Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Liu Yuanchao remained silent, only staring at the figure in the distance.

Zhao Weiguo was silent for a moment, then tossed a small pebble into the distance and suddenly said, "I give up."

Liu Yuanchao turned to look at him.

Zhao Weiguo gave a wry smile: "What if you're not convinced? That song is really good. If it were us, I reckon we could never write one in our entire lives."

"We don't have that mindset, nor that ability."

Liu Yuanchao opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just nodded.

Yes, I can't write it.

I can't accept it.

Zhang Dabiao is simply a genius, and if you're so amazing, why don't you write revolutionary songs or revolutionary songs?

Instead, he writes love songs and melancholy ballads?

Wouldn't it be better to write a revolutionary song and soar to new heights?

------------

During the afternoon class, Mu Wanqing was pulled out of their class to serve as a demonstration teaching assistant. Although she was mentally prepared, Mu Wanqing still felt a little nervous standing on the podium.

Ms. Fang, the vocal music teacher, laughed: "What, you're afraid?"

Mu Wanqing opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Teacher Fang looked at her with a touch of emotion in her eyes.

When this girl first arrived, she was ostracized and isolated; people would point and whisper about her when she walked down the street.

Now, from freshmen to seniors, from students to teachers, the entire department is singing the songs she sang.

"Go ahead and sing," Teacher Fang said. "You can do it."

She suddenly remembered what Zhang Dabiao had said.

What they say is their business. Who you are is your business.

She smiled softly.

A large number of people came to the demonstration class; the area below the stage was packed with people.

There were students from lower grades, students from higher grades, and a few teachers sitting in the back row listening to the proceedings.

Mu Wanqing stood on the podium, her palms slightly sweaty.

She took a deep breath and spoke.

"The Song of Changle, a folk song from the Northern and Southern Dynasties, original lyrics..."

Her voice was a little tense at first, but it gradually relaxed.

When the song reached the line "The wind blows the grass low, revealing cattle and sheep," some people in the audience hummed along softly.

When the music ended, applause broke out.

It wasn't the kind of polite applause; it was the kind of heartfelt applause filled with admiration.

Mu Wanqing stood on the stage, her eyes a little red.

She saw Teacher Fang in the back row and nodded to her.

She saw several girls who had ostracized her before clapping, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

She also saw—

There was a person standing at the door.

Zhang Dabiao skipped class again today and wandered around the streets. Mu Wanqing was giving her first open class as a teaching assistant, and he had to come and support her.

It wouldn't be appropriate to "sneak" into her "little nest" in front of so many people, otherwise I'd have to record it with the peephole—

Will it cause distortion from a wide-angle lens?

Are there enough pixels?

Zhang Dabiao's considerations are always so irrelevant.

Looking at Zhang Dabiao's nonchalant attitude, Mu Wanqing suddenly felt like crying.

But she held back, and the sunlight shone in, falling on the two of them.

Autumn of 1961 was almost over.

But some things are just beginning.

------------

Mu Wanqing has become famous.

To be precise, it became popular in the music performance department.

As she walked down the street, people started greeting her.

"Sister Wanqing!"

"Mu, how did you reach that high note in 'The Song of Changle'?"

"Wanqing, how about we have lunch together?"

Mu Wanqing wasn't used to it at first, but she gradually got used to it.

Of course, not everyone is convinced.

Those girls who had ostracized her before were being polite to her on the surface, but they were still gossiping about her behind her back.

"What's so great about it? It's just singing two songs."

"Exactly, her composition..."

Shh, keep your voice down, someone might hear you.

But despite their murmurs, no one dared to say anything to their faces.

Because there was someone standing behind Mu Wanqing.

That person has a very powerful background.

------------

The students at the school had learned most of Zhang Dabiao's background through various channels.

Someone who knew the children of steel mill workers said, "That guy took on more than a dozen people single-handedly at the factory, and they all fell down!"

Someone who knows a family member working in the Ministry of Foreign Trade said, "He's listed in three ministries! Three ministries! Do you know what that means? Do you know how valuable that is? He's a leader right after graduation, 3% guaranteed a job in a ministry. No, he's currently managing three young cadres! He's not a leader, but he's practically a leader!"

Even more outrageous comments included: "He was stabbed in the heart, fell into the water for over ten hours, and survived! He's incredibly lucky!"

These rumors became increasingly fantastical and outrageous with each passing tale.

But one thing is true—he donated 100,000 remittance certificates.

One hundred thousand.

This number stunned everyone.

"Holy crap, 100,000?"

"Where did he get so much money?"

"I don't know, but they definitely have it."

"Then why did he fall for Mu Wanqing?"

"Who knows? Are you blind?"

The girl who said this had a sour tone in her voice.

The person next to her glanced at her but didn't say anything.

But deep down, they were thinking—[You might want that person to be blind enough to fall for you, but they don't even want you.]

[Mu Wanqing is at least a vixen, what about you?]

[Did the water bucket or the black cornbread become sentient?]

Anyway, Mu Wanqing and Zhang Dabiao have become legendary figures at the Beijing Art Academy.

------------

Zhang Dabiao was unaware that he had become synonymous with "blindness".

He continued to pick up and drop off Mu Wanqing every day as usual, and continued to act carefree and irresponsible.

But recently, he discovered something—

There are more and more "square-shaped" young women at the school gate.

On the first day, a girl with two long braids stood at the door and smiled at him.

Zhang Dabiao didn't pay attention, assuming they were just passing by.

The next day, another one, dressed in a Lenin suit and with short hair, waved at him.

Zhang Dabiao was stunned for a moment, then ignored him.

Three on the third day!

The three girls stood in a row, and when they saw him coming, they all turned their heads and gave him flirtatious winks—

[Holy crap—the black charcoal head, the gas cylinder, the three, four, five kinds of mixed grain cornbread—have all come to life?]

【Is that you, Ru Hua?】

Zhang Dabiao felt a chill run down his spine.

He turned to look at Mu Wanqing.

Mu Wanqing pursed her lips, suppressing a laugh, her shoulders trembling.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhang Dabiao asked.

Mu Wanqing finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Da Biao, do you know who they are?"

"Who?"

"We're a bunch of older single women in our department. They heard you were rich and capable, so..."

Zhang Dabiao's face turned green.

He turned to look at the three girls—they were still flirting with him, their expressions, how should I put it, like wolves seeing meat.

"Let's go!" He grabbed Mu Wanqing, hopped on his bicycle, and sped off.

The three girls called out from behind, "Zhang! Are you coming again tomorrow?"

"I'm not coming anymore!" Zhang Dabiao rode even faster.

Starting tomorrow, Mu Wanqing should ride her bike home by herself. If things continue like this, Zhang Dabiao is afraid he will be surrounded.

Zhao Weiguo and his friends were pushing their bicycles when they saw this scene at the school gate...

All the problems that they couldn't solve with their various attempts were resolved by these young women as soon as they stepped in.

So why did they go through all that trouble, become a laughing stock, and even get beaten up?

What a tragedy...

On the way, Mu Wanqing sat on the back of Zhang Dabiao's bicycle, laughing so hard she couldn't stand up straight.

"Da Biao, why are you running?"

"Nonsense!" Zhang Dabiao said without turning his head. "That look in his eyes, like he wanted to devour me alive!"

"If I don't run, will they catch me and take me back?"

After laughing enough, Mu Wanqing leaned gently against his back.

"Da Biao".

"Um?"

"Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

Mu Wanqing didn't answer, but pressed her face even closer.