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

Yang Yibai is in a league of her own among students, both in terms of professional skills and personal connections.

To be fair, Yang Yibai is indeed of impeccable character and conforms to the aesthetic standards of this era. Her broadcasting voice and singing are full of emotional ups and downs.

Yang Yibai had an upright and dignified look, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, looking somewhat square and tough, while Mu Wanqing had the face of a modern-day internet celebrity, looking somewhat weak and charming—but who could blame Zhang Dabiao for liking that kind of face.

Yang Yibai slightly raised her chin, an innate sense of superiority emanating from her. Her gaze swept over the surrounding classmates with a subtle, almost imperceptible scrutiny. But when her eyes finally landed on the glaring red notice board and Mu Wanqing, who was surrounded by a crowd of people like a star, the habitual, reserved smile on her lips froze instantly.

That congratulatory notice, like a red-hot steel needle, pierced her eyes.

On what grounds?

This thought, like a venomous snake, instantly coiled around her heart.

Yang Yibai felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly, and a bitter jealousy, like wildly growing vines, instantly filled her heart.

Why her, Mu Wanqing?

A "city poor" whose background is unclear, a wild girl who doesn't even know who her parents are! An opportunist who only knows how to follow men around and only gets ahead by relying on songs written by others!

Shouldn't all the opportunities to represent the school and all the stages that bring honor have always been Yang Yibai's?

She represented the school in singing "The Song of Changle" at last year's city-level arts festival.

This spring, she was the lead singer of the closing song "Towards the Distance" at the internal performance of the education system.

While these songs were indeed written by that guy named Zhang Dabiao, the one who ultimately stood in the spotlight, receiving applause from the leaders and the audience, was Yang Yibai! She was the brightest star in the school!

But now, how come this much more popular song, "Ode to Heroes," the enormous honor that could have graced the national cinema screens—an honor I never even dared to dream of—has bypassed me and fallen directly on Mu Wanqing's head?

Why should I?!

She couldn't understand it, and she couldn't accept it.

She felt like a farmer who had worked hard to cultivate the land, and just as the harvest season was about to arrive, she was told that the biggest and sweetest fruit had already been assigned to someone else.

"Sister Yibai..." A female classmate who was following her noticed that she was in a bad mood and cautiously came over, lowering her voice to say, "Don't be angry. Mu Wanqing is just lucky. Who told her to be a couple with Zhang Dabiao? He wrote this song, and he can give it to whoever he wants."

Another girl chimed in, "Exactly! I heard that this time it was Changchun Film Studio that came directly to us, specifically asking for the authorization of 'Ode to Heroes,' and they even specified Mu Wanqing. Our department just received the notification. Unlike our previous performances, this matter... I'm afraid even our school can't make the decision."

"Can't make the decision?"

Yang Yibai slowly repeated these three words, her voice carrying a chilling coldness.

She didn't speak again, but the gloom in her eyes grew even deeper.

She slowly turned around, no longer looking at the glaring congratulatory notice, nor at Mu Wanqing surrounded by the crowd. She pushed through the crowd and walked straight towards the department head's office.

The girls surrounding her exchanged bewildered glances and quickly followed.

They all knew Yang Yibai's temperament. This young lady had always had a smooth life and had never failed to get what she wanted.

This time, she clearly wasn't going to let it go so easily.

A storm is brewing quietly in this seemingly peaceful art academy.

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

There was a knock on the door of the music department head's office.

"Please come in."

A steady voice came from inside the door.

Yang Yibai pushed open the door, her face once again displaying her usual confident smile, tinged with a hint of arrogance. The girls following behind her tactfully stopped outside the door, nervously peeking in.

In the office, Department Head Zhou, wearing reading glasses, was engrossed in a pile of documents. Seeing Yang Yibai, he looked up in surprise and adjusted his glasses: "It's Yibai, is there something you need?"

Old Zhou had a deep impression of Yang Yibai. She was top-notch in her major, had a good appearance, and, more importantly, came from an extraordinary family background. She was a promising student that the department was focusing on developing.

"Director Zhou," Yang Yibai walked to the desk, pulled up a chair and sat down naturally, her tone both intimate and matter-of-fact, "I've come to talk to you about the theme song for the movie 'Heroes and Daughters'."

Old Zhou put down his pen, leaned back, and looked at her: "Oh? About the 'Heroic Ode'? What happened? Didn't the school just post a congratulatory notice? This is an honor for our department and our school."

"Director, it's precisely because this is an honor for the school that I've come to see you." Yang Yibai straightened her back slightly, her face bearing a serious expression of "thinking of the collective honor." "Regarding the chorus version of the movie theme song, and the choice of the lead singer, I think... perhaps we could discuss it further?"

Old Zhou frowned almost imperceptibly: "Discuss? What do you mean?"

Yang Yibai finally revealed her true intentions. Leaning forward, her voice carried an undeniable air of authority: "Director Zhou, you see, while Mu Wanqing sang well, isn't her image and temperament a bit... too gentle? 'Ode to Heroes' sings of heroes who defend their country, requiring a heroic spirit of battle. Moreover, her family background... shouldn't we carefully consider this in a nationally significant film?"

She paused, then changed the subject, a confident smile spreading across her face: "I think it would be more suitable for me to be the lead singer. Whether it's my singing style, stage presence, or... overall, I can better represent the positive image of our school."

A brief silence fell over the office.

Old Zhou looked at Yang Yibai quietly, his eyes no longer showing the gentleness they had before, but instead filled with scrutiny.

He certainly understood the subtext in Yang Yibai's words. She was simply saying that Yang Yibai had impeccable family background and a dignified image, making her more suitable for the honor than Mu Wanqing, an orphan from an "urban poor" background.

If it were a regular school performance, he might have seriously considered Yang Yibai's suggestion, and even gone along with it to do her family a favor.

But this time, it's different.

Old Zhou's gaze fell on a document spread out on his desk. It was a contract, with the bright red official seal of Changchun Film Studio standing out prominently.

He slowly adjusted his reading glasses, his tone calm yet clear:

"Yang Yibai, there's nothing to talk about about this."

"The lead singer cannot be replaced."