Wu Duola looked down at the three members attentively listening to her, satisfied. Although there were only three people, they were clearly drawn in by her words.
“All right, that’s the general overview of our club’s duties and activity directions,” she said.
She turned around and solemnly wrote four large characters on the blackboard with chalk:
“Midnight Piano Melody”
The three stared at the characters on the board, each with a different expression but all somewhat puzzled, not understanding exactly what it referred to.
Wu Duola turned back around, placed her hands firmly on the desk, leaned forward, and spoke in a tone reminiscent of telling a ghost story:
“This is an ancient legend I recently discovered on the campus Secret Forum… It’s said that near midnight, in the empty school, from the old Arts Building’s Piano Room… a melodious yet eerie piano tune can be heard…”
Su Nuannuan shuddered inwardly. An… ancient legend? Emmm… Just hearing that sounds scary!
Zhou Qianqian wore a serious yet excited expression, lowering her voice: “Could it be… the legendary campus ghost story?”
Lin Wei remained expressionless. Ancient legend? And a Secret Forum? This is probably just some bored student making things up to get attention. Fooling children, really.
Seeing their reactions only encouraged Wu Duola more. She waved her hand dramatically, “So! Our Magic Society’s first official operation is…”
“Investigating the truth behind the Midnight Piano Melody! Unveiling its mysterious veil!”
Zhou Qianqian immediately responded enthusiastically, her eyes shining bright: “President! So what exactly should we do? Do we need to prepare any magical tools?”
Su Nuannuan instinctively looked to Wu Duola. Though frightened, her curiosity was piqued.
Lin Wei grabbed the most crucial question, furrowing her brows: “Midnight Piano Melody? You mean we have to investigate at midnight?”
Wu Duola puffed out her chest, saying matter-of-factly, “Of course! If it’s not at midnight, then how can it be called the Midnight Piano Melody?”
Su Nuannuan’s face turned pale. “Ah…?” Stay up until midnight? She usually would be asleep by then, and on top of that, she’d have to be moving around in the pitch-black school?
Wu Duola seemed to see through her fear and deliberately put on a stern face: “What, scared? The word ‘fear’ doesn’t exist in a magician’s dictionary! If you’re unwilling, you can quit right now!”
Su Nuannuan’s eyes brightened as if she had spotted a lifeline: “Really?”
Wu Duola immediately pointed at her, “You’re exempt. You’re a full member and must participate.”
Su Nuannuan: “…” Her face instantly fell, and she pouted pitifully.
Zhou Qianqian hurriedly raised her hand to show loyalty: “Willing, willing! President, I’ll join, this is so interesting!”
Lin Wei glanced at Su Nuannuan’s pitiful look, then at the enthusiastic Zhou Qianqian and the serious Wu Duola, and finally said nothing, effectively agreeing.
Seeing this, Wu Duola nodded in satisfaction and suggested, “Since the Magic Action Squad is officially formed, let’s create a group chat for easier communication and information sharing!”
So Wu Duola created a chat group called Magic Guild and added the other three members.
After setting up the group, Wu Duola took out her phone, found the post she had saved, and screenshot it into the group.
The post’s title read: Paranormal Help Wanted! Has anyone heard the “Midnight Piano Melody” in the Arts Building’s Piano Room?
It was posted by an anonymous user five years ago.
Original poster: As the title says! Last night, I realized I forgot to bring my homework home. Since it was due the next day, I was forced to go to the teaching building around 11:50 PM. The building was terrifyingly dark, and I bravely went upstairs alone. Just as I reached the third-floor stair landing, I vaguely heard piano music!
It was intermittent and very chilling! I was so scared that my hairs stood on end. I hurried over to see if it was some prank, but as soon as I got near the Piano Room door, the music suddenly stopped! It was pitch-black inside, nobody there at all! I scrambled out as fast as I could! Even now, I still feel scared just thinking about it! Has anyone else experienced this? Or was I just imagining it?
Below were some scattered replies—some said they had heard about it, others said the original poster was trying to scare people, and some analyzed it as the wind or something else.
The three stared at the post on the phone screen.
Su Nuannuan was both scared and curious, secretly lowering the screen brightness a bit with her finger.
Lin Wei scanned the post skeptically, trying to find flaws.
Zhou Qianqian wore a thoughtful expression, deep in consideration.
Wu Duola began her analysis again: “Everyone, pay attention!” She pulled out a stick from who knows where and pointed at the four characters “Midnight Piano Melody” on the blackboard.
“Looking at the post’s timestamp, it was published half a year ago. According to the description, the piano music appears at midnight—that’s our first point of suspicion. Why midnight, specifically?”
She circled the characters for “midnight” on the board with her chalk, then folded her arms and waited for their replies.
Zhou Qianqian rubbed her chin, thinking for a long moment, then suddenly her eyes lit up and she slapped her thigh: “Maybe… because it’s hard to sleep at midnight, someone plays the piano to vent?”
Wu Duola: What kind of answer is that?!
Su Nuannuan: That actually sounds somewhat reasonable?
Wu Duola stifled an eye-roll and then looked at Su Nuannuan: “Comrade Su Nuannuan, what do you think?”
Su Nuannuan looked at Zhou Qianqian, then sneaked a glance at Lin Wei beside her, and whispered, “Because… because…” How was she supposed to know!
Lin Wei couldn’t take it anymore and absentmindedly answered, “Because at midnight the school is empty, so it’s harder to be heard.”
Wu Duola seemed to have found an important clue and nodded solemnly: “Hmm… that’s possible!”
Lin Wei: I was just saying whatever came to mind.
Wu Duola continued: “Point two—why the Piano Room?” She circled those two characters again.
This time Lin Wei was too lazy to wait for guesses and blurted out, a bit exasperated: “Because the Piano Room is where the piano is! If it’s not in the Piano Room, are we supposed to believe someone’s playing piano in the bathroom?”
Su Nuannuan and Zhou Qianqian both looked at her with admiration.
Lin Wei felt awkward under their “genius” gazes, nervously rubbing her nose. Could they please not look at me like I’m an idiot? Stay calm! Stay calm! When did Lin Wei get so anxious?
Wu Duola cleared her throat and forcibly steered the topic back: “Ahem… Point three, the most critical—why piano playing?”
“And according to the post, students who investigated found that as soon as they got close, the sound disappeared! What does that imply?”
Zhou Qianqian immediately clenched her fists, fired up: “It means there’s definitely something strange! Looks like all these questions need us in the Magic Guild to solve personally!”
Wu Duola was very pleased with Zhou Qianqian’s attitude and nodded vigorously: “Exactly! This is the mission of us magical girls.”
Su Nuannuan looked at them admiringly. They’re so passionate! I really want to join!
Lin Wei twitched the corner of her mouth, put down her phone, and eyed the two enthusiastic, chuunibyou girls before her. She couldn’t help but pour cold water: “So, our plan now is… to wait here until midnight, then go to the Piano Room door and listen for the sound?”
Wu Duola slammed the table: “No way!”
She suddenly rubbed her stomach, her tone shifting to a somewhat justified grievance: “I haven’t come up with a plan yet…”
“… Also, I haven’t eaten dinner yet, my magic power is low, so I need to recharge by casting a Summoning Spell from my Magic Book!”
Saying that, she once again pulled out her Magic Book.
Lin Wei: “???” Isn’t that just a phone?