The afternoon had passed the normal time for a nap, and it was at this moment that things truly began to get busy.
As the chefs arrived one by one and were assigned to their specific locations, a familiar figure finally appeared.
A classic Ferrari drove in from a distance, slowly reducing speed near the villa's entrance.
Cao Baming naturally recognized the car, as it was a holiday gift he had given Wu Xue not long after they had met.
Cao Baming put down what he was holding and went to the entrance to wait. After the car slowly stopped, Wu Xue stepped out.
Today, she was uncharacteristically wearing sunglasses. Although they had known each other for quite some time, this was the first time Cao Baming had ever seen her in them.
The sunglasses made her fair skin appear even fairer. Wu Xue was wearing a grey outfit today, but a yellow ribbon at the waist served as an accent, giving her an elegant aura.
Who would have guessed she was a student?
After getting out of the car, Wu Xue impatiently took off her sunglasses and embraced Cao Baming.
The sun was bright today, but not glaring.
A few seconds later, Wu Xue was captivated by the villa behind Cao Baming. The pure white architecture and the surrounding landscape made it feel like paradise.
"Are all these areas included?" Wu Xue asked, looking forward and at the chefs bustling about in the distance.
"More than that. You've only seen less than a tenth. The surrounding areas for several kilometers are all ours. Those are the chefs preparing the meal tonight."
"So many?!"
"They are the best chefs from every country in the world, selected through numerous rounds!"
With excitement, Wu Xue toured the vicinity and was deeply impressed by the scene before her. Different people were busy with different tasks. In addition to the setup of some equipment, a piano had even been placed there.
Seeing the piano, Wu Xue's eyes lit up.
It was placed on the wide street next to the sports field, which was also where the party would be held in the evening.
"Do you know I can play the piano? I studied for over a year before!"
Wu Xue said with a triumphant air, then sat down next to the recently set-up piano.
Cao Baming smiled gently, waiting with anticipation.
Wu Xue closed her eyes and began to think. There were no sheet music scores on the piano in front of her, so she could only rely on her fading memory to recall the songs she had practiced very proficiently before.
"Für Elise"? That's a bit too childish, but it should be enough to impress someone like Cao Baming who plays soccer.
Wu Xue placed her hands on the keys and began to play.
Melodious music filled the air. The clear tone of the piano was beautiful and healing. Wu Xue's playing was flawless, like a master's, with perfect technique and rhythm.
Soon, the beautiful piano music spread, attracting the attention of many.
Cao Baming sat in a nearby seat, listening patiently to Wu Xue's performance with a look of happiness on his face.
After she finished, Wu Xue curiously asked,
"Did you invite anyone to perform today? Did you get a master musician? Is that it, is that it!"
As she spoke, Wu Xue's face lit up with anticipation. She thought that for Cao Baming, inviting a musician of Lang Lang's or Maksim's caliber would be no challenge.
However, Cao Baming smiled and shook his head.
"Unfortunately, no one you expected. Tonight, this piano is mainly for me to use, but it's also free for everyone to play. I'm really looking forward to you playing another piece!"
"Wait, you can play the piano?" Wu Xue's expression became even more surprised.
Cao Baming constantly refreshed her impression of him. He might be a jack-of-all-trades, but the fact that he could play the piano was truly pushing it.
Wu Xue quickly made way, eager to hear what level Cao Baming was at to speak with such confidence.
Yet, her eyes were still filled with expectation. She vaguely sensed that this was only a matter of time, as Cao Baming had never disappointed her.
Not even once.
Cao Baming took Wu Xue's seat. Without much preparation, his fingers danced rapidly on the keys, and music began to play.
The rhythm was well-balanced, and the melody was beautiful. Wu Xue immediately lowered her head.
In front of him, her own playing felt like a primary school student showing off their neat handwriting to a teacher.
However, listening carefully, Wu Xue couldn't recall what piece this was, nor could she recognize the rhythm or melody.
Was this a rhapsody composed by a new generation musician? Judging by the style, it seemed possible. But if so, why had she never heard of it?
Although Wu Xue had only systematically studied piano for a year, she was a fervent music enthusiast in her own right. Her initial decision to become a streamer stemmed from her passion for music.
Her favorite musical form was piano pieces as pure as water, which could bring peace and freedom to one's thoughts. Over the years, she had listened to countless piano pieces but had never heard this one.
She knew she had missed a treasure, because as she listened, the music became more and more captivating, as if it were telling a story and binding her emotions, making them rise and fall with the music's progression.
Wu Xue listened intently, and unconsciously closed her eyes. Cao Baming's skill was so profound that she couldn't focus on the details of his performance, but was instead immersed in the music.
When there was a brief pause, Wu Xue finally opened her eyes.
"That... that was amazing! When did you acquire this skill? I had no idea!"
In her opinion, her former piano teachers would likely seem rather amateurish compared to Cao Baming.
Cao Baming smiled at Wu Xue's praise, not intending to be humble.
"By the way, what's that song called?" Wu Xue suddenly asked.
"It's called... How about we play the piano leisurely in the middle of the road?"
Wu Xue looked utterly bewildered.
Cao Baming smiled slightly and then took his hands off the keyboard.
"This is just a song I improvised just now. I haven't decided on a name yet."
Wu Xue was even more surprised. To improvise to this extent, not only her teachers but even professional musicians would likely be incapable of it!
Although it was hard to believe, the person sitting in front of her was Cao Baming.