Chapter 22 - Group A

The next day, Mei awoke to the sound of soft ringing from the phone next to her bed.

Her eyes red and swollen from crying to sleep last night, she groggily answered while trying to sound stern, "Yes?"

A male voice from the other end startled her, "Huh, you just woke up didn't you?"

"Who is this?"

"Shame that you can't even recognize your own husband," Jian sneered through the call.

Expressing her disapproval, Mei remarked, "What do you want?"

"I see that you have forgotten your introduction day at Group A today. How can I blame you? You succumbed to your luxury the first day indeed," he scoffed back.

"F##K!" Yelling, Mei slammed the phone on the desk, stumbling out of the bed, she rushed to get ready.

She ran out the door, bumping into Bao Zhai, falling to the ground.

"Ow Ow," she winced in pain, her hand over her feet.

Concerned, Bao Zhai kneeled down, "Are you okay Ma'am?"

"Ah yes yes I am, I just need to hurry out to the Liu Academy now," Mei replied, struggling to get up.

Puzzled, Bao Zhai informed her, "It's only 7 am Ma'am. Jian told me to wake you up at 8 as you need to reach the Academy at 10."

"What?"

Standing up, she looked down the corridor at a clock that showed 7:10 am.

Sighing with relief, she thanked Bao Zhai, returning to her room, she heard a laugh coming from the phone.

Realizing that the call was still connected, she picked up as Jian chuckled on the other end, "You really are dumb, aren't you?"

Enraged, she fumed, "What the hell do you think you are doing?"

"What? It's not my fault that you didn't even bother to check the time," he condemned.

Mei felt her forehead burning up, her temper rising with each second,

"How much of an entitled a##hole are you?"

"Don't worry about that, I'm sure you will get to know that with time. Anyways, try not to ruin your first day."

He hung up the phone, leaving an irked Mei behind as she heard the click.

Giggling, Jian leaned back on his chair, "It's cute to see her so lively."

Arriving at the Academy, Mei noticed her old trainee members from Group C gossiping out at the entrance.

One of the girls glanced at her driving by, giving her a scornful look and pointing at her car.

Everyone frowned at the car as it passed next to them.

Mei felt her heart racing in her chest when she stepped out on the floor made for Group A, her hand clenching her bag.

She stopped outside the door, her grip tightening around the strap, her breath shaky, her mind recalling her previous group mates' malicious gazes.

"I'm sure they wouldn't like me. I know they're gonna make fun of me for being enrolled in this late. Why did I agree to this? I'm not ready for this." She muttered softly.

Pushing the door open, her eyes staring down at her feet, she walked in slowly.

Inside were 6 girls exercising and practicing who glimpsed back at Mei and slightly nodded at her, immediately going back to their respective routine.

Mei gulped, biting her lips and taking a deep breath in relief, she looked around the large open space.

The room was connected with the other doors on the floor, which included their break dorm, the enormous bathroom that was filled with lockers, and a huge sofa near the sinks and the offices for the vocal coach and choreographer.

She put her bag down as she awkwardly stood in the corner, not aware of what to do.

One of the girls peeking at her from the front decided to approach her, intending to chat with Mei.

Waving her over, she cheerfully said, " You must be the new addition, I must say, you're pretty lucky that you didn't have to handle trainer Wei during the first days because he was absolutely brutal."

Mei smiled and nodded her head at the girl, glancing down at her fingers, fiddling and intertwining them together.

The girl noticed her nervousness and comforted her, "Don't be too anxious, we won't bite you." Chuckling, she introduced herself, "I completely forgot, I'm Guan-Yin but you can call me Kuan."

Easing herself a bit, Mei replied in a soft hesitant tone, "I'm... Mei Ling."

"Ohhh, Weren't we together in Group C two years ago? No wonder you looked so familiar."

Pursing her lips, she responded with a murmur, "Yup."

Kuan shook her head, jabbering as she slid her hand on Mei's back, slightly nudging her in the front with her, "Well, it's great to see that we would debut together, I'm sure you waited long enough for this moment."

Suddenly, she clapped her hands together in delight, "Oh Oh! Let me show you around the rooms, The bathroom is one of the best places if you want to take a picture because of the lighting, and the offices..."

"That's enough chatter, for now, Guan-Yin, let the poor girl get accustomed to her new group at least," interrupting Kuan, a man in a white t-shirt and black trousers walked in through one of the doors and stood in front of the large mirror that covered the entire walls in the room.

Snapping his fingers, he stated, "Listen up everyone! I see that you have already met your new group member, Mei Ling. She is one of the older trainees here in the Academy and I'm sure she would be able to complete the routine within no time."

Calling Mei over to his side, he patted her on the back, "Nice to finally meet you, Mei Ling, everyone has heard a lot about you. I am the head and group trainer, Wei Bong and I will be guiding you through your given routine and training as necessary."

She looked around the room at everyone who kindly smiled back at her.

Bowing down, she asked Wei, "May I know the date for the debut?"

"It's exactly one month from now."

Mei gawked at him, her eyes widened in shock, realizing how little time she had.

"It's nothing too difficult as a trainee like you can manage it. The only worry I have for you is the choreography as your previous trainer had told me that dancing is one of your weak points," handing her a phone, he continued, "This has all your coaches and group members' contacts, if you require any assistance, you can reach us anytime. Keep in mind that this phone is only for work and not personal use. "

As she walked back to Kuan, Wei called out, "I hope you stay determined for this Mei Ling. You have a lot of people supporting you. Don't disappoint them."