Old Friend

As the first rays of dawn pierced through the dark sky, painting the world in hues of gold and orange, a sense of anticipation filled the air, signalling the beginning of a new day.

The following morning, Miaoyi woke up and went about her usual morning routine. However, something seemed amiss. Qiuying was nowhere to be found, and a small note on the refrigerator caught Miaoyi's attention.

Curiosity piqued, she read the note: "Dear Tang Miaoyi, I've taken Yun Jie to grab some essentials nearby this morning. Breakfast is on the table for you. Please head to school independently today, and don't wait for me."

A mischievous smile played on Miaoyi's lips as she crumpled the note, realizing she had been left behind. She grabbed a milk box with a straw, hardly bothered by the situation, and sauntered to the dining table. There, a bowl of honey cornflakes patiently awaited her.

Satisfied, she swiftly finished her breakfast and checked the time. It was time for her to leave.

"They've left without me, huh?" Miaoyi arched an eyebrow and mused, undeterred. With a shrug, she made up her mind to head to school on her own. Qiuying's group was probably already en route to school, and as for Yun Jie, who could say when he would return? He had just moved to the area and probably had his own matters to attend to.

"If they haven't come back, I'll just go by myself."

Leaving her home, which was not far from the school, Miaoyi chose to walk as she always did, leisurely strolling along the road.

"Huh? Yi Yi, over here!"

Just as she had walked a short distance and left the residential area, Miaoyi heard a familiar female voice coming from a distance. She turned her head to look and saw a girl with long, flowing hair standing in front of a pancake stall near the subway entrance. The girl was smiling and waving her arms excitedly.

"Hmm? It's... Nuo Yun?" Miaoyi scoured her memory, finally piecing together fragments of information about this girl.

Nuo Yun hailed from the neighbouring class and had a decent rapport with the previous occupant of Miaoyi's body. While they weren't the closest of friends, they were acquainted and had often journeyed to school together in the past due to their proximity.

But during this recent period, Miaoyi had lost touch with her. Well, she had been preoccupied with adapting to her new life as a female high school student.

"It's great to see you again today. I haven't seen you around much lately, not even at school," the girl called Nuo Yun approached with a smile, holding her backpack in one hand and the freshly bought pancakes in the other. She naturally stood next to Miaoyi.

"Yeah... I've been dealing with a few things lately, which is keeping me quite busy. That's why I haven't been able to make it to school every day," Miaoyi replied, appreciating the girl's kindness and greeting her with a cheerful smile. "

But I'm getting things sorted, and I'll be more settled in soon."

No need to divulge the details - continuing to be unsettled would undoubtedly earn Miaoyi the wrath of Tang Lina. This young lady tended to loudly voice her grievances about Miaoyi's lackadaisical approach to academics.

"Busy? What have you been up to?" Nuo Yun looked at TMiaoyi with a slightly puzzled expression.

"Well, I've been trying out some new things," Miaoyi replied cryptically, followed by a mysterious smile. "Believe me, you'll find out in the future."

"Ooh, so secretive." Nuo Yun smiled faintly, not probing any further, and continued walking to school with Miaoyi.

"By the way, Yi Yi, what kind of grand performance do you have in store for the school anniversary?" Nuo Yun inquired, her eyes filled with anticipation. "Are you planning another breathtaking piano solo like in previous years?"

With the conversation about Miaoyi's recent activities drawing to a close, Nuo Yun smoothly transitioned to discussing the upcoming 50th-anniversary celebration.

"The school anniversary?" Miaoyi nodded, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. "No, this time, I won't be doing a solo. I'll be showcasing an original song. However, I won't be participating in the auditions. I have a surprise in store for the main event. Someone else will handle the auditions, and I'll be there as the accompanist."

"An original song?" Nuo Yun's eyebrows arched in surprise, her eyes widening with admiration. "That's truly impressive! Did you compose it yourself? I can't wait to hear it."

Miaoyi smiled modestly, her eyes twinkling with a touch of pride. "Actually, the idea for this song was created by someone in my class, An Qiuying. I'm just lending my assistance with the accompaniments and final touches."

Nuo Yun's excitement grew. "Oh, An Qiuying? She must be incredibly talented to come up with such a remarkable song. With your skills combined, it's bound to be phenomenal."

The anticipation in Nuo Yun's voice was contagious as Miaoyi's heart swelled with gratitude for her friend's support. "Thank you for your faith in us. We'll do our best to deliver something extraordinary."

However, a sudden realization crossed Nuo Yun's mind, and her brows furrowed with concern. "Wait a minute, Yi Yi, there's something important I need to tell you. I'm not sure if you're aware of this."

A hint of worry crept into Miaoyi's expression. "What is it? Why the sudden seriousness?"

Taking a deep breath, Nuo Yun began, her voice filled with caution, "Since you won't be participating in the auditions, you need to be cautious. The Student Council is responsible for allocating spots for the school anniversary performances. It's a power granted to them by the school."

Miaoyi's eyes widened, absorbing the gravity of the situation. "I see. So, they have control over who gets chosen."

Nuo Yun nodded, her tone solemn. "Exactly. The Student Council has been known to manipulate and influence these allocations for their own agenda. It's not a secret. They use these positions as bargaining chips, playing behind-the-scenes games. Usually, they wouldn't dare touch your position if you were participating, but anything could happen now that you're not. The school is oblivious to its actions, as the Student Council is adept at keeping it under wraps. These maneuvers are limited to this time of the year. But don't worry; you have nothing to fear from them.

Though, I've heard that they have some kind of 'internal arrangement' for the auditions."

Miaoyi mustered a confident smile, masking her underlying indifference. Deep down, she couldn't care less about the machinations of the Student Council.

To her, they were mere pawns in the grand scheme of things. What trouble could they possibly cause her?

Dismissing the significance of the school anniversary, Miaoyi casually replied, "I appreciate your warning, Nuo Yun. However, I won't let their games bother me. They're just students, after all. If they don't provoke me, I'll simply ignore their antics. But if they dare to target me, they'll learn the consequences of their actions."

Nuo Yun couldn't help but be awed by Miaoyi's unwavering confidence. She nodded, understanding the strength within her friend. "I believe in you, Yi Yi. Let's show them what you're capable of."

With a final nod of determination, Miaoyi waved her hand dismissively, signalling their departure. "Absolutely! We won't let anything or anyone hold us back. Let's go, Nuo Yun. Time waits for no one."