Saguaro National Park, west of Tucson, Arizona.
It was already the evening of the next day.
The sun was setting.
Simon leaned against the front of his Chevrolet SUV, smiling as he watched Janette, not far away, taking photos with her camera, circling several seven or eight-meter-tall Saguaro cacti with great interest.
Early that morning, Simon was pulled out of bed by the woman.
The two drove out of Coolidge and headed north to the famous Grand Canyon National Park, where they had a full day of fun.
They returned in the afternoon, and Janette, clearly not having had enough, clamoured to see the Saguaro cacti, so they came here.
By now, they had driven over 700 kilometres today, traversing more than half of Arizona.
Feeling Simon's gaze on her, Janette quickly ran back and said, "What big cacti! I really want to take one home; it would be so cool to plant it in the yard".
Simon imagined the striking sight of a seven or eight-meter-tall cactus in his own yard and chuckled, "I don't know if it would be cool, but someone would definitely come looking for trouble.
Alright, we've played all day, shouldn't we head back now?"
Janette tossed her camera into the car, then turned and climbed onto the hood.
Simon watched Janette sitting on the hood, patted her calf, and said, "Sit tight, I'm driving".
Janette smiled, pulled Simon, and said, "Little boy, you come up too".
Simon didn't refuse, and with a quick push, he sat up.
The hood of the Chevrolet SUV was very wide, more than enough for two people.
Simon settled on the hood, leaning against the front windshield, his gaze passing through several tall cacti, looking at the sunset about to dip below the horizon at the edge of the endless wilderness, and an inexplicable emotion arose within him.
Janette snuggled up like a cat, touched Simon's cheek, and said, "Little boy, do you ever find me too clingy?"
"No," Simon shook his head and said, "I actually quite like this feeling".
Janette lay down, resting her head on Simon's shoulder, and whispered, "Actually, I don't want to be like this either, I just can't help it. And, do you really not remember what day today is?"
Simon thought for a moment but still shook his head.
Janette reached over, pulled his wallet from Simon's jacket pocket, opened it, and showed it to him.
Simon looked closely at the driver's license in front of him for a few moments before saying, "Oh, it's my birthday. I forgot".
Simon hadn't paid much attention to his birthday in his previous life, and after his rebirth, he cared even less about it.
He hadn't expected Janette to remember and even travel all the way from Los Angeles.
Feeling a touch of emotion, he reached out and embraced the woman, applying a slight pressure.
Janette readily leaned in, and their lips met.
After a moment of passionate embrace, they separated, but Janette remained pressed against Simon.
She reached up and touched his cheek again, saying, "After today, I can't call you 'little boy' anymore.
Actually, I had originally intended to prepare something elaborate for today. But since you don't mind, I won't bother. I've always thought blowing out candles on a cake was a bit silly anyway".
Simon just smiled, feeling Janette's soft body, and suddenly remembered something else.
He said, "Speaking of which, I still don't know your age. Come on, let me see your driver's license".
"How impolite, asking a lady's age," Janette playfully slapped Simon, but then readily pulled a card from her own pocket and handed it to him: "Here".
Simon took it and held it up to his eyes.
DOB: 02/22/68.
Hmm?
Something seemed off.
So he held up his own driver's license again.
DOB: 02/22/68.
Janette also leaned her face in to look, then exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, what a coincidence! Our birthdays are exactly the same".
"Yes, what a coincidence."
Simon looked exasperated, casually pulled the woman over, and spanked her bottom twice.
"Hehe, ouch, so violent".
Janette giggled, wriggling her body, and snatched back her 'driver's license'.
Simon had never paid attention to Janette's age before; he had only asked casually.
Since the woman didn't want him to know, he didn't press the issue.
After his rebirth, Simon found that he was indifferent to many things.
Although he tried hard to do some things, deep down, he felt an indescribable detachment and coldness towards everything around him.
Janette rested her cheek on Simon's chest, listening quietly to his strong heartbeat for a moment, then suddenly murmured, "Little boy, I love you, do you know that?"
Simon looked at the fiery clouds remaining after the sunset in the sky and nodded, "I know".
"But I also know you don't love me," Janette continued to murmur, raising her hand and pressing it against Simon's heart, whispering, "It's so cold here, I really want to melt it for you".
Simon hugged the woman and said, "It's getting dark, let's go back. You can try a hot compress tonight".
"That's not funny at all," Janette lightly slapped Simon and whispered, "Actually, I really want to know everything about you, but you definitely won't tell me, will you?"
"Mm".
Janette gently rubbed her cheek against Simon's chest and said, "Little boy, no matter what, I won't become a burden to you. But you also have to promise that even if you don't love me in your heart, you will always indulge me, spoil me, and tolerate me like this".
"Of course, I will," Simon nodded and said, "However, I think it's best if you do become my burden.
Without a burden, I might very well go and destroy the world".
Janette chuckled when she heard Simon say that, and said, "Little boy, do you know what my dream has been since I was little?"
"What is it?"
Janette looked up, met Simon's gaze, and said seriously, "To destroy the world, like those big villains in movies".
Simon showed a look of lingering fear and said, "Good thing you're too lazy, otherwise everyone would be in trouble."
Janette curved her lips, leaning back against Simon's chest, and said, "But now, you can help me fulfil that dream".
"That... That may be a bit difficult. Besides, this world is already bad enough, let's just let it linger on its own".
Janette's tone suddenly became a little stubborn, and she insisted, "No way".
"How about we choose a less difficult goal, like conquering the world first?"
"Mm-hmm".
Simon smiled, looking up at the darkening sky, and said, "Well then, before we conquer the world, shouldn't we hurry back? This is the wilderness, and I don't even know if there are wolves in Arizona".
"Hehe," Janette chuckled, but hugged Simon, not letting him move, and said, "No, I haven't had enough yet".
Simon indulgently pinched Janette's tender cheek and said, "Alright, since it's your birthday today."
Janette bit Simon's outstretched finger, then said, "Simon, there's one more thing. Regarding the contract we signed, there's going to be a lot of money this time. I've thought about it, and I can't take it. You just need to return the $400,000 you gave me back then, that's all".
Simon didn't answer, but instead asked, "Have you calculated how much Orion will earn this time?"
Janette nodded, then pouted, saying, "Just from the box office, they might get 50 million dollars.
We even paid for the copies, so Orion hardly invested anything. They're getting off too easily".
Simon's finger traced Janette's lip line, preventing her from pouting further, and he smiled, "But I don't think they're taking too much, because they deserve it.
If I had chosen to collaborate with the Big Seven back then, I wouldn't have gotten the terms Orion offered. Similarly, the money you invested back then, and the future share, are also what you deserve".
Janette looked over again and said, "But I always feel like it's a bit unfair to you. You did most of the work, but you're getting the least".
Simon leaned in slightly, kissed her lips, and said, "Without you all, I couldn't even do these things. So, it's fair. And, it's not just money; what I've gained is actually far more than you think.
Remember Saunders, who left last night?
The 'Butterfly Effect' that's still in production, even with the post-production revenue, I might not even get $500,000 from it. But this time with 'Final Destination', if we can iron out the deal, I could get more than $5 million. See, that's what I've gained".
Janette finally nodded: "Okay, in that case, I'll take this money".
Simon thought for a moment and said, "Before you take it, let me use this money for a while.
Consider it a loan this time; if I make a profit, I won't share it with you. How does that sound?"
"Uh-huh," Janette nodded, then asked, "What are you going to do?"
Simon looked at the woman and smiled, "I just remembered, Katherine said you graduated from Columbia Business School. Do you know how to play stock index futures?"
This year happened to be 1987, and in Simon's memory, the most profound impression of that year was undoubtedly the US stock market crash.
Given this, it would be completely unreasonable not to seize such a good opportunity to accumulate some capital for himself.
"Yes, I even made some pocket money in college," Janette said, her eyes sparkling with intelligence, completely devoid of her usual laziness.
She looked at him with bright eyes and said, "Many people are already entering the market. So, New York or Tokyo, which side are you going to bet on?"
Simon looked at the suddenly changed Janette, reached out and pinched her small nose, and smiled, "We're not betting on either side, let's wait a bit longer. However, since you're so interested, you can help me manage it when the time comes".
Janette pushed Simon's hand away, then lazily leaned against him, saying, "I won't do it for you, it's too tiring. Many of my former classmates are on Wall Street; I'll have them do it then.
Hmm, I can supervise for you. But, Simon, with stock index futures, unless you can predict the future, no one can be certain".
Indeed, the superior person commands others.
Simon pinched the naturally wealthy woman in his arms and said, "Maybe I really can predict the future".
Janette immediately became interested again and asked, "Do you know when humanity will go extinct?"
Simon paused, then honestly shook his head.
"When will that kind of asteroid from 65 million years ago visit Earth again?"
Simon continued to shake his head.
"What about World War III?"
Simon still shook his head.
Janette pouted her lips: "Tsk useless".
Simon, sensing the woman's mind full of destructive desires, reached out and gestured at her slender, pale neck, chuckling, "Janette, I think you're really too dangerous to be on this planet".
Janette offered her neck towards Simon's hand and said, "Mm-hmm-hmm, strangle me."
Simon, of course, didn't use force.
He withdrew his hand and said, "Speaking of which, Janette, I hope this money is as much as possible. So, tomorrow when you go back to Los Angeles, take our contract with Orion to the bank for appraisal and get a loan as quickly as possible".
"Mm-hmm," Janette nodded, then looked at Simon with a hint of cunning in her eyes, saying, "I'll write out the IOU for you. This is going to be a very big sum, remember to put your fingerprint on it when you get back".
"I've been thinking about whether to default on the debt, like some people do."
"I just want you to default," Janette extended her finger and poked Simon's chest, saying, "That way, you'll owe me in your heart forever".
Simon's tone immediately became firm: "Forget it, I won't default."
"Hehe."
Seeing the surroundings completely darken, Simon had no intention of staying in the wilderness any longer.
He jumped off the hood, picked up Janette's light body, carried her to the passenger seat, and quickly drove back to Coolidge in the north.