Today, Xiao Zhan Tower welcomed two young girls.

One of them was Winter Xueer.

The other was a petite little girl.

“Let me introduce you.” Glasses Bro turned to Xiao Zhan and Lin Jie. “This is Winter Leaf, an A Rank Hero from B City. The famous ‘Ice Fairy’—that’s her.”

“Oh? So this is the backup Miss Winter invited?” Lin Jie looked over the petite girl and asked.

“You’re that Lin Jie Snow Sis mentioned?” The girl eyed him with clear displeasure. “You totally look like a useless piece of trash.”

“What?” Lin Jie snapped. “You can call me trash if you want. But you’re not allowed to call me useless.”

“Tch.” The girl didn’t even bother to look at him again. She turned her head toward Winter Xueer. “If these three pieces of trash are your so‑called helpers, I’d say you should just give up on this operation. There’s no way it’s gonna succeed.”

“Xiao Ye, you can’t judge people by appearances.” Winter Xueer said to Winter Leaf, “Don’t be fooled by Mr. Lin Jie’s looks. He actually has a record of dropping a B Rank Hero in a single blow. According to the tester back then, other than the Hunter, he’s the only one in H City who’s ever broken through Ouyang Rui’s defense.”

“Hmph.” The girl snorted through her nose. “Fine, I’ll reluctantly accept you, you piece of trash.”

“Hey, hey, don’t you think you’re going too far with how you talk? What do you mean ‘looks like this’?” A vein popped on Lin Jie’s forehead.

“You should be thanking me for accepting you at all.” The girl pointed at Xiao Zhan and Glasses Bro. “As for you two E Rank pieces of trash, I won’t acknowledge you. Especially that four‑eyed pervert! I will absolutely, absolutely never recognize you!”

“That whole thing had nothing to do with me. Can you please stop calling me that?” Glasses Bro couldn’t help protesting to Winter Leaf.

“Four‑eyed pervert! Four‑eyed pervert! Four‑eyed pervert! Four‑eyed pervert! Four‑eyed pervert! Four‑eyed pervert!”

“Looks like there’s a story here.” Xiao Zhan nudged Lin Jie with his elbow.

“Based on my many years of immersion in the 2D world? There’s definitely a story.” Lin Jie said as well.

“Um, could you all let me finish explaining the battle plan for tomorrow night?” Winter Xueer narrowed her eyes and glanced around the room.

At the same time, the temperature in the room started dropping sharply.

“……”

The sudden chill made everyone fall silent.

“Senior Sis, please, put away your divine powers! My glasses are freezing over!” Lin Jie shivered as he spoke to Winter Xueer in front of him. “Hurry and tell us your grand plan. Your humble follower has been waiting in burning anticipation.”

“Now that’s more like it.” Winter Xueer smiled. The minus‑60‑degree temperature in the room finally began to rise.

Right after that, she opened the tablet at her side. A 3D map unfolded in front of everyone.

“Isn’t this the Peach Grove in the suburbs?” Xiao Zhan said. “Now that you mention it, it’s about the time the blossoms are in full bloom again. I remember I met my ex‑girlfriend for the first time right there among all those peach flowers…”

Ah, I also used to chop people up in the Peach Grove a lot.

Lin Jie was thinking to himself.

Unfortunately, before Xiao Zhan could finish reminiscing, he was frozen solid.

“I said, don’t interrupt me.” Winter Xueer smiled with narrowed eyes at the ice sculpture in front of her.

Good thing I didn’t say mine out loud just now.

“We’ve confirmed that the deal between Ouyang Rui and Evolution Corporation will take place in this Peach Grove.” Winter Xueer cleared her throat. “The time is tomorrow night. The item being traded is a berserk serum called T‑3. Once that serum gets into Sector C, the consequences will be beyond imagination.

What we have to do is stop the deal and take down both Evolution Corporation’s people and Ouyang Rui.

You don’t have to worry about Ouyang Rui’s bodyguards and subordinates. I’ve already contacted other Heroes who are against him. They’ll help us deal with them. As for Evolution Corporation, I’ll have to trouble Xiao Ye with that part. But we won’t let you handle Evolution Corporation alone. I’ll assign people to move with you.”

“Lin Jie, our mission is to bring down Ouyang Rui. I, along with another B Rank, will find a way to pin Ouyang Rui down. You have to find a chance to break his defense. We won’t get many opportunities, because Ouyang Rui himself is an A Rank powerhouse. We have to take down Ouyang Rui and Evolution Corporation’s people at the same time and secure decisive evidence.”

“And, um… what’s my mission? And Xiao Zhan’s?” Glasses Bro asked.

“You?” Winter Xueer tilted her head, thinking. “Alright, you go with Xiao Ye’s team. As for Xiao… hmm… let him go deal with Ouyang Rui’s bodyguards.”

“I don’t wanna team up with this four‑eyed pervert.” Winter Leaf said. “And I don’t need anyone you assign to move with me, either. Extra people will just slow me down.”

“Are you saying you’re objecting to my orders?” Winter Xueer narrowed her eyes at Winter Leaf.

“…Hmph.” In the end, Winter Leaf only let out a cold snort and dropped onto the sofa.

“Right, I have good news for you.” Winter Xueer said. “That little girl you rescued is safe.”

“Really?” Lin Jie couldn’t help asking.

“Turns out Paradise Island was actually Evolution Corporation’s R&D headquarters. During the battle of Paradise Island this time, it was completely exposed. To salvage the data there, Evolution Corporation sacrificed a lot of manpower, but still lost tons of research results and a large number of researchers.” Winter Xueer smiled. “I heard Zero also went to Paradise Island. He didn’t tell you?”

“No. Last time I called Zero, he didn’t pick up.” Lin Jie said.

“Alright, I’m gonna go check out the Peach Grove first.” The freshly thawed Xiao Zhan said.

“Be careful.” Lin Jie said.

“Relax, I’ll be wearing my newest combat suit.” As he spoke, Xiao Zhan turned into a figure covered head‑to‑toe in mosaic.

“That’s totally useless!” Lin Jie snapped.

“You know nothing. With this gear, I can run around naked outside and it’d still be fine.” Xiao Zhan said.

“You’re really getting further and further down that path.” Glasses Bro added.

…

That night, in the Xiao Corporation Building.

“Can’t believe that idiot cousin is making me spend the night in a dump like this.” Winter Leaf cursed under her breath.

“Still not asleep?” Glasses Bro, lying on the sofa, saw Winter Leaf come out.

“None of your business.” Winter Leaf snapped.

“You guys aren’t sleeping either?” Xiao Zhan walked out of his room.

“You can’t sleep too?” Glasses Bro asked Xiao Zhan.

“Can’t help it. There’s a big battle tomorrow night. Just thinking about it gets me so excited I can’t sleep. You know I only passed the Hero exam a month ago. Suddenly I’m thrown into a mission like this… I wonder how much my ranking will climb after this.” Xiao Zhan said.

“Tch, you’re still green. I’ve been a Super Hero for two years already.” Glasses Bro said. “If you’re nervous, I can teach you some ways to deal with pre‑battle anxiety.”

“You, four‑eyed pervert?” Winter Leaf scoffed. “You’ve been stuck as a D Rank nobody for two years and you still dare ‘teach’ others?”

“You make it sound like you’ve been a Hero forever.” Glasses Bro said.

“Ignorant.” Winter Leaf puffed out her small chest. “I’ve already been a Hero for four years. People like you with no experience, no strength, you’re not even in the same league as me, okay?”

“How old are you again?” Xiao Zhan asked.

“Don’t be fooled by how I look. I’m already nineteen.” Winter Leaf said.

“No way! You and Winter Xueer are really cousins?” Xiao Zhan was stunned.

Winter Xueer was just over twenty, tall and insanely curvy. Winter Leaf was only a year younger, yet her build was so petite she gave off total middle‑schooler vibes.

“Ugh! I’m just a late bloomer, alright!!” Winter Leaf exploded, baring her teeth like she was about to pounce and bite someone.

“Forget it, I’m done talking to you. I’ll just drink some milk and go to sleep.” Xiao Zhan said, pulling out a rod‑shaped object covered in mosaic.

“Wait! What’s that?” This time Winter Leaf really was shocked by the “weapon” in Xiao Zhan’s hand.

“Oh, this? It’s my Plasma Stain Remover Rod 3001.” Xiao Zhan said, and activated it. A mechanical buzzing and vibration filled the room.

“Wait! What are you planning to do with that thing?” Winter Leaf’s face flushed bright red as she watched Xiao Zhan. “Don’t wave that kind of thing in front of me!”

“I’m just gonna drink some milk.”

After talking, Xiao Zhan took out a few cups.

“Glasses, want a cup?” he asked.

“Oh, sure, I’ll take one.” Glasses Bro replied.

“Wait, four‑eyed pervert! You don’t find that thing even a little weird?” Winter Leaf stared at the calm‑faced Glasses Bro in disbelief.

“Oh, after a while, you get used to it.” Glasses Bro said calmly.

They watched Xiao Zhan skillfully pour three cups of milk, then hand one to Glasses Bro.

Under Winter Leaf’s stunned gaze, Glasses Bro and Xiao Zhan clinked their cups and downed the milky white liquid in one go.

“You should have a cup too. It’s great for physical development.” Xiao Zhan walked toward Winter Leaf, one hand holding his Rod, the other holding a cup of white liquid. Winter Leaf instinctively stepped back. Her hand accidentally hit some kind of switch in the room.

In an instant, the wall behind Xiao Zhan flipped over. Behind him, an entire wall of mosaic‑censored props was revealed. Framed by those props, Xiao Zhan moved in closer, still holding that cup of white liquid.

Winter Leaf finally snapped.

“Pervert!”

A resounding slap echoed across the floor.

…

“If you don’t like milk, just say so. Why’d you have to hit me?” Xiao Zhan rubbed the handprint on his cheek.

“Exactly.” Glasses Bro said on the side. “Hitting him is one thing, but why’d you hit me too?”

“Hmph!” Winter Leaf said angrily. “If I ever see that kind of thing again, I’ll slap it every single time.”

“……”

“……”

After a long while, Glasses Bro finally spoke. “I saw Lin Jie go up to the rooftop half an hour ago. Why isn’t he back yet?”

“Let’s go check.” Xiao Zhan said. “I’m kinda curious what he’s doing up on the roof this late instead of sleeping.”

“Then let’s go.” Glasses Bro said.

“Wait! I’m coming too.” Winter Leaf said from the side. “It’s your fault I can’t sleep now.”

So the three of them went up to the rooftop together.

Outside, it was pouring. The three of them were stunned when they saw Lin Jie.

The rain had soaked through Lin Jie’s clothes, outlining every muscle on his body. His Spike Mace was planted on the ground, and he stood there, quietly staring into the distance.

A weathered, world‑worn aura spread across the entire rooftop.

Along with it came the iron scent of countless battles, like a man who’d survived a hundred wars, standing unbowed as he watched his enemy from afar.

“Didn’t expect him to have such a manly side.” Xiao Zhan whispered. Winter Leaf and Glasses Bro beside him both couldn’t help nodding.

Right now, Lin Jie’s presence was like a great Hero’s, pulling their gazes to him.

Then, they saw Lin Jie slightly lift his head…

…and sneeze.

Right after that, he hugged his shoulders and bolted for the door.

“Yeah, doing the whole rooftop‑in‑the‑rain edgy pose really isn’t something a normal person does.” Lin Jie said as he ran over to where the three were standing. “Huh? What are you three doing here?”

“……”

“……”

“……”