## Chapter 39: Aftermath and a Wild Night

## Chapter 39: Aftermath and a Wild Night

"On June 13, 2008, the Golden Gloves National Championship, co-hosted by the Golden Gloves Boxing Commission and the Amateur Boxing Association, came to a close at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.

Many outstanding boxers emerged in this championship.

There was the heavyweight Golden Gloves champion Deontay Wilder, the cruiserweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr., the light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr., the middleweight champion George Groves, and so on.

However, the most eye-catching boxer in this championship was undoubtedly the Miami boy Link Baker.

He attracted the attention of boxing fans from the regional competition by winning all his matches by knockout.

In the divisional competition, he accumulated a record of 14 wins and 14 knockouts, advancing to the finals in an unprecedented way, attracting interviews and reports from numerous media outlets.

He was also named one of the most anticipated rookies of the year by the largest-circulation boxing magazine, "The Ring."

In the finals, he knocked out Iron Man Morales, Praying Mantis Andrzej Fonfara, and amateur boxing champion Andre Berto, winning the super middleweight championship trophy in a way that surprised everyone.

At 6 p.m. that day, the cable channel HBO broadcast the live broadcast of the super middleweight match.

According to Nielsen data statistics, the highest viewership rating of this broadcast reached 10.28 million households, becoming the highest-rated program in the same time slot.

Link's tough fighting style, storm-like offense, powerful punches, and amazing stamina left a deep impression on the audience.

Almost overnight, Link became a sensation across the United States.

This popularity was not only online and in the media, but also among ordinary people. Many people knew that there was a handsome boxer with superb boxing skills and very hard punches. His name was Link Baker.

With his popularity, the media also dug up his past news and reported it again, with the "fake boxing scandal" being the first to bear the brunt.

Link won the Golden Gloves amateur championship with a record of 17 wins and 17 knockouts, an unprecedented new record.

Before him, no one in amateur boxing had ever won all their matches by knockout, including the historically famous Bronze Bomber Joe Louis, undefeated champion Rocky Marciano, king of the knockout Mike Tyson, and so on. They couldn't do it.

But a 20-year-old boxer who had only been training for three years did it.

This kind of record was too amazing, so it also caused many people to doubt it, including boxing champions Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins, Chris Byrd, Hasim Rahman, James Toney, Nikolai Valuev, and so on.

They publicly questioned Link's competition results, suspecting that his all-knockout record into the finals was fraudulent.

However, even more surprising was Link's response.

On the day of the match, Link, in front of dozens of media reporters, challenged all the boxing champions and famous boxers who questioned him.

He told the media reporters that as long as these boxers could last three rounds in his hands, he would lose, and even publicly provoked Roy Jones Jr., saying that if Roy Jones Jr. could last one round in his hands, he would also lose.

Link's tough remarks, after he became famous, were also reported by major media, causing a sensation in the North American boxing world.

Some people criticized him for being too arrogant and liking to use this way to gain attention.

Many people also supported him, thinking that he had personality, courage, and dared to challenge everything.

Whether it was criticism or praise, Link Baker, a boxing newcomer who had just debuted for less than a month, became famous almost overnight in the United States and became one of the most dazzling rookies among the new generation of boxers."

-- From the Miami Herald Sports section headline news.

---

"Hmm~"

When Emma Watson woke up from the room, the starlight had long since dissipated, and the bright midday Miami sun had already penetrated the blue curtains, invading this small, cramped yet warm and comfortable room.

Light blue curtains, light blue wall paint, the floor covered with a wool carpet the same color as the sand outside, soft, white, and delicate, and the soft bed beneath her was like a small boat, quietly moored on the beach.

Emma touched her forehead with the back of her hand, her head still a little dizzy, and what made her even more dizzy was last night's dream.

Thinking of last night's events, she couldn't help but bite the corner of the blanket, her delicate cheeks turning red and hot.

Last night, she had a very scary dream. In the dream, she was sitting on this "little boat" under her, sailing in the stormy sea.

The weather gradually changed, with strong winds and heavy rain, hurricanes and lightning, hitting the boat under her again and again. She didn't know how long the storm lasted, and several times she almost died.

"Bastard!"

Emma curled up under the blanket and angrily punched the empty pillow beside her, treating the innocent pillow as last night's Mr. Storm.

After venting her anger on the pillow for a while, she felt much better.

Emma pulled the blanket to cover her chest and slowly sat up from the small bed. Her slender eyebrows furrowed slightly with a hint of unspeakable pain, and Emma cursed a few more "savage bastards."

"Link? Link?"

Emma leaned against the pillow and called out in a hoarse voice.

No one answered outside. Emma angrily threw the pillow onto the carpet and cursed "bastard."

Ring ring ring!

The phone on the bedside table rang. It was her phone.

Emma sighed and reached for the phone. The caller ID showed it was her aunt Eileen, who was also her agent.

There were more than ten missed calls on the phone, from her aunt, Daniel, Robert, and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" director David Yates.

Emma suddenly remembered that she was an actress and had several scenes to film today. She had originally planned to go back yesterday after watching the match, but for some reason, when Link invited her, she agreed without hesitation.

"It's all Link's fault!"

Emma took a deep breath, answered her aunt's call, and carefully said good morning.

"Emma, it's already noon. What's wrong with your voice?"

Aunt Eileen's stern and rigid voice came from the receiver.

"Aunt, I'm fine."

Emma pinched her throat and spoke carefully.

"Where are you? You still have filming today, two scenes, have you forgotten?"

"I... I'm in Miami. I haven't forgotten, I just..." Emma saw a few clear red fingerprints on her fair calf, and she bit her lower lip tightly. "Aunt, I'm injured."

"Injured? Where? Is it serious? Have you been to the hospital to see a doctor? Which hospital are you in? I'll come right away."

Aunt Eileen's voice burst out from the receiver like a machine gun.

Emma was startled. If her aunt came and saw her like this, she would definitely be exposed. She quickly said, "Aunt, you don't need to come. It's just a small injury. Yesterday... yesterday at the boxing match, there were too many people, and I accidentally sprained my ankle. It's no big deal, I'll be fine after two days of rest."

"Are you really okay?"

"Really."

Emma looked at the fingerprints on her calf. They should disappear in two days, right?

Damn Link!

"Then where are you now? Is anyone taking care of you?"

"Yes, at a friend's house, a good friend."

Emma suddenly saw the dress hanging on the bedside. The hem had accidentally gotten cake on it at the party yesterday, and there was a stain on the lower part. Now it had been washed clean and smelled of laundry detergent, a citrus scent, the same as Link's scent.

Emma couldn't help but curl her lips. "He's not bad to me."

"He? A male friend? When did you have a male friend in Miami? Emma, you didn't report this to me." Aunt Eileen's voice was a little dissatisfied.

"It's two friends, a man and a woman. They're... a couple."

Emma stuck out her tongue, feeling that she was getting better and better at lying.

After chatting with her aunt for more than ten minutes, she finally managed to appease her nervous aunt and dissuade her from coming to Miami.

Emma rubbed her hair and called director David Yates to apologize to the director and crew, assuring them that she would definitely be able to arrive at the Orlando set on time tomorrow and not cause any trouble for the crew.

The director told her to rest well and come back after recovering from her injury.

Seeing Daniel and Robert's calls, she thought for a moment and sent them two messages, telling them that she was fine.

Soon, Daniel sent five messages in a row, asking how she was doing, saying that he heard from her aunt that she had injured her foot, and asking if it was serious and if it hurt. He also asked which hospital she was in, as he and Robert wanted to visit her.

Emma rolled her eyes and simply replied, "I'm fine," before throwing the phone aside.

“Ha, Link, you’re a boxer, but your diving skills are even better. Unbelievable.”

“I’m a professional diver, amateur boxer. Boxing is just a side job.”

“Ha, Link, you’re so funny.”

Outside, two men’s conversation could be heard. Emma wrapped herself in a blanket, got up, and peeked through the curtain. Sunlight poured in, illuminating the blue ocean and white sandy beach. Two men in black wetsuits carrying diving gear were walking towards the house, chatting and laughing.

The man in front was a middle-aged guy wearing a wig, which was now wet and stuck to his head like a soggy bird’s nest.

The man behind him was the jerk, wearing a tight wetsuit that highlighted his muscular physique, with long, strong legs and a handsome, chiseled face. His smile was brighter than the Miami sun, with dazzling white teeth and deep blue eyes that were more mesmerizing than the ocean outside.

Emma clutched her chest, her heart racing. She stared at him, finding a perfect excuse for last night’s craziness. It was this jerk’s fault for being too sexy and irresistible. She was just a girl, forced to accept what happened.

Yes, that’s it.

Emma nodded to herself.

Hearing the door unlock, she quickly returned to bed, covering herself with the blanket, back facing the door, pretending to be asleep.

A moment later, the bedroom door opened, and Link walked in, carrying the scent of sunshine.

“Emma! Emma!”

Emma kept her eyes closed, not moving, like a princess under a sleeping curse.

“Emma, I brought you breakfast. I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so there’s ham pizza, Cuban sandwiches, fruit salad, ice cream, and fresh orange juice. If you want something else, let me know.”

“The guy outside is Simmons, a reporter from the Miami Herald. He wants to interview me, should take about half an hour.”

“Also, your phone rang a few times this morning. You were asleep, so I didn’t wake you. Remember to return the calls so they don’t worry.”

With that, Link left, gently closing the door.

Emma opened her brown eyes, pouting. She was clearly asleep; who woke up? Talking so much to thin air, so annoying!

Noticing the pillow she had thrown away was back on the bed, Emma blushed, knowing her act of pretending to sleep had failed. Annoyed, she kicked the pillow off again.

A folding table had been placed by the bed, with several delicious-looking foods and fresh fruits.

Emma’s stomach growled. She sat up and began to enjoy the breakfast, listening to Link and the wig man’s conversation outside. She hadn’t expected the man to be a journalist."