"Lei!" From left to right, my classmates were calling out my name as I make my way towards the music building. I nod slightly towards my classmates as a greeting and continue to walk, not stopping for anyone. Today is the day we see the performance of Faye Calinao, one of best cellist of our age in this world. Everyone here today are excited to see her performance.

When I was accepted into the masters program for Juilliard in the U.S., they asked if Faye Calinao could be my partner for the senior recital here at Ming De University. First, I was unsure why Faye would want to come here during her senior year to perform with someone she did not know. I knew she had was near complete with her studies and from an interview, she had said she wanted to come back to her home country for her last year before continuing on at Juilliard.

"Faye Calinao is already inside!"

"You're so lucky to work with her!" A freshman called out. I kept my expression neutral and my eyes fixed at the music building. There was chatter about either me or Faye Calinao. This has been the chatter of the music department since Monday. The President made an announcement early morning of Monday and since my classmates have been eager for todays performance. I had my violin ready in hand to practice after her performance. I opened the door to the music building and walked straight in.

The foyer is already filled with my classmates and professors. Some were standing around and having a chat and others were walking into the auditorium. Before I head for the doors of the auditorium, I spot Meizuo standing. His arms were crossed and he looked around. To my surprise, I wonder why he is here. I wasn't sure why he would be here. He is usually never in this building. Once he spots me, he makes his way over.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him. I began walking to the auditorium so we could find a place to sit.

"Thought I'd come see the performance. I've heard from our classmates here that you'll be working with Faye for your recital?"

"Yes... She's my accompanist from Juilliard. Juilliard asked their top student to come here to be my accompanist when I was accepted in their master program."

"Aren't you excited she's here?" I looked towards him confusingly. Why would Meizuo have interest in Faye? He likes older women.

"She's my accompanist Meizou, nothing more. What has gotten into you?"

"Nothing. I'm myself. Ever since Jing went to France, you haven't been yourself." I chose a row towards the center of the auditorium. I wanted to be able to have a clear view of the performance while having great resonance. We took our seat and I continued to look forward while we continued our conversation.

"What does Jing have to do with Faye Calinao?"

"I'm just saying. Maybe you and Faye may have a lot more in common than you would think. I know you always had something for Ji-"

"You can't compare the two together," I frowned. I'm not sure why he would bother me with this and where this was coming from. "I've known Jing since we were little. I'm not interested in my accompanist."

"I was trying to say you would make great friends..."

"Why?" I looked at him now. Before Meizuo could speak, the president spoke into the microphone trying to get our attention. I turned to the stage and the chatter in the auditorium came to a halt. Our president spoke about our special guest coming from the states and talked about some of her achievements and future plans at Julliard. She went on about coming here to complete her final studies here and to welcome her onto campus.

"Lets welcome Faye Calinao!" The auditorium erupted into an applause and I watched as she appeared from the right side of the stage with her cello and bow in one hand. One of my senior classmates whose focus is the piano walked on from the other end with a violin placing it at the end of the piano before taking a seat. I assumed they were going to accompany her today.

What stood out about Faye was her features. I never really paid attention to her before. Her hair was half up half down and it was a few inches past her shoulders. I think her nationality was a mixture of Chinese and something else I'm not sure, but that makes her unique. Her expression remained expressionless as she took a seat at the only chair present. The auditorium was silent as we waited for her to start. She took a deep breath looking out into the auditorium and putting her focus to her cello. Both Faye and my classmate must have had some sort of communication as the piano played the intro from memory.

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Her bow hand hovered over her cello as she waited for her entrance. I watched as her bow hit the first string and I was brought to her sound. I then recognize the piece she has chosen and leaned back slightly to continue and examine her. Her vibrato sends shivers down my spine knowing she was getting into the piece and she wanted us to feel a part of it. Her eyes were closed and her expression matched the tone of the piece. I felt at peace with her playing. The almost eight minute piece came to an end and the auditorium applauded.

Faye smiled and waved to someone in the crowd before placing her cello on its side. She stood before making her way over to the edge of the piano where her violin sat. She placed her cello bow on top of the piano and my classmate stood from the piano. The two shook hands before my classmate exited the stage. Faye now took her violin and the bow for her violin. I was curious to what she had chosen to play. For this piece she is standing. I knew Faye played multiple instruments, but I've only seen her performance with her cello.

She lifted her violin so her chin could rest on the chin rest and her bow hand hovered once more over the strings. The first clashing between her strings made me immediately think of violin concerto number 2, Bartok. I watched her in fascination and a slight smile as I heard her perform this piece. I haven't heard this one live before. She really is talented in the instruments she plays. I wonder how long it took her to memorize this piece as well. Is she a musician who takes a few weeks to memorize a piece or maybe a few months?

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My mind started thinking about our recital we will be doing together for graduation. The both of us will be accompanying each other and playing alongside each other. I wasn't sure what pieces we would be playing together. I had a feeling we would both be each doing a solo piece while the other accompany. I think it would be ideal to do a piece or possibly that are duets. This fourteen minute piece was soon coming to an end. Once the vibrato of her hand stopped and she brought her violin down, the auditorium went into another applause. I watched as she opened her eyes and broke her trance out of the piece. She blinked a few times before bringing her violin down. She smiled and took a slight bow.

The president and Vice President of the music department walked up the stage from the stairs from their seats and went over to the podium. The President and Vice President thanked her for her performance and made a few positive comments before opening the students to ask Faye a few questions. Faye placed her bow and violin on the piano before walking over.

"We have time for one more question," The President spoke into the microphone. My face felt flustered from my performance and the light beaming at me added on to the heat I was already feeling. Hands went up once more and I scanned the auditorium and spotted Meizuo towards the center of the auditorium pointing to someone beside him who had their hand raised. I looked to the guy sitting next to Meizuo it surprised me of how much attracted I am to him. In a way he actually stood out from the faces I've seen so far. I'm surprised I can see that far back with the stage lights shining into my eyes.

Stop it Faye. You can't start liking a guy by the way he looks.

He makes direct eye contact with me and I nod knowing I chose him to ask his question. He slowly stood up and the entire auditorium turned to him. Immediately there is small chatter going on and I get nervous for some odd reason. Once he was fully standing, he looked around slightly before turning to me to give me his full attention. I'm not sure why, but I felt nervous. He gave a small smile before speaking.

"I was going to ask you about one of the pieces but..." He paused having a look of interest at heart. "From the expression you made just a moment ago... I wanted to ask you if you would like to go to lunch with me today?" Immediately the auditorium goes into slight chaos and I look to see Meizuo just as shocked at what he just heard.

He could tell from where he was sitting that I had a certain reaction to when I first saw him? I'm embarrassed! I felt my cheeks burning and my brain spinning slightly from the attention this has caused. I knew he awaited for my answer and it took a few minutes for the Vice President to get everyone to quiet down.

"Thank you Lei for your personal question," the Vice President spoke. "Since you both will be spending a lot of time rehearsing together, I'm sure she can answer this question right after this."

Lei.... Ximen and Meizuo mentioned him earlier. The Vice President makes a few announcements before the students are dismissed from the auditorium and I'm led over to my cello. Many of the students were filing into the aisle and made their way out.

"Thank you for having me perform," I said to both the President and Vice President.

"It's an honor to have you here Miss. Calinao," The vice president spoke with sincerity. "Thank you for performing here today. I'm sure the students can't wait to work with you and ask for advice." I nodded in response and looked past the president to see Lei walking up the stairs. I stood frozen in place as they walked up.

The Vice President has gone over with me I would be meeting with Lei right after the performance to discuss and plan for the recital. The president and vice president wished me well before leaving me with Lei. I looked between the two unsure what to say. Once they have left the stage, I am left with the famous Lei I have heard about. I did not realize this is the same Lei I had known from senior high school. I remember when he was first chair in our orchestra. My mouth part slightly from the memories of our first year of senior high school. We've never talked before and I'm sure he had no idea who I was then.

"If you don't want me to call out on you, you should keep your expression in check," were the first words Lei spoke to me. His slight brown curls fell down to his forehead and his eyes matched his beautiful hair. I stood there shocked and he let out a light chuckle. His expression seems calm. "You're doing it again Faye Caliano."

"S-sorry," I apologized softly. I looked to the auditorium and saw there were a few lingering students watching us. Lei turned to see what I was staring at and turned back to me.

"We can head to where you placed your case." I nod and watched as he carefully took my violin and the bow off the piano. He stared at me waiting to lead the way. I tried my best to snap our of my daze. I lead the way off the stage. I knew he walked from behind and we were out into the hall where everyone who came to the back area of the stage commented on my performance.

I thanked everyone as I passed by and made my way up to the flight of stairs that led to the second floor and into the first classroom where my things were. I opened the door letting myself in. The sensor of the room turned the light on. I walked over to the cello case and I looked over to Lei to see him closing the door behind him and he leaned against the wall waiting for me to finish packing up. I felt flustered by his presence here. I slowly zipped the case for my cello and he walked over to me to hand over my violin and bow.

"Thank you," I said lightly. I felt a bit intimidated with him standing right beside me. Once I had my violin safely in its case, I turned around and looked up slightly to see Lei with a calm expression. He is about Ximen and Meizuo s height. My five foot four figure thought so anyway. I leaned against the table for support and lowered my eyes.

"You're very easy to read," he spoke. His tone gives me the chills and continues to make me nervous. He doesn't seem as welcoming like Meizuo. He never indicated what he was like when he was my stand partner back in senior high school. I'm sure he did not know who I was then and I've transformed since then so he wouldn't recognize me now.

"Okay..." I said lightly. I wasn't sure where this conversation was going.

"You never answered my question earlier." Right he asked me if he could take me out to lunch.

"You want to take me out to lunch?"

"I'm being polite. We should discuss the recital."

"Oh." I felt my cheeks heating. He was being straightforward and he did not give any indication to give me any reason to relax. I felt a bit tense.

"I know what you were thinking. I'm not interested." My fingers gripped the edge of the table from my small humiliation. I remember having a small crush on Huaze Lei, who at the time I had no idea was best friends with Ximen. I did not know much about him except for his name. A part of me had small hope of getting closer to Lei than I did in the past, especially now I know he is one of Ximen's friends. I'm confused of what my feelings are telling me at this moment with him right in front of me. My mind really thought he was asking me out to lunch to get to know me.

"I didn't mean t-"

"I can read your expressions," he said in what sounded to be a cold tone towards me. I am taken back by the change in his tone. It was Ximen who said he can be intimidating at first.

"You know nothing about me," I spoke softly and lowered my eyes. Please don't be like Daoming Si. I can't avoid Lei like I can him.

"I don't have to know anything about you when we are just classmates for the year and we are accompanying each other for the recital."

"Technically we will be classmates until we graduate from the masters program at Julliard," I corrected him. He took a step towards me and he placed a hand on the table right beside my fingers. My breath quickened from him towering over me.

"Stay away from my friend Meizuo, Faye Calinao," he said just above a whisper. "Stay away from the F4 members and I won't have a problem rehearsing with you this year." Does Lei already have something against me? Worry began to cloud my mind thinking about the trouble Daoming Si caused me. How could he say something like this?

"I should put my instruments away," I whisper, wanting to get out of the heated classroom. "I'll see you during lunch?"

"Send me your schedule and I'll message you my availability to rehearse," he spoke ignoring my question. He backs away and turns to leave the classroom. When he is out of the room, I felt air rushing back to my lungs and I took a shaky breath. I felt a bit panic stricken and I closed my eyes. I took deep breaths for a few minutes to control my breathing.

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