103: Chapter 103 Gone Mad?

Serving the people?

Judge Wu had said these words for most of her life and heard them even more often. But when they popped out of her own daughter's mouth, she still froze for a moment.

"Yike, don't talk in riddles with me!"

Lu Yike smiled. "I asked him the same thing, and that was his answer."

Judge Wu frowned. "Isn't he just fooling you?"

Lu Yike shook her head. "Not at all! He was being sincere."

"Sincere? I think it's just a platitude!"

Lu Yike's expression turned serious. "You surely know that Director Zhao is that anti-gang hero from Jinghai, the first-class merit recipient? He did such dangerous things right after starting work—who would do that if they weren't sincerely serving the people?"

"Ah?" Judge Wu was stunned. "He's Zhao Yang? But he... he doesn't look like a front-line criminal investigator! Isn't he with the Third Institute now?"

"The Ministry of Public Security recommended him for graduate studies in the Department of Computer Science at Shuimu University."

Judge Wu became even more confused. "Recommended to Shuimu? Shouldn't the Ministry of Public Security recommend the Public Security University or the University of Political Science and Law?"

Lu Yike smiled. "Because before that, one of his Computer Science papers had already caught the attention of Shuimu's experts. Even if the Ministry of Public Security hadn't recommended him, Shuimu would have come looking for him themselves."

Judge Wu couldn't help but be surprised. "I didn't expect your Director Zhao to be an academic talent as well!"

"That's just the tip of the iceberg." Lu Yike counted on her fingers. "His paper directly revived a national fund project. He wrote a piece of software that, when the chief engineer at Huada University saw it, made him trash his own multi-year project as total garbage on the spot. For a key ministerial-level project, he led us from scratch and completed the acceptance a month ahead of schedule. It's about to become a demonstration project for 'Strengthening the Police with Science and Technology'!"

Seeing the light shining in Lu Yike's eyes, the corners of Judge Wu's mouth curled up, a trend she couldn't quite suppress. "So, your Director Zhao is extremely capable at work?"

"More than just capable—he's terrifyingly strong!" Lu Yike suddenly laughed. "Do you know? The theory proposed in his master's thesis actually guided several doctoral students. At his PhD defense today, those experts almost got into a fight with each other just to ask him questions! It was hilarious. Our Director Zhao is simply a legend!"

Judge Wu could no longer hide her smile. She tested the waters, "Then Yike, since you have such a good impression of Director Zhao, why not invite him to our home tomorrow? Your father happens to be around..."

"Stop!" Lu Yike shouted. "Don't say another word! No! Absolutely not!"

"Why not?" Judge Wu frowned. "You're in the Capital without many acquaintances, and he's your supervisor who has taken care of you for so long. In Handong Province, you're the host. What's wrong with inviting him for a meal?"

"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking." Lu Yike said with a straight face. "Between Director Zhao and me, there is absolutely no possibility of what you're imagining."

Judge Wu remained unfazed. "You're twenty-four, he's twenty-three—the perfect age gap. He's young and successful, our family background isn't bad, and you have such a good impression of him. Besides..."

"He's my boss! Why would I have those thoughts? Have I lost my mind?"

"So what if he's your boss? Can't bosses date?"

"Mom, stop talking nonsense." Lu Yike sat back down. Her tone softened, but her expression became more serious. "To be honest, Director Zhao holds a lot of weight in my heart."

Judge Wu's eyes lit up. "Then isn't that perfect?"

"It's absolutely not what you think!" Lu Yike frowned slightly, pondering her words for a while before continuing. "Mom, I'll tell you the truth, but don't laugh. This is my honest feeling—having romantic feelings for Director Zhao would be a form of profanity."

Judge Wu's mouth twitched. "What do you take him for? Have you gone mad?"

Lu Yike shook her head. "Don't overthink it. I only have admiration for him, like the feeling one has for a flawless teacher. There's no romance involved. Don't you dare try to play matchmaker, or I really won't be able to stay in the lab anymore."

Judge Wu pondered for a long time, her face falling as she sighed. "Fine, I'll stay out of it. But you should think about it yourself."

"Mom, why do you look unhappy?"

Judge Wu rolled her eyes at her. "Can I be happy when you're letting such a good man slip away?"

"Oh, what do you take me for? Do you think I, Lu Yike, live for men?"

"Fine, fine, you're the capable one. Anyway, you're still young, so there's no rush." Judge Wu sighed again and turned to go back to her room.

She spoke lightly, but her heart was anything but. As someone who had been through it, she knew what it meant for a woman to meet a man who was too perfect in her youth. She only hoped Lu Yike wouldn't use Zhao Yang as a yardstick, comparing everyone she met to him in the future; that would be trouble for the rest of her life.

Judge Wu decided to secretly inquire more about Zhao Yang's situation and perhaps even meet him on the sly. If there was even a sliver of a chance, she had to try. After all, she only had this one daughter.

...

Zhao Yang didn't give Judge Wu that chance. The next day, he left Handong Province and flew straight to Jinghai.

Gao Qilan was landing in Jinghai tomorrow. Zhao Yang had intended to rest for half a day to recharge before picking her up. But in the afternoon, Gao Qisheng called, saying he had urgent business and needed to see him.

Gao Qisheng drove his car directly to the hotel, invited Zhao Yang in, and drove all the way to the Industrial Park. He didn't even stop when they passed the Hongdou Technology office building. Zhao Yang couldn't help but ask, "A Sheng, where are you taking me?"

"Hehe, Brother Yang, I set up a private studio in the warehouse to show you something." Gao Qisheng parked the car and smiled. "We're here. Follow me."

Then, he led Zhao Yang into a large warehouse and pushed open a small door partitioned off by a lightweight wall.

The room was spacious. Several rows of workbenches were covered with circuit boards and testing instruments, while several sets of disassembled mobile phone shells were piled in a corner. Next to them was a small lathe and a full set of welding equipment. On the other side was an Industrial Computer with its casing open, several wires of different colors trailing out from inside. The Industrial Computer was off, and the computer screen next to it was black.

At the very back was a large, shapeless object covered with a tarpaulin.

Zhao Yang scanned the room and couldn't help but laugh. "Your studio is quite well-equipped; it's almost like a small processing plant."

"I usually just tinker here whenever I have an idea, so I don't have to look for others." Gao Qisheng rubbed his hands and walked excitedly to the covered object. "Brother Yang, come quickly and take a look. I just finished this a couple of days ago, and the experiment was a success! See if you think this has potential."

With that, he pulled back the tarpaulin.

Zhao Yang looked closely and was stunned. "Holy crap! What year is it?"