Chapter 62: A Wild Excursion

  "The mission of art is to reveal the truth through sensory images, it should give people spiritual vitality and inspiration, rather than showing a cold fist to life!" Natalie glared at Ryan with disdain, like a proud fighting cock. "Isn't what I said right?"

  "But Leo Tolstoy said that the best art is the one that everyone can understand!" Ryan raised his chin, "What's 'The Last Tango in Paris'? It's dull and boring, how many people like it? Except for Marlon Brando's performance, it's completely useless! As for Bertolucci, does he know what the audience wants to see?"

  "The Silence of the Lambs is not much better, with a large number of cruel, terrifying and bloody scenes that dilute the theme it wants to express. In terms of artistic expression, it's at least one level worse than The Last Tango in Paris." Natalie retorted.

  "You can't deny that 'The Silence of the Lambs' is more popular, Nate. Same thing, a movie isn't made for the director to watch himself, he has to consider the market's acceptance."

  This was on a tour bus headed for Yosemite National Park, where Ryan and Natalie sat in the back row of an eleven-seat tour bus, engaging in heated debate.

  Natalie arrived in Los Angeles yesterday, Mr. Avner came to attend a medical conference and brought his daughter along, it wasn't until after they got off the plane that Natalie informed Ryan, fortunately Ryan and Nicole had decided to go on an outing with the Swift family to avoid the increasingly crazy reporters, but hadn't left yet, so she was able to bring her along.

  It's been a long time since the two of them met, and there were many things to talk about. However, as they chatted, the topic naturally turned to movies, and they ended up discussing this year's hit film "The Silence of the Lambs".

  "But art is strict!" Natalie turned her body abruptly and faced Ryan.

  "Is it? Then in 'The Last Tango in Paris', were all those erotic scenes really necessary?"

  "Ryan! Nate!"

  Nico couldn't take it anymore, turned around and stopped the two who still wanted to continue arguing. "I'd like to ask, who watched 'The Last Tango in Paris' and 'The Silence of the Lambs' with you? Is this what people your age should be watching? Ryan, looks like I'll have to restrict your freedom when we get back, and Nate, I think I need to make a call to Mrs. Sherry."

  The young boy and girl, like a pair of fighting cocks, finally ran out of steam, glared at each other for a moment, then turned to gaze out the windows on either side.

  "Aren't they good friends? Why have they been quarreling since yesterday?"

  Mrs. Andreia curiously asked in a low voice as she changed Tyler's sleeping posture and held him in her arms.

  "Never mind." Nicole waved her hand, "The two of them have known each other for almost two years now. Whether it's on the phone or in person, they're always like this - like natural-born enemies or something. And yet, their feelings for each other are incredibly good."

  Yosemite National Park is located in the eastern part of California and is as famous as Yellowstone National Park, one of the most beautiful natural national parks in the western region.

  They came in two cars, with George driving a Chevrolet Blazer behind the eleven-seat tour van.

  "Wow, so... beautiful!"

  As soon as he got off the car, Little Taylor saw a continuous forest. The climate here is pleasant and much cooler than hot Los Angeles.

  The scenery here is extremely beautiful. After entering the valley, the group went directly to the Butterfly Forest in Nan Mountain. There is a large area of ancient sequoia forest here, and these redwood trees are both tall and thick. Many of them are so big that more than ten people can't encircle them even if they join hands.

  Although the urban greening in the United States is excellent, for people who live in cities all year round, this is a great place to relax and unwind. The only downside is that there are too many tourists, after all, this is a world-renowned tourist destination.

  After visiting the rocky area again, everyone came to a less crowded stream valley and found a flat place for a short rest.

  "Ryan, catch butterflies... take me with you, okay?" Little Tyler wouldn't let anyone be idle for a moment.

  "Darling, there are wolves and lions here, don't run around." Ryan spoke bluntly to scare her, but the little girl who was less than two years old didn't understand how frightening these animals were. Instead, she clapped her hands and said, "Lions? In the zoo? Are those the kind? Great, Ryan, and Nate, catch lions... take me there."

  Ryan felt an urge to vomit blood, but fortunately Mr. Scott looked at the time and said, "It's getting late, let's hurry to the wooden house district, if it's too late, we won't be able to find a place to stay."

  "There are no real wild lions in America!" Natalie gave him a "you're so uncultured" look.

  "Are you saying that the American lion isn't a lion?" Ryan retorted reflexively, giving Natalie a look of "you're uncultured".

  "Don't bother explaining." Natalie gave him a backhander.

  The wooden house district is right in this valley, although it is open to tourists, but the management is very strict. If there are behaviors such as littering or damaging trees here, the high fines can directly make tourists become beggars. But it is these strict regulations that are close to harshness that have made this national park thrive for a long time.

  A party of people rented three large wooden houses; the Swifts, Nicky and Natalie, the boys and George each had one.

  Taylor slept all the way here and now is full of energy, making a racket wanting Ryan and Natalie to accompany her to catch lions for fun, leaving everyone helpless.

  "Taylor, it's not fun to catch lions at all. If you don't believe me, ask George, he has been to Africa and seen many lions." A few chairs were casually moved over, and several people sat in a circle on the grass in front of the wooden house. The unscrupulous Ryan couldn't get around the little girl, so he had to push out his own bodyguard.

  "Really? George? Africa... what kind of place is it, far away? Is it fun?" Taylor asked with sparkling eyes.

  "It's not fun." George smiled and began to tell the story, "The grasslands and forests there are full of dangers, not only lions but also leopards, such a dangerous animal."

  "King of beasts... isn't that the lion?" Taylor blinked his eyes, then pointed at Ryan and said, "Ryan said... last time we went to the zoo."

  "On the African savannah, the most dangerous animal is not the lion." Seeing several people's eyes looking over, George shrugged and said, "Once when I was on a mission, I was surrounded by a pack of wild dogs. On the African savannah, what's most terrifying isn't lions or cheetahs, but rather starving wild dogs with red eyes."

  He pointed to the scar above his eyebrow and said, "This is what was left of that time. I only had three bullets left in my gun, after shooting and killing three jackals, I could only engage in close combat with them. Fortunately, I was lucky enough, they died, although I was injured a lot, but I managed to hold on until the reinforcements arrived."

  He patted Tyler's small hand after he finished speaking, "So, Tyler, catching lions isn't that fun."

  Everyone who heard him say this felt a little moved. In Africa, there are only a few stable countries.

  Nikki suddenly felt a little worried, in her eyes, soldiers, especially those who had seen blood, were dangerous animals. Especially after reading a lot of information about the military to prepare for "The Sea Breeze", she knew that many retired Marines either became professional mercenaries or went astray because of their livelihood. Was it really suitable for Ryan to be with him?

  That was the most important person to himself, what if the other party wanted him... Nikki suddenly didn't dare think about it anymore, she thought she should find another bodyguard for Ryan.

  "Wait a minute." Ryan suddenly felt that he had overlooked something extremely important, seemingly related to what George said, but couldn't recall it. "George, what did you just say? Lion? And jackal?"

  "Right," George nodded. "In Africa, the most dangerous thing isn't lions, but rather starving hyenas with bloodshot eyes, got a problem with that?"

  "Damn it!" Ryan blurted out a Chinese curse, he finally remembered what he had forgotten - Lion! Hyena! Africa! Hamlet! The Prince's Revenge!

  Whether it was adapted at the beginning or created later, he actually forgot this most brilliant work of 2D animation and couldn't help but slap his forehead.

  "What an idiot I am." Ryan cursed himself in his heart.

  "Ryan, you've got a dirty mouth." Natalie said slowly and calmly.

  "What's wrong?" Ryan felt inexplicably puzzled.

  "Don't deny it." Natalie had a knowing look, "I've been learning Chinese since last year and often go to Chinatown to practice with people. I've met many Chinese exchange students who have used the phrase you just said to scold others."

  "You... what's with you wanting to learn Chinese?" Ryan was extremely surprised, he knew that Natalie from his past life was fluent in several languages, but had never heard of her speaking Chinese.

  "Since you speak Chinese so fluently, I naturally want to surpass you." She said it as if it was a matter of course.

  "Alright, alright." Ryan glanced at Nicole and since she didn't say anything, he said, "I apologize, that's enough, right?"

  Anyway, apologizing won't cost money and won't make him lose any flesh! He started being hypocritical again.

  "Ryeon, why did you hit yourself... just now?" Taylor asked curiously.

  "Ah..." Ryan opened his mouth, thinking to himself "you little brat, where did you get so much curiosity from", but seeing everyone looking over, he scratched his head and said, "After hearing George's experience, I suddenly had an inspiration, maybe I can write a story about Africa."

  "African Story?"

  Everyone knew the boy after all and was aware that he must have come up with something good.

  "Yes, set Shakespeare's Hamlet on the African savannah." He waved his hand to stop Natalie from voicing her opinion. "It's not a story about people. The main character is a lion, a lion named... Simba!"

  "Cartoon?" Natalie asked and immediately lost interest.

  "Like Mickey Mouse... uh... and Donald Duck cartoons?" Taylor chimed in.

  "Right."

  Ryan nodded and thought for a moment before running into the room and fetching an easel.

  Two updates today~ Coding on weekends, thank you everyone for your support~