As the footsteps advanced steadily forward, the sounds from outside grew louder, the fans cheering with all their might. At this moment, they seemed to sense that someone was gradually approaching them.
This person was the one in their hearts, Ronaldo! However, the fans also very much wanted to see Cao Baiming, because for all that had been achieved today, it was easy to overlook the true hero behind it all, Cao Baiming!
Ronaldo walked out of the club doors, and the fans were held back by security, maintaining a careful distance of at least two meters.
All of this was due to an oversight, a piece of information, a photograph that had exploded across the internet at such a crucial juncture and sensitive period. The fans were too excited, pushing forward as much as possible with all their might.
Many couldn't even see what was happening ahead because so many people had gathered on the scene!
"What's going on over there? Is Cao Baiming coming out?!"
"Is that Ronaldo? Quick, pass me my phone, take a picture for me, no, three, three pictures!"
"Idol, wait for me!!!"
As Ronaldo gradually moved out of the area in front of the club, the fans began to disperse slightly. He got into a car, preparing to drive away.
Meanwhile, Cao Baiming was still standing in his office, handling his affairs.
"It seems everything has gone very smoothly today, finishing it all before it's even dark!" Cao Baiming said to the people in the room.
At the same time, he glanced at the electronic clock on the wall. It was only a little past four o'clock in the afternoon, nowhere near evening.
"Just one person today, so things are easier, and everyone has experience!" Mike responded.
"Thank you for your hard work. We have a few more people tomorrow, and our squad configuration for the first phase will be complete. Everyone, put in a final effort. Whether it's financially, in terms of public opinion, or in our relationships with stakeholders, my requirement is simple: do your best!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, looking at Cao Baiming.
"Finally, you've all worked really hard during this period. After this is all done, everyone will receive a bonus! Mike, you can distribute it to them."
Cao Baiming finished speaking and fell into thought.
Mike stood nearby and proactively stepped closer. He was very sensitive to Cao Baiming calling his name. His intention just now was probably to allocate money, and now he was considering how much would be appropriate.
Mike didn't interrupt him, but he secretly hoped it wouldn't be a very large sum. After all, the money wasn't for him; it was for others. Naturally, the less, the better!
Otherwise, his sense of superiority would be eroded, and that wouldn't do.
Two seconds later, Cao Baiming whispered a figure to Mike, but without leaning in.
"Ten million."
Because Cao Baiming hadn't deliberately leaned in to whisper, a financial secretary close by in the room also heard it. For a moment, she and several people around her were startled.
Mike wasn't overly surprised, but hearing the figure still left him somewhat disappointed. That was too much!
His own bonus was only one million, and they were getting ten million! Although it was for everyone in the room to share, it still felt a bit unpleasant.
"Understood, I'll do as you say!" Mike said with resignation.
After finishing some remaining business, Cao Baiming also left. By this time, the crowd of fans near the club had largely dispersed. While they were a bit disappointed not to see Cao Baiming appear, they understood they couldn't wait there forever.
Cao Baiming was the team's owner, after all, and he would definitely come here often. Unless...
Unless the new season started, and Cao Baiming actually had to go to Nottingham Forest to play! But that was fine too, at least he would be easily visible as a player!
After all, whether as a player or as an owner, the person was still the same. As long as the person didn't change, there was no problem.
Cao Baiming had handed over all the team construction matters to the senior management team that day, with Mike overseeing them.
The reason for doing so was naturally because there were only two weeks left until the start of the season, and he was still a player.
Nottingham Forest had summoned everyone back. Next week, the players would report to the club for pre-season training. Before the start of the new Premier League season, the team had two friendly matches to play, and they also needed to start training in advance.
After all, Cao Baiming's arrival had completely overturned the team's long-standing tactical system. Everything had to start from scratch, so they needed to begin as early as possible!
At this moment, Nottingham Forest Football Club had already released the news, notifying all players to return to the team.
Last season, the team had narrowly avoided relegation. It was only due to a smaller number of goals conceded and happening to face Manchester City when they were in poor form that they managed to stay in the Premier League.
Now, it seemed like a divine blessing. If they hadn't survived relegation, Cao Baiming certainly wouldn't have come. Although they wouldn't have known in that scenario, thinking about it now, it would have been a huge loss!
For the next season, Nottingham Forest's goal would no longer be just survival! They had to aim higher, striving for a top-three finish in the Premier League!
This was what the head coach told the players on their first day back. Although Cao Baiming hadn't arrived yet, many other players had already returned early.
Everyone was excited, thinking that next season there was a real hope of aiming for a top-three finish in the Premier League, and their hearts began to race!
One should not underestimate a top-three finish. While this ranking might seem ordinary at first glance, it was a top-three finish achieved in the world's strongest and most competitive league, the Premier League!
This ranking meant that Nottingham Forest would be stepping over a majority of the traditional powerhouses in the Premier League, such as Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham, etc.!
Wasn't that enough to make them excited? Of course, it was. After all, the draw against Manchester City at the end of last season had led to three days of celebration. If they achieved a third-place finish, they would probably be over the moon.
Cao Baiming had booked his flight. He planned to head to the club tomorrow. The plane was scheduled to take off in the early morning. Traveling forward through time zones, it would arrive in approximately half an hour, although in reality, not much time would have passed.