Chapter 22: Reactions and Profits.
Did he perform well in the movie? There was no doubt about that. Ryan had lived two lives, after all. Even though he had inevitably picked up a lot of childishness over the years and sometimes acted a bit absurdly, he would never lose his way amidst this overwhelming praise.
He understood exactly how Hollywood treated child stars. When a kid achieved something only adults were supposed to manage, the compliments came pouring in like a storm. Do it even a little better than expected, and the "genius" label would stick to you forever.
For most children, that kind of attention was pure poison. Add a greedy guardian chasing money, and their future usually ended in heartbreak.
None of that would happen to Ryan. He had a fully mature mind and a strong will, and Nicole was the furthest thing from greedy.
From the day they met until now, she had never touched a single dollar of his earnings.
What actually worried him most was his looks. He had inherited every advantage of mixed heritage, but he had read enough in his previous life as Alex to know the truth: the cuter and prettier a Western child was, the higher the chance they would grow up… awkward. He didn't need to become the next Leonardo DiCaprio or Brad Pitt, but he definitely didn't want to end up looking like Macaulay Culkin or Edward Furlong.
Ryan shook his head, pushed the silly thoughts away, and picked up the Los Angeles Times he had saved for last. The moment he saw it, he thought, Exactly as planned.
The story wasn't buried in the entertainment section—it was on the front page of the entire newspaper. The huge, bold headline screamed:
TEN-YEAR-OLD SUPER GENIUS!
Beside it sat a sharp close-up photo of Ryan from the press conference.
"Ryan Jenkins, a boy born in Los Angeles in 1980 with striking sky-blue eyes, made his big-screen debut last night in The Sixth Sense. His performance is already being called one of the greatest ever given by a child actor. But what shocked everyone even more is that he wrote the screenplay himself."
"Some may doubt that a story this clever—mixing thriller, mystery, and family drama—could really come from a ten-year-old. It does sound impossible. Yet we can confirm it is true. In fact, this is only one of many stories he has created."
"Our sources, which we have carefully verified, reveal that the same Ryan Jenkins is also the author of Jurassic Park (which topped the national bestseller list for more than thirty weeks and is still in the top ten), Ryan's Story Collection (currently at number thirty-four), and the brand-new Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (which just entered the charts). Yes, it's the same boy!"
"There's more. Earlier this month, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America announced their Nebula Award nominations. Ryan's short novel The First Military Superpower and the Zentraedi received a nomination for Best Novella."
"Anyone paying attention will remember that Jurassic Park was published back in 1986. Several stories in Ryan's Story Collection, including Home Alone, first appeared in 1986 and 1987. What does this tell us?"
"Skeptics may still suspect ghostwriting, but city records confirm Ryan Jenkins is an orphan who lived in North Hollywood's Northstone Orphanage until he was seven. Many of his works were already published by then. Who would ghostwrite for an orphan?"
"In late 1987, Nicole Kidman adopted him, and they spent two years in London. That experience clearly inspired the very British flavor of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."
"Consider this: a boy who started reading and writing at six, produced outstanding work year after year, wrote a feature-film screenplay at nine, and then starred in it. If he isn't a super genius, who is?"
Ryan didn't bother reading the rest. The Los Angeles Times had received such precise details because Harvey Weinstein had personally fed them the story. Ever since the producer learned that Ryan had written those three books, he had been planning exactly how and when to drop this bombshell for maximum impact.
Releasing it right after the movie opened was perfect timing. It sent shockwaves through the industry and drove even more people into theaters.
Of course, Harvey had warned Ryan in advance. After a quick conversation with Nicole, the mischievous boy had happily teamed up with the producer for one perfectly timed publicity explosion.
Ryan knew the paparazzi would dig up his past the moment the film hit screens anyway. These people would sell their souls for a scoop. Since the story was coming out no matter what, why not control the narrative and squeeze every possible advantage from it?
First, he earned a huge favor from Miramax. Second, he landed the front page of one of America's biggest newspapers, instantly boosting his fame. Third, the story would spark massive public curiosity—driving people straight into theaters and bookstores, and straight into piles of green cash.
Just as Ryan had expected, the article caused an immediate uproar. Miramax's phone lines and the publisher's hotline were flooded. The Northstone Orphanage and city offices suddenly swarmed with camera crews and microphones.
"Ryan, my phone is melting! You owe me overtime!" Pat Kingsley complained when she called.
"Get me everything—his childhood, his parents, his personality, any girlfriends, what's inside that head of his. Turn over every rock or pack your bags!"
Editors at every tabloid issued the same orders.
Overnight, stories about Ryan filled newspapers large and small. His abandonment as a baby, his lonely years in the orphanage, and his close mother-sister bond with Nicole Kidman were all dragged into the spotlight.
One reporter even found elderly Director Katie, now retired in Santa Monica. When asked about Ryan, she said warmly, "I personally carried him in from the orphanage doorstep. He was always special—brilliant and mature far beyond his years. Every story you mentioned, including Jurassic Park, was written right in front of me. I was the one who first sent his early work to Asimov's magazine. There is no doubt. For a child who could read newspapers fluently at four, starting to write at six is nothing special."
Her words, along with statements from other children who had lived in the orphanage, completely confirmed the Los Angeles Times report.
The coverage only fueled public curiosity. People rushed to bookstores to buy the books mentioned in the articles. Jurassic Park shot back to number one on the national bestseller list within a week. Sales of Ryan's Story Collection and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone nearly doubled.
Scholars and critics even began dissecting the Nebula-nominated novella, finding all kinds of hidden meanings: "This science-fiction story is a sharp satire of our increasingly shallow society, exposing humanity's endless greed and serving as a warning to America!"
One critic went so far as to declare, "This is one of the best satirical science-fiction pieces in years!"
Ryan could only laugh and shake his head, fighting the sudden urge to publish "The First Military Superpower and His Invincible Fat Marshal."
The biggest winner, however, was The Sixth Sense.
With its gripping story, outstanding performances, and the massive publicity storm, the film exploded. After the first three days, the North American box office had already reached nearly ten million dollars. Miramax executives couldn't stop smiling.
The two most powerful scenes—Culkin's tear-jerking conversation with his mother and the psychologist's final realization—left audiences stunned. Many walked out, then immediately bought tickets again to catch the clues they had missed. Some saw it three or four times.
Long lines formed outside theaters in major cities. Several theater owners began comparing the film to last year's Batman.
After a full second week, the box office didn't drop—it climbed even higher. When the numbers passed thirty-six million dollars, Harvey Weinstein suddenly regretted the contracts he had signed. For the first time, he realized this movie might far exceed his wildest expectations.
Of course, every upside has a downside.
Ryan was now squarely in the spotlight. He had to stay hidden at home; otherwise the Los Angeles paparazzi would swarm him. It wasn't dangerous, but it was incredibly annoying.
Photographers had already set up camp outside the apartment building, hoping for an exclusive shot.
Faced with the situation, Nicole once again moved her plan to buy a private villa to the top of her list.