Kristin didn't expect that the girl would so easily bring them into the record store. From her behavior, it was clear she really might be a friend of Ryan Jenkins.
After the female agent brought them into the lounge, she left. Kristin could only wait there idly, because the girl who brought them in was not talkative, just quietly reading a book on psychology.
Still, Kristin was very excited. There were many musical instruments here, along with various items clearly used by a boy—most likely belonging to Ryan Jenkins. Both she and Lariel really wanted to pick them up and take a closer look, but they knew it would be inappropriate.
Fortunately, if they just waited a little, they would be able to meet their idol up close. Compared to that, everything else seemed unimportant, right?
"Hey, what's your name?" It only occurred to Kristin just now that she still didn't know the girl's name.
"Natalie Hershler." The girl's voice was indifferent, with a subtle hint of pride.
Kristin was also a proud and self-important person. She shrugged and decided not to speak further.
A long time later, the lounge door was pushed open from outside, followed by a familiar male voice, "Hey, Nat, great to see you!"
Natalie stood up then, her face lighting up with a bright smile, clearly in a great mood.
Ryan quickly walked over and gave the girl a light hug. Natalie playfully bumped her forehead against his chin. When the two separated, they both laughed.
"Hmm… Nat, you've grown taller," Ryan said, measuring her height with his hand. She already had about eighty percent of Mathilda's charm.
Then he sighed dramatically and said, "Too bad, still way shorter than me!"
"Really?" Natalie ground her teeth slightly, her tone prickly. "Tall and skinny like a bamboo stick!"
The word bamboo stick she said in Chinese.
"Bamboo stick?" Ryan widened his eyes, curled his arm and struck a strongman pose. "Have you ever seen such a strong bamboo stick?"
Ginsley rolled her eyes. She knew that if these two went on, it would definitely turn into a bickering match, so she quickly said, "Nat, didn't you bring two friends along?"
"Friends?" Ryan was a little curious. Natalie made new friends? That was rare.
"They're not my friends. Just your fans," Natalie muttered.
After a few words from Natalie, Ryan quickly understood what was going on. Since they were already here, giving them an autograph was a small favor.
"R-Ryan…" Kristin and her friend were clearly nervous, their words stammering. "C-can we… get your autograph?"
"Of course." Ryan smiled, his sunny expression helping to ease the girls' nerves. "No need to be nervous. Look, I've got two eyes and one nose, just like you—not a monster."
The two girls burst into laughter. Lariel quickly pulled out an autograph book, only to realize she hadn't bought any albums yet, her face suddenly showing embarrassment.
"No worries." Ryan guessed the reason and whispered a few words to Burns, who nodded and instructed staff to bring two albums.
After asking for Lariel's name, Ryan quickly signed with a message of good wishes and handed it to her. Then he turned to the blonde girl.
"Can you tell me your name?" he asked, scratching his head as he watched her pull several novels from her backpack.
"Kristin…" Ryan's friendly attitude helped calm her nerves. "My full name? Christina Aguilera."
"All right then, Christina Aguilera." Ryan didn't hesitate, signing on the albums and several novels. "May every one of your dreams come true!"
"Thank you, Ryan." Kristin grew bolder, and after receiving the novels and album, she gave Ryan a light hug.
Natalie, standing behind Ryan, frowned slightly. She was beginning to regret bringing them here.
"You're welcome."
Ryan noticed the two girls were about to pull out money and quickly stopped them. "It's just two albums—consider them my gifts to you."
Cheapskate! I never saw you give me any gifts! Natalie scrunched her nose.
"Um… um, can we take a picture together?" Kristin asked shyly.
"Fine." Ryan sighed. These teenage girls were really troublesome.
Watching them pull out a camera from their backpack, Ryan couldn't help but marvel. Was stanning idols really this crazy nowadays?
He simply pulled Natalie over as well and had a staff member take two group photos.
Now the two girls were finally satisfied. Compared to those who had queued for so long outside, their reward was tremendous—far beyond what they had imagined.
But Ryan hadn't expected the trouble wasn't over yet. That girl named Kristin spoke up again. "Ryan, I've been selected for The Mickey Mouse Club. I'll be joining Hollywood Records soon. Can I come find you then?"
The Mickey Mouse Club? Ryan frowned. He had heard of it—it was a singing show co-produced by Disney Channel and Hollywood Records.
"If there's a chance, we'll see each other." Ryan gave a vague answer. He didn't want to invite trouble.
"All right then, Ryan." Kristin, pulling the reluctant Lariel, waved at him as they were led outside by a staff member. "See you in Los Angeles, Ryan."
Better not, Ryan thought. Having passionate fans was one thing, but getting too close could be a headache. He rubbed his temples. That girl wasn't going to be easy—best to keep his distance.
Nat is still better. Aside from the occasional sarcasm, she never caused any drama.
"Nat, do you need my autograph?" Ryan asked as he saw Natalie fiddling with the albums.
"No thanks, I'm not interested in pop music," Natalie pouted, though she still tucked the albums into her bag.
"Let's go. We'll talk back at the hotel." Ryan led the way out of the lounge.
Once they got into the black Cadillac, it wasn't easy to leave. A large number of fans were gathered on both sides of the road, blocking the car's path. Many were holding Ryan's posters and shouting his name.
Some even got close to the car and banged on the windows.
Even without Ginsley saying anything, Ryan knew not to lower the window. Only God knew what crazy things these fans might do.
"Damn it, I shouldn't have come back to the hotel with you. I should've gone straight home," Natalie said helplessly as she sat beside him.
"Dear Nat, that's so hurtful," Ryan pretended to be wounded. "Can I take that as a sign you're jealous?"
"Jealous?" Natalie glared at him. "Me? Jealous of you? Don't make me laugh, Ryan. In my eyes, you're just an idiot!"
"I-idiot?" Ryan stared at her like a raging bear. "Dear Nat, you've wounded the heart of a sincere young man."
"Cut it out." Natalie pushed his approaching face away.
They were stuck for nearly half an hour. With help from staff, the car finally began moving slowly. Ryan leaned back in the seat, enjoying Natalie's massage.
Though she spoke harshly, Natalie knew Ryan must be tired. Especially when she saw him shaking his wrist, she took his right hand and began gently massaging it. Though her technique wasn't great, the thought behind it was rare, and it made Ryan feel much better.
Back at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, peace was still elusive. Dozens of reporters were gathered at the entrance, their cameras already set up. Clearly, he was in for another round of questions.
Ryan got out of the car first to draw the media's attention so that Natalie could slip into the hotel through the side entrance. But as for the reporters' questions, he ignored them all, quickly making his way into the lobby.
This was off-limits to journalists. After reuniting with Natalie, Ryan hurried back to the suite. His body wasn't tired, but his mind was exhausted.
"Get whatever you want to drink. I need to rest for a while."
The two of them had never been polite with each other. Ryan simply collapsed onto the sofa and asked, muffled, "Nat, I heard from Pat you agreed to join Schindler's List?"
"Yeah, that's right." Natalie nodded. "Didn't Pat say you'd be going to Poland too?"
"Yeah." Ryan sat up from the sofa. "That old man Spielberg has called me several times already, urging me to go to Poland."
"Urging you to go to Poland?" Natalie was confused. Sure, Ryan was talented, but not to the point that Spielberg would invite him personally, right?
"Don't forget, Spielberg's also the director of Jurassic Park. Mm… it's complicated… but that's the gist of it." Ryan roughly explained the situation between Universal Pictures and Spielberg. "Once you enter a circle, you have to follow its rules."
"This circle is really complicated!" Natalie frowned.
"It's not just this circle. In this country, which industry isn't like this? Interests come first." Ryan saw things clearly. Hollywood—from beginning to end—was a brutally realistic arena of fame and profit. As long as you followed the rules and brought in profit, you'd be respected. Otherwise, you were pushed to the sidelines.
Nat, I'll protect you! The thought flashed through his mind.
"Oh right, Nat, I've finished the script I wrote for you." Ryan suddenly remembered the most important thing.
"Really?" Natalie perked up. "Quick, let me see it."
Ryan returned to the bedroom, found the original draft of Léon: The Professional, and handed it to Natalie.