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

"I don't care!" Yang Yibai abruptly shook off Zhao Weiguo's hand, her eyes already red with anger. "No matter how powerful he is, can he be unreasonable? I'm doing this for the collective honor of the school! My image, my expertise—in what way am I not more suitable to represent the school than Mu Wanqing? What's wrong with me demanding to replace her?"

She was blinded by anger and jealousy, and her logic had become completely distorted.

"Why should Mu Wanqing be the only one to sing the song he wrote? This song is now related to the school's honor, it's no longer his personal matter! I refuse to believe this, I'm going to confront him and get to the bottom of this today!"

"This is about being responsible to the school and for the overall benefit of the department! It's not just for me!"

"Who is Mu Wanqing? How can she represent our school to lead the singing of the theme song for a hero movie?!"

"You are class leaders, my childhood friends. Are you just going to stand by and watch me be bullied by an outsider, and watch the school's honor be treated like a joke?"

When the weighty label of "collective honor" was slapped on Zhao Weiguo and the other two, they were speechless.

They knew Yang Yibai was being unreasonable, but her words had a sliver of "reason." More importantly, they dared not truly offend this young lady.

"Go! Give me a straight answer, are you going or not!" Yang Yibai issued her final ultimatum.

Zhao Weiguo and Liu Yuanchao exchanged a glance, both seeing deep helplessness and fear in each other's eyes. They knew they were in deep trouble today.

Why are we so confused about coming to school today?

Why do we come to school during the long summer vacation?

Going to fish and play with dogs is better than going to Zhang Dabiao to get tortured.

What a terrible thing!

"...Go." Zhao Weiguo uttered a single word with difficulty.

The group of people pulled out their bicycles and set off.

The sounds of arguing at the college gate gradually faded away, replaced by the clanging of chains from several old bicycles. The rows of tall sycamore trees at the school gate receded rapidly behind them, replaced by patches of mottled gray brick walls in the alley.

The oppressive atmosphere was carried along by this peculiar group into the quiet alley at dusk.

As the sun set, it bathed the entire alley in a warm, golden-red hue. But the expressions on Yang Yibai and her group's faces were even more grim than the shadows cast against the wall.

These young people rode their bicycles, but they all looked dejected, as if they were heading to their execution. Except for Yang Yibai, who was leading the way with a resolute expression, the expressions of Zhao Weiguo and the others following behind her were filled with despair, as if they were saying, "I was forced to come," "I didn't want to come," and "This is the end for us."

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

The wheels rolled on, and soon, courtyard number 95 came into view.

Although they had never been here before, Zhang Dabiao was too famous. Anyone could find out about him with just a few questions. Some of the children of high-ranking officials even came specifically to recognize the place, because some of them had also come when Tian Yiming and Zhang Mingyuan's families brought cultural relics and antiques in exchange for a letter of understanding.

It was late afternoon, and everyone was heading home from get off work. In the front yard, Uncle Yan Bugui and a few old neighbors were playing chess on small stools. When they saw a group of stylish and distinguished young people riding by on bicycles, they all craned their necks in curiosity.

Yang Yibai slammed on the brakes at the gate of the courtyard, the bicycle making a piercing noise.

She jumped out of the car, threw it aside, and without even glancing at the old men playing chess, rushed straight into the courtyard.

"Hey! You little girl..." Yan Bugui was about to call out to her, but he was stunned by the fierce aura emanating from her.

Zhao Weiguo quickly explained to Yan Bugui, "Uncle, we are Mu Wanqing's classmates. We've come to see Zhang Dabiao and Mu Wanqing about something."

Are you here to see Zhang Dabiao?

Yan Bugui immediately turned his head and said, "Do whatever you want, it has nothing to do with me."

Seeing that Yan Bugui ignored them, Zhao Weiguo and the others stopped the car and followed him inside with bitter faces.

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

At this moment, the east courtyard was filled with peace and tranquility.

Zhang Dabiao was reclining in a wicker chair, engrossed in a comic book. On the stone table, Qin Jingru had just brought out a plate of sliced, chilled watermelon—red flesh with black seeds, it looked incredibly sweet. Mu Wanqing sat beside him, holding a sheet of music and softly humming something. He Yushui and her classmates were busy with their summer internship at a cotton mill.

Just then, a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps came from the middle courtyard.

Immediately afterwards, a crisp yet angry voice, like a sharp knife, shattered the tranquility of the entire courtyard.

"Zhang Dabiao! Is Comrade Zhang Dabiao here?"

A young woman wearing a white polyester shirt and blue trousers led a group of people in.

Instead of knocking on the door, he pushed open the fence door of the side room and barged in.

This really annoyed Zhang Dabiao. Who was this guy?

Are you trying to enter through the city gate? Don't you know any manners?

The woman held her chin high, her face frosty, and her eyes swept around the yard like knives before finally fixing on Zhang Dabiao and Mu Wanqing.

It was Yang Yibai.

Behind her, Zhao Weiguo, Liu Yuanchao, and the others looked like wilted eggplants, dejected and unsure of what to do with their hands and feet. Their expressions were a mixture of embarrassment, fear, and helplessness.

They had a natural fear of Zhang Dabiao—a cadre, incredibly wealthy, extremely capable fighter, a man of great contributions, with outstanding achievements, and excelling in both music, art, and sports.

I simply can't compare.

At the courtyard gate, Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses and quietly winked at Liu Haizhong, who was playing chess next to him. The two of them pricked up their ears at the same time.

This is going to be interesting.

Yang Yibai walked straight to the stone table, his shiny black leather shoes making a crisp yet jarring sound as he stepped on the blue brick floor.

"Comrade Zhang Dabiao, and classmate Mu Wanqing!" she spoke, her voice cold and hard, as if questioning, "I'm here today to ask, why can't I be the lead singer of 'Ode to Heroes'?"

Zhang Dabiao forgot to chew the meat in his mouth. He blinked, looking completely bewildered.

Who the hell is this?

Which mental hospital did he escape from? The Sijiucheng Mental Hospital in Beiluoguxiang?

The little wolfhound Erhei rushed out and barked wildly at Yang Yibai, but Zhang Dabiao glared at him and shut him up. "What are you doing here, little guy?"

Mu Wanqing's face paled slightly, and she quickly stood up, wanting to explain: "Yang Yibai, you've misunderstood. This collaboration was directly arranged by Changchun Film Studio. It's all written in the contract. We..."

"contract?"

Yang Yibai interrupted her sharply, a contemptuous and sarcastic smile curving her lips, her eyes looking at something filthy.

"What's a contract! I'm asking you, Mu Wanqing, do you even deserve it?!"

She took a step closer, deliberately lowering her voice, but the malice in her words was like countless poisoned steel needles, each word piercing Mu Wanqing's heart.

"Don't think we don't know your background! Everyone in the Eight Great Hutongs knows who your mother is!"

"Someone who was sold around like a 'foreign porridge slave' since childhood deserves to sing 'Ode to Heroes'?!"

"Every word you sang was an insult to heroes!"

These words, like a series of thunderclaps, exploded loudly in the quiet courtyard.

Zhao Weiguo and his companions were terrified and almost simultaneously shouted, "Yang Yibai, shut up!"

but--

It's too late.