The afternoon and evening passed without Ding Yun saying much more. Qian Ya and Qian Wen also seemed preoccupied, their thoughts unknown.
It was also unclear what choices they would make later.
Regardless, the day passed smoothly.
The next morning, Ding Yun woke up as usual to prepare breakfast. After breakfast was ready, she unceremoniously forced Qian Ya and Qian Wen awake, urging them to wash up quickly, eat, and head to school to submit their college applications.
A few days prior, the school had distributed information about eligible universities and approximate past score lines, along with some guidance.
Today was the final deadline for submitting applications.
The siblings still had a sense of urgency. Although groggy, they obediently washed up, ate a quick breakfast, and then went to school with Ding Yun.
Even though summer vacation had already begun, the school was still crowded. This was because almost every senior student had come, and they hadn't come alone. Some were accompanied by just their father or mother, while others had brought not only their parents but also their grandparents.
It was truly a family affair for choosing college applications.
In comparison, Ding Yun, as a guardian for two children, actually lowered the ratio of guardians to students.
Of course, none of this was particularly important.
Upon arriving at the school, students and parents quickly found their respective classrooms. While waiting for the teachers, they discussed each other's children's exam results and their intended college applications.
The entire school was filled with a clamor.
It wasn't until the homeroom teachers arrived that things quieted down. Everyone listened to the teachers' speeches and, after they finished, eagerly asked for advice on which universities their children's scores were suitable for.
The school then became boisterous once more.
Amidst this somewhat chaotic scene, Ding Yun clearly saw her daughter exchange a gesture with the boy sitting behind her. The two then left one after another and returned about ten minutes later with red eyes.
They quickly completed and submitted their applications.
Ding Yun checked and saw that her daughter seemed to have compromised. Instead of applying to that vocational college, she had chosen a decent second-tier university.
The specific reason only became clear to Ding Yun about half an hour later. She overheard Li An's father inquiring with the homeroom teacher about studying abroad and repeating the year. He wanted the teacher's advice on whether it would be better for his son to study abroad or repeat the year.
To be precise, he was asking if there was still hope for his son to repeat the year. If not, could he go abroad to obtain a degree.
It was difficult to say what the final decision would be.
However, it was highly unlikely that he would attend that vocational college.
Since her daughter had compromised and no further complications arose, everything else proceeded smoothly. Before long, the siblings had filled out their respective applications and submitted them. After reviewing them, the homeroom teacher found no issues. She notified Ding Yun, confirming that both the parent and children agreed with the applications. Only then did she accept the two application forms and inform them that they could leave.
That evening, Qian Ya cried for a long time.
Ding Yun comforted her while listening to the scattered information Qian Ya revealed. Combined with her own deductions, she managed to piece together the general situation.
It turned out that while they were dating, Li An's academic performance had appeared good, similar to Qian Ya's exam scores. This was why Qian Ya hadn't aimed for a higher score, resigning herself to attending a vocational college.
Their initial plan was to attend the same school.
However, when the college entrance examination results came out.
Qian Ya was stunned. She had performed as expected, her score just shy of the minimum for a first-tier university. But Li An couldn't even reach the minimum for a second-tier university.
On the day the results were released, the two had a phone call. Li An had said with a wry smile that he hadn't performed well, the pressure of senior year had been too great, and he didn't want to repeat the year. He might attend a certain vocational college.
He could always try again for a master's degree later.
Then Qian Ya, on her own initiative, decided she wanted to attend the same school as Li An, and had caused a scene.
But what was the real situation?
The truth was that Li An had cheated on his school exams with cheat sheets and had gotten away with it, which was why his scores were similar to Qian Ya's.
After doing this so many times, he had even convinced himself that his exam scores were indeed that high, enough to get into a second-tier university.
However, he couldn't cheat on the college entrance examination.
Therefore, his college entrance examination score was his actual result.
Originally, he had intended to confess to his parents and attend a vocational college. But in the end, he didn't dare to tell the truth.
So, his parents naturally assumed he had underperformed this time. They felt it was a shame to attend a vocational college and insisted that he repeat the year. He couldn't argue with them and agreed. Of course, Li An wouldn't be so honest with her daughter. He merely apologized, admitted that his previous scores had been somewhat inflated, but promised to work hard in the coming year and asked Qian Ya to wait for him.
He would strive to be her junior.
When Ding Yun learned this much, she tentatively asked her daughter why she hadn't chosen to repeat the year with Li An. Qian Ya replied with a pained expression that the pressure and hardship of senior year were simply too much.
She would rather give up love.
Than go through senior year again.
One experience of that painful period was enough.
Even after crying and venting, Qian Ya remained withdrawn in her bedroom for several more days before regaining her energy and continuing to await acceptance letters.
However, the day after they submitted their college applications, Ding Yun put the siblings aside and took her younger brother-in-law to a psychological hospital for a check-up.
The final results were good.
He had no psychological issues. He simply felt that his current environment was unfamiliar and made him fearful and apprehensive, and he also missed his biological parents.
Currently, there were no major problems.
However, if proactive relief and processing were not undertaken, long-term development could lead to issues.
For this situation, the psychologist could not prescribe any medication or offer much in the way of effective counseling. They could only advise Ding Yun on how to treat her younger brother-in-law in the future: to help him accept reality, alleviate his unfamiliarity and fear, and prevent him from feeling like an outsider.
He needed to fully integrate into the current family environment.
In short, this matter would take time. It required love and genuine care. If she was sincere and poured her heart into treating him well, he would be able to feel it and gradually understand.
Ding Yun could accept this outcome.
Her son and daughter would be going to college in about a month and might not return home often. She should be able to patiently care for her younger brother-in-law.
She figured that with a buffer of about six months to a year, he should gradually integrate into the family.