The Psychotic Girl’s Revenge

The video showed a classroom. Paige stood there, examining a painting in her hands, clearly the same one as “The Pyramid”. She placed the painting into a bag, then into a portfolio, then wrote her name on the cover of the portfolio.

Suddenly, strange noises were heard. Paige turned and walked out. Immediately after, Nancy sneaked in, opened the painting, and attempted to tear it apart but seemed to be struck by something, judging by her expression.

The auditorium erupted into commotion, reminiscent of the scene when Malik stepped down.

Even the school leaders were dumbfounded. Nancy stared blankly as she turned her head and saw the entire process of her stealing the painting clearly, even capturing her expressions in vivid detail.

Nancy stared blankly, her legs giving out as she collapsed to the ground, the microphone slipping from her hand. She had been expecting Paige to challenge her, even prepared a stack of rough drafts to counter any accusations from Paige.

How could she have known that everything was recorded? It meant that when she stole the painting, Paige knew everything! Paige had deliberately set her up!

Turning her head, Nancy fixed a fierce glare in Paige’s direction, but all she saw was a dark mass; Paige sat calmly in her seat, sighing lightly and shaking her head. What a fool Nancy was, not considering how advanced technology was nowadays, not checking for surveillance cameras around. She was utterly composed, but the rest of the auditorium was far from calm.

Nick stared at Paige in disbelief. “Paige, did you paint that?”

“Yeah,” Paige nodded nonchalantly.

“Damn! I knew Nancy couldn’t pull off something like that! She actually dared to steal your painting!” Nick rolled up his sleeves, ready to stand up and speak out.

“Sit down,” Paige glanced at him indifferently. Her true intentions lay ahead.

Nick couldn’t contain his indignation, refusing to sit down. Just as he was about to speak, the surveillance footage on the big screen transformed into three lines of text:

“Have your achievements ever been trampled on?”

“Has your hard work ever been ignored?”

“Have you ever wondered what your true place in this world is?”

The three lines of text appeared slowly, then disappeared before the students’ eyes.

Next came a scene of extravagant luxury, possibly inside some super-rich mansion. The genuine leather sofas were unbelievably large, occupied by impeccably dressed individuals in unique haute couture.

Each face was pixelated, their voices altered.

“Mr. Snow, this is Joss, who achieved an S+ recently, but she’s so proud that when she heard about the 1 million membership fee, she tore up the application form like it offended her noble soul,”

“I know you think it’s unfair. Big corporations, big families control the entire country, and their descendants still hold sway. Meanwhile, some commoners try all their best to keep up with the games set by these people,”

“But this world is unfair. People eat beef. Do you pity the cows? Do you advocate for fairness for cows?”

“Are you comparing people to cows?”

“What’s the difference? Humans have brains, evolved over millions of years to become the top dominators of the food chain. Livestock must submit to their dominion,”

“Exactly! My ancestors worked so hard to secure my current life. Is it a joke to have someone like her at the Elite Club?”

“But what’s the use of saying all this? So you achieved S+. It doesn’t mean you’ll ever enter the Elite Club or the upper class. That’s reality.”

“Yeah. As a commoner, no matter how smart you are, you’re only fit to serve us.”

“A commoner is just a commoner. No matter what you say, you’re just a resentful commoner. Besides barking and yelling, what else can you do?”

…

Most students in the auditorium were commoners, and hearing these words didn’t sit well with them.

Nick’s expression changed, his fists clenched tightly. After a while, he sighed bitterly. “Paige, I think I suddenly understand your painting.”

Accompanied by this video clip and the words spoken within, the meaning behind the painting suddenly became clear to everyone.

The Pyramid wasn’t just a piece of art-it depicted them, some striving while others indulged in idleness. It showed how some struggled relentlessly only to be pushed down, while others sat on wealth and trampled on others.

Rachel seated in the front row, looked visibly uncomfortable, she coughed repeatedly. Paige had attended the banquet with a purpose-to record a video and then show it to the entire school.

Seeing the chaos, the principal, with a displeased expression, called Paige up onto the stage.

Paige rose from her seat, crossed the aisle, and leisurely ascended the stage. Nancy stared at her with hatred, “You schemed against me, you bitch!”

“I warned you, but you chose not to listen,” Paige said coldly, looking down at her with a smirk.

Nancy stood up in agitation, ready to lunge at her, but Paige casually pushed her back to the ground.

“Joss, what is the meaning of this?” the principal interjected.

Professor Hodge, standing nearby, jumped in, “You even made a video. Is this how you seek attention in front of the whole school?”

“Professor Hodge, you misunderstand. I am simply confident in myself. I knew the professors would appreciate my painting and would ask about its inspiration. So, I made a video specifically for that purpose. Just now, my classmates understood it perfectly. Didn’t you?”

Professor Hodge was at a loss for words.

“Professor Hodge is from the Law School, naturally he might not understand. But, Principal, being well-read as you are, surely you understood,” Paige smiled at the principal.

The principal, was initially ready to reprimand, managed a strained smile, “Joss, your painting is undoubtedly exceptional. However, I find your actions rather perplexing. If you knew someone stole your painting, you should have reported it promptly to a teacher.”

“Principal, I was afraid.”

“Afraid?” The principal looked bewildered.

“I scored S+ in the Law School, but the Elite Club refused my entry. Someone even warned me, saying if I expose the club’s hidden rules, my life would be in danger. I approached teachers, but they did nothing, even life-threatening matters are ignored. So when my painting is stolen, I had to consider escalating the issue for my own self-preservation. Principal, did I do something wrong?”

The principal was speechless, unable to respond. All the school leaders were dumbfounded. What else could they say?

Rachel and the top members of the Elite Club looked extremely displeased.

Those who qualified for the Elite Club but were denied entry were all warned, and obediently kept quiet about any hidden rules, merely stating they didn’t want to join. But Paige blew it wide open. Isn’t she telling everyone that the Elite Club isn’t an IQ club, but a club for the elite born into wealth?

Now all the students are shocked, discussions buzzing.

Nick slapped his thigh, “I fucking knew it! Paige wanted in at first, then suddenly she didn’t, because there are hidden rules!”

“That’s disgusting! Using the Elite Club to boost the image of the rich kids!”

“Is this treating everyone like fools?”

“The school knows, right? They’re all complicit, aren’t they?”

The voices below grew louder.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Rachel couldn’t bear it and stood up, walking out. Carl and a group from the Elite Club stood as well, following her out.

Before leaving, Carl pointed at Paige from a distance, a threatening gesture.

Paige stood there nonchalantly, “If anything happens to me next, don’t be surprised.”

With that, she waved at Carl and his group.

…