Since returning to the country, there was no rush, and training began immediately that day.
They weren't idle at the club either, being very busy with various matches. There was no need to exhaust the players, so a day off was specifically arranged for them to rest well.
Thus, in the early morning, Cao Baiming walked directly to the window and looked out at the scenery.
Because it was a quiet lakeside hotel on the top floor, the environment outside was very peaceful even with the window open. To avoid waking Wu Xue, who was still sleeping, he specifically went to another room.
The curtains were pulled all the way open, and sunlight streamed in, falling on the wooden floor and onto Cao Baiming.
He was shirtless at the moment, but the hotel temperature was not cold, and his chiseled muscles appeared even more defined under the light.
Soon, Cao Baiming closed the window again.
There was nothing much to see outside, just trees and water. What he wanted to see were the streets of Tang country, the most unadorned scenery, its customs and culture.
He wouldn't see it from here, so he might as well go down and take a stroll.
Just then, a slight noise came from behind him. Cao Baiming's ears perked up, and he listened carefully.
It was just Wu Xue waking up; he could clearly hear the sound of her yawning and stretching.
Now, with the enhancement of his system skills, he could gradually feel that not only had he gained a certain foresight, but his senses also seemed to have been strengthened.
This effect was not limited to the football field but could be enjoyed in real life, no matter the environment.
Sister Wu walked out of the room with a lazy expression, wearing a clean white shirt, her hair spread over her shoulders.
"Good morning..." Wu Xue said softly, with a hint of languor.
At this moment, a ray of light struck the collar of her shirt.
"It's not that early, it's already 8 o'clock. Let's go out for a walk and see the sights of Tang country."
"I almost forgot, you're a Candy Man like me. After drifting abroad for so long, how can you not think of exploring when you return home? It's only natural."
"You're right! How could I not think of something so important!"
"It's just not as important as sleeping..."
...
When they parted last night, the club had also informed Cao Baiming in advance that the news of their return to the country would be officially announced to the public online early the next morning.
And by this time, it should have already passed. It should be normal even if they were recognized on the streets now.
As he spoke, Cao Baiming opened his phone. Before he could open any app or news media, message notifications flooded the top of the screen like a torrent.
The notification sounds chimed incessantly. The content was exactly as he had thought – it was just the news of his return, but the headlines had been written in all sorts of ways by editors of major news outlets and tabloids.
The speed was truly astonishing, leaving him speechless.
It had only been an hour...
He casually clicked on one, and the number of comments below already exceeded ten thousand. Were fans waking up this early now?
This outrageous speed of sharing and dissemination instantly stunned Wu Xue beside him.
"In that case... can we still go downstairs?"
"Of course, why would we be afraid?"
Cao Baiming's eyes sparkled with determination and confidence, instantly boosting her morale.
Looking into his eyes, she suddenly understood why, on the football field, as long as Cao Baiming was present, his teammates' morale always remained so good.
Perhaps it wasn't that Arsenal was that strong, but simply because Cao Baiming played for Arsenal.
The weather was so good, it would be a shame not to go out for a walk. They tidied themselves up and then agreed to leave the hotel together.
As soon as they stepped out, Cao Baiming remembered something very important.
He wanted to go for a walk, but he didn't even have a car. The few cars he had bought were still parked faithfully by the Arsenal stadium in England.
He couldn't possibly call a driver every time he wanted to go somewhere.
"We're going out for a walk anyway, and we don't have a specific destination. How about we go car shopping and buy a couple of cars to drive?"
"Sure, I'll search for them."
Wu Xue had now truly come to understand Cao Baiming. She was no longer as speechless as she had been before when faced with such remarks.
Seeing his mature expression, Cao Baiming laughed heartily.
Stepping out of this desolate area and onto the truly inhabited streets, Cao Baiming then witnessed a scene that truly shook him.
Although it was still early morning, the streets were already bustling with people. Most importantly, many had red national flags tattooed on their faces. They walked and hurried, as if heading to work, but still carrying that passion in their hearts.
On the LED screens of the large buildings in the square, almost all of them showed football footage. He even saw a highlight reel of himself intercepting Salah, a moment of the century.
At this moment, Cao Baiming felt a sense of emotion. When did the football atmosphere in Tang country become so good?
And just then, a familiar sound seemed to drift from afar...
His gaze shifted. At the end of the street, a group of young people were enthusiastically parading, holding banners with slogans supporting the Tang country team in the World Cup.
The sounds grew louder as they approached, and the pedestrians on the street seemed completely infected.
For a moment, Cao Baiming stood stunned.
Even Wu Xue beside him couldn't help but chant the slogans along with the rhythm!
"Is this really Tang country? I feel like I've time-traveled!"
Cao Baiming couldn't help but voice his emotions. Wu Xue beside him just smiled without a word; she felt the same way.
On the school grounds they passed, almost every area had people playing football. The football fields were no longer as deserted.
It was no longer the awkward situation where a school might have one person who could play but couldn't find teammates. Now, football had become the number one most popular sport on campus.
Let alone campuses, even in workplaces, or even on the streets, people would casually pick up a ball and start playing.
With such momentum and passion, he could see the future of Tang country's football, which would undoubtedly be more glorious than it was now!
Since it was his own country, he naturally had to support it. What a heartwarming sight this was!