Pedro looked at Sonny and let out a cold chuckle. "Stop putting on airs. Don't think I don't see through you. You're just trying to cozy up to that codger Brown so you can score interviews with a few of his rising protégés. Tell me I'm wrong."
Sonny didn't back down. "And what if I am? At least I'm upfront about it. Pedro, let's stick to the facts. I know you want to mold this kid into a technical boxer, and yes, he's made solid progress lately. But from today's fight, it's clear—his build, his natural talent, his whole fighting style—he's better suited for an aggressive approach. If Brown helped him with physical conditioning and explosive power, it would only add to what you've already done. How is that harming him?"
"You…" Pedro was so flustered he couldn't catch his breath. He stood up, then dropped back into his chair angrily, unable to come up with a reply.
Seeing his coach so worked up, Jason Luo couldn't hold back anymore. "Sir, thank you for your concern. You probably know far more than I do. But I want to say this—aside from my coach, I don't plan on learning from anyone else."
"I started as just a poor nobody. It was Mr. Raul and Coach who built me up step by step into what I am today. My current achievements may not be much, but I'm satisfied! I've learned so much from Coach, and he's treated me with real sincerity. I already feel lucky as I am now. Please don't upset my coach—otherwise, I… I… I won't welcome you here anymore!"
Sonny stared at Jason Luo's clenched fists, dumbfounded, before bursting out laughing in disbelief. "Seriously? You little brat aren't planning to hit me, are you? Pedro really raised a little devil! Do you even know what kind of history I have with your coach?"
Raul chuckled too and quickly pulled Jason Luo back. "Silly kid, Pedro and Sonny have been like this for over ten years. They always sound like they're ready to fight. And with so many people here, when do you think it's your turn to step in…"
But Jason Luo stiffened his neck. "I don't care! He has no right to make Coach that angry!"
That stubbornness made him look like a child, and even Pedro couldn't help but laugh. At the same time, his heart softened. "Sit down already. What do you know? You're just making yourself a joke! It's only because you're clumsy. We told you to focus on technique, but now you've turned into a half-baked mess. Of course people can't stand watching that."
Jason Luo scratched his head. "Who cares what it looks like? As long as I can beat my opponent, right?"
Pedro shot him a glare, then turned back to Sonny. "I'm not against improving this kid's physical conditioning. But you know I can't stand that fatso. Going to him now would be like bowing my head. And honestly, I doubt he'd even agree. It doesn't sound reliable."
"Well… maybe not. But he seemed pretty satisfied with the kid during today's fight. And I already told him Jason is your disciple. He didn't react badly. I think it's worth trying. After all, when it comes to conditioning, not many can match his level of expertise." Sonny still held back from making guarantees.
Pedro clenched his teeth. "Fine. You test the waters first. For this kid's sake, I'll swallow my pride. If I don't invest now, I may never achieve my dream."
Sonny jumped up, thrilled. "That's more like it! I'll go right away. I'll call you when I have news." With that, he spun around and hurried out in high spirits.
As soon as Sonny left, Pedro turned to shoo Jason Luo and Tony Huo out. "You two finish up and get going. Mr. Raul and I still have things to discuss. And don't forget what I told you—make time to watch more boxing videos. Don't lose focus on what matters."
Kicked out of the locker room, Jason Luo felt uneasy. Training was going fine—so why bring in another coach? It just seemed unnecessary.
Tony Huo, on the other hand, pulled out his phone, uploaded the footage online, and eagerly showed Jason Luo the comments from viewers.
Afterward, the two grabbed a meal at a random restaurant, then Tony dragged Jason Luo to Universal Studios Hollywood, where they spent the afternoon having fun.
And you know what? The place was incredible. It felt like stepping into different worlds—medieval castles, epic movie sets, King Kong's 360-degree 3D adventure, WaterWorld, the Jurassic Park river expedition…
The two young men played until they were exhausted, but for once, they had truly relaxed and enjoyed themselves.
After a full day of fun, Jason Luo returned home. Looking at the empty house, he gave a bitter smile. His father had been in the hospital for nearly two months now. He wished more than anything that his dad could return to normal life soon. While his boxing career was finally beginning to show promise, there was no one close to share it with—it all felt so hollow…
Exhausted, he collapsed on his bed and slept deeply.