will comment on it," Abed said monotonously.

"Main what—?" Margot was in disbelief. It was her first time talking with Abed, and she couldn't follow his train of thought, especially as he broke the fourth wall.

Abed returned to the topic and said seriously, "And to answer your initial question, no, I don't trust that guy. He's like the character in the beginning of a heist movie who seems trustworthy but will stab you in the back in the third act."

"I... actually got that reference," Margot said, stunned at first but beginning to understand the subtlety behind Abed's words.

"And the entire Wolf of Wall Street production—the script is great, but as long as that guy is in it, I recommend you proceed with caution," Abed continued before he started to walk away.

Margot suddenly grabbed his sleeve, prompting him to stop. "I'm not finished."

Abed was taken aback and replied casually, "Oh, sorry. I thought that was my cue to exit the scene."

"Shut—alright." Margot took a deep breath before saying, "We're both suspicious of that guy, so why do you suggest I should still take the role?"

"Oh, the production is under DiCaprio, so you don't have to worry about the movie. However, the investor might try to solicit things from you. I'd recommend you talk with Edward. As long as he's backing you up, people won't try to bother you."

Margot blinked twice before swallowing hard. "I'd like to talk to him, but I don't think I can just pick up the phone and call him."

"Why not? Based on his character, he'll definitely answer your call," Abed said easily.

"I'd—I'd hate to be a bother," Margot said, subtly trying to entice Abed by grabbing his hand and leaning closer.

However, she chose the wrong guy. Abed wasn't even fazed. After being convinced by her close friends, Margot wanted to create her own production company focused on female-led stories.

She already had a name for it: "LuckyChap." She wanted her time in the spotlight to become the lead in a story instead of just receiving offers like the one for Wolf of Wall Street. But that's just how Hollywood works.

She feared that the memories of her wonderful time on the set of SelfMade would be tarnished if she met with Edward again, and he had turned into one of those Hollywood executives who always tried to solicit something from her.

Abed said, "Just call him and stop being a bother. I'm leaving this party now; this isn't my kind of thing. There are too many girls here throwing themselves at me to get a role."

Margot smiled bitterly. Although she found Abed quite honest, she also understood the girls' frustrations when trying to talk to him. There were thousands of girls in Hollywood wanting to be the next star, but there weren't many opportunities, and the job was already hard enough with rampant nepotism in the industry.

Maybe bagging a director or becoming the toy of a well-known actor for a while would help, but even then, the outcome was ambiguous.

Abed added, "No wonder Edward just stayed at home instead of coming to one of these things. Hm, maybe I'll roleplay a bit—"

Margot interrupted his train of thought. She had an idea and wanted to test it out.

"Hey, Abed. Why don't you roleplay as my boyfriend for the night? I'll be the ditzy blonde who needs saving, but I'm secretly a spy—"

Abed responded excitedly, "Who's using me to get to the party to kill her target, but unknowingly finds herself attracted to my kindness and gentleness, which is a refreshing change from the other people you surround yourself with. I like it. It's very 2000s-style romantic comedy." freēnovelkiss.com

Margot smiled in satisfaction, knowing her plan had succeeded. From her short conversation with Abed, she realized he was obsessed with movies.

Margot is smart, but the less she revealed her capabilities, the easier her life would be in Hollywood. Smart people threatened the status quo, and she didn't want to be kicked out of the industry before she could make her mark.

Abed would serve as her defense for the evening. She just needed to wait for the perfect opportunity to leave the party without seeming rude or making Jho Low think she was leaving because of him. Until he was truly confirmed to be a bad guy, she would treat him normally.

But what she underestimated was Abed's commitment to the role.

...

[Edward POV]

I suddenly received a call from Harvey just as I was about to go to sleep. It was 3 in the morning, and I wondered what it was all about.

"Edward, I think you need to know about this," Harvey said urgently.

"What happened?" I asked, glancing at Vanessa, who sat up and stared at me worriedly as my expression grew more solemn.

I rubbed my forehead and let out a heavy sigh as I listened to Harvey's story.

"So Abed punched a sleazebag on a yacht while he was roleplaying, and now the guy wants to sue him? He doesn't want to settle, huh? I'll be right there."

"I can handle this," Harvey replied, her tone slightly condescending. "He'll settle," she said confidently.

"Alright then. I'll leave it to you," I sighed, letting Harvey do what she does best. Then I got a little gossipy. "Why is Abed hanging out with Margot?"

Harvey was also interested. "I know, right? From the looks of it, I don't think he has any feelings for her."

"How about her?"

"Maybe a little," Harvey chuckled. Her answer definitely piqued my interest.

I grinned before saying, "Ask them to catch me before I take my flight tomorrow. I want answers."

"Yeah, I'll make it happen," Harvey replied before ending the call.

I turned to Vanessa, excitement sparkling in my eyes. She looked worried and asked, "What happened? Is it serious?"

"Nah, it's just some sleazebag. Harvey is going to handle it. But what's more important is the story behind it. For some reason, Abed is hanging out with Margot."

Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "Really? How did he bag that?"

"I know, right?!" I was thrilled to be gossiping about it with her.

After a short four-hour sleep, I took the helicopter early in the morning to fly to Lucas Ranch while Vanessa was still sleeping.

"Morning! I brought breakfast," I said as I greeted George Lucas. He smiled and replied, "I already had mine two hours ago."

"Second breakfast then! I made some really great pastries; you have to try them." I handed him a paper bag.

I met with George to discuss the production of the next Star Wars movie. I had been heavily involved in the Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man, all for companies that weren't mine.

So, I decided to start the next Star Wars trilogy with George after we finished filming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

There were a few changes in the Rogue One plot and casting. I chose Katheryn Winnick as Jyn Erso instead of Felicity Jones. While Jones was considered for the role, Winnick was more prepared in her audition.

Moreover, the younger actress Beau Gadsdon looked quite similar to Katheryn Winnick, which made for a more immersive story.

"I've seen your suggestions. I like these guys," George said curtly as he handed me the actors' headshots.

The actors were Anthony Ingruber and Sebastian Stan. They would be replacing Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill as Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, respectively, in the next adaptation of the Thrawn trilogy novel.

I furrowed my brows as I looked at Sebastian Stan's headshot. Even though I thought he was perfect for the role, he had a four-year contract with Marvel left, which would interfere with filming.

Leia's actress would remain the same as in Rogue One—Ingvild Deila—before they applied CGI to her face.

There had been many discussions about recasting the original trilogy members back in my previous world. It was also a hot topic here.

Some said that Solo failed because fans didn't want to see new actors in classic roles; others claimed it was due to Solo being constantly emasculated in his own movie, the Harrison Ford factor, reshoots, and definitely the backlash from The Last Jedi, which divided the fandom.

I was prepared for the backlash from Star Wars fans. Casting a 61-year-old Mark Hamill or a 70-year-old Harrison Ford to play young characters wasn't feasible. It made sense to recast, yet there would be people who would strongly oppose it. Like Sheldon Cooper, for example.

"If you're in the film, I think the backlash will be less severe," George tried to coax me into joining the trilogy after our discussion about production.

I grinned and said, "If I, the billionaire who bought Star Wars, cast myself in it, I'd be losing fans by the millions."

Imagine Jeff Bezos buying The Lord of the Rings and making himself Gandalf or Frodo. It would be the most expensive self-insert fanfiction on the planet.

People would think I was just a fan with too much money, potentially ruining what they love about Star Wars. I wanted to avoid that, maybe getting involved in something less controversial—definitely not the Thrawn trilogy.

I returned home after talking with George using the helicopter. Vanessa was still sleeping when I entered the bedroom, and I woke her gently.

"Ness, wake up. It's time for you to lose the match again," I whispered sweetly in her ear, making her jolt up from the bed, annoyance written all over her face and her hair in disarray.

"By the way, your music video will be released today. You're going to have to do some interviews before we go to New York. Also, in New York."

(One More chap tonight. I will return to the previous upload schedule from now on)