Extra: 3 (New Beginning: Part 1)

"Little Yu, today after school marks the start of summer vacation. You should head home early; your brother and sister might be back."

Outside Magic City First Junior High School.

Hoshino Kannon wore a gray long-sleeve shirt that was long enough to cover the shorts she had on underneath. At first glance, it seemed as though she was only wearing a single shirt, with her long, fair, and flawless legs still as radiant as ever.

In front of her, a teenage boy in his early teens excitedly widened his eyes: "Is my brother really coming back?"

"Hmm..." Hoshino Kannon hesitated for a moment before replying, "Probably."

"Tch."

The boy nodded disappointedly: "Got it."

With that, he waved at Kannon and turned to walk back into the school.

"Holy crap, Gu Yu, who's the lady at the gate?"

At that moment, several classmates surrounded him, curious about the woman standing at the school gate, Hoshino Kannon.

"That's my mom, what about it?" Gu Yu looked at them, puzzled by their curiosity.

"Your... your mom?"

They all froze for a moment, exchanging glances in disbelief: "No way, your mom is that gorgeous?"

"Your mom looks way too young! We thought she was your sister."

"By the way, does your mom have a boyfriend?"

Gu Yu frowned: "Get lost! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tell my brother!"

Upon hearing this, the group immediately fell silent.

Gu Yu's older brother, Gu Fan, was a well-known figure throughout Magic City.

It was said that back in middle school, Gu Fan was not only the school bully but also, during his high school years, had consolidated all the underground forces of the younger generation in Magic City under his control.

Nowadays, among the young people of Magic City, not many might know the name Gu Chenan, but mention Gu Fan, and it's as if everyone's ears perk up.

"Gu Yu, isn't your brother studying in the Imperial Capital? Is he coming back this year?"

Gu Yu shook his head: "I don't know, but my brother promised me that when he comes back, he'll play games with me."

Hearing this, the group exchanged glances, hesitating: "Well... Gu Yu, if your brother comes back, could you introduce us to him?"

Gu Yu frowned: "What kind of bad ideas are you cooking up now?"

"Hey, don't say that."

They quickly waved their hands: "Your brother is such a big shot; of course, we want to meet him. Who wouldn't want to know someone like that?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yu couldn't help but feel a bit smug. He chuckled and said, "Fine, if you buy me some Coke, I'll introduce you to my brother when he comes back."

"No problem!"

"Coke on tap!"

...

"Young Master Gu, when will you arrive?"

"Just landed, almost there."

"Alright, the Head of the Family sent me to pick you up. I'm already in the parking lot at the airport."

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

At the airport, a young man in his mid-twenties pulled a suitcase and walked toward the parking lot.

Although he didn't have the same aloof, emperor-like demeanor as Gu Chenan, he possessed a handsomeness and coolness that was no less striking.

Especially with his perfectly proportioned physique, anyone who saw him would take a second glance.

"Little Fan, have you arrived?"

At that moment, his phone rang with a WeChat voice message.

Upon hearing it, Gu Fan's cold expression softened into a warm smile. He quickly replied, "Mom, I just landed and will be home soon."

Soon, Gu Fan entered the parking lot. A black SUV parked there, and a man in a black suit got out, waving at Gu Fan from a distance: "Young Master Gu, over here."

Gu Fan walked quickly over, nodding politely at the man: "Thanks for the trouble."

The man took Gu Fan's suitcase and shook his head: "Young Master Gu, you're too kind. This is the Head of the Family's order; it's no trouble at all."

"My father..."

Gu Fan rubbed his hands: "Is my father doing well?"

"The Head of the Family is in great health."

"Good." Gu Fan nodded: "That's good to hear."

Shortly after, the SUV exited the airport parking lot and sped toward the Gu Family Manor.

"Young Master Gu, you didn't come back last year, did you?"

At that moment, the man in the black suit driving the car suddenly asked.

"Last year, there were some matters to attend to in the Imperial Capital," Gu Fan replied.

"I heard from the Head of the Family that you've opened up new business opportunities for the Gu Family in the Imperial Capital. Young Master Gu, you're truly amazing. The Gu Family has never ventured into the Imperial Capital before, and yet, you, just by going there to study, managed to achieve such a feat."

Gu Fan shook his head and smiled: "It's not that I'm amazing; it's my father's doing. Without his help, how could I have accomplished anything?"

Hearing this, the man in the black suit felt a mix of confusion and nostalgia.

After a long pause, he sighed: "Young Master Gu, you've changed a lot since you were a child."

"Have I?"

Gu Fan spread his hands, his mannerisms bearing a striking resemblance to Gu Chenan's.

The man in the black suit glanced at him through the rearview mirror and nodded: "Young Master Gu, do you remember the argument you had with the Head of the Family when you were young..."

"Let's not talk about that," Gu Fan waved his hand: "It's all in the past; there's no need to bring it up."

"Right, right, let's not mention it," the man in the black suit quickly agreed.

But although the other man stopped talking, Gu Fan found himself lost in thought.

That argument with his father had caused quite a stir within the Gu Family. After that incident, his father had cut off all financial support except for the basic living expenses and had rented a separate apartment for him.

In a sense, at that time, he had been cut off from the Gu Family...

It was during that period that he gradually understood many things.

The Gu Family's vast wealth was indeed impressive, but it had nothing to do with him; it was his father's achievement.

His father's prestige, respected by others, was also undeniable, but again, it had nothing to do with him; it was his father's reputation, not his.

Without the Gu Family and his father's influence, he was just an ordinary person, no different from anyone else.

The people who had once treated him with servility out of fear of his father and the Gu Family's power no longer existed. All that remained were the ordinary masses who saw him as just another middle school student.

It was then that he realized if he wanted to earn respect, he had to do it on his own.

So, he gradually befriended the younger generation of the underground forces in Magic City, and eventually, he brought them all under his control.

Only after achieving all that did he realize how satisfying it was to earn respect through one's own abilities.

Bang~!

Just as Gu Fan was lost in thought, a sudden loud crash and jolt shook the car.

"Damn it, can this idiot even drive?"

The man in the black suit angrily slammed on the handbrake and turned around: "Young Master Gu, please wait a moment. Some idiot slammed on their brakes, and we rear-ended them."

"Alright," Gu Fan nodded and closed his eyes, resting.