Chapter 566 Transferring Schools
After sorting out these affairs, she went home.
It happened to be dinner time.
Fiona didn't ride with Darwin; she drove home by herself.
When she arrived, Charles and Chicago had already gotten home.
Darwin was leaning against the car door, waiting for Fiona.
Fiona parked her car, and he went over to help her out.
"I heard from Antony you made that brat cry when you left?" Darwin asked.
"It's not my fault he's soft. I was just speaking the truth," Fiona replied. "Is Chicago still crying?"
"Yes." Darwin's face showed deep concern. "Honey, about what happened today..."
"I know, Darwin thinks ear for an ear is justified," Fiona said, looking at Darwin.
That was his typical way of handling situations.
Darwin said nothing, which was as good as a confirmation.
After watching the surveillance video of that brat bullying Chicago, he had felt like ripping the kid's head off.
"She's still too young, this is the time her core values are being shaped. Now, she's resolving issues with violence, and you're all praising her for it. What if next time she fights with another kid, not just because of Charles?" Fiona asked sternly.
A little bad habit, if indulged, can grow into a real problem.
"I understand," Darwin said, realizing Fiona was genuinely upset.
He quickly softened his stance.
"Let's go inside and have dinner," he suggested.
Fiona agreed with a nod.
Only then did Darwin take her hand and lead her inside.
Fiona was a woman of her word, and for the next two days, she did not speak to Chicago.
It wasn't until the evening of the third day, when Chicago came home from school, that she approached Fiona.
"Mommy, I know I was wrong," she said with a pitiful look, grabbing Fiona's dress hem. "I won't hit anyone again."
Fiona was both pained and helpless.
She crouched down to look Chicago in the eyes. "Chicago, I'm so happy and touched that you want to protect your brother, but I'm more scared of the thought of you getting hurt..."
Chicago hugged Fiona.
Choking up, she reassured her, "I won't do that again."
The reconciliation was a huge relief to Darwin.
However, after this incident, Fiona and Darwin both recognized that maybe they had chosen the wrong school for Charles.
Given his intelligence and current level of knowledge, attending school through the normal process wasn't ideal. For one, he was unwilling to communicate with his peers, and secondly, he might know more than the teachers, leaving him with nothing to learn.
After dinner, Fiona went to Charles's study.
When she entered, Chicago was discussing a math problem with some friends she had met on a previous camping trip.
The usually taciturn Charles was engaged in animated conversation with them.
After the problem was resolved, he hung up the video call.
"Mommy, what's up?" Charles asked.
"Do you really need to be at the same school as your sister?" Fiona gently queried. "You know there's a big gap in knowledge level between you and her ..."
"Are you suggesting I change schools?" Charles frowned slightly. "Is it because of what happened before?"
"That's part of it, but mainly your father and I have discussed it, and we really think you're not suited for your current school."
Charles looked down. "I'm worried about how my sister would adjust."
After all, everyone at school was a stranger.
"Charles, we can't be there for your sister all the time; everyone needs to learn to grow on their own. I don't want you to have to compromise yourself to fit in with others."
"Where do you have in mind for me to go to school?" Charles asked.
Frank and Evelyn's school had a program designed specifically for highly intelligent kids—a gifted program. The teachers were top talents in their respective fields, and the curriculum promised to offer much, much more than what was usual.
Much more was an understatement.
Charles sat in his usual classroom every day, feeling like not learning anything of substance was tantamount to not having lessons at all. It was evidently different for Frank and Evelyn. They would occasionally bring over complex math or physics problems, and most times, Charles could solve them swiftly.
Some were tough, and beyond his ability to solve. Frank would always discuss those tough problems with Charles after the teacher had solved them during the class. From these discussions, Charles benefited greatly.
"I'll have to talk it over with my sister," Charles pondered for a moment.
"This decision doesn't hinge on whether or not your sister agrees, Charles. This is about your life. I hope you follow your own wishes," Fiona said tenderly.
Charles had always shown a soft spot for his sister from the time he was a baby. He wouldn't drink his milk until she had hers. As they got older, all his toys would be offered to her first; only after she had made her picks would he play with the rest. If he got sick, he felt a profound sense of apology towards her. There were too many instances like this.
Yet now, standing at one of the most crucial crossroads of his life, Fiona naturally hoped he would make a choice putting himself first.
"I understand," Charles said, nodding.
He glanced at the problem on his iPad that they had just discussed. Frank mentioned that there was an impressive math competition next month requiring school endorsement, which Charles's current school didn't have the authority to grant. Charles had never entered such a competition. The way Frank spoke of it, it sounded incredibly intriguing. Charles had always enjoyed tackling difficult challenges. He was genuinely tempted.
After a while, he stood up and went to look for Chicago.
Chicago had just finished her homework and was currently with Stuart, applying compost in the little vegetable garden Stuart had recently started; her small silhouette looked particularly focused.
"Chicago," Charles called out.
Chicago turned around; her face unknowingly smeared with mud.
"What's up, Charles?"
"Come here; I have something to talk to you about."
Chicago patted Stuart on the shoulder. "Uncle Stuart, you go ahead with your work; I'll be right back!"
With that, she ran over to Charles in her new rain boots. Charles gently wiped the mud from her face.
"Chicago, would you be scared if I didn't go to the same school as you?" he asked softly, guilt weighing on his heart.
Chicago blinked rapidly. "Are you going to a faraway place? Will I not see you for a long time?"
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