Dragon Junior had been seriously pissed off lately. He’d already cycled through 36 secretaries in quick succession.

Just after firing his 37th secretary, his office door swung open. A white-haired young man in a suit stepped inside.

"Bro Long," the youth said with a bitter smile, "this is already the 37th secretary you’ve replaced recently. The one you just fired was personally chosen for you by Old Master Long. He won’t be happy about this."

"Get to the point," Dragon Junior snapped coldly.

"Right. We’ve received intel: Doctor Qin’s research has made a decisive breakthrough. The Dong and Ouyang Families are taking this extremely seriously." The white-haired man pulled out a tablet, displaying the files before Dragon Junior.

After scanning the contents, Dragon Junior addressed him. "Bai Hao, I’m heading to Doctor Qin’s lab."

"But, Dragon Junior! You’re scheduled for a high-society gala tonight," Bai Hao protested.

"Cancel it."

"Everyone who matters in H City will be there. Canceling could hurt our strategy."

"I said cancel it." Dragon Junior shot him a frosty glare.

"Understood. I’ll handle it."

Dragon Junior—full name Long Wenfeng—was the highest-ranking heir among Sector C’s eight great families, and the direct descendant of the Long clan leader.

Leaving his office, he strode straight to the parking lot. Soon, he stood outside Doctor Qin’s research facility. He didn’t enter; walking in directly might alert the Dong and Ouyang Families, sparking unnecessary suspicion. So he waited silently in the shadows outside, a rare concession—few in all of Sector C warranted such patience from him.

He only moved when a girl’s figure appeared.

Before Lin Wan could react, she was yanked into a corner. Staring at the face before her—a face handsome enough to make any girl scream—she froze for a moment.

Then she snapped back. "Long Wenfeng! What do you want?"

"I’m here to warn you," Dragon Junior said.

"Warn me about what?" Lin Wan glared. "Stop bothering me. I’ve said it a hundred times: I like heroes like Zero—powerful and righteous. Not some money-and-power-obsessed guy like you."

"Leave Doctor Qin’s lab. I’ll arrange a spot for you at a more advanced facility." Dragon Junior ignored her words, his expression icy.

"Why should I listen to you?"

"I’m protecting you. Trouble’s coming. I won’t let you get dragged into it. It’s not safe."

"What? The lab’s in danger?" Lin Wan’s eyes widened.

Dragon Junior nodded.

"Then I can’t just leave! I need to contact my brother."

"Your brother’s strong, but he can’t help this time. Unless an SS Rank hero intervenes, even S Rank heroes can’t stand against the Dong and Ouyang Families."

"You mean this involves the clans?" Lin Wan gasped.

Dragon Junior nodded again. "Come back with me. I’ll keep you safe." He reached out, stepping closer. Honestly, he wanted to pull her into his arms.

Most women would’ve accepted without hesitation. But this was the girl raised by Lin Jie…

A sharp punch slammed into his jaw.

"Do I look like someone who runs from trouble?" Lin Wan snapped. "If you can help, fine—I’ll thank you. But if you can’t, don’t drag me out here alone. I’m not some coward who panics at big names."

"..." Dragon Junior stared at her silently.

"If that’s all, I’m leaving." Lin Wan turned and ran off, leaving him alone in the shadows.

"I won’t let anything happen to you," he murmured to himself.

He stepped out of the darkness. Down the street, Bai Hao waited in a car.

"Junior, what happened to your face?" Bai Hao gaped.

"Drive." Dragon Junior’s voice was glacial.

"Did that girl punch you again? Seriously, what do you even see in her? Prettier women throw themselves at you daily. She’s disobedient and violent!"

"Drive." The car’s temperature seemed to drop with his words.

"Notify the Sky Team. Bring Lin Wan to my place for a few days. If she gets so much as a scratch, I’ll make them regret it."

"Dude, she’s just a kid! The Sky Team’s overkill." Bai Hao shook his head. Whenever Lin Wan was involved, Dragon Junior’s logic went out the window. Months ago, she’d joked he never smiled. He’d grinned nonstop at Bai Hao for a whole week. Just thinking about it gave him chills—it felt like a death sentence.

"If you talk more, I’ll replace your bodyguard position."

"No! Bro Long, I’m sorry. I’ll shut up."

...

Meanwhile, at Lin Jie’s place.

"Check out these shades," Xiao Zhan pulled out a pair of glasses. "I designed them at the sanatorium. Call them decoding glasses."

"Decoding glasses?" Lin Jie raised an eyebrow. "How do they work?"

"Just put them on. No more mosaics ever." Xiao Zhan grinned proudly.

"That good? Perfect—I’ve got some classic films ruined by pixelation. Let’s test them tonight."

"Great idea. Beats my boring life." They headed toward the room.

"What films? Can I join?" Lin Mumu dashed over.

"Kids should be in bed," Lin Jie said.

"But I wanna watch too!"

"Not suitable for you. You’ll understand when you’re older. It’s late—go sleep. School tomorrow."

"But—"

"What’s going on?" Lin Wan walked in.

"Sis! They’re watching films with special glasses but won’t let me join!" The little girl ran to her sister.

"Ignore these perverts!" Lin Wan scooped up Lin Mumu. "Let’s get you bathed. I’ll tell you a story after." She shot Lin Jie and Xiao Zhan a cold glare.

Watching them leave, Xiao Zhan nudged Lin Jie. "Still watching tonight? Your sister’s giving me the death stare."

Lin Wan was actually wrestling with Long Wenfeng’s warning. Should she tell Lin Jie about the lab danger? He didn’t grasp the power of Sector C’s eight families—but she did, having worked as Dragon Junior’s secretary. She decided to keep it secret. She didn’t want Lin Jie in danger, and she refused to abandon the nearly complete experiment.

As Doctor Qin said, this research could unlock the human brain’s potential—a breakthrough that might create a new kind of human. Lin Wan couldn’t miss witnessing its success.

...

The next day, Xiao Zhan got a call from Bu Feiwu.

"My new place is fully renovated. I’m inspecting it soon," Xiao Zhan said. "I even added a virtual training room on the top floor."

"That fast?" Lin Jie asked.

"Bu Feiwu’s efficient. No monster attacks today—let’s test the training room together."

Just then, both their phones buzzed with a message: "All H City Super Heroes report immediately to the Hero Association conference hall for the new president’s address."

"Seriously? New president now? Talk about slow," Xiao Zhan grumbled.

"Yep," Lin Jie agreed.

Unbeknownst to them, the Sector C Hero Association presidency was always held by someone from—or loyal to—the eight families. Internal rivalries had left the position vacant for nearly a month.

Sighing, they abandoned the training room plan and headed to the Hero Association. At the entrance, they met Glasses Bro, freshly discharged from the hospital.

Inside the hall, they realized H City had nearly eight hundred Super Heroes—all gathered here.