To give Jason Luo a change of taste, Grace prepared a full spread: Braised Eggplant, Beef Tripe Soup, Sweet and Sour Grass Carp, and Boiled Sliced Pork. The aroma of the three dishes and soup quickly filled the room.
It had been years since the house felt this warm and cozy. For more than six years, Jason Luo had been stuck cooking the same plain meals—cabbage, bean sprouts, shredded potatoes—his skills in the kitchen were pitifully limited.
Watching Grace busy at the stove, Jason Luo felt as if he were seeing his mother again. If only she were still here...
"All done. Save the rest for later—we'll just eat these today. Try some. If you're not satisfied, I'll fix it again," Grace said cheerfully as she set out the bowls and chopsticks.
Jason Luo snapped back to reality. "Do I even need to taste it? The smell alone is enough to make me dizzy. It's gotta be good. Did your mother teach you to cook like this?"
Grace's expression dimmed. She slowly shook her head. "No. I picked it up while working at a restaurant. Times have been rough these years. My mom rarely made special dishes... all the money went into medicine."
The room fell silent.
Not knowing what to say, Jason Luo quickly picked up his chopsticks. "Mmm, delicious. Even better than restaurant food. Let's eat together—afterward I'll walk you home."
"No need. It's still early and there are plenty of people out. It's safe. You just eat more. From now on, I'll come by often to cook for you."
"No, really—don't. I usually eat nutrition meals at the gym anyway. And besides, my dad's about to be discharged..." Just mentioning his father darkened Jason Luo's face again.
Grace hesitated, then lowered her voice. "Brother Jason, I'm a little scared. Do you think Uncle Luo will accept me as his goddaughter? These past few days, Tony's told me so much about your family, and I..."
"I don't know. But no matter what happens, I won't turn my back on you. Trust me."
"Mm... alright. Eat some fish, brother."
After dinner, Grace cleaned up and refused Jason Luo's offer to walk her home. She hopped on her bike and rode away.
The closer his father's discharge date came, the heavier Jason Luo's heart felt. He felt like a prisoner waiting for judgment. Well... maybe everything would turn out alright.
To drive away his unease, Jason Luo threw himself into training, practicing Boxing Technique over and over. He replayed Joseph's punches in his mind, imitating them until he was completely exhausted. Then he collapsed onto his bed and fell into a deep sleep.
In his dreams, he was a child again. His father was a software engineer, always wearing a gentle smile. His mother worked at a flower shop, decorating their home beautifully. "Jay, you must study hard," she would say. "Grow up to be like your father—become a true professional."
...
In the blink of an eye, Jason Luo was back in the boxing ring. His opponent was the reigning champion, and their fight was already at its boiling point. From ringside, Coach Pedro shouted, "Luo, hold on! My dream rests entirely on you! Win this round, and I'll die without regrets..."
Hearing this, Jason Luo snapped into a frenzy. Veins bulged across his body as he threw a crushing punch that drove his opponent back, leaving him no chance to counter.
"Sky-Shattering Thunder!"
The heavy punch left his opponent staggering. Jason Luo rushed in, swinging wildly like a beast unleashed. Though his opponent was clearly finished, Jason Luo refused to stop...
The referee jumped in to pull him away, only to be floored by a casual punch!
"I will win!"
With one final blow, his opponent was sent flying straight through the ropes...
The scene shifted. Jason Luo now stood in the ring, raising the Gold Belt high. Two stunning ring girls stood beside him, their figures exaggerated to the extreme—waists as narrow as gourds, curves rising as steeply as ski slopes. Looking closer, their faces were beautiful... Damn it! How could they be Grace and Susan Miao!
...
That night's dreams were a chaotic mess. At six sharp, Jason Luo got up as usual, rubbed his aching head, and began morning training.
The first task was always running—about eight kilometers, same route every day.
He slipped on a mask to cover his still-swollen face. Winter was near, the air was cold, and Chicago winters were always brutal.
Come on!
Cheering himself silently, Jason Luo jogged into the morning mist.
At this hour, the streets were nearly empty. After turning a few familiar corners, he suddenly spotted a woman standing at the entrance of an alley, dressed in a flashy, provocative style.
Her makeup was heavy, but it was clear she was a young Caucasian woman, with striking features and a great figure. Strange...
But Jason Luo had no time to think about it. All that mattered was winning the crucial fight before his father's discharge.
Seeing him ignore her completely, the woman stepped closer. "Hey, handsome, out exercising this early? My night's been awful—no business at all. Maybe it's fate we ran into each other. What do you say?"
Jason Luo froze. He understood what she meant, but shouldn't someone like her be working in a different district?
"Uh... sorry, I can't help you. Maybe try your luck over on Xieselton Street." As a local, Jason Luo knew.
"You can't be serious! What, am I not good enough for you?" The woman looked insulted, her chest heaving in anger.
"That's not what I meant, miss. I'm just saying—you've got the wrong guy."
"Damn it! Rotten luck. It's freezing—I'm done waiting. At least let me use your place for a hot shower."
"Sorry. My home's too simple. I really can't help." With that, Jason Luo brushed past her and ran off.
"Hey! Hey, you—!"
The woman stomped furiously. She couldn't believe a man like this even existed!
Once Jason Luo was out of sight, she ripped off her wig. "Damn it! Freezing out here for nothing!" She pulled out her phone and dialed.
Two blocks away in a KTV, Rebella was laughing with several glamorous women. She glanced at her elegant watch and said, "It's about time. Lydia should have him by now. That brat needs to suffer today—I want him humiliated."
"Ha! Rebella, you're too much. Getting worked up over a kid? Relax, taking care of him will be easy."
"Yeah, once Lydia makes a move, that boy will fold right away. Unless she didn't go all in..."
The women burst into mischievous laughter.
Rebella's phone rang. Seeing the number, she picked up immediately. "What? He didn't take the bait? How's that possible?"
Out in the freezing wind, Lydia's face flushed. "What could I do? It was humiliating! I practically threw myself at him and he didn't even react. What was I supposed to do—advertise myself online?"
"Fine, fine. Just come back first."
Hanging up, Rebella was left bewildered. Was that brat really not like other men?
Impossible. Every boxer she'd met had been lecherous around women. This was like dealing with a ghost!
The other women who overheard were shocked. "Maybe the timing was bad? Or does he already have a girlfriend?"
Rebella shook her head. "I checked already. We may need a different approach."
From the sofa, a blonde beauty stood up. "Interesting. Let me see what's so special about this guy."
Rebella's eyes lit up. "Tannika, perfect! With you stepping in, I'll have no worries. Though honestly, it feels like we're letting him off too easy..."
"Tch."
The blonde sneered dismissively...
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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