On June 23, a white luxury yacht slowly departed from the pier on the Hudson River in New York.
This yacht was none other than "Morning Glory," owned by tycoon Murdoch, and today's wedding was to be held on the yacht.
The Morning Glory is over 130 meters long, with five decks, lavishly decorated and equipped with numerous entertainment facilities, including a cinema, swimming pool, helicopter landing pad, massage room, small garage, and gym, costing 1.5 billion dollars.
"Fantastic, it's like a moving palace on the sea,"
Richard praised while leaning on the railing at the bow deck.
"No need to be too envious, with your current progress, you'll be able to afford a yacht in a few years,"
Norman said, swirling his wine glass with a smile.
"Too expensive, I'd rather buy a few more villas,"
Richard replied.
"What's the point of buying so many houses, to keep mistresses?"
Norman laughed.
"I'm not as wild as you,"
Richard sipped his wine. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened as he saw a double-chinned fat man and a skinny man approaching.
The fat man was Weinstein, with a big belly and a domineering aura.
The skinny man, in his fifties or sixties, was tall and slender, somewhat resembling Norman but exuding a more authoritative air. The old man was holding a woman in her twenties, looking very close.
"That's my father, Donnie Holliday,"
Norman said with a pout.
"And the woman? Your fiancée?"
"My stepmother!"
Norman said with a dark face.
"Alright then!"
"Haha, Norman, Donnie said you were here, so why are you hanging out here?"
The double-chinned Weinstein strode over.
"Hi~ Harvey, hi~ Donnie, Lena!"
Norman greeted lazily.
"Hmph, look at yourself,"
advertising tycoon Donnie Holliday said coldly.
"What's wrong with me? Is there something off?"
Norman spread his hands. He was wearing a flamboyant white suit with a pink bow tie and a neatly combed hairstyle, looking more formal than usual.
"Hmph!"
Donnie Holliday looked at him with disdain.
"Haha, Donnie, Norman is doing well now. I heard he and someone… huh, Richard, why are you here?"
Harvey seemed to notice him for the first time, opening his fish-like eyes slightly.
"Hello, Mr. Weinstein, Mr. Holliday, Mrs. Holliday,"
Richard greeted politely.
"You're the boxing champion Richard Brad?"
Donnie Holliday looked him up and down, seeing him in a solemn black suit, white shirt, and a neatly folded white handkerchief in his pocket, his hair meticulously styled, giving off a tall, spirited impression.
"Mr. Holliday, nice to meet you,"
Richard smiled.
"You're not bad!"
Donnie Holliday nodded slightly.
"Haha, Norman, a ticket allows one guest, didn't expect you'd bring Richard. Seems you two are really close."
Weinstein laughed heartily, showing his molars, and Donnie Holliday's gaze also turned lewd.
Richard and Norman's faces darkened. This fat man was really something.
"Mr. Weinstein, thanks for the reminder, but I have my own invitation. Excuse me,"
Richard didn't want to stay there. He nodded and walked away with his wine glass.
Over there, Bündchen was chatting with a few ladies, including Richard's manager, Miss Ellie Adler, who was there with her legendary grandmother, and Ms. Deng Wendi, dressed in formal attire.
"How does he know Ms. Deng?"
Weinstein asked in surprise.
"What's strange about that? Richard and Ms. Deng are friends and get along well."
Norman glanced at the fat man with a smile.
"Get along well?"
Weinstein squinted his fish-like eyes. Could it be that guy and Deng Wendi…
"Hey, Harvey, don't get me wrong. Richard speaks Chinese and knows a lot about Eastern culture; they often chat together."
Norman explained. He didn't want to see Richard sunk into the sea by Murdoch's men.
"Alright, Norman, I heard you started a brokerage firm. How's it going?"
Weinstein grinned.
"Not bad."
Norman shrugged.
"Norman, as an elder, let me give you some advice. To achieve something, you must find the right partner. Don't be used by others and end up counting money for them."
Weinstein chuckled, patting Norman on the arm.
"Thanks for the advice, but do I look like a fool to you?"
Norman laughed lightly.
"Hmph, if you're not a fool, what are you? No experience, no connections, yet you want to start a brokerage firm. How are you different from a fool?"
Donnie Holliday said sternly.
Norman snorted softly, "What I do is my business, none of yours."
"None of my business? Without my money, where's your freedom?"
Donnie Holliday sneered.
"Your money?"
Norman scoffed, "My money comes from family dividends, the legacy and wealth passed down from the Holliday family. Every Holliday has the right to share. When did it become your money?"
"Shut up!"
Donnie Holliday said with a dark face.
"Norman, don't talk like that. Donnie is just concerned about you,"
Norman's stepmother persuaded.
"Thanks, but no need. The money I invested was earned with Richard. Is there anything wrong with investing my hard-earned money?"
"Haha, Norman, if you want to develop in the entertainment industry, consider coming to Miramax. I promise you won't be treated poorly,"
Harvey chuckled.
"Really? I heard you have a new project. Can you give me a few roles? We have some good actors."
Norman joked.
Weinstein frowned, "Norman, you know our casting is strict. Your new actors…"
"Don't worry, they're all top-notch in acting and looks. Harvey, I'm not asking much, how about four supporting roles? Hey, Donnie, can you put in a good word for me?"
Norman shamelessly looked at Donnie Holliday.
Donnie snorted and turned away.
"Haha, Norman, if you bring Richard to apologize to me, I might consider cooperating with you."
Harvey laughed.
"Forget it! Richard, someone who can take down robbers with his bare hands, won't easily bow. Harvey, as a junior and friend, I advise you not to push Richard too hard, or else…"
Weinstein's heavy eyelids twitched, and he walked back into the cabin with a dark face.
Norman shook his head. Damn, I just want to do something legitimate. Why is it so hard?
——
"Wendi, it's time to change into the dress."
On the deck, under the bright sun, Richard was chatting with Ms. Deng Wendi when a stylist came to remind her.
"Got it."
Deng Wendi smiled, stood up, and said, "Richard, I need to change. We'll talk later."
"Alright, Wendi!"
Richard smiled and raised his glass to congratulate her.
"Richard, you should be careful!"
Norman walked over and said quietly.
"Be careful of what?"
"Don't get too close to Deng Wendi. With your looks and physique, if Murdoch sees you, he'll get suspicious. Aren't you afraid of being sunk into the Atlantic?"
Norman laughed.
"Don't talk nonsense. We were discussing serious matters."
"What serious matters?"
Norman asked curiously.
"You know, my goal is to become a producer. 20th Century Fox is a great partner. Its Fox Searchlight division has influence in independent production, not much less than Miramax. Ms. Deng is also interested in film production, so we talked about movies."
Richard smiled. According to her profile, she will be involved in film investments and even lead the production of "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" in the future. However, her films didn't yield much return, and she lost money, so she stopped.
Now, Richard's goal is to make a few successful low-budget films to demonstrate his capabilities and then collaborate with Fox.
"You're too hasty. You're still a small actor. How can you collaborate with Fox?"
Norman shook his head.
"You're right, which is why I didn't say much. Just laid the groundwork."
Richard laughed.
"Alright!"
Norman shrugged.
"Richard, I need to discuss something with you."
Ellie said, holding a glass of wine.
"What is it?"
Richard asked.
Ellie glanced at Norman.
"Alright, I won't interrupt your date."
Norman sensibly left.
Richard chuckled, "Ellie, isn't this your first time meeting Norman? Why do you have such a big problem with him?"
"No one in the circle doesn't know Norman the scumbag. I heard he even has AIDS. Richard, why are you hanging out with him?"
Ellie frowned.
"AIDS?"
Richard was stunned, "Wasn't it genital warts? How did it turn into AIDS?"
"Is it? Maybe I heard wrong. Forget it, not important. Let's talk business."
Richard smirked. A simple joke evolved into this. If Norman knew, he'd be furious.
"Richard, the internet market is too hot recently. Since last year, the Nasdaq Composite Index, dominated by tech stocks, has risen to nearly 4900 points, an unprecedented high. According to our company's data department analysis, this might be a sign of a financial Richard was taken aback. "Wasn't it just genital warts? How did it turn into AIDS?"
"Is that so? I might have heard wrong then. Anyway, it doesn't matter. Let's talk business."
Richard chuckled, feeling a bit speechless. A simple joke had escalated to this extent. If Norman found out, he would probably be furious.
"Richard, the internet market has been too hot lately. Since last year, the Nasdaq Composite Index, dominated by tech stocks, has soared to nearly 4900 points, an unprecedented high. According to our company's data analysis department, this could be a sign of an impending financial crisis. The Federal Reserve's four consecutive interest rate hikes during this period also support this."
"As a result, many cautious colleagues have gradually withdrawn from tech and internet stocks. I have two clients who chose to pull out and put their money into safer real estate stocks. What's your take?"
Ellie said as they walked.
Richard thought for a moment. Based on fragments of information from biographies of notable figures, he concluded that the dot-com bubble would burst around March next year. He didn't know the exact day, but it wouldn't be now.
"Ellie, what's your opinion?"
"I'm asking for your thoughts."
Ellie gave him a sideways glance.
"You're the expert. I want to hear your opinion before I decide."
Richard smiled.
"Alright, my opinion is that it's too early to withdraw now. Let's wait a few more months and see how things develop. Are you willing to take the risk?"
"No problem. I trust your judgment."
Richard raised his glass and smiled.
"Thank you. If the gamble pays off, we could make a huge profit. Doubling your assets isn't out of the question."
Ellie smiled slightly.
"Haha, I'm looking forward to it!"
Currently, he owned tech stocks worth 11 million. Doubling that would be over 20 million. If he could multiply it several times over, even better.
Ding ding ding~ A burst of music drew everyone's attention.
"Let's go, the wedding is starting."
After the wedding began, the guests on the deck swarmed into the most spacious and luxurious cabin on the first floor.
At this moment, the cabin had transformed into a wedding hall, with a red carpet, huge crystal chandeliers, and extravagant decorations.
At the front of the hall was a round platform with rows of seats arranged for the guests, many of whom were dressed in luxurious attire, gathering from all corners of the yacht to sit in the middle.
Among them were many of New York's elite, including media mogul Mortimer Zuckerman, investor Nelson Peltz, Wall Street investor Bruce Wasserstein, publishing magnate Jonathan Nass, and financier Michael Milken.
Because tycoon Murdoch's 60% of assets are related to entertainment, several entertainment industry figures also appeared at the party, including 20th Century Fox President Barry Diller, and directors Cameron and George Lucas.
"It seems like all big shots are here," Gisele Bündchen said, holding his arm.
Richard smiled slightly. "We are also big shots. At twenty years old, we can stand among these people, which means we're doing well. Maybe in a few years, we'll become the big shots in their eyes."
"That's too difficult. I never aimed to be a big shot, so I'll rely on you, Mr. Brad."
Gisele laughed softly.
"No problem, leave it to me."
Richard said confidently.
When they arrived at the hall, Richard and his group sat in the back row to watch the ceremony.
They watched the performances, including an eleven-year-old Welsh singer, Charlotte Church, who sang "Amazing Grace" with a sweet voice, and Russian pianist Boris Berezovsky, who played Tchaikovsky's "The Seasons."
After four performances, amid enthusiastic applause, Murdoch and Wendi Deng walked hand in hand into the wedding hall.
The tycoon was in good health and didn't need a cane. Wendi Deng, wearing a white wedding dress, held his arm with great poise.
The two had a 37-year age difference. News reports said that last year Murdoch traveled to the East and Wendi Deng was his translator. Not long after, Murdoch divorced his wife of 31 years, and 17 days after the divorce settlement, he chose to marry 31-year-old Wendi Deng, transforming her from a small translator to the woman by the tycoon's side in less than a year.
Having read about Wendi Deng, Richard had to admit she was an impressive woman.
Clap clap clap~ After the couple exchanged rings, there was a burst of enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The wedding ceremony was simple, lasting less than half an hour. Then the wedding dance party began. The newlyweds danced, followed by a group of professional Latin dancers, making the scene very lively.
At sunset, the yacht made a round trip on the Hudson River and returned to the pier.
After the wedding, Richard had a few relatively leisurely days, training, spending time with Gisele, reading scripts, and accompanying her to fashion shows and parties.
Until the end of the month, a phone call from Andy disrupted his schedule.
"Richard, Del Valle is challenging you. Will you accept?"
"Del Valle?"
Richard thought for a moment and remembered that this guy was originally the WBA light heavyweight champion. Last August, he lost his title to Roy Jones at Madison Square Garden.
"Del Valle is currently ranked 5th by the WBA and 10th by the WBC, making him eligible to challenge you. Their management company is offering 2 million. Do you want to fight him?"
"Two million? Is he that confident?"
Richard laughed.
"Yes, Del Valle is quite strong with a record of 30 fights and 28 wins. After losing to Roy Jones, he's been very dissatisfied and eager to reclaim the title. But before he could get another shot, you took the belt. So now he's challenging you."
"Haha, bring it on. When?"
"How about late July? Initially, they suggested mid-August, but you have no availability then."
Championship challenges aren't mandatory, and the match time can be negotiated by both management teams.
"Sounds good!"
With a new fight on the horizon, Richard dedicated more time to boxing training, practicing daily at the gym or the Star Sports Arena.
In late July, he participated in another match, again playing the long game, winning easily in 10 rounds, bringing his personal record to 17 wins out of 17 fights.
(End of Chapter)