I Returned to the Day He Brought His First Love Home Chapter 213: Refusing the Invitation

"Oh, right, Grace. Our exchange program ends in about a month," Joanne Chase said hesitantly after accepting the gift, a thought having just occurred to her.

Grace Winslow nodded. "That’s right. In the blink of an eye, we’ve been here for five months, almost half a year. I’m starting to get a little hosick. It’s been so long since I’ve had my mom’s cooking."

"I’ve heard so of our classmates say they don’t really want to go back ho. They want to stay and live abroad." Joanne Chase nodded, a smile touching her lips at the thought of Irene Lynch.

For the first eighteen years of her life, her family had never treated her kindly. Only after eting Grace Winslow and Irene Lynch did she truly feel the warmth of a family, and she cherished it all dearly.

"To each their own. Perhaps they feel that even the air they breathe is fresher abroad," Grace Winslow mused for a mont. "You don’t need to pay them any mind; just focus on yourself. If you want to stay, then stay and continue your studies. If you want to go ho, we’ll go ho together when the program ends."

’She knew many people had fought for this chance to study overseas specifically to stay here. She was even aware of so who had married locals just to get a residence permit.’

’It was their choice, and she wouldn’t judge them for it.’

"Grace, are you planning to go ho? You’ve adapted so well here, and I can see all the professors at the university love you. They even want you to stay. If the university really gave you the chance to stay for advanced studies, would you take it?" Joanne Chase asked, looking at Grace Winslow with uncertainty.

’People can be swayed by temptation.’

’In the face of such benefits, many people would fail the test of their convictions.’

Even Joanne Chase had wavered before.

But she had ultimately passed the test, staying true to her convictions.

Hearing this, Grace Winslow couldn’t help but laugh. "How could you even ask a question like that? I’m a Celestian. Of course I’m going back to my motherland. I ca here to learn more so I could go back and help build our nation."

"I grew up under the red flag. How could I possibly betray my own country?"

"No matter how good the benefits and treatnt are abroad, it doesn’t an anything. I’m going ho."

"My parents and family are all waiting for at ho."

"You shouldn’t let others influence you. You’re always overthinking things. Just study hard, seize every second to learn what you want to learn, and then bring that knowledge back ho with you."

Grace Winslow reached out and poked Joanne Chase’s forehead, speaking in an exasperated tone.

Joanne Chase laughed sheepishly. "Grace, I knew you wouldn’t be tempted! It was the others. They were saying that since you’re always running around, and the professors like you so much and are even willing to offer great benefits to keep you, you’d definitely give in to the temptation. I even got into an argunt with them about it today."

"Oh, and they also tried to drive a wedge between us. They said you went traveling with other people and didn’t take along, that you’ve made new friends and don’t care about anymore. I didn’t believe them for a second."

"They’d be better off spending that ti reading a book and learning sothing." Grace Winslow shook her head, thoroughly disapproving.

She glanced at the ti. "It’s getting late. I have to be at the lab to observe tomorrow, so I’m going to take a shower and get to bed. You should get so rest, too. Don’t overthink things. We’re sisters—closer than if we were related by blood. Don’t pay any attention to what other people say. Just stay true to yourself."

Joanne Chase nodded quickly.

Grace Winslow went back to her room, took a shower, and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

She had been very busy lately. With her return to Celestia just around the corner, she wished she could clone herself several tis over to learn even more.

The next day, Grace Winslow was up at five. She did her usual exercises, ca back to make breakfast, and then headed to the university before the sun was even up.

She went to the library first, racing against ti to read and take notes.

When it was ti for class, she imdiately left for the classroom.

After her first class, she headed straight for the lab.

She was the only Celestian allowed to observe in the lab, mainly because she had an incredible talent in this field that several professors greatly admired.

However, because Grace Winslow remained noncommittal about whether she would stay, the professors didn’t let her operate any equipnt, only observe.

Holding her notebook, Grace Winslow’s eyes never left the other students’ hands. She recorded their every step and noted how to use the lab equipnt.

’Celestia probably doesn’t have such advanced equipnt yet, but I know it will, sooner or later.’

’Besides, as long as I understand the operating principles, it’ll be simple enough to reverse-engineer one.’

After the experint was over, Professor Stephen approached Grace Winslow again. "Ms. Winslow, you truly have a gift for experintal work. On behalf of Country Y, I sincerely invite you to stay. If you are willing to stay and beco a citizen of our country, we will provide you with housing and a stable inco. You won’t have to worry about your future. We can et any request you have."

"If you can’t bear to leave your family in Celestia, you can even bring them over. We will give you a bonus of one hundred thousand dollars."

"We are truly sincere in our invitation. You are sure to beco a great scientist in the future."

Hearing this, Grace Winslow gave a brilliant smile. "Professor Stephen, I’m very happy that you appreciate so much, think so highly of , and are willing to pay such a high price for to stay. But I’m sorry, I am a Celestian, and I am going ho. I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of the old Celestian saying, ’A falling leaf returns to its roots.’ I cannot leave my holand."

"I’m afraid I must decline your generous offer."

Stephen could only feel it was a pity. "What a sha. I really wanted to take you on as my student. You’re the most gifted genius I’ve ever t. You’ve achieved in a few months what takes others over a decade of hard work to master."

"Diligence can make up for a lack of skill. I’m just relying on hard work," Grace Winslow said, shaking her head.

’My learning ability is good, it’s true, but I was only able to get these results because I’d already built a solid foundation back in Celestia.’

’Back then, I ca across a lot of translated docunts and realized my physics knowledge was weak, so I spent over half a year cramming the fundantals.’

’If it hadn’t been for that period of intense effort, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have now.’

After bidding farewell to Stephen, Grace Winslow went to her next class.

She was already auditing second- and third-year lectures.

Her schedule after the lab was a public lecture on physics. She listened with her full attention, taking notes.

As class ended, she overheard two students talking in low voices. They said a batch of equipnt at the university had broken down and was being disposed of, ready to be sent to a scrapyard.

At these words, Grace Winslow’s eyes lit up.

’This is a golden opportunity!’

’If I take this broken equipnt apart, I can see the internal construction. This is my only chance to figure out how to replicate it!’

She casually moved closer, found out the location of the scrapyard, skipped her afternoon classes, and headed straight there to buy so scrap.