Chapter Twenty: Iron-Hearted Jack Chen

"Tom and I both value our freedom and our careers. Neither of us is willing to give up our professional life."

"We have both tried so hard for each other; I even joined the Church of Scientology that he believes in."

"We rarely work on the same films, so there are many times throughout the year when we spend very little time together."

"I can feel it—Tom is exhausted too, he just hasn't said it out loud."

Nicole Kidman crouched by the roadside, murmuring in a voice only she and Chen Siyuan could hear.

Chen Siyuan sat beside her, looking up at the bright moon in the sky.

"This isn't your problem, nor is it Tom's. From the moment you both chose to be together, this outcome was arguably inevitable," Chen Siyuan said, his tone cool and detached.

He had reverted to his lawyerly nature, delivering an objective, emotionless assessment.

Nicole did not speak; she simply lowered her head.

"From a commercial standpoint, you and Tom are deeply intertwined. Even if there are issues in your relationship, I would advise you to maintain the status quo—at the very least, take a few years to untangle things properly."

"Also, do not get too deeply involved with Tom's church. It will be your ruin."

Chen Siyuan was not a heartless machine after all, and he offered this final word of caution.

Nicole looked up at him. The moonlight washed over Chen Siyuan’s face, making him look like an angel of the night.

"Jack, why didn't I meet you sooner?"

Nicole suddenly threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face. She was thinking of the moments of affection she had witnessed between Chen Siyuan and Liu Xiaoli—including the time she saw them kissing in the kitchen. Liu Xiaoli had thought Nicole hadn't noticed, but in reality, she had seen it all.

Nicole craved that kind of genuine, sweet love—not the kind performed for the public eye.

Chen Siyuan sighed and patted her back gently. Had he not been married to Liu Xiaoli, he might have felt something. But now? He truly felt nothing.

After a while, Nicole pulled back and looked at him again. A flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes. She saw no desire in his gaze. Even while holding her beautiful, alluring body, his eyes remained as clear as water.

Nicole wiped her tears and stood up from his embrace.

"Jack, take me home. I will take your advice."

She had made her decision. She would find a time to talk to Tom.

Chen Siyuan nodded. "If you need anything, just call me."

He turned to get the car, but Nicole grabbed his hand.

"Jack, could you kiss me?"

There was a hint of pleading in her eyes, like a homeless Persian cat. Chen Siyuan sighed, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her gently.

"Thank you. I feel much better."

Nicole sat back in the passenger seat. Chen Siyuan started the engine and drove her home. Twenty minutes later, they arrived, but the home Nicole shared with Tom Cruise was pitch black.

"Is Tom not home?"

"He's still on the set of *Eyes Wide Shut*."

Chen Siyuan nodded. Right—that film, notorious for having a production schedule that earned a spot in the Guinness World Records.

"I won't walk you in. Get a good night's sleep, and you'll feel better tomorrow." He remained by the car, watching her.

Nicole looked at him with profound depth before turning to walk toward the house. Only after the lights inside flickered on did Chen Siyuan get back in the car and drive away.

When Chen Siyuan arrived home, Liu Yifei was already in bed, but Liu Xiaoli was still waiting up for him.

"Is Nicole alright? She seemed to have something on her mind," Liu Xiaoli said, climbing out from under the covers the moment he returned.

"She's fine. She has always wanted a child, but unfortunately, she suffered a miscarriage once, and the doctors said she can no longer conceive," Chen Siyuan said calmly.

Liu Xiaoli frowned. "For a woman, being stripped of the right to be a mother... that is truly cruel."

"Alright, go back to bed. I'll take a shower and be right there." Chen Siyuan didn't want to discuss Nicole further.

Liu Xiaoli sensed his reluctance and nodded, lying back down. She had smelled Nicole’s perfume on him, but she trusted him.

Before long, Chen Siyuan finished his shower and joined her in bed, wrapping his arms around her and resting a hand on her stomach.

"Have you felt anything lately?"

Liu Xiaoli glanced at him. "Why are you so insistent on having a son?"

She had finally voiced the question that had been lingering in her heart.

"For Xixi!"

"For Xixi?" Liu Xiaoli was even more confused.

"Looking at her, she is surely destined for the entertainment industry. It’s a chaotic and complicated world. I can’t be by her side every single second, so I want to give her a younger brother to protect his older sister!"

Liu Xiaoli’s eyes widened. She had never dreamed that this was his reason for wanting a son.

"Have you thought about whether your son would be willing?" she asked, stifling a laugh.

"Hmph, he wouldn't dare refuse!" Chen Siyuan snorted.

"How overbearing!" Liu Xiaoli laughed, burying her face in his chest, unable to help herself.

Chen Siyuan patted her gently. "No, we need to keep working at it! Time waits for no one!"

"Wait..." With a soft gasp from Liu Xiaoli, the two were soon lost in harmony. Now that she understood his intentions, Liu Xiaoli felt much lighter, and she no longer held back, letting herself go completely.

While Chen Siyuan and Liu Xiaoli were letting their spirits soar, Nicole Kidman was alone in front of her bathroom mirror, pitying herself. Whether in beauty or physique, she was a woman of the highest caliber. Yet, here she was, on this cold night, left alone in an empty house.

"Jack, you truly are hard-hearted."

She traced her own body with her hands, murmuring Chen Siyuan’s name. Half an hour later, with a strange flush on her cheeks, Nicole left the bathroom and returned to the bedroom. Lying on the cold bed, her feverish body slowly cooled.

Nicole picked up the phone and dialed Tom Cruise’s number.

"Tom, we need to talk."

...

The days that followed seemed to return to normal. Liu Xiaoli’s *The Death of the New Swan* had entered its national tour stage. She had to leave Chen Siyuan and Liu Yifei to travel across the country, ensuring more people could see the performance.

Meanwhile, Nicole Kidman would come to Chen Siyuan’s home every few days to teach Liu Yifei acting.