Chapter 1 Chen Hero Fights the Brothel... Er, the Press

Chen Hero was in front, battling the whores... no, it was the press, while Götze was behind him, watching him step forward, watching him push over the reporters in the front, watching him raise his fists at the reporters, and watching him scare the reporters into retreating, fleeing to the other side of the road.

When Chen Hero turned around and walked towards him, he frowned and asked Chen Hero, "Aren't you afraid of offending them?"

"What's there to be afraid of?" Chen Hero shrugged, with an indifferent expression. "Let me tell you, Mario. Reporters are just a bunch of cheapskates. Their attitude towards you depends on how you perform. If you don't perform well, they won't give you a good look, no matter how kind you are to them usually. Once you perform well, even if you're like me..." He put on a scary, dark face. "They'll come up and lick your toes."

Chen Hero's words were rather extreme, but on closer inspection, they weren't entirely unreasonable, especially when viewed in the context of his experiences.

Chen Hero's relationship with the media has never been harmonious, and who knows how many media outlets have been holding back, waiting to make trouble for him.

But when he performed well enough, these media outlets still kept putting hats on his head, singing praises. The words were as sickening as they could be.

So Chen Hero didn't take the media seriously at all.

His performance didn't need the media to acknowledge it anyway, weren't victories and championships enough?

After hearing Chen Hero's words, Götze lowered his head and remained silent.

He and Chen Hero were completely different types of people. He couldn't learn Chen Hero's style, nor was it suitable for him.

But one thing he was clear about was that Chen Hero had helped him out of a tight spot, so he still needed to say thank you.

"Thank you, Hero," Götze said with a smile.

Chen Hero patted Götze on the shoulder: "Don't take those media words to heart, when you perform well enough, you can slap those cheapskates' faces whenever you want, Mario."

Götze nodded, although he wasn't willing to slap other people's faces for no reason, he was also certain that if he performed well, the troubles he faced today would all dissipate.

So the crux of the matter was still in the performance on the pitch...

The two of them spoke as they walked into the house, closing the door and leaving the photographers with nothing to photograph.

※※※

The next day, Martin O'Neill still called Chen Hero into his office alone. Because he had read the reports, which portrayed Chen Hero as a complete bastard, practically someone who needed to be arrested to appease the public's anger.

He was worried that Chen Hero would get himself involved while protecting Götze, which would be too bad.

He felt he needed to talk to Chen Hero about it.

"You had a conflict with the reporters yesterday, Hero?" he asked after seeing Chen Hero.

Chen Hero didn't hide anything—there was nothing to hide, the media had reported it, how could the coach not know? What's more, Chen Hero didn't think it was anything to be ashamed of. He nodded: "A bunch of reporters from who-knows-where insisted on harassing Mario, so I drove them out."

"I know you were helping Mario, but... sometimes, you have to pay attention to the method, Hero. Your method was a bit too extreme, wasn't it? You should have reasoned with them calmly..."

Chen Hero laughed: "Boss, if you reason with reporters, they'll act like hooligans. What's the use of reasoning? See how I scared them yesterday, they're being honest today."

After training ended today, no media outlets harassed Götze.

But to say they were being honest, that wasn't right either...

"Where's the honesty? Those reporters you pushed to the ground are claiming they were injured and want you to apologize and compensate them, or they'll sue you..."

Yes, they were being honest with Götze, but they had shifted their firepower to Chen Hero.

Chen Hero was truly worthy of being a MT (Main Tank, a role in online games that absorbs damage), his ability to attract hatred was top-notch. A group of reporters' attention to Götze was firmly drawn to him.

"It's okay, then I'll apologize."

Chen Hero's words surprised O'Neill—he had originally thought that Chen Hero would be furious after hearing the other party's request, and then vow to fight the media to the death.

That would be more in line with Chen Hero's personality and image.

Why did he suddenly change his nature?

Was it because he was going to be captain, and coupled with the time he spent taking care of Götze, it cultivated his sense of responsibility, making him more mature?

But since Chen Hero was willing to apologize, that was naturally the best. Continuing to entangle with this group of reporters would only be detrimental to the team's preparations.

No coach wants his team and players to be constantly in the eye of the storm.

※※※

Those reporters clamored in their media outlets, demanding that Chen Hero apologize, otherwise this matter would not be over. So many people knew about this matter.

Even Chen Hero's teammates had heard about it. Now that they saw Chen Hero being called to Martin O'Neill's office for a meeting, they naturally knew it must be because of this.

So when Chen Hero came out of Martin O'Neill's office and returned to the locker room, he found that everyone hadn't left yet.

Suárez saw Chen Hero come in and stepped forward to ask: "What did the boss want, Hero?"

"What could it be? Nothing..." Chen Hero didn't want to tell the truth.

"Is he going to make you apologize to those bullshit media outlets?" Škrtel pressed.

Chen Hero looked at the group of teammates, he could see the concern in their eyes. They were truly comrades who had worked together for three seasons!

He was grateful for everyone's concern for him, but this matter had nothing to do with them.

He nodded and said in a very indifferent tone: "Then I'll apologize."

"Huh?"

"Ah?"

Everyone was stunned.

Even Götze was taken aback. He saw Chen Hero being so fierce at the gate yesterday, he definitely didn't seem like someone who would easily give in, so why did he apologize as soon as he said it?

"That's not your style, Hero!"

"Why should you apologize, Hero? It was obviously them harassing Mario first, no matter how much freedom of the press there is, they can't do that!"

Everyone spoke up for Chen Hero.

Even Götze felt that it was inappropriate for Chen Hero to take the blame for him, he stood up wanting to say something, but just as he was organizing his words in his mind, Chen Hero waved his hand, interrupting everyone's chatter.

"It's not like apologizing will kill anyone, it's okay, you don't have to worry about me!"

After speaking, he called out to Götze: "Let's go, Mario, let's go home!"

Looking at Chen Hero and Götze's departing backs, Gerrard frowned, wondering what he was thinking.

Reina came up: "Could it be that spending time with Götze in the capacity of third captain has made him more mature?"

Gerrard really wanted to nod, but he always felt that it wasn't that simple.

How could Chen Hero be someone who gives in so easily? Especially when facing the reporters he hates the most...

Oh well, I just hope he doesn't cause any more trouble...

Although, the hatred is all on him now, and he has indeed protected Götze, but if the pressure is too great, he might break down?

※※※

Götze followed Chen Hero home, remaining silent in the car.

Chen Hero, on the other hand, was still talking to him incessantly, with the aim of training Götze's listening skills.

After saying a lot of meaningless nonsense, Götze suddenly interrupted his eloquence.

"I'm sorry, Hero... because of me, you've been dragged into such a big trouble..." He seemed very guilty.

Thinking about it, he had just arrived at a new team, unfamiliar with everything, and someone came to help him, helping him wholeheartedly, although his methods might have some problems, they were still acceptable. But he didn't expect that helping him would stir up a hornet's nest, anyone in his place would feel uncomfortable and guilty.

"Hey, don't take it to heart," Chen Hero waved his hand dismissively.

"But are you really going to apologize to them?"

"Apologize, why not? What a great opportunity!" A cold smile tugged at the corner of Chen Hero's mouth.

Götze was completely confused—how did it seem like Chen Hero was very happy and eager about the apology?

※※※

After Chen Hero left, Martin O'Neill thought about it more and more and felt strange, how could Chen Hero agree so easily? He had originally prepared a bellyful of words, wanting to appease and comfort Chen Hero, to let him temporarily bow his head to the media and let this matter pass.

Having too strong and unyielding a personality is not a good thing, because too much unyieldingness will eventually turn into "anal fissure"...

Who knew that Chen Hero would be so cooperative, making him somewhat unbelievable.

The day Chen Hero would apologize to the media was tomorrow, Wednesday, there was a routine press conference. Generally, the coach and a player would attend, and reporters would ask the coach and the player questions.

O'Neill planned to bring Chen Hero along, to take the opportunity to apologize.

But why did he always feel that there was a conspiracy in Chen Hero's agreement to apologize?

Alas, I hope I'm just overthinking things...

※※※

The next day was Wednesday, for many people, it was an ordinary day. But for the reporters gathered in the press conference hall at Liverpool's Melwood training ground, it was a big day.

It was a big day for them to finally feel proud!

Earlier today, Liverpool's official club confirmed to them that Chen Hero would appear at the press conference to formally apologize to the reporters he had scolded and pushed to the ground!

Oh my! Chen Hero, that unruly and untamable person, actually has this day! He will actually bow his head to us!

For a time, everyone felt that they were taller than Chen Hero's figure, and they all yearned for Chen Hero to bow his head and apologize softly in front of them, like an ant.

Everyone was extremely satisfied, as if they had just had sex with a beautiful woman.

Everyone knew very well that Chen Hero had never bowed his head to the media since his debut, not even once!

So the significance of this matter was so great that there were many more media outlets attending Liverpool's routine press conference today. Normally, there is often nothing interesting at this routine press conference, and not many reporters come, except for reporters from Liverpool's official website and reporters from several local media outlets in Liverpool.

But today, the spacious hall was packed to the brim.

Everyone was discussing while waiting for the protagonist to appear.

When Martin O'Neill walked in with Chen Hero, the sound of discussion disappeared instantly.

Everyone turned their heads or looked up at Chen Hero who was walking in, wanting to find even a trace of guilt and frustration on his face. They thought that Chen Hero was forced to apologize to the media, he must have suffered a great loss, with his temper, it was impossible not to be frustrated...

If they could not only make him submit, but also see his painful expression, wouldn't that be a pleasure?

But they were disappointed, Chen Hero had a blank expression on his face.