Chapitre 17: Chapter 017 Emma Watson
"Hey, Robert, Daniel, I'm talking to you guys. What are you looking at?"
In downtown Orlando, in the Gyro Greek Grill restaurant, eighteen-year-old Emma Watson waved her hand at the two friends opposite her with a cold expression.
"Emma, what did you say?"
Daniel Radcliffe shifted his gaze and adjusted his round glasses as he asked, while Blond Robert Grint was still staring at the TV above the counter, completely ignoring Emma Watson.
Emma Watson glared at them both. Lately, they had been shooting 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' at Universal Studios Orlando, and the past few days had been rough. She had wanted to discuss tomorrow's scenes with them, but after listening for a bit, they ignored her, fixating on the TV behind her.
"Is a beauty contest really that interesting?"
With her lips pursed, Emma Watson looked disdainfully at them, thinking filthy men only like watching bikinis.
"It's not a beauty contest; it's a boxing match. The American Golden Gloves tournament finals are happening right here in Orlando," Daniel Radcliffe explained, pointing at the TV.
Emma Watson turned to look and saw a boxer with black hair and blue eyes. He was handsome and with a swing of his red-gloved fist, knocked his opponent to the ground, where he lay unable to get up for ten seconds.
"Wow! That's amazing, that boxer named Link is so powerful!"
Robert Grint exclaimed excitedly, lifting his fists.
"Indeed, he's impressive. His reaction speed is especially fast. Standing there, letting his opponent hit him, and they can't even land a touch," Daniel Radcliffe nodded as he said.
Emma frowned slightly, her lips curling disdainfully, "The impressive boxers are all in Britain. If you want to watch, you can go back to London. What's so interesting about an amateur's match?"
Daniel Radcliffe smiled shyly and did not argue with her.
Blond Robert Grint said, "America also has great boxers, like Holyfield, Mayweather, Roy Jones, and this Link. Some sports channel in Orlando was showing his match highlights; in each match, he scores a KO. These are amateur fights, yet his opponents are down and can't get up for ten seconds—even Lewis might not manage that. I bet he'll be a boxing champion one day."
"So what, boxers are all violent braggarts, flaunting wealth, fighting, committing sexual assaults, promoting violence, and inciting youths to fight. I think this sport should be banned worldwide," Emma Watson said, her little face taut and lips popping.
Robert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe exchanged glances and shook their heads. Once a woman gets angry, it's terrifying; she almost cancelled the sport of boxing with a single sentence.
"Link! Come on, tell me how to train that move. I'll pay today."
As they were talking, three young men entered. The leader was a handsome, tall, and well-built young man, followed by a thin, blonde young man, and bringing up the rear was a surly, heavy-set, and stout man.
All three were dressed in athleisure, their muscular arms bulging, walking quickly like a swift breeze passing by.
"Hey, he looks just like that boxer named Link on TV."
Robert turned to look at the TV and then at the leader of the group, indeed the same person, "I need to get his autograph."
"Robert, are you out of your mind? We are the celebrities here, okay?"
Emma said, pulling at his clothes.
"Can't celebrities be fans too? Shoot, I forgot to bring a pen, Emma, can I use yours?"
Robert asked, looking at Emma's script on the table.
"No!"
Emma Watson coldly refused.
Robert rolled his eyes and got up to look for paper and a pen at the counter.
---
"Stop asking, you can't learn it," Link said as he ordered and handed the menu back to the waiter.
"How do you know we can't learn it if you don't tell us? Come on, spill it," Mario urged as he pounded on the table.
Reggie also nodded eagerly.
Link took a sip of black tea and laughed, "To learn that move, you need fast reflexes. Have you ever teased a cat? You get close to a cat, staring into its eyes, and then flick its forehead with your finger. You'll find out that by the time you flick it, its paw has already slapped your face."
"Is it that simple?"
Mario scratched his face and asked.
"Simple?"
Link glanced at him. Do you think reaching the speed of a cat's reflexes is easy? Considering his simple mind and simplistic thinking, Link didn't bother to blame him for his blunt words.
"Hey, are you Mr. Link Baker?"
A voice with a London accent came from nearby.
Before Link could turn around, Mario sprang up so quickly that his large belly nearly knocked over the table. Stretching out both hands from across the table, he said in shock, "Are you Blond Ron? Are you really Blond Ron? I grew up watching your movies; can I have your autograph?"
Link turned and saw Blond Ron Weasley, real name Robert Grint, one of the trio from the 'Harry Potter' series, being vigorously shaken by Mario. Mario's strength was so great that it caused Robert's lips to twitch.
Link brushed off Mario's hand and invited Robert Grint to sit and chat, having seen the first three films of the 'Harry Potter' series and being somewhat familiar with the actor.
Robert Grint told him that they were currently shooting 'Harry Potter' at Universal Studios Orlando and having seen his boxing match on TV today, found him quite impressive and wanted his autograph.
Link certainly wouldn't refuse to sign an autograph for the big star, and politely exchanged phone numbers as well.
"Wow, is that Hermione? I love Hermione, I want to get her autograph."
Mario took his autograph book to get Emma Watson's signature.
Link saw Emma Watson and Mr. Harry Potter nearby and went over to say hello.
As he was about to say goodbye, Emma Watson called out sharply, "Hey, Mr. Link Baker, I want to ask, as a boxer, what else do you think Boxing means apart from promoting violence? I mean in a positive sense."
Emma Watson wore a pastel-colored Chanel print dress, with golden curly hair draped over her shoulders, adorned with a delicate platinum necklace atop her elegant collarbones. Her delicate face was beautiful, and she carried the elegance and intellect of a British woman, appearing like a young lady with both good looks and temperament.
Yet, the razor-sharp words that came out of her pink lips made one want to cover her mouth to stop her from speaking out of turn.
"Emma, that's quite rude," Robert Grate pointed out.
Daniel Radcliffe said shyly with a smile to Link, "Mr. Baker, Emma is just in a bad mood today, it's not personal, please don't mind her rudeness."
With her eyebrows tightly furrowed, Emma Watson asked with a half-smile, "So, Mr. Baker, you don't know what the positive meaning of boxing is either?"
Link smiled lightly, finding this young girl quite intriguing. He sat down across from Emma, looked into her eyes, and said, "Miss Watson, it's not that I can't answer the question. I just find the question too childish, hard to believe it's coming from you."
"What? You dare say I'm childish?" Emma Watson clenched her small fists, glaring at him as if ready to challenge him in boxing, and snorted, "OK then, tell me, where is my question childish?"
Link raised a finger and said, "I believe that boxing is one of the greatest sports in the world, bar none.
"Hmph!" Emma Watson disdainfully wrinkled her delicate nostrils.
Unperturbed, Link continued, "Firstly, it represents a spirit. If you understand the sport of boxing, you would know it has a competition called the Champion Challenge. A regular boxer can challenge the World Champion, knowing full well the strength of the champion, yet he dares to challenge, even at the risk of getting killed or crippled in the process. What kind of spirit is that?"
"Courage!" Daniel Radcliffe chimed in.
"Fearlessness!" Robert exclaimed excitedly.
"It's defiance, it's opposing tyranny, it's the perseverance of the oppressed throwing a fearless punch at the oppressor, it's one of the greatest spirits of mankind," Mario declared, standing tall and clenching his fist.
"Billiards, tennis, golf, can also challenge the champion," Emma Watson retorted with a sniff.
"Is it the same? A bunch of people bullying a ball? Can it compare to the flesh and blood of boxing?" Mario argued back, shrugging his large nose.
Link waved his hand and laughed, "Boxing is also a civilization. Since the 19th century, the culture of white supremacy has been popular worldwide, and Black, Asian, and Mexican individuals in the United States have faced discrimination. Champions like Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, and Bruce Lee defeated white champions in the ring, breaking racial barriers and are seen as heroes by people of color. Boxing also promotes racial equality, reflects social justice, and embodies modern civilization. What positive meaning do you think it has?"
Emma Watson blinked, feeling like she might have spoken wrongly.
Link raised another finger and smiled, "Thirdly, boxing is also a culture...."
"Enough!"
Emma Watson grabbed his hand, fluttering her eyelashes weakly, "Dear Mr. Link Baker, I was wrong, I really was. Boxing is very meaningful, and it was my thinking that was childish. I apologize."
"OK! "
Link gave a gentle smile," It's good you realize your mistake. You're still young, and a little magic maker, I won't hold it against you."
Ha ha ha!
The men at the table burst into laughter.
"Hmph!"
Emma Watson glared at him, her blue-green eyes twinkling, and with a pout said, "Link, Ali boxed for fairness and equality, what do you box for?"
"To earn money!"
"Earn money?"
They all looked at him in surprise, as he had just spoken of spirit and civilization, and now he claimed he boxed to earn money, quite a dramatic shift.
Emma Watson opened her mouth in surprise, intending to trap him here, and no matter what Link said, she was prepared to call him hypocritical. However, Link's blunt honesty left her trap void, his reaction too swift.
"Is the goal of making money vulgar?"
Link looked around at them smiling.
"No, no, no! Of course not!"
Mario, Robert, Daniel, and Reggie all shook their heads, admitting they too worked for money.
Link turned to the beautiful Emma Watson and smiled, "Miss Watson, any more questions?"
Emma Watson rolled her eyes, "No, I just hope you become a billionaire soon."
"Thank you, Miss Watson. I'm a fan of yours, may I have your autograph?"
Link smiled, holding out a pen and notebook towards her.
"You're a fan of mine? Are you sure?"
Emma Watson was skeptical; this guy had started off by embarrassing her, hardly the behavior of a fan.
"Really!"
Link assured with a smile.
Emma Watson looked at him, pleasantly signed her name in the notebook, and even left a series of phone numbers.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone