Chapter 1 The Grand Finale

The Champions League final had finally come to an end, and a season of fighting and battles was now in the past.

Every Liverpool player rushed to take photos with the Champions League trophy after returning to the locker room, and then posted the photos on their personal Twitter or Facebook accounts via their smartphones.

Chen Hero didn't do this, because he had more important things to do.

As soon as he entered the locker room, he greeted the members of the Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Gang, urging them to quickly shower and change clothes, because they had a date to keep!

He had contacted Denisov and the others before the game, wanting to take advantage of Liverpool's championship victory to go wild tonight.

In any case, the team would not leave for Liverpool until tomorrow, and tonight was their free time.

Martin O'Neill wouldn't interfere.

The last game of the season, also the most difficult, was over, and so was the season. Now that it was over, what disciplinary requirements were there?

Tonight, every Liverpool player could let loose and have fun!

This was the treatment they deserved after a season of hard work.

※※※

When Chen Hero woke up, he was back in his hotel room. He was lying on his bed, and Skrtel was sleeping on the next bed, with the quilt clamped between his legs, rubbing something…

He felt a bit of a headache. He shook his head, and the headache intensified.

Hiss—

He took a breath.

He really didn't know how much he drank yesterday.

He didn't even remember everything that happened yesterday. His memory only stayed at the moment when he and Denisov, whom he hadn't seen for many years, were drinking and slinging their arms around each other's shoulders.

But he could imagine that he drank a lot of vodka, just like drinking water, pouring large glasses of it down his throat.

He sat up, leaning against the headboard.

This feeling reminded him of his first hangover in this city. It was also after a game, in a hotel. It was his first game with the first team, and his first official league game of his career.

When he first came on the field, the commentators didn't even know his background, and they had no information about him at all—these were all things the media told him afterwards, otherwise how would he have known about the stories in the studio?

But soon he scored a goal in his first league game, helping the team to victory.

He became famous with one goal.

To celebrate his goal, Denisov and the others dragged him to a nightclub in St. Petersburg.

He experienced a crazy night there.

When he woke up the next day, he didn't even know where he was.

At that time, he was just an unknown nobody. Although he had scored a goal, his influence was only limited to the local area.

Now he was the world-renowned top scorer.

His status was different, but some things were still the same…

Chen Hero jumped out of bed. His head was still hurting, so he kept shaking it, and the more he shook it, the more it hurt. But as he shook it, the pain gradually lessened. It wasn't that it didn't hurt anymore, but that he had become numb to the pain and had gotten used to it.

This was his way of dealing with pain.

"In the early morning, I opened my eyes and saw you spasming here. I thought either you were still drunk and hadn't woken up, or I was still drunk and hadn't woken up yet…" Martin Skrtel's dazed voice sounded from behind him.

Chen Hero turned around and laughed when he saw him, "Does your head hurt?"

Skrtel shook his head, then frowned and took a breath, "It hurts."

"Then learn to shake your head like me…"

"No!" Skrtel refused Chen Hero's kindness without hesitation.

"Why? This trick is very effective!"

"I'm afraid people will think I'm on ecstasy if I go out like this…"

"Damn you!" Chen Hero gave him the middle finger.

※※※

The Liverpool players woke up late in the morning, which showed how crazy they had been playing yesterday.

Those with connections, like Chen Hero, made appointments with locals to go to nightclubs and have fun. People without connections weren't afraid either. The hotel they were staying in had its own nightclub, so they could have fun in the hotel, and if they played well, they could even take someone back to their room.

So everyone was crazy yesterday.

Martin O'Neill didn't go out to play. He stayed in his room, called his wife and children, and then went to sleep. After directing a tense and exciting game, he felt that his energy was exhausted and he needed to rest.

He turned a deaf ear to the noise coming from the corridor from time to time.

The last Liverpool player to wake up was Thornton. He was also the craziest player in the Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Gang yesterday. He really deserved to be someone who played "wife swapping" with Balotelli…

After everyone had a late breakfast, they packed their luggage, got on the bus, and headed straight to the airport.

In Liverpool, a grand welcoming ceremony had been prepared.

They would take an open-top double-decker bus through the streets of Liverpool for a celebratory parade.

Then they would have a meal at the Mayor's official residence.

In the evening, there would be a formal and grand championship celebration at Anfield.

At that time, all five championship trophies won by Liverpool this season would be displayed, highlighting their glory.

※※※

After several hours of flight, the special plane full of Liverpool players landed at John Lennon Airport.

From the tarmac all the way to the outside of the airport, there were dense crowds of people. Red was the main color here. When the plane was still landing, the players had already seen the surging red crowd below.

Chen Hero and Gerrard, like they were at the awards ceremony, carried the Champions League trophy together, one holding each side of the handle, and appeared at the door of the cabin. A huge cheer suddenly erupted from the crowd below.

The two showed the trophy to everyone, and then stepped down the gangway.

At the airport, they were welcomed by fans and the media. From the gangway to the terminal, the media followed them around, interviewing every Liverpool player.

The excited Liverpool players waved to the enthusiastic fans as they walked, answering questions from reporters.

All the way until they got on the bus.

Three police motorcycles parked in front of the bus sounded their sirens, and the lights flashed. The parade was about to begin!

※※※

The Liverpool players sat on the top level of the bus, taking turns displaying the trophies and receiving cheers and worship from the fans on both sides of the road.

When Chen Hero held up the trophy by himself and showed it to everyone, the fans on both sides of the street first shouted "Hero! Hero!", and then they simply sang the "Hero's Song".

"He is a ferocious bear from the north, breaking high mountains and tearing apart the cold winter! Everywhere on the earth will sing: Hero! Chen Hero! Our Liverpool bear!"

"He is a magical dragon from the east, spraying flames that are scorching red! Everywhere on the earth will sing: Hero! Chen Hero! Our Liverpool dragon!"

"Everyone must accept this reality, the invincible hero has become a reality! Pay homage to the most powerful hero in the world with respect and fear!"

"Long live! Hero! Long live! Long live! Ten thousand years—!"

Amidst the continuous shouts of "Long live," Chen Hero raised the trophy high with one hand, responding to the fans' calls.

※※※

The celebration ceremony at Anfield Stadium in the evening was the most grand.

Anfield Stadium, which can accommodate more than 40,000 people, was packed with more than 60,000 fans tonight.

Every time the Liverpool players brought out a championship trophy, they would let out a huge cheer.

Of course, the cheer brought by the Champions League trophy was the loudest.

The host of this celebration ceremony was old Hartson, who had left his job due to heart disease, and had been re-invited by Liverpool Football Club.

The old man was dressed in a neat suit, wearing a bow tie, holding a microphone under the spotlight, looking like a graceful old gentleman. You couldn't tell that he had almost died of heart disease more than half a year ago.

He introduced the Liverpool players one by one, just like he did when he was a live DJ. Every name could bring cheers.

The cheers Chen Hero received were naturally the loudest.

Because these five championship trophies were directly related to him.

Every Liverpool fan was extremely proud to have Chen Hero.

Samuel Merz stood in his season ticket seat. He watched Liverpool games from this position.

Like countless other fans around him, he looked very ordinary.

He raised his arms and shouted Chen Hero's name like the other fans, dedicating his admiration to this special person.

※※※

Chen Hero stood on the stage with a microphone. It was his turn to speak, and almost every player had said a few words.

He didn't speak immediately, but looked at the fans in the audience.

Everyone quieted down. The stadium, which had been filled with cheers before, was now so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

He opened his mouth: "I seem to remember telling you that there is more than one champion, that's just the beginning… but I forgot when I said that… maybe I never said it, it just crossed my mind…"

He scratched his head.

The fans in the stands laughed.

"Oh well! Never mind!" Chen Hero's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and he waved his hand, "That's not the point. The point is that I want to tell you—the previous championships are not the end, and the four championships this season are not the end either. These are just the beginning. When will it end? As long and as far as possible. Let's start with next season. This is my personal ambition, and I'm sharing it with you now—next season, I want to defend all the championships we won this season, and also win the championships we haven't won before! In short, I want to win all the championships! Not a single one left!"

The fans in the audience were stunned. They didn't expect Chen Hero to say such a thing.

So after Chen Hero finished speaking, there was no huge cheer in the audience…

Chen Hero looked at the fans who hadn't reacted and smiled, "What? Don't you believe it? It's very simple, let's see the result in a year. We'll still be here then, announcing the final answer!"