Chapter 70: Did You Come Here Just to Hit My Dad?

"Dad! Dad! Dad!!"

In the medical research institute's infirmary, Reese pushed open the door and rushed in, shouting. Seeing the lieutenant colonel lying in bed, she almost burst into tears.

The lieutenant colonel lay motionless on the bed.

His head was wrapped in a large bandage, and there was a medical patch on his nose. The trash bin on the floor was filled with bloody gauze and sanitary pads. It was a pitiful sight.

"Dad, what happened to you? Dad, wake up!"

Reese leaned against the bed, tears welling in her eyes.

Suddenly, the person on the bed opened one eye, looked around, and let out a long breath, "Finally, everyone's gone."

"Dad, you're awake?"

Reese exclaimed in surprise.

"Shh~ shh~, don't shout!"

The lieutenant colonel gestured with his index finger.

"Dad, what happened?"

"Nothing much."

The lieutenant colonel had a sour expression on his face.

"Dad, if it's nothing, why did you pass out?"

"Well, I was just boxing and didn't guard myself for a moment, got knocked out."

"You're so strong, how could anyone knock you out?"

Reese was surprised. Her father had been in the army for over a decade, rising from a sergeant to a lieutenant colonel. Even after retiring and becoming a doctor, he trained every day. To her, her father was a formidable person. She never thought he could be knocked out.

"Sigh, Reese, you don't understand. That kid was incredibly strong. One punch with over a thousand pounds of force. I've been hit with a rifle butt on the head before and it was fine, but one punch from him, and my brain was buzzing, couldn't control myself, and just fell to the ground."

The lieutenant colonel sighed, feeling a bit embarrassed.

In truth, he hadn't been knocked out in the gym. But hearing people around him gossip about how weak he was, how he wasn't resilient, and doubting if he was really a Marine Corps instructor, he felt more and more embarrassed. So, he just closed his eyes and pretended to pass out.

"Dad, who was that kid you mentioned?"

"It's me, Reese!"

Richard wiped his hands as he walked out of the restroom.

"Richard, Richard Bradley!"

Reese stood up in surprise.

"Hey, New York kid, why are you still here?"

The lieutenant colonel asked as he sat up.

"I came to see Reese."

"Aren't you here to see Diana?"

The lieutenant colonel was puzzled. This kid came to see his wife one moment and his daughter the next. Something seemed off.

"You came to see me?"

Reese said coldly, "Then why did you hit my dad? Did you come all the way from New York just to hit my dad?"

"Reese, I'm very sorry. Earlier, we were boxing in the gym, and Mr. Weatherspoon asked me to attack him. I accidentally used too much force and knocked him out."

"Hey! What do you mean by accidentally used too much force and knocked me out? Am I that fragile?"

The lieutenant colonel shouted with a dark expression. In front of his daughter, he had to maintain the image of a tough iron man.

"Humph, Mr. Bradley, you're a professional boxer. Competing with my dad, isn't that bullying?"

Reese said discontentedly.

"Wait, New York kid, are you a professional boxer?"

The lieutenant colonel's eyes lit up.

"Yes, Mr. Weatherspoon. I'm a light heavyweight boxer, currently with a professional record of 6 wins, 4 by knockout."

"You're that good?"

The lieutenant colonel looked at him and then suddenly slapped his head, "Oh, I remember now. You're Richard Bradley, the Nightmare Prince who knocked out Anthony Tavy with one punch and made him stay in bed for three days?"

"Yes, I'm Richard Bradley."

As for the nickname Nightmare Prince, that was given by others, not something he liked. What kind of title was "Prince in the hearts of boxing fans, nightmare in the eyes of opponents"? It didn't match his handsome appearance and sharp fists at all.

"Haha, it's really you. Your punches are amazing and very smart. I think you're much better than Morrison. Losing to you isn't embarrassing."

The lieutenant colonel laughed heartily as he patted Richard's shoulder.

"Mr. Weatherspoon."

"Don't be so formal. Call me Fred. How long are you staying at the institute? If you have time, let's spar again. That punch earlier, I felt like I could take it. Just wasn't prepared. Next time, I'll definitely block it."

The lieutenant colonel said.

"Alright, Fred."

Richard smiled.

"Dad!"

Seeing the two getting more engrossed in the conversation, Reese pulled Fred a few steps away and whispered, "He's not a good person."

"What?"

"Richard, that guy."

"Fred, I'm actually here for Reese."

Richard spoke up.

"Oh, right, I forgot to ask. What do you want with Reese?"

Fred asked.

"It's like this, there's a bit of a misunderstanding between Reese and me, and I came to explain."

"It's not a misunderstanding, there's no misunderstanding!"

Reese turned around and said coldly.

"Reese, please let me explain."

"No need to explain. Do you think I'll believe you even if you explain?"

Reese said.

Fred looked at the two of them, one saying there's a misunderstanding to explain, the other denying and being angry. This... seemed like a scene from a romantic drama. Could it be...

"Ahem, you two talk slowly. Don't fight. I'll go for a walk."

Fred said as he walked out.

"Dad, I'll go with you."

"No need, you stay here and listen to Richard's explanation. No matter what the misunderstanding is, just clear it up."

Fred winked and gently closed the door.

Reese rolled her eyes. Dad, do you even know what we're talking about? You've watched too many romantic dramas.

After taking a few steps, she turned around and yanked open the door. Fred Weatherspoon, the lieutenant colonel, stood straight at the door.

"Uh, who bandaged my head like this? I look like an Indian."

Fred scratched his head and unhappily tore off the white bandage, "I must tell their teacher to practice bandaging a few more times. Alright, you two continue talking."

Fred waved and walked out of the infirmary, whistling as he went.

"Mr. Weatherspoon is quite interesting."

Richard smiled.

Reese blushed inwardly. Her father was too irresponsible.

"Reese, first of all, I want to clarify that the incident with Ryan has nothing to do with me. I was in a competition a few days ago, too busy to bother with such things."

"I didn't say you did it. Why are you so eager to explain?"

Reese snorted, sitting down on the sofa.

"If you don't suspect me, why refuse to cooperate with me?"

"No reason, just don't want to."

Reese said with a stern face.

"Alright!"

Richard sighed, looking around the medical room, "Reese, is there anything to drink? I flew here from New York and haven't eaten yet."

Reese blinked. What does your hunger have to do with me? I didn't ask you to come to Tennessee.

"This is a hospital. We have saline and glucose. Do you want some?"

"Okay, give me a bag of saline, three bottles of glucose, and if you have calcium tablets and vitamins, bring me a portion too."

"I…"

This bastard thinks this is a restaurant, ordering like it's a menu?!

Reese ground her teeth.

"We also have potassium cyanide plasma. Do you want that?"

"Sure, never tried it before, sounds interesting."

"Humph!"

Reluctantly, Reese went to the fridge, took out a bottle of mineral water, and handed it to him.

"Here, your potassium cyanide."

"Thank you, Reese. You're so kind."

Richard smiled.

"Humph!"

"Also, Reese, I haven't eaten yet."

Richard added.

Reese turned her head furiously. What does your hunger have to do with me?

"Of course it does. I'm your fan. I came all the way from New York just to see you. Can't you show a bit of enthusiasm?"

Richard said righteously.

"Enthusiasm? You framed my boyfriend, knocked out my dad, and you expect enthusiasm?"

Reese clenched her fists angrily. With fans like this, how could she survive?

"Reese, I apologize for knocking out your dad. That was my fault. But I absolutely deny framing Ryan.

Everyone knows I'm competing for this role. Doing something like that would be like pouring dirty water on myself, making me seem like a schemer. What good would that do me?"

Richard spread his hands.

"Isn't the benefit obvious? Ryan's out, you get the lead role. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Reese sneered.

Richard smiled lightly, "By your logic, whoever gets the lead is the bad guy? But so far, I haven't gotten the lead. Morris the producer said I must get your approval to get the role.

Without your approval, I gain nothing. And if I quit, the studio will choose someone else. Will the next person be the bad guy too?"

Reese said nothing.

"Reese, do you trust Ryan so much? Even if he messes around, gets girls drunk, and

 tries to assault them, you still trust him?"

Richard looked at Reese.

"I believe in the justice of the law. He hasn't been convicted. These are just allegations. Anyone can make them. I don't trust baseless accusations."

Reese said firmly.

"Alright, Reese, if that's the case, I wish you good luck. Maybe someday, you'll realize you were wrong."

Richard finished his water and wiped his mouth, "Reese, thank you for the water. I'm leaving now."

"You… won't stay for lunch?"

Reese said through clenched teeth.

"No, I need to get back to New York. Goodbye, Reese. I hope you can see the truth someday."

With that, Richard smiled, waved, and left.

Reese wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. She saw Richard walk out of the room, her anger rising again. This bastard, coming here to hit her dad, now saying things to upset her. She'd never seen someone so hateful. If he didn't leave, she'd kick him out!

Here's the translation of your provided text into American English:

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"Rachael, if we can't be a couple, can we just be friends? We've met twice, I've said so much, and you've rolled your eyes so many times. We're friends now, right?" 

Richard asked seriously.

Rachael rolled her eyes again, then quickly covered them. This jerk was truly exasperating.

"Not saying anything means you agree. Can we go eat now? I'm starving."

Richard stood up and said.

Rachael glared at him and walked out angrily.

"Don't be so reluctant. I'll treat you this time, you can treat me tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, I'll treat you again."

"The day after tomorrow?! Aren't you going back to New York?"

"Of course not. I'm staying here. I'll leave whenever you agree to cooperate with me. If you don't agree, I'll stay here indefinitely. Your dad's boxing skills are pretty good, and I want to train more with him. Oh, don't worry, I'll be very careful and try not to knock him out."

"Richard, you jerk!!"

Rachael cursed.

Hehehe~

Richard smiled with a smirk.

"Hey~ Richard, what are you laughing at? Why do you look so annoying when you smile?"

In the café, Sarah stared at him and asked.

"Oh, nothing. Where were we?"

Richard asked, picking up his coffee.

"The first attempt to persuade failed. What happened next? How did you convince Rachael?"

"I owe it all to Ryan."

"Ryan? What happened? Did he go to Tennessee too?"

"Yes!"

Richard smiled slightly.

(End of the chapter)

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