The Next day, Mu Xinyan met up with Mo Jiayi at the gate and they walked into class together.
"Yiyi, where's Witch Xuleo... sorry ".
She realised she called someone's sister a witch and apologized immediately. Her though were betraying her.
"No offence taken" Mo Jiayi said. She might even adopt that nick name, at the same time, she didn't bother explaining why Xuleo didn't come to school with her.
The day just began, she didn't want to start it with that witch.
At the classroom
"Yiyi my parents allowed me to attend the sleep over
"That's great we're going to have so much fun "
"Is it okay if bring my younger sister? " Xinyan asked cautiously. She was still new to friendships and relating with people and didn't know how Mo Jiayi would react.
"Sure, the more the merrier "
Qiao Jingjing who overheard their scrunched her face and walked to them.
"You are so despicable. Because you're friends with Xuleo's sister you think you're invited? Keep dreaming "
"You're funny. I'm not close with Xuleo, so why would I want to come to her slumber party ?" Xinyan said with a frown.
"Huh, so what we're you both talking about"
"Well, I'm attending a slumber party Yiyi is hosting ..." Xinyan was about to explain when Mo Jiayi cut her off
"You do know listening in on other people's conversations is rude right "
Jiayi helped Xinyan complete her statement. Not leaving an ounce of face for her classmate.
Qiao Jingjing stomped her foot on the ground and left, the two girls giggled.
Lu Song entered the class and everyone kept quiet. No matter how many times they saw him, his presence was like that of a king amongst men.
"Xia, I'm hosting an overnight hang out . Would you like to attend?" Lu Song was nervous although he hid it well. His voice was monotonous and a bit too rigid and robotic. This was the first time he was asking someone something and not commanding them so he was bit afraid of rejection.
'He has'nt answered yet. Maybe he doesn't like the idea. '
"We'll go to a shooting range during the day ." To convince people you had to show them the perks of your offer, Lu Song remembered this teaching from his Father.
Even though it's was for business deals and agreements, it should still be applicable here, he reasoned.
"Alright . I was a bit unhappy that the girls were having a slumber party and we didn't get invited " Mu Xia said jokingly.
"Silly boy, guys don't get invited to slumber parties " Xinyan said, showing off her new knowledge about slumber parties to her ignorant brother.
Little did she know that what she said eased the heart of Lu Song. Lu Song felt he had been forgotten since she didn't invite him. The reason he wanted to plan this hangout is to make Xia his new friend since he thought she had forgotten about him. He couldn't even eat dinner.
"Who said boys can't be invited to slumber parties? "Xia teased.
"I didn't know that. I would have invited Song "
Xinyan was genuinely regretful. Was her research wrong ?
"What about me?" Xia asked feeling left out. How unfair, even if it was allowed this sister of his wouldn't have invited him.
"Yiyi would have invited you" Xinyan said simply.
"Why can't you invite me?"
"You're my brother not my friend "
"But ... "
"Enough you two " while Jiayi was getting annoyed, Lu Song was more than happy .
She would have invited him. She didn't forget about him.
"Good morning class. Everyone sit. Its time for roll call " The homeroom teacher came in and ordered.
"Jiayi where's Xuleo, is she sick ?" He asked Mo Jiayi when he noticed Xuleo wasn't in class at that moment.
"No, Mr Chen she's fine I don't know why she's not here yet" Mo Jiayi answered simply.
"Alright. I'll mark her for being tardy" Mr Chen sighed and said. He'd try and have a talk with Xuleo soon.
She was acting a little off.
"Class remember that the mid term test is 30% of your total score so please be prepared" he said lastly, then left the class.
Everyone began asking about Xuleo.
A few minutes before class started, Xuleo entered the classroom.
"Xuleo why were you late ?"Qiao Jingjing asked her carefully as she stood up so Xuleo could get to her seat.
"Its nothing Jingjing. I didn't wake up early cause I was studying till late at night "
"Didn't your sister or parents wake you up?"
"Mother and father went to work really early and sister must have forgotten" Xuleo's voice became lower and lower and she had a strange expression as if she was trying to make up a lie on the spot. It was easily noticed by this class of brainy kids.
"You have such a wicked sister Xuleo "
"Xuleo you're such a good person. You're still trying to protect her ".
"Yes Xuleo you should be hard hearted sometimes and stand up to her"
Her group of 'friends' started coaxing her gently
"Girls let's forget about this. My mom agreed. Saturday is going to be so much fun"
Xuleo quickly tried to change the topic before Mo Jiayi would get the chance to interrupt and expose her lies.
They day went by per usual except today they were supposed to have extra curricular activities from 3pm till 5pm.
"Yiyi what extra curricular activity do you want to join arts , music , drama , or football."
"I dont know Yanyan. I'm as puzzled as you are . "
The boys had already left, they both stood in front of the notice board in the hallway staring at all the many clubs in school, trying to choose one.
"Let's take a leap of faith and join music. If we can't sing we'll play an instrument and if we can't do that we'll join drama club"
Xinyan reasoned.
"Okay" Jiayi agreed .
Music club was fun. Jiayi would play the violin and Xinyan played the piano well. She has learned this from the old caretaker. Thinking about the old caretaker made a tear fall from her eyes . She wiped it off immediately so no one noticed.
Luckily, Qiao Jingjing and Mo Xuleo joined the drama club.
Music club ended early and the two girls walked into an almost empty class. Most of the girls in their class went to wait for Xuleo at the door of the classroom the drama club were using for practice.
"Yanyan on Saturday let's meet at my house by 10am"
Jiayi suggested on their way back to the classroom.
"Okay" Xinyan nodded and replied
"We'll go shopping then we'll have lunch together "
Jiayi and Xinyan made more plans on their way back to the classroom.
The rest of the girls were back from drama club .
"Sorry girls. I can only invite 4 people ." Which were 3 girls from affluent families and Qiao Jingjing.
"I'll invite you all next time. I really want to invite everyone but my sister doesn't like it when there's much people in the house. My dad had to fire some of the help for this reason."
she threw all the blame to Mo Jiayi. Even though before this, she would usually also only invite four people to her slumber parties. She just couldn't help but smear her sisters name when she gets the chance .
"Like I said before you're too nice and considerate to your sister " one of the girls who was invited said
"Jingjing let's just talk about the arrangements "another excited girl said, this girl was subtly tired of all the discussion being primarily about consoling the crying Xuleo and seeking Justice for her.
"Let's meet at your house at 10am then we'll go shopping from there "
"We're going to have so much fun together!
If only they knew…