After signing the document, Lake also handed over Skye's educational information from the Children's Agency.
but...
Very bad.
Skye has been attending school on and off since she was eight years old. Sometimes, she doesn't even go to school once a week. However, despite this, Skye's academic performance is still among the best in the class.
This may be the commonality of geniuses.
I skip school, I sleep, I don't study, but I always pass.
But going to school intermittently is definitely not an option.
Must be stable.
So, Lake wanted to transfer Skye, who was originally attending a school in Queens that was comparable to a state prison affiliated school, to Midtown High School.
only.
Ms. Nelis shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, Major Edwin, but this year's fall enrollment has ended."
Midtown College uses a four-quarter system, and the enrollment for each quarter is almost always full from the moment it begins. The final decision is then made after entrance exams and other assessments.
Now one day has passed since the end of the enrollment window.
and.
Ms. Nelis looked at the information about Skye in her hand, shook her head somewhat pessimistically, and said to Lake, "Major Edwin, Skye was basically in a semi-dropout state during last semester."
Lake smiled and said, "But she's got good grades, isn't she?"
Nelise nodded, acknowledging this. "From a performance perspective, Skye is indeed a very gifted student. However, Central City High School teaches more than just academics; it also teaches responsibility and the future. I'm worried that if Skye goes in, this kind of study state will easily..."
Lake interrupted directly: "Ms. Nelis, you can rest assured about this. The reason Skye's study attitude was like this before was because no foster family could provide her with a stable learning environment. I am now Skye's legal guardian, and I will ensure that Skye enrolls in school on time."
Nelise opened her mouth.
Lake offered his biggest bargaining chip: "Ms. Nelis, I understand that your son wants to go to Yale. I can write a letter of recommendation for him with several of my classmates."
Ms. Nellis looked up: "..."
Half an hour later.
Lake sent Ms. Nelis downstairs, shook hands with her, and then watched Ms. Nelis drive away.
Finally got it done.
He returned to his office, sat on his sofa, took a big sip of bourbon, and breathed a sigh of relief.
Only God knows what he did to find Ms. Nellis and to convince Ms. Nellis to agree to Skye's request to transfer schools.
First, he asked a friend to help contact Ms. Nelis. Later, in order to find bargaining chips to persuade Nelis, Lake even mobilized the investigation agency of the Department of Homeland Security, and only then did he find a breakthrough.
And then.
I contacted several Yale classmates in New York, exchanged greetings, told them the purpose of my visit, and got assurances from several people that they would write letters of recommendation. Then I asked that friend to help me make an appointment with Ms. Nelis.
The reason for choosing to meet at the National Land Building was well calculated.
Lake chose to meet with Ms. Nelis in this office to show his attitude: this time, if you help me, I will owe you a favor as the Deputy Director of Operations of the New York State Department of Homeland Security.
Ms. Nellis once again addressed Lake as Major Edwin, no doubt to see if Lake could accept a higher stake.
Lake chose to accept it.
To put it simply.
Lake used his military and territorial identities and letters of recommendation from three senior officials to exchange for a transfer permit for Skye from Ms. Nelis.
This is very expensive.
Although there is no monetary transaction involved, the value of these three combined is much more expensive than money.
but...
Education itself is expensive.
Especially in the federal government, only the lower-class white people believe in the so-called happy deal. In order to prevent their offspring from being so happy that they think the earth is round and flat, the middle-class white people try hard to let their children choose elite education.
Under the arrangement of some people, the cost of receiving so-called elite education is even more than ten times more expensive than happy education.
so...
When Lake mentioned his final bargaining chip, he had already made up his mind. If Ms. Nelis still didn't give in, he would have no choice but to use the ultimate weapon, Ms. Karen.
Ms. Karen is one of the shareholders of a college in Washington, which is also Lake and Betty's high school alma mater.
but...
After inviting Ms. Karen out, Lake was mentally prepared to make Ms. Nelis disappear without a trace.
No one can blackmail him with impunity.
at the moment?
This was the biggest bargaining chip Lake had prepared, so Ms. Nelis chose to accept it, which was a happy thing for everyone.
only.
In the evening.
Lake ordered some Chinese takeout and sat in the restaurant with Skye to eat dinner. Skye looked at Lake after hearing this and said, "I don't want to go to Midtown High School."
"Why?"
"My previous school was pretty good."
"You mean the school you haven't been to for three months?"
"…"
Lake looked at Skye with interest: "Also, did you know that the last exam you took was actually the eighth grade graduation exam?"
Skye blinked.
Lake shrugged and said, "So, if you want to go back to your old school, that's fine. However, your grades show that you're not eligible to repeat a year yet. You can go to ninth grade now, Skye."
Skye was a little confused: "Really?"
Lake wanted to laugh.
It's been almost three months since I graduated from junior high school, and I still don't know the result?
Skye then came back to his senses and shook his head, "Then I don't want to go to Central City High School either."
Lake shrugged and said, "Okay, where do you want to go?"
The same thing.
Just as Karen adopted Lake without any utilitarian reasons, Lake also adopted Skye without any utilitarian reasons. Karen taught him by example and listened to Lake's own ideas for so many years. Lake felt that he could now also listen to Skye's own ideas and opinions.
Life is your own, as long as your choices don't make you regret it.
This is also the sentence Karen gave to Lake.
Skye shook her head. "I don't know. I'll go to whichever public school wants me."
The cost of college in midtown is too high.
The cost of the two previous surgeries, and the cost of the clothes bought just this afternoon, wow, this is the first time Skye has seen a scene where a piece of clothing worth six hundred dollars can be purchased with a credit card for sixty dollars.
Lake looked at Skye and said, "A regular college or university is fine."
Skye looked up at Lake.
Lake touched his chin and said, "Wait, the enrollment period for public colleges has passed. It seems that there is only one Central City College at the moment. Why don't you try it first? If you are not happy, we can change it."
Skye's expression was a little strange: "I'm not a child, Lake."
Lake smiled and said, "I know. So, I'm telling you the truth. If you don't believe me, you can check it online. You have a computer in your room, right?"
Skye looked at Lake seriously.
Lake's expression was calm.
If it weren't for this, he wouldn't have used these three conditions to impress Nelis. If it was during the enrollment window period, a letter of recommendation from him would probably be enough.
Skye quickly finished his meal, stood up, and ran towards his room on the second floor.
Your own room.
Skye felt dazed as she walked up the stairs. It seemed that all her belongings were just a blue backpack.
Lake looked at Sky's back as he ran up and chuckled.
After a while.
As Lake was about to take out some wine from the wine cabinet as usual, he blinked at the locked door.
Where are the keys?
Lake found the key from the bar and took out a bottle of bourbon. He originally wanted to pour it for himself one sip at a time, but after thinking for a while, he poured himself a full glass, then put the remaining bourbon back into the wine cabinet. After locking the key, he looked up and put the key directly into his storage space with a whoosh.
In this way, we can ensure 100% safety and prevent underage girls from coming into contact with alcohol.
Lake thought so in his heart, and then recalled Betty's first experience of drinking. After thinking about it carefully, it seemed that Betty's first hangover happened when she was eighteen years old, which was still three years away from the age when she could drink.
So this rule is alive?
Lake blinked, feeling the urge to call Karen for advice.
About half an hour later.
"Knock, knock."
"I didn't remember closing the door."
"…"
Lake looked up at Skye who walked into the study and smiled: "This is also your home, you can go anywhere. Of course, we can make an agreement. I won't go into your bedroom, and you won't go into my bedroom either."
Skye smiled somewhat unnaturally: "Thank you, Mr. Edwin."
This sentence is a double entendre.
Lake withdrew his gaze and refreshed the killer orders in the Continental Hotel's backstage. His expression was indifferent: "You can call me Lake, or... I don't know, but don't call me Mr. Edwin. That's what strangers call me, and the correct way to call me is Major Edwin or Director Edwin."
Skye said nothing.
Lake looked up and said, "The information should be available. So, what do you think about studying at a central city university? If you don't want to, I can find a way to use my connections to choose a public university closer to home."
Skye waved her hand: "No, thank you, I'm satisfied. Thank you, Ai...Leck."
Lake laughed.
That's right.
There was only a nineteen-year age difference between them. When others called him "sir", Lake understood it as respect, but when Skye called him that, Lake felt only alienation and endless strangeness.
This won't work.
They have to live under the same roof for at least six years. If Lake listens to Mr. Edwin saying this and that every day, he feels that he will age several years mentally.
Lake smiled at Skye, who was still standing at the door, and said, "So, see you tomorrow?"
Skye opened her mouth and said, "...See you tomorrow, Lake!"
Finished.
Skye turned and left the study.
Lake continued to indulge in fake orders.
…