Night fell, and the city lights came on.
As Gao Shen rode in Zidane's car toward the Bernabéu Stadium, he suddenly felt like Napoleon returning to Paris.
But the next moment, he spat at himself.
Napoleon was exiled. I wasn't.
Real Madrid fans had received the news in advance. Many were already gathered at the ticket gates, and others crowded the stairways. When they saw Gao Shen and Zidane getting out of the car, the crowd erupted.
"Welcome home, Gao!"
"Welcome to the Bernabéu!"
Real Madrid fans greeted the Gorilla's return with overwhelming enthusiasm.
The moment Gao Shen stepped out, he was stunned by the wall of fans. The wild atmosphere caught him off guard, even though they were outside the stadium.
Thankfully, the stadium's security staff had been informed beforehand and had set up barriers to keep the fans at a safe distance.
José Sánchez and Butragueño personally came out to receive them, escorting Gao Shen and Zidane directly through the VIP entrance into the Bernabéu. Still, the chants from the fans only grew louder.
Gao Shen had always felt grateful to Real Madrid's fans.
Although some had criticized him during the first half of last season, the vast majority had always believed in and supported him.
Now, even those who had once criticized him probably had a change of heart.
With many years of coaching experience, Gao Shen understood that fans were simple at heart. Their demands were not complex.
But in today's fiercely competitive football world, meeting those expectations isn't easy.
"This morning, both Ramos and Marcelo called me. They said no matter what, they were going to get you into the locker room before the game," Butragueño whispered as they walked through the VIP passage.
Gao Shen noticeably slowed his pace. "That's against the rules."
The locker room is the head coach's domain. Even though he holds a high-ranking position at Real Madrid, it was important to respect that boundary.
Solari might be the interim manager, but an interim manager is still the manager.
Gao Shen had started out as an agent. He understood the lines that shouldn't be crossed.
What were Ramos and Marcelo trying to do?
"I asked. Solari agreed."
Gao Shen turned his head and gave Butragueño a deep look, seeking confirmation.
The Vulture nodded seriously. "I spoke with Solari. He's very welcoming."
"Let me check the time," Gao Shen said casually, continuing to walk forward.
"They all really miss you," Butragueño added.
Gao Shen laughed. "I'm not some beauty queen. What are they thinking?"
Zidane and the others around him burst into laughter.
…
Returning to the Bernabéu felt like walking into his own home. Familiar faces were everywhere.
In the VIP lounge, Florentino was already waiting with First Vice President Fernando, De Blas, and several others. These were all core board members of Real Madrid and Florentino's inner circle.
That's why the opposition never managed to shake things up.
Even on an occasion like this, they could only stand in the background. They weren't allowed anywhere near Gao Shen.
Take Enrique Riquelme, for example. Even though his company was worth €300 million, if a ceiling tile fell in the VIP lounge tonight, it might not knock out the whole board, but at least three or five of them would be hit.
Not to mention, some of the most influential figures weren't even in the VIP lounge. They were true heavyweights.
For instance, Juan Carlos I, the abdicated King of Spain, and some of the wealthiest individuals in Spain and Europe.
These people never appeared in regular lounges. They always gathered behind closed doors in their private circles.
Accompanied by Zidane and led by Florentino, Gao Shen first went to visit Juan Carlos I's private box.
Since retiring, the old king lived far from the city and didn't attend many games. But for major occasions, he still showed up.
His successor, Felipe VI, was very different. He watched Real Madrid, Atlético, and Barcelona matches. He was a hardcore Spanish football fan.
Of course, that was understandable. It was a political necessity.
What felt a bit ridiculous was that the throne, which should have been passed on properly, ended up being handed to Felipe VI without prior warning.
Juan Carlos was getting old, but he was genuinely thrilled to see Gao Shen. He pulled him aside and insisted they watch the game together, saying he had never shared a Real Madrid match with him before.
This revealed just how much of a die-hard fan the old king was.
Gao Shen agreed to watch from the King's Box later. But first, he had a few more visits to make—mainly to old acquaintances in Spain's political and business circles, and even some from wider Europe.
Over the years, Gao Shen's achievements at Real Madrid went beyond football. Off the pitch, he had built many connections in the political and business world. This was one of the perks of managing a club like Real Madrid.
Now that he was back, Gao Shen naturally had to greet these acquaintances. It was basic courtesy.
At moments like this, he was reminded again of just how important football is in Europe. It's not just a sport. It's a major form of social interaction.
When Gao Shen, Florentino, and the others returned from greeting the VIPs, they found Raul had also arrived.
"Hey, Raul."
Welcome back!
The two exchanged a high five, then hugged tightly.
After Gao Shen left Real Madrid, Raul transitioned from the first team to coaching youth teams to build experience.
Everyone expected him to one day become Real Madrid's head coach—hopefully with a Guardiola-like impact.
"The locker room is buzzing," Butragueño leaned in and whispered.
Gao Shen looked at the Vulture, then at Raul, and immediately understood.
"Alright then, let's go. Let's see how these kids even have the guts to look me in the eye," Gao Shen said, pretending to be angry.
…
"The boss is here!"
A player keeping watch at the door shouted the alert, and the locker room immediately grew restless.
The players who had been sitting jumped to their feet.
Seeing Gao Shen and the others at the entrance, many of them looked tense.
Gao Shen followed proper etiquette, first informing Solari and waiting for his approval before stepping in.
At this moment, not only were the starters and substitutes present, but even players not included in the matchday squad were there.
The moment Gao Shen walked in, he didn't say a word. He simply scanned the room, his gaze moving from one player to another.
"Boss, everyone from the first team is here. Even the injured ones came," Ramos stepped forward, smiling.
Everyone laughed.
For some reason, seeing Gao Shen made the players feel a strange sense of calm. Their previously uneasy hearts suddenly settled.
The sudden quiet created an eerie contrast to the previous noise.
"You've all got the nerve to face me?" Gao Shen sneered.
The room tensed up.
"Look at your pathetic form. What kind of team have you been this season? Not even in the top four. You've completely embarrassed me!" Gao Shen scolded.
"When I saw you lose so badly at Camp Nou, I was nearly coughing up blood. You call that a performance? Losing to Barcelona like that? Don't you feel any shame?"
Those around him listening began to feel something was off.
Wait... why did it sound like Gao Shen was implying Barcelona were weak?
But thinking it over, who could really argue?
Gao Shen had been coaching for years and had never lost to Barcelona.
"Look at all the games you've drawn or lost this season. Aren't you embarrassed?"
The players couldn't tell if he was joking or serious. It was honestly a little embarrassing.
For these Real Madrid players, being criticized by others—even top managers like Benitez—would usually spark resistance. But when Gao Shen criticized them, they just listened quietly. Happily, even.
"How's the prep for tonight's game against Athletic Bilbao?" Gao Shen checked the time and changed the subject.
"It's going well," Ramos replied.
"Yeah, we're ready," the others echoed.
"Let me be clear: I'll be in the stands tonight. Don't embarrass me!" Gao Shen pointed at them, his tone firm.
"Got it!"
"Don't worry, boss!"
"You know we've got this!"
Gao Shen chuckled. "Alright, then. Get ready. Go up there, put a few past them early, wrap it up, and afterward, we go out for a late-night snack. My treat!"
"Really? Awesome!" Marcelo lit up at the mention of food.
The locker room broke into laughter. The players started shouting out restaurant names, arguing over what expensive dishes to order.
Just then, the referee gave the signal to line up in the tunnel. The bell rang. The match was about to begin.
"Go for it!" Gao Shen stepped aside, making way for the players.
Ramos, leading the group, walked over to Gao Shen.
"Boss, welcome back." The Real Madrid captain hugged him.
"Yeah, but don't go overboard out there."
One by one, the other players followed, hugging Gao Shen just like they did before every match.
The scene left Zidane, Raul, Butragueño, Solari, and the others in the locker room deeply moved.
This was a team forged by a master.
No matter who becomes the next head coach, the imprint of Gao Shen will always remain.
Zidane felt it too—but in a deeper way.
Because this team was not only built by Gao Shen, but also with his help.
From the very first day Gao Shen took charge at Real Madrid, Zidane had been his right-hand man.
(To be continued.)