Chapter 6

"Indeed, I recently finished filming 'Born on the Fourth of July,' and director Oliver Stone is confident that I can get an Oscar nomination for Best Actor with this film."

While waiting for the dishes to arrive, Tom Cruise seemed to be having a pleasant conversation with Nicole, especially about the interesting stories and rumors in Hollywood. The way he spoke, as an insider, was quite captivating.

"I wish you success at the Oscars next year," Nicole said with a small compliment.

Success? Success in breathing air? Ryan remained outwardly calm but inwardly sneered. You won't get a little golden man even in twenty years!

"Regarding 'The Firm,' you are my top choice, but you know, this isn't something I can decide alone," Tom Cruise's words seemed to have a deeper meaning.

"That's fine," Nicole didn't seem to care at all. "It would be best if I pass the audition, but if I don't, I believe we will have other opportunities to work together in the future."

Hearing Nicole's words, Ryan's heart eased a bit. Everyone wants fame and fortune, but if you lose your heart for the sake of fame and fortune, it's not worth it. Although the lady beside him was ambitious, her mind remained clear.

The dishes were quickly served. Ryan's portion was clearly different from the other two, especially the bright red water-boiled meat slices, which made Nicole gasp. She didn't even need to eat it; just the smell made her forehead break out in a sweat.

Whether it was the scallion stir-fried sea cucumber and Kung Pao chicken, or the other dishes and crab buns he ordered later, they were absolutely the most delicious food Ryan had eaten since his rebirth. Although he had been eating Western food for nearly ten years, his stomach had long adapted to bread and cream, but the things deeply buried in his soul would not change with time.

Especially the water-boiled meat slices he specially ordered, not only made him secretly exclaim in satisfaction, but also gave him endless confidence in whether the bright red soup would work.

To be frank, although Tom Cruise was a bit arrogant and had the airs of a star, which was a common problem for many young stars, he was handsome, elegant, and witty. During the meal, he not only made Nicole giggle, but he also didn't ignore Ryan, who had little presence, often talking to him about topics filled with childlike fun.

Seeing Nicole enjoying her meal, Ryan could only sigh inwardly. To be fair, Tom Cruise indeed had the charm to attract any woman, and it was only natural for Nicole to develop a liking for him.

However, he would never bow to the wheels of fate. No matter what, he would not let these two people get back together.

Looking at the water-boiled meat slices that were almost just red soup, Ryan's lips curled into a sly smile. Nicole seemed to sense something and suddenly looked at him with alertness. Fortunately, Ryan had been acting for over nine years, and his ability to change expressions was already perfect. He instantly returned to a normal expression.

"Nicole, can I use your mobile phone? I just remembered something I need to ask Pat," Ryan found a good excuse without even blinking.

"What's the matter?" Although she asked, Nicole still took out the Motorola mobile phone that had just been released this year from her handbag.

Taking the mobile phone, which was much smaller than a brick, Ryan pushed his chair back, preparing to stand up and go elsewhere to make the call. It seemed that sitting for too long had made his legs numb, and his body tilted. Although he didn't fall, the mobile phone near his shoulder inevitably slipped from his hand and fell towards the red soup on the table.

"Be careful!" Nicole and Tom Cruise had already warned him when his body tilted.

"Oh~ the phone!" Ryan's movements were very quick. Before the mobile phone fell, he caught it, but his actions were too abrupt and fast, causing him to lose balance. To prevent his whole body from crashing onto the table, he had to support himself with his other hand.

"Clang~"

Ryan's hand landed precisely on the edge of the soup bowl facing Mr. Cruise. Perhaps the force was a bit too strong, or perhaps he used a clever trick, but nearly half a bowl of red oily soup flew forward.

Although most of the soup landed on the table and clothes, some still splashed onto that handsome face. The taste of chili water on the face was unbearable even for many revolutionaries in the past, let alone a pretty boy.

"Ah~"

This bowl of water-boiled meat slices was specially ordered by Ryan with extra chili. The fiery sensation on the face was unbearable. Tom Cruise immediately covered his face and let out a painful cry, but he remembered it was a public place and tried to lower his voice.

"Sorry, Tommy!" Ryan hurriedly apologized, running to Tom Cruise's side almost as fast as a sprinter. Like a child eager to make amends, he picked up a white napkin and started wiping the handsome face, but after the napkin turned red, he always intentionally or unintentionally wiped towards Tom Cruise's eyes.

Just as he was about to succeed, a white wrist suddenly reached out from behind and accurately grabbed Ryan's hand. Nicole gave him a subtle glare and said before the waiters arrived, "Tommy, I apologize on Ryan's behalf. Do you need to see a doctor?"

Perhaps the fiery sensation had passed, or perhaps he wanted to maintain his demeanor in front of a beautiful woman, Tom Cruise wiped his red face with a napkin and said generously, "It's okay, it was just an accident."

After all, he was a big star, and it would be embarrassing to argue with a child who was just over nine years old.

After a few waiters and a restaurant manager arrived, Ryan kept apologizing, seemingly very guilty about the accident. However, he was secretly delighted. Mr. Cruise's well-fitted suit had turned into a flower face, and his handsome face had become like Guan Yu's, especially his eyes, which seemed very uncomfortable, often squinting and watering, ready to shed tears.

No matter what, Tom Cruise was a public figure and couldn't stay in this state for long. After a brief conversation with the manager, he went to the changing room specifically prepared for wealthy and famous people.

This table, now dirty, was no longer suitable for staying. Nicole and Ryan simply moved to another place. While waiting for Mr. Cruise, Nicole Kidman's blue eyes often glanced at him, and her cold and beautiful demeanor seemed to be turning into an iceberg.

"Sorry, Nicole, I ruined your dinner with Mr. Cruise."

Ryan returned the mobile phone with a sincere face. Seeing Nicole's calm expression, his sincerity quickly turned into unease.

"You really become more and more unreliable as you grow up," Nicole sighed, grabbing Ryan's small hand stained with red and carefully wiping it with a napkin, as if she were cleaning the most precious porcelain.

The dinner, which was supposed to be a pleasant start for Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, ended in an awkward manner. After Mr. Cruise finished changing and tidying up, there was no need to continue the dinner.

Not to mention, this big star was indeed very graceful, at least in front of beautiful women. He not only didn't blame Ryan but also comforted him a few times and even drove them back to their apartment in Westwood.

"Goodbye, Tommy, you are the best big star I've ever met."

Getting out of the sports car, Ryan didn't give Nicole or Tom Cruise a chance to speak, waving goodbye to him directly.

"Alright then, good night, Nicole, and Ryan."

Back at the apartment, Ryan threw his backpack on the sofa and stretched lazily, feeling incredibly relieved. Indeed, fighting against heaven is fun, fighting against earth is fun, and fighting against people is even more fun.

Although the incident that night seemed like an accident, Ryan felt that the smart Nicole might have sensed something. However, he wasn't worried. Even if the Australian lady caught him, the worst she could do was a fierce scolding, which wouldn't be a big deal to him.

Even so, he thought it was better to stay out of Nicole's sight. After saying good night, he simply hid in his room, took a shower, changed into dry clothes, and sat at his desk to continue his writing, which had consumed most of his time for over three years.

After finishing the third part of Harry Potter, Ryan temporarily put the series aside. Since the idea was already secured, the later parts were shifting towards adult themes, which could wait a few years before writing.

Since entering 1989, he had focused most of his energy on screenwriting. Due to his previous job as a film projectionist, his greatest interest was still in movies. He had studied many classic movie scripts and, during his two years in London, read a lot of books on the subject.

Perhaps the scripts he wrote now still had many flaws in shot division, but they were certainly no worse than any new screenwriter's work.

For English, a typewriter and computer were undoubtedly faster than handwriting, especially for someone like Ryan who rarely spent long periods thinking while writing.

However, the typewriter was too heavy and inconvenient to carry, and the configuration and DOS system of the laptop could make him want to vomit.

Damn Bill Gates, can't you release the Windows operating system a bit earlier? Lifting his pen, Ryan shook his wrist and grumbled again.

What he was writing now had nothing to do with the movies and novels he remembered from his previous life. Instead, it was inspired by certain online rumors and the shameless actions of a certain country. Strictly speaking, it could be considered his original work. Although it was just a short to medium-length science fiction novel, it was still a form of progress for Ryan, wasn't it?

The novel was already finished, and now it was more about revising. No matter what, he wanted it to be published smoothly. Although his relationship with the "Xenomorph" publishing house had grown as his works increased, a poor work would still be embarrassing.

After reviewing the manuscript countless times, Ryan finally lifted his pen and added the title of this original short to medium-length science fiction novel.

If someone from his previous life saw the title of the novel, they would definitely be shocked and then burst out laughing, because the title was "The Greatest Nation in the Universe and the Zentradi People"!

Alright! Ryan admitted that he sometimes had a bit too much of a dark sense of humor. The peculiar country in question hadn't yet shown a face as thick as the Earth's diameter, but wasn't it very interesting to mock a certain country—though they wouldn't understand now?

Originally, Ryan had planned to write another novel called "The Greatest Military Power in the Universe and Its Invincible Fat Marshal," but he thought better of it. He would wait until the three fat men turned the country north of the greatest nation into a hereditary dynasty.