74: Chapter 74 The two of them actually put themselves together.

Although Zhao Yang was puzzled, since Huang Zhenhua was unwilling, he couldn't force him. He just shrugged, "Then I'll keep an eye out for you. Seriously, Old Huang, you should put in some effort yourself."

"It's just that I haven't met the right one yet," Huang Zhenhua smiled. "Meimei also promised to help me look. Hey, why did you suddenly think of bringing this up?"

"I'm going to the Bai Family this weekend to paint a Family portrait for them. They've invited me several times, but I haven't been able to find the time. It's autumn now, the scenery is beautiful, so it's a good time to paint it for Uncle Bai." Zhao Yang paused and looked at him, "Why don't you reconsider Bai Xiaohe? Shall we go together this weekend?"

Huang Zhenhua shook his head like a rattle-drum: "Don't set me up! I'm not going! I'm going Fishing with Old Zhou this weekend!"

Zhao Yang rolled his eyes.

Is the final destination for middle-aged men just to become Fishing enthusiasts?

Over the next few days, in his spare time, Zhao Yang painted two more pictures, intending to bring them to the Bai Family as gifts.

Although he had some small assets, compared to a Family like the Bais, it was nothing. Aside from his paintings, he didn't have anything else they would value.

In addition, he used his connection with Professor Lin to get Gao Qiqiang into the "High-end Entrepreneur Training Class" at Shuimu next spring.

Saturday was a beautiful, sunny day. Autumn in the Imperial Capital was the most beautiful, especially in the Western Hills—the red of the maples and the yellow of the ginkgo trees intertwined, in clusters and bunches, making it a visual feast.

Bai Erru attached great importance to Zhao Yang's arrival and came out to greet him as soon as he heard the car.

Zhao Yang got out of the car: "Uncle Bai, why did you come out yourself? You're too kind."

"Hahaha, Little Zhao! You finally came!" Bai Erru strode up, and the moment he caught sight of Zhao Yang pulling two painting tubes from the trunk, his eyes lit up immediately.

Zhao Yang quickly shoved the painting tubes at him: "Here you go, here you go. Look at that look in your eyes, just like a wolf."

Bai Erru smiled so wide his mouth almost reached his ears.

Whatever airs of a big entrepreneur or wealthy tycoon he might have had were completely forgotten, and he only had eyes for those two painting tubes.

He held them in his arms as if they were some rare treasure, then suddenly remembered something and asked in a low voice: "By the way, are they signed?"

Zhao Yang shook his head: "No."

Bai Erru looked regretful, but didn't say anything more.

Yang Jingqiu had already prepared a fruit platter and tea. Zhao Yang had recently swiped quite a bit of tea from Director Gao Wenbo, and as soon as he smelled it, he could tell—this tea was far better than Director Gao Wenbo's best stock, and was likely a limited edition item that couldn't be bought on the market.

Bai Xiaohe was also at home waiting today. Besides the Family portrait, Zhao Yang was also going to paint a portrait of her.

Seeing Zhao Yang enter, she put down her book and stood up: "The great talent is here, please, have a seat."

"Senior Bai, don't be so polite."

Bai Xiaohe quickly waved her hand: "Don't call me Senior, I don't deserve it. You are now the director of a National Key Laboratory."

"Deputy Director." Zhao Yang rubbed his forehead, "Senior, please don't make fun of me."

Bai Erru was stunned, looking from his daughter to Zhao Yang: "Xiaohe, did Zhao Yang change jobs? Is he not at Shuimu anymore?"

"He is still a student at Shuimu." Bai Xiaohe paused, as if organizing her words, "Besides being a doctoral student at Shuimu, Zhao Yang is also a doctoral student at Handong Province University of Political Science and Law. Based on his doctoral thesis, the two sides jointly established a 'Joint Laboratory of Intelligent Investigation' with the Ministry of Public Security's Third Institute. It is affiliated with the Third Institute and is a National Key Laboratory. Zhao Yang serves as the Deputy Director of the laboratory. Did I explain that clearly, Zhao Yang?"

Zhao Yang nodded with a wry smile: "I might not even be able to explain it as clearly as you, Senior."

"Don't call me Senior, I really don't deserve it. Just call me Xiaohe."

"...Alright."

Bai Erru looked at Zhao Yang with a strange expression. This young man could no longer be described as just "talented"—he was practically a "national treasure."

Sensing that the atmosphere was a bit off, Zhao Yang gave a light cough: "Uncle Bai, don't you want to see the paintings first?"

"Almost forgot the main event!" Bai Erru realized, and impatiently opened the painting tubes.

The moment the two paintings were unfurled, his hands trembled slightly.

The theme for both was autumn.

One was the red leaves of the Western Hills, the other was the ginkgo avenue. One red and one yellow, with vivid colors. Viewed separately they each had their own charm, but placed together they complemented each other perfectly.

"A masterpiece... a rare masterpiece." Bai Erru's voice was a bit airy, "Zhao Yang, these paintings of yours should be in a museum."

"Uncle Bai, you flatter me, it's just fitting for the season."

Although Bai Xiaohe didn't study art, she had been immersed in it since childhood and could see the weight of these two paintings. She said softly: "Dad, you wouldn't be embarrassed to take these paintings for free, would you?"

Bai Erru felt that talking about money at this moment was a desecration of art, and blurted out: "Zhao Yang, tell me, what do you want? Look at my collection here, if you see anything you like, just take it!"

Zhao Yang smiled: "Uncle Bai, this is a gift, a pure gift. Please don't be like this."

Bai Erru was silent for a moment, then slapped his thigh: "How about this! Zhao Yang, I'll cover the construction of your villa. Just give me the design drawings later, and you don't need to worry about the rest. You absolutely must not refuse this!"

"...Alright then."

"Good! You wait here, I need to put the paintings away first." After saying that, he hugged the two painting tubes and ran upstairs.

Yang Jingqiu shouted from behind: "Old Bai, slow down, don't fall."

Bai Xiaohe covered her mouth and chuckled: "Zhao Yang, to tell you the truth, this is the first time I've seen my dad like this."

The sunlight was just right at this moment, so he started by painting the Family portrait for the Bai Family.

Zhao Yang painted extremely fast. He had Photographic Memory, so he didn't need the Bai Family to sit there as models the whole time. In less than ten minutes, he let the three of them move around freely.

The three of them didn't leave, but sat on the lawn behind Zhao Yang, watching him move his brush like flying.

Bai Erru prided himself on being knowledgeable and experienced, but this was the first time he had seen oil painting done this way. After more than an hour, the Family portrait was finished—the figures were lifelike, the colors were vivid, the layers were distinct, and it was another masterpiece.

Bai Xiaohe chose a pose of reading in the study. This painting was done even faster, and he finished in just over forty minutes.

Zhao Yang glanced at the book she was holding in her hands—those things about the ming dynasty.

The corner of his mouth twitched imperceptibly.

Not bad, his secret identity wasn't completely exposed.

After a sumptuous lunch, Bai Erru was pondering how to get Zhao Yang and his daughter to interact more, but Zhao Yang took the initiative and spoke up.

"Xiaohe, I don't quite understand some things regarding chemistry, and I'd like to ask you to help me take a look."

Bai Xiaohe was taken aback: "Sure. Where is it?"

"It's in the car, I'll go get it."

"Then let's go to the study to talk."

Zhao Yang retrieved a briefcase from the car, greeted Bai Erru and his wife, and then went into the study with Bai Xiaohe.

Yang Jingqiu's expression was a bit subtle, she pulled on Bai Erru and lowered her voice: "Look at Zhao Yang and our Xiaohe... they seem to have quite a lot in common to talk about."

Bai Erru was also pondering this very thing. These two, they actually didn't need his matchmaking, they just drifted together on their own.

The two looked at each other and smiled simultaneously: "Let's wait and see."