Chapter 17 - 17: The Spread of Martin’s WorkChapter 17: The Spread of Martin''s Work

    "Benjamin, where are you?"

    "Honey, I''m... still at the office!"

    "You''re still there? Do you even know what time it is? Are you working overtime now?"

    "What? Overtime? Sheena, where''s Sheena! Good grief, is it already ten?"

    "Honestly, you should get your boss to give you a raise."

    "On my way home now, honey! I just got completely absorbed in a manuscript!"

    Hanging up, Benjamin set down the stack of pages, his excitement surging. Martin''s imagination is unbelievable. The story is so vivid!

    Computers, the internet, VR gaming... every scene was thrilling, the world-building incredible, and that climactic battle... The whole story unfolded in his mind like a movie. In fact, Benjamin thought, this book''s pacing feels just like a well-structured two-hour film.

    "Wait a minute... Kung Fu Panda was written like this, too." He slapped the steering wheel in realization as he drove home. "Martin has ambitions far beyond books."

    ...

    Before 9 p.m.

    Jennifer had returned to her dorm at USC.

    "Strange... Rachel''s actually here? And not at a party?"

    Jennifer''s roommate, Rachel, was a self-proclaimed party lover who spent her free time hopping from one themed event to the next. She rarely returned to the dorm before midnight and sometimes didn''t come back at all. But tonight, Rachel was quietly reading a book on her bed.

    Since when is she this studious? Jennifer wondered, moving closer to satisfy her curiosity. "Rachel, what are you reading?"

    "Aah! Jennifer, you scared me!" Rachel clutched her chest in fright, gasping as her heart pounded.

    Jennifer burst out laughing at her roommate''s reaction.

    As her laughter subsided, she leaned over to see what book had captured Rachel''s attention.

    "What are you reading that''s got you so absorbed?"

    Rachel held up the book. "It''s something I picked up for my little sister. I figured I''d read a few pages to pass the time, but it totally sucked me in. I even forgot about the party tonight."

    "Your sister? Isn''t she only nine? And you''re this hooked on a kids'' book?" Jennifer was now seriously intrigued and reached for the cover.

    "What book has you so captivated... Kung Fu Panda?!"

    "Yeah, it''s Kung Fu Panda. What''s with the shock?"

    "Wait, the author is... Martin Meyers?"

    "No way..." sea??h thё Novёl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ignoring Rachel''s response, Jennifer stared at the author''s name, stunned. Suddenly, it all made sense why Martin had brought up the book earlier. So he''s already been published... no wonder he''s so confident.

    ...

    In Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles—

    This well-to-do neighborhood was known for its safe streets and luxurious homes.

    Inside one such mansion, seven-year-old Elizabeth Olsen was persuading her sisters to join her in roleplaying Kung Fu Panda characters.

    "Ashley, you''ll be Tigress!"

    "Mary-Kate, you''re Viper! And Mike, the bodyguard, can be the evil Tai Lung."

    "And me, I''m the Dragon Warrior, Po!"

    "Come on, Tigress and Viper, let''s stop Tai Lung together!"

    Her older sisters exchanged a resigned look, humoring their younger sibling''s wishes. They knew that if they refused, Elizabeth would be pestering them all night.

    ...

    In Wyomissing, Pennsylvania—

    Inside a large house on an 11-acre Christmas tree farm, young Taylor Swift was sprawled on her bed, pouting.

    "Dad, Dad, please read more! I want to know if Po beats the bad guy in the end!"

    Scott Kingsley Swift smiled fondly at his daughter, gently patting her head. "Taylor, you have music class in the morning. It''s time to sleep, honey."

    "Oh, please, just a little more. Just a tiny bit, Dad, pleeease?"

    Taylor held up her little finger, signaling just how little she wanted, her pleading eyes impossible for Scott to resist.

    He chuckled. "Alright, just a bit more."

    Scott knew he was powerless against his daughter''s sweetly persistent pleas. She always won him over.

    ...

    Back on the film set, the farm scenes were progressing smoothly. Martin performed excellently in his scenes with Dennis Quaid, who was so impressed he sometimes forgot Martin was only acting.

    "Nancy, this kid''s incredible! Where on earth did you find him?"

    "He''s my brother''s son," Nancy said proudly.

    "Really? And this script—did you say he wrote it?"

    "That''s right, Martin wrote the script."

    Dennis''s eyes widened in astonishment. "How old is he?"

    "Eleven."

    "Dear heavens, I''m blown away! When I was his age, I was still playing in the mud. This kid''s a prodigy!"

    "I think so, too," Nancy replied, beaming with pride.

    The farm scenes wrapped up quickly, and in three days, the crew would head to London to film scenes of the twin brother, Beck James, living with his mother in England.

    After two months away, Martin returned to school for a brief visit, not to attend classes but to say goodbye to his friends and request an extended leave.

    "Martin, you''re going to London? Wow, I''m so jealous!" Lindsay Lohan''s eyes sparkled with admiration and envy for Martin''s upcoming journey to England.

    "Martin, you know what? I finally finished programming ''Bee''—it''s a game I made! I even upped the difficulty. When you get back, come over, and we''ll play it!" Mark Zuckerberg announced excitedly. Acting and travel held no interest for him; his heart lay with computers.

    "Martin, I got into a fight the other day with that punk Potter from Class 7. He said your book was garbage, and I won''t stand for anyone talking trash about my boss!" John grunted, his voice gruff. Ever since Martin had put him in his place, John had become his loyal follower and self-appointed enforcer.

    "Guys, I''ll treat you all to a feast when I''m back!"

    With a grin, Martin waved goodbye to his friends, heading off to his next adventure.

    [??———?———?———?]

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