After a day and a night of intimacy with Mike, Princess Mia, Amy, and Eileen boarded their private jet back to Genovia.
Unwilling to tie Mike down, Mia couldn't complete Connie's task of bringing Mike back with her, even until the very end.
Of course, the two didn't lose contact. They had already agreed that they would meet again sooner or later.
After Mike saw off a reluctant Mia and drove his red Ferrari back to the Cooper family, he found the entire family sitting neatly in the living room.
Connie and Paige were also there.
"What's going on?" Mike noticed the strange atmosphere and asked.
The room was divided into two factions, mainly Mary and George, who seemed to be discussing something, somewhat at odds.
"George and Mary are discussing where Shelly should go to college," Connie explained the situation, then asked, "By the way, Mike, have you decided which university you're going to?"
"Hmm..." Mike pondered for a moment, then replied, "Barring any surprises, it should be Columbia University; they've promised me ample educational funding."
Famous universities don't lack excellent students, but they do lack super geniuses like Sheldon, Paige, and Mike.
Especially super prodigies like Sheldon and Paige, no matter which university they go to, they can play a good promotional role for the local university.
Mike's alternative schooling locations were New York and California. Both of these areas are extremely developed economically and culturally.
New York has Wall street, Broadway, Central Park, and more. Among them, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens are all standard business districts.
As for California, in the Los Angeles area, there are fun places like Hollywood, Disney, and the Walk of Fame.
While ensuring economic prosperity, it is also a good place that integrates culture and tourism, and is suitable for living and leisure.
However, considering future development, Mike ultimately chose to go to a metropolis.
"Compared to the University of Texas, Shelly might also be able to go to Columbia University," George, who wanted his intelligent younger son to go out and see the wider world, said immediately after hearing Mike's choice.
Clearly, while George cared for his younger son, he was more willing to see him grow.
He had previously suggested that his younger son go to better schools like Harvard or Princeton than the University of Texas.
However, his wife had rejected all of these suggestions on the grounds that their younger son was still too young.
Indeed, upon hearing her husband's renewed suggestion, Mary, like a hen protecting her chicks, said, "I don't agree to Shelly going to school so far away. Without us by his side, he can't take care of himself at all. What if he goes astray?"
"Mike will be with him at Columbia. And Shelly should learn to be independent," George argued, standing his ground.
Clearly, at this moment, there was a divergence in his and his wife's educational philosophies.
As for who was right or wrong between the two, it was truly hard to say; it mainly depended on Sheldon's opinion.
But now, Sheldon was suffering from decision-making paralysis; on one hand, he was somewhat tempted by his father's suggestion, and on the other, he was afraid of leaving his familiar environment.
"Shelly, Dr. Sturgis will take care of you at the University of Texas, and it's convenient for you to come home if you're wronged. It won't be as good out there," Mary turned to her younger son, and after some leading remarks, continued to ask, "So, choose now: will you go to the University of Texas, or will you leave your parents and go to school elsewhere?"
"I, I don't know..." Sheldon, suffering from decision-making paralysis, looked conflicted.
Although Sheldon hadn't made a clear choice yet, his expression fully indicated that he couldn't leave his parents for the time being.
So, the answer was already very clear.
"Oh, ho, it looks like I need to contact John. With him taking care of Shelly, we can rest assured," Connie said with a smile, "How about inviting him over for dinner tomorrow?"
"Then I'll trouble you," Mary immediately responded, settling the matter.
At this point, George's argument with his wife ended in defeat, with a one-to-two ratio of people.
The matter of Sheldon going to the University of Texas was also decided in this muddled situation.
"George, look on the bright side. No matter which university Sheldon goes to, his future achievements won't be bad," Mike comforted a dejected George.
For a prodigy like Sheldon, what's important are the platform and teaching resources; the quality of the teachers isn't that crucial.
After staying at the Cooper family for a while longer, Connie, Mike, and Paige returned to the house across the street.
"Mike, are you sure you're going to Columbia University?" Paige asked.
"Yes, I'm sure," Mike replied affirmatively.
"That's good! I also received an acceptance letter from Columbia University. I'm going to call my parents now to tell them I'm going to Columbia University." Paige was a little excited about being able to stay with Mike.
Over there, Connie also called Dr. Sturgis and told him about Sheldon's situation.
Putting down the phone, she asked with a somewhat reluctant expression, "Mike, Paige, when are you planning to leave?"
As people get older, they inevitably become nostalgic.
After more than a year of living together, Connie had long grown accustomed to the daily routine of having two children in the house.
Suddenly having to part, she felt a little sad.
"It should be in the next few days. Kenya will come to pick me up," Mike replied.
There was still more than a month until university started, and Mike planned to go back to Devil's Kettle for a while, and then head to New York.
As for Kenya, he was the manager of the farm and also the Quinn family's private butler.
"I'm not sure yet. If my parents agree, I'd like to go to Devil's Kettle with Mike to relax," Paige turned and asked, "Can I, Mike?"
"Of course, you're always welcome." Mike knew the little girl's thoughts perfectly well.
But given how cute she was, this clinginess wasn't annoying at all.
Speaking of which, the little girl was developing quickly. In the past six months, Paige's height had shot up to over five feet three inches, and her girlish charm was growing stronger and stronger.
"Then when we invite John tomorrow, I'll make you a big brisket feast as an early farewell," the optimistic Connie's emotions came and went quickly.
At this point, she was already starting to consider the farewell party.
The next day, with the addition of Mike and Paige's farewell dinner to the gathering for Dr. Sturgis, the Cooper family's feast became even more lavish.
"Georgie, when are you planning to have your wedding with Mandy?" While George and his wife and Connie were preparing the big meal in the kitchen, Mike, sitting in the living room, chatted with Georgie.
"The wedding is planned for October, one month before the baby is born," Georgie replied with a smile.
With Mike's support, he, who owned a small repair shop, no longer had any financial pressure.
Now, without any worries, Georgie only needed to focus on two things: one was his wedding with Mandy, and the other was to expand and strengthen his repair shop business.
"October? It seems I won't be able to attend," Mike said casually, "How about this, I'll leave that pickup truck for you as your wedding gift."
"This... alright. I'll thank you in advance." Georgie had originally wanted to decline, but he thought that he would indeed need a vehicle for his marriage, and he had already received so much kindness from Mike that this one more thing wouldn't make a difference.
It was enough to keep the good intention in mind; it wouldn't be too late to repay him when the opportunity arose in the future.