Heroes Return

As for Shangguan Ming's hovercar, it was directly stored under the deck of the small boat.

This time, only nine people attended the class reunion, including Liu Ying's boyfriend, Shangguan Ming. In other words, only eight people actually came to the reunion.

At this moment, everyone gathered in the cabin and chatted about their recent situations.

Lin Jie finally took this opportunity to recognize all the old classmates present.

Liu Tao, who initially struck up a conversation with Lin Jie, has always harbored a dream of becoming a singer and did indeed debut and release several singles, though the response seemed lukewarm. Nevertheless, she persevered in the entertainment industry, working as a manager…

Speaking of which, Lin Jie was a little envious of the identity of an agent, especially considering that he was wearing all green today.

Another person who greeted him, Dong Quan, was now an ordinary employee at the company. Since the company was on holiday, he came directly over. However, it seemed that he spent most of his free time online, so he was quite knowledgeable about news and such matters. Moreover, Lin Jie quickly became familiar with him because, although he was an ordinary company employee, he also had another identity: a seasoned driver.

Lin Jie has always respected experienced drivers.

As for the other two classmates who didn't greet Lin Jie but instead went straight to flatter Shangguan Ming, one of them, a slightly chubby boy named Wang Ming, was said to run a company and have some connections in Yepo, making him a promising young boss.

The other one, named Qin Han, is currently a doctor. However, it's said that he has already achieved considerable status at the hospital at a young age and is a top candidate for promotion to department head. He's practically on the rise. But Lin Jie later learned that Qin Han is actually the hospital director's son-in-law…

As for the dean's daughter's appearance, Liu Ying secretly showed it to Lin Jie. She'd be so beautiful she wouldn't even need makeup to play a gorilla; her chest hair was everywhere. However, at the party, during the conversation, he kept saying that he and his wife were truly in love.

Whether others believe it or not, Lin Jie believed it.

After graduation, Bai Ruofei worked at a good company. She was also a close friend of Liu Ying and Tian Xiaoshu. Liu Ying currently works at Shangguan Ming's company, essentially as his secretary. The two met at the company, and Shangguan Ming pursued Liu Ying, eventually making her his girlfriend.

As for Tian Xiaoshu, Lin Jie already knew about her; she was working as a high school teacher. Moreover, Lin Jie's student, Ye Daoshen, was rumored to have been Tian Xiaoshu's student before attending the Hero Academy.

"You guys talk first, I'll go see how long it will take to reach our destination." After giving this brief instruction, he walked towards the driver's seat.

"Really, my wife and I have a very good relationship!" Qin Han said. "Although my wife isn't beautiful, we have a very happy life."

“I’m doing just fine too!” Wang Ming said.

"Oh? You're all married?" Liu Ying asked with a hint of gossip.

"Of course we're married. You all know my wife, right?" Wang Ming said. "She was the prettiest girl in our class back then, Nie Rongrong. Back in school, she said she wasn't a woman who liked money. But in the end, she broke up with her poor boyfriend and got into my luxury sports car."

"Seriously, how could you say that!" Liu Ying looked at Wang Ming with some displeasure: "That's such a disservice to your wife!"

"Hmph, what's there to apologize for? It's all the same old story. Do you think all women have your personal qualities?" Wang Ming said. "In the end, most women still prefer the kind of life where they'd rather cry in a luxury car than laugh on the back of an electric scooter."

"I think you're being a bit too absolute!" Liu Ying looked at Wang Ming with some displeasure. To be honest, Wang Ming's words made it seem to Liu Ying as if she was only with Shangguan Ming for money.

"Alright, alright, it's rare for us old classmates to get together, let's not say such hurtful things." Liu Tao, who was standing to the side, immediately stepped in to smooth things over after seeing the gunpowder on the table: "Speaking of which, I also buried a time capsule on that island, together with Dong Quan."

"Really? You two grown men buried that thing together?" Qin Han asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Well, I actually remember we buried something we cherished in the past, something as proof of our friendship," Dong Quan said. "But I really can't remember what exactly we buried back then."

"To be honest, I can't remember what we buried back then." Liu Tao tried hard to think, but couldn't recall anything.

Immediately, everyone began speculating about what might be inside the capsule. However, two people seemed detached from the discussion: Lin Jie and Tian Xiaoshu.

Lin Jie's entire focus was on Dou Dou at this moment, because Dou Dou's appearance was far more attractive to him than the conversation of those people. After all, Dou Dou was currently trying her best to please that **.

To Lin Jie's surprise, Dou Dou took out a small piano from her suitcase and started playing it while winking at him.

Of course, playing the piano for a dog had no effect whatsoever. Then DouDou took out a bouquet of flowers with a card that had two dogs kissing and a heart drawn on it.

The little girl opposite DouDou merely smelled the flowers, then turned her head away, no longer looking at DouDou. Lin Jie, watching DouDou's various actions, was completely bewildered. Now Lin Jie was absolutely certain that DouDou must have watched a lot of cartoons before coming here! And they were the characteristic cartoons of Zone C, the Zoo series.

Meanwhile, Tian Xiaoshu was staring blankly at Lin Jie's face.

Finally, Lin Jie couldn't hold back any longer. Dou Dou deserved to be a single dog! It would be a miracle if it tried to be romantic with a dog! So Lin Jie patted Dou Dou and then pointed to the refrigerator next to him.

DouDou was very clever, so she immediately walked towards the refrigerator.

But just as DouDou's clutches were about to touch the refrigerator, Shangguan Mingqun walked right in.

"We're almost at the shore. We can get ready to disembark in a bit." With that, Shangguan Ming led the way onto the gangway. Everyone else followed suit.

The cruise ship slowly approached a small, isolated island. Back when Lin Jie and his friends were in school, several resorts operated here. However, due to the monsters, everyone on the island moved away. After learning that Liu Ying wanted to return to the island where their school used to camp, Shangguan Ming simply bought the island.

Not only that, he also tidied up the island in advance and built a villa on it, since it could be used as a vacation spot in the future. Besides, the island doesn't have much scenery and there are few people to disturb it.

When everyone arrived at the beach, they couldn't help but recall some past events.

Of course, Lin Jie also recalled many things. He remembered that he had once killed someone on this island. Moreover, it was on the back side of the island, on a beach where there were few people and couples often went out for romantic moments.

"Thinking about it carefully, the place others use to pick up girls, I use to kill people!" Lin Jie looked at the small island and woods not far away again.

"Oh right, I remember the time capsule was buried under that crooked tree!" Liu Tao said, walking towards the crooked tree. The others, drawn by their curiosity, also followed the tree.

Dong Quan simply borrowed the excavation equipment from the ship from Shangguan Ming.

At this moment, everyone began to dig around the crooked tree.

Of course, they finally unearthed the time capsule containing seven years' worth of information, just as everyone expected. Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, Liu Tao and Dong Quan opened the time capsule together.

"It's time to look back at our student days," Liu Tao said, opening a time capsule in front of everyone. But the next second, he and Dong Quan were embarrassed.

Because the time capsule was full of H-magazines...

"This is what your student days are like?" Wang Ming said with some surprise. "No wonder you're all still single!"

"You can't say that!" Although a little embarrassed, Liu Tao explained, "It's normal to be a bit restless during adolescence. Besides, it's a symbol of our past friendship no matter what."

“That’s right. Now, these are precious memories from our student days! They’re our treasures!” Dong Quan said directly, and then he and Liu Tao showed a mutual appreciation.

Then, Liu Ying threw a lit lighter into the capsule: "Let's burn this trash. Okay, I'll go to the villa and arrange rooms for you."

Flames immediately burst into flames.

"Our precious memories! You vicious woman!" Liu Tao and Dong Quan both wore sorrowful expressions. But no one present understood them; they all followed Liu Ying and Shangguan Ming away.

Lin Jie stayed behind and patted the two of them on the shoulder: "Don't worry, you can go to Guanggun Temple when you have time. I heard that the library there has a complete collection of H-magazines from every era."

……

However, at this time, no one realized that a dangerous assassin had already disguised himself and infiltrated their ranks. Meanwhile, an unexpected typhoon was sweeping towards the island.

Chapter VII

After everyone arrived at the villa with Shangguan Ming, Liu Ying personally assigned them their rooms. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Lin Jie's room was assigned next to Tian Xiaoshu's.

After everyone had settled into their rooms, it was almost dinnertime. After some discussion, they decided to have a barbecue in the courtyard.

No unpleasant scenes occurred during the barbecue.

"You guys eat first, I'll go get some drinks." Shangguan Ming said, patting Lin Jie beside him, "Help me get these."

"Can he help in this body? Or should we call someone else?" Liu Ying said to Shangguan Ming, looking at Lin Jie's three-year-old body.

"Don't worry, Lin Jie is still a strength-type superhuman. Even if he's shrunk, he's still stronger than everyone else here. Isn't that right?" Shang Guangming smiled as he looked at Lin Jie.

"Moving things? That's no problem for me. Although my body has shrunk, my abilities haven't changed." Lin Jie said, and then followed Shangguan Ming out.

The two arrived at the villa's storage room, but Shangguan Ming did not open it immediately. Instead, he looked at Lin Jie with a somewhat cold expression.

"Hmm? Is there something wrong?" Lin Jie asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Actually, I called you over because there's something I want to talk to you about," Shangguan Ming suddenly said to Lin Jie. "I think you'd better not have any designs on Tian Xiaoshu, after all, you two aren't really a good match."

"I don't quite understand what you're talking about?" Lin Jie looked at Shangguan Ming with some confusion. "Speaking of which, is it really appropriate for someone with a girlfriend to say this to me? And aren't you just putting on that kind of cliché that everyone's tired of seeing?"

"Do you think I'd be that bored?" Shangguan Ming said directly, "My girlfriend Liu Ying is her best friend, and Miss Tian and I are also good friends. So I can't stand by and watch Tian Xiaoshu be deceived by someone like you."

"Huh? What's wrong with someone like me?" Lin Jie looked at Shangguan Ming with some confusion. Although he didn't intend to actually be with Tian Xiaoshu, Lin Jie couldn't understand what he had done to offend this idiot. And was it really okay for a guy with a girlfriend to come over and act out this love rival scenario with him?

"Others may not know, but I know very well." Shangguan Ming said, looking at Lin Jie with disdain: "Weren't you a teacher at the Hero Academy before? And it was only through the special connections of the academy's president, Angela, that you, who was originally only a C-rank, were able to enter the academy. And your promotion to A-rank hero was entirely due to your relationship with the SS-rank hero, Captain Justice, wasn't it? I know that the two of them are father and daughter."

"Huh? So they're father and daughter? But why didn't I realize it at all? Oh right, my sister's Angela mentioned it once, but I don't think I paid much attention at the time." Hearing Shangguan Ming's words, she couldn't help but think about it more carefully.

"Are you still going to play dumb?" Shangguan Ming said, "You clearly had a messy relationship with Miss Angela outside, and you even used her power to rise through the ranks. But now you're still trying to provoke Miss Tian Xiaoshu! I can't believe you still have the nerve to come here today. I've never seen such a shameless person before."

"Damn it! You actually think I'm that kind of person!" Lin Jie looked at Shangguan Ming with a completely bewildered expression.

"Are you still going to pretend? Although you certainly don't look like one of those gigolos, and I don't know what methods you used to curry favor with Zhang from Angela Academy," Shangguan Ming said, "I've investigated your past thoroughly! Only a woman like Liu Ying wouldn't see through your true nature!"

"Damn it! What's wrong with my appearance? What do you mean by that?" When Lin Jie heard Shangguan Ming say that, he felt extremely uncomfortable for some reason.

"Hmph! Don't try to deny it. Didn't you rely on your younger sister to support you for five years after graduating from high school? You scumbag!" Shangguan Ming said directly at this moment.

"Damn, I'm speechless!" Lin Jie was at a loss for words when he heard Shangguan Ming say this.

"So you finally admit it?" Shangguan Ming said directly, "A piece of trash like you who does nothing but rely on women! I really can't see how you and a lady as outstanding as Miss Tian are a good match! Besides, aren't you already having an ambiguous relationship with that Angela? So I really can't stand to see Miss Tian's feelings being played with by someone like you! In my opinion, you are not a man who can bring happiness to Miss Tian at all!"

"..." Lin Jie was speechless at this point. To be honest, with his pitifully limited vocabulary, he simply didn't know how to describe the person's wild imagination. Lin Jie also restrained himself to avoid blurting out "Damn idiot!" After all, this person was paying for the meal.

"So I hope you leave here immediately. There are airships by the sea." Shangguan Ming then directly ordered Lin Jie to leave.

However, he did make Lin Jie really unhappy for a moment.

"First of all, I think you might have misunderstood something?" Lin Jie looked at Shangguan Ming: "I actually have no relationship with that Angela, and I didn't even plan to come this time."

"Hmph! Do you think I'd believe you?" Shangguan Ming said, as lightning crackled in his hand. "You don't have to leave, but I advise you to stay away from Miss Tian! Otherwise, you'll know the consequences! I absolutely won't let my friend be fooled by a piece of trash!"

However, at that moment a scream reached their ears.

Although Lin Jie and Shangguan Ming didn't know what had happened, they ran straight to the courtyard. When they arrived, everyone was gathered around one spot, and Lin Jie clearly saw Tian Xiaoshu squatting on the ground with a sorrowful expression.

"What happened? Are you alright, Miss Tian?" Shangguan Ming pushed his way through the crowd and asked Tian Xiaoshu. At that moment, Lin Jie also arrived in the crowd. Lin Jie was also surprised to see that the little dog Tian Xiaoshu had been raising was dead!

“My dog…I don’t know why it suddenly died!” Tian Xiaoshu looked at her dog with some sadness.

Beside the little dog, DouDou looked at its goddess with a sorrowful expression. Just a second ago it was about to succeed, but the next second it was forever separated from its goddess, the Heavenly Dog—a dog and a ghost, now worlds apart! At that moment, DouDou's entire body seemed to slump. Its expression was extremely sad, and Lin Jie could clearly see tears welling up in DouDou's eyes.

"What exactly happened?" Lin Jie looked at Dou Dou with a puzzled expression. "Weren't you always pursuing this thing? You should know what happened, right?"

"Woof! Woof woof... Woof woof!" Dou Dou barked at Lin Jie with tears in her eyes.

"Oh, I see!" Upon hearing Dou Dou's cry, Lin Jie immediately addressed the crowd, "It's like this: while you were grilling the meat, someone threw Dou Dou a bone. But Dou Dou, wanting to please the dog, gave it the bone, and the dog was poisoned! So, someone actually poisoned Dou Dou but accidentally killed the dog! This is clearly a heinous and premeditated case of dog killing!"

"You can understand dog language?" Liu Tao looked at Lin Jie with some surprise.

“I guessed it. Isn’t there a bone with bite marks right next to it?” Lin Jie said to Liu Tao. “So I just imagined it.”

However, after Lin Jie finished speaking, Dou Dou nodded repeatedly as if to affirm it. It even barked twice, seemingly to confirm the importance of Lin Jie's words. But at this moment, Lin Jie's words were completely ignored by everyone present; they merely took them as a way to ease the tension.

"However, judging from the way this dog died, it probably died from accidentally eating something unclean." Qin Han, the doctor, confirmed the possibility of poisoning at this point: "But whether it's this piece of meat or bone, we'll have to wait for the test results. I need to do some experiments."

"Ah! Qin Han, you truly deserve to be called a doctor! You're so professional!" Bai Ruofei looked at Qin Han with an expression of admiration.

Upon receiving Bai Ruofei's praise, Qin Han felt as if he were floating on air. He immediately borrowed some medical equipment from Shangguan Ming and started tinkering with it.

Tian Xiaoshu appeared very sad at this moment. Liu Ying and Bai Ruofei comforted her, while Shangguan Ming stood quietly beside her, offering words of comfort from time to time.