51: Chapter 51 Trying to take advantage of Liu Tianxian? You'll get what's coming to you with your bureaucratic talk!

Looking at Zhao Yang's profile, Huang Yimei suddenly felt a bit of a sense of unfamiliarity—it wasn't that she didn't recognize him, but that she didn't dare to. The Zhao Yang who was joking with her just a moment ago seemed like a different person in the blink of an eye.

Zhou Shihui, who was facing Zhao Yang directly, felt this much more intensely.

Zhao Yang's gaze was indifferent, but Zhou Shihui felt as if he were being scrutinized by a superior, even feeling a sudden urge to stand at attention.

Gulp.

Zhou Shihui swallowed hard, his body shrinking back imperceptibly as the air of a Senior he had intended to put on vanished instantly.

However, he was nearly thirty after all, and with his social experience, although he was at a disadvantage, he didn't lose his composure entirely.

Zhou Shihui feigned calmness: "Hello, I am Zhou Shihui, a designer at the Architectural Design Institute."

Zhao Yang nodded indifferently and shook his hand lightly, as if receiving a subordinate: "Mr. Zhou, I heard from Yimei that you are her Master?"

“Um, yes.”

“Good. As a teacher, one passes on the Dao, imparts knowledge, and resolves doubts.” Zhao Yang nodded slightly. “Thank you for your hard work.”

“...” Zhou Shihui was stuck in an awkward silence, dazed for a good while before squeezing out a sentence: “Huang Yimei learns very quickly.”

“Mm.” Zhao Yang nodded and spoke a few more lines of official jargon.

Zhou Shihui's brain simply couldn't keep up; like a radio running out of batteries, his speech became stuttered and sweat broke out on his forehead.

Finally, Zhao Yang stopped teasing him and smiled slightly: “This isn't the workplace, Mr. Zhou, no need to be so serious. Are you finished eating?”

“Yes, yes, finished eating.” Zhou Shihui subconsciously wiped his sweat, inwardly complaining—who exactly is being serious here? Why are officials nowadays all like this? Do they just flip black and white?

Huang Yimei suppressed a laugh, her Face turning red: “Then... Teacher Zhou, do you have anything else?”

Zhou Shihui blanked, only then realizing what nonsense he had been saying with Zhao Yang and forgetting his purpose. He quickly pulled out a concert ticket: “I remember you wanted to go to the Phoenix Legend concert. A friend of mine got a ticket, so I'm giving it to you.”

He had gone through a lot of trouble to get this ticket and only received it last night. He thought he wouldn't have a chance to give it, but unexpectedly ran into Huang Yimei today and quickly brought it out.

“Ah?” Huang Yimei was startled. “Teacher Zhou, this... this isn't right.”

“I saw you try to buy tickets several times without success. You must really want to go, so please take it.”

“Then... let me give you the money.” Huang Yimei hurriedly reached for her wallet.

At that moment, a woman's voice came from the door: “Zhou Shihui, are we going or not?”

Zhou Shihui's expression stiffened. He quickly placed the concert ticket on the table, said “I’m leaving first,” and headed toward the door.

The woman at the door was Guan Zhizhi. Seeing him come over in a hurry, she asked suspiciously: “Did you run into someone you know? Was it Huang Zhenhua?”

“It wasn't Huang Zhenhua, just two colleagues, new hires you don't know. Let's go.”

“Oh...” Guan Zhizhi didn't doubt him, took Zhou Shihui's arm, and walked out.

The two had long lived together, and to outsiders, they were no different from a married couple, lacking only a certificate and a ceremony.

...

Huang Yimei sighed, looking at the ticket unhappily, her Face showing hesitation.

Zhao Yang smiled: “Do you like Phoenix Legend's songs?”

Huang Yimei nodded: “Mm! Their songs are very energetic! I heard that in Moscow, their songs are also particularly popular.”

Zhao Yang was inwardly proud and nodded: “They reached their Peak right at their debut.”

“They certainly did.”

“But looking at you, it seems you don't want this ticket?”

Huang Yimei didn't want to elaborate.

As a girl who had been pursued and confessed to by various boys since childhood, how could she not see through Zhou Shihui's intentions? But for the sake of Face, she could only reject him subtly; however, Zhou Shihui seemed possessed, turning a blind eye to her rejection.

“If you don't want it, then don't take it.” Zhao Yang suddenly laughed. “Don't do things against your will.”

Huang Yimei nodded vigorously: “You're right! At worst, I just won't go!”

Zhao Yang smiled faintly: “I'll make a call first, you do as you please.”

“Mm-hmm.” Huang Yimei lowered her head to sip her drink.

Zhao Yang dialed a number: “Hello, where are you? ... Oh, okay, I'll head over in a bit... Right, see you then.”

Huang Yimei waited for him to put away his phone and asked: “Do you have something to do? If you're busy, you can go ahead.”

“I do have something, but I can't go alone.”

“Eh? Are you taking me? What for?”

“To visit Phoenix Legend behind the scenes.”

“Ah?”

“What are you ‘ah’-ing for? Go pay the bill.”

“Wait... what... you're not lying to me?”

Zhao Yang's Face turned stern, full of official authority: “As a cadre within the system, would I lie to you?”

“I'll go pay the bill right now!”

...

As the car approached the 798 Art District, Zhao Yang turned to glance at Huang Yimei: “You've been holding it in the whole way, ask if you want to.”

Huang Yimei pursed her lips: “I'm actually just curious... but then again, you understand art, so it's normal to know people in the music circle... right?”

Zhao Yang nodded: “I guess you're not stupid. They should still have tickets; you can ask them directly for the best seats. Don't worry, they'll definitely give me Face.”

“Hehe, that's great! My parents and my brother also like their songs, can I ask for a few more?”

“A dozen or so wouldn't be a problem.”

“No need for that many, four is enough! Hehe, thank you so much!”

“Don't just use your mouth, give me something practical!”

“I'll treat you to dinner!”

“No sincerity.”

“Then you say it!”

“Do me a favor.”

Huang Yimei blanked: “I can help you, but I'm afraid my ability is limited.”

“The task isn't hard, it's just that the right person is hard to find, and you're just right.” Zhao Yang smiled. “Don't worry, as a proper cadre, I won't make you do anything illegal or against discipline.”

“Okay! Then no problem.”

...

The car stopped outside the recording studio. As soon as Zhao Yang got out, Meimei came running over: “Brother Yang, long time no see, I missed you to death!”

Zhao Yang laughed and reached out to give her a light hug: “Give it a rest, you talk a good game. Your waist has gotten thicker; you don't look like you've been missing me at all.”

Meimei laughed heartily: “I'm the type who gains weight even drinking cold water, there's nothing I can do. Oh? This beauty is... sister-in-law?”

“Don't go shouting nonsense... she's my friend.” Zhao Yang said, “Huang Yimei, a top student from the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Her parents are both professors at Shuimu, a proper scholarly family.”

“Oh, my apologies, my apologies!” Meimei quickly ran to Huang Yimei and shook her hand warmly. “Hello, Teacher Huang, I'm Meimei.”

Huang Yimei's Face turned red: “Don't... don't call me Teacher, I'm still a student, I haven't reached that level yet.”

“Brother Yang says you're a top student, so your level is high.” Meimei was unmoved and continued her warm greeting. “Please come in, this way.”

Huang Yimei felt a bit embarrassed: “Sister Meimei, don't be so polite, it makes me feel self-conscious.”

Zhao Yang laughed: “Meimei, just treat her like my sister. How are Ling Hua and Zeng Yi's preparations coming along?”

“They're a bit nervous.” Meimei smiled. “Actually, I'm nervous too. After all, it's the Workers Stadium! There are more people than all those overseas shows combined.”

“They'll be fine.”

...

While they were chatting, Ling Hua and Zeng Yi finished practicing a song and came out of the recording studio. Seeing Zhao Yang, they immediately showed expressions of respect and walked up quickly: “Teacher Zhao, you've come.”

Zhao Yang waved his hand: “Relax a bit, don't be so nervous. Let me introduce a fan to you—Huang Yimei. She knew you were having a concert tomorrow and insisted on coming with me to visit. Just treat her like my sister.”

The two had already noticed this impossibly beautiful girl and greeted her warmly. Without Zhao Yang having to say anything, Zeng Yi brought over a signed album and several VIP concert tickets.

Huang Yimei didn't dare take too many, only keeping four and returning the rest, thanking them repeatedly.

Zhao Yang watched, amused—she probably didn't know that in another spacetime, she was the big star pursued by thousands, rather than a fan.

So in this spacetime, is there still a Liu Tianxian?

At this time, she should only be fourteen years old, right?