576-580

Chapter 576: Could Link Be About to Lose?

“Link, don’t rush it. Take your time. Even if you can’t KO Klitschko, you can still win on points,” Coach Brooks said from the sidelines.

Link nodded. Although Coach Brooks was right, knocking out his opponent was always his goal before every match. Winning on points would mean failing to meet his objective, which felt like losing to him.

He didn’t want to lose, so he’d put in his best effort to achieve his goal—knocking out his opponent in the fewest rounds possible to feel satisfied.

Ding, ding, ding!

The bell for the second round rang. Link spat out the water in his mouth, raised his fists, and moved to the center of the ring.

On the opposite side, Klitschko remained calm, his chin greased and shiny, showing signs of swelling upon closer inspection.

That was the result of Link’s repeated attacks.

Klitschko had a strong chin, and his resilience was higher than expected. In a light heavyweight or super middleweight match, most of Link’s punches in the first round would have knocked out nine out of ten opponents. But Klitschko was only pushed back.

This showed that besides speed, heavyweight boxers had better qualities in every other aspect compared to lighter-weight fighters.

When the match resumed, Link continued his aggressive assault, attacking his opponent with the same speed and power he displayed in training.

Klitschko, meanwhile, acted like a perfect sparring partner. He defended well while retreating and took the opportunity to counterattack during the gaps in Link’s offense, disrupting Link’s rhythm.

Both fighters exchanged blows back and forth, each punch landing solidly on their opponent.

The crowd roared with excitement.

This was America, and Link had more fans. The atmosphere was electric with people cheering him on.

Boom!

On the 68th punch, Link landed a combination that struck Klitschko’s side face again, forcing him to retreat, hands raised defensively, dodging frantically.

“Hit him! Hit him!” the audience screamed.

Link pressed forward, throwing punches at Klitschko’s body, chin, and head. Klitschko quickly clinched to interrupt Link’s offensive.

“Boo! Boo!”

The audience jeered at Klitschko’s defensive move.

Yet Klitschko remained composed, showing no signs of being swayed by the crowd's emotions.

Link admired his opponent’s calmness. During the Olympic Americas Qualifiers, Link had defeated the stronger Aragon, not just because of his tactics, but because Aragon was easily affected by external factors, lost focus, and eventually got knocked out.

Although Link had a good mentality, he sometimes couldn’t help but be influenced by the audience’s cheers, which led him to make tactical changes during matches.

These changes could raise the excitement of the match, but for a professional boxer, staying calm and rational was far more beneficial.

Klitschko excelled in this aspect.

Link shook the sweat off his arms and gloves. After the referee signaled for the fight to resume, he continued his high-speed offensive, determined to test the limits of his opponent's endurance.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At 102 seconds into the second round, Link struck Klitschko’s chin again, causing him to stumble against the ropes, nearly falling.

The crowd erupted in cheers, only to sigh in disappointment when Klitschko grabbed onto the ropes to steady himself.

“Is Vitali about to lose?” Hayden Panettiere asked from the front row.

Hayden Panettiere was a well-known Hollywood actress, famous for her roles in Bring It On and Heroes. She was also the fiancée of Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali's younger brother, and had given birth to their child earlier this year. Recently, she had been in the spotlight due to a photo leak scandal.

Wladimir clenched his fists, his gaze locked on the ring.

“No, this is Vitali’s strategy. He’s luring Link into attacking to exhaust his stamina as much as possible. Later, he’ll find an opportunity to counterattack. Link doesn’t understand Vitali’s tactics. He’s been rushing through the first two rounds, attacking impatiently. Look at how much he’s sweating—that shows how much energy he’s burned.

“At this rate, he can only last one more round. After the fourth round, Vitali will definitely turn the tide and win.”

This was the strategy Wladimir and Vitali had devised after studying Link’s match footage. Except for his fight against Tyson, where Link lasted until the sixth round, most of his other matches ended before the fourth round.

No matter how skilled Link was, he rarely fought beyond the fourth round, which was a clear weakness.

Dragging the fight beyond five rounds would inevitably expose Link’s flaws and create openings for Vitali to exploit.

Many in the boxing world had noticed this, but few could withstand Link’s aggressive attacks and fast pace long enough to reach the third round.

So it took considerable skill just to survive into the later rounds.

Wladimir wasn’t sure if Vitali could pull it off, but all he could do was cheer him on from the sidelines.

“Hang in there, Vitali!”

“Come on, Link! Keep hitting him!”

The crowd was also cheering for Link.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Link kept throwing punches, relentlessly targeting Klitschko’s vulnerable areas. His rapid punches made the sweat on his body more noticeable, his hair now soaked and glistening under the lights.

“If Link keeps fighting like this, he’s going to lose,” James Toney remarked with his arms crossed.

“Didn’t you say Link would win? Why are you now saying he’s going to lose, and it’s only the second round?” Oscar De La Hoya asked, surprised.

“Klitschko is clearly using a delay tactic, one of his favorite strategies. He exhausts his opponent in the early rounds and then powers through in the later stages. Link is too eager for a knockout and has fallen into Klitschko’s trap. The longer the match goes on, the greater Klitschko’s chances of winning,” Toney explained.

“That’s true. Klitschko hasn’t attacked much in the first two rounds. He’s been drawing Link in, exploiting his lack of experience with tactical fighters. The few tactical experts Link has faced were knocked out in the first two rounds, so he doesn’t have enough experience in this area. That’s why he fell into Klitschko’s trap,” George Foreman added, watching Klitschko dodge skillfully. “He’s a smart fighter, a true master of tactics. Link is a bit behind him.”

“So, you guys think Link might lose?” Shaquille O’Neal asked, grinning.

James Toney and George Foreman nodded.

“Haha, that’s great! Too bad Klitschko isn’t Black,” O’Neal said.

The group of Black boxers nearby suddenly frowned, their excitement fading. Since the days of Evander Holyfield and James Toney, they had pinned their hopes on Deontay Wilder to carry the torch for Black fighters in the heavyweight division.

But Wilder had been defeated by Link before becoming a world champion.

Since then, no Black boxer had made a significant mark in the heavyweight division.

There was a time when heavyweight boxing was dominated by Black fighters like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Lennox Lewis—all legends in the sport.

Back then, light-skinned boxers hardly had a chance to shine.

But now, most of the prominent fighters in the heavyweight division were light-skinned, and it seemed as though Black heavyweights had disappeared.

The old-timers couldn’t help but lament how much Black fighters had declined in recent years.

Ding, ding, ding!

The second round ended.

Link threw 156 punches in this round, landing 4 effective hits on Klitschko’s chin and face and 24 on his abdomen and ribs.

Klitschko threw 98 punches, landing 8 on Link, mostly to the chest and abdomen, with one grazing Link’s side face.

Link had expended a lot of energy with his rapid offense, and sweat poured off him. Klitschko’s chin and left cheek were swollen, with slight bleeding from his nose and mouth. The skin on his ribs was also darkening from the blows.

“Link, Klitschko’s attack frequency was really low in the first two rounds. Do you think he’s trying to tire you out?” Coach Brooks asked.

“Maybe, but it doesn’t matter. I’m the one who’s going to win,” Link replied, staring at his opponent.

The third round began, and Link continued his aggressive attack, alternating between high and low punches, targeting Klitschko’s defense. Whenever Klitschko’s defense slowed, Link’s fists landed on his ribs or chin.

However, Klitschko was 16 cm taller and had a fast reaction time, making it hard for Link to land many punches on his chin.

“Is Link still pushing for an all-out attack?”

“Looks like he’s going to lose.”

“I should’ve bet on him losing! The odds were over 50 to 1. A $10,000 bet could’ve made me a fortune.”

“Haha, I love to gamble, so I always bet on underdogs with high odds. This time, I bet $5,000 that Link would lose.”

James Toney, Foreman, Tyson, and O’Neal discussed the match.

“Look, Link’s slowing down. Is he running out of steam?” Hopkins shouted.

“Very likely!” George Foreman nodded.

“Too late to save energy now,” Tyson said, shaking his head.

“Are we about to witness Link’s first loss? Haha, this’ll be historic,” O’Neal laughed.

In the ring, during the second half of the third round, Link's offensive speed had indeed slowed down. His opponent, Vitali Klitschko, was baiting him into attacking, but even with Link's powerful punches, he couldn't land a hit on Klitschko's head, and his punches were losing their impact.

Klitschko tested the waters a few times, and with 40 seconds left in the third round, he launched his counterattack. His arms, nearly 10 centimeters longer than Link's, repeatedly targeted Link's body.

Straight punch + hook + uppercut + jab. Bam! Bam! Bam! At that moment, Klitschko showcased his masterful combination punch technique in all its glory.

"No wonder Klitschko has held the WBC belt for so many years—his combination punches are truly top-tier," James Toney praised.

"This attack is even fiercer than Link’s earlier offense. With the stamina Link has left, how many more rounds can he last?" Mike Tyson asked, staring intently at the two in the ring.

"Could Link really be losing?"

O'Neal widened his eyes, not blinking, filled with anticipation.

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 577: Tactics Defeat Tactics (Second Bonus Update for Leader)*

On the boxing ring, Vitali Klitschko swung his iron fists like a blacksmith hammering metal, constantly landing blows on Link. His arms were long, and his fists were large, making his attacks appear incredibly fierce.

What amazed James Toney and a few others was that despite Klitschko's powerful attacks, Link was able to block every single one. His defense was airtight, and no matter what kind of combination Klitschko threw at him, Link either intercepted, neutralized, or dodged them.

Klitschko threw more than 80 punches in a row, but none hit Link’s head.

The live audience, seeing such an intense fight, grew excited and began cheering loudly.

"Is Link a turtle or something? How is his defense so solid?" James Toney exclaimed in surprise.

"Link’s offense and defense are both outstanding. His boxing technique is nearly flawless. Didn’t you realize that when you fought him? Oh right, in your match, Link was dominating, so you didn’t get to see him fully defend," De La Hoya said with a smile.

"What are you guys implying? Link’s going to win again?" Shaquille O'Neal asked, clearly dissatisfied.

Tyson, Foreman, and the others didn’t answer, their eyes glued to the ring.

Klitschko continued his all-out attack, while Link focused entirely on defense. The current situation mirrored the second round, but with reversed roles—Link had shifted from being the attacker to the defender.

*Ding ding ding!*

The third round ended.

In this round, Link threw 121 punches, hitting his opponent 14 times in the body and once on the chin.

Klitschko threw 175 punches, hitting Link 18 times in the body but 0 times in the head.

Both fighters were drenched in sweat as they headed to their corners.

"Looks like the winner will be decided in the next round or the one after that," George Foreman remarked.

"And who’s going to win?" Shaq looked to Foreman, who remained silent. He then turned to Tyson and the others, but no one gave him an answer.

Frustrated, Shaq shouted support for Klitschko. Suddenly, Link glanced in his direction, causing Shaq’s expression to change. Immediately, he yelled, “Go, Link! Link is unbeatable!”

*Ding ding ding!*

The fourth round began. As Link and Klitschko walked to the center of the ring, both were drenched in sweat. Klitschko, with his pale complexion, had several red marks on his chest, abdomen, and chin.

"Box!" the referee announced.

Both fighters assumed defensive stances, cautious and deliberate.

Link quickly realized that Klitschko hadn’t gained much from his previous round of aggressive attacks. He likely wanted to prolong the fight to wear Link down and save the real battle for the later rounds.

Understanding this, Link didn’t hesitate and launched an attack.

Klitschko appeared to try luring him into an offense, assuming a relaxed defensive posture.

Seizing the opportunity, Link switched between high and low attacks, delivering a vicious straight punch that broke through Klitschko's defense, landing hard on his left rib.

*Bang!*

Klitschko's eyes widened in pain, his body instinctively bending over as his left arm moved to shield his ribs.

This reflex left Klitschko’s left side, especially his face, exposed.

Realizing the opening, Klitschko tried to lean his head back to defend against Link’s uppercut—but he was too slow.

Before he could react, Link's uppercut rocketed upward, smashing into Klitschko's chin.

*Bang!*

The punch landed with a crisp crack, sending Klitschko’s head, along with his body, flying backward. Sweat, spit, and blood sprayed from his nose and mouth as his head snapped back.

For a moment, Klitschko's mind went blank. He staggered, and before he could regain his balance, he crashed heavily onto the mat.

“…”

The crowd stared in stunned silence for two seconds before erupting into cheers, shouting, "Link is unbeatable! Superhuman Link!"

Link raised his fists, staring down at the fallen Klitschko, his face devoid of emotion.

"What just happened?" Vitali’s younger brother, Wladimir Klitschko, looked on in disbelief.

From the previous rounds, it seemed both fighters were evenly matched. But in the fourth round, Klitschko tried to drag out the fight by luring Link into an attack.

But no one expected that as soon as Link struck, he would land a devastating punch to Klitschko’s chin, completely shifting the tide of the match.

"What happened?"

"Link had hit Klitschko’s chin so many times before without knocking him down. How could this punch do it?"

James Toney and Tyson were in disbelief.

On the mat, Klitschko began to regain his senses, also wondering how Link’s power had suddenly increased. Previously, Link had hit his chin seven or eight times, and while painful, it was manageable.

From those punches, Klitschko had estimated Link’s left-hand punch to be around 1,100 pounds and his right hand at 1,200 pounds.

But the punch just now had to have been over 1,600 pounds.

Before Klitschko could figure out what had happened, the referee began the ten-count.

Klitschko stopped thinking and struggled to stand, but intense dizziness and nausea hit him as soon as he moved his jaw, sending sharp pain shooting through his chin, with a strong metallic taste of blood in his mouth.

Injured—and badly.

Klitschko quickly assessed his situation.

"Mr. Klitschko, can you continue the fight?" the referee asked.

Gritting his teeth, Klitschko nodded.

"Fight!"

The referee called to resume the match.

Klitschko stepped back and raised his guard tightly, abandoning any thoughts of baiting Link into an attack. His awareness was now at its peak, hoping to survive until the next round when he might recover enough to make a comeback.

But Link wasn’t going to give him that chance. As soon as the referee signaled the fight to continue, Link quickly closed the distance and unleashed a barrage of punches aimed at Klitschko’s weakened body.

*Bam bam bam!*

Klitschko, exhausted from his previous offensive and weakened by his injury, was even less capable of defending himself than in earlier rounds.

Link went all-out, and in just three punches, he broke through Klitschko's defense again, landing a crushing uppercut to his chin.

*Bang!*

This punch was even more powerful than the last. Klitschko's 6-foot-7 frame was lifted off the ground by the impact, his body losing balance, and he fell to the mat with a thud.

*“Wow!”*

The thousands of spectators gasped in unison, this time even more astonished than before.

Klitschko was down again.

The referee began counting.

Link stood with his fists raised, watching his opponent.

Klitschko struggled to push himself up, attempting to lift his head, but after three attempts, he couldn’t get back on his feet.

*"5, 4, 3, 2, 1!"*

The referee finished the count.

"Yes! Link won!"

"Link defeated Klitschko!"

"Link is the WBA-WBC double champion!"

Link’s fans erupted in ecstatic cheers.

"Link actually won?"

"How did the fight end up like this?"

James Toney, Tyson, and Foreman were perplexed as they stared at the ring.

Based on their predictions, since neither fighter had gained a clear advantage in the first three rounds, the match was expected to drag into the later rounds, where endurance and willpower would determine the victor.

Given the skills Link and Klitschko had displayed, the outcome seemed evenly matched.

But to everyone's surprise, Link suddenly exploded in the fourth round, landing a knockout punch on Klitschko, followed by another, sealing his victory.

None of them had expected this outcome.

"How could this happen?"

Wladimir Klitschko clenched his fists, his muscles tensing in anger as he watched Link raise his arms and bask in the crowd’s adulation.

He couldn’t understand how, when both fighters were so evenly matched, Link had suddenly reversed the situation and knocked out a still-strong Vitali.

The only explanation he could think of was that Link had somehow tricked them.

"Haha, I get it now," De La Hoya suddenly laughed, slapping his thigh.

"What do you mean?" Hopkins asked.

"Link was bluffing. He’s way too cunning. During his usual training at the gym, he can spar for hours without getting tired. Yet, in the third round, he pretended to be exhausted. He was setting a trap.

"When Klitschko tried to bait Link into attacking, Link was doing the same to him. Klitschko didn’t realize it and launched a counterattack in the third round, falling right into Link’s plan. This guy is too sly!" De La Hoya excitedly explained.

"Is that really what happened?"

"But wait, if that’s the case, why couldn’t he knock out Klitschko earlier? How did he manage it in the fourth round?" Tyson and Foreman asked, still confused.

De La Hoya grinned, about to explain when suddenly James Toney sighed and patted his thigh, "So you figured it out too?"

James Toney curled his lips and said, "Same old tricks, nothing new. That bastard Link likes to set traps for his opponents during matches. When I fought him, he kept attacking my left side, making me focus my defense there. Then, all of a sudden, he switched directions, and before I could react, he knocked me down.

"It was the same move against Deontay. He fought him head-on, then exploited gaps in Deontay's defense to win.

"This time, he did the same thing. I bet he held back during the first few hits on Vitali Klitschko, causing Klitschko to relax his defense. A few times, he let his guard down and allowed Link to strike.

"At first, Link didn’t go all in, but when Klitschko relaxed again, Link landed a powerful punch, knocking him down and seriously injuring him, which weakened him a lot.

"With the second punch, Link easily won the fight."

James Toney shook his head as he spoke. "Klitschko’s tactics were solid, but he didn’t expect Link’s strategy to be even better, nor did he anticipate Link's strength."

"Holding back during the fight?"

"Link fights with such boldness, it’s crazy."

"Link’s a tactical genius. No matter how much we think of him, we still underestimated him."

Tyson, Foreman, and the others sighed.

"Is that how it happened?"

Wladimir Klitschko, hearing their conversation, clenched his fists and pounded his knee in frustration, feeling sorry for Vitali. If they had caught on to Link's tricks earlier, Vitali wouldn’t have lost so easily.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I’m honored to announce that the winner of this heavyweight title unification bout is Mr. Link Baker!"

Mauricio Sulaiman, the president of the WBC, shouted into the microphone.

"Link!"

"Link!"

The crowd cheered loudly, chanting Link’s name.

Link waved, raising the WBC heavyweight championship belt in front of tens of thousands of spectators.

He was now the heavyweight champion of both the WBA and the WBC.

"This guy is brutal."

In the audience, Kristen Stewart looked at the sweat-drenched, muscular Link in the ring and marveled.

"Falling for him?" Blake Lively teased.

"No way, he’s too much of a jerk," Kristen said, waving her hand and acting cool.

(End of the chapter)

Chapter 578: Post-Match Plans

After the match, Link hosted a celebration party at the MGM Hotel, inviting many industry peers, media reporters, social elites, and dedicated boxing fans to attend.

At the party, everyone discussed the match, praising Link's tactics and strength. They agreed it was a high-level, classic match and even suggested it could be the best fight of the year.

Shaquille O'Neal personally expressed his admiration for Link, claiming to be his biggest fan. To celebrate Link's victory, O'Neal even danced in front of everyone, making the guests laugh out loud.

"Link, I have a question," said Oscar De La Hoya, holding a champagne glass and watching O'Neal's wild dancing.

"Were you holding back in the first three rounds?"

"No," Link replied calmly.

"Don't hide it. I just rewatched the fight. In the first three rounds, you hit Klitschko's chin multiple times but only slightly injured him. But in the fourth round, you knocked him down with one punch. This must have been your strategy, right? You were setting him up for that final blow. Why didn’t you go all out earlier and try to KO him in the first round?" Hoya asked.

"Did you enjoy the match?" Link asked with a smile.

"Yeah, it was great. Very high-level," Hoya admitted.

"Then why ask so many questions?" Link grinned, taking his drink over to Simon, asking him to visit Klitschko in the hospital tomorrow to check on his condition.

After the party ended, Link returned to his hotel room to rest. He took a shower and called Ivanka to talk about the match and tomorrow’s schedule. He planned to return to Los Angeles after finishing the promotional activities.

After hanging up, he noticed a missed call and a message from Kristen Stewart. She mentioned she was in Las Vegas and wanted to grab a drink with him, asking if he was free.

Link raised an eyebrow and sent her his room number.

A few moments later, his bodyguard, Bob, informed him that Kristen had arrived. She was standing in the hallway, wearing a baseball cap and a long dress, carrying a bag.

Link opened the door and invited her inside.

"Are you here alone?" Kristen asked, taking off her hat and glancing around the room.

"Shouldn’t I be?"

"I saw in the news that boxers usually party with a bunch of women after their matches. You won a big fight tonight, and you’re in your room alone?" Kristen teased.

"Well, now that you’re here, it’s not just me," Link replied.

"Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m only here to have a drink with you and congratulate you on your win. Nothing more," Kristen said, handing him a can of beer.

Link chuckled, took the beer without opening it, and gently pressed her against the wall, his hand around her waist. Looking down at her surprised expression, he said, "Forget the drink. I only want one thing right now. I hope you feel the same."

Kristen's eyes widened as she blushed. "I thought you weren’t interested in me? The last few times, when I asked you to help me with my injury, you didn’t touch me. Why now?"

"You tell me," Link murmured, brushing her ear as her body trembled slightly and she closed her eyes.

"Open your eyes," Link whispered, tilting her chin up.

Kristen opened her watery eyes, her breath quickening as she gazed into his. Link kissed her softly, then lifted her up, pinning her against the wall, letting out the aggression and desire that he hadn't released in the ring—without the slightest hint of mercy.

—

After completing the promotion in Las Vegas, Link returned to Los Angeles to rest. His earnings from the fight started to come in.

First, there was the $100 million fight purse. From pay-per-view sales in North America, 4.52 million units were sold, generating $339 million in revenue, with Link and Dynasty Promotions taking home $101 million.

He also earned $35 million from online streaming revenue, $12 million from ticket sales, and another $25 million from sponsorships and other deals.

After deducting the promotion company's cut, Link's total earnings from the fight reached $245 million, setting a new record for single-match earnings in boxing history.

His opponent, Vitali Klitschko, earned $25 million, the highest payday of his career.

Link’s tactical victory over Klitschko sparked much discussion after the fight. Analysts and fellow boxers debated his strategy, with some calling him crafty, others calling him smart. But no matter the opinion, it didn’t change the fact that Link had become the most prominent figure in the heavyweight division.

However, Link didn’t let the praise go to his head. Compared to Vitali, Wladimir Klitschko was clearly a tougher opponent. At 38, he was younger and stronger, and after his brother’s loss, he would study Link's tactics and prepare better for their potential future fight.

After this match, Link’s work for the year was essentially finished. He spent the rest of his time at home with Ivanka and their three kids, while also keeping an eye on the box office performance of Lionsgate’s recent films.

Birdman had been in theaters for over a month, grossing $43.24 million in North America and $64.03 million internationally, with a total box office of $107 million.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 had been out for four weeks, grossing $362 million in North America and $544 million internationally, crossing the $900 million mark.

These two films helped Lionsgate’s annual box office surpass $1.8 billion, currently at $1.84 billion.

In mid-December, Lionsgate released its 18th and final film of the year, American Hustle, directed by David O. Russell and starring Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert De Niro.

Link had a cameo as the mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The movie tells the story of a group of con artists who team up to scam government officials. Along the way, they discover that one of the officials is actually a good person, so they use their skills to help him secure funding to build the city. In the end, the con artists successfully complete their mission and retire.

The film was originally set to release last year, but due to a packed schedule, it was postponed to the end of this year. It’s also one of Lionsgate's key projects aimed at the Oscars.

It premiered in six theaters in Los Angeles and New York, grossing $1.13 million in its opening weekend, with an impressive per-theater average of $26,900. Although the numbers are slightly lower than The Grand Budapest Hotel and Birdman, it’s still a strong performance for an art film.

American Hustle has received positive reviews, with a Metacritic score of 82, 22 outlets rating it above 85, a Rotten Tomatoes freshness rating of 87%, and an audience score of "A" on Yahoo.

The New York Post described it as a typical David O. Russell film: smart, entertaining, exaggerated, colorful, and full of energy, sure to satisfy genre fans. The cast's performances shine, with Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence delivering flawless performances, Christian Bale’s bald look standing out, and Link portrayal of the Atlantic City mayor adding a touch of dark humor. Overall, it’s highly recommended.

The Los Angeles Times noted that each of the main characters deceives for different reasons: some for survival, some for love, others for dignity or truth. The colorful array of con artists provides plenty of amusing moments.

Thanks to its strong word-of-mouth and media buzz, the film expanded to 2,057 theaters in its second week, earning $46.83 million at the North American box office, bringing its cumulative total to $47.96 million.

On its 24th day of release, American Hustle crossed the $100 million mark at the North American box office, becoming Lionsgate’s eighth film to do so this year.

The film also performed well overseas, grossing $82.27 million in 47 countries and regions within three weeks.

With American Hustle crossing $100 million in North America, Lionsgate’s total annual box office reached $1.95 billion, just shy of the $2 billion milestone.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 579: The Children's Christmas*

"Honey, take a look at this article."

In the mid-hill villa, Ivanka leaned on his shoulder, handing over a copy of The Washington Post.

Link glanced at the article Ivanka pointed to—it was a movie review about his role in American Hustle.

In the film, he plays a politician, the mayor of Atlantic City, who was born in the slums. He served as mayor for ten years, was loved by the people, and loved his citizens in return. He was a model mayor and a devoted husband. To fund the development of Atlantic City, he reluctantly turned to a con artist for help.

The review described the role as tailor-made for Link, implying that playing such a character might be his way of preparing to enter politics. The writer speculated that Link used the role to send a message to the public: if he ever ran for office, he would become an outstanding politician.

The article also mentioned his father-in-law's recent political activities. With Link’s sponsorship and support, his father-in-law's influence within the Republican Party had grown, leading many media outlets to call him a rising star in politics.

Given his father-in-law's high profile, some media outlets had even scientifically predicted his chances of winning the next election if he ran.

The survey showed an impressive 84% success rate, placing him first among all potential candidates.

One significant factor was Link himself. Not only was Link wealthy, but he also had extensive connections in the entertainment industry, sports, Wall Street, and globally. With Link as his backer, his father-in-law would enjoy many advantages in politics.

Considering these connections, the editor of The Washington Post believed that Link had a good chance of entering politics in the future. His interest in playing a politician might indicate his growing interest in the political world, especially since someone as busy as him wouldn’t take on such a role unless genuinely intrigued.

The article concluded with a prediction that, after conquering the sports and entertainment worlds, politics could be Link's next target: "Link's political ambitions should not be underestimated," and "his political potential should be seriously considered."

"Honey, do you think what they're saying is true?" Ivanka asked, crossing her long legs.

"It's well-reasoned; I can hardly argue with it," Link replied with a chuckle.

"So, does that mean you’ll run for office like my dad in the future?" Ivanka smiled, batting her long eyelashes.

Link gazed at her increasingly graceful and radiant face. "Why not you? Just like Link Music and Lionsgate, I’m more comfortable being the mastermind behind the scenes."

"Me?" Ivanka blinked, laughing. "Honey, you're setting me up for a challenge. I can barely manage a company. Politics is too deep a pool for me."

"Don’t worry. If either of us ever goes into politics, it won’t be anytime soon. It depends on timing and our mindset. If we enjoy a more leisurely life in the future, it doesn’t matter if we don't get into politics, as long as we're happy."

Link put his arm around Ivanka’s shoulders.

Ivanka nodded and leaned into him as they continued reading the paper together.

Apart from the review of his performance, the article also praised the other stars of American Hustle.

For example, Christian Bale, who gained 40 pounds for the role and appeared with a bald head and slouching posture, was deemed worthy of an Oscar for his performance. However, Bale had stated at the film's premiere that he wouldn’t compete for any Oscar acting awards: "I feel like it's saying to other actors, 'I like your acting, but mine is better,' and I don’t want to do that."

Amy Adams also received high praise for her portrayal, transforming into a seductive bombshell with constantly changing alluring outfits and provocative postures that fully embodied the character of a female con artist.

Jennifer Lawrence's role was another standout. Her character, designed specifically for her by director David O. Russell, was a sexy, trouble-making housewife. As always, her performance was brilliant and, at times, even overshadowed the male and female leads.

Additionally, all the lead actors in American Hustle had previously worked with Russell. Link, Adams, and Bale had starred in The Fighter, while Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, and Robert De Niro had worked together on Silver Linings Playbook.

Their familiarity with Russell contributed to their excellent performances, making the film shine in many ways. Several media outlets predicted that American Hustle would be a strong contender for the Oscars next year.

Apart from American Hustle, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Whiplash, Gone Girl, and Birdman were also major contenders from Lionsgate in the race for the Oscars.

As the end of the year approached, it was also a crucial time for Oscar campaigns. Both Lionsgate and Palm Beach Pictures’ PR teams had already started their efforts. How many nominations they'd secure would only be revealed in the coming months.

"Daddy, Mommy."

As the two chatted, little Margarita woke from her nap, rubbing her sleepy eyes with tiny fists. She walked over to the couch and squeezed herself between them, swinging her short legs. "Mommy, how many days until Christmas?"

"Five days," Ivanka said, stroking the little one’s soft hair with a smile.

"Is five days a long time?" Margarita blinked her big, sparkling eyes.

"Not long, it'll be here soon."

Ivanka took her small hand, counting each finger as a day—five fingers for five days.

Margarita started learning to count, using her fingers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, repeating it several times.

"Daddy, is Santa Claus coming this year?" she asked in her sweet little voice.

"Of course! Santa Claus will bring presents for little Margarita. What would you like? Tell Daddy, and I'll have Santa prepare it early," Link replied with a smile.

"Santa Claus... presents," Margarita repeated, fluttering her long lashes. "Margarita wants presents."

"Alright, Santa knows, and he'll bring presents for you."

Link laughed.

"Will Alexander and Cynthia get presents too?"

"Of course! Alexander, Cynthia, and Margarita will all get presents."

"Daddy, when will Santa come?"

"On Christmas Day."

"How many days until Christmas?"

"Five days."

"Is five days a long time?"

Link and Ivanka chuckled softly and repeated the conversation.

Hearing Margarita mention Christmas, Link called Taylor in the afternoon to discuss their holiday plans. Taylor suggested spending it at her villa.

Link asked if she could cook since the maids would be on holiday, and they couldn’t go without a meal.

Taylor said Link could handle the cooking, and she’d take care of desserts.

Link suggested spending Christmas in New York. Last year, they celebrated Christmas in Los Angeles and New Year’s in New York. It had snowed during their New York stay, and the three little ones loved playing in the snow. This year, snow was expected again in New York, and the city had a stronger festive atmosphere.

Taylor had two luxury homes in New York, and Link had a small apartment, while Ivanka owned a top-tier luxury home. They could spend Christmas at any of these places.

Taylor thought for a moment and suggested they spend it at Link’s apartment in Yorkville. In 2009, they had celebrated Christmas there, and although it was small, it was cozy.

Link agreed, noting that the Yorkville apartment had three bedrooms, four bathrooms, and nearly 200 square meters of space—not so small after all.

After the call, Link discussed the plan with Ivanka. She had no objections. Since they had decided to return to New York for Christmas, they would leave the next day to prepare for the holiday.

Link agreed and called the crew to be on standby for a return flight to New York. He also called Catherine and Mrs. Mandy to tell them about their plans. Catherine's family would be spending Christmas in Los Angeles, while Mrs. Mandy and Selena had already returned to New York.

——

In December, New York was in the middle of winter, and the weather was cold, with occasional overnight snowfalls. The trees and lawns in Central Park were covered in white snow. Every time it snowed, the three little ones clamored to go play outside.

When they arrived at Central Park, Link let the three little ones, bundled up like cotton balls, roll around in the snow, play snowball fights, and freeze their little hands and faces bright red.

Alexander and Cynthia, who had just turned four, were a cool little boy and a pretty little girl. They naturally took care of Margarita, who followed them around like a shadow.

But whenever Selena and little Annie were around, the three kids would become their little followers.

On Christmas Day, it snowed briefly in the morning before clearing up.

At Selena’s suggestion, the group went back to the Rockefeller Center ice rink for skating. In 2009, Link and Ivanka had brought Selena and little Annie to skate there. Back then, Annie was about the same age as Alexander and Cynthia now.

Time flew—little Annie had grown into a young lady, while Alexander and Cynthia were growing up day by day.

This time, Link didn’t join in. He stood by the ice rink with Ivanka and Taylor, hands in his pockets, watching Selena and the three little ones rolling around on the empty ice, laughing and screaming.

"These three little ones really love snow and ice. How about we go to Switzerland for Christmas next year? The snow there is even deeper," Link suggested.

"I’m with you," Ivanka shrugged with a smile.

"Don’t always listen to him. His plans can be pretty unreliable sometimes. The kids love snow and ice because they’ve lived in Los Angeles for so long, so it feels novel to them. But if they lived in the mountains, they’d get sick of snow in less than a week."

Taylor said with a blink.

"That makes sense, but haven’t you noticed they’ve been playing for so long without getting tired?"

Link replied.

Taylor shook his head, "The way you two are raising the kids isn’t great. You spoil them too much. Whatever they want, you just give it to them. When they grow up, they’ll turn into lazy moochers who expect everything to be handed to them. Is that what you want?"

"They’re still so young. Why not give them what they want and make their childhood as happy as possible? What’s wrong with that?"

"Good kids are raised with discipline from a young age. When I was little, I had to do tons of chores to earn my first guitar. And what about you? You give those three everything they want. When they grow up and keep asking for more, and you think they’re lazy, that’ll be on you, not them."

Taylor said coolly, hands in his pockets.

Link stroked his chin and looked at Ivanka, "Is Taylor right?"

Ivanka smiled slightly, "It sounds that way. But when they’re crying and begging, can you really hold out and not give them what they want?"

Link frowned and turned to Taylor, "We’ve wrapped up promoting the new album. Next year, you’ll have more time to help teach the kids. Try to be stricter with them."

"Hmph, I’ll be tougher, and then they’ll run to you crying. You’ll just play the nice dad and win them over, won’t you?"

Taylor said with a smirk.

"No, I’ll be fair. If it’s their fault, I’ll be even harder on them."

Link said seriously.

"What if it’s my fault? Will you criticize me too?"

Taylor asked with a stern face.

"I wouldn’t need to. You rarely make mistakes, and when you do, you fix them quickly. No need for me to step in."

Link replied with a smile.

"Hmph! A world champion boxer playing the doting father?"

Taylor teased.

Ivanka couldn’t help but laugh.

"What are you guys talking about?"

Selena asked as she skated over, wearing protective gear, a down jacket, and jeans, stopping smoothly by the railing.

"Your skating skills are getting really impressive, professional level."

Link complimented.

"Of course."

Selena said proudly, lifting her chin.

Just then, Alexander and Cynthia came crashing into her, one after the other, knocking all three to the ground like bowling pins. Little Margarita, seeing the older kids fall, decided to roll around on the ice too.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 580: Awards Season and Kris Liu*

"Margarita, get up, no rolling around on the floor," Ivanka called out.

"Howl!"

The little one rolled around a few times, but when she saw Selena and the other two standing up, she also pouted and slowly stood up.

After spending over an hour at a private skating rink, the group hopped into a car and headed to another amusement park. Before they had kids, Link, Ivanka, and Taylor would go out to the movies, music halls, malls, and bars, talking about love and relationships. But now, with three little ones, most of their conversations revolved around their children.

They wandered through a few lively neighborhoods in Manhattan until the three kids were tired and drowsily fell asleep in Link's arms. The group then returned to their Yorkville apartment to rest.

After Christmas, Taylor stayed in New York for a week before continuing to promote her album across the country.

Her album, 1989, had sold 3.52 million copies in the U.S., making it the best-selling album in the country last year, and, aside from the Frozen movie soundtrack, the only album to sell over 3 million copies.

Overseas, after more than two months of promotion, 1989 had sold over 10 million copies in total—a decent achievement.

After the holidays, Link and Ivanka didn’t return to Los Angeles right away. They stayed in New York to handle various work matters.

At the end of December, the nominations for the 72nd Golden Globe Awards were announced. This year, Lionsgate had six films nominated, with a total of 21 nominations.

Both Birdman and American Hustle received seven nominations each, making them the most nominated films this year. These nominations included Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Score.

Gone Girl received four nominations: Best Director, Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Score.

Whiplash received one nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

The Grand Budapest Hotel received one nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 received one nomination for Best Original Song.

These accounted for 30% of all nominations.

Since Lionsgate had garnered more than ten to twenty nominations every year for the past few years, this year’s 21 nominations didn’t cause much of a stir in the media—people were already used to it.

If Lionsgate didn’t get at least ten nominations, that would’ve been bigger news for the media.

Although Link wasn’t nominated for anything this year, he was invited to be a presenter at the Golden Globes, but he declined. He didn’t need the exposure and didn’t want to be a tool for boosting the show’s ratings.

Plus, during a Christmas conversation, Taylor had told him he was now a big deal, and he should keep a low profile and avoid being too public with his personal life, like Bill Gates, the Rockefellers, or the Rothschilds.

Even though Taylor’s words were partly meant to encourage him to stay home and be a dad, she had a point.

Having decided not to attend the Golden Globes, Link stayed home with the kids, trained, and on New Year’s Day, performed with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center, playing the piano for the piece Victory.

After the New Year, the Philharmonic performed 12 concerts in four cities, all sold out.

Link had now evolved from a mere singer to a musician and a renowned pianist.

Every time he performed, Ivanka would be in the audience, showering him with flowers and applause, as if being a classical musician was more impressive than being a singer.

Taylor, on the other hand, was a bit jealous of his chance to perform with the Philharmonic. She reminded him over the phone not to forget who taught him how to play the piano.

Link’s response was blunt: he told her to hurry back, that he wanted to make love to her—and that the piano could be involved.

Taylor gave him an earful for that.

During his time in New York, Link also dealt with some academic matters.

Last year, he had successfully graduated from New York University with a bachelor's degree in sports management.

During his time at NYU, his performance in his major courses, research, and papers was quite impressive. He’d focused on the boxing industry and had published several articles in top economic journals such as Econometrica and RES.

The school suggested he continue his studies and pursue a master's or Ph.D.

After some thought, Link declined. The main reasons he had taken the SAT and entered NYU were to get a degree, so people wouldn’t think of him as a high school dropout, and to experience college life.

However, with his busy schedule over the past few years, aside from exams and sporting events, he had rarely been on campus, missing out on the full college experience.

He didn’t see the need for further education.

In early January, Link's negotiation team helped him acquire 100% ownership of the building and land at 222 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, for a whopping $1.85 billion—over $300 million more than what the Kunis family had paid for it in 2006.

After acquiring the building, Link didn’t move in immediately. The building was constructed in the mid-1980s and, after more than 30 years, required over $5 million in annual maintenance costs. Link invested another $200 million in renovations and named it LINK Tower.

LINK Tower has 41 floors and stands 145 meters tall.

Although it isn’t as tall as Rockefeller Center or his father-in-law's buildings, its foundation covers a larger area, with a total floor space of 696,000 square feet.

After renovations, the main part of the building will remain office space, the lower floors will house hotels and restaurants, and the upper floors will become luxury apartments. If well-managed, it could bring in tens of millions in rent each year.

Once this work was done, just like last year, Link flew to China on a private jet to handle business and spend the Chinese New Year with his children, fulfilling his fatherly duties. He also kept an eye on the Golden Globes.

This year’s Golden Globes were once again held at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel, with websites like Sina and Sohu providing live coverage through images and text.

The biggest winner of the Golden Globes this year was Boyhood, which won Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director.

The film's director, Richard Linklater, also directed the Before Sunrise trilogy. He began filming Boyhood in 2002, completing it over the course of 12 years.

When the film began, lead actor Ethan Hawke was a young, handsome 32-year-old. By the time filming wrapped, he was a middle-aged man with wrinkles. The actors who played his son and daughter also visibly grew up on screen, without makeup or replacements.

Such a film is rare in world cinema, and its win for Best Motion Picture – Drama was well-deserved.

Lionsgate’s films also performed well.

American Hustle won Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress for Amy Adams, while Birdman won Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for Michael Keaton, Best Supporting Actress for Emma Stone, and Best Screenplay.

Whiplash won Best Supporting Actor for J.K. Simmons.

In total, Lionsgate won 6 out of its 14 nominations.

In the television categories, Lionsgate and Netflix’s co-productions House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, True Detective, and American Horror Story garnered 8 nominations and won 2 awards.

This year, The Weinstein Company also had two films nominated for the Golden Globes: The Imitation Game and Big Eyes, which received six nominations in total. However, with so many excellent films this year, neither won any awards.

Three days after the Golden Globes, the nominations for the 87th Academy Awards were announced.

This year’s Oscars featured 24 regular awards, 2 honorary awards, and 5 scientific and technical awards.

Lionsgate had five films nominated, with a total of 35 nominations.

American Hustle led the pack with 10 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Lead Actor and Actress.

Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel each received nine nominations, placing them second.

Whiplash received six nominations, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Screenplay.

Gone Girl received one nomination for Best Actress.

The sheer number of nominations for Lionsgate’s films caused quite a stir in the media.

Although 35 nominations weren’t a record, the highest was in 2003 at the 75th Academy Awards, when Miramax Films earned 40 nominations with films like Chicago, Gangs of New York, and The Hours.

That year, Harvey Weinstein earned the title of "King of the Oscars."

However, since 2013, Lionsgate has consistently earned over 20 Oscar nominations each year, a feat no other studio has achieved.

"This year, there are 8 films nominated for Best Picture, 4 of which come from Lionsgate. Additionally, actors from Lionsgate movies dominate the categories of Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.

Because of this, during the second round of Oscar voting, many competitors who are jealous of Lionsgate loudly called out in the media, demanding the Film Academy launch an antitrust investigation against Lionsgate.

They argue that if Lionsgate continues to dominate the majority of Oscar nominations year after year without any intervention, in a few years, the Oscars might as well be renamed the Lionsgate Awards, and all decisions will be made solely by Link.

Some filmmakers with ulterior motives have even publicly suggested that the Oscar judges refrain from voting for Lionsgate films to curb its arrogance.

In response to these rumors, Lionsgate launched a strong counterattack. On one hand, they set up a Best Film voting system on Netflix, inviting all Netflix members to participate and vote for the top 10 art films of the previous year.

On the other hand, a Lionsgate spokesperson criticized notable filmmakers, including Harvey and others, accusing them of criticizing Lionsgate out of jealousy rather than any wrongdoing by the studio. Lionsgate hopes these people will produce better films in the future and compete with them in the market, rather than spreading rumors.

During the second round of Oscar voting, Lionsgate spent over 20 million dollars on media campaigns to promote their films. They claimed that Lionsgate movies were winning the hearts and support of the audience because they were excellent enough. The films also earned 35 nominations because they were outstanding and classic, gaining the majority of judges' support.

If competitors' jealousy and slander are enough to prevent people from voting for Lionsgate, it would taint not only the Oscars but also the art of cinema and the hardworking filmmakers’ dedication and sacrifice.

Lionsgate expressed confidence that the Oscars are designed to encourage excellent films and filmmakers, not to be a consolation prize for losers or opportunists who resort to underhanded tactics because they can’t make good films.

During the promotional period, Netflix also selected the top 10 art films of the year, with American Hustle, Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Whiplash, and Gone Girl ranking in the top 20.

Among them, Birdman ranked first, with support from 312,557 members.

American Hustle ranked second, The Grand Budapest Hotel ranked fifth, Whiplash ranked tenth, and Gone Girl ranked sixteenth.

Although many disagreed with the results, believing that Lionsgate and Netflix are essentially the same entity and that the voting on the Netflix platform was biased, the results aligned closely with the New York Times' recent selection of the top 10 films of the year. Birdman was named the best film of 2014 by the New York Times, and The Grand Budapest Hotel ranked third.

The New York Times is considered one of the most credible media outlets in the United States, and its annual top 10 film rankings are highly regarded.

This time, critics had no response.

Taking advantage of these lists, Lionsgate heavily promoted several of its films. During the Oscar voting period, the nominated films from Lionsgate saw a noticeable increase in box office revenue, marking a successful wave of promotion.

'How many awards is Lionsgate aiming for this year?'

In a courtyard, Chris Liu asked as she glanced at the newspaper.

'At least 10, with no upper limit,' Link said with a smile, his arm around the girl's slender waist.

'There are only 24 awards in total. If Lionsgate takes half, their competitors will once again claim Lionsgate is monopolizing after the Oscars.'

Chris Liu smiled faintly.

'It doesn’t matter. Our movies made money and won awards. It’s only natural to be envied. We can’t avoid becoming excellent just because we’re afraid of jealousy.'

'That’s the difference between us. We prefer a more moderate approach—getting rich quietly,' Chris said, twirling her hair with her fair fingers.

'That’s difficult. Lionsgate is now the number one player in the global film industry, both in box office and awards. It’s hard to stay low-key,' Link shrugged.

'Don’t get too cocky. You know what they say: strong winds don’t last the morning, and heavy rain doesn’t last the day. You must learn to sustain steady growth.'

'When I reach the summit, then I’ll worry about that,' Link said, shaking his head and kissing the girl’s hair.

Chris rolled her eyes at him and shifted away slightly.

(End of chapter)"