Grace wept, shaking her head. "It was my fault, I'm sorry Mom, can you forgive me?"

  Audrey choked back a sob. "Grace, you weren't wrong. It was my mistake. I understand if you blame me."

  Hearing this, Grace reached up to gently wipe the tears from her mother's cheek, speaking earnestly, "Mom, I don't blame you. I stopped blaming you long ago. Aethelburg University of Science and Technology is great. I'm very happy and content there."

  Back during the college entrance exams, Grace had scored over 700 points, enough to apply for the Astronomy Department at the Aerospace University she had always dreamed of.

  Unexpectedly, the admissions office of Aethelburg University of Science and Technology traveled a long way to Novastra, personally visiting her home with a special recruitment offer and promising a special scholarship of 20,000 Dollars.

  At that time, 20,000 Dollars was undoubtedly a solid guarantee for Audrey, who was single-handedly raising three children and hoping all of them could attend university and become successful.

  Two in high school, one already in university, with the second daughter wanting to take the art school entrance exams—the effort and money required over the years were truly burdensome for Audrey. That 20,000 Dollars gave her hope for the future.

  Back then, Grace didn't understand why her mother wanted her to make that sacrifice. It was only years later that she realized her mother's difficulties and hardships.

  People always need to grow and experience life to understand certain truths. Her own stubbornness and selfishness back then brought nothing but endless pain to her dearest family and had no other meaning.

  So now, Grace only felt grateful. She was thankful that fate had given her another chance. This time, she absolutely must say sorry to her mother in person, tell her she understood, and tell her she was still very happy at Aethelburg University of Science and Technology.

  Audrey looked at her daughter, nodding with relief, then remembered to pull her inside. "You said you were coming back and didn't even tell Mom in advance. I could have prepared some of your favorite foods. Tomorrow morning I'll go to the market and buy your favorite poached chicken."

  Grace smiled through her tears. "I wanted to surprise you."

  With that smile, the knot between mother and daughter finally dissolved.

  The small home of less than eighty square meters felt familiar to Grace in every corner. Sitting on the sofa, she felt a momentary deja vu, as if transported back to childhood, when she looked forward to her mother coming home from work every day after school, bringing roasted sweet potatoes.

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  "Are you hungry? There are some dumplings I made in the fridge. Should I cook some for you?"

  Grace shook her head, patting the sofa. "I ate on the plane. Mom, sit down. I want to talk to you."

  Audrey sat down next to her daughter. A year apart, her daughter seemed a bit thinner, but her complexion was good, which eased her mind somewhat.

  "It's not a holiday or anything, why are you back now? Did you ask for leave from school?"

  "Yes." Grace nodded. "I have leave until the National Day holiday, so I can stay home a few more days."

  Her daughter hadn't been home for a year, so Audrey was naturally happy she could stay longer.

  "Where's Tony? It's almost ten o'clock, and he's not back yet?" Grace finally noticed her brother wasn't home.

  "He's at evening self-study. He should be back around this time." After saying this, Audrey let out an inadvertent sigh.

  Grace immediately caught her mother's unusual reaction and couldn't help showing a puzzled expression. "What's wrong, Mom? Is Tony having problems with his studies?"

  Since they were little, the three siblings had never caused their mother a moment of worry about their studies. So when she saw her mother sigh silently at the mention of Tony, she was somewhat surprised.

  She herself had scored over 700 in the college entrance exams, making her undeniably a top student.

  Although her sister was an art student, she had also been an outstanding student since childhood.

  Her brother, Tony, was even more exceptional than his two excellent sisters. From primary school through high school, he had always been first in his grade, and he was the city's top scorer in the high school exams.

  Precisely because all three children were outstanding, Audrey was willing to do anything to put all three through university. She believed her children could all become successful in the future.

  "Tony... he's recently... gotten hooked on playing video games."

  "What?" Grace was so shocked she practically jumped from the sofa.

  Seeing her daughter's strong reaction, Audrey quickly added, "But it hasn't affected his studies too much. In the recent mock exams, he still got second place in his grade."

  Second in the grade?

  He had always been first!

  And the reason Grace was so agitated was that in her previous life, her brother had also ruined his life because of games. During university, he gave up study to join some esports team, wanting to become a professional player.

  But that happened after he had already gotten into a top university. She never expected it to happen so early at this critical point before the college entrance exams this time.

  Collecting herself, Grace sat back down and gently took her mother's hand. "Mom, don't worry. I'll talk to Tony about this."

  Audrey nodded quickly. "He's always listened to you the most since he was little. He's in his teen years now, and I'm afraid if I say something too harsh it might backfire. He might listen to you."

  "You know, Mom has never wanted you to focus solely on studies. A balance of work and rest is good. But he has less than a year left before the college entrance exams; this period is crucial!"

  "I know, Mom, don't worry. Leave this to me."

  They waited until after midnight when the sound of a lock turning finally came from the door.

  Tony peeked in sneakily. Only a desk lamp was on in the living room. Grace sat in the shadows with a gloomy face, like a silent wraith at midnight.

  "Eek------"

  Tony was startled, but once he saw the face, his expression turned to excitement and joy. "Sis!"

  The anger that had been building in Grace instantly vanished, but she still pretended to be displeased. "You brat, what time is it? Where have you been?"

  Tony seemed to ignore his sister's words, rushed over to hug her tightly. "Sis, you're finally back! I missed you so much!"

  A year apart, her brother had grown taller again, looking almost six feet tall now.

  Grace pretended to be angry and pushed him away, asking coldly, "I asked you a question. What were you doing out so late?"

  Tony pressed his lips together and giggled softly and whispered timidly, "I went to an internet cafe to play games for a bit. Ow------ that hurts!"

  He cried out in pain, covering his head where his sister had knocked it, hunched his shoulders miserably. "I'm sorry, Sis!"

  "You know you're wrong?" Grace glared. "You never used to go to internet cafes even when your classmates dragged you. And now, right before the college entrance exams, you're catching up? You sure know how to pick your timing!"

  "The pressure in the final year of high school is too much. I just went to relax a little. It won't affect my grades," Tony muttered with a pout.

  Grace raised her hand as if to hit him again, making Tony shrink back, but she couldn't bear to hit him a second time.

  "Mom's asleep now, I don't want to wake her. You come straight home after school tomorrow. We need to have a good talk."