"Could you explain what happened?" Winter Witch completely ignored the man's enthusiasm before her.
"Oh, I'm Zhan Chen, a newly registered E-Rank Super Hero. This guy was taken down by me and my assistant here." Zhan Chen pointed at Lin Jie. "Huh? Where'd he go?"
Lin Jie had already vanished from his spot.
The B-Rank hero Winter Witch shifted her attention to the fallen Black Hand leader.
"C-Rank fugitive Black Hand... I never expected him to have Berserk abilities. That alone would've boosted his strength to B-Rank." She examined his injuries. "Tranq darts in his body, but the heaviest blow landed on his head. He'll survive—just a concussion..."
...
"*Phew*. Good thing I ran fast. That weirdo would've clung to me forever." Lin Jie muttered as he reached his apartment door.
Inside, a classic CEO-meets-secretary drama was unfolding.
A man whose beauty could only be called *demonic* loomed over a pretty girl. "I won't approve your resignation. I told you—you're mine." He advanced, his aura radiating dominance. Any girl would've melted before that face, wealth, and power—the perfect romance novel hero.
Too bad the girl before him had grown up with Lin Jie.
"Get lost! I'm not a prostitute, and I didn't sell myself to you!" She punched at him. "Do you know how long I fought for a spot in Doctor Qin's lab?"
He caught her fist. "Want into a lab? I'll get you into a hundred—all under the Dragon Group."
"Roll."
"I said you *will* be mine."
As he leaned closer, a jolt of electricity surged from his palm. The handsome man convulsed and collapsed.
"My new anti-molestation device works." She hoisted him up and slammed him over her shoulder. "I *quit*! Stop harassing me!"
His flying body crashed toward the door Lin Jie had just opened. Lin Jie sidestepped smoothly, shut the door, and deadpanned: "So today’s episode is ‘Innocent Girl Beats Arrogant CEO’? Seriously, he’s stupidly handsome and clearly into you. Why reject him?"
"Tch. My ideal man is like *Zero*—a hero who scorns fame and power. Not some pretty-faced trust fund baby." The girl—Lin Wan, Lin Jie’s sister—spat the words. She’d been saved by Zero as a child. Lin Jie had sworn to hide his secret identity; he couldn’t bear her idolizing the "useless brother" beneath the mask.
"Little sister," Lin Jie sighed, "Zero’s been gone for years. You’re not a kid anymore. Drop this fantasy."
"Roll." Lin Wan shot him a glare. "Did you even attend the job fair today?"
"Well... I lost my way in life’s journey—"
"*Human words*."
"...I didn’t go."
Lin Wan inhaled sharply, fists trembling. "Bro. How many years have you been a NEET?"
"...Five?"
"*Five years!* You’ll rot into a parasite!"
"Since when are you Mom? Even *she* never said that."
"Mom and Dad have been *on the wall* for nineteen years—they’d be ghosts if they talked!" Lin Wan grabbed a rolling pin. "I’ll marry someday. Who’ll feed you then?"
Lin Jie lit a cigarette. "Ah... daughters grow up and leave. She promised to stay with me forever as a kid. Now she abandons the brother who raised her. How cruel the world is."
"I’ll abandon you *permanently* with this rolling pin!" She swung.
A man suddenly blocked the blow.
"Sorry to interrupt." E-Rank hero Zhan Chen stood in the doorway.
"*You* again? How’d you get in?!" Lin Jie yelped.
"Your lock? Gum and a paperclip." Zhan Chen bowed to Lin Wan. "I’m Zhan Chen—E-Rank hero. Real name Xiao Zhan. I’m recruiting your brother as my partner."
"*Him*? As a hero?" Lin Wan’s eyes widened.
"Super Heroes earn bounties for taking down criminals. Plus, the Xiao Group will pay him a salary as my assistant."
"No way! I’m not teaming up with this clown!" Lin Jie protested.
"Deal! He’s all yours!" Lin Wan declared.
"But I’m just a normal guy! Zero fighting skills!"
"Weren’t you a delinquent who brawled daily?" Lin Wan countered.
"When was I ever—?!"
"I checked your records," Xiao Zhan cut in. "Classmates said you skipped school, showed up with fresh bruises, and terrified everyone. After graduation, you just... became a shut-in for five years."
Lin Wan nodded vigorously.
"*This* is why I have no friends?! They think I’m yakuza?!" Lin Jie screamed internally.
"Even if I *was* a delinquent, that doesn’t mean I can fight!"
"You one-shot a C-Rank fugitive today!" Xiao Zhan played a video: Lin Jie crushing Black Hand’s skull. "My brain plus your strength—we’d be unstoppable."
"You filmed that *during* the fight?!"
"I meant to capture *my* glory..."
"...You win."
"See? All Lin Clan kids are fighters!" Lin Wan beamed. "Bro, you hid your yakuza past well! No worries now."
"But—"
"*No buts*." Lin Wan slammed her palm on the table—it shattered. "Being a hero is your last chance to stop being trash. Got it?"
Lin Jie shivered. "Y-yes! I’ll reform!"
"Good." Lin Wan turned to Xiao Zhan. "Stay for dinner."
"Y-yes ma’am."
Watching her enter the kitchen, Xiao Zhan whispered: "Your sister’s... intense."
"She’s mastered karate, taekwondo, aikido, judo, Muay Thai, yoga, Jeet Kune Do... Only tai chi and xingyi aren’t at master level."
"If Bro was a delinquent," Lin Wan called from the kitchen, "I needed to protect myself from his old enemies."
"*Sigh*... Time really is a butcher." Lin Jie remembered childhood Lin Wan clinging to his hand, chirping: *"I love you most, Brother! I’ll stay with you forever!"*
Now she glared at him like trash: *"Get a job or I’ll beat you."*
"I raised a tough girl instead of a sweet sister... Where did I go wrong?"
...
"By the way," Xiao Zhan interrupted his thoughts, "I saw Dragon Junior outside your building today."
"Dragon Junior? Who’s that?"
"H City’s uncrowned king. Black or white—everyone checks *his* mood before making moves. His bodyguards are S-Rank. Cross him? You vanish."
"*That* powerful?" Lin Jie recalled the handsome guy Lin Wan had thrown out earlier—*also* surnamed Long.
"Powerful enough to conquer H City in a week if he turned criminal. But lately? He’s chasing some secretary, throwing away his dignity."
"Rich, handsome, powerful, *and* shameless? That’s OP!" Lin Jie prayed silently: *Please don’t be the guy my sister tossed out...*
"Speaking of strength—you lifted that 150-attack Spike Mace one-handed! How’d you train?" Xiao Zhan pressed.
"You *sure* you want to know?"
"Absolutely."
Lin Jie sighed dramatically. "I chased the heat of battle... the clash of souls. I fought endlessly."
"And?"
"I went bald. And grew strong. Then I realized... true power is lonely."
Xiao Zhan stared. Then exploded: "*BALD?!* Your hair’s perfect! I’ll shave you bald myself! Stop ripping off *One Punch Man*! Do I look stupid?!"
"Tch. Can’t even fool a clown."
"*You’re* the clown! Your whole family’s clowns!"
"Say that again—*to my sister’s face*."
