SWR Chapter 523/524

Chapter 523: Becoming a Legend

As Montevino lifted the Champions League trophy high into the air, the Stadio Olimpico erupted with deafening cheers from Napoli fans.

Tens of thousands of Napoli supporters roared in celebration, their voices creating the loudest and most passionate atmosphere since the match began.

Standing on the podium, under the gaze of the entire stadium, Gao Shen felt as though he could hear fans cheering not just in Rome, but in Naples, more than 200 kilometers away and across all of Italy, Europe, and even the world.

This time, he savored the moment far more than when he led Real Madrid to victory.

Back then, everyone saw the players as the stars of the show.

But this time, everyone knew—he was the main protagonist!

After the award ceremony, the Napoli players rushed off the podium, passing the trophy around as they sprinted across the pitch, celebrating their historic victory.

…

The live broadcast didn't end immediately.

This was standard for Champions League final coverage, cameras stayed on the pitch long after the awards ceremony, capturing the emotions of the moment.

While the players took turns hoisting the trophy, Gao Shen walked alone toward the stands where the Napoli fans were seated.

Looking up, he saw a sea of people.

He couldn't even make out where his family was sitting, he only had a rough idea of their location.

But that didn't matter.

Gao Shen scanned the crowd, then turned to face the nearest camera and waved.

The broadcast director quickly noticed him, immediately cutting the live feed to focus on him.

Gao Shen saw himself appear on the stadium's big screen.

At this moment, he knew, fans all over the world watching the broadcast were seeing him too.

Journalists, sensing something significant was about to happen, rushed over, pointing their cameras and microphones at him.

But Gao Shen remained facing the stands.

…

In the stands, Su Qing suddenly gasped, realizing what Gao Shen was about to do.

She vividly remembered that night in Beijing.

On that cold evening, he had stood in the most solemn place and shouted for the world to hear:

"Su Qing!"

"I love you!"

"I swear, I will make the whole world know how much I love you!"

Could this be what he had planned all along?

Was he about to…

Su Qing's hands clenched involuntarily. Her face flushed with a mix of nervousness, shyness, and anticipation.

…

"I love a girl."

Gao Shen's voice rang out through the stadium, amplified by the microphones and broadcasted across the world.

The entire stadium gradually fell silent.

All eyes were now on him.

"We grew up together, and we've been through so much."

"When I was lost and unsure of what to do, she supported me. She encouraged me to study in England, which gave me the chance to stand here tonight."

The noise in the stadium faded even more.

Tens of thousands of people, millions watching around the world, hung onto his every word.

"Half a year ago, I told her to her face, I love her!"

"And at that moment, I made a promise to myself."

"I swore that one day, I would make the whole world know how much I love her!"

"I think… tonight is the perfect opportunity."

---

As soon as Gao Shen finished speaking, the reporters in front of him couldn't contain their excitement and erupted into cheers.

Moments later, the fans in the stands followed suit.

Whether they supported Napoli or Barcelona, they were all hyped.

On one hand, they admired Gao Shen's incredible achievements.

On the other, they were captivated, on the grandest stage of the Champions League final, the winning coach had just publicly declared his love.

This had never happened in the history of the competition!

Especially for the media.

This was guaranteed to be tomorrow's front-page news.

No—this moment was destined to become a legendary moment in football history!

In front of the cameras, Gao Shen pulled out a small, simple box from his pocket.

As he opened it, a diamond ring sparkled under the bright stadium lights.

The design was understated, and the diamond wasn't particularly large.

But at this moment, none of that mattered.

The significance of this proposal, from this man, on this stage, left everyone in awe.

…

In the stands, Su Qing was already moved to tears by his heartfelt words.

Now, seeing him take out the ring, a ring he had clearly prepared long ago, she was overwhelmed.

The live TV broadcast quickly zoomed in on her.

It wasn't hard to find her in the crowd, her entire family was seated together in a prominent section.

Inside the stadium, as soon as Gao Shen took out the ring, a moment of stunned silence washed over the audience.

Then, out of nowhere, someone shouted—

"Say yes!"

The chant spread rapidly.

Soon, the entire stadium was roaring in unison—

"Say yes! Say yes!"

The media turned their cameras toward the stands.

Napoli's players sprinted over to stand behind their coach, along with Zidane, Carlo, Lucas, and the rest of the coaching staff, all of them ecstatic.

None of them had seen this coming.

And because of that, they were even more shocked.

"Xiaoqing, go down there!" Zhang Wenying urged.

"Yes, hurry up, Xiaoqing!" Gao Jianguo chimed in.

Her parents, Su Zhijun and Lin Xiuhui, also nodded, encouraging her to go.

Even the stadium staff by the exit were motioning for her to come down.

Su Qing looked at Gao Shen, standing in the middle of the pitch, ring in hand.

Then she looked at the people around her.

Finally, she clenched her teeth and stood up.

The moment she did, the entire stadium erupted into deafening cheers.

For someone like Su Qing, who had never been in the spotlight before, even standing up took immense courage.

Taking a single step felt like an enormous effort.

But when she saw Gao Shen waiting for her on the field, an inexplicable sense of bravery filled her.

The camera zoomed in on her face.

And once again, the stadium was filled with gasps of admiration.

Cultural differences aside, when beauty reaches a certain level, it's universally recognized.

The audience was stunned by Su Qing's grace and elegance.

And many were envious of Gao Shen's luck.

Before long, she slowly walked down the tunnel and stepped onto the pitch.

Shyly, she stopped in front of Gao Shen.

"Why didn't you tell me in advance?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly from nerves.

Gao Shen was used to high-pressure situations. He grinned and joked, "Want me to call it off?"

Su Qing almost smacked him.

At a moment like this, he was still joking?

Hurry up, put the ring on, and let's get out of here!

Gao Shen saw through her thoughts and laughed.

Then, he knelt down on one knee, looked up at her, and asked seriously.

"Su Qing, will you marry me?"

The answer came before she even spoke.

Tears streamed down Su Qing's face.

Without hesitation, she stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

The stadium exploded into cheers once more.

The media went into a frenzy, capturing every second like it was the most important moment in football history.

In truth, Gao Shen had always kept his personal life private.

Many people didn't even know he had a girlfriend.

That led to the hilarious incident of Su Qing's coworkers openly fantasizing about him right in front of her.

But now, the usually low-profile Gao Shen had chosen to go high-profile, on the biggest stage possible.

And that made this moment even more unforgettable.

Especially since he had just won the Champions League, becoming the only active coach to have led two different clubs to the title.

After lifting the biggest prize in European football, he turned the night into a fairy tale.

This had never happened in Champions League history.

…

Gao Shen gently pulled away from Su Qing and reached out to wipe the tears from her face.

He smiled softly and said, "Today, you have to be happy, smile more. I told you before, you look the most beautiful when you smile."

Hearing this, Su Qing finally laughed.

And at that moment, she was breathtaking.

The entire stadium erupted into applause.

"I promised you, I'd let the whole world know that I love you!"

As he spoke, Gao Shen took out the ring, lifted Su Qing's hand, and gently slipped it onto her finger.

Then, as he stood up, Su Qing couldn't help herself, she hugged him again and kissed him.

The stadium roared louder than ever.

…

Everyone watching—from fans and players to reporters and VIP guests, felt like they were witnessing a real-life fairy tale.

At that moment, Gao Shen and Su Qing were the prince and princess of football.

In the middle of the celebration, Zidane nudged Lucas with his elbow.

"What?" Lucas grumbled.

Not now. I'm trying to deal with how jealous I am.

"You've had so many girlfriends, but none of them come close to what he has tonight," Zidane teased.

He had never approved of Lucas's lifestyle.

Lucas clicked his tongue. "Tsk. You don't get it. We're after different things."

"Really?" Zidane smirked, clearly not convinced.

Lucas didn't respond.

But the truth was written all over his face.

If he could experience a love like this even once in his life, would he really still waste time chasing random women?

…

Everyone present, whether they were fans, players, journalists, or dignitaries was thrilled to witness this moment.

Because thanks to Gao Shen, tonight's Champions League final wasn't just another match.

It had become a legend.

And they—everyone in the stadium—had become part of that legend.

UEFA President Platini was especially pleased.

He knew this moment would massively boost the Champions League's global reach.

With Gao Shen's rising influence, the commercial impact would be huge.

Platini had already made up his mind.

He would make sure to capitalize on this.

Because everything that happened tonight would dominate global headlines, tomorrow, the day after, and far beyond that.

Chapter 524: Gao Shen’s Next Destination

When Gao Shen woke up, it was already noon the next day.

Lying on the soft bed, staring at the familiar ceiling, his mind began to drift.

After lifting the Champions League trophy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome last night, the entire Napoli squad had returned to Naples overnight.

Countless Napoli fans who had driven to Rome followed the team bus back, singing We Are the Champions and the club's anthem along the way.

The entire southbound highway was practically taken over by Napoli supporters.

No one knew how long the line of cars stretched.

Upon reaching Castel Volturno, the team switched to an open-top bus that the club had prepared in advance. The Serie A, Coppa Italia, and newly won Champions League trophies were prominently displayed at the front.

It was well past midnight, yet when the bus entered Naples, the city was still in full celebration mode. Fans packed every street, celebrating in every way imaginable.

It was even said that the Mafia had come out in force.

Not to fight—but to celebrate.

The bus carrying the Napoli squad paraded through the city, greeted by waves of cheering fans wherever it passed.

This was Napoli's first-ever Champions League title.

It was also the first treble in Italian football history.

From now on, if there was ever a miracle in Italian football, Naples would forever be known as the City of Miracles!

From Maradona to Gao Shen, this city had created too many legends.

The celebrations culminated at the San Paolo Stadium.

The square in front of the stadium wasn't large, but it was packed with fans who had gathered in anticipation.

By the time the bus arrived, it was impossible to estimate just how many people were in the area.

All Gao Shen knew was that everywhere he looked, all he could see was people.

…

Sitting up in bed, Gao Shen leaned back against the headboard, lost in thought.

His greatest strength had always been his rationality.

And now, the situation in Naples was crystal clear.

After winning the Champions League and securing the treble, this was the peak.

Like fireworks bursting in the night sky, no matter how brilliant, it would eventually fade.

With Napoli's financial limitations, sustaining a team of this caliber was simply impossible.

Many would ask, how did Napoli achieve this miracle?

The answer was simple.

Gao Shen himself was the miracle.

His transmigration was the greatest miracle of all.

He had built an elite squad at minimal cost, transforming Napoli into a powerhouse capable of competing with Europe's best.

Something like this had never happened before and it would never happen again.

Even if Gao Shen were given a brand-new club today, he couldn't replicate what he had done at Napoli.

It was impossible.

The amount of investment he had put into Napoli over the past three years, his scouting, his player development, his tactical innovations, if any of Napoli's players were sold now, their market value would be worth more than all the money spent to build this team.

More importantly, Napoli's players had arrived at the club as nobodies.

Even after contract renewals and salary increases, their wages remained relatively low, keeping the club's financial burden manageable.

Where else could such a perfect situation be found?

Besides, did he really want to do this again?

Because what would be the point?

Gao Shen no longer needed to prove himself the way he did three years ago.

It was time for him to take the next step forward.

That meant coaching a top club.

And he had to seriously consider something.

If he intended to stay in European football long-term, what would happen when he eventually lost the advantage of being a transmigrator?

The approach he used at Napoli, uncovering hidden gems at low cost and developing them into world-class players was not sustainable.

In European football, the reality was simple:

If you want the best players, you have to spend money.

Top clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and Manchester United splashed cash relentlessly to build elite squads.

This was a completely different model from what Napoli had done.

And if Gao Shen wanted to succeed at a superclub, he needed to master this aspect of the game.

In short, he needed to learn how to spend money and how to manage a wealthy club.

And that wasn't an easy thing to do.

Look at Manchester United.

Before Gao Shen's time travel, they were one of the most successful clubs in history.

Yet after Ferguson retired, they spent a full decade struggling to escape his shadow.

Money was poured into transfers like water, yet the results were disastrous.

This was a deep subject.

Even Gao Shen himself wasn't certain about his next move.

But one thing was clear.

He knew that everything he had achieved so far was because of the advantage of being a transmigrator.

And he still had to keep improving.

Sacchi, Ferguson, Wenger—legendary coaches had all told him the same thing.

Never lose the hunger.

The hunger for titles.

The hunger for victory.

Last night's Champions League final was over.

The treble was complete.

Now, it was time for Gao Shen to carefully plan his future.

He was only 28 years old.

And his next goal was crystal clear.

A third Champions League title.

If he won it, he would become only the second manager in history to claim three European Cups, joining Liverpool legend Bob Paisley.

But Gao Shen wouldn't just match Paisley.

He would surpass him.

Because Liverpool's three European Cups were won during the club's golden era.


Gao Shen had already won two Champions League titles with two different clubs.

He was only 28 years old, yet he was already aiming for a third, maybe even a fourth!

Because in his previous life, that fat guy Ancelotti had won his other Champions League title with Real Madrid.

So…

I have to win more than him, right? Just to make sure I can step on him a little!

…

When Gao Shen came downstairs, it was already lunchtime.

The whole family was gathered at the dining table.

Seeing him, they all greeted him warmly, even adjusting the seating arrangement so that he sat directly across from Su Qing.

As soon as he sat down, Gao Shen noticed the ring on Su Qing's left middle finger, the same one he had placed there the night before.

He smiled. "That ring looks great on you."

Su Qing hummed shyly, then quickly shot him a look, as if saying: The elders are here!

It was rare to see her acting so demure, it gave her a unique charm.

But Zhang Wenying, Gao Shen's mother, wasn't entirely satisfied.

The ring was indeed beautiful, but… wasn't the diamond a bit too small?

"When you bought it, why didn't you pick a bigger one?" she grumbled.

Before Gao Shen could respond, Su Qing quickly spoke up to defend him.

"I work in an office, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to wear something too flashy. Simple and elegant is just right."

Gao Shen immediately nodded. "Exactly what I was thinking."

"But it's still too simple," his mother insisted. "I don't care. When you two get married, you must double the size! No matter what, you can't let our Xiaoqing feel shortchanged."

Ah. So that's what she really wanted to say.

Su Qing was so embarrassed she nearly buried her face in her plate.

Gao Shen, on the other hand, had thick enough skin not to care.

Su Zhijun and his wife laughed, saying it wasn't necessary to worry about such formalities.

But Zhang Wenying remained firm.

Gao Shen understood why.

His mother was making it very clear to Su Qing's parents, Su Qing was deeply loved in their family.

She was treated like a daughter, and they would never let her suffer any grievances.

So, naturally, Gao Shen had to play the role of the scolded son-in-law.

Well, what can I do? I'm the one asking for a wife.

Ever since Su Qing and her parents arrived in Italy, Gao Shen had been busy preparing for the Champions League final and had barely spent time with them.

Now that the tournament was over, he finally had time.

But they were about to return.

Over lunch, Gao Jianguo and Su Zhijun updated Gao Shen on their wine business.

They planned to expand operations, with one of them based in Chile and the other in China to manage distribution.

Su Qing also had to return to work, so staying in Italy wasn't an option.

But Gao Shen still had things to handle before leaving.

Winning the Champions League didn't mean his work was done, far from it.

For one, UEFA had arranged an exclusive interview for him in Naples that afternoon, a tradition for winning coaches.

Additionally, Napoli's squad was set to disband today.

Some players were heading off for the Confederations Cup, while others had international duties.

Gao Shen had to personally say goodbye to them.

And on top of that, there were final meetings with De Laurentiis and Marino to wrap things up.

"To be honest, after spending three years here, it feels strange to leave so suddenly," Gao Shen admitted.

Strictly speaking, he had never fully integrated into the city.

But he had worked hard here for three years.

He had fought side by side with his team for three years.

It was impossible not to feel anything.

Su Qing looked at him for a moment.

Then she reached out and gently took his hand.

"Then I'll stay for a few more days and help you sort everything out," she said softly. "Then we'll leave together."

Gao Shen smiled and nodded.

Seeing this, both sets of parents exchanged pleased smiles.

Each family had only one child, and seeing their children so in sync made them truly happy.

By their age, they had come to understand what truly mattered in life.

Success and accomplishments were great.

But above all, they just wanted their children to be happy, healthy, and harmonious.

Of course, if the family could be both successful and harmonious, even better.

"By the way, Gao Shen, what's next for you?" Su Zhijun asked, his tone carrying the curiosity of a true football fan.

After all, this was what football fans worldwide were eager to know.

Gao Shen, however, simply shrugged helplessly.

"I have no idea."

He sighed dramatically.

"Maybe I just won the Champions League, but now I'm unemployed."

T/N: So, this is basically the end of the Azzurri odyssey. Hope you all enjoyed it.