“Let’s not talk about that, Nicole Carter. I know what you’re most worried about, so if I encounter setbacks and failures, will you still offer me a warm embrace like you do now?”

“Of course.”

“Do you think setbacks or blows would make someone like me lose all hope?”

“No.”

“Then do you think that after I achieve something, I’ll become reckless, out of control, partying all night, ignoring you? Or that I’ll turn into a degenerate boy who drinks and does drugs?”

“No! I’ve never thought that.” Nicole Carter’s face darkened without her realizing it. “Oh God. Ryan, where did you learn all this nonsense? Don’t tell me it was at school.”

“Oh, come on, Nicole Carter.” Ryan waved his hand, realizing he’d been showing off a bit too much. “It’s the modern age—TV, newspapers, magazines are full of this stuff. Don’t forget, when we were in London, the Sun you subscribed to was almost all gossip and scandals.”

It had to be said, Ryan was quite good at turning the tables. That last remark left Nicole Carter at a loss for words.

“All right, Nicole Carter, it’s really not a big deal.” Seeing Nicole Carter’s face grow darker, Ryan quickly tried to comfort her.

“Ryan, why do I feel like I’m not your older sister, but you’re more like my older brother?” Nicole Kidman looked up in confusion.

Isn’t that the truth? With both my past and present lives combined, I’m more than qualified to be your big brother. Ryan muttered to himself, then quickly changed the subject. “So, Nicole Carter, do you agree to let me play this role? The mother and child in the script mean something truly special to me.”

To be more persuasive, Ryan had to start making things up again. And this was exactly what Nicole Carter was most susceptible to—whenever she thought of the script, of the strong, independent mother and the lonely, helpless boy, she couldn’t help but be moved.

Maybe things won’t be as bad as I imagined. Using a film like this to commemorate the deep bond between myself and Ryan should be a wise choice.

“All right, Ryan, I agree, but…” Before she could finish, the excited guy leapt across and threw himself into Nicole Carter’s arms, planting a big kiss on her fair, cool face. “I knew it, I knew it, Nicole Carter, you’re the best to me.”

Nicole Kidman helplessly pulled Ryan into her arms, but still finished her warning, “Ryan, remember what you just said—if you ever turn into a bad guy, I absolutely won’t let you off.”

“Of course, of course.” Ryan nodded eagerly, patting his chest in assurance. “The future Ryan Jenkins will definitely be a model youth!”

And so, the matter of the two of them starring together in “The Sixth Sense” was settled. As for the details, those would be handled by Mrs. Pat Goldsley and the lawyers in negotiations with Miramax. All they had to do was wait.

Chapter 10: Pay

It was a day in early August. After taking the phone from Nicole Carter, Ryan scratched his head. He really couldn’t figure out what that fat guy wanted with him. Was Miramax really that idle, or had Harvey Weinstein lost his mind and wanted to chat about the future with a kid like him?

“Hello, Harvey Carter.” Miramax wasn’t as confident as it would be in later years. The brothers were shrewd, but they still kept close to people who could create value for them. “Yes, Pat is already here, and she’s brought the contract. The terms? Of course I’m satisfied, no problem at all.”

“What? No, no, no, Harvey Carter, I don’t want to interfere with your decision. It’s true I grew up in Los Angeles, but isn’t Philadelphia one of the oldest cities in North American history? Don’t you think setting the film’s location in Philadelphia would be more convincing?”

When Harvey Weinstein said he wanted to move the location to Los Angeles, even though he knew he didn’t have much say, Ryan couldn’t help but object. Fortunately, Harvey Weinstein hadn’t gotten too full of himself yet, and quickly dropped the idea.

“All right, let’s leave it at that. Wait, Harvey Carter, I want to ask—has the director and lead actor been decided yet?” Hearing the name through the receiver, Ryan subconsciously scratched his face. “David Fincher? The one who shot music videos for Madonna Ciccone?”

After getting a definite answer, Ryan hung up the phone. Well! Another Hollywood celebrity’s life had been knocked off course by his butterfly wings.

“Ryan, what does it feel like to star in a script you wrote yourself?” Mrs. Goldsley asked with a smile as she sipped her coffee.

Ryan rolled his eyes dramatically, as if to say, are you an idiot? “Pat, the movie hasn’t even started filming yet. How would I know what it feels like?”

“Ryan, come here.” Nicole Carter spoke up, pointing to the two contracts on the table in front of her. “These are the script contract and your actor contract. I’ve already signed them. The rest is up to you.”

Sitting on the other side, Goldsley explained, “As for the script, the fifty thousand dollars hasn’t changed, but there are a few minor flaws that need to be revised.”