Chapter 2: Lascia ch’io pianga

St Mary's School was known for producing some of the most talented musicians, both contemporary and classical. The school has a rigorous music programme that cultivated such talent which was exceptionally hard to get into. However, while St Mary's music programme is a dream come true for aspiring musicians on the outside, it is very different on the inside. It was notorious for its favouritism, praising the high achievers while degrading those who barely scraped by.

Mei Yun didn't think she would be coming back to this school. The navy and yellow school colours stitched onto her uniform and painted on the school walls; there was no doubt that she was back in St Mary's.

"Mei Mei!" A loud female voice called out.

Mei Yun half-turned before she was tackled by her best friend Xiao Lingling.

"Oof! It's so early in the morning. I'm not in the mood for games." Mei Yun complained.

'Xiao Lingling, how long has it been since we last spoke? I've forgotten how energetic you were.'

Xiao Lingling was Mei Yun's best friend since their first year in St Mary's. Unlike Mei Yun, she wasn't in the music programme but the two hit it off during their first week of orientation and stayed friends since. When Mei Yun quit music, it was Xiao Lingling who comforted her and helped her boost her mathematics and science grades which allowed her to get into the Advanced Science Course in the St Mary's Junior College division. They pursued different majors in university and became accomplished scientists but their friendship sort of drifted apart as their work made them busier. Before she was reborn, it had been over a year since Mei Yun last spoke with Xiao Lingling. This time, she wanted to increase their bond more in this life so the same thing doesn't happen again.

"Whatever girl haha! So how did it go? The performance?" Xiao Lingling asked.

"Oh that? It went horribly. My anxiety crept into my bones and ruined it for me." Mei Yun replied rather casually.

"Ho~ For someone whose music career might lie in the balance, you are quite relaxed."

"Yup! Because I've finally realised what I needed to do." Mei Yun replied confidently.

"And what is that you need to do? Practice more?" Xiao Lingling asked sarcastically.

"Quit the music programme."

"Cough! Cough!" Xiao Lingling choked on her Milo, "Quit?!" She looked around and noticed a few girls staring at them, "What do you mean?! What happened?!" She hissed.

Mei Yun looked at the clock, "I'll tell you during the first break but we have to get to class quickly."

The pair followed the numerous girls who were heading to the classrooms to begin assembly and first period.

After the first, second and third periods, the girls finally had their first break. Mei Yun and Xiao Lingling walked to the cafeteria to buy a few baozi to eat. They only had 30 minutes before the next period so they quickly sat down and ate their food. Once they finished, Xiao Lingling took a huge gulp of Milo before asking Mei Yun again.

"Quit the music programme? Why? What happened?"

Mei Yun noted how much calmer the question was compared to earlier that morning.

"You know how toxic the music programme is. Yesterday's performance made me realise that I deserve better so I'm planning on going to the General Office and submitting a withdrawal form."

"Yeah, I know about the music programme. I mean, who doesn't know about Director my-way-or-the-highway. But Mei Mei, the grace period to withdraw from the music programme has long expired."

Xiao Lingling was worried about the troublesome process of withdrawing from a class halfway through the year. She didn't want Mei Yun to be too burdened and stress herself out.

However, Mei Yun knew it was no problem. She had done exactly that in her last life. However, this time she would do it differently.

"Lingling, you already know that I'm one of the struggling students. It wouldn't matter to them that I've quit. But I'm not leaving without a grand gesture." Mei Yun gave Xiao Lingling an impish look.

"What do you mean?" Xiao Lingling became intrigued.

"It's not good to say it here. Let's talk about it after school." Mei Yun mysteriously ended the conversation.

So, a frustrated Xiao Lingling had to wait another four hours before school finally ended and the pair can leave the campus. Once outside, they took a bus to upper downtown S-City where they decided to have late lunch in a little quaint café called MontBlanc.

Once their orders arrived, Xiao Lingling asked again,

"What do you mean you will not be leaving the music programme without a grand gesture?"

Mei Yun quietly sipped her chai latte before answering, "I've heard a rumour that Director Luo is having illicit relations with the Principal."

"Huh?! No way! How do you know this!" Xiao Lingling exclaimed in surprise. A few patrons heard her outburst and stared at her, she apologised for the noise.

Mei Yun couldn't very well say that a few years after she quit the music programme, it was revealed that the Principal and Director Luo were not only engaged in an affair but also embezzled money from the school's charity fund to send their favourite students to S-City University under the guise of a scholarship. When the report was released to the public, a lot of their former scholarship students were so remorseful that they paid the school back as a way of apology.

"A music programme student told me about it." That was technically correct. Mei Yun remembered that Wu Jiahui, one of the quieter students confided in her about an intimate moment she witnessed in the music building. Some odd sounds were coming from the percussion room and curiosity got the better of her so she peeked.

Mei Yun didn't take her seriously at the time as she was having her own problems. She later heard that Wu Jiahui not only left the music programme but also left the school. Within a year, rumours were flying around that she committed suicide.

Thinking about it now, she suspected that Director Luo and the Principal had something to do with Wu Jiahui's dropping out of school and eventual suicide. Luckily, it had only been a few days since Wu Jiahui confided in her about this, it's not too late to save her.

"Which music student?" Xiao Lingling asked.

"Wu Jiahui." Mei Yun replied.

"Jiahui? That really quiet girl in class?" Suddenly, a realisation dawned upon her, "She's been quieter than usual and more withdrawn lately. You don't think…"

"Perhaps. We have to talk to her tomorrow."

"Hm, but she's so withdrawn. I don't think we can get much out of her if it turns out she is being threatened." Xiao Lingling didn't seem convinced.

"She confided in me before. If I approached her, perhaps she will talk."

"Oh true. Then, I'll leave it to you." Xiao Lingling began eating her chicken pot pie, "You know, Mei Mei, you look happier and more confident today. I don't remember the last time I've seen you so sure of yourself."

'Me either, Lingling. It's only after so much hard work that I am able to confidently walk on my own two feet.'

"Really? Is it bad?" Mei Yun couldn't help but ask.

"Nope! I like it! I'm glad you're no longer sad and complaining all the time. To be honest, I was getting tired of your mopey expression and lifestyle. I was always wondering where my best friend went." Xiao Lingling happily took another bite of her chicken pot pie.

Mei Yun stopped eating and stared at her gluttonous friend.

'Was…this the reason why we drifted so far apart in our previous lives? Lingling, I never knew…"

Mei Yun recalled how unhappy she was at this point in time up until her graduation from Junior College. She would complain day in and day out to Xiao Lingling, never asking about her day or how her studies were going. No, it was always about her whenever they met. She suddenly felt very guilty.

"I'm sorry Lingling. I didn't intend for you to feel this way." Mei Yun apologised.

Xiao Lingling smiled, "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you're back."

Mei Yun smiled and continued eating her chicken club sandwich.

'So am I, Lingling.'

**

After their late lunch, Xiao Lingling had to go for extra classes for her humanities' courses so they parted at MontBlanc. Armed with a plan to talk to Wu Jiahui the next day, Mei Yun leisurely walked home.

She opened the door and her mother's jolly voice could be heard from the kitchen.

"Oh Yu Yu!" Fu Qing called her daughter, "How was school?"

"Alright." Mei Yun replied, "You're back early."

"Mm! The restoration went better than expected so I was able to finish quickly." Fu Qing continued to work in the kitchen as she replied her daughter.

Mei Yun's parents, Fu Qing and Mei Kong own an art gallery in downtown S-City. Well, to be more accurate, Mei Kong owns the gallery but Fu Qing is the chief curator so she sometimes helps her husband. Both mother and father come home just before dinner at 7pm so it was rare to see Fu Qing back at 4pm.

"What about dad?" Mei Yun took off her shoes and placed it on the rack.

"He'll be back as usual." Fu Qing replied, "Are you going to practice?"

"Not yet, I have to check my email for new scores." Mei Yun took off her socks and carried them upstairs.

"Hm…I'm still in awe that you managed to partner up with students from S-City University to perform as part of their midterm exam. It's great exposure to the performing world." Fu Qing commented.

'It's not much of a partnership but sure, I'll take it.'

"It is. I'm quite lucky to have the opportunity." Mei Yun disappeared upstairs.

Mei Yun dropped her schoolbag next to the closet and turned on her laptop on her desk. She checked her email and found a new message from Wang Jun:

'Hi Mei Yun,

I've sent the remaining scores for the Piano Trio midterm. I'm sorry it's late, Liu Fan couldn't decide which one he wanted out of the two we picked.

See you next Tuesday :)

Wang Jun'

'Oh~ Wang Jun used a smiley face. That's a first!'

Mei Yun clicked on the scores and out popped Mozart's Piano Trio in B-flat Major K502. She skimmed through the violin part. It wasn't too technically difficult as expected of Mozart but she'd better practice her intonation because Mozart's music is so clean that every mistake can be heard as clear as day. She printed the copy and set it on her music stand then she took out her violin from its case and tuned it. She checked her bow; there was still enough rosin for the time being but she will have to add some more later.

She then tuned to the score.

'Hm, no tempo markings…but since it is Allegro, I'll set the metronome to 114 bpm and start with Allegretto. I'll gradually increase the speed until I reach around 150 bpm unless Wang Jun wants another speed.'

Mei Yun set the metronome to 114 bpm and started to sight read:

'Oof! Acciaccatura off the bat. I have to make sure these are heard.'

'Argh! Running notes sound so squashed. Again!'

'Ok, this speed seems good. Now, lets raise the bpm to 120.'

'Not too bad, but let's try again for good measure.'

"Yu Yu! It's time for dinner." Fu Qing called from downstairs.

Mei Yun looked at the clock on her desk: 7pm.

'It's already dinner time. I've been practising this first movement for three hours straight.'

She wiped down her violin and the wooden part of the bow before securing it in its case. She stretched her arms, legs and back before going downstairs.

Mei Kong had just arrived from work at the gallery and gave his daughter a wave from below.

"Yu Yu! I heard you practising just now. Sounds like you are making good progress."

Mei Yun sat down and glanced at the dished on the table: Soy ginger fish and braised pork belly. She picked up her chopsticks and took some food and placed it in her rice bowl.

"There are some things I need to work on but yes, I am making good progress. How's work at the gallery?"

Mei Kong stopped eating before he answered, "As you mother mentioned, restoration work is going very well and my workload is lightening a little. I'm a little glad for that because this time of year is always a hassle for me since S-City University fine art's students want to secure an exhibition with us."

"It's their graduation, right?" Fu Qing asked.

"Haha yes. I'm always proud of my juniors but it has made me realise how desperate we once were during that time in our lives." Mei Kong started to reminisce.

Fu Qing nodded knowingly. She is an art curator after all.

Mei Yun smiled slightly, she missed eating with her parents like this. In her previous life, she rarely spoke to her parents and moved out once she got her Bachelor's Degree. She now realised she took them for granted, they cared about her greatly.

She quietly ate her dinner, savouring the time she spends with her parents.

After dinner, Mei Yun helped clean up the kitchen before heading back to her room to practice some more.

She noticed some messages on her phone so she laid down on her bed to check:

Wang Jun: Mei Yun, what do you think of the repertoire we picked?

Mei Yun raised an eyebrow at the odd question but she smiled.

Mei Yun: It's good o(*￣▽￣*)ブMendelssohn's two Piano Trios both in minor keys to start before ending the hour with Mozart's sprightly Piano Trio in B-flat Major is a great way to keep the audience engaged. I think stage presence is just as important as musicality since not many people in the general public would know much about the techniques used in each piece.

Wang Jun: :) I'm glad I asked you. Liu Fan wanted to pick Tchaikovsky's Piano Trio in A Minor but I didn't want something so depressing to follow minor keys; the audience wouldn't be satisfied otherwise. He made a bit of a fuss about it.

Mei Yun giggled. Even men at the age of 22 still act like children sometimes.

Mei Yun: Tell him to save the melancholy for his solo performances where he can perform Elgar and Dvorak in one sitting (*^_^*)

A brief period of inactivity from Wang Jun's side before a one-lined message came through:

Wang Jun: I told him those exact words an hour ago.

Mei Yun sat up with terrifying speed. What are the odds?! She can't help but feel weirdly happy. The musician she admired for years had the same retort as she did.

Mei Yun: ( •̀ ω •́ )y

She put her phone back and paced around her room.

'Fufu, he's surprisingly funny, that Wang Jun.'

She picked up her violin and resumed her practice for two hours before bed. She went to sleep pleased that she managed to finish the first movement without too much hassle. She only had to learn the rest before the first rehearsal with Wang Jun and Liu Fan on Tuesday.

Meanwhile in a studio apartment in downtown S-City,

Mei Yun: Tell him to save the melancholy for his solo performances where he can perform Elgar and Dvorak in one sitting (*^_^*)

Wang Jun nearly dropped his phone. He said something to that effect to Liu Fan around an hour ago. They had argued over the programme before Liu Fan reluctantly gave in to the Mozart Piano Trio. To cheer him up, Wang Jun had said,

"You have more chances to be melancholy for your solo performances. You can play as much Elgar and Dvorak as you like. You can even make your programme dedicated to melancholy."

Liu Fan laughed sarcastically before leaving the house. He is not the type to stay mad for long but he knew that Wang Jun had won the war of words that day.

Now alone, Wang Jun stared at the witty one-liner that Mei Yun had sent him. He couldn't take his eyes off the message.

Sighing, he ran his hands through his hair before coming to rest on his eyes.

'That girl…is really something else.'