"Yu Yan, let's go before it starts pouring," Xiao Yu said as he picked up both their bags after they were dismissed from school. Yu Yan then stood up with a small smile as he headed over to the radiator to retrieve his now dry blazer. "Bye bye," Xiao Yu turned to his brothers with a small bow of his head before he turned back around to leave.
Da Dong hopped over and swung an arm around him, "Good luck at your audition! You'll smash it!" he cheered.
"Of course he will, who is he? Ding Xiao Yu!" Ya Se added with a smile.
Hong Guang put a hand on his shoulder, "Jia You! You'll be fine!"
"Thanks everyone," Xiao Yu replied with a smile before he headed out with Yu Yan following him.

Although the rain had stopped, it was still a bit windy when the two of them walked down the streets towards the bus stop. Xiao Yu looked over at Yu Yan who rubbed her bare arms and a chuckle escape his lips, "Silly girl, you should've brought along a jacket," he commented before taking off his blazer and wrapping it around her.
Her eyes widened and she gently pushed it away, "It's okay, I'm don't need it," she replied before facing ahead.
"I don't want you to catch a cold," he insisted as he put it back on her, "If you catch a cold, I'll have to pay for your medicine again," he added cheekily.
Yu Yan snorted, "If I was a bother you should've told me. I would've left you alone," she replied as she slipped on his blazer.
Xiao Yu smiled again as he buttoned it up for her, "I don't want to be alone because I like your company," he admitted before he grabbed onto her wrist and led her into the bus as it arrived.

Yu Yan smiled as she sat down on the bus, "Really? I'm not a bother? I'm just depending on you for everything," she stated.
"It doesn't bother me," he replied with a small shrug.
"Say it does," Yu Yan replied.
"Why?" he asked her.
"Because then you won't feel alone when I leave," she continued casually.
"I won't let you leave me so easily," he looked at her and poked her forehead.
She grabbed his finger and faced him seriously, "But how can a girl and boy live together in such a small space? People will misunderstand our situation."
He shrugged and used his other finger to poke her head, "Let them, that's none of our business."
Yu Yan's mouth parted slightly in surprise, "What if my father wants me to go home?" she asked.
"Then we'll see when then the time comes, okay?" he replied with a small grin.

Jiang Yu Yan slowly nodded with a sigh, "Are you nervous?"
"A little," he answered, turning back to the front.
"What song are you going to play?" she asked.
"Silently by Fahrenheit," he responded.
Yu Yan nodded as she processed it, "Be at your best today; deliver your utmost best performance ever," she told him.
He looked at her puzzled, "I have to save my best performance for the finals if I even get there."
"Please? Play at your best today so I can listen to you," she replied, for the last time, she added in her head. "Make it a memorable performance."
Xiao Yu looked at her curiously before agreeing with a smile, "Okay, I'll dedicate my performance today to you," he replied, spreading his smile to Yu Yan who beamed at him with butterflies in her stomach.

A while later the two found themselves backstage. They could hear the bustling of the audience as well as other performers auditioning. Xiao Yu looked at the number attached to his chest: 41. [A/N: I chose that number bc Aaron represents 41°F]
Soon it was his turn to perform and he listened to the host announce his name. Yu Yan smiled at Xiao Yu, "Jia You!" she cheered as she listened him walk onto to the stage. Yu Yan remained backstage, behinds the curtains, feeling a mix of happiness and sadness. She was happy that Xiao Yu was playing piano and was dedicating the last performance she would ever hear to her, but that was the reason she was sad: she would never hear him play after this. She closed her eyelids as she went back to the previous night in her memory.

[Flashback - Last Night]

It was late at night, almost dusk and Yu Yan was lying awake in bed. She grumbled a little as she had been dragged out of her sleep again. "Jiang Ye Zi, is that you?" she muttered without sitting up. The window slowly creaked and the curtains moved, revealing Ye Zi who jumped in quietly. He smirked at her, "Surely you should call me 'Uncle', right?" he replied before he sat on the end of the bed.
Yu Yan shrugged, "Why are you here?"
"Your father is returning earlier than expected," he stated and Yu Yan frowned.
"So I only have today left?" she asked slowly.
Ye Zi sighed, "I'm afraid so. He'll come pick you up tomorrow morning. What he does with you after that I don't know," he explained.
Yu Yan sighed, "Thanks for telling me," she mumbled, "I wish today would just slow down," she grumbled.
Ye Zi pat her head, "I'm sorry. Just have fun today, okay? I know you've only met me, but believe me when I say that I see you as your own person and not just a mere tool like your father. You deserve to be happy."
"I don't care about how you see me, I am a tool," she replied, shifting over in bed.
"I'm sure Ding Xiao Yu sees you as someone more than just a tool," he added with a small smile.
"That's because he doesn't know I'm a tool," she muttered.
"Then use this day to show him you aren't." Ye Zi told her.

"Why do you care so much about my relationship with him? Isn't he an enemy?" Yu Yan questioned.
"Your father is the only one who sees him as an enemy, I really don't give a about him," he corrected before a mischievous grin sprouted on his face and he budged closer to her. "Hey, let me tell you something about your father and why he doesn't like the Ding family, you can't tell him you know though."
"If father doesn't want me to know then there's no need for me to know," she muttered in response, uninterested.
Ye Zi shrugged, "I'm telling you anyway. There are other reasons why he's against Ding Xiao Yu, but one of them is the fact that Ding Yu Long beat him up pretty badly when they were younger. Ding Yu Long was a little older than you at that time and he was a dimensional guard, and when he discovered that your father was tampering with and stealing lost arts of yi neng, they got into a fierce battle. Ding Yu Long gave him a lot of trouble you know," he smiled as he told her the story.
"I don't care," Yu Yan snapped coldly.
"Okay okay, I'll leave now then," he stood up and brought the covers closer to Yu Yan, making sure she was covered up to her neck, "Good night."

[End of Flashback]

Yu Yan was brought out of her memories when she heard Xiao Yu's performance. As he played the intro, she realised that he wasn't playing 'Silently' but 'Stay With Me'. A small gasp escaped her lips before she dismissed a thought and shook her head. I'm thinking too much, it's just a random song he's playing. There's no other meaning to it. She then closed her eyes and listened to him to play. She didn't know if it was the echo of the keys in the large hall that made his performance 100 times better than usual or the fact that it was her last time hearing him play the piano. Whatever it was, it left a deep impression in her heart.

Yu Yan, can you hear this? This song is for you, Xiao Yu smiled as closed his eyes and poured his heart into the piano. He felt a rush of adrenaline when he pushed down on the keys and was completely immersed in a cloud of music. You said you're leaving Zhong Ji Yi Ban soon but I don't want you to leave. Stay with me Yu Yan, okay? We'll overcome our difficulties together. I don't care about secrets and lies between us - just stay by my side.

[A/N: just imagine the song playing in ur heads]
 

Liu xia lai liu xia lai

ji shi mei ai wan de ai
Wo hui shi xian ni zui qi dai de qi dai
Liu xia lai liu xia lai

zai wo xin li zhu xia lai
Xiang dou bie xiang wo hui rang ni li kai
 

Stay with me, Stay with me

Continue our unfinished love

I will meet your expectations before long

Stay with me, Stay with me

Come stay inside my heart

Don’t even think about me letting you go

Yu Yan smiled as she listened to the chorus; Xiao Yu's performance was so amazing that it was as though she could hear the lyrics too. He's really impressive to be able to switch songs so suddenly and still play it so well, she chuckled faintly and before she knew it, his performance was over. He was praised by a round of applause but the only praise Xiao Yu was looking for was from Yu Yan. He bowed then exited the stage to see Yu Yan smiling at him. "Coming here was really worth it," she smiled at him. "The fact that you changed songs for me really touched me," she muttered, facing away shyly, "I appreciate it, thank you."
He put a hand on her shoulder, "I'm happy you liked it because that performance was for only you and I was definitely at 200%," he replied with a grin before he began to walk away, "Let's get going now before a storm comes." Although he sounded natural and calm, his heart was fluttering madly and his heart was beating quickly after all that rush of adrenaline. The sensation he felt whilst playing was incredible and he still wasn't over that amazing feeling.
 

~*~*~

"It's gotten colder," Yu Yan muttered as they walked towards Xiao Yu's flat that evening.
"I'll give you a sweater to wear when we get home," Xiao Yu replied as he looked over at the distance. He saw a small black and white kitten run across the road as it began to rain a little. Since its figure was so small, it was being pushed back by the rain and wind and almost got hit by a car. He watched it scramble to its feet and run towards them. As it got closer, Xiao Yu noticed that its fur was long and scruffy as thought it was a stray. It ran up to him and began rubbing against his leg, meowing loudly.

Yu Yan frowned as she stopped walking. Xiao Yu bent over and its head, "What's wrong, little guy?" he asked before it jumped into his arms snuggled in close to him. Its soggy wet and dirty fur dirtied his clothes but it didn't seem to care. It shivered as a gust of wind blew past them.
"It's not safe to pick up strays," Yu Yan muttered.
"I think it's cold," Xiao Yu turned to her, "I don't think he has an owner, let’s take him in for the night."
"Why? Don't you have enough mouths to feed?" she asked, trying not to sound too cold.
"I don't mind, as long as you're happy," he smiled at her.
"As long as I'm happy?" she repeated slowly, "I don't want to burden you. Besides, I don't like animals."
"Oh, he's fallen asleep," Xiao Yu realised, "He must be hungry. It's not safe out here because of the typhoon, we'll find him an owner once it’s over, okay?"
Yu Yan shrugged, "Okay, I don't have a problem with it."

Xiao Yu grinned, "Okay, now let's name him," he said, "Why don't you name him?"
"I don't know," she muttered.
He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him, "Come on, think of a name."
"Little Fish, I don't really care. Just name him whatever," she muttered with a sigh.
He looked down at her, "What's wrong? Where's your sunny personality gone?" he asked.
"I'm tired," she mumbled, "I'm sorry, I can't pretend to be someone I'm not."
"That's good, I like you the way you are," he chuckled. "What would Jiang Yu Yan call this little kitten?" he wondered out loud, "'Stupid Cat'? 'Annoying Cat'?" he guessed, trying to make her smile.
She smiled and faced down at the kitten in his other arm, "Da Yu," she stated bluntly. [A/N: 'Da Yu' = Big Fish]
"Da Yu?!" Xiao Yu repeated, surprised, "Big Fish????"
"You're the little fish and he's the big fish, you're one little family," she commented, slightly amused. Xiao Yu opened the door to his flat and Yu Yan skipped into Xiao Yu's room and shut the door behind her.
He chuckled at her behaviour, "Yu Yan, you can be a part of our family too," he whispered before taking Da Yu to his living room to take care of.
 

~*~*~

Yun Han walked into her sister's bedroom to see her sitting at the corner of her bed quietly and unmoving. "Mei?" she spoke, looking at Wu Xiong who seemed to be in a daze. She walked up to her and sat beside her, "Are you okay? Are you feeling sick?"
Wu Xiong responded after a few seconds with a slow and blank shake of her head. Yun Han looked around the room before a book sitting near her pillow caught her eye. The book was open onto two blank pages and she raised an eyebrow. She leaned forward and picked up the book.

Wu Xiong's eyes widened and she quickly stood up, "Jie-"
After seeing the blank pages, Yun Han dropped the book and it hit the floor. Immediately, she grabbed her head that was now throbbing and she groaned in pain. She sat back down on the bed, trying to catch her breath. When the pain subsided, she looked down at the fallen book which fell with its cover facing upwards. On the cover was a silhouette of all the members of Zhong Ji Yi Ban and in the centre, Da Dong, Ya Se and Xiao Yu's figures were present in full colour. In the middle, beside Xiao Yu was Jiang Yu Yan. Yun Han's eyes widened as she recognised this manga, "Jin Bi Dian Long?" she blurted out before quickly turning to her sister, "Mei, where did you find this?"

Wu Xiong crouched down and picked it up and closed its cover. She then placed it on her bedside table before looking at her sister. "I just found it... under my pillow," she muttered with her eyes still in a daze.
"Then did you read it?" Yun Han asked.
Wu Xiong nodded and Yun Han bit her lip. "Jie..." Wu Xiong began slowly, "I don't like what I saw," she mumbled but it ended as a whisper.
"You can't tell me can you?" Yun Han asked, "Because of that curse?"
Wu Xiong nodded, "Jie, I'm scared. I don't want to be the only one who knows of the future..."
Yun Han sighed, "We should get rid of it," she uttered as she pulled her sister into an embrace.