After the video issue was resolved, the sword of Damocles hanging over Link's head was removed. No longer worried about a collapse, he relaxed and even ran an extra five kilometers during his morning jog.
"What happened? You seem happy."
During breakfast, Taylor spread jam on her bread, blinking at him as if trying to read his thoughts.
"1.74 million copies sold in the first week, top four in history. Shouldn't I be happy about such great results?"
Link chuckled.
"You should."
Taylor nodded slightly, licking the blueberry jam off her white finger. "A few days ago, you said someone was going to frame you and told me to be mentally prepared. Why haven't I seen any news about it yet?"
"It's been resolved. At the beginning of the year, East Coast Rap and SB Entertainment wanted to compete with me to see whose album sales were higher. I was worried they wouldn't be able to beat me and would use other methods against me, so I had to be careful.
Now that SB Entertainment knows they can't compete, they're ready to join forces with Link Music. One focuses on music, the other on marketing, a strong alliance. Once SB Entertainment becomes a partner, I don't need to worry so much anymore."
Link cut the roast meat into small pieces, sprinkled lemon juice on it, and handed it to Taylor. She only took one piece, holding it up as she looked at him.
"You mean Link Music is joining forces with SB Entertainment? Link Music is the most successful independent label in the music industry right now, and SB Entertainment is one of the best marketing agencies. If you two join forces, will other singers have a chance?"
"It's not that exaggerated. Compared to the Big Five, both companies are small potatoes. Even together, they're far from comparable to the Big Five record labels, or even their sub-brands. We're just a weak alliance, increasing our competitiveness in the entertainment industry."
Link shrugged.
Taylor rested her chin in her hand and looked at him. "You've been busy promoting your album and preparing for boxing matches recently, with no time to care about company matters. So the trouble that was resolved and the cooperation with SB Entertainment, was that all Ivanka's doing?"
"Yes, and not just her. Several executives in the company are also working on these things."
"She's really capable."
Taylor pursed her lips, her words carrying a deeper meaning.
"You're capable too. Ivanka has some talent in business, while you're a musical genius and will become even better in the future."
Link praised her.
"Hmph, I'm sincerely praising her, not jealous. You don't need to comfort me like this. I'm not that petty."
Taylor rolled her eyes at him.
Link chuckled and wiped the jam from the corner of her lips with a napkin. Her collagen-filled face was smooth and supple.
After breakfast, he followed his usual routine: a walk, playing with the cat, reading. In the afternoon, he went to Muscle Beach for boxing training, and in the evening, he and Taylor hosted a party at their villa. They invited all their relatives, friends, and colleagues in Los Angeles, over a hundred people, to celebrate the success of his new album on the lawn with drinks, music, and conversation.
Time came to April. On April 2nd, Link and his boxing team arrived in Miami and participated in a boxing match at the Hard Rock Stadium. His opponent was Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones Jr. was once a superstar in the boxing world. At his peak, he spanned four weight classes: middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight, winning world championship titles in all four.
Because of his strength, he was called "The King" and the "Miami King."
Unfortunately, he was now old, 41 years old, past an athlete's prime. Although his technique was still excellent, his strength and speed had significantly declined.
In his match against Roy Jones Jr., Link knocked him down four times in three rounds. The last time, a heavy punch to the forehead caused him to fall and be unable to get up for ten seconds, securing Link the victory.
Because both he and Roy Jones Jr. were popular boxing stars and Miami natives, the match attracted 87,000 spectators in Miami, not much less than the Super Bowl in early February. The live broadcast of the match also sold 1.32 million units, generating a total PPV revenue of 99 million US dollars. Other peripheral and advertising revenue also reached over 3 million.
Afterward, according to the split, Link received over 48 million in prize money, while Roy Jones Jr. earned over 32 million.
Link's professional record reached 16 wins in 16 fights, all by knockout, and all within three rounds.
This match brought him both fame and fortune, but some media outlets claimed he could only beat Roy Jones Jr. because of his opponent's age. They also said he had a habit of bullying older boxers, from Tyson to Roy Jones Jr., and some even jokingly called him the "Old Boxer Terminator."
Link didn't care about these jokes. His purpose for practicing boxing was simple:
On the one hand, through boxing training, he could become stronger, healthier, and live longer.
On the other hand, he could make money, become rich, and promote boxing to expand the boxing market.
In this match, he used pure technique to fight Roy Jones Jr. After gaining a comprehensive advantage in boxing technique and fully understanding Roy Jones Jr.'s moves, he finally used a heavy punch to end the match.
He believed this was a great match, so he didn't worry about being criticized.
"Link, we can see from the news that you've been very busy in recent months, with a full schedule. Not only are you training for boxing and filming movies, but you're also holding autograph sessions in various places, like a model worker. What makes everyone curious is, with such a busy schedule, how can you maintain such strong fighting power and a perfect match state?"
After the match, Simmons, a reporter from the Miami Herald and an old acquaintance, asked in an interview.
Link sat in a wicker chair, took a sip of water, and said, "I think a boxer's fighting power and match state are related to daily training. Practice boxing every day, and all aspects of your abilities will improve. Don't practice, and you'll regress. Although I've been busy recently, I've never missed an hour of fitness and two hours of boxing training every day."
"Even when you're out promoting your album, you'll take time to train for boxing? How do you manage your time every day?"
Simmons asked with doubt.
"Yes, it's thanks to my regular schedule. I go to bed before nine and get up before five. I wash up, eat breakfast, read the newspaper, go for a ten-kilometer morning run, do half an hour of fitness, and two to three hours of boxing training. These are tasks I must complete every day, no matter how busy I am. So whether I'm filming or promoting my album, it won't affect my training."
Link said.
Simmons nodded, jotting down some notes in his notebook, and smiled. "Link, the last time I interviewed you was on Miami Beach. Back then, you were an Olympic champion and a WBA world champion. Now you've become a super world champion, a movie star, and a super popular singer. You could say you're a superstar spanning both the cultural and sports worlds. How does it feel to be a superstar?"
Link smiled slightly. "It's cool! Being a boxing champion is cool, being a movie actor is cool, and being a singer is also cool. Three times the cool, that's super cool!"
Simmons laughed. "I heard that being a star also comes with a lot of troubles, such as paparazzi and enthusiastic fans. How does this affect your life?"
"Yes, it has a huge impact. I used to be a nobody, walking down the street without anyone recognizing me. Now, as soon as I go out, I get recognized. And those entertainment reporters are always chasing me. It feels like I've become a magnet, constantly affecting the people around me. This makes me pay more attention to my words and actions, trying not to disappoint my fans."
Link gestured as he spoke.
As he was being interviewed by Simmons, Anna suddenly rushed over, her expression grave, as if something bad had happened.
(End of Chapter)