Huff, huff ~ huff, huff ~
In the early morning, the weather was clear and cold. On the outer track of Youth Park, the outer green belt was covered with a layer of frost. Richard was dressed in sportswear, running laps, with white breath puffing out of his mouth like a little train.
After running two laps, he arrived at the boxing gym for training around nine o'clock.
"Good morning, Paul!"
When he arrived, Paul was already training. Since his last defeat, Paul had become more diligent and serious about his boxing practice, which was a good sign.
After greeting Paul, Richard went to the barbell rack and started his strength training.
"Hey, Richard, do you think I'm not suited for boxing?" Paul suddenly put down the barbell and sighed.
"Why would you think that?" Richard raised his eyebrows.
"Look at me, I've been practicing boxing since I was a kid, almost twenty years now, and I'm still like this. Then look at you, always running around, flirting, acting, spending less time training than I do, but you're still so amazing. Why is that? Am I not suited for boxing?"
Richard smirked, "Paul, are you still hung up on that last match?"
"Shouldn't I be? I trained so hard and still lost. You barely train and keep winning. The world's so damn unfair."
Paul waved his fists in frustration.
"Stop yelling. Haven't you heard that failure is the mother of success?"
"That's crap. Why haven't you and Mayweather failed?"
Paul asked with a darkened face.
Richard shook his head slowly, saying, "The heavyweight division is different from other divisions. There are more top fighters in the heavyweight division. Heavyweight boxers earn more money, and the heavyweight champion's crown is more prestigious, making the path even harder. Since you've chosen this path, you should learn to accept failure instead of complaining here."
Paul was silent for a while, then nodded, "You're right." He picked up the barbell again, lifted it twice, and said, "I must become the champion. Otherwise, the Bronx Three Musketeers will be incomplete."
"Go for it!" Richard smiled and continued his strength training.
Around three in the afternoon, Richard left the gym early.
---
February arrived, and so did the Autumn/Winter Fashion Weeks.
Every year in February and March, Autumn/Winter Fashion Weeks are held in New York, London, Milan, Paris, and Tokyo. Spring/Summer Fashion Weeks are held in September and October. These two periods are considered the most significant annual events in the fashion industry and the busiest times for models, including Bündchen.
Today, she was heading to Europe to participate in the fashion weeks in London, Milan, and Paris, and Richard came to see her off.
"You don't have to see me off. Our company is leaving together this afternoon, with assistants, the management team, and Angela. You don't need to worry about me," Bündchen said while packing her suitcase.
"I know, I just wanted to spend a bit more time with you," Richard said, smiling at her.
Bündchen stood up and hugged his waist, leaning against his chest, "I'll miss you too. If you didn't come, I could leave decisively. But now that you're here, I don't want to go."
"How about not going? Once I become the champion, making money will be easier. We can live a wealthy life without you having to run around. Each rehearsal is exhausting."
Richard stroked her hair.
"No, even though I want you to get better and better, I also want to become better, even better than you. That way, when people see you, they'll say, 'Look, that's Bündchen's boyfriend.' Haha, just thinking about it makes me happy," Bündchen laughed.
"Sweetheart, why do you have such strange ideas? Your thoughts are dangerous, you know?" Richard lifted her chin, displeased.
"Why are they dangerous?" Bündchen blinked.
"Because you're trying to make your man your accessory. Isn't that dangerous enough?" Richard patted her butt.
"Jerk, how dare you hit me!"
Bündchen pushed him back a few steps, pressing him onto the sofa. "You say I want to make you my accessory, but what about you? You say you'll become the champion and give me a wealthy life. Aren't you trying to make me your accessory?"
Richard rubbed his forehead, "I just don't want you to work too hard, and I can't bear to see you leave."
"I know, but since I've chosen this path, I must keep going. I hope you'll support me," Bündchen said softly.
"Okay!" Richard nodded and took out a bank card from his pocket. "Here's $100,000, my winnings and bets from a few matches. I want you to have it. Don't say anything. I know you have money, more than me, and are better at making money. But this is all I can give you. Please take it!"
Bündchen was silent for a while, then shook her head, "This isn't right. I know you care about me, but I don't want our relationship to be mixed with other things. If I take this card today, next time you don't give it to me, I'll feel the difference. But if you do, our relationship will become abnormal. I don't like that."
Richard smiled, "But I didn't prepare any other parting gift for you."
"No, you did. You are the best gift," Bündchen said, leaning down to kiss him passionately.
"Bündchen, it's time to go!" Angela Lindvall suddenly burst into the room. Seeing the two on the sofa, she immediately covered her eyes, "I didn't see anything, continue!"
"Stop joking. We weren't doing anything," Bündchen said, adjusting her clothes.
Angela smiled, "Richard, I heard you beat up Norman Holiday the other day?"
"Norman Holiday, who's that?" Richard asked, puzzled.
"The guy you threw out."
Bündchen said, tying her hair up.
"Richard, be careful. I heard that guy is very petty," Angela warned.
"Got it. You all be careful too. Call me if anything happens."
"Will do!"
---
Half an hour later, a Boeing aircraft took off smoothly from JFK International Airport, flying into the endless blue sky.
"It's time to go!" Anthony shouted from the car.
Richard got in the car, looking at the sky, and said slowly, "Anthony, I want to make money."
"Don't think about it. Focus on acting. You'll have money in a few years," Anthony said, starting the car.
"A few years is too slow," Richard thought for a moment. "Anthony, I want to find a stockbroker. Do you know anyone in that field?"
"What for?"
"Of course, to make money from stocks. I don't know much about it, so I want to consult someone."
"Stock trading is too unrealistic. A financial crisis could wipe everything out. Boxing is more reliable."
"Just help me find one, and we'll see."
"Alright!"
The car left the airport, entering bustling Manhattan.
The next day, Richard joined the crew of "Dangerous X Game" and started filming.