บท 71: Chapter 71: Your Story is Too Long-Winded
Boom, boom, boom~
In the morning, at the medical school's fitness center, Richard was wearing boxing gloves and sparring with Rachael's father, Fred. Fred was wearing headgear and had simple chest protection, significantly enhancing his defense. They sparred for over an hour, working up a good sweat.
"Phew~ Richard, let's take a break!"
Fred took a few steps back, his t-shirt soaked through.
"Okay!"
Richard smiled and wiped his sweat with a towel. He had stayed at a hotel near the school last night and came to the school to exercise in the morning.
The medical center's gym equipment was very comprehensive, even more so than a professional gym. He worked out for over an hour and then ran into Fred, who was doing his morning exercise.
They chatted a bit and then started sparring.
"Richard, your stamina is impressive. You've been at it for so long and you're not even out of breath. You'd make a great soldier."
Fred remarked.
Richard smiled lightly, "It's a habit. Since I was five or six, I've been running and working out with my father, practicing military hand-to-hand combat.
By the time I was a teenager, I started practicing Chinese martial arts, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, and boxing. With daily practice, my body just got stronger and stronger."
"What does your father do? How does he know military hand-to-hand combat?"
"He used to be a soldier, a Marine who fought in South Asia and the Middle East."
"Really?"
Fred's eyes lit up, "Judging by his age, your father and I are probably around the same age. What's his name? Which unit did he serve in?"
Richard mentioned the unit his father served in. His father and his uncle Frank had participated in several overseas wars, but he didn't know many specifics.
"What a coincidence! Your father and I trained in the same place and even fought in the same war, though we were in different companies. Your uncle Frank Campbell's name sounds very familiar; I think I've heard it before."
Fred said, frowning.
"Frank earned some medals in the war, and it was reported in the newspapers."
Richard smiled.
Fred thought for a moment but couldn't recall, "By the way, what does your father do now? Maybe we can chat sometime; we might have met on the battlefield."
Richard shook his head, "He passed away in an accident when I was seven."
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that."
Fred patted his shoulder.
"It's okay!"
Richard shrugged.
After chatting for a while, they started sparring again.
——
At noon, Fred warmly invited Richard to his home for lunch, and Richard accepted.
Knock, knock, knock~
At the door, Fred rang the doorbell.
"Dad, you're back. Huh, Richard, why are you here?"
Rachael exclaimed.
"Hi~ Rachael!"
Richard waved.
"Who invited you?"
Rachael frowned.
"Rachael, don't be rude. I invited Richard over."
Fred said.
"Fine!"
Rachael pouted and moved aside to let him in.
"You look pretty in that outfit."
Richard whispered as he passed by.
Rachael looked down at herself and let out a yelp. She had been lounging at home in her pajamas, barefoot, with messy hair—completely unglamorous.
So embarrassing.
She covered her face and ran to her bedroom, slamming the door.
"Oh, that girl~"
Fred shook his head helplessly.
After a while, Richard met Rachael's mother, Professor Dana Briggs, a scholarly woman with glasses who studied people intently, as if conducting research.
"Richard, I heard you and Rachael had a misunderstanding. Can you tell me about it?"
Professor Dana asked.
"No!"
Before he could speak, Rachael cut in.
"Why not?"
Professor Dana looked at Rachael.
"It's a private matter between us."
"What private matter?"
"Private matter... something that can't be publicly discussed."
Rachael retorted.
"You two..."
Professor Dana looked at them, "Are you dating?"
"No, absolutely not. I would never like a guy like him."
Rachael pouted.
This guy was thick-skinned, shameless, narcissistic, sarcastic, a glutton, arrogant, self-centered, and sly. He had pestered her all day yesterday, nearly driving her crazy. How could she date him and survive?
"Yes, Rachael likes guys like Ryan."
Richard smiled.
"Who's Ryan?"
Professor Dana asked.
"You don't know?"
Richard was puzzled.
"Know what?"
Professor Dana asked, puzzled.
"Nothing, nothing. Richard, didn't you say you wanted to look around the city? I'll take you."
Rachael pulled Richard, trying to leave.
"Stop!"
Professor Dana stopped her, "Tell me, who is Ryan?"
"No one!"
"Richard, can you tell us who Ryan is?"
Professor Dana asked.
"Rachael, may I?"
Richard smiled.
".I'll say it myself."
Rachael bit her lip, "Mom, Dad, Ryan is my boyfriend. We met last October, and I haven't had a chance to tell you."
"Really? It's normal to have a boyfriend. Why keep it a secret?"
Professor Dana asked, puzzled.
Rachael didn't know how to answer. She and Ryan hadn't been dating long, and just as she was about to tell her family, Ryan did something that made it impossible to mention. She glared at Richard, blaming him. If it weren't for this jerk, she wouldn't be in such a difficult position.
"Richard, please tell us."
Professor Dana said.
"Okay, Rachael's boyfriend is Ryan Phillips. Do you know him?"
Richard asked.
"Ryan Phillips?"
Professor Dana and Fred shook their heads, "Never heard of him."
"Really?"
Richard was surprised. Recently, there had been a lot of news about Ryan in the papers, which also mentioned Rachael. How could they not know?
"Ryan is a movie star. Recently, the New York Post and the Los Angeles Times have had news about him. You can check the papers."
"Really? We read the papers every day. Huh~ Why haven't we seen the New York Post and the Los Angeles Times at home? I remember subscribing to them."
Professor Dana said, flipping through the papers, puzzled.
"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen those papers in days."
Fred looked at Rachael.
Rachael lowered her head deeply.
"Haha, Rachael, well done. You've learned to control the media now."
Professor Dana said, smiling angrily.
"Mom, Dad, it's not what the papers say. Ryan isn't that bad."
Rachael defended.
"Enough nonsense. Your father and I know nothing. What's the point of what you're saying? Hurry, bring out the papers."
Professor Dana demanded.
Rachael clenched her fists, glared at Richard, and angrily walked into her bedroom. A moment later, she returned with a stack of newspapers.
"Look, it's all fake news."
"Stop talking. Let us read first."
Professor Dana and Fred took the papers and quickly read through them.
"Rachael, is this Ryan who spiked drinks in a bar your boyfriend?"
Fred frowned.
"Dad, it's not like that. Ryan didn't do that; someone framed him."
Rachael argued.
"How can you frame this? The paper says he's dating you, yet he's messing around in a bar, drugging girls, and even beat up a girl's boyfriend. How do you explain that?"
Fred pointed to the paper.
"He didn't drug anyone."
"Okay, no drugging. But he messed around in a bar with a girlfriend. Is that true?"
Fred asked again.
"."
Rachael bit her lip, unable to argue.
"Richard, what did you come to explain to Rachael?"
Fred asked.
"Fred, Dana, it's like this: a few days ago, Ryan and I were competing for a role, and then the incidents reported in the papers happened. Rachael thinks I framed Ryan, so I came to explain."
Richard explained.
"You're not wrong. Even if you did do it, I don't see anything wrong with that. People like him deserve to be exposed. Rachael, we don't object to you having a boyfriend, but can't you find someone normal?"
Fred sighed.
"Dad!!"
Rachael stomped her foot in anger and ran back to her bedroom, covering her face.
"Oh, Dana, is there something wrong with our parenting? How did Rachael turn out like this?"
"No idea. She used to be so good; now she's learning bad habits."
Bang~
The door slammed shut.
"Richard, didn't you say Ryan also came? Why haven't you mentioned the key person after all this talk? Your story is too long-winded."
Sarah complained.
"Don't rush. He's the key person, so he appears at the critical moment."
Richard took a sip of coffee.
"A critical moment? Let me guess."
Sarah tilted her head, thinking, "Is it like this: Rachael went into her bedroom, you followed her in, talked for a while, and as you were about to leave, you tripped on something, fell, and landed on top of Rachael, kissing her lips.
At that moment, the door suddenly opened, and Ryan stood at the door with a bouquet of roses. He saw you two kissing and was shocked. After a moment, he dropped the flowers and ran out. Rachael pushed you away, shouting 'It's not what it looks like,' and chased after him but couldn't catch up. They broke up, and Rachael forgave you. Is that it?"
"(⊙o⊙)…"
Richard's eyes widened in surprise, "How did you guess that?"
"Ah? Is that really what happened?"
Sarah covered her mouth, stunned.
"Of course...
not. Do you think you're a gypsy fortune teller?"
Richard teased.
"You, Rachael was right; you're so annoying."
Sarah glared at him.
"Alright, stop interrupting. If you want to hear the story, be quiet."
"Then hurry up and tell it. Don't be so long-winded."
Sarah Michelle Gellar waved her fist.
"Dear, it's not long-winded. It's building up the story. Now, where was I..."
Thanks to the readers 'Book Friend 160917205031285' and 'Good Tempered Bad Person' for their rewards. Thank you. P.S. In the first month of the new book, I've updated 185,000 words. That's not too slow, right? Please support.
(End of Chapter)
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