Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 77. A Difficult Choice

May 29, 1999, Saturday. After breakfast, Mr. Guan smiled at his son and said, "Xuchen, fetch that College Application Guide you took home from school yesterday. Let Dad and Mom take a look and give you some advice."

Mrs. Guan, however, turned to her husband and said, "I can handle Xuchen's college applications on my own. You'd better go do business."

"How can I miss out on something as important as our son's college applications?" Mr. Guan said with an apologetic smile, "It won't matter if I skip a day or a half of business."

Mrs. Guan looked a little annoyed at that, "You make it sound so easy. If we lose half a day's earnings, we might not even afford our son's tuition. You'd better go do business." I'll take my time going through this with Xuchen."

"Well... all right then." Mr. Guan had no choice but to reluctantly gather his things and get ready to head to his shop. Before stepping out, he smiled at Guan Xuchen and said, "Xuchen, no matter which university or major you decide to apply to, I will always support you."

"Okay, thanks, Dad." Guan Xuchen replied with a bright smile, "Take care on your way to the shop, and wish you a good day's business."

After Mr. Guan left, Mrs. Guan picked up the application guide, flipped through it briefly, and then said gently, "Xuchen, do you have any thoughts? Which university or major are you thinking of applying to?"

"Uh... Mom, I was thinking of majoring in English. Is that okay?" Guan Xuchen asked tentatively.

"English major..." Mrs. Guan frowned, her tone turning serious. "Haven't I told you? Even cats and dogs abroad can speak English. What good will majoring in English do you?"

"But I really love studying foreign languages..." Guan Xuchen mumbled. "What if I apply to French or Spanish instead?"

"Aren't job prospects even more limited for those smaller languages?" Mrs. Guan shook her head and advised, "If you really like foreign languages, how about international trade? It's easier to find a job after graduation, and you'll earn more. Besides, maybe we can ask Gao Xinglang's dad to get you a position in his organization."

Seeing her son still looking reluctant, she took a conciliatory tone and said, "International trade and foreign languages are pretty similar. Let's just settle on the general direction for your applications first." "What about the university, then?" "With your grades, your first choice should be Guangdong Yixian University, right?"

Guan Xuchen remembered Gao Xinglang's intention of applying to Beijing Institute of Technology as his first choice. He hesitated for a moment, then finally plucked up the courage and said, "Mom, I don't want to apply to GYU as my first choice. I want to go to Beijing Foreign Studies University!"

"What?" Mrs. Guan was shocked, as if she couldn't believe her ears. She froze for a good while, then forced a weak smile and asked, "Xuchen... why on earth do you suddenly want to go all the way to Beijing for college?"

"I..." Guan Xuchen fell silent for a few seconds, then said firmly, "Beijing's the capital, after all. I want to go out and see more of the world."

"But Xuchen, Beijing's so far from Guangzhou. And you're afraid of the cold—winters there get down to minus degrees..." Mrs. Guan reasoned earnestly. "Besides, you've never been that far from home. You don't know anyone or anything there." If something should happen, Your dad and I won't be around to help."

"I'm not scared. It'll be good for me to learn to handle things on my own." Guan Xuchen pouted, adding, "And Gao Xinglang's applying to Beijing Institute of Technology. We can look out for each other in the capital."

"So Xinglang's going to Beijing too..." Mrs. Guan mused for a moment, then shook her head firmly. "It's still not a good idea. "You two are good friends, but his family's situation is different from ours. Studying in Beijing would cost so much more. You have to consider our family's actual circumstances..."