58: Chapter 58 System: Zhao Yang, where's your face?

Zhao Yang also looked at Bai Xiaohe. He could confirm that he had never met this girl at Shuimu.

Although he knew from the show that Bai Xiaohe was a senior in the Chemistry Department at Shuimu, it wasn't appropriate to point it out directly now. He only showed a hint of surprise: "Young Miss Bai, do you know me?"

Bai Xiaohe seemed to think of something interesting and covered her mouth with a light chuckle.

Not only was Zhao Yang curious, but everyone present had their curiosity piqued as well, their gazes falling on her in unison.

Bai Erru's heart stirred—could there have been some interaction between his daughter and Zhao Yang? If he were to push things along...

He subconsciously glanced at Huang Yimei and sighed inwardly.

With Bai Erru's experience, he could naturally see Huang Yimei's affection for Zhao Yang. If Bai Xiaohe really got involved, things might get a bit troublesome.

However... no matter how troublesome it was, it was better than her being fixated on that male classmate, right?

So he laughed heartily: "Xiaohe, come on, tell us. Everyone is waiting."

Bai Xiaohe looked at Zhao Yang: "Zhao Yang, may I introduce you? I hope you won't find it offensive."

Zhao Yang was also wondering—how could a senior from the Chemistry Department possibly offend him?

He smiled: "Young Miss Bai, I'm all ears. I'm very curious as well."

Bai Xiaohe cleared her throat: "First, let me clarify that these aren't my words; they are rumors circulating at our school. I'm just relaying them."

"Are you talking about Shuimu University?" Bao Yueqiao asked with a confused look.

Bai Erru was also surprised: "Zhao Yang is from Shuimu University?"

"Yes," Bai Xiaohe said. "He was awarded a first-class merit and was recommended by the Ministry of Public Security for postgraduate studies at Shuimu University. Everyone at our school knows about it."

Bai Erru was even more shocked. A first-class merit, a twenty-two-year-old section chief, recommended to Shuimu, a Great Art Master, and even able to do software business with Bao Yueqiao... He almost wanted to disregard his status and swear: When did such a powerful figure emerge in the Imperial Capital?

And he actually didn't know about it!

"Alright, it's my turn to speak." Bai Xiaohe cleared her throat. Seeing everyone looking at her, her face flushed slightly, but she still began. "This is the widely circulated introduction of Zhao Yang at Shuimu University—"

Zhao Yang, the darling of the Department of Computer Science at Shuimu University.

This person possesses handsome looks, an extraordinary aura, and immense talent. He set a national record by obtaining a Master's Degree in just four months and is known as a talent rarely seen in a century at Shuimu University.

This person's Computer Science level is extremely high. He once single-handedly updated the underlying code for all laboratory equipment, saving the school at least several million in upgrade costs.

A single Master's thesis of this person saved a National Fund Project; the innovative theories in the paper spawned at least three Doctorates and five Master's Degrees, plus over a dozen papers in top-tier journals.

According to the Jianghu rumors, even the Head of the Computer Science Department has to call him 'Brother Yang' in private."

After she finished, seeing Zhao Yang constantly rubbing his forehead, she added somewhat apologetically: "These really aren't my words; I'm just relaying them. Actually, there are some things I haven't said yet, like how some girls..."

"Enough!" Zhao Yang made a 'stop' gesture. "If you keep going, I'll only be able to meet people wearing a mask from now on. How come I didn't know about any of this?"

"I heard from the girls in our department," Bai Xiaohe continued, "that you never show up in the dormitory area, nor do you attend classes, and you rarely go to the lab. But whenever you do go to the lab, you solve major problems. Oh, I forgot to mention just now—Zhao Yang literally turned his Master's defense into an academic exchange. The professors present chased after him to ask for advice for over two hours, and it only stopped because his advisor couldn't take it anymore."

Zhao Yang sighed: "Young Miss Bai, then can I put it this way—although I don't often show my face in school, the school is filled with my legends?"

Bai Xiaohe couldn't help but laugh and nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, yes! Anyway, there are several girls in our Chemistry Department who claim they won't marry anyone but you."

Huang Yimei was stunned listening from the side—it turned out Zhao Yang was also a legendary figure at Shuimu!

Bao Yueqiao suddenly slapped his forehead: "Zhao Yang! You kid have been hiding it deep! I always thought you had an extremely high-level team behind you! But now, why do I feel like the software you sold me was all done by you alone?"

"I'm not that amazing," Zhao Yang smiled. "I was only responsible for about seventy percent of it."

(System: Zhao Yang, where is your face?)

"How is that any different from doing it alone!" Bao Yueqiao looked at him with eyes like a hungry wolf staring at a stray lamb. "At first, I thought your greatest value lay in your team, but today I realized—you are the team! If I had known back then, I would have rather kidnapped you than let you leave! Big Brother Bai, you have to help me today; we absolutely cannot let this kid escape again!"

Zhao Yang couldn't help but tease: "Mr. Bao, do you know what you're saying? You want to kidnap the section chief of the Information Section of the Jinghai City Public Security Bureau? Are the cadres in the Imperial Capital all this arrogant?"

Bai Xiaohe was also startled: "Zhao Yang, your position in your original unit was that high?"

"Thanks to the leaders' appreciation, seeing that I'm better at Computer Science, they let me manage the Information Section and raised my Rank a bit." Zhao Yang's expression was indifferent.

"Not only a cadre, but also so talented." Bai Xiaohe smiled slightly. "If those girls in our department found out, they would probably block the doors of your Department of Computer Science every day."

Bai Erru got to know Zhao Yang all over again. He smiled slightly: "Xiaohe, you didn't know, did you? The two paintings I brought back a couple of days ago are both Zhao Yang's works."

"Ah? He can paint too?" Bai Xiaohe looked at Zhao Yang in shock. "No... I mean, he's also a Great Art Master?"

Before Zhao Yang could speak, Huang Yimei suddenly interjected as if possessed: "My Brother Yang is amazing at art! He even gave me a painting. Qingting said if that painting were auctioned, the starting price would be three hundred thousand."

Bai Erru's eyes immediately lit up: "Niece Huang, I have a presumptuous request—how about you name a price for that painting?"

Huang Yimei immediately shook her head: "Uncle Bai, I'm not selling. What Brother Yang painted... is me. I like it very much and want to keep it for myself."

Bai Erru sighed inwardly, but then a thought suddenly occurred to him—hadn't the opportunity for Zhao Yang and Bai Xiaohe to interact just arrived?

He showed a sincere expression: "Zhao Yang, I've always wanted to have a portrait of our Xiaohe, but I've never met a satisfactory painter. Could you help me fulfill this wish? Of course, I will definitely not treat you unfairly."

"This..."

"Zhao Yang, don't hesitate! Hurry up and agree!" Bao Yueqiao laughed. "Boss Bai is a wealthy man. If you paint for his daughter, anything less than five hundred thousand would be looking down on him."

"Alright, then I'll accept Uncle Bai's request." Zhao Yang took on the task. It wasn't because he had any designs on Bai Xiaohe, but rather because he valued Bai Erru's connections and status in the Imperial Capital.

Huang Yimei looked at Zhao Yang, then at Bai Xiaohe. For some unknown reason, she quietly leaned a bit closer to Zhao Yang.

Huang Zhenhua noticed her small movement and sighed bitterly to himself—Dad, Mom, I've already vetted Zhao Yang for you, and he's fine. The only downside is that he's too outstanding—so outstanding that our Yimei is about to lose her grip on him. Compared to Bai Xiaohe, besides her looks being able to hold their own, how can she compete in anything else?