I feel right at home in the world of the courtyard house.

The Beijing Dance Academy was brimming with youthful energy. Liu Yuanyuan was walking along a street on campus when suddenly a voice called out from behind, "Yuanyuan!"

She turned her head and saw that it was her classmate and good friend, Wang Manqi. Wang Manqi smiled and quickly ran a few steps to take Liu Yuanyuan's arm.

Liu Yuanyuan and Wang Manqi were two well-known girls at the dance academy. Both were beautiful, but with different styles. Wang Manqi was the kind of beauty that was immediately striking, with an oval face and willow-leaf eyebrows. Liu Yuanyuan, on the other hand, was a different type; she looked very gentle, with an oval face and her eyes crinkled when she smiled, making her appear very approachable. The two got along very well; they were both ballet students and in the same class.

"Yuanyuan, do you know? Today the school received a job offer. Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, a large state-owned factory in Beijing, wants to select a group of art students from our graduating class!" Wang Manqi said excitedly.

"Really?" Liu Yuanyuan's eyes lit up. Of course she knew about the steel rolling mill, because she lived in the courtyard, and most of the people in the courtyard worked there. At this time of year, a state-owned factory was much better than going to a performing arts troupe or cultural palace, in terms of benefits and everything else. But she was also a little discouraged, because although her parents lived in the same courtyard, they weren't employees of the steel rolling mill.

"Hey, Yuanyuan, why aren't you excited?" Wang Manqi asked, puzzled.

"What's there to be excited about? It's not necessarily the case that we'll be chosen, is it?"

"Why didn't they choose us? Let me tell you, I've found out that they're mainly selecting ballet dancers this time. When it comes to ballet, no one in our year can compare to the two of us, right?" Wang Manqi proudly raised her pretty face.

Liu Yuanyuan laughed at her words: "Shameless." But in her heart, she still agreed with Wang Manqi's words to some extent, after all, their conditions were what they were.

"Oh, let's not talk about that. What exactly happened between you and Zhao Daguo?" Wang Manqi's eyes were full of gossip.

"What relationship do I have with Zhao Daguo? Don't talk nonsense." Liu Yuanyuan quickly clarified that there was no connection between them.

"Are you still pretending? Everyone knows that Zhao Daguo has been chasing you for so long, following you around like a lapdog all day long. You even said in public that you would consider your relationship." Wang Manqi had a look on her face that said, "Don't lie to me."

"I only said that because he was driving me crazy," Liu Yuanyuan quickly explained. She had indeed considered it, mainly because of her uncertainty about her future, and Zhao Daguo did have connections with the Cultural Palace in Changping District. Zhao Daguo had said that his family could help solve the issue of a permanent position. Liu Yuanyuan had originally thought that if she couldn't be assigned to a place near Beijing, she would agree if Zhao Daguo could really get her a spot. But now that she had the opportunity at the steel rolling mill, the position at the Cultural Palace was insignificant—after all, it was in Changping, and subconsciously she felt that it was a rural area, definitely not as good as being in the city.

"By the way, I heard the steel rolling mill needs photos this time. Let's go take one when we have time, and dress up nicely," Wang Manqi said.

"Huh? Is it really that strict?"

"Yeah, that's why I said we're absolutely sure of winning. With our looks, it's like the people at the steel mill are blind."

"You're shameless." Liu Yuanyuan and Wang Manqi started bickering again.

"By the way, you only asked me about you. What's the situation between you and that commander?" Liu Yuanyuan asked curiously.

"Hey, what can we do? We'll see. His destination has already been decided by the District Revolutionary Committee," Wang Manqi said.

"Really? They're so lucky. These young leaders don't have to wait for assignments. Once they go to the district revolutionary committee, they'll at least be group leaders, junior leaders." Liu Yuanyuan said enviously.

"Tch, you don't even look at our dance academy. Look at Peking University and Tsinghua University, those rebel leaders, they go straight to the municipal revolutionary committee after graduation, rising to the top in one step. Our little school can't compare to them. Take that guy who was pursuing me, at most he'll be assigned to the district propaganda team as a captain or group leader. Our tiny school can't even get him a member of the district revolutionary committee," Wang Manqi said disdainfully.

"Alright, we're just a vocational school, how can we compare to a university? Have you made any substantial progress?" Liu Yuanyuan's eyes widened, wanting to inquire further.

"Tch, why bother asking so many questions? Let me tell you, he's dreaming. I'll test him for another two years and see how he develops. If he doesn't do well after graduation and is assigned to a local job, or if I meet someone better, I definitely won't continue with him," Wang Manqi said matter-of-factly.

"Huh? Do you think he'll agree to this? He's the leader of the rebels in our school, after all." Liu Yuanyuan was a little worried.

"Don't worry. What's wrong with that? I can dump other people, so I can dump him too. I didn't marry him, so why would I insist on marrying him?" Wang Manqi said matter-of-factly.

"Manqi, Yuanyuan, you've arrived."

Speak of the devil, and he appears. Li Chao, the rebel leader of the Beijing Dance Academy, was walking towards them from the direction of the teaching building with two henchmen.

"Hey, Commander Li is quite imposing, where did you go?" Wang Manqi teased.

Liu Yuanyuan covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

"Look at you, Manqi, you're joking with me again."

"Who's joking? Commander Li. Who in our school would dare to joke about Commander Li?" Liu Yuanyuan chimed in from the side.

Li Chao looked helpless: "Stop joking, I'm talking to you about serious matters. I just sent your files up for the steel mill's recruitment. Don't worry, you can just go and have your photos taken later." Li Chao looked smug—after all, he was the leader of the rebels at school, and his word was law now.

"Then thank you, Commander Li." Wang Manqi covered her mouth and laughed.

"Isn't that what we should do? By the way, I contacted a theater that's preparing to stage a new play called 'Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy,' and they gave some tickets to our Beijing student organization. I happen to have two left, let's go see it together." Li Chao stared expectantly at Wang Manqi's pretty face.

"When do I have time? I have to go take photos with Yuanyuan, and I have things to do at home. How can I have time to go to the theater? Let's talk about it when we have time." After saying that, Wang Manqi pulled Liu Yuanyuan away.

Li Chao stared at Wang Manqi's retreating figure and called out, "So when's next time?"