Chapter 40: Are All Geniuses Mature Beyond Their Years?

Chapter 40: Are All Geniuses Mature Beyond Their Years?

A black Cadillac slowly pulled into the small parking lot of a restaurant.

In the back seat, a heavyset man with distinct Jewish features and a broad, seemingly innocent smile leaned forward to look at the restaurant's sign:

"Mr. Zhou's Restaurant… seems like this kid has a taste for Asian food," he mused as he opened the car door and stepped out.

At the entrance, Martin's agent Jeff was already waiting for him.

Seeing the rotund man approach, Jeff stepped forward, and the two embraced warmly, as if they were old friends.

In reality, they barely knew each other. They'd crossed paths in Hollywood a few times, exchanging polite nods, but they weren't close.

"Harvey, Martin's already waiting in the private room. Shall we?" Jeff said, leading him inside.

"Oh, I'm looking forward to it! When I read his script, I was stunned—a boy of eleven creating such a moving story filled with loneliness and family ties. Truly, he's a genius!"

Harvey Weinstein spared no praise for Martin, masking his admiration with casual flattery.

Before his notorious downfall, Harvey had actually enjoyed a decent reputation in Hollywood, known for his courteous, approachable demeanor.

As they walked through Mr. Zhou's Restaurant—a rare Chinese establishment in America with private rooms, perhaps due to its Chinese heritage—Harvey's eyes flickered with curiosity.

The private room, called the "Spring Blossom Hall," was lavishly decorated in a style that matched American expectations of Chinese elegance.

When the door opened, Harvey saw a composed, handsome young boy stand up from the couch and walk toward him.

So this is Martin Myers? Harvey thought. Even more charming in person!

Harvey's face immediately broke into a smile. Before Martin could offer a handshake, Harvey stepped forward, hand extended.

"You must be Martin Myers! Hello, I'm Harvey Weinstein from Miramax."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Weinstein," Martin replied politely.

Jeff followed them inside, saying with a smile, "Let's sit and chat!"

Martin smiled, politely guiding Harvey to take a seat before sitting down himself—a small but impressive show of etiquette for someone so young.

Harvey couldn't help but marvel. This kid doesn't act like a kid at all. Are all geniuses this mature?

As the three settled in, Martin didn't rush into discussing the script. Instead, he rang for a waiter.

The server, with dark eyes, black hair, and yellowish skin, was likely of Chinese descent. His demeanor and the way he carried himself hinted that he might be a student working here part-time.

From the early 90s until around 2010, studying abroad was considered the best path for Chinese university students. Many students from top Chinese universities came to the United States only to find that it was far from the dreamland they'd envisioned: tough job markets, glass ceilings, racial prejudice… yet having come this far, they were reluctant to return empty-handed and often persevered.

To maintain appearances, they tended to paint a rosy picture of life abroad in letters or calls back home, convincing themselves and others that they'd made the right choice.

Martin exchanged a few words in Chinese with the server, who indeed confirmed he was a recent graduate from one of China's best universities, now working odd jobs to get by, with no connections or close friends.

Most Chinese students in America found themselves facing three paths:

Some sought to ingratiate themselves with the local white community, hoping to gain resources by becoming tag-alongs. Others banded together, forming their own circles without much interaction with locals, especially those with family support or wealth, who had little need to integrate. And then there were those without connections or the inclination to conform. They often worked in places like Chinatown or Chinese restaurants, facing exploitation, struggling to find work after graduation. Some gave up and returned to China, while others adapted and ultimately joined the first group.

This server, a graduate from one of China's top universities, clearly belonged to the last group.

After a brief conversation, the waiter left the room, visibly surprised by Martin's fluent Mandarin.

Harvey, too, was intrigued. "Martin, you speak Chinese too?"

"Yes."

"From the way you chatted with that waiter, it's clear you're quite fluent," Harvey said, grinning. The boyish bashfulness Martin displayed gave Harvey a sense of reassurance. After all, even geniuses are just kids, he thought.

But he soon regretted underestimating him.

When the dishes—a series of Americanized Chinese classics—arrived, and they began discussing the script, Martin subtly took control of the conversation, guiding Harvey at every key moment. Though Jeff handled most of the back-and-forth with Harvey, Martin's occasional interjections left Harvey surprisingly on the defensive.

This kid's something else, Harvey thought, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Martin, could you share what inspired you to write this script?" Harvey asked, trying to steer the conversation back into his comfort zone.

Martin gave a soft smile. He wasn't going to let Harvey dodge so easily.

With a thoughtful look, he began, "Inspiration? Well, Mr. Weinstein, as you might've noticed, though I've categorized it as a suspense thriller, this story is fundamentally about family and connection."

"You know, I've watched quite a few movies that some would say aren't suitable for my age, including horror films—American, European, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Hong Kong productions. And I noticed a big difference between Western and Eastern horror."

"In Western horror, the focus often lies on gore and the graphic dismemberment of bodies to elicit fear. Eastern horror, on the other hand, emphasizes atmosphere, creating an eerie psychological tension. I'd call the first type 'visual horror' and the second 'psychological horror.'"

"So, I wondered, could Western audiences appreciate a psychological horror film?"

"While watching horror films from Hong Kong and Thailand, I realized that horror could encompass other elements—comedy, family, even action. So, I decided to add a touch of family warmth to my script."

"After completing the first draft, I felt like something was missing. Around that time, I was reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and that gave me the idea to add a layer of mystery to it. And that's how the script took shape."

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.