**Chapter 40: Should We Be Shy?**

After finishing filming in the afternoon, Richard ran a few laps around the set and then went to train in an abandoned factory.

This place used to be a ship parts workshop, and it's been abandoned for years. The workshop is now filled with rusted machines and scattered metal parts.

Since joining the crew, Richard had it cleaned up and set up as a simple boxing training area.

It has punching bags, a pull-up bar, resistance bands, makeshift dumbbells made from scrap parts, and tire punching targets. The conditions are quite basic, and the style is rugged.

Every morning, Richard wakes up at six to run, warm up, practice martial arts, and box. He doesn't eat breakfast until 8:30.

In the afternoon, depending on when the crew finishes, if they wrap up early, he comes here to continue training; if not, he does fitness exercises or paints in his room.

Today's shoot went smoothly. The crew finished work at five, so he could train for another hour.

At the training area, Richard, shirtless with a 30-kilogram tire around his waist, was doing pull-up training. He did this for an hour, sweat covering his body, his muscles tense and firm.

After finishing pull-ups, he began boxing practice. His feet moved rapidly on the floor, advancing and retreating. His eyes were focused ahead as his hands continuously changed punching techniques: jabs to the head, hooks to the jaw, uppercuts to the side, and body punches. Each move was performed with powerful intensity.

Though he should be practicing on a punching bag, he was preparing for a romantic scene tomorrow, and he couldn't risk injuring his hands.

Even though he was practicing with empty hands, hitting repeatedly for over a thousand times was very taxing.

After practicing for over an hour, Richard exhaled and slowly finished up.

"Today was good; I've gained ten years of skill. If I keep this up, I'll be invincible soon. Hehe."

"What are you laughing about? Why so sneaky?"

Suddenly, someone asked from the corner.

It was getting dark, and the factory was dim, with only a hanging light in the center of the training area casting a yellowish glow.

Richard looked toward the corner where a tire swing was set up, and Gwyneth was sitting on it, her legs swinging.

"When did you get here, Gwyneth?"

"Early on!"

Gwyneth jumped off the swing and walked toward the light. She had her hair down, wearing a white knitted sweater and blue jeans, with a fresh, clean scent from her recent shower.

"Why didn't you call me?"

Richard picked up a water bottle.

"You were boxing so well that I was so engrossed I forgot to call you."

Gwyneth handed him a towel with a smile.

"Thanks! Next time, you can call me earlier; missing a bit of practice is fine."

Richard wiped his sweat.

"I heard you're preparing for a boxing championship?"

"Yes, I bought a pair of pants last time, but the waistband was too big, so I needed a belt. I saw that WBC belt, and it looked pretty cool, so I decided to get it."

"Haha, you're so confident!"

Gwyneth smiled slightly and pointed at his back. "Need any help?"

"Oh, thanks!"

Richard handed her the towel. Having a celebrity help him with his back felt like a significant upgrade in treatment.

Gwyneth took the towel, walked behind him, and looked at his strong shoulders and muscular back. She nibbled her lip and used the towel to dab at his sweat.

"Your physique is really great."

Gwyneth said softly.

"Thanks!"

"Your skin is great too!"

Gwyneth touched his back.

"No need to thank me for that. I'm a man and a boxer; don't flatter me about my skin."

Richard waved his hand.

"But your skin is really nice—smooth, fair, and firm. It also smells really good."

Gwyneth sniffed.

"Wait, what are you trying to do?"

Richard grabbed her hand. "Don't tell me you need a handbag and want to borrow a piece of my skin?"

"Haha, you're talking nonsense. I wasn't thinking that at all."

Gwyneth covered her mouth and laughed.

"Even if you were, I would never lend it."

"Ha, you're so annoying sometimes."

Gwyneth laughed.

"There's nothing I can do; I'm just a straightforward guy who never tries to please women."

Richard shrugged, took a blanket from a nearby shelf, wrapped it around himself, and adjusted the overhead light to illuminate the corner.

"Come and sit!"

Richard sat on the tire swing and handed a can of dark beer to Gwyneth.

"Is there something you need from me?"

Richard asked, crossing his legs.

"Can't I come just to hang out?"

Gwyneth smiled.

"Of course, in the past, I needed to buy a ticket to see you. Now I can see you for free; it feels like I've won a billion."

"Do you like my movies?"

Gwyneth smiled.

"Yes, the first movie I saw you in was 'Se7en.' I thought, 'This lead actress is so beautiful and a great actress too.' Unfortunately…"

"Unfortunately, what?"

"I could only see you on the screen and not in real life. Now seeing you here in front of me is quite amazing."

Richard looked at her for a moment.

"Look closely, it's free!"

Gwyneth tilted her face up with a smile, bouncing lightly on the swing like a swing.

"Wow, cool!"

Gwyneth laughed.

Richard took another sip of beer, watching her. Regardless of how Gwyneth appeared in the news, this version was very pleasant to the eyes.

"Have you seen enough?"

When the swing stopped, Gwyneth leaned closer, winking and smiling.

"Thanks, I feel like I've won another billion."

"Haha, you're so funny!"

Gwyneth suddenly leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

Uh…

Richard was stunned. Did he just get taken advantage of? Should he feel shy?

"Hey, snap out of it."

Gwyneth waved her hand and laughed. "Richard, you're stunned after just a kiss. How will you handle the romantic scenes tomorrow?"

"I can control that."

Richard said.

"If you act like that, it won't seem natural. How about we practice a bit in advance?"

"How do we practice that?"

"We'll start with a kiss. Now, you kiss me!"

"Is that okay?"

"Of course, let's go!"

Gwyneth tilted her face up, her lips red, and she smelled alluring, like a peach.

Richard embraced her shoulders, cupped her face, and gently kissed her lips.

"Is this how it's done?"

"Don't talk, keep going!"

Gwyneth snuggled under the blanket, wrapping her arms around his neck.

The swing gently swayed in the dim corner.

——

"Achoo~ Achoo~"

"Who's outside?!"

——

(End of Chapter)