**Two Weeks Later**
The university campus had a short memory for most scandals, but Emily Blackwood's transformation had become legend.
Students whispered as she walked through the hallways. Not the cruel whispers from before, but something different. Respect. Curiosity. Awe.
"That's her the one who scored highest on Chen's exam."
"I heard she went from failing to top of the class in two weeks."
"My friend saw her exam. Professor Chen showed it as an example of 'exemplary analysis.'"
Emily ignored them all, walking with Chai toward their next class. But she felt the shift. The original Emily Smith had been invisible, dismissed, ignored. Emily Blackwood commanded attention simply by existing.
"You're famous," Chai said, grinning. "Like, actually campus famous. People are calling you the 'Economics Genius' on social media."
"That seems excessive," Emily replied.
