What's going on? Kyle, do you recognise those two young guys?"
Brandon, who was seated nearby, noticed Kyle watching the two young men with keen interest.
Upon hearing this, Kyle quickly refuted the idea.
Are you serious? How could Kyle possibly know them at this point?
Of course, his past life doesn't count.
Currently, these two siblings aren't widely known, but in ten years, everyone in Hollywood will be familiar with their names!
The older brother is Christopher Nolan;
His younger brother is Jonathan Nolan.
Especially Christopher Nolan, the elder, who will become a name recognised worldwide.
Which films like "The Dark Knight" trilogy, "Inception," and "Interstellar" aren't well-known?
His younger brother, Jonathan Nolan, is a writer and screenwriter. Although he lacks the fame of his brother, his contributions to the film "The Dark Knight," which was adapted from his work, also highlight his incredible talent.
"Huh?"
"No, Kyle!"
"From my understanding of you, you're someone who doesn't engage without benefit. These two brothers seem rather ordinary. What could have drawn your interest?"
"Do they have some sort of unique background?"
Brandon began to speculate and discuss. Even Victor and Martha, who were nearby, showed interest.
"Ha!"
Kyle deliberately shot Brandon a condescending look, wearing an expression that implied "you're quite naive." This expression irritated Brandon immensely.
At that moment, Kyle disregarded Brandon and walked directly over to the Nolan siblings.
"Um… hello, how can we assist you?" Christopher Nolan asked, looking at Kyle with confusion.
"Hi there, I'm Kyle Wald, and I own a film and television production company in Hollywood. I overheard you discussing movies and filming techniques. If I'm correct, you aspire to work in film and television in the future. If you're interested, I would be happy to offer you some job opportunities. Here's my business card with my contact number. Don't look at me like that; I'm not deceiving you. You're welcome to call and verify," Kyle stated.
Upon hearing this, the Nolan brothers were taken aback.
The head of a Hollywood film company?
So young?
Despite Kyle handing over a business card, the brothers still regarded him as a fraud. It's understandable given his youthful appearance.
Any reasonable person would feel cautious.
"Uh, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Even though the Nolan siblings were suspicious of Kyle, they didn't confront him about it right away.
The three engaged in a few more awkward exchanges until Victor, Candy, and Martha approached to clarify. Only then did the siblings start to believe that Kyle truly was the owner of a Hollywood film studio.
No deceit towards them!
From their conversation, Kyle was able to understand why the Nolan brothers were present at the airport.
Christopher Nolan, who is currently 25 years old, is studying English literature at University College London, while his younger brother, Jonathan Nolan, only 20, is enrolled at Georgetown University in Washington. He travelled from the U.S. this time solely to visit his brother.
After a short while.
Martha suddenly reminded him, "Boss, our flight is about to depart."
Upon hearing this, Kyle expressed his disappointment, saying, "Oh, this ridiculous flight decided to take off now. I'm sorry I can't chat more. Um, may I ask for your phone number? Of course, I mean if you're interested in breaking into Hollywood, please reach out to me! Remember! Remember!"
"Thank you!"
The Nolan brothers quickly expressed their gratitude, their faces showing a hint of excitement.
Being young, they are not yet prominent figures in the industry. Considering a Hollywood film company executive values them this much, how could they not feel thrilled?
Had Christopher Nolan not been busy filming "Following" and still in school, he would have likely gone to Hollywood with Kyle.
"The film 'Following'? When you finish it, come directly to Hollywood to find me, and I'll help you sort things out." Kyle was very accommodating.
"Following" is Nolan's first film.
Kyle had learned about it in his past life. The production cost was under $6,000 and the box office revenue was modest, only exceeding $400,000.
However, once Nolan arrived in Hollywood in 2000, his debut film, "Memento," which cost him $9 million to make, went on to earn over $39 million worldwide, won the Saturn Award for Best Action/Adventure Film, and received two Oscar nominations, catapulting him to fame overnight.
In response to Kyle's generous actions, the Nolan brothers offered their thanks once more and promised to seek him out in Hollywood in the future.
...
Kyle's mother's house, dinner time
The warm scent of garlic bread and tomato soup filled the cosy kitchen, wrapping Kyle in a nostalgic embrace the moment he stepped through the door. The house hadn't changed much—faded family portraits lined the hallway, and the same old ceramic rooster still stood guard on top of the fridge.
His mother, Kate, stood at the stove humming to herself, her black-streaked hair tied in a loose bun. She turned with a smile as he entered.
"Well, look who finally remembered his old mother," she teased, wiping her hands on a towel.
Kyle grinned and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "I never forget. Just been a little buried lately—with the new store opening and the studio stuff."
She waved him off with mock disapproval. "Always an excuse. Now sit. Soup's ready."
They sat at the small round table, the same one where Kyle used to do his homework and draw his first cartoon characters. The clinking of spoons against ceramic filled the silence for a few minutes, both of them savouring the food and the moment.
Kyle glanced at his mother. She looked tired. Her eyes, once so full of light, seemed a little duller tonight. The fine lines around her face had deepened. He set his spoon down.
"Mom."
Kate looked up. "Yes, sweetheart?"
"I want you to get a full body check-up."
She blinked, caught off guard. "What? Kyle, I feel fine. Just a little tired now and then—"
"It's not about feeling fine," he said gently. "You've been putting this off for years. And now that things are finally going well for me… I want to make sure you're okay. No more excuses."
She lowered her gaze, her spoon resting in the bowl. "I just didn't want to worry you."
"You won't. Unless you ignore it," Kyle said. His voice was soft but firm. "I've seen what happens when people wait too long. I can't risk that with you, Mom."
A moment passed. Then another.
Finally, Kate reached across the table and took his hand. "Okay," she said quietly. "I'll go. You win."
He smiled, squeezing her hand. "Thank you. That means everything to me."
Outside, the sky was deepening into a velvet dusk. Inside, the house felt warmer somehow—like a promise had been made. And kept.