Chapter 4

Characters:

- Ngoc Lam family:

+ Mother: Works as a government servant, likes to listen to music and tell stories, knows how to cook but is not good but has magical abilities with household appliances. Likes to laugh

+ Dad: Martial arts master, has a dojo training ground behind the house, still works for the national traditional martial arts team, knows how to cook and cooks the best in the family, no matter how unsatisfied he is about his wife, he only complains to Ngoc Lam.

+ Older brother: In 11th grade, his father's teaching assistant, and a member of the school's martial arts team, his goal is to get into a sports university. Not knowing how to cook, most housework takes on washing dishes. Open-minded and sociable personality.

Van Thac family:

+ Mother: Sales manager, workaholic. Likes to organize weekend cooking parties with family and friends.

+ Father: Freelance writer, who specializes in writing scripts for television series and spends most of his time taking care of Van Thac and his younger sister.

+ Younger sister: In 7th grade, has a gentle personality, likes literature and art due to her father's influence, and likes to hang out with her mother and cook with her on weekends. Since Van Thac started playing the trumpet, he has loved listening to classical music even more.

The morning is dim with rainfall. The weather forecast on Ngọc Lam's phone predicts rain for the morning. It's already 6 a.m., and Ngọc Lam, after checking the time and weather on her phone, sits up, picks up her uniform from the chair, and goes downstairs. 

"Good morning, dear!" greets her mother, sitting at the table and fiddling with a portable radio. There's a pile of cups and chopsticks on the table. Ngoc Lam's father is busy stir-frying food on the stove. 

"Morning, Mom" Ngoc Lam answers briefly and walks into the bathroom.

About ten minutes later, the whole family gathers at the table to start their breakfast. However, Lam's mother is still fiddling with the old radio. 

"The radio is old," Lam's father says as soon as he sees his daughter sitting at the table, "But your mother refused to buy a new one. She even likes to listen to late-night stories, so she keeps switching channels. She might torture that old thing until it's fully broken."

Upon hearing her husband talking about her, Lam's mother pouts. She is already annoyed because the radio cannot adjust the channel. She impatiently taps the top of the poor radio. Unexpectedly, it works again, but it switches to symphonic music. The mother quickly changes the channel again to the morning news.

The mother appears to be confused as she mutters, "Who plays 'it' in the morning?" while glancing over at Ngoc Lam.

"Mom." Ngoc Lam's brother quickly changes the subject. "I have to practice with the school's martial arts team. I'll be home late tonight."

"Really?" Dad also chimes in, "You will stop by the school this noon and pick up Lam, won't you?" directing his inquiry to the mother. 

"After school, just stand next to the security post and wait for me!" The mother smiles as she looks at her daughter and then turns to her husband, "Go to the market and buy some food to keep in the refrigerator. I will cook for lunch."

Breakfast passes quickly, and about half an hour later, Ngoc Lam gets on his brother's motorbike to take her to school. It is a 50cc bike bought by his parents as a gift for him after entering 10th grade.

The motorbike ride takes about 10 minutes, and eventually, it stops in front of the school gate. The gate is packed with groups of students. Ngoc Lam joins the flow of people heading towards her classroom. She walks to her seat, which is located in the first row, close to the right corner. Ngoc Lam opens her bag and takes out the pencil case and the first subject's book. She sets them on the table, like a model student.

As she sits neatly, Ngoc Lam feels someone staring at her intensely. She guesses it is a classmate who plays the trumpet, but this time, he looks for longer than usual. Ngoc Lam turns her head and sees Van Thac looking at her. 

When he's caught, he scratches behind his ear in confusion and looks away. It's not normal, as he usually uses his eyes to beg for a chance to talk to her, but she often ignores him. Ngoc Lam is a bit confused when she sees that, but she dismisses it quickly. As long as Van Thac doesn't bother her, she doesn't mind.

Van Thac casts occasional glances at Ngoc Lam, who is seated at a table up front. He had wanted to ask her for tips on playing the trumpet well for the past few days. However, since last night, he has also been curious about the reason she retired. Thac thinks it would be such a shame if a talented musician like Ngoc Lam had to leave her career so early.

During recess, Ngoc Lam doesn't go to her brother's class, as he has to practice for the school team. Van Thac is unaware of this fact, but he feels that this could be a perfect opportunity to strike up a conversation.

"Ngoc Lam!"

Van Thac calls out to her, but she pretends not to hear him, focusing intently on solving the previous class's exercises. Despite her efforts to ignore him, Thac walks over to her and starts talking again.

"Are you free, I-?"

"I'm not," Ngoc Lam responds firmly, though she can't help but feel regret for ever letting her friend know about her exceptional abilities. It seems like Thac still hasn't given up on pursuing her, but Ngoc Lam remains resolute in her decision to ignore him until he gives up and stops bothering her. 

She continues to look at her notebook, tilting her head slightly as she contemplates the possibilities. She even considers asking her brother to "threaten" Thac in order to help her if he continues to bother her too much. Ngoc Lam knows that she needs to stand her ground and make it clear to Thac that she is not interested in anything about music.

"Lam is a 'prodigy', right?"

As a piece of paper is held out in front of Ngoc Lam's eyes, she comes to a sudden stop. For a moment, time seems to freeze around her. The word "prodigy" strikes a chord deep within Ngoc Lam's heart, tightening it and making it difficult for her to breathe. She clenches her teeth, trying to remain composed so her hands won't crumple the paper. Ngoc Lam realizes that Van Thac is not as foolish as she thought he was. He had taken the time to learn a little about her and knew that she did not like discussing her past. There are always students in the class, at least Thac is sensible enough not to let anyone else know about this.

Despite her efforts to calm down, Ngoc Lam is still deeply upset. In an attempt to regain her composure, she reaches for a nearby pencil and starts scribbling in her notebook. As she finishes writing, she turns the notebook towards Van Thac, her classmate, with a stern look on her face.

"Thac, please stop prying into my affairs. It's not something I'm comfortable with," she says firmly, before quickly erasing her words and returning to her homework.

Van Thac knows that he has crossed a line and that any further attempts to engage Ngoc Lam in conversation would only make things worse. He recalls Luyen's warning about the last time Ngoc Lam performed, and he realizes that his stubbornness in talking to her about music has only pushed her away. He stands there awkwardly for a moment, watching as Ngoc Lam continues to focus on her work before returning to his seat.

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The Conservatory campus is bustling with activity as Thac's trumpet teacher, Mr Woods, supervises the orchestra practising in the theatre. The sound of instruments fills the air as Mr Woods listens intently, conversing with other lecturers about the performance. On stage, Luyen and Thuyen are fully immersed in following the conductor's direction, their passion evident in every note they play. Suddenly, Mr Woods is interrupted by the ringing of his phone, which vibrates on the nearby chair. He calmly stands up and walks to a corner to answer the call, his relaxed demeanour indicating it may be a call with some good news. The call coincidentally ends just as the orchestra finishes playing a piece of music. Mr Woods returns to the group, clapping his hands twice to get everyone's attention.

"Trumpet, you play too loudly! The sound of this trumpet is already so loud. Please restrain yourself!"

His phone rings out again from his seat.

"The clarinet," the teacher points at Luyen's, "Practice the intro carefully again! This piece really needs a clarinet to start perfectly; otherwise, it will affect the entire orchestra later. Are you clear?"

Luyen also quickly replies: "Got it."

Other instructors also step up and give comments to other players they are in charge of. The orchestra's conductor is also a very young man, being guided by a female lecturer. Halfway through, Mr Woods' phone rings again.

"Hello"

The voice of a man on the other side makes the teacher extraordinarily serious. The teacher turns towards the orchestra, answers a few questions in French and then hangs up.

The orchestra continues to practice again. From their seats, Luyen and Thuyen see Mr Woods gradually move towards the audience seats and then disappear behind the auditorium door.

Looks like he's going to welcome a very special guest.