The outside world was exciting, but also full of helplessness. Ryan had no money and had been locked up for more than half a month. No matter how one looked at it, he resembled a little drifter. After being repeatedly refused by convenience store owners when he tried to use a public phone, he simply gave up on contacting a lawyer immediately.
He knew nothing about Los Angeles and could only use the sun to determine his direction. Lost and helpless, Ryan stepped onto the only road he remembered—the road to the Hollywood Walk of Fame!
No money to make a call? No problem. He could always seek help from the police.
Perhaps he had used up all his luck escaping the orphanage. Even after walking into the Walk of Fame, he hadn't encountered a single American police officer.
What should I do? Standing on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Ryan shrank his shoulders. The well-dressed pedestrians looked at him as if he were a plague-ridden wretch, avoiding him as much as possible.
Beneath his feet was a terrazzo pavement inlaid with golden stars. Though the names on them were unfamiliar, he knew very well that they were the marks left by countless stars of the past.
For his goal, for his future, Ryan gritted his teeth and stepped forward, stopping a stunningly beautiful woman in her tracks.
"Ma'am, could you help me with something?"
Ryan bravely lifted his head. The moment he saw the woman's face, he cursed inwardly. Damn it! Is the old bastard in the sky playing tricks on me?
The woman was nearly six feet tall, about 180 centimeters in metric terms. She was tall and slender, her fair skin as flawless as the freshest milk. Her long, wavy hair was an exceptionally rare shade of golden red. She exuded a chilling yet mesmerizing aura.
This woman was incredibly beautiful, far more charming than any model in photoshoots or actresses in movies he had seen in his previous life. But why was Nicole Kidman in Hollywood as early as 1987? Could his weak little butterfly wings really have influenced things all the way to Australia?
Nicole Kidman had only recently arrived in Los Angeles. She had already gained some fame in Australia, and like many Australian actors, after achieving success at home, she came to Hollywood seeking a bigger stage.
Last year, her mother had passed away from a cancer relapse, and soon after, her father died from overwhelming grief. Heartbroken, Nicole left the place full of sorrow, purchased a house in Beverly Hills, and decided to shift her career to the U.S.
To Hollywood, she was still a newcomer. Though she didn't have to start from scratch, several consecutive unsuccessful auditions had left her frustrated. To clear her mind, she wandered the streets and unknowingly found herself on the Walk of Fame. Looking at the golden stars on the pavement, she felt a mix of envy and longing. She knew her own ambition and ability and was certain that one day, a star with her name on it would be placed in a prominent spot on this very street.
While lost in thought, a six- or seven-year-old boy suddenly stopped in front of her, asking for help.
The boy was thin, with tousled light brown hair that resembled a messy bird's nest. His clothes were old and tattered, making him look like a little street urchin. But his sapphire-blue eyes were strikingly bright as they locked onto hers, filled with confusion and sorrow, as if the whole world had abandoned him, and she was his only hope.
Having just suffered the loss of her parents, Nicole was at her most emotionally vulnerable. The moment her gaze met the boy's, her heart melted, and even her soul trembled. It felt as if she had come to Los Angeles, walked onto this street, just for this accidental encounter.
Though Ryan's eyes were still filled with confusion, his mind was calculating rapidly. He never expected that by casting his net so casually, he would reel in a mermaid named Nicole. If his past-life knowledge was correct, she adored children. So why not take advantage of that?
Nicole herself wasn't sure why, but before she knew it, she had agreed to the boy's request and led him into a public telephone booth, watching as he dialed a number.
Listening to his conversation, she learned that he was an orphan, that the head of his orphanage had sinister intentions toward him, and that he had struggled to escape, now seeking help from a lawyer.
A weak little boy, speaking helplessly about his tragic past—every word tugged at the softest part of Nicole's heart. When Ryan finished his call, she suddenly said, "Maybe I can help you."
—
After finally seeing off Attorney Wilson, Nicole Kidman rubbed her smooth, fair forehead and sank into the sofa, exhaustion written all over her face.
"It's finally over."
Fighting for Ryan's guardianship had taken months. Not only had it drained her time and energy, but it had also emptied her savings.
Nicole looked at Ryan sitting beside her. Though he had a peculiar temperament, he was intelligent and sensible. After spending time together, she had grown fond of him. Despite the tremendous cost, it was all worth it, wasn't it?
Seeing her tired face, Ryan felt a surge of gratitude. He wasn't a heartless bastard. To assemble a strong enough legal team for this case, Nicole had sold the house she had just bought, even her car.
To speed up the process of gaining guardianship, she had even applied for American citizenship. Fortunately, being born in Hawaii and having some level of fame helped her navigate the process smoothly.
Even so, she still owed Attorney Wilson a substantial legal fee.
Nicole gently pulled Ryan into her embrace, feeling his still-thin frame. "Ryan, from now on, it's just the two of us. I'll make sure you grow up strong and healthy."
"Strong and healthy?" Ryan murmured into her soft chest, inhaling her comforting scent. "Are you raising a pig?"
Nicole chuckled and kissed his forehead. He was clever, deliberately using humor to cheer her up.
But as she thought about their dwindling finances and an invitation from London, she decided to consult him.
"Ryan, how would you feel about living in London for a while?"
"London?"
"A theater company invited me to perform in a stage play. I have a house there, but we'd have to sell this apartment."
Ryan understood—Nicole's financial situation was dire, and she needed work.
A stage play would refine her acting skills. Living in Britain would also allow him to focus on English literature! Ryan's mind whirled with possibilities, but thinking of everything Nicole had done for him, he made up his mind.
"Nicole, wait a moment. I have something for you."
He ran to his room, pulled a book and a New York Times supplement from his bedside table, and handed them to her.
When she opened the book, she was stunned. Tucked inside the title page was a check for... $200,000?
Where did this money come from? Could it be fake?
Nicole narrowed her eyes slightly. Clearly, this little guy was hiding secrets. After everything she had done for him, the thought of him keeping things from her stung a little.
"I'm sorry, Nicole," Ryan said softly. "You know the kind of environment I grew up in…"
Nicole's heart softened. She caressed his cheek. "Alright, then tell me everything."
Listening to his explanation, her eyes widened. She hadn't expected to take in a genius!
Half a month later, the cold and elegant woman and the eccentric boy set foot on the land of the United Kingdom. Nicole firmly refused to accept that money. After consulting with Wilson, the lawyer, she opened a new personal account for Ryan at Citibank. Wilson also agreed to let Nicole use her property as collateral and repay the legal fees later.
Their new residence in London was located in Kensington, a standalone two-story English-style villa. From the rooftop terrace, they could see Kensington Palace, the residence of Princess Diana.
In the following days, despite Ryan's strong protests, Nicole sent him to school. The poor child had to enter elementary school for the second time, and the classroom became his personal workspace for his grand plagiarism project.
At Ryan's insistence, Nicole also hired a private tutor for him. In addition to learning Chinese and French, Ryan began formal vocal training. Although the master from the Philharmonic Orchestra had a style far removed from pop music, he knew that many things in life required a mentor to lead the way, but success ultimately depended on the individual. His musical talent was exceptional—so much so that he sometimes suspected that whatever great power had granted him this second life must have been a fan of pop music!
London was often rainy, and sunny days were rare. On one of those rare sunny afternoons, they sat under the trees in the garden—Nicole flipping through her stage play script, while Ryan looked through her photo album.
The album contained pictures from the past two years, mostly taken while Nicole was in Los Angeles—Hollywood Walk of Fame, Universal Studios, the TCL Chinese Theatre, and the Shrine Auditorium. Flipping through the pages, Ryan couldn't help but recall her past life's experiences.
He couldn't stop himself from asking, "Nicole, do you really want to develop your career in Hollywood?"
"Of course! Only there can I become a world-class movie star and achieve my dream." Nicole didn't seem to care who she was talking to. "Who knows, maybe one day I'll even win an Oscar!"
Ryan let out a quiet sigh. He and Nicole were truly a perfect match—they both had their sights set on that glamorous world of fame and fortune.
Alright, Miss Nicole Kidman. As someone who believes in repaying kindness—and as someone who already admired you in my past life—I will help you become the center of attention. I'll do my best to get you on the biggest stages and win the highest honors as soon as possible!
And most importantly, I will never let that pretty-boy heartbreaker hurt you again!