Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Owen casually remarked, "It's the outstanding students that make you wonder just how far they can go."

And indeed, she exceeded his expectations by miles.

...

Stepping out of the examination hall, Roseanne immediately received a message from Leda.

A week ago, they had agreed to celebrate after their interviews, planning to meet at their favorite French bistro.

Roseanne opened her maps app, ready to hail a ride.

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind her.

"Roseanne? It is you!"

Hertha had also come for the second round of interviews that afternoon.

She had arrived early to get accustomed to the environment, hoping it would ease her nerves. She hadn't expected to bump into Roseanne.

"What's this..." Hertha Sherwood looked her up and down.

"Interviews," Roseanne replied calmly.

"You passed the written exam?!" Her surprise almost made her voice crack.

"Yes."

"How many points?"

"412."

"You were the top scorer in our department?!"

Roseanne was slightly taken aback. "Was I? I didn't check..."

"Oh, cut the act. What's the point of pretending?" Hertha sneered, her voice dripping with mockery.

She had scored only 392, barely making it to the interviews, and couldn't believe Roseanne had done so well.

Roseanne felt wronged; she genuinely hadn't paid attention to the rankings.

Once she received the message about her interview schedule, she hadn't bothered to check further.

Typically, the university's official notice board lists names according to scores from high to low, but Roseanne had never bothered to look.

"If you don't believe it, just forget it.

it

I've got places to be," she said, too exhausted to explain further. What Hertha thought of her didn't matter at all.

Swnov

After breaking it off with Murray Sherwood, pleasing his family was no longer her concern.

Love the house, love the crow; fall out of love, and everything related turns to dust.

"Wait-" But Hertha stopped her.

Roseanne turned back, her gaze inquisitive, "What now?"

"Ahem! You've finished the interview, then?"

"Yes."

Hertha's eyes flickered. "Were the questions hard? What did they ask? Were there many questions related to our field?"

Roseanne raised an eyebrow. "You... want me to spill the beans?"Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

"Don't put it so crudely. Just sharing some experience, it's not that serious. Besides, the questions they asked you might not be the same for me."

"Yes," Roseanne nodded, "Since you know everyone gets different questions, you should understand there's no point in sharing, right?"

"Moreover," Roseanne locked eyes with her, enunciating each word, "we're in competition, what makes you think I'd help you?"

"You" Hertha was at a loss for

words. In her subconscious,

Roseanne was still the kind of

woman who would go out of heret

way to please all her brother's

friends and relatives, just to stay in their good graces.

But the reality was, Roseanne had moved on to start a new life.

She had let go so gracefully, walked away so decisively. And her brother?

Hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer, still hoping she would visit him, murmuring "Anne" in his

unconscious state, and had become

more silent and melancholicover

the past few months.

Roseanne seemed too heartless!

Hertha gave her a cold once-over. Roseanne's simple outfit was plain to anyone else, but on her, it looked vibrant and full of life. Especially those eyes, bright and cunning.

Without her brother, she seemed to be doing just fine!