On the rooftop of an old apartment in Lonely Star City, two figures—one tall, one short—were slowly circling each other, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Suddenly, Tolya charged at Nemo, throwing a punch aimed at his chest. Nemo barely managed to dodge, but Tolya didn’t let up, landing a series of sharp jabs that forced Nemo to awkwardly raise his arms to block. Still, one punch landed hard on his abdomen, and a sharp pain spread from his stomach to his upper body. Dizzy and lightheaded, the pain ignited his anger. Letting out a low growl, he bent down and grabbed Tolya in a firm embrace.

The Russian’s muscular frame was like a rooted tree, unmoving. His elbow came down hard on Nemo’s back, between the shoulder blades, causing him to cough up all the air in his lungs. His arms went limp, and Tolya’s left arm hooked around his neck, lifting him slightly as a warning.

“You shouldn’t be hugging someone stronger and better at fighting than you. It would be safer to just lie down and admit defeat. I wouldn’t even need to spend time choking you out. With the right angle, I could snap your neck with a simple tug,” Tolya said, loosening his grip on Nemo’s neck and grabbing the young man’s shirt, throwing him forcefully against the outer wall of the stairwell.

Dazed, Nemo only had time to slap the wall and twist his body to reduce some of the impact, but he still crashed hard onto his back, sliding down to the ground and unable to stand for a long time.

A pair of large hands cupped his face, checking his pupils. Tolya’s deep voice asked, “Are you okay? You’re not passing out, are you?”

“I’m fine, still getting used to being hit,” Nemo said, shaking his head slightly, his ears ringing.

“First of all, you shouldn’t be circling around like that. It just creates a rhythm that you become reliant on. Once it’s broken, you panic. It’s a bad habit from the dojo,” Tolya explained.

“If it weren’t for the charity gala in a week, and the promise I made not to get hit in the face or any visible areas, you would’ve knocked me out already,” Nemo replied, brushing himself off.

Nemo and Tolya had made a deal: No matter how light or heavy Tolya's hits were, Nemo had to stop once he was injured in three places. This was to maintain his stamina for ongoing training and work, as well as to avoid having his injuries noticed by Sunny Jie, who would then likely scold him severely.

“That’s true, but you’re not really attacking me. You haven’t even used any weapons,” Tolya said, somewhat displeased. He had been holding back, but Nemo was still too easily injured, and he even refused to practice in a safer, padded environment. So, they had to settle for practicing on the rooftop, which mimicked real-life street conditions.

“I emphasized that dodging and getting hit are the key parts of my training. That night at the restaurant, if one of the robbers had hit me with full force, I wouldn’t have been able to move. It was all luck,” Nemo was wearing a short-sleeve shirt during practice, and the side of his arm that hit the wall was scraped with several bloodstreaks and a large area of swelling.

“Look at you taking down robbers with such ferocity. Who knew your reaction to getting hit is like that of an average person who’s never been in a fight,” Tolya muttered.

“You still think I’m a superhero pretending to be an ordinary chef? How funny,” Nemo retorted, recalling their past jokes.

“You forget how terrifying you were back then. Go rewatch the surveillance footage.”

“After experiencing it, I’ve realized that hitting the wall or getting hit in the stomach isn’t as scary as I imagined. After a few more times, I’ll probably stop being afraid,” Nemo said, pressing his abdomen and trying to fight off the nausea.

Tolya heard that Nemo didn’t say he was "getting used to it," but instead said he "wasn't afraid," showing that Nemo understood the gravity of the situation. When forced to fight, it wasn’t about winning but about putting his life on the line.

“You’ve already been injured in more than three places. That’s enough for today. Took me only five minutes,” Tolya said.

“Yeah, I mentioned that this type of training is cost-effective. Thanks. We’ll continue tomorrow,” it’s Nemo who took the initiative to ask Tolya to train him using this method of combat.

“You’re the kind of guy who complains when you scrape your fist, but I didn’t expect you to be so tough when it comes to training,” Tolya said as he helped Nemo back to the rental apartment. It wasn’t surprising anymore if Nemo suddenly tumbled down the stairs.

“Since Sunny Jie and boss Liu don’t want to just tolerate things, neither will I,” Nemo said, noting the number of old scars on his body. He was sure he had chosen the fastest way to awaken his muscle memory. First, he had to overcome his own fear responses. “Getting hit by you is better than being touched by scumbags.”

“Now you’ve got me speechless. I don’t even want to hit you,” Tolya said, noticing how Nemo was limping weakly. His soft movements now were even more frightening than when he stood upright.

Nemo immediately went into the bathroom to wash off the sweat and dust. He came out wrapped in a towel, his hair roughly dried, with the ends still dripping water.

“I feel a bit cold. Forget the ice pack. I’ll dry my hair first, and then I’ll just apply some pain relief gel,” Nemo said, as the late March temperatures in Lonely Star City fluctuated dramatically. But whenever it rained, it felt like winter again. He had already smelled the rain earlier on the rooftop.

“Since this is our first practice, I held back a lot. Otherwise, I would have had to pin you down and still wrap the ice pack around you. Tomorrow, I’ll see how you’re standing to cook,” Tolya grumbled as he walked into the bathroom, showering and changing clothes. The Russian moved quickly and soon returned to the living room, where Nemo was still drying his hair.

Tolya grabbed Nemo’s right arm to check the injury. The swelling was worse than before, and even the parts that hadn't been scratched now had small red dots, indicating the rupture of several capillaries under the skin. Tomorrow, he would definitely have large bruises, and his elbow had a large, oval-shaped deep red abrasion.

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Nemo had already cleaned the wounds when he was in the shower, and after Tolya confirmed that there were no sand or dirt embedded in the cuts, he applied antibiotic ointment.

These injuries hurt much more than a scraped knuckle, especially since it was on his dominant hand. Nemo would certainly face difficulties at work, but he didn’t care, lowering his head to rub gel on the red marks on his stomach. He then tossed the tube of ointment to Tolya, who continued applying medicine to his back, where the bruises were forming.

“Your physical condition seems to have potential for fighting. No wonder you said you needed to train,” Tolya remarked. Ever since the time at the border shelter, he hadn't seen Nemo naked. His impression of Nemo had been that of a skinny person when he applied ointment back then. He had forgotten that, when they first met, Nemo had been quite capable in the brawl, but his injuries and frequent fatigue had made him appear weak.

Nemo planned to change into his pajamas after the ointment absorbed so that it wouldn’t rub off on his clothes. He flicked the charity gala invitation card onto Tolya’s lap.

“I was going to ask you before we started training, have you thought about it? If you can’t go, I’ll just turn it down; I can’t find a partner anyway.”

“Let’s not talk about the positive publicity for Westlake Restaurant. At least the boss and Sunny Jie won’t have to worry about so many refugees and starving kids. Some of my friends from the homeland also need medical care…,” Tolya said, picking up the invitation. He genuinely disliked dressing up like a Russian doll in a room full of Americans to flaunt and smile.

“It depends on you, I’m not forcing you,” Nemo said, genuinely meaning it.

“Considering it’ll help them spend more money on charity rather than on sports cars,” Tolya said in a gruff voice. “Many of my countrymen are just ordinary people studying, living, or seeking refuge in America. If attending this event can help improve their overall impression, indulging in a bit of caviar and fine champagne won’t do any harm.”

“Do you think your homeland friends will mind you attending a rich people’s gala?” Nemo suddenly thought of this question.

“No, not really. After all, it’s an invitation from the Grimm Group. Even Veronika’s father doesn’t have the right to enter that gala. She'll only think I'm bringing her honor.” Tolya answered.

Anyway, the Russian wouldn’t let his Taiwanese roommate go alone into the lion’s den.

※※※

After another three training sessions, sometimes spaced a day apart, Nemo’s movements became increasingly sluggish, his steps unsteady. It wasn’t until two days before the gala that Tolya refused to continue training and insisted that Nemo rest and recover from his injuries. After all, you can’t rush things.

During the past few days, Nemo’s fatigue had drawn the attention of Sunny Jie

and boss Liu. Nemo explained that he was stressed about attending the fundraising gala and had trouble sleeping. Tolya’s behavior also seemed a bit off. The boss couple simply urged Nemo to relax and enjoy the food at the event. They advised him to steer clear of any trouble and not to stress himself too much.

“If you’re not afraid of something going wrong at the fundraising gala, and someone gets weak-kneed like a little mermaid who just crawled ashore, then sure, stay up all night!” Tolya added with a mocking laugh. “The media will be waiting to see the Kung Fu chef make his grand reappearance!”

Nemo reluctantly extended his sleep time. Several times when Matthew called, he was already asleep, sleeping as if he were dead. Ibuprofen and muscle relaxants helped a great deal.

But the tycoon did catch Nemo awake once when he was browsing the internet.

“I want to buy a necklace for Angie, something she can wear at the charity gala. Which gemstone do you think would be best?”

A playboy asking a nerd for advice on jewelry for his girlfriend? Was he trying to set a record for the fastest crash into a mountain?

“The most expensive one.”

“Why?”

“If you break up, I’ll tell her to sell it. If she’s in a good mood, she’ll forgive you. If you stay together, it will be more meaningful as a family heirloom.”

“How can you be so honest?”

Oh my god! The tycoon actually believed him! Nemo couldn’t help but think of the old saying that love makes people lose their intelligence.

Luckily, Matthew wasn’t short on money, so it wasn’t Nemo’s problem!

An hour later, Matthew called back with the results. By this time, Nemo was barely staying awake.

“Angie really liked the diamond jewelry. I knew asking someone from Taiwan like you about her preferences was the right move!”

Is that really all it took? Nemo couldn’t help but think that maybe he and the mysterious Angie might actually hit it off when they met.

At this point, Nemo, sore all over, just wanted to lie down and play dead.

“I’ve noticed you’ve been going to bed earlier lately. Very good. Looks like you’ve taken my advice to heart. Keep conserving your energy, tomorrow will be a tough battle for you,” Matthew said. If he knew why Nemo had been so lazy and sleepy lately, often lying in bed to reply to messages, he’d probably be so angry that he’d flip his desk.

Finally, the day of the charity gala arrived. Nemo and Tolya followed their plan and first went to the Grimm Tower to change clothes before taking the billionaire’s provided transport to a five-star hotel in the city center. The charity event was held in the banquet hall on the first floor.

When the billionaire heard that it was Nemo’s first time wearing formal attire, he grew increasingly worried and decided to supervise. Nemo obediently let the styling team work on his appearance. Matthew had previously sent someone to their apartment to take measurements for both Nemo and Tolya, and the clothes, shoes, and accessories had already been prepared.

Tolya, unlike Nemo who always shaved his face clean, was currently in the next room being attended to by a barber. Not only did his beard need grooming, but his hair also had to be trimmed. Nemo, on the other hand, was luckier—he only needed to style his curls.

After the styling team left, Matthew carefully examined Nemo, who was now fully dressed. The team had specially chosen an outfit from a Japanese designer for him, one that fit perfectly, was lightweight, and accentuated his legs. Yet, the billionaire still felt something was off.

“The Windsor knot doesn’t suit you, it looks too old-fashioned.” Matthew went into the closet, picked a moss green striped navy silk tie, and led Nemo to the mirror to undo the styling team’s work. He then tied a new Trinity knot.

Apart from the knot now looking more elaborate, Nemo couldn’t really tell much difference. His curls had been styled to reveal his forehead, and he looked much more energetic.

“Since you’re so good at it, why do you still need a styling team?” Nemo asked.

“They’re used to serving me. Normally, I’m too lazy to care. After all, I look good no matter what I wear.” Matthew Grimm was dressed in a black Roman-style suit, with a tie in the Grimm Group’s representative color. He didn’t even need shoulder pads, and with his 1.9-meter height, he exuded an overwhelming aura of authority.

Though it was the truth, Nemo couldn’t help but let out a little huff.

Boss, come see the aura of a royal turtle that you’ve been thinking about! Nemo had originally planned to take some photos for boss Liu as writing material, but then realized that Matthew’s speech would definitely be on TV, so he decided to skip the action.

“Are you sure you want to leave now, without coming to pick up Angie with me?” Matthew asked.

“Sure.” After Nemo spoke, he looked at Tolya, who was wearing a gray British-style three-piece suit. Now that was a real Cinderella transformation. The Russian looked like he had just walked out of the Oscars.

Even though Matthew Grimm’s extended Cadillac could fit four people, neither Nemo nor Tolya wanted to follow the billionaire and his new girlfriend. They chose to take another luxury sedan provided by the Grimm Group, arriving early to submit their invitation cards and survey the environment at the venue.

Several media representatives with press badges, who remembered the chef and waiter from Westlake Restaurant, came over to greet them. Upon learning that the two were invited by the billionaire to enjoy the food and wine, they politely asked a few questions and took some handsome photos before letting them go, as the main event was still behind.

Tolya’s expression was a bit sour, but it only attracted more attention. The guests clearly didn’t recognize him as the Russian waiter who had appeared in a fight scene in local news. They just assumed he was another rich second-generation friend of the billionaire from some big city, here to show support.

Dressed in a designer suit, Nemo felt a bit awkward. Surprisingly, Tolya seemed to enjoy the drinks and snacks, hiding his sharp gaze beneath his eyelashes. His expression was lazy, and his posture relaxed as he occasionally looked around.

“Were you poor or rich in Russia?” Nemo couldn’t help but ask.

“To thank my elders for paying for my tuition and living expenses, I was basically Veronika’s regular social companion and bodyguard. I had to accompany her to operas or ballet performances every other day. Besides eating at fancy restaurants, I’ve been to quite a few galas like this. But you want me to spend money to go to these places myself? No way!” Tolya responded, then retorted, “I still don’t understand how Taiwanese men can grow up without ever wearing a formal suit. How do you guys live?”

“At least we wear one for the Teacher's Appreciation Banquet, unless we don’t attend. I don’t remember ever attending one, but hey, it’s not illegal, right?” Nemo remarked, enjoying the lobster salad. He decided to hold off on the champagne for now, knowing there would be plenty of drinking later.

A large group of footsteps gathered nearby, and Nemo saw a few reporters rush past the venue toward the exit. It was as though someone had sprinkled fish feed at the door, drawing the media’s attention... The media was all frenzy, waiting for a big catch.

Matthew Grimm arrived with his latest beautiful Asian girlfriend.