Chapter 72: Whoever is Pitiful Must Have a Cause to be Despised

In the afternoon, the Witherspoon family prepared a sumptuous meal to entertain their guest, Richard Brad, who had traveled from afar.

"Humph, this guy isn't a guest. He's just here for a free meal," thought Rachael as she glared at him, her heart filled with resentment.

She had been enjoying a peaceful life at home, eating and sleeping like a happy little pig. But ever since this guy arrived in Tennessee, everything changed. Her peaceful life was disrupted, and her parents weren't as kind as before. They kept nagging her about being careful when choosing a boyfriend, paying attention to character, avoiding bad influences, and making friends with outstanding people, often using that jerk as an example.

They said things like, "Polite, optimistic, positive, warm, and sunny."

Ha~

Every time she heard this, she couldn't help but laugh. Was Richard really that great? Even if the incident with Ryan had nothing to do with him, he wasn't a good person. He was ambitious, cunning, deceitful, thick-skinned, and had a sharp tongue. Every time she remembered his comment about her figure, she wanted to kick him.

"Ouch, Rachael, is there something wrong?"

Richard was chatting with Dana when he suddenly felt a kick on his calf.

"Hmph, the food isn't cooked by my mom. Why are you saying so many good things?"

Rachael said as she cut her steak with a knife and fork.

"We were just discussing the differences between food in New York and Tennessee. What's wrong with that?"

Richard paused his fork and asked.

Rachael stuck out her tongue secretly. She had been daydreaming and hadn't listened to their conversation. She snorted, raised her head, and said, "Talk less during meals. It's dining etiquette. Don't you know that?"

"I know, but at home, is it necessary to follow such rules?"

"What do you mean at home? This is my home, not..."

"Rachael, Richard is right. There's no need to be so formal at home. You've become more and more impolite lately."

Professor Dana said sternly.

"Yes, Rachael, you used to be well-behaved and sensible. Why have you changed so much recently? Has Ryan been a bad influence on you?"

Fred frowned.

Rachael clenched her fork, trembling with anger. This was clearly her home. Why did she suddenly feel like an outsider? Even her parents didn't seem like her own anymore. It was infuriating, and it was all that guy's fault, that jerk!

"Fred, Rachael is probably in a bad mood. Ryan's incident actually hurt her the most," Richard said.

Rachael's eyes welled up with tears. Finally, someone understood her, but why did it have to be this guy? Why?!

"Rachael, don't be sad. The sooner you leave that scumbag, the sooner you'll meet a good man. This is actually something worth celebrating, isn't it?"

Fred raised his glass of red wine.

"Yes!"

Richard and Professor Dana also raised their glasses.

Rachael stared blankly at the three of them. Mom, Dad, what are you doing? I'm heartbroken, and you're celebrating? Doesn't your conscience hurt?

"Rachael, aren't you going to join us?"

Fred asked.

With tears in her eyes, Rachael raised her glass. She was heartbroken from the breakup, but even more so because she had to celebrate it with them. Boohoo~

Clink~

The four of them clinked their glasses.

"Richard, you mentioned you're acting too. Aren't you a professional boxer?"

Fred asked.

"Yes, acting is a hobby. I take a few small roles each year to add some variety to my life," Richard smiled.

"That's great. Unlike Rachael, who's been acting for years and has become a bit silly, unable to distinguish between reality and her roles. Last year, she almost became depressed."

Fred said.

Rachael rolled her eyes. How did the conversation come back to her again? This meal was unbearable.

"Richard, are you from New York? Did you grow up there?"

Professor Dana asked.

"Yes, from the Bronx. Fred, Dana, when you visit New York, please come to my home."

Richard smiled.

"Haha, for sure. Actually, I have plans to visit," Fred laughed.

"That's great. There are many fun things in the Bronx, including underground boxing matches, which are very intense."

"Really? Have you participated in underground boxing?"

Fred asked with interest.

"Haha, Fred, my proudest achievement isn't my professional record of 6-0 or my amateur record of 17-0, but my underground boxing record: 23-0 with 18 KOs."

"You've fought in underground matches? I've heard they're chaotic and people often die in them. Is that true?"

Fred asked.

"It was like that before the '90s. Back then, gangs ran rampant in the Bronx, and with their protection, they often held life-and-death matches, which were very bloody. In recent years, the government has cracked down on gangs. Without their protection, many venues have either shut down or moved to more hidden locations, inaccessible to the general public."

Fred nodded.

"Have you ever killed anyone in these fights?"

Rachael suddenly asked.

"No, I mostly participated in regular matches where the fights were controlled," Richard said with a smile.

"I don't believe you."

"Rachael, eat your meal!"

Professor Dana called out.

"Rachael, I assure you, I didn't lie. Sometimes I also participate in cage fights, mixed martial arts, and group fights, which are mostly for show, like WWE wrestling. After a match, not a single hair would be harmed."

Richard explained.

"Alright," Rachael glanced at him, half-believing.

"Richard, you're only twenty. You must have been a teenager when you fought in underground matches. Weren't your parents worried?"

Professor Dana asked.

"Dana, Richard's father passed away in an accident when he was seven. His father was my comrade; we trained together," Fred said.

"I'm sorry, Richard. That's a sad thing to hear," Professor Dana pressed his hand.

"It's okay. Actually, when I was nine, my mother also passed away from illness. I then went to an orphanage. Though I lacked their companionship, I lived quite well," Richard smiled.

"This child, you've had it tough," Professor Dana's fingers trembled.

Rachael lowered her head, suddenly feeling very sad. She covered her face and stood up, "Excuse me!"

"Richard, you've had a rougher life than me," Sarah Michelle Gellar suddenly interrupted his recollection at the café.

Richard snapped out of it, looking at her annoyed, "Why did you interrupt at such a critical moment?"

"I mean, despite your hardships, why are you so cheerful? Are you telling the truth?"

Sarah stared at him.

"Why cheerful? Haha, should I be crying all day, telling reporters that providing gold doesn't make a father, and I will never acknowledge him as my father?"

"You, you jerk!"

Sarah, holding her coffee cup, wanted to splash it on him.

That was exactly what she had said. When she was seven, her father abandoned her and her mother, leaving home alone.

Hearing that Richard lost his father at the same age, she felt a sense of shared misery. She wanted to express some sympathy, but hearing him say that, any sympathy vanished, leaving only anger.

"Yes, I'm a jerk because only jerks live happily. If I can be a bit happier, my parents would also be happy in heaven. Isn't that good?"

Richard said.

Sarah looked at him quietly for a few moments and smiled, "You're right. So, the key person should appear next, right?"

"Yes, after Rachael left for the restroom, I told a joke, making Fred and Dana laugh heartily."

"What joke?"

Sarah asked curiously.

"Wait, I'll tell it slowly."

Richard smiled and began to tell the story.

In the dining room, Fred and Dana laughed heartily. Seeing Rachael return, they laughed even more.

"What's so funny?"

Rachael looked at herself curiously.

"Rachael, did you go to loosen your belt?"

Fred laughed.

"What?"

Rachael blinked. The atmosphere had been so tense in the dining room just a moment ago, and now it was so lively. Did she walk into the wrong scene?

"It's nothing. Richard just told a joke about a fat friend with a big belly who always went out in the middle of meals to loosen his belt and come back to continue eating. Rachael, did you go to loosen your belt?"

Fred asked.

Blushing, Rachael glared at the guy opposite her. This jerk knew she went out and told this joke to embarrass her on purpose.

"Rachael, aren't you going to continue eating?"

Richard pointed at her plate.

"Hahaha~"

Fred laughed again, and Professor Dana also chuckled, glancing between Richard and Rachael with a bigger smile.

Rachael glared at the guy opposite her, grinding her teeth. Whoever is pitiful must have a cause to be despised. She finally understood the meaning of this saying.

"Rachael, a young man at the door says he's your boyfriend. Should I let him in?"

The housekeeper walked into the dining room.

"Oh?"

The dining room suddenly fell silent.

"Ryan!"

Rachael stood up.

At the dining room door stood a handsome young man holding a bouquet of roses, his face beaming with a bright smile.

"Rachael, I came..."

As he spoke, his face froze.

He stared wide-eyed at the people at the table. Rachael's parents sat across from each other, and Rachael and Richard

 sat across from each other. The atmosphere in the dining room was very cheerful, with everyone smiling as if they were a family.

Suddenly, he felt very unnecessary, extremely unnecessary.

"Ryan, why are you here?"

Rachael asked in surprise.

Yes, why am I here? What am I doing here? I shouldn't have come.

"Sorry to disturb you!"

Ryan put down the flowers and turned to leave.

"Ryan, don't go!"

Rachael chased after him.

A melodramatic scene unfolded in the dining room, which then fell silent again.

"Richard, why are you still sitting here?"

Fred patted his shoulder.

"Huh?"

Richard was confused. If not here, then where?

"Aren't you going to chase after them?"

Fred asked.

"Chase? Oh, okay!"

Richard put down his fork, stood up, and ran out.

"Haha, see, Richard must like Rachael too. Otherwise, why would he come all the way from New York to explain to her?"

Fred laughed.

Professor Dana shook her head, "Ah, these young people, why can't they have a quiet relationship? Why must it be so tumultuous?"

"Haha, dear, let's leave them alone. Let's have a drink."

Fred laughed, raising his glass.

Ding~

(End of chapter)