As the boat gradually steadied, Cao Baiming entered the lounge inside the cabin.
There was a bar here, stocked with many fine wines and other colorful drinks that looked very appetizing.
Enjoying the sea breeze with delicious food and fine wine...
A holiday on the island was unlike any other, as it involved an element of exploration. It was possible that the entire island might be deserted, and one had to remain vigilant for potential dangers.
Apart from that, everything else was excellent. The purpose of coming here was to experience a unique kind of joy.
Bonfires, barbecues, camping in the forest, exploring the unknown...
For a moment, it felt as if he had left the real world behind and entered another realm, one without so many troubles and worries.
However, in the outside world, many things continued to unfold.
Although the football world had largely entered its summer off-season, with the top five leagues and other competitions halted, the news remained constant.
Transfer rumors were endless: Dembele's move, Zidane's successful recruitment, Manchester City's acquisition of Haaland, and the fiery speculation about Neymar's departure...
This summer was truly scorching, with every piece of news being a major headline.
Unable to secure Cao Baiming, Guardiola moved on and directly purchased the promising young star Haaland, who was also on an upward trajectory. It had to be said that these two players had remarkably similar playing styles, differing only in their positions, with Cao Baiming's position allowing for more long-range shots.
As for Barcelona, currently in a slump, they were no longer a match for Real Madrid. Coupled with Zidane's successful return, La Liga would likely become a one-sided affair!
Zidane, having transitioned from coach back to player, still dominated the field with unmatched skill, though many fans had anticipated this, considering he was a legendary player.
However, the hottest topic of discussion among all the news was the internal issues at Paris Saint-Germain, so dramatic that it could be turned into a palace intrigue drama!
It was precisely these continuous twists and turns and power struggles that made it surpass Zidane as the hottest topic of conversation among fans.
The managerial change at Paris was still ongoing. Although a new coach had been appointed recently, Mbappé was highly dissatisfied with him and had not produced truly convincing results, making his continued stay at PSG impossible.
The atmosphere in the locker room became even more delicate. During one interview with Mbappé, he himself stated that with Messi and Neymar on the team, he certainly wouldn't dare claim to be the boss.
This simple sentence was seized upon by the media.
Some headlines read:
"Mbappé Makes Bold Statements, Complaining About His Position and Wanting to Drive Away Messi and Neymar."
Others were the complete opposite:
"Incredible Emotional Intelligence! Humble Mbappé Claims the Team Still Relies on the Seniors!"
Despite this, Neymar had already drawn dissatisfaction from the club's management. With the recent embellishments and the pre-existing issue of his position overlapping with Mbappé's, external speculation suggested he would definitely leave, whether in the summer or winter!
Public opinion shifted rapidly, sometimes siding with Neymar, other times feeling that Mbappé's points seemed reasonable.
But no matter how it changed, the management of Paris Saint-Germain was always the one most heavily criticized!
In the Arsenal hierarchy's office, several executives sat around, sipping tea and casually browsing recent news, a smile playing on their lips.
"These people have completely missed the point, haven't they, haha..."
Katarina quickly chimed in, "Yes, all their attention is on 'Ma'er' (Neymar), my poor 'Ma'er'..."
On the table, a schedule neatly laid out clearly indicated the date of Messi's visit.
Evidently, although the outside world was unaware, Messi's transfer to Arsenal was now a near certainty. The usually low-key Messi naturally prioritized privacy and would not reveal it too early, preventing the media from fanning the flames.
"Let's see what they say when the day of the announcement comes!"
"No one could have predicted that Messi would actually initiate his departure!"
Katarina smiled along. She knew Messi very well, as he was one of her favorite players. Not only was his skill unparalleled, but his appearance was also top-tier, easily capturing her heart.
His innocent large eyes held a destructive power that ordinary people could not match.
Messi's unexpected decision at this time was not for fame or fortune, but simply a desire to play in a better environment.
After all, if one were pursuing fame or fortune, there was probably no place more suitable than Paris.
As the agreed-upon date arrived, while waiting for Messi's plane, Katarina scrolled through her phone, found the private number she had saved for Cao Baiming, and sent a message.
"Today is the day of Messi's negotiation. If everything goes as expected, he'll be signing the contract! I've helped you fulfill one wish!"
"When you have a chance, I hope you can fulfill a wish for me too!"
She then added a pouting emoji.
Although Katarina was Cao Baiming's superior, she was not much older than him. Coming from a prestigious family and being exceptionally intelligent, she graduated from Cambridge University at just nineteen and came directly to Arsenal.
She was now only twenty-three, the youngest member of the team's executive staff.
Soon, the sound of a plane landing could be heard in the distance. Everyone looked up at the sky as a white Boeing aircraft slowly descended.
Upon reaching the ground, behind a few bodyguards, a face that could not be more familiar appeared.
Messi, dressed in a simple white T-shirt, walked out. Standing in front of the bodyguards, he was almost a head shorter, yet his presence effortlessly overshadowed everything else.
He was undeniably the strongest man on Earth.
The moment Messi stepped out, with a click, flashes erupted.
Katarina took a photo with her phone and immediately sent it to Cao Baiming.
The senior executives were startled, thinking a tabloid reporter had secretly followed them.
Today's plan was to conduct the final negotiations with Messi, and this negotiation required the participation of PSG's senior management. If the outcome was favorable, he might undergo his routine physical examination and trial match the next day!
As a legendary player, not all procedures were necessarily mandatory, but in any case, a harmonious agreement on the contract was needed from both parties.
The wind was quite strong that day, rustling the leaves.
At this very moment, Cao Baiming, a thousand miles away on a deserted island, was busy gathering firewood.
"I must have everything ready before it gets dark; let's put in more effort!"