"Is that so? I had no idea."
The two bantered, and before they knew it, they had passed quite a few restaurants. As it was dusk, the signs of many eateries were already lit.
At this hour, there was already a hint of the night atmosphere. Lights of various colors flickered, and the streets bustled with people and vehicles. The city's tension contrasted sharply with the peace in the hearts of some leisurely strollers.
Just then, a flash of red light to the left of the car window caught Cao Baming's eye.
That flash of red light came from a restaurant, and unlike other establishments, its sign was exceptionally red. At this moment, as night transitioned into evening, the owner had proactively turned on the lights.
Seeing this streak of red, Cao Baming immediately thought not of Manchester United's jersey color, but of something else: the colors of Tang Country.
Looking at the decoration outside and the shape of the sign, it was indeed a Tang Country-themed restaurant.
The main specialty of this establishment was Tang Country cuisine, and such dishes were naturally very popular in this entire block.
"If I remember correctly, you were full of praise for those Tang Country dishes at that birthday party that night, weren't you?"
"That's right! I had never tasted them before, and that time truly opened my eyes. Or rather, my palate!..."
"When we have the chance, I must visit Tang Country myself and savor authentic Tang Country cuisine!"
"Haha, that's great. Let's go to that place today then."
As Cao Baming spoke, he gently released the clutch with his left foot, and the car's speed gradually decreased.
Looking in the direction Cao Baming pointed, Anthony immediately saw a distinctive splash of color on the street, setting it apart from everything around it.
"Is that the place?"
"That's right. I wouldn't tell you about something I haven't been to or don't understand. I've been to this place several times, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied with what's inside!"
Anthony was truly intrigued by Cao Baming's confident demeanor. At this moment, a sense of anticipation began to build within him.
Recalling that birthday banquet, the taste still lingered in his mouth. It was the perfect follow-up to a thrilling match. Thinking about it now made his mouth water.
Led by Cao Baming, the two walked directly into the restaurant and were soon led to the VIP area, a quiet, secluded corner.
The server was a young, attractive woman. She approached with a signature smile, holding a gray notepad with blank paper.
"Welcome! Please, have some tea, gentlemen!"
Anthony was surprised.
"It's tea?"
Indeed, in a place like Arsenal, tea was quite rare. Such things were commonplace in Tang Country; one could walk into almost any restaurant or eatery and be served tea and snacks first.
Cao Baming smiled faintly.
After some discussion, the two casually ordered a few dishes, effectively ordering more than half of the entire menu.
What was the main point today? Cao Baming had not forgotten. Since he had invited Anthony, he naturally wanted to inquire about what had been happening in recent days.
What he found most unbearable was not understanding a person, and the mystery surrounding Max had already exceeded his tolerance.
While waiting, Cao Baming eagerly initiated the conversation.
Anthony was not surprised. He knew that Cao Baming inviting him for a meal must have a purpose, and his value undoubtedly lay solely in knowing Max.
Even "knowing" might be an overstatement; at best, they had played football together for seven or eight days on the team.
"Ask whatever questions you have, but I can't guarantee I can answer them all. I'm not indifferent to him, it's just that he's too..."
Anthony thought carefully, but couldn't find the right word to describe it.
Seeing Cao Baming nod, he understood that no further explanation was needed; the person sitting opposite him seemed to understand Max better than he did.
Cao Baming took out his phone and scrolled through the call log. After flipping through about four or five pages, he finally found the call he had made to Max that night.
For security reasons, all of Cao Baming's calls were automatically recorded unless he intentionally disabled the feature.
He saw the call to Max that night and the reports subsequently sent by the martial arts and technical departments, confirming the time to be exactly a week ago.
"Do you remember what happened on this day? Did he participate in training?"
Anthony took a closer look. The screen only displayed the time. However, relying solely on memory, it was impossible to retrieve such precise details; it required a period of contemplation.
"That was... around the time he first arrived, wasn't it?"
"Now that you mention it, I do recall there was a day he didn't come to the team. Since he had just arrived, he didn't attend team training every day. He had procedures to complete, and we didn't pay too much attention..."
"But there was indeed a day when we didn't see him at all, from morning till night. Thinking back on the time, it does seem close to this date, but I'm not entirely sure."
As Cao Baming had anticipated, Max had not interacted much with anyone on the team, nor had anyone become his friend. However, their private conversations invariably revolved around him.
His entire demeanor and aura were like a topic of discussion that people couldn't avoid. He was simply too strange, and people are drawn to novelty.
"It's fine. I understand."
Cao Baming fell into thought. If Max had truly recovered his strength completely in just one day, then even with his system's healing buffs, he wouldn't dare compare himself to that speed.
This was simply terrifying. Such a fact was chilling the more he thought about it, sending shivers down his spine.
What was his true identity? Many things still seemed unexplainable.
"Why are you so concerned about him?"
Seeing Cao Baming remain silent, Anthony took the initiative to ask.