Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Hertha was over the moon. "Really? Can I?!"

"Of course."

"I'd love to! I've admired you for so long, to become your graduate student has always been my dream."

It was as if she had forgotten she had just left Madeleine's house.

"Alright then, your name is..."

Quick on the uptake, Hertha interjected, "Ms. Edna, my name's Hertha, a biology student from Kingswell University."

"From our own university? Then you must have a solid foundation." Edna gave a slight smile, nodding in approval. "Right, Hertha, remember to come find me in Zone C on the first day of the term. I'll introduce you to your senior peers." Introduce her to senior peers?

Hertha remembered, Professor Edna had a research project underway. She was thrilled at the thought, could she possibly join the research team as well?

Given that Kingswell University's research teams were top-notch, even Roseanne might not have made the cut.

With this thought, Hertha's smile grew even more genuine.

Seeing her sweet and savvy, Edna was very pleased.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked in the direction of Madeleine's house, her smile deep with meaning.

As the saying goes, there's only room for one at the top. She didn't consider herself any less than Madeleine, even believing she had better connections. Yet, the college always seemed to favor Madeleine when it came to research funding, educational resources, and even student allocation.

Why should that be?

Because she was older? More experienced?

Madeleine's projects hadn't progressed in years, showing no results for three years, and the graduate students she mentored were nothing special.

This year's recruitment was even worse!

She had heard that among the three graduate students Madeleine had kept, none were particularly

outstanding, including one olderet

student who had taken several attempts to pass the entrance

exams.

Seems age does affect judgment.

These older students clearly lacked talent; only someone as soft-hearted as Madeleine would take them in.

Unlike herself, who had carefully screened interviewees to pick the best.

She knew Hertha well; the girl came from a wealthy family, ensuring no worries about future research funding.

This time, she was curious to see what Madeleine could compete with.

...

Meanwhile, the "older student" Roseanne had finished tending to the plants and cleaning the yard, now bidding farewell to the professor.

"...I've weeded the garden, trimmed some of the yellowing branches, and watered all the plants. The weather's

cooking down, so you might want to water them again in a few days..."

She was meticulous, causing Madeleine to feel a headache coming on, "...Are you the student or am I? I'm not a child, I remember to do these things."

After washing up and putting on her

down jacket, Roseanne leisurely walked Madeleine to the gate, "...I just couldn't help but nag a bit, especially since you always forget to the

water them. Oh, and I've worget to

bok choy I picked earlier; it's in the kitchen for you. When the

housekeeper comes later, you can have it cooked for dinner..."

Madeleine, albeit reluctantly, didn't interrupt, listening patiently until she was done.

"Are you finished? It's getting dark, and somehow you've become more of a chatterbox, haven't you?"

Roseanne pouted, adjusting Madeleine's shawl as she spoke, "Alright, no more nagging, I'm really heading back now. I'll come to visit again soon."

"Alright, be careful on your way home, and text me when you get there," she said, smiling as she watched the young woman walk away.

Only when Roseanne was out of sight did Madeleine's posture relax, her smile fading away.