This place was like a maze...
Fortunately, someone was there to guide them.
Upon entering the classical music section, the atmosphere completely changed, opening up wonderfully.
After the two ordered their food and drinks, the waiter left.
Most likely, they determined Cao Baming wasn't a major client, so no extra service was arranged.
As dishes were served, and drinks were consumed.
Cao Baming and Wu Xue chatted with great enthusiasm.
Both hailed from Long Country and shared a passion for football, thus having much to discuss.
Talking about Wu Xue's studies, Cao Baming learned that she was a student at a prestigious British university.
Furthermore, in her spare time, she had a side hustle as a streamer, earning money in the self-media industry.
Although her fan base wasn't large, it was enough to support herself.
Gradually, the two became immersed in the music and drinks, their rationality giving way to emotion.
Seizing the opportunity, Cao Baming moved to sit beside Wu Xue.
Wu Xue, beside him, appeared to be an optimistic girl, but after a few drinks, negative thoughts surfaced, and she began to complain about the difficulties of life in London.
Her classmates in class had a tendency to ostracize her, and she was essentially living life here all by herself.
As she spoke, tears began to fall involuntarily. Cao Baming pulled her into his arms...
Later that night, at midnight, Cao Baming personally drove Wu Xue home.
The next day, a message arrived from the team, signaling the end of Cao Baming's holiday.
Returning to team training was now of paramount importance because the club was facing a grueling schedule.
They had to play not only in the Premier League but also in the Europa League, and their opponents were formidable!
Leicester City, Liverpool, and even Chelsea!
Speaking of Chelsea, speculation was still rife externally about whether Drogba's strong return meant he could immediately play for the team.
Chelsea's official stance was not foolish; if the public wanted to speculate, then let them continue to do so!
As long as they didn't make an official announcement, all the traffic was theirs!
In the previous match against Stoke City, Drogba was on the substitute list but did not play.
Perhaps it was simply because the opponent was a relatively weaker team.
During this period, Chelsea also periodically released daily videos of Drogba training with the team, but when asked whether Drogba would play, they became evasive, speaking in riddles.
Under these circumstances, Arteta had no choice but to prepare for all eventualities.
After all, a big figure like Drogba needed to be taken seriously. Even if there was a possibility, even just a chance of him coming off the bench, they had to plan accordingly!
Anyone who understood football knew how terrifying Drogba was in his prime!
With five days remaining until the match against Chelsea, major football forums and media outlets offered their own predictions regarding Drogba's potential participation.
"Drogba most likely won't play within a month, at least starting is out of the question, absolutely impossible. The reason is very simple: he's just joined this team, and his teammates are all new, so he'll definitely need time to adapt!"
"I disagree. Drogba is an all-around center-forward, and his adaptation period will surely be shorter than that of an average player. Moreover, with Chelsea in its current state, they should at least take a gamble."
"Even Cao Baming can play consecutive matches, and he's also new, isn't he? And what about Drogba!"
"Looking forward to Drogba leading the team to crush Arsenal! Cao Baming won't have his space to show off this time, he'll definitely be ground into submission!"
"Drogba's arrival in the current Premier League is definitely a god-tier level of advantage."
...
Some fans even drew comparisons with Kaká's situation.
Even a strong player like Kaká had to wait half a month after rejoining the team before making a tentative appearance for just over ten minutes.
Kaká was truly the first deity to be successfully summoned!
Cao Baming sat on the sidelines of the pitch, scrolling through these comments on his phone with a calm and indifferent expression.
Whether he played or not, the match would proceed regardless.
However, Cao Baming secretly hoped for an opportunity to face Drogba head-on. They said Drogba was the nightmare of every defender; he was curious to see just how difficult he was to mark!
Over the past few days, Arteta had been observing the team's training. Cao Baming's position and role were gradually being integrated into the team, and it was time to try them out in an official match.
After a long period of training, Arteta finally made a bold decision: the day before the match, he placed Cao Baming on the starting lineup, playing as a left-back!
With such an opportunity, Cao Baming naturally did not take it lightly.
Soon, the match day arrived: Arsenal was to face Chelsea away!
The viewership for this match was unprecedented, surpassing the Manchester Derby's record to become the most-watched match in the Premier League this season.
Even the 25,000 seats at Stamford Bridge were sold out. It took only 12 seconds from ticket release to sell-out, breaking another Premier League record!
The fans' main interest in this match was Drogba. Despite the uncertainty of whether he would play, the effect achieved was immense, and Chelsea's calculation had proven highly successful.
Many fans who couldn't secure tickets gathered near the stadium, forming impromptu groups to watch the live broadcast. They celebrated and cheered along with the stadium audience whenever a goal was scored.
More importantly, one could even hear the sounds from inside the stadium!
For fans in Tang Country, this match had another key point of interest: Cao Baming was in the starting lineup! This was Cao Baming's first time starting a match!
Fans in Tang Country were already gathered in front of their television screens, awaiting the match's commencement. This match would undoubtedly be commentated by Teacher Zhan and Teacher Zhang.
These two commentators, with their distinct styles, were the most popular in Tang Country and were naturally assigned to the most anticipated match!
Everyone looked forward to the genius footballer from Tang Country, Cao Baming, having a true clash of titans with Drogba!
One was a forward, the other a defender; if they were to meet on the field, such an opportunity was inevitable!
Furthermore, the timing of this match was incredibly convenient for Tang Country fans, with the match starting at 11:30 PM local time, allowing them to watch without staying up too late – it couldn't be more comfortable!
After watching the match, which would likely end around 1:00 AM, it wouldn't even affect their work or studies the next day.
Fans had their beers ready, and as a familiar voice echoed from the television, Teacher Zhan appeared on screen!
There were still thirty minutes left before the match!
The two teachers began analyzing the recent form and historical records of both teams for the Longguo fans.
Even though it was just a casual chat, the fans loved watching it!
Meanwhile, the players from both sides were called to the field for their final warm-up training.