After Link left, Sheldon and Dr. Sturgis continued their argument, while Little George happily took Link's investment and prepared to launch his grand entrepreneurial plan.
When Link returned home for lunch, Robert came back as well. When Link asked about it, Robert said, "The autopsy results indicate it was probably murder. I met Mira's boyfriend, and he had some connection to Mira's death.
"That night, he stole his father's liquor, and the two of them drank heavily. But when he sobered up, he discovered Mira was already dead. Then that idiot secretly moved Mira out of the room."
After hearing that, Link said, "That does sound like something an idiot would do. From what I know about him, he probably didn't have the guts to kill anyone."
"We still can't completely rule him out. The investigation into him needs to continue," Robert said.
"A lot of people have played dumb in front of the police. It's nothing more than a last-ditch struggle to evade responsibility. But if it wasn't him, then someone entered the room while they were drunk and killed Mira."
As Link listened to Robert, he suddenly recalled something he had seen before. "Robert, I saw something in the attic that might help."
Robert immediately perked up. "Tell me."
Link said, "That day, Lena and I were on the third floor, looking directly at the pool through a window. When I heard the shouting below and looked down, I noticed someone by the smaller pool who didn't go over to see what was happening. Instead, she quietly left. And she wasn't on the list of party guests Lena told me about."
Robert immediately understood and demanded, "Who was she?"
"Jesse. She should be in eleventh grade this year. She was also a cheerleader, like Mira."
Robert thought for a moment and asked, "How was her relationship with Mira and her boyfriend? Did they have any grudges?"
"I don't know much about that," Link said. "After all, I was gone for a year. I only knew those people because I'd met them before. But Lena probably knows. I can ask her."
"That won't be necessary. You don't need to get too involved in this kind of thing. I'll ask around later."
Knowing Robert was trying to protect him, Link nodded and did not, like most young people, try to prove himself.
Link stayed home for six days. Because of what happened to Mira, the high school had not held any parties recently. Still, Link received some good news from Robert: Mira's case had finally been solved.
Jesse was the killer. Robert did not explain the details, but Link had already learned from Lena. Put simply, it was caused by a tangled mess of romantic relationships.
After returning to school and waiting another month or so, Link was the first to receive his ACT results.
The timing of Link's results was neither early nor late. The system was like a lottery machine—when scores came out depended on luck. Sometimes everyone else in the same testing room already knew their scores while a few people still foolishly had to wait another week or two.
The ACT had a perfect score of thirty-six, and Link received a thirty-six. High school questions truly posed no difficulty for him anymore. With that score, not only could he attend the California Institute of Technology, but a scholarship would not be a problem either.
Flora was equally delighted. She also said that, given Link's grades, Wilmott Academy for Gifted Children would provide him with an additional scholarship. Furthermore, after Peggy declined, Link was asked to represent the school and give a speech at the graduation ceremony.
Of course, prestigious schools also valued extracurricular activities, teacher evaluations, family background, and other factors. Link had no issues whatsoever with extracurriculars or teacher evaluations. His family background might not earn him many extra points, but at least it would not hurt him.
Not long afterward, his SAT results arrived as well. Perhaps he made a slight mistake somewhere, so he did not receive a perfect score, but 2,396 was still unquestionably an excellent result.
All Link needed to do now was prepare his application materials and send them in when admissions season arrived.
As for Peggy, the California Institute of Technology had already invited her and Linda to visit. It had even offered to arrange for Peggy to stay with one of the school's mathematics professors.
If Linda was still worried, the school could even provide her with a job. Linda was still considering that offer.
Considering Peggy's age and accomplishments, it was clear that she was a super genius. Even top institutions like the California Institute of Technology would compete for students like her, so it was only natural that they were willing to offer every possible convenience.
This was not an exaggeration. In order to persuade Sheldon to attend, a top public university like the University of Texas at Austin was not only willing to offer his father, Coach George, a job, but when Sheldon wanted to go to the California Institute of Technology to hear Professor Hawking give a lecture, it also covered all of his travel expenses and arranged accommodation.
In fact, prestigious schools like Harvard and the California Institute of Technology would have been willing to offer Sheldon the same terms. Sheldon chose the University of Texas at Austin mainly because of his family's actual circumstances—it was simply closer to home.
Besides Link and Peggy, Sheldon and Dan were also leaving high school for college that year.
When the group sat together and Sheldon learned that Link and Peggy were going to the California Institute of Technology, he did not seem very happy.
"I was originally planning to attend the California Institute of Technology too. Its physics program is among the best in the world, but my mother said our family circumstances wouldn't allow me to go."
"Sheldon, the University of Texas at Austin is good too," Link could only say.
"It's close enough to home. Considering your age, it's the most suitable choice. Besides, if you want to come to the California Institute of Technology, you can always come for your master's or doctorate. That won't be difficult for you, will it?"
"But Peggy is eleven too. Why can she attend the California Institute of Technology?"
Link did not know how to answer. Peggy, on the other hand, already knew Sheldon lacked emotional intelligence and would keep asking if he did not get an answer, so she bluntly said in annoyance,
"That's because my parents are divorced. My mom thinks never seeing my dad again would be pretty great, so she's considering coming to California with me. Do you want your parents to get divorced too?"
"...All right, you've convinced me."
Not wanting to continue talking about Peggy, Link turned to Dan. "Congratulations, Dan. Getting into the University of Texas at Austin is a rare opportunity."
"Yeah." Dan was clearly much happier than Sheldon. He had also received a scholarship. Given his family's circumstances, being able to attend such a top public university with such generous financial aid left him completely satisfied.
Then Dan said to Link, "Come to think of it, I never expected you to choose to finish high school so quickly. Your high school years should have been colorful and exciting, right?"
"What's so colorful and exciting about it? I'm even glad to have escaped high school early." Sheldon looked baffled.
"Although Link isn't as smart as I am, he could easily finish high school in three years. There's absolutely no need to waste more precious time."
"I just have my own plans." Link smiled. "For me, life can still be exciting even after I start college. Besides, you know the California Institute of Technology is only a few hours' drive from Hollywood."
Dan immediately understood and could not suppress his envy. Thinking back on his own high school years, the closest he had ever gotten to a girl was the incident where he "rejected" Libby. He could not help sighing. "If I had even a tenth of your luck with women, I'd be satisfied."
"Believe me, you'll meet a girl who likes you someday." Thinking of how Dan would date a girlfriend in college, ultimately choose to stay in Texas, and have a future son who might also have the chance to attend the California Institute of Technology, Link knew Dan would have the life he wanted.
"Thanks."
Before you continue