Chapter 0189


    Chapter 0189


    Friends?


    Can friends really dispense with formalities and awkwardness?


    Madison had always maintained that politeness and discretion were due to everyone, not to be a


    burden to others. That, she believed, was proper conduct.


    So for all this time, seasoned colleagues who might well be considered her elders praised her for


    being sensible.


    Was endurance truly synonymous with sensibility?


    Zuo Yulei, hands on hips and voiceden with indignation, dered, That despicable woman


    pushed too far! You did the right thing, Madison. She needed to be taught a harsh lesson-to put her


    in her ce!”


    Their inaction during the scuffle, the closed door-it was all tacit


    support.


    It was evident to them that Shi Hua was no match for Madison.


    None could have imagined that Madison, usually so demure and non- confrontational, could


    unleash such ferocity when provoked.


    Reflecting on the incident, Charlie felt a tremor of fear.


    Fortunate for her that she had never outright bullied Madison.


    “Madison, have you ever learned… anything?” Zuo Yulei inquired.


    epting the towel from Charlie, Madison began to dab her own face, “My grandpa had a student


    once, retired from the special forces. He taught me for a while.”


    That ‘while’ had, in reality, spanned a full five years.


    To this day, she remembered that uncle’s words: “I’m teaching you these skills for self-defense, not


    to be used on others unless


    absolutely necessary.”


    From childhood, she had always been a good girl, always heeding the advice of her elders.


    Did that mean she was destined to be bullied all along?


    Could a few thorns in one’s personality make life somewhat easier?


    Madison asked them not to spread word of today’s incident. After a brief shower, she returned to her


    bed andy down.


    The other three maintained silence, not presuming to share the evening’s events with anyone.


    Yet, if Madison chose to press charges against Shi Hua, they would stand as witnesses against


    her.


    As soon as Madisony down to rest, Shi Hua’s words began to loop in her mind.


    She couldn’t control it.


    She tried to dilute the impact of those words by recalling Ethan’s kindness towards her.


    Ethan had indeed been good to her, never causing her harm.


    She shouldn’t doubt him because of someone else’s divisive talk.


    But…


    Her heart still churned with unease.


    Madison’sck of security had slowly permeated every corner of her


    life.


    The past marriage with Lucas had left her exceedingly cautious and timid.


    She found it hard to believe that someone could like her just for who


    she was.


    That night, Madison didn’t sleep a wink, yet she refrained from tossing and turning, not wanting to


    disturb the other three.


    They had assessments the next day and needed to be in top form.


    The next morning, at eight o’clock local time.


    When the others gradually woke, they saw Madison already seated at the table, eating..


    She had also brought breakfast for the three of them.


    “When did you wake up, Madison?” Charlie quickly got up to fresher


    1.


    “Quite early,” Madison replied, her voice hoarse.


    Yet, she appeared entirely normal, as though the previous day’s events were merely a figment of


    their imagination.


    Testing the waters, Charlie asked, “Are you feeling prepared for today’s assessment?”


    Madison looked up and offered a lightugh, replying with two simple


    words, “Of course.”


    Hearing this, the three women brushing their teeth in the restroom exchanged nces..


    They were inwardly shaken.


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    Shaken by what?


    Despite facing such an ordeal, it had seemingly left no mark on her. Even if her emotions had been


    disturbed or even shattered, she could endure it all stoically.


    They admitted to themselves that they couldn’t match her resilience.


    Such a person ought to be ruled by reason.


    Having discarded romantic entanglements, she would surely


    aplish great things in her career.


    Their spections were not wrong.


    After a night of insomnia, Madison had rified her thoughts and her path forward.


    She shouldn’t ce too much importance on romantic


    entanglements; the benefits they brought could never equate to the value of personal


    advancement.


    Why rely on others for things?


    Why let Ethan’s thoughts and actions affect her?


    She refused to ept others’ criticism and skepticism about her being divorced. She chose to


    resist.


    From today onwards, she would resist everything she was unwilling


    to ept.


    Endless endurance did not bring her more happiness.


    Madison, still in her Mukino Airlines uniform, seemed energized, her smile broader than usual. But it


    was not a happy smile; it had a touch


    of…


    What was that feeling?


    The three women pondered all morning, even as they headed to the assessment site.


    Then Zuo Yulei snapped her fingers, “Doesn’t she seem like she’s ready to challenge everything


    now? Like she has this fearless aura?”


    Charlie and Kou Mei paused, then slowly nodded in agreement.


    Yes!


    want!


    That was the feeling.


    Over a thousand pilots gathered once again.


    Before the assessment began, the director of the board, Tate, made a speech. He vaguely


    exined the reason for the two-day suspension, without revealing the real cause, of course.


    Soon after, the assessment began.


    But to everyone’s surprise, upon arrival at the site, they ended up waiting yet another four hours.


    “It’s getting cloudy. If we don’t start soon, we won’t make it before the weather turns,” someone


    grumbled.


    Everyone feared inclement weather; it could severely impact their performance.


    Just as the sky darkenedpletely, the assessment officers appeared, offering a brief apology.


    Then they announced to the assembled crowd: “Navigate à fixed route through a storm-prone


    area.”


    This was the only task familiar to the pilots.


    But!!!


    Therge screens disyed a clear weather map of the nearby airspace immediately after the


    officer finished speaking.


    The airspace designated for the assessment was marked with eighty percent thunderstorm


    probability.


    Areas lit with red were gued with constant thunder.


    It waster revealed that all pilots were to pass through those red areas onscreen within a


    timeframe of three minutes.


    “How is that possible?!”


    “It can’t be done!”


    Most had never encountered thunderstorm conditions.


    The screens also indicated tornadoes approaching those red-marked


    areas.


    A silence fell over the pilots as they realized the impossibility of t


    task.


    The assessment officers, knowing the task required courage, decided to forego group divisions on


    the spot.


    “Any volunteers to go first?”


    Silence fell as more than a thousand people refrained from speaking.


    Who would want to be the first to fail?


    A misstep could mean death.


    After a long wait, the officer scrutinized the crowd, “There are… two,


    right?”


    Thousands of eyes scanned the field, and then Madison slowly rose,


    627


    her gaze remarkably calm.


    At the same time, on the other side, Leck smiled.


    They were the only two brave enough to lead the assessment.


    Just for this act of courage, the international judges mentally awarded them points, unbeknownst to


    all.