37 8 YEARS AGO {V}

"Hi, I'm Bai Xueyan. And you are?" Her question was directed to the stone faced Young Master sitting beside her. There was a light smile on her face. 

Seconds turned minutes but he still hadn't turned to her nor replying. What nonsense?what does he think of himself? 

The smile on her face turned awkward and her cheeks hurt due to the amount of force she was using to hold it up. 

You evil inner mind, you told me to ask him, now look, he isn't even looking back talk more of replying.

Hold on a little more, don't be so impatient. 

Impatient, you say? 

You are Xueyan. How come you have become so shallow minded. Aren't you the ever courageous Xueyan? The voice in her head questioned. 

Yes, I am... 

Xueyan cleared her throat again, "Hi, sit partner... Do you mind us both being a team? As in a team for the upcoming debate."

The ruffian has returned by now eating a Chinese hamburger and a cup of coffee in his hand. When he heard what Xueyan said, he eyed her dangerously. 

She returned the glare and the ruffian backed down. Wow! He's actually scared of my eyes? Interesting. 

Yes, yes. Congratulations. Now use that same energy on your sit partner. 

Oh yes. Sure I will! 

"Excuse me," Xueyan darted a look at Xiangyang. "Is he mute?" 

The coffee in the ruffian's hand, fell to floor, splattering all over his pants and shoes. Everyone's eyes turned to her. 

Thud! The desk Li Xiangyang was resting on, enjoying her fool herself dropped to the floor with a heavy sound. 

The air around the four of them froze. 

"What!?"

"O. M. G. That girl has some guts!"

"Not 'some' but she's very gutsy."

"Who is she referring to as mute? I don't want to believe it's either of those two talk more of Young Master Zhao."

"She's definitely crazy!"

"She needs to have her tongue chopped off!"

Xueyan heard everything and felt like chewing her own tongue till death. Where had that come out from? That wasn't expected. 

The two boys that stood before her now had a grave look on. 

She bit her lower lip. What have I said? 

You're crazy! How can you call him that? Her inner mind, judged immediately. She felt like crying. 

But I have been sharing this desk with him for about a week now and I have never seen him speak, not even a single word from him when his friends talk to him. 

Be quiet! That doesn't make him a mute. Find something soothing to say. 

"Hehehe, I was only joking just now... You see, the thing is... I have never seen him speak since I..."

"Shut the f**k up! Who the hell gave you the guts to speak? And why are you giving your stupid reason?" The ruffian exploded, silencing Xueyan. 

Now I believe that some day, the world will come to an end. 

Xueyan was speechless at first, but finding her voice she fired back, "Don't yell at me! I wasn't..."

"You wasn't what?"

Li Xiangyang held the ruffian back. She sure knows how to talk, had she been putting on an act all these while, pretending to be meek. Well, let's find out. "OK. I'm now your team member. We only have a day to decide about the members and the teacher stated clearly that we must be more than three in a team," He put his hand on the ruffian's shoulder and patted him. "We both are now in your team. We two, including you but," he darted a look at Young Master Zhao. "We still need one more person, if you can convince him, then, we're a complete team."

The ruffian shook off Xiangyang's hand on his shoulder. "Who said I want to be in the same team as these fool? I'm not even participating in this shit!" 

She watched as Xiangyang blinked at the ruffian. Probably calming him, then ruffled his hair. 

Surprisingly, the ruffian didn't say a thing again. 

"Really?" Xueyan's eyes popped. 

Li Xiangyang looked at the ruffian again and this time they both smiled, nodding at her. 

"Oh, not forgetting." Li Xiangyang said. "This is Dai Jingyao. The resident bad guy." Xiangyang pointed at the ruffian. 

By now he was done eating his burger. He raised his chin high. He was certainly laughing at her in his mind. 

She turned back to face the so called Young Master. She cleared her throat.

The whole class waited in anticipation. 

Xueyan opened her mouth but no word was formed. She tried again and felt like her throat was being gripped by some force. 

Seconds. 

Minutes passed by but one single word couldn't come out of her mouth. 

"Hehehe, she can only crow but can't actually make use of her beak."

"She was looking for a team and now she got two but can't get the last person?"

"A fool. She truly is."

Xueyan listened to the sneers around her and felt like crying. 

"I bet she's the mute one."

Hahaha. The whole class burst out laughing. 

Xueyan breathed in, closed her eyes as if she was awakening a great spirit beast. 

"Young Master Zhao..." She was yet to finish when the young man turned to her, the spirit she had just evoked dropped to the pit of her heart. Shattering into pieces. 

His cold eyes stared straight into hers, boring hole into her. 

She thought he would speak but no, instead he sprang up from the sit, Dai Jingyao moved the desk, creating a space for him and he strode out, leaving the wide opened mouth Xueyan to stare at his cold back. 

He sauntered away. 

He left ? Just like that? What does he think of himself? I would like to slap off that cold faced mask he is wearing. Hmph! Pure nonsense. 

Now my hope is dashed. Thrown into the gutter. 

*

The alarm rang, waking Xueyan up from her dream. She rushed to the bathroom and took a hot bathe. Thankfully she hadn't over slept.