Demons Beside You

“Chen, Princess didn’t flush again. Can you do something about it? She eats so much but doesn’t know to flush the toilet. Look at Walter and the others. They don’t eat as much as her, but they’ve learned to flush the toilet long ago.”

Chen Zhao clutched his head. “Lock her up in the bathroom for a night and make her flush the toilet 100 times.”

“Then she’ll tear the bathroom apart. This isn’t our home. Are we really going to tear the house down before we leave?”

“Time goes so slowly. There are still 20 days.”

“It’s not that slow. When we visit Sacramento for a few days and come back, it’ll be about time.” Fali nestled in Chen Zhao’s arms. “Oh, what gift did you prepare for Dad?”

“Haven’t decided. Do you have suggestions?”

“I can’t think of anything either.” Fali shook her head.

“How about we give him a grandson?” Chen Zhao asked with an evil smile. His hand was already touching Fali inappropriately.

“You’re so bad. If my dad knows about this, he’ll definitely hang you on the wall and practice hunting.”

…

More and more schools’ swim teams started coming to the UCLA natatorium because the sports competition was in three days. It was also Chen Zhao’s last day training Eveleigh and Normans. He didn’t torture them anymore.

“Chen,” Normans asked. “You aren’t going to test our improvements?”

“You’re not competing. Why do you want a test?”

“Then what about Eveleigh?”

“She’s going to compete. She’ll know her improvements by then.”

“You can explain everything.” Normans glared at Chen Zhao.

It was just because Chen Zhao was lazy and didn’t even want to test them.

“Take it. Eveleigh’s and my payment.”

Normans handed Chen Zhao a $200,000 check. Adding on the $100,000 prepayment, he’d made $300,000 in ten days.

This check was pretty much enough for the electrical equipment of his new home. Three hundred thousand dollars was enough for a regular house with furniture. Even $100,000 would be enough.

However, Chen Zhao planned on installing a home monitor system—AI, in other words. Of course, it wouldn’t be like the kind in sci-fi movies. It could only do some simple things according to the owner’s words.

The price of the equipment and installing the system would be at least $100,000.

“Chen, will you come to my meet?” Eveleigh asked.

“Which day?”

“Second day of the entire competition. There are still four days. It’s at three p.m.”

“Okay, I’ll watch you compete.”

Chen Zhao left the pool. He was about to go to the boxing club when Wright called. “Hi, Wright.”

“Chen, come to my office.”

“Okay, coming.” Chen Zhao hung up and called Tiger. “Tiger, let’s push our fight back half an hour. The principal called for me.”

“Sure, I’ll wait.”

…

“Wright.” Chen Zhao knocked on Wright’s door.

“Come in.”

Chen Zhao sat comfortably in Wright’s office. “What’s wrong?”

“You’ve been training Tiger in boxing these days, right?”

“Yeah. Is there a problem?”

“Tiger told you about taking a break from school to participate in the professional competition, right?”

“Yeah, he told me about that.” Chen Zhao didn’t understand why Wright was asking this.

“Do you think it’s suitable for Tiger to enter the professional circle?”

Chen Zhao considered this and answered, “It’s not a question of suitability but whether he wants to or not.”

“Chen, Tiger’s grades are pretty good and this career has a certain danger to it. His family isn’t rich either.”

“He’s not rich?” Chen Zhao was shocked. “But he promised to pay me $30,000. Where will he get that from?”

“He competed a few times before and has a part-time job,” Wright said. “It’s probably his savings from these years. Technically, the school won’t stop a student from chasing after his dreams, but we must also consider their future and life. With his grades, he’ll definitely find a good job in the future if he graduates. But if he enters the boxing field, he’ll be nothing if he can’t perform well.”

“That depends on the school’s definition of success.” Chen Zhao could feel Tiger’s love for boxing. “Neither you nor I have the right to stop a young man from chasing after his dreams, right? If you wanted me to persuade him, then you’ve found the wrong guy.”

Tiger was already an adult. He had the right to plan his future.

Of course, he also had to bear the consequences of his decisions. Whether good or bad, he had to face them.

…

Thud, thud.

Tiger was hitting the sandbag, warming up for the match with Chen Zhao later.

After these two days of practice, Tiger knew that Chen Zhao was definitely at a higher level. This didn’t mean that he would give up. It was the best chance to get a clear idea of his own level. He wouldn’t give up on it so easily.

Just then, he heard a voice behind him.

“Your coach isn’t here today?”

Tiger turned around and saw that it was Urgat. “Why are you looking for him?”

He looked behind Urgat and saw that he’d brought many people.

“If you’re here looking for trouble, you better get out. Otherwise, I’ll throw you all out.”

Just then, a big guy standing in the back took off his hat. “You mean you’ll throw me out?”

Tiger froze, looking at the big guy who was similar in stature to him. “You…you’re Zanla Douglas?” Shock was written all over his face.

“You said that you’ll throw me out, didn’t you?” Zanla said.

“I didn’t know you’re here,” Tiger explained hurriedly. “I wasn’t targeting you.”

Who was Zanla Douglas?

He was the top figure in the professional boxing circle. He’d won the golden belt at last year’s WBA and participated in 19 competitions throughout the year. He’d KO’ed the opponent 12 times.

As for Tiger, he was only a newbie.

“But they’re my friends. You’re insulting my friends.” Zanla Douglas’ aggressive attitude showed Tiger that he hadn’t come to be reasonable.

“So what do you want?”

“Apologize to my friends or fight a match with me,” Zanla said.