### Chapter 133: Please Be Gentle With Me

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**"Why are you here?"**

"Mr. and Mrs. Tong are moving their home to New York. We're here to do some cleaning first."

"Alright, national affairs."

In a music bar on Sixth Avenue in East Village, New York, Richard met his former superior and uncle, Frank Campbell.

**"How's the preparation for the match going?"**

Frank asked.

**"Pretty good, but Tang Jin wants me to take more rounds and make the match more exciting. I'm not sure how to arrange the plot."**

Frank chuckled. **"Last time was good. Use the opponent's preferred style, knock him out with a single punch. If you repeat it, not only will it defeat the opponent physically, but it will also crush him mentally and psychologically."**

**"Really? That sounds good."**

Richard stroked his chin, deep in thought.

Seeing his expression, Frank smiled. **"Richard, you're good at fighting and enjoy thinking. You're actually quite suited for our line of work."**

**"Detective? Don't mention it. I've been at it for almost a year and haven't solved a single case. It's quite embarrassing."**

**"Haha, don't be embarrassed. Without assignments or salary, you're essentially working for yourself. Whether you solve the case or not doesn't matter much."**

Richard shook his head. **"Frank, I heard from informants that the fat guy likes to record videos. Would those tapes be useful if we found them?"**

Frank set down his drink. **"They're useful but not very helpful. They're all adults. If both parties are willing, they don't count as evidence. Cases in the entertainment industry require eyewitnesses—at least three firm witnesses. Otherwise, it's just a loss of money for the other party."**

**"Three?"**

Richard thought for a moment and shook his head. **"It's hard to find them. Even if they were victims before, they've become beneficiaries after becoming celebrities. Getting them to come forward is nearly impossible unless their exposure fades."**

**"Exactly. That's why we prefer not to spend too much energy on entertainment industry cases. Sometimes, even after a long investigation, the testimony is flipped. So, don't feel pressured if the investigation doesn't progress."**

**"Alright!"**

Richard took a sip of his beer. **"Sometimes the pressure isn't from the profession but from moral aspects. Knowing someone has a problem but not resolving it makes me uncomfortable."**

**"Haha, your obsession with cleanliness is getting worse."**

**"Probably!"**

Richard shrugged. Due to some traumatic experiences in his childhood, including getting blood on his face and unpleasant experiences in the orphanage, he developed a cleanliness obsession—a rather trivial issue.

**"Richard, if you want to solve the entertainment industry problem, there's a method that's even more effective than the law."**

Frank said slowly.

**"Oh, what method?"**

**"The reason those people don't want to come forward is largely due to fear of the other party's influence. So to fundamentally solve the problem, you should start by addressing the opponent's power and influence. Take it step by step, don't rush."**

Richard pondered for a moment and nodded slightly. **"I think I understand something now."**

**"What do you understand?"**

**"I'm still too weak."**

Richard smiled, shaking his drink. After becoming a champion, having money, fame, and a girlfriend, he felt satisfied mentally and physically but started to feel a bit complacent.

After having a drink and while Frank was still around, Richard asked a few more questions about the investigation.

At first, Frank answered patiently, but eventually grew impatient and gave him a reading list to study before asking such basic questions.

Richard thought it made sense. After leaving the bar, he went to a bookstore, bought more than ten detective novels and books, and placed them in the study of his old house to read when he had time.

---

**"Richard, isn't the shoot finished yet?"**

In the evening, back at home, Mrs. Banton and Angela Lindworth were watching TV.

**"Not yet, it will take another two to three days."**

Richard changed his shoes and sat on the sofa. The TV was broadcasting the Golden Globe Awards, with the Best Actor in a Drama category being announced.

Five movies were nominated: *The Truman Show*, *Wilde*, *Saving Private Ryan*, *Gods and Beasts*, and *Suffering*. In the end, Jim Carrey defeated Tom Hanks and won the Golden Globe.

**"Richard, as an actor yourself, do you have any hope of winning a Golden Globe?"**

Angela asked with a smile.

**"There is hope, but it requires time to achieve."**

Richard leaned against Banton's shoulder, eating an apple.

**"But you don't seem like someone who could become an actor of the year."**

Angela said with disdain.

**"Indeed. I'm too handsome. Generally, people who are good-looking don't win film awards easily."**

Richard nodded knowingly.

**"Haha."**

**"Why are you laughing? Aren't I telling the truth? Should I turn on the high beams so you can see my face clearly? It's really handsome."**

Richard said, touching his cheek.

Angela slapped her forehead, collapsing on the sofa. **"Banton, I'm curious. How have you managed to live with such a shameless guy for so long?"**

Mrs. Banton smiled. **"Because Richard tells the truth. He is indeed very handsome."**

**"Dear, thank you!"**

Richard laughed heartily and kissed Banton.

**"And I'm quite beautiful too."**

Mrs. Banton touched her cheek and smiled.

**"Oh, I can't stand you two anymore."**

Angela straightened her clothes and got up to leave.

**"What's the rush? It's not dark outside yet. Stay until we're done watching."**

Mrs. Banton pulled her back down.

**"Yes, Angela. I heard you found a boyfriend who's also an actor. Why didn't you bring him along?"**

Richard asked, still eating his apple.

**"We broke up!"**

Angela leaned on the other side of Banton's shoulder.

**"Why so soon? Was it only four months?"**

"None!"

"How did you split up? Did he cheat, or did you?"

"Get lost. We broke up amicably."

Angela lifted her long leg and kicked him through Bundchen.

"Alright, happy breakup. I hope you find a good man next time."

Richard handed her an apple.

Angela rolled her eyes at him and took a crunchy bite of the apple. "I'm suddenly very envious of you two. Billy and I dated for a few months. There was some passion at first, but it got really boring in the end. He was busy filming, and I was busy with fashion shows. When we met, we had nothing to say. Unlike you two, who are always like a romantic comedy, laughing and sticking together without shame."

"Haha, actually, it's not as good as you think. You know Richard, he can be really annoying sometimes, and then I hit him."

"Hit him to the bed, right?"

Angela teased.

"How did you know?"

Richard laughed.

"Shut up!"

Mrs. Bundchen pushed him away. "It's not like that. I hit him hard and made him admit his mistakes. If he didn't, he couldn't get on the bed. In the end, he obediently admitted his faults."

"Haha~ Why is this apple so sour? My teeth are going to fall out."

Angela said, holding the red apple.

Richard shook his head. "Bundchen, you're showing off your love again. That's not right."

"Stop talking!"

Bundchen stuffed the apple into his mouth.

Angela covered her cheek and collapsed on the sofa, her cheeks aching from the sourness.

"Alright, enough about that. Let's watch TV. Who do you think will win Best Actress in a Drama?"

Mrs. Bundchen put her arm around her shoulder.

"Meryl Streep, she's a seasoned actress."

Angela said.

"What about you, Richard?"

"Cate Blanchett."

Richard thought for a moment and said.

"I support the Brazilian actress Fernanda Montenegro. Her performance in 'Central Station' was excellent."

Bundchen said.

"What's the reward if you win?"

Richard asked with a smile.

"What reward do you want?"

"Well, I'm a bit tired from training for the shoot today. How about each of you massages one of my shoulders?"

Richard smiled.

"Alright!"

Angela clapped her hands. "If I win, my request is simple. Can I punch you a few times?"

"No problem!"

Richard laughed.

"Bundchen, what if you win?"

"Well..."

Mrs. Bundchen was thinking with her chin in her hand.

"Don't think about it. It doesn't matter. Look!"

On the TV, actor Peter Fonda opened the card and announced loudly, "The winner of the 56th Best Actress in a Drama is Cate Blanchett."

"Hahaha~ Ladies, please!"

Richard spread his arms and laughed.

"Hmph!"

Although the two women were reluctant, they honored their bet and helped him massage his arms, using a lot of force. Richard endured the pain happily.

"Richard, how did you know it was Cate Blanchett?"

Bundchen asked curiously.

"I have insider information."

Richard pretended to be profound.

"Really? Then guess who will win Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy? If you guess right, we'll continue massaging you."

Angela punched his bicep hard.

"Well, Gwyneth Paltrow."

"Impossible. I've seen 'Shakespeare in Love', and her performance was mediocre."

Mrs. Bundchen said.

"Yes, this is a comedy film. Meg Ryan's performance in 'You've Got Mail' was good. She's also a veteran actress. I think she has the best chance."

Angela said.

Richard shook his head. "That's naive. To win the Golden Globe or the Oscar, it's not about acting or qualifications, but the PR power of the film company. The Weinstein brothers are behind 'Shakespeare in Love'. Their PR skills are powerful. They've helped over a dozen actors and actresses win awards since the '80s. Gwyneth has the best chance."

"Really? It's about to be announced."

Mrs. Bundchen pointed to the TV.

On stage, last year's Best Actor Jack Nicholson opened the card and announced, "The winner of the 56th Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy is Cameron Diaz for 'There's Something About Mary'!"

"Impossible!!!"

Richard jumped up.

"Hahaha~"

Mrs. Bundchen and Angela were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Richard, didn't you say you had insider information?"

"Haha, just now, someone was so sure, as if they already knew the result. And now?"

"Thought he was a prophet, but turns out he was just guessing!"

Bundchen and Angela teased him in turn.

"Impossible, how could this happen?"

Richard pressed his forehead and thought hard. The information in his memory was that Gwyneth would win. Did he remember wrong? If this was wrong, how accurate was the rest?

"Hey, Richard, you lost. Time to get hit."

Angela shook her fist.

"Don't mess around. I have a headache and need to rest."

Richard covered his forehead.

"Stop pretending. Lie down and take your beating!"

Angela pulled him.

"Richard, you lost the bet. Cheating is wrong."

Mrs. Bundchen touched his forehead.

"Alright!"

Richard lay on the sofa.

"Ladies, please be gentle with me!"

"Sure, we'll be very gentle!"

Angela shook her fist and laughed.

"Hit him!"

Bang bang bang~

"Ah~~~ Oh, that feels good. A little harder, please!"

Thank you, book friend 201905231, for the reward (*^▽^*)

(This chapter ends here)