As heroes, villains, and monsters became increasingly active, superpowers gradually transitioned from urban legends to rare but unsurprising natural disasters, like earthquakes or typhoons. Discussions about superheroes became more mundane and practical, no longer focused solely on marveling at their miraculous feats.
Ten months had passed since the Meteor Shower Event. For Nemo, it had been nine months since the outbreak of the Taiwan Strait War. Taiwan's status as an independent province of China was less than six months old. In the restaurant, immigrant patrons rarely discussed cross-strait issues anymore, not even the refugees from Taiwan.
Interestingly, even customers who identified as Chinese seldom brought up Taiwan's "return to the motherland." Instead, their fascination lay with superpowered beings. After all, who hadn't read Xianxia novels? Naturally, they seized the opportunity to fantasize about having abilities of their own.
The current superhero ranking list extended beyond 300 names. The early "power rankings" had gradually fallen out of favor. Though simply having a name could earn a spot on the list—given the rarity and mystique of superpowers—a clear trend had emerged. What propelled a hero's name upward wasn’t just their strength but also their looks and media presence.
Those ranked beyond 200 weren’t weak by any means. Their combat abilities might place them in the top 20 or 30, but their lack of visibility left them forgotten by online voters who could cast one vote daily.
Boss Liu, a former online writer, had once conducted a field survey out of curiosity. He asked customers what superpower they most desired and what kind of enemy they would want to fight. The first question always sparked lively debates, with everyone eagerly sharing their opinions. However, the second question left many stumped. The unanimous answer was always the same: avoid fighting if possible. Facing monsters or serial killers would either result in death or serious injury. After all, they weren’t real heroes, and it was better to leave such concerns to the superpowered.
“Are there no superheroes named Vermillion Bird, Azure Dragon, White Tiger, or Black Tortoise?” a customer mused aloud.
Perhaps it was because the " Meteor Shower Watchers" website was based in America, where most users were American, that the heroes dominating the rankings were predominantly active in the U.S. They came in all skin tones, hair colors, and eye colors—except for one glaring absence: Chinese heroes.
“Idiot, if they had names like that, everyone would instantly know they’re Chinese.”
“That’s exactly my point! There should be Chinese superheroes to make us proud!”
The curly-haired chef leaned an arm on the pickup counter, watching the patrons discuss superheroes with a laid-back expression.
A student-like customer dragged a chair over to a crowded four-person table, pulled out their phone, and opened a post. The group craned their necks to read.
"‘Why are there no Chinese heroes on the ranking list? The answer is, because they’ve all gone back to their homeland to pledge loyalty! P.S. Whether voluntary or involuntary, it’s all the same. Without eyewitness evidence or taking the initiative to appear, they can't even make it onto the list or get voted in.’"
“Wow! The comments below are even harsher. ‘To the OP: Perhaps they simply feel a deep spiritual connection to the homeland of their dreams, but in reality, they just want to keep a low profile and make a fortune quietly. After all, you love the motherland, but does the motherland love you?’”
A year ago, such statements would have been utterly taboo. Regardless of their private thoughts, people would have publicly condemned such remarks, knowing that the CCP's watchful eyes could be anywhere. But now, the oppressive atmosphere of looming conflict between China and the U.S. was palpable. The U.S. government had no qualms about revoking green cards and visas for Communist Party members, while China's border policies ensured citizens could only enter but not leave. It was no secret that superpowers in China were likely being used for nefarious purposes.
A middle-aged man in business attire suddenly said, “If my son awakened superpowers and wanted to play hero, I’d break his legs and lock him at home to prepare for the SATs. You wouldn’t even know how he died out there.”
“My daughter keeps daydreaming about dating a superhero. Being tricked would be the least of my worries. What if she gets pregnant with a child who inherits superpowers? We ordinary folks wouldn’t be able to protect them…” Another father shared his anxieties.
“My granddaughter’s been obsessively training her muscles, saying she’s preparing for her superpower awakening.”
“Sigh.” A collective sigh echoed.
Someone naively added, “Looking on the bright side, at least no Chinese have turned into famous villains!”
How could one describe this subtle bitterness?
" Four Symbols (四神)" sounds too much like a throwaway name—hardly auspicious. On the other hand, calling it "Four Divine Soup(四神湯)" might just turn heads in a quirky, memorable way.
For those Chinese patrons who no longer cheered for Taiwan’s "reunion with the motherland," it was likely because they had learned of the deaths or severe injuries of their relatives following various disasters. At first, they had felt relief that China’s official casualty numbers appeared low and that their loved ones weren’t listed among the dead. But it didn’t take long to realize that many deaths had been omitted from the statistics or misattributed to unrelated causes, such as stomach issues or urinary tract infections. Firsthand accounts painted a grim picture—victims crushed by meteors, trapped in collapsing buildings, or succumbing to viral strains that led to fatal pulmonary failure.
The most chilling domestic rumor was that all unscathed military forces had been redirected to attack Taiwan during the Meteor Shower Event, leaving civilians to fend for themselves. Military and police even blocked relief supplies, forcibly requisitioning them for wartime logistics. Residents were prohibited from fleeing heavily affected areas, and regions still able to access the internet were cut off.
The Little Pinks, who had once decried “handing knives to foreign forces,” now cried out in anguish—but no one was there to listen.
The mood in the restaurant grew somber for a moment before the conversation shifted back to popular superheroes. With personal grievances set aside, the atmosphere lightened considerably.
“Michael finally climbed to second place on the rankings! He really looks like a full-fledged Archangel of Battle now. His light feathers are stunning, and his golden sword is so cool!”
“What happened to the original number two?” “No idea. They haven’t been seen for a while.”
“No one can dethrone Leviathan, though. Michael and Leviathan seem to get along well and work great as a team, but the power gap is undeniable. It’s just a matter of scale.”
“Hey, is Leviathan even human? The superhero rankings don’t limit heroes by species or origin, but Leviathan’s appearances and disappearances are so mysterious. It always shows up or leaves from the air or the sea and can change forms. For such a massive being, it leaves no traces.”
“Don’t insult my idol! If Leviathan isn’t ‘human,’ then it’s a ‘god.’ Without Leviathan charging forward as a shield for the superheroes, none of them could handle the monsters on the East Coast. And who knows if even bigger creatures might appear in the future?” Boss Liu chimed in indignantly. Defending his superhero idol in debates had even improved his English.
At Westlake Restaurant, some regulars couldn’t understand Cantonese, others didn’t speak Mandarin, and there were those with Chaozhou accents or other dialects. Many third- or fourth-generation immigrants only spoke English. To discuss popular topics, everyone defaulted to English.
“That’s true.”
“Do we get a discount if we praise Leviathan while dining?”
“Small business here. At most, you’ll get a free cup of tea.”
“Wait, isn’t the tea already free?”
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“But takeaway costs money,” The Russian waiter floated by, offering a refill.
“Liu, why don’t you start a Leviathan Day with discounts? We promise we’ll all show up!”
“I’ll discuss it with my wife,” Boss Liu replied. He is also going all out for fandom.
※※※
the Grimm Group’s leader turned out to be even more flamboyant than expected. Every employee at Westlake Restaurant who had been paid in the past three months was invited by him to Grimm Group’s designated hospital for a complimentary health checkup.
Nemo recounted the story of the billionaire's kidnapping (the 'clothed' version) to the boss couple, repeating the explanation he had once given to Tolya and elaborating on the reason behind the free health checkup gift.
“Wait a minute, wasn’t it a paragliding accident?” Tolya interrupted, noticing the story didn’t quite add up.
“Well, technically, it was during a paragliding trip. Matthew Grimm was on a plane when criminals disguised as crew members kidnapped him. In a moment of panic, Matthew jumped with a parachute prematurely, deviating from the planned landing spot and crashing into an uncharted forest,” Nemo added a bit more flair to the original narrative, keeping it straightforward.
“Why didn’t you clarify this earlier?” Tolya asked, a bit dazed, feeling that the image of being stuck in a tree sounded strangely familiar.
“Matthew lied to me, claiming it was just an accident. I had no choice but to believe him. Back then, he wouldn’t have shared much with a stranger. Once a helicopter came to pick him up, he left. It was only after we got acquainted through emails and calls that he told me the truth. However, he asked me not to disclose the kidnapping part—it seems it had something to do with internal struggles within Grimm Group after old Mr. Grimm’s passing,” Nemo rationalized smoothly.
“I don’t like meddling in other people’s family matters. If I promise to keep a secret, I stick to it. In the end, the fact that I happened to save his life hasn’t changed. But to him, the weight of being rescued from a kidnapping is vastly different from that of surviving a mere accident. That’s why he’s so determined to repay me.”
“Well, of course, it’s different! A kidnapping is designed to rob you of all hope, to force you into submission. An accident, on the other hand, is just human error or bad luck,” Boss Liu said, grinding his teeth thoughtfully.
“He wanted meaningful repayment, and I gave him that chance. Otherwise, he wouldn’t stop pestering me,” Nemo said plainly.
“And now it’s okay to tell us?” asked Sunny Jie.
“The issue’s resolved, and I got his permission. Just don’t let it spread. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting any reward in the first place—it’s been a bit stressful. You’d actually be doing me a favor by accepting his kindness. That way, it reassures Matthew Grimm and lets me ensure none of you have any underlying health concerns.”
“But it feels wrong to accept such a gift without earning it…”Boss Liu hesitated.
“Boss, if you and Sunny Jie don’t set an example by graciously accepting it, others might feel awkward about going, and some could even forgo the free health checkups entirely,” Nemo argued righteously.
“Nemo’s right. Darling, didn’t you always say the rich should do more good deeds? Now the opportunity’s here, and you’re nitpicking whether Mr. Grimm is spending enough?” Sunny Jie, the most seasoned among them, made the call decisively.
“Of course not! I’ll go to the health checkup with you and thank Mr. Grimm properly,” Boss Liu said sheepishly, rubbing his leg.
“Why is your health checkup at a different hospital than ours?” Tolya asked, noticing Nemo hadn’t received the same invitation letter as the rest of them.
Every staff member, including Tolya, received a letter specifying a designated hospital and available time slots for the Westlake Restaurant team’s exclusive free checkups. Nemo, however, was conspicuously left out of the arrangement.
“My amnesia issue is more complicated. Matthew insisted on arranging consultations with top neurology experts for me, as well as a super-detailed full-body examination. It doesn’t fall under the standard items offered at the designated hospital, so the treatment plan will be tailored by the doctors. It’s still uncertain,” Nemo explained.
Everyone nodded in approval.
“That’s more like it! Nemo is his savior, after all!” Boss Liu declared, crossing his arms.
“The truth stays between us. Matthew Grimm doesn’t want the kidnapping story getting out, and I don’t want to be hounded by the media either. We’ll need a different narrative for outsiders,” Nemo began his internal PR campaign.
“Obviously! If our Nemo gets overexposed and is tracked down by enemies, what then?” Sunny Jie’s comment instantly made boss Liu and Tolya’s faces darken as they racked their brains to come up with a new story.
To protect the Grimm Group’s leader’s privacy, Nemo spun a third, more innocuous version of the “savior” tale.
This time, the story involved a drunken man in a black trench coat lying on a darkened road with a broken streetlamp, about to be run over by a truck. A restaurant chef on his way home heroically dragged the man to safety and discovered he was the world’s richest man. The chef then hailed a cab, sent him back to Grimm Group headquarters, and quietly left.
When the billionaire sobered up, he tracked down his savior using security footage at the front desk. The kind and humble chef refused a huge reward, so after much deliberation, the billionaire decided to offer free health checkups for all restaurant employees, including the chef.
Unable to refuse such a generous gesture, the chef reluctantly accepted, completing a charitable and heartwarming story.
The revised version was fluid, logical, easy to understand, and even carried a touch of romantic serendipity. It opened with a line Matthew Grimm had once said: “As the leader of Grimm Group, I, too, long to wander the city anonymously, where no one knows who I am.” It perfectly explained why the world’s richest man would end up drunkenly sprawled on the road, impersonating a flatfish.
Matthew really should hire Sunny Jie as a scriptwriter—it was a million times better than the original naked-kidnapping incident!
The media even quoted his ex-girlfriend, an A-list actress: “Yes, Matthew Grimm told me the exact same thing! He’s such a crazy bastard!”
When asked if the billionaire’s drunkenness was due to heartbreak, the actress declined to comment. In the coverage, Nemo became an unremarkable, lucky passerby, while Matthew Grimm’s antics were seen as another bold, unconventional move in line with his reputation.
Lacking any salacious gossip, the wholesome story of mutual aid between two men quickly faded from the headlines.
For a while, famous people collapsing on streets suddenly became a trend worldwide, some even forming couples. But none of that was of interest to the Westlake Restaurant staff.
“You idiot! Why didn’t you ask for a big fat check? Matthew Grimm doesn’t lack money!” someone teased.
“I barely did anything—just called a cab and escorted him back to headquarters. Asking for money would feel wrong,” Nemo said, scratching his curly hair and flashing a shy smile before adding, “He insisted on repaying me, so I thought giving everyone something practical would be better. After all, all our health checkups combined still cost a fortune!”
Every current and former employee of Westlake Restaurant was moved to tears by his generosity.
The boss couple and the key staff couldn’t all be absent at the same time, so they finalized a schedule to take turns going for the health check.
Naturally, the boss couldn’t go without his dear wife, so they picked a day with fewer customers and went together, leading the charge.
Everything went smoothly, but when they returned to the restaurant, The boss couple still had dreamy, dazed expressions, as if they had just taken something hallucinogenic.
“What happened to you two?” Nemo stared at the couple in confusion. This wasn’t a health check—it looked more like they’d just come back from a drug trip!
“Mr. Grimm was waiting for us right at the hospital entrance. He shook our hands and politely said that some parts of our health check results weren’t ideal and suggested we follow up further. He even said he’d be happy to help us with that,” Sunny Jie said, her voice full of excitement, like a fangirl who had just touched her idol’s hand at a concert.
“I thought it was unbelievable. How could the test results come out that fast? Then Mr. Grimm explained that he’d directly consulted with the doctors who conducted our exams. Since it’s his family’s hospital, Grimm Group employees always get priority, and this group health check project wasn’t an exception. Even the lab work was expedited. By the time we got back to the restaurant, the full reports were already delivered by express courier.” Boss Liu, experiencing the CCP's "princelings" treatment for the first time, seemed unsure if he could ever go back to normal life again.
“Sunny Jie, are you both okay? What were the results?” Tolya asked anxiously.
“I’m a bit overworked and slightly anemic, but overall, I’m fine,” Sunny Jie replied.
“What are you saying, honey? We can’t keep going on like this. Starting next week, we’ll take one day off every week!” the boss declared.
“Don’t talk about me—your issues are way more serious!” Sunny Jie retorted, pinching her husband hard. Judging by the boss’s pained expression, she didn’t hold back.
“I’m mostly fine—just slightly elevated blood pressure and liver enzyme levels. The doctor also said the ligaments in my previously injured ankle are too loose. Standing for long periods would be better with support. I just need to rest more,” Boss Liu admitted, sharing his health check insights.
For someone who had once nearly died crossing the jungle as an illegal immigrant, even he was surprised at how healthy he was overall, though he knew the lingering effects of past injuries all too well.
Sunny Jie slapped him on the back of the head and scolded, “What nonsense are you spouting? The doctor clearly said you need surgery to reconstruct the ligaments in your right ankle. If you keep delaying, it’ll affect your knee, pelvis, and lower back. Eventually, your whole body will be in pain, and you won’t be able to walk. Mr. Grimm even handwrote a note on your report, saying he’d cover all your medical expenses and was too polite to mention it in person to avoid embarrassing us. Worst case, we can work a few extra years to pay him back. What do you want, for me to end up feeding you and wiping your butt when we’re old?”
Boss Liu lowered his head, muttering, “It’s not like it’ll definitely get that bad. How can I just accept such a huge favor for no reason?”
“Oh, so my overwork and anemia are nothing to worry about, right?”
“That’s completely different! You need proper rest. I can hold the fort at the restaurant. You’ve been—”Boss Liu was about to blurt out Sunny Jie’s real age when Nemo, anticipating disaster, poked him sharply in the ribs from Sunny Jie’s blind spot.
The middle-aged man winced in pain and quickly recovered, switching to survival mode: “—working so hard all these years. I married you because I wanted you to live a good life.”
“Idiot! What era do you think this is? I didn’t marry you—we got married!”
“Yes, yes! Married!” Boss Liu suddenly remembered that he and his beloved were a legally married couple, and a silly grin spread across his face.
The grin didn’t last long. It faded within seconds as Boss Liu was reminded that Matthew Grimm, the Grimm Group’s leader, was only five years younger than him yet stood at the pinnacle of the world. Handsome and strong as a god, Grimm was a stark contrast to himself—a man who had spent nearly eleven years in prison, burned his youth chasing deadlines as a serial novelist, and now looked like someone well over fifty, weathered and worn.
Nemo, understanding boss Liu’s mixed feelings, quickly redirected his attention.
“Boss, Sunny Jie, you shouldn’t think of Matthew Grimm as an ordinary human. When he goes home, he takes a helicopter. I’ve been to his place once—it’s a private villa on an island in the middle of a mountain lake larger than West Lake itself! The xianxia novels you wrote before were never this outrageous! Boss, you saved my life, and I saved Matthew’s. Now he’s fixing your ankle. It all evens out. He’s probably thrilled to help my friends for such a small price.”
“Nemo, do you know what you’re starting to sound like?” Sunny Jie narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the curly-haired young man.
“Huh?”
“Mei Xi tearing silk.(妹喜裂帛)” Sunny Jie’s tone was heavy.
“King You of Zhou lighting the beacon fires to deceive the feudal lords for Bao Si. (烽火戲諸侯)” Boss Liu, once a wordsmith, followed her lead effortlessly.
Tolya, clueless about the references, simply noticed Nemo’s complexion visibly darken.
“Would you be happy if I asked Matthew to burn stacks of cash for your amusement next time?” Nemo snapped back in Mandarin.
“Hey, no private conversations in front of me!” Tolya protested.
“Nemo, don’t ever feel like you owe me anything. It’s never been like that,” Boss Liu said seriously.
“I told Matthew something similar, but he didn’t listen. Just think of this as… psychological therapy for both of us. It’s the only way I can feel comfortable accepting his medical support. Besides, if you two couldn’t keep the restaurant running, I wouldn’t even know where to go,” Nemo replied in English, this time ensuring Tolya understood.
The four fell silent for a long moment, as if bound by invisible threads. Threads that sometimes felt suffocating but also gave reassurance through the weight on the other end, reminding them they weren’t alone. No matter how far one wandered, there was always a direction to return to.
“All right, Nemo. If this is what you want, we won’t let you worry,” Sunny Jie said, pulling the curly-haired youth into a hug. Boss Liu extended his arms and embraced them both.
“Thanks to Mr. Grimm, there’s finally hope for progress in Nemo’s amnesia treatment,” the petite woman added, tightening her grip.
She would never have children of her own, and the young man her husband had saved from the brink of death carried a unique weight in her heart—Nemo was both reserved and fiercely loyal, carving out a special place in her life.
“Mr. Grimm is truly kind,” the couple said in unison.
Nemo remained silent. You two have no idea what a lunatic that billionaire really is.