31: Chapter 31: Shui Mu Arrives and Becomes the Group's Darling; A Painting Attracts Liu Tianxian

Just as he entered the gate of Shuimu University, Xiao Chunan's phone rang.

"Old Xiao, did you pick him up?"

"Picked him up. We're at the gate, walking toward the dorms."

"Alright, we'll head straight to the dorm."

Xiao Chunan hung up the phone and explained to Zhao Yang, "The project team knows you've arrived and came specifically to help."

Zhao Yang nodded.

Is the Shuimu Computer Science Department this harmonious?

Below the graduate dormitory building stood four men and two women, all looking refined and scholarly, exuding an aura of high intelligence.

Seeing Xiao Chunan walking over with a handsome young man, they immediately greeted them warmly.

"Student Zhao Yang, the Shuimu Computer Science Department welcomes you!"

"Haha, come here, let me help you with your things!"

"You've had a tough journey! You're much more handsome than in the photos!"

"That's right, our Computer Science Department has a big heartthrob now!"

"Everything in the dorm has been prepared for you."

Zhao Yang was truly stunned by this enthusiasm.

To put it a bit exaggeratedly, he felt like these students were about to call him "Foster Father."

"Your dorm is a single room, and the computer has been set up for you; Professor Lin specifically gave the instructions," said the girl with pigtails.

She was called Xu Shengnan, and she was the Senior Sister among them.

"Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters..." Zhao Yang finally had the chance to ask, "Is our Computer Science Department always this nice to new students?"

"Of course not!" Xu Shengnan laughed.

"You might not know, but being Professor Lin's student... it's miserable!

My doctoral dissertation topic was rejected by Professor Lin three times!

If I couldn't finalize it, I would definitely be delayed.

Luckily, thanks to your paper, Professor Lin carved out a small section for me to conduct follow-up research, and only then was my topic confirmed!"

"It's the same for me, though it's for my master's thesis," Xiao Chunan chimed in.

"Professor Lin asked me to engineer an algorithm from your paper and add a little bit of applied extension, and that will be my graduation thesis."

Zhao Yang looked at the others, showing an inquisitive expression.

The others nodded in unison.

A Senior Brother named Lu Wei said, "Now, we are all in one project team, and the core theory is that paper of yours, which is personally overseen by Professor Lin.

You could say that your paper saved our academic careers!"

"Then I..." Zhao Yang scratched his head, wondering if the paper he brought out was a bit too high-profile.

"I'm truly honored; let's make progress together in the future."

"Don't say that!" Xu Shengnan smiled bitterly.

"Professor Lin's exact words were: 'Zhao Yang's level is something you'll be chasing for over a decade!' If you keep progressing, how are we supposed to live?"

Zhao Yang couldn't respond to that and could only offer a polite smile.

He had originally planned to rent a place near Shuimu University to live in, as there were some things he didn't want others to see.

Now that he had a single dorm room, he didn't need to rush, and living on campus for now wasn't bad.

Xu Shengnan checked the time: "Let's go, Zhao Yang, let's go eat; it's our treat today."

Unable to refuse their kindness, Zhao Yang followed the group toward the cafeteria.

They surrounded him like stars surrounding the moon, introducing him to the situation at Shuimu University and the Computer Science Department as they walked.

After eating, the group scrambled to help Zhao Yang process his paperwork and buy necessities, busy and enjoying every moment.

Zhao Yang barely had to move from his dorm, and all the paperwork was done.

Once they had all left, Zhao Yang stretched.

Is this what being the group pet feels like?

After sending text messages to his friends and family in Jinghai to let them know he arrived safely, Professor Lin called.

After some polite inquiries about his well-being, they arranged to meet in the laboratory tomorrow to discuss several key points in the paper.

At this time, the Imperial Capital was in the midst of a radiant spring, and the spring flowers within the Shuimu campus were blooming competitively.

Perhaps due to his Level 6 Art skill, Zhao Yang felt an urge to create as he looked at the spring scenery filling his eyes.

He acted immediately, getting up and going downstairs.

Shuimu University has an Academy of Fine Arts, so without leaving the school, Zhao Yang gathered a set of oil painting equipment and a set of Chinese ink painting supplies.

The colors of spring were rich, and realistic oil painting had the advantage.

After wandering for over half an hour, he finally found a satisfying view.

He sat under a willow tree by the side of Tsinghua Road and set up his easel.

In front of him were blooming forsythia, peach blossoms, and crabapple flowers; the three colors of flowers and the nearby green-brick buildings formed a scene with distinct layers.

Zhao Yang laid out the canvas, calmed his mind, and began.

Composition, laying down the base colors, deepening the forms, detailing...

His movements were lightning fast; the paintbrush in his hand was like a conductor's baton, flying up and down, dazzling to watch.

The painting, which would normally take several hours to complete, was compressed to one hour by him.

A fair number of students gathered behind him, watching curiously and whispering.

"Is this a teacher from the Fine Arts Academy creating this?"

"Don't know, he paints really fast!"

"I don't know oil painting, can anyone say how he's doing? I think it looks quite good."

"The light transmission of the colors is excellent, the warm and cold tones are interwoven cleanly, the brushstrokes are vivid and lively, the painting has a sense of breath, and the spatial layers are pushed with great care.

One look and you know he's a master; in my opinion, his level is even higher than my teacher's!"

Zhao Yang had just finished the last stroke; hearing this evaluation, he realized he had encountered an expert and couldn't help but turn his head to look.

"Wow! A big heartthrob!"

A chorus of screams from girls erupted in the crowd.

Shuimu University is not a film academy; it has many talented scholars, but the handsome guy quotient is just average.

But Zhao Yang's appearance, even if placed in the Beijing Film Academy or the Central Academy of Drama, would be a Heaven-Defying existence, let alone here.

Especially in this kind of scene—he held a paintbrush in his hand, with his newly completed masterpiece in front of him, plus his peerlessly handsome face.

Not to mention women, even men would be dazed looking at him.

Zhao Yang was already used to others' surprise at his looks, but this time, when he saw the girl clearly in front of him, he was also somewhat surprised.

Her facial features were distinct, her bone structure superior, and her eyes were extremely bright, full of spirit; her beauty was flamboyant and open.

This face was absolutely a gift from being favored by God.

Isn't this Liu Tianxian?

But in 2000, she would only be 15, right?

Still a little girl, and it's impossible for her to have run to Shuimu University, so it definitely couldn't be Liu Tianxian.

Zhao Yang smiled and nodded slightly to her: "Hello, thank you for your evaluation of my work.

Are you a student at the Shuimu Fine Arts Academy?"

"No, no, no, my name is Huang Yimei, I am a student at the Central Academy of Fine Arts."

[Ding! Host has encountered the protagonist of "the story of rose", Huang Yimei. Reward: one skill draw.]

So that's it!

Zhao Yang was confused again—why was there no reward when he met Zhong Xiaoai in Handong Province?

[Because Zhong Xiaoai is not the protagonist in the "In the Name of the People" world.]

This time, the System gave an answer without charging, which was unprecedented.

Zhao Yang secretly regretted it—back when he met Zhong Xiaoai at Handong University, if he had gone to listen to that Senior Hou, he would have definitely gotten the reward; Senior Hou must have been the protagonist, Hou Liangping.

What a pity!

Seeing Zhao Yang in a daze, Huang Yimei thought he was like other boys who went gaga when they saw her.

However, this time, she felt a rare bit of excitement.

The person in front of her was not only handsome but also a deeply accomplished painter; they could be considered kindred spirits in some way.

"Student Huang Yimei," Zhao Yang quickly recovered from his momentary distraction and smiled, "Your facial contours have a great sense of layering.

I happen to be missing a model.

If you are interested, please sit on that stone bench."