Did he perform well in the movie? That was beyond any doubt. After all, Ryan had lived two lifetimes. Even though he had inevitably developed some childish traits over the years, and his behavior was occasionally outrageous, he definitely wouldn't lose himself in this storm of praise.
He understood well that Hollywood treated child stars and adult actors very differently. As long as a child accomplished something only an adult was expected to do, the compliments would come flooding in. If the performance was even slightly better, the label of "genius" would surely be placed on their head.
For children whose minds were not yet mature, this often became a deadly poison. If they were unlucky enough to have money-grabbing parents who weren't clear-headed, their adulthood would most likely be described as tragic.
Of course, this wouldn't happen to Ryan. After all, he had a mature mindset and a fairly strong will. Nicole was not a greedy person either. It's worth noting that from the time they met until now, she hadn't taken a single dollar from him.
In fact, what Ryan worried about most was his appearance. Without exaggeration, he possessed nearly every advantage of being biracial. But the information he had read in his previous life made him well aware that, in the West, the cuter and more beautiful a child was, the more likely they were to grow up looking completely different. He didn't expect to turn out like Leonardo DiCaprio or Brad Pitt, but at the very least, he didn't want to end up as one of those unfortunate cases like Macaulay Culkin or Edward Furlong.
Shaking his head, he tossed these messy thoughts aside and picked up the Los Angeles Times, which he had deliberately saved for last. As expected, he felt a strong sense of inevitability.
The Los Angeles Times had published a detailed article about Ryan on the front page—not just the entertainment section's front page, but the main front page of the entire paper.
"Ten-Year-Old Super Genius!"
The massive bolded and enlarged headline was incredibly eye-catching, accompanied by a close-up photo of Ryan at a press conference.
"Ryan Jenkins, a boy born in Los Angeles in 1980, with unusually bright sky-blue eyes, made his big screen debut last night in the newly released movie The Sixth Sense. His performance in the film can be considered the best among child actors, but what's even more astonishing is that the screenplay was entirely written by him."
"Some might doubt whether such an excellent story—blending suspense, horror, and family ethics—could really come from a ten-year-old child. Yes, that is a fair question. But what we must tell you is that this is indeed a story created by Ryan—and it's just one of the many stories he has written!"
"We obtained shocking news from informed sources and have rigorously verified it: the bestselling novel Jurassic Park, which stayed at the top of the U.S. bestseller list for over thirty weeks and remains in the top ten; The Ryan Story Collection, ranked 34th; and the newly charting Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone—were all written by Ryan Jenkins. That's right! That Ryan is the same Ryan!"
"And that's not all. Earlier this month, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association announced the nominees for the Nebula Awards, and Ryan's short novella The First Superpower in the Universe and the Zenithians was nominated for Best Novelette."
"If anyone remembers, Jurassic Park was published as early as 1986. Several stories in The Ryan Story Collection, including Home Alone, were published in 1986 and 1987. What does this suggest?"
"Perhaps some people will suspect a ghostwriter was involved, but after confirming with municipal records, we learned that Ryan Jenkins is an orphan. He lived in the North Hollywood Norston Orphanage until the age of seven, and many of his works were already published at that time. Think about it—who would ghostwrite for an orphan?"
"It wasn't until the latter half of 1987 that Ryan was adopted by Miss Nicole Kidman and spent two years in London. Perhaps it was this period that allowed him to create the distinctly British-style Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."
"Imagine a child who began reading and writing fluently at six, continued producing excellent works, wrote a screenplay at nine, and acted in the film himself—if that's not a super genius, then what is?"
Ryan didn't bother reading the rest. It was clear that the detailed information in The Los Angeles Times came from Harvey Weinstein. Ever since learning that those three books were authored by Ryan, Harvey had been plotting how to maximize the impact of this shocking revelation.
There was no doubt that releasing such an explosive piece of news right after the movie's premiere would certainly jolt the public and contribute significantly to the box office.
Naturally, Harvey had informed Ryan in advance once he realized Ryan was a goldmine. After convincing Nicole, the morally ambiguous Ryan had no qualms teaming up with the fat man to pull off a publicity stunt.
Ryan knew full well that with the movie's release, his secrets would inevitably be dug up by the paparazzi. Yes, they couldn't be overestimated, but they couldn't be underestimated either. These people would sell their souls to Satan to chase scandal and gossip.
Given that, why not take partial control of the narrative and maximize his own benefit?
First, he owed Miramax a favor and earned goodwill from Harvey Weinstein. Second, he landed the front page of one of America's top three newspapers—a tremendous publicity boost. And finally, the buzz would stir public curiosity, driving them to theaters and bookstores. All that green cash…
Just as Ryan had predicted, the report triggered a media frenzy. Miramax's public hotline and the publisher's number at Alien Life magazine were nearly overwhelmed by journalists. Likewise, the Norston Orphanage and the city offices were swarmed by camera- and mic-wielding visitors.
"Ryan, my phone's been ringing off the hook—you owe me overtime pay!" That was a complaint call from Ms. Kingsley.
"I want more detailed info—everything about that kid's childhood, who his parents were, his personality, his habits, whether he's dated any girls, and what exactly is in that head of his. If you can't dig that up, pack your bags and get out!"
Editors from nearly every tabloid issued similar orders to their paparazzi teams.
For a while, all sorts of reports about Ryan flooded major and minor newspapers. His abandoned childhood, his withdrawn life at the orphanage, his mother-sister-like relationship with Nicole Kidman—everything was dug up and put on display.
Reporters even tracked down Katie, the old director of the orphanage now living in a Santa Monica retirement home. When asked about Ryan, the old director said:
"Ryan was the child I personally picked up from the orphanage doorstep. He's a very special child—bright and precocious, with wisdom far beyond his years. Those works you mentioned were indeed written by him. I watched him write Jurassic Park with my own eyes. I was the one who recommended his earliest works to Alien Life magazine. So there's no need for doubt. For a child who could fluently read newspapers and magazines at four, writing at six was nothing remarkable."
Her testimony, along with that of other children from the orphanage, all confirmed the Los Angeles Times report.
These stories piqued the public's curiosity even more. People were amazed at what a ten-year-old could accomplish. Many flocked to bookstores to purchase the books mentioned in the report. Jurassic Park returned to the number-one spot on the U.S. bestseller list a week later, while sales of The Ryan Story Collection and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone nearly quadrupled.
In particular, countless experts turned their attention to the Nebula-nominated sci-fi novella, analyzing its various meanings. Some concluded: "This science fiction story carries strong satirical significance, criticizing our increasingly restless society and exposing humanity's ever-growing greed. It serves as a reminder and warning to America!"
One even wrote an article praising, "This is one of the best satirical sci-fi works in recent years!"
This left Ryan both amused and speechless, and he felt a sudden urge to write The First Military Superpower in the Universe and its Invincible Fat Marshal.
The most direct beneficiary of all this was the movie The Sixth Sense.
Its gripping plot and outstanding performances had already won over most audiences. With the addition of this whirlwind of publicity, the film's North American box office grossed nearly $30 million in its first three days, leaving Miramax executives grinning ear to ear.
The film's final two scenes were its highlights: the emotional breakdown and dialogue between Cole and his mother moved audiences to tears, while the psychologist's sudden realization shocked viewers. Many only pieced together earlier scenes after the fact, prompting them to buy a second ticket for another viewing—some even saw it multiple times.
As a result, long lines formed at theaters in many popular locations. Some theater owners even compared the movie to last year's Batman.
By the end of the full second week, box office revenue didn't decline—it skyrocketed. When it surpassed $36 million, Harvey Weinstein suddenly regretted signing those two contracts. For the first time, he realized that the movie's earnings could far exceed his original expectations.
Of course, with the benefits came drawbacks. Ryan had now firmly placed himself in the public eye and had to stay home to avoid being hounded by L.A.'s omnipresent paparazzi. While not a huge issue, it was definitely annoying.
Paparazzi were now stationed day and night outside his apartment building, hoping to land an exclusive.
Faced with this situation, Nicole once again moved the plan to buy a private villa back to the top of her agenda.