Chapter 11: Has Madelyn Lost Her Mind?

Half an hour later, Madelyn reached the school and entered the classroom. A wave of discernible sighs filled the air as she did. Upon noticing her arrival, several classmates' expressions turned visibly sour, and murmurs rippled through the room.

“Why did she come?”

“With her poor academic performance, how does she even have the nerve to stay in the Department of Finance?”

The Department of Finance was known for its array of bright students. Madelyn’s presence, however, seemed to disrupt the class’s harmony, creating a palpable sense of dissatisfaction among the students.

Despite hearing these disparaging comments, Madelyn remained outwardly unfazed. She understood that much of the disdain directed toward her was a consequence of her past arrogance and the negative influence of Janessa. Over time, due to these factors, she had become quite unpopular among her peers. Thankfully, she had grown accustomed to the hostility and thus paid little heed to it.

Settling into her seat, Madelyn began to organize her materials, gearing up for the class. She opened her notebook, only to be met with pages of notes that resembled chaotic scribbles, utterly indecipherable. A sense of frustration washed over her. How am I supposed to make sense of any of this? Dang it, there’s no way I can continue with this lesson!

Feeling increasingly overwhelmed by a burgeoning headache, Madelyn scanned the room for a potential solution. Her eyes brightened when she spotted a girl seated quietly in a corner, deeply engrossed in a book. If my memory serves me correctly, this girl is Jillian Lynch, who was once the top student in our department.

Known for her introversion and rare interactions with others, Jillian epitomized the image of a dedicated scholar. However, Madelyn also recalled that Janessa had once spread rumors about Jillian. Janessa had insinuated that Jillian’s innocent and pure demeanor was merely a façade and that she was involved with a powerful businessman. These rumors severely impacted Jillian’s reputation and, subsequently, her grades, leading her to take a break from school. Janessa must’ve made up those rumors because she was jealous of Jillian.

Back then, Madelyn, too trusting of Janessa, had believed these rumors without question and had even participated in mocking Jillian. Reflecting on these actions now, Madelyn felt a deep regret.

Compelled to make amends, she approached Jillian. “Hello, Jillian,” she greeted.

Jillian’s reaction was one of shock; she recoiled slightly as if startled by a ghost. “Madelyn,” she stammered, her voice tinged with apprehension, “Is there… something you need?”

Madelyn managed a reassuring smile, projecting calmness. “Don’t worry, I haven’t been to class in a while and just wanted to borrow your notes. I promise, I won’t cause you any trouble.”

“Borrow my notes?”

Jillian looked genuinely surprised. The notion that Madelyn, known for her disregard for academics, was seeking her notes seemed almost inconceivable.

“Sure.” After a brief hesitation, she handed over her notes to Madelyn.

Just then, Janessa entered the classroom and caught the tail end of this exchange. A twitch of her eyelid betrayed her surprise as she approached Madelyn with a feigned brightness. “Oh, Madelyn, you’re here so early today. What are you up to?”

Madelyn responded coolly, without looking up from the notes she now held. “Borrowing some notes.”

Janessa’s expression flickered briefly with disdain. The idea of Madelyn genuinely attempting to study seemed ludicrous to her. She couldn’t help but think it was a laughable endeavor.

Yet, Janessa managed to muster a tone of enthusiastic support. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? If you needed notes, you could have just asked me. I’ve got all of them copied.”

Madelyn responded with a half-hearted smile, barely masking her disinterest. “No need,” she replied coolly. “I’ll stick with reviewing Jillian’s notes. They’re neatly written, and I’ve already borrowed them, so it makes sense to use hers.”

In truth, Madelyn vividly remembered the times Janessa had lent her notes in the past; they were invariably incomplete, conspicuously missing crucial points that the teachers had emphasized during lectures. There had been numerous occasions when Madelyn was reprimanded in class for these gaps. And every time, Janessa would feign innocence, shifting the blame onto Madelyn for supposedly being careless and not copying the notes thoroughly herself.

Having learned her lesson, Madelyn was not about to be duped again. She clutched her notebook and returned to her seat.

Janessa, watching Madelyn walk away, furrowed her brows, troubled by the change in her. Madelyn’s newfound independence was unsettling; she wasn’t the same person she used to manipulate.

After finishing the notes, Madelyn made sure to return the notebook to Jillian, not forgetting to express her sincere gratitude. “Thank you. I would have been lost in this class without your notes.”

Jillian, caught off guard by Madelyn’s appreciation, replied modestly, “N—No need to thank me.”

Just then, the class bell rang, signaling the start of the lecture. Madelyn settled back into her seat, and the professor soon walked in. The lecture began with a roll call, followed by an intense teaching session.

Despite her best efforts to take notes, Madelyn struggled to follow along. Her previous years of inattention in class had left her poorly prepared, and she often found herself lost during the lectures.

During the question-and-answer segment, the inevitable happened. The professor called on her. “Madelyn, could you please tell us the correct answer to this problem?”

“Y—Yes,” Madelyn stuttered, her mind racing as she scanned the options without a clue which to choose.

With a tone of dissatisfaction, the professor reprimanded her, “I clearly discussed this question in the last lecture. Why weren’t you paying attention?” Laughter broke out among the students, further embarrassing Madelyn.

It was clear that trying to cram years of missed studies was not going to be easy. She realized she had much to catch up on if she was to avoid such humiliations in the future.

As the class ended, Madelyn began packing her things. At that moment, Janessa approached her, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Madelyn, shall we walk together?” she suggested.

Preferring to avoid her company, Madelyn declined. “No, I have other matters to attend to. You go on ahead.”

As she was leaving, Madelyn noticed Jillian passing by the classroom. Seizing the opportunity, she quickly grabbed her bag and hurried after her. “Jillian, wait for me!”

Jillian stopped, slightly surprised to see Madelyn approaching her. Madelyn was upfront with her request. “I’m sorry, Jillian. I fell behind quite a bit in my studies. Could you help me catch up on what I need to learn?”

“Well…” Jillian hesitated, aware of how their peers viewed Madelyn and the stark contrast between their academic reputations.

Seeing Jillian’s reluctance, Madelyn put on her most pitiful face. “Please?”

Moved by her plea, Jillian relented. “All right, I’ll send them to you later.”

Madelyn’s face broke into a beaming smile. “Fantastic! Jillian, you truly are a kind-hearted angel! Let me treat you to a meal,” she exclaimed, grabbing Jillian’s hand, and they set off happily for a bite to eat.

Watching them leave together, Janessa stood in the background, a mix of shock and indignation swirling within her. What on earth is going on? Has Madelyn lost her mind? Why is she suddenly so close to Jillian?