5 The importance of free periods

Seeing the teacher and the rest of the students looking at her like she was out of this world, Wang Yu Xia realised she had f*cked up.

I've been careless…

"Miss Wang, you know how to speak English?" asked the teacher in surprise.

"I-I I have been taught english privately? Hahaha…" and with that she laughed it off.

Hearing her excuse, the teacher's eyes gleamed for a split second before smiling.

"Oh is that so! How diligent!" she answered before going back to calling out the other students.

"I've avoided certain death…" she said in relief.

Out of reflex, she caught a few other students glancing her way for a few more seconds than she had wanted.

"Ara~! I think you've just attracted unwanted attention!" exclaimed the rather feminine voice in her head, the terribly annoying ghost with a God complex - Eros.

"Shut up." she whispered under her breath.

"What?" came a response from right next to her.

Wang Yu Xia was caught unaware at the sudden reply that came from outside. Turning her head around, she saw it was Zane, the cute blond boy who had been sitting next to her the entire time. Rather embarrassed as she was, she shook her head before denying her actions.

"Nothing." she said in english.

This made Zane smile. He found that this short Chinese girl was rather mindful of others as she had been speaking to him in english this entire time. Or perhaps she also came from abroad?

....

Brrringgg!

After a few hours of classes introducing all the different subjects, the bell rang signalling the start of a new class. This excited Wang Yu Xia, as it meant that she had managed to survive sitting through the boring middle school materials into the first free period.

Usually, students would use the free periods to study other subjects and complete homework, but Wang Yu Xia knew that it was crucial she participated during the first free period of the year. Unlike on normal days where it would be carried out as normal, the first free period was known as an opportunity to socialise with your classmates.

The free period was how groups of friends were made, the type that stuck together. Back in her past life, Wang Yu Xia made the horrible mistake of sleeping through the free period. Unluckily missing her chance to hit it off with other students. As a result, she ended up becoming invisible to her classmates.

As free period began, Wang Yu Xia stood up rather abruptly, which managed to startle Zane who had been dozing off all this time. So soon as she had stood up, 2 other classmates walked up to her instantly. As if on cue, they began asking her questions.

"Your name is Wang Yu Xia right? I'm Zhao Tong, did you study abroad?" he asked earnestly.

Hearing his name reminded her of who he was. Zhao Tong was a slender boy who wore glasses. If you looked at him from an adult perspective, he was a rather adorable child. In her past life, Zhao Tong had been named as a class representative and had joined the school's newspaper club..

Wang Yu Xia knew very well that this boy was just here for one of two things: A: He wanted a friend who spoke english. B: He wanted to gather intel about his classmates. Either way, she knew he was there to profit.

To such a guy, even if he is a child, Wang Yu Xia wouldn't contribute to his wishes. As such, she just answered him half-heartedly.

"Call me Yu Xia, and I just studied privately, as I said." Realising she wouldn't give out any information now, Zhao Tong just nodded and left as if he had just been passing by.

At this moment, a long-haired brunette introduced herself which sent chills down Wang Yu Xia's spine.

"Miss Xia, my name is Xiao Ning. A pleasure to meet you!"

"Mm." Yu Xia forced a smile while she pretended to be friendly to her.

Xiao Ning.

As a half Chinese/Korean, she was the most popular girl in the class. And also, the person she feared the most.

Why?

Back in her past life, Xiao Ning had become the most popular girl in the class, she had been the chosen class representative together with Zhou Tong, and more importantly-- the one who snatched her boyfriend.

That's right. Once she had finished middle school, they never crossed paths again… until later in High School, where she had the misfortune of finding out, that the boyfriend she had acquired with much effort ended hooking up with her in the infirmary of the school. At the time, Wang Yu Xia had been devastated, and ever since then, she has become wary of these types of girls, even more so if it's the same bastard who took her bae away.

"Miss Wang, who's he?" she asked as her finger pointed to Yu Xia's right side. Following her finger, Yu Xia realised who she was referring to.

'So she had come for him, not me. No wonder... ' she thought.

"This is Harris Zane. He's from… England I think?" Wang Yu Xia stated as she presented Zane to Xiao Ning. She wasn't actually too sure, as she hadn't been that curious about Zane before. What she said was from the rather vague impression she held for him.

"Oh! Is that so? Nice to meet you Zane-gege!" She exclaimed rather happily.

Gege?

Da heck girl, you're trying to seduce boys at this early an age?!

Meanwhile, Zane who had noticed he was being introduced to, felt rather lost to their conversation and turned towards Yu Xia for help.

"Yu Xia, what's she saying?" He asked helplessly. Yu Xia who had totally been expecting this reaction spoke to him in English.

"She's introducing herself, and also hitting on you," she said seriously.

Hearing her words, Zane felt rather speechless. A strange girl is trying to date him?

"Really?" he asked nervously.

"Yes. She's even being direct about it," she said slyly.

Suddenly, Zane's face went red in embarrassment and in his broken mandarin he replied.

"I-I… don't shell my shelf...ack!" This strenuous effort caused him to bite his tongue, which in turn made him wince in pain.

As Xiao Ning heard his reply, she was rather confused.

"My shelf?"

At this moment, Yu Xia who had been watching the poor boy's struggles interrupted.

"Ahh! Miss Ning, his Mandarin is rather weak so he probably hasn't understood you!"

Yu Xia felt rather sorry for Zane who had really tried hard to reply quickly to the girl. She had to say that this kid deserves a medal for trying hard. Mandarin tones were no joke. She's actually surprised he didn't accidentally insult her.

"Oh, I see." Sensing that she couldn't communicate with the cute boy, Xiao Ning decided to retreat...for now.

The previous tongue twister had gotten Zane hurt in the process, so she wasn't in the mood to feed bullshit to anyone else. Actually, Wang Yu Xia already knew who her future friends would be, and they would definitely not be here.

It was actually a surprise to have talked to Zane at all.

The past her wouldn't have dreamed of it since her English skills had been poor back then. Had she not moved to England, she probably would never have gotten this chance today.

"Yu Xia," Zane called out after having regained the feeling of his tongue.

"Mm?"

"Can we be friends?" he asked as he met her eyes. His question was rather innocent but well thought out. She was probably the only girl in this class who spoke English. It would be more convenient for him to befriend her.

This simple question, however, had taken Wang Yu Xia by surprise. And yet, despite the surprise, she was actually rather happy being asked such a thing.

So fast? He sure is decisive…

"Sure," she answered simply.

When Zane heard her answer, his eyes brightened and he wrapped his hands into hers while blurting out a crude 'thank you' in his broken mandarin, a beaming smile on his face.

Unknowingly, Wang Yu Xia had gained a new friend today.

Damn... The free period is such a godly time!