Initially, Ye Chen had planned to share the news of the child with his parents. However, what he didn't foresee was that even in such a beautiful country, the belief exists that children can be somewhat "stingy" with their news. So far, she had not even informed her parents. As of now, the only person who knows is Ye Chen. He contemplated waiting until he was older to discuss it more openly, although he felt a tad superstitious about the timing. Nonetheless, he had decided to honor her wishes and would give it another month or two before bringing it up.
At present, Ye Chen's top priority was to care for Catwoman and help her recover from her injuries. The extent of her injuries was serious, both in appearance and reality. She had broken finger bones, strained multiple ligaments, and was even showing signs of tearing. Moreover, Chimaev was an incredibly powerful opponent. Ye Chen had to exert considerable effort to secure an edge in wrestling with him. Yet, he had heard that Chimaev's injuries were even more severe than his own.
Soon enough, a month slipped by.
One afternoon in their private villa, Ye Chen found himself swimming in the pool with Catwoman. Despite her generally good health, the doctors had recommended that she engage in gentle exercise for her benefit and the child's. For the past month, Ye Chen had made it a point to exercise with her nearly every day, with swimming being a vital part of that regimen. The private space they inhabited allowed for intimate physical contact, which was hard to avoid.
Just as Ye Chen contemplated taking things further, his phone rang suddenly.
"Don't go," Catwoman murmured, her eyes dancing with allure as she gazed at Ye Chen. Naturally, he had no intention of leaving. Yet when he hung up, the phone started ringing again.
"Wow…" Catwoman expressed irritation as she pulled away from him, splashing water playfully toward the poolside bench. "Who is it? Why would they call at this moment?"
Her playful yet feisty demeanor amused Ye Chen. He climbed up from the pool, drying his hands with a towel while chuckling, "The doctor suggested you keep your emotions in check..."
"Am I unstable? Where's the instability, exactly?" she retorted, defending herself.
Ye Chen picked up the phone and noticed the caller's ID.
Bald. There was no question that it had to be Dana. He answered the call with an annoyed tone.
"Dana's unmistakable laughter roared through the receiver, "Ye Chen, did I interrupt something?"
"What do you think?" Before Ye Chen could even respond, Catwoman, still dripping and just back in the water, chimed in, her tone filled with frustration.
"Ah...hahaha, Annie! I truly apologize—I never intended to disturb you," Dana replied, sounding genuinely contrite before continuing, "But here's the thing: your family member Ye Chen currently doesn't have an agent, which landed me in this situation of playing the role of his agent."
Dana broke the news that New York University had invited Ye Chen to participate in an exchange program with their students, and he was entrusted to convey the details.
Ye Chen furrowed his brow, questioning, "Is this crucial?"
Even if he didn't fully grasp the implications, he realized Yin Na wouldn't reach out to him for mundane matters. Dana's personal call signaled the significance of this opportunity.
"Well... how should I put it? This is pretty important; there are numerous stakeholders involved…"
Before Dana could elaborate further, Catwoman interrupted him, "Just say yes."
Ye Chen looked at Catwoman, confusion clear on his face, as she gestured toward her belly, understanding dawning upon him.
"Alright, Du Na, you handle everything from your end; just tell me the date," he agreed. Immediately, Dana's surprised voice came back, "Okay, okay, I'll notify the school right away."
After hanging up, Ye Chen turned to Catwoman, still baffled, "Is it really that important?"
Handing him a towel and signaling him to dry his hair, Catwoman responded, "Didn't you know I graduated from New York University?"
He admitted he hadn't known.
She began explaining: It turns out that in a place like this—often termed the "beautiful country"—the concept of "freedom" is frequently echoed. Simultaneously, it's a society replete with kindness and vibrant social circles. Prestigious institutions like New York University are particularly renowned for these traits.
This was the reason why so many individuals in this beautiful country contribute generously to their alma maters and actively engage in various school functions. Their motivations range from social networking, scouting talent, ensuring their children's acceptance into elite schools, and enhancing their societal reputation.
Essentially, one can discover elements of human society permeating all corners of life. While it's common for everyone to compete for degrees, those with privilege often find ways to glide through the process.
Annie shared that she had participated in several school initiatives. Although she didn't wish to engage, circumstances compelled her participation. Additionally, New York University held significant influence. Major events like the UFC, NBA, and football games often rolled out the red carpet for the university, distributing tickets for nearby events without any ticket-sale concerns—an indication of the power held by such prestigious establishments.
New York University has built a strong reputation in athletics, often featuring star players from the NCAA pipeline who compete fiercely for their chance to shine.
"It's perfect timing, too, as we can also visit my parents and tell them about the child," Catwoman concluded.
Ye Chen nodded, understanding that it would be good for him to attend, acknowledging that it wouldn't merely be a hassle but an opportunity for fruitful interaction.
Three days later, both Ye Chen and Catwoman arrived in New York ahead of their scheduled exchange at NYU, which Dana had organized. He discovered that he wasn't the only participant; the legendary GSP, along with Wusman—who had previously lost to him—and a formidable female athlete, Clark, were also in the mix.
When Catwoman's close friends learned of her pregnancy, surprise swept through their circle, prompting an impromptu celebration, albeit on a smaller scale. After all, Catwoman wasn't ready to publicly disclose the news to the world or the press.
Fast-forward to the official exchange day at NYU. Ye Chen's recent battle against the Wolf King had boosted his earnings past the 60 million dollar mark—a striking testament to the gulf between sports superstars and celebrities.
Additionally, Dana, along with the UFC, was strongly advocating for Ye Chen to consider participating in cross-border matches—stretching to ten fights before transitioning to the middleweight division. Two potential opponents had already been identified: Mayweather and Ava.
Ye Chen remained open to the idea. The UFC had planned a super fight for him, but it turned out that the middleweight champion, Pei, wouldn't accept the challenge this month, which was predictable given that Ye Chen's wrestling prowess had been clearly showcased in fights against Makhachev, Wusman, Covington, and Chimaev.
Who would willingly step into an unpredictable fight? A championship title comes with a PPV share, and the financial incentives for a fight far exceed those available to the average fighter. Thus, it's understandable that a champion would be selective about risks.
If an unexpected contender emerged requesting a fight, Ye Chen would certainly take the time to consider it. However, as it stood, no such opponent had materialized, which explained the lack of urgency in his weight gain. Initially, he'd thought of defending his title before returning, making it logical to aim for lightweight for now. Transitioning to middleweight to later revert to lightweight would be overly complex.
In summary, Ye Chen's current roadmap entailed winning and defending the middleweight title once, after which he would likely relinquish the lightweight belt, concluding that there was no clear benefit in seeking to defend that title again. But then came yet another twist...