Wearing a suit and tie, Professor John even carefully groomed his sparsely haired head today. Looking at his rosy and happy expression, something good was destined to happen.
"Professor John, you're here~" Mary warmly invited John into the house.
At this time, the dining room was already set with a sumptuous feast and special roast meat.
"Professor John, Shelly has decided to go to the University of Texas. Please take care of him in the future." Before the feast began, Mary couldn't wait to get to the main topic.
Inviting Professor John this time was mainly to entrust Young Sheldon to his care.
"I also have good news to share with you." Professor John said with a smile: "The University of Houston has taken a fancy to my scientific research capabilities and invited me to serve as a research professor. I have already agreed to them."
Although Professor John's previous Thruster Recovery research project failed to win last year's Nobel Prize in Physics in one fell swoop, the way of obtaining the nomination still allowed him to demonstrate his abilities on the Nobel Prize stage. Therefore, it was not surprising to be valued by the University of Houston, which researched rocket launch projects.
"This... how can you go to Houston? What about Shelly?" Compared to Professor John's happiness, Mary's face turned ugly.
Thinking that her younger son would have no one to take care of him at the University of Texas, Mary's tone inevitably became somewhat serious.
"I was just about to say this." Professor John, in a good mood, didn't mind Mary's offense. He continued: "If Sheldon is willing, he can go to the University of Houston with me. In the future, I can also reserve a doctoral spot for him."
"And Paige and Mike, if you are also willing to go to the University of Houston, I will give you the same treatment." Professor John, who hadn't gone to teach at the University of Houston yet, was already considering the honor of the school.
One can imagine that with the addition of these three geniuses, Mike, Paige, and Sheldon, the University of Houston's future scientific research capabilities would definitely be greatly improved. It can only be said that true talents are scarce everywhere.
"Thank you for your kindness, Professor John. Paige and I have decided to go to Columbia." Mike, being named, politely declined Professor John's invitation for himself and Paige.
"That's a pity. Then Sheldon, what about you?" Professor John turned his gaze to Young Sheldon.
"No, Shelly has also decided to go to the University of Texas and won't go to any Houston~" Mary immediately rejected Professor John's invitation for her younger son as well.
Again, because Mary was worried about her younger son, she didn't want him to live too far away from her.
Now, the atmosphere in the dining room became awkward.
Professor John looked at Mary's unhappy expression and asked carefully: "Is that so? Then can I still eat this meal?"
Even with low EQ, Professor John knew why the Cooper family invited him for a big meal this time. Now that things didn't work out, he felt somewhat ashamed.
"Why not?" Meemaw Connie smoothed things over with a smile: "You will always be our friend, John."
Over there, George Sr. also greeted Professor John.
Truth be told, in the past year or so, Professor John had taken quite good care of Young Sheldon.
Then, during the meal, to express his apology, Professor John proposed: "Maybe I can say hello to Dr. Linkletter and ask him to help take care of Sheldon."
Dr. Linkletter's scientific research level was not much worse than Professor John's. And he also took very good care of Young Sheldon. The reason he didn't seem as close to Young Sheldon as Professor John might be the lack of the link—Meemaw Connie.
"You're right; we can also ask Dr. Linkletter to take care of Shelly." Reminded by Professor John, Meemaw Connie also recalled the elderly gentleman who had a good impression of her.
Afterward, she also told George and Mary about Dr. Linkletter's situation. At the same time, she indicated that Dr. Linkletter was capable of taking care of Young Sheldon.
George and Mary, quickly understanding the truth, also agreed to Meemaw Connie seeking Dr. Linkletter's help.
After the big meal, before leaving, Professor John specially approached Meemaw Connie and said: "Connie, are you willing to go to Houston to live with me? I promise to treat you well."
Meemaw Connie and Professor John had actually broken up for more than half a year, but in Professor John's heart, he didn't think he really broke up with Meemaw Connie. In his view, there were just some misunderstandings or petty squabbles between the two.
"John, thank you very much for your feelings towards me, but our personalities are really not suitable. You deserve a happier life." Seeing the childish side of Professor John, Meemaw Connie smiled relievedly and offered her blessings.
For Meemaw Connie, Professor John was like a "child" who hadn't grown up. Out of maternal instinct, she might be temporarily "fascinated" by him, but to really live together, that was unnecessary.
After all, having a child like Young Sheldon who needed "care" was enough.
"I, I will always remember you, Connie. Goodbye~" Until this moment, Professor John seemed to truly realize that he and Meemaw Connie were over.
For him, whose first love happened in his twilight years, Meemaw Connie gave him too many beautiful memories. And taught him many things he didn't know before.
"Thank you~" Professor John, with tears in his eyes, finally mustered up the courage to hug Meemaw Connie again as a farewell before leaving.
Just like that, three more days passed. Uncle Kenya, who had an appointment with Mike, and his son Kili drove a medium-sized pickup truck to Medford.
The two obviously overestimated the number of items Mike needed to transport.
When Mike came to Medford a year and a half ago, he traveled light, and similarly, he didn't have much to take when leaving this time.
The Dodge pickup truck was given to Georgie, and the desktop computer was left to Meemaw Connie and Young Sheldon.
So, what Mike really wanted to take away was nothing more than a few sets of clothes.
On the contrary, Paige, who obtained her parents' consent to go to the Minnesota town with Mike to relax, had many beautiful clothes and skirts, as well as a large number of plush toys to take away.
"Mike, remember to wait for me. In the future, when I grow into a big girl, I will get into Columbia to find you." In the farewell session, when it was little girl Missy's turn, she threw herself into Mike's arms, expressing her reluctance while narrating her "plan."
"Then you have to grow up healthy and study hard." Mike encouraged with a smile.
You know, it's not that easy for ordinary people to get into Columbia.
"I will..." Little girl Missy made up her mind, then high-fived Mike, agreeing to meet at Columbia then.
Seeing the serious look of the little girl, Mike didn't have the heart to tell her that by the time she went to college six years later, he would probably have graduated from Columbia long ago.
"Mike, see you in New York." Beside them, Lena also stepped forward and hugged Mike.
Although the girl's grades weren't great, to follow Mike's footsteps, she still signed up for an affiliated business school under Columbia this time. The kind of vocational school one can attend with money.
"See you then." Mike patted the girl's shoulder gently.
Compared to The Plastics and Katie, Lena was the most special one.
After a round of farewells, Mike drove the red Ferrari carrying Paige, following Uncle Kenya's pickup truck, towards the Minnesota town amidst the waving of the Cooper family and Meemaw Connie.
Compared to the semi-dense population of Medford, Mike's farm was truly the countryside.
Paige, who had never seen idyllic scenery, also experienced a truly original and healthy life here.