Chapter 8: Nessun dorma!

St Mary's last-minute online learning week came to an end and the new school administration deemed it safe enough for students to come back to school for in-person learning.

Mei Yun went straight to the General Office to submit the termination form before meeting up with Wu Jiahui and Xiao Lingling to go to class together.

"So, how long would the process take?" Xiao Lingling asked as she drank a packet of Milo.

"Around three to four days." Mei Yun replied.

"I still can't believe you're leaving. I'll miss you in class." Wu Jiahui looked a little sad.

"Don't worry, I still have to go to class until the termination is confirmed, you'll still see me. And besides, we're in the same class for other subjects so it's not like I'm gone."

The three friends laughed as they began their peaceful school day.

At the end of the school day when Mei Yun was walking through the main forum towards the exit, she was flagged down by Tao Xinyin who was also leaving.

"Oh, Mei Yun, do you have a moment?" Tao Xinyin called to her.

"Uh, yeah. What is it, Ms Tao." Mei Yun turned to face her.

"I heard you dropped out of the music programme."

"Oh, yeah. I did." Mei Yun confirmed.

Tao Xinyin had a complicated expression on her face, "May I know the reason why?"

"Hm." Mei Yun looked around, there were a few students loitering around, "Here is not a good place to talk. Let's go to MontBlanc."

At MontBlanc, Mei Yun and Tao Xinyin sat on one of the outdoor tables. Mei Yun ordered her usual chai latte while Tao Xinyin had an expresso.

"Ms Tao, I've never liked the programme. I was starry-eyed but it disappointed me, so I decided to leave." Mei Yun continued.

"…Is that why you were so determined to overhaul the programme structure?" Tao Xinyin put two-and-two together and realised that Mei Yun's recent actions lined up until now lined up.

Mei Yun gave a small smile. Her answer was embedded in that smile.

"Sigh…You are indeed a spectacular person." Tao Xinyin understood the hidden message, "It's no wonder Wang Jun and Liu Fan like you."

"They talked to you about me?" Mei Yun was intrigued that Wang Jun and Liu Fan told people about her.

"Only Liu Fan. Wang Jun…we haven't spoken in a while." Tao Xinyin gave a sad smile.

Mei Yun nodded, finding it fascinating that Liu Fan found her interesting enough to gossip about.

"When is the performance?"

"Hm?"

"The piano trio."

"Oh, that. I thought you knew, since you and Liu Fan talk quite a fair bit." Mei Yun was a bit perplexed that she didn't know what day it was on.

"Yeah, sadly he didn't tell me." Tao Xinyin pursed her lips as if she was embarrassed but Mei Yun noticed her eyes shift to the side.

Without missing a beat, Mei Yun replied, "Heh, you should start pestering him. He's the kind to be a bit scatterbrained so he needs multiple reminders."

Tao Xinyin's eyes widened a bit, "O-oh yeah, I should haha." She drank her expresso awkwardly.

Mei Yun gauged her expression.

'Why did she lie just now?'

"Ms Tao. Since Director Luo is no longer in the music programme, what are you going to do? Wasn't your elective based on having a supervisor?" Mei Yun decided to change the subject.

"Oh, um, the school is calling a teacher out from retirement to help with the transition period until a new Director is posted. My elective is still ongoing since I will still have a supervisor."

"Hm…" Mei Yun paused, taking in what she just said, "You told me that what you previously thought was the music programme is all wrong. I thought you would leave."

"I did." Tao Xinyin put her cup down, "But your courage has inspired me to do this till the end. Once my elective is over, I'll go back to performing. I still want to teach but I think I need a new perspective on it."

"That's understandable." Mei Yun drank her chai latte, "But you're adding a few years of extra study though."

"It's a worthy sacrifice." Tao Xinyin shrugged.

Mei Yun nodded as if agreeing with her and continued to drink until she finished her cup.

She stood up and grabbed her things.

"Sorry for the abrupt exit. I do have to go home and study for the midterms."

"Oh, that's alright." Tao Xinyin understood, "All the best in your revision."

Mei Yun turned to leave but she stopped and turned back to face Tao Xinyin.

"Oh, if you are going to the piano trio performance, please show your enthusiasm for Liu Fan and Wang Jun. It is their midterm too."

Mei Yun left, leaving a dumbfounded Tao Xinyin to stare at her retreating figure.

Later that night after a couple of hours revising all her subjects, Mei Yun laid on her bed and reflected on what happened earlier that afternoon.

'Why did she lie about not knowing what day the performance was on? It was obvious that Liu Fan told her since they were corresponding regularly.'

'Was she expecting me to tell her? She's been exhibiting some weird behaviour lately, seeing as this was not the first time. Was I being too petty in my response?"

Mei Yun stuffed her face in her pillow in frustration.

'Argh! What's with this lady?! It's as if she's trying to ask a favour from me in the most roundabout way ever?'

"Ping!" Her phone message notification rang and Mei Yun rolled over to check her phone

It was Wang Jun.

Wang Jun: Tomorrow is the last rehearsal. I hope you are prepared since we won't meet again until the performance :)

Mei Yun: Yup, got it.

A brief silence from Wang Jun before a reply came.

Wang Jun: Are you ok?

Mei Yun raised an eyebrow. Why the sudden concern?

Mei Yun: What do you mean?

Another brief silence.

Wang Jun: You're not using kaomojis…

Upon seeing that message, Mei Yun laughed out loud.

'Oh my! He is so…adorable! Well, it's true I'm in a complicated mood right now and he can tell because I didn't use kaomojis. How sweet of him fufu.'

Mei Yun: Hahaha. To be honest, I'm in a bit of an odd mood right now plus exam stress so I'm a little out of it.

Wang Jun: Odd mood? What might have caused that I wonder?

Mei Yun: I'll tell you sometime tomorrow. But for now, I'll be going to bed a little earlier since I have a busy day ahead. Goodnight!

Wang Jun: (_　_).゜zｚＺ

Mei Yun broke into a smile.

'He really is adorable.'

Mei Yun: (∪.∪ )…zzz

**

Wang Jun sat on the piano stool in his apartment in downtown S-City.

Mei Yun: (∪.∪ )…zzz

The latest message from Mei Yun made him relieved. She wasn't feeling depressed or having a hard time.

His experience with Tao Xinyin made him learn about a woman's grumpy constitution. Trend wrongly and you'll bear the brunt of all the attacks.

Mei Yun was different in a sense that she was more honest with how she was feeling and what caused those emotions. Wang Jun appreciated that even though he was taken aback during their first meeting.

He looked at their conversation.

'Mei Yun, I hope you will open up to me more and confide in me about other matters. Not just music…'

He knew that the piano trio performance was not going to be the last time they would meet each other. There was Mei Yun's audition into the S-City University music programme by special admission. He genuinely looked forward to spending more time with her working on their performance together.

'Oh, there is also the final assessment.'

Wang Jun was in his final year at S-City University and the graduation performance or final assessment was something he hadn't started on even though all the students were advised to at least come up with a concept.

Wang Jun knew that Mei Yun would definitely be part of that performance.

'I should bring this up when we meet sometime after the piano trio midterm…'

"Ping!" His phone notification rang. He reached to check his phone.

Tao Xinyin: It's been a while. Shall we meet up for a chat?

Wang Jun frowned.

Tao Xinyin had been sending him messages similar to this one for at least a week. When they broke up, their messages became cordial and polite but now the tone has completely changed.

He didn't like it.

He never replied to those messages because it didn't sound genuine, at least to him. While he was curious of the reason, he didn't want to bring up old memories of love and sweet caresses. For all he knew, she just wanted someone to talk to.

To save himself from a second heartache, he never replied to those messages.

He opened the chat and left her on read before going back to his practice.

It was going to be a long night.