"Given your current state, both Professor Miller and I advise you to consider taking a leave of absence,"

In the office of the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Clark looked up from the report from the student mental health center and gazed at the young man sitting across from him.

Yet the other's attention seemed to be completely elsewhere, as he was presently staring blankly, lost in his own thoughts.

"Dean~ Dean!"

"Yes, Sir!" Dean snapped out of his daze, and the world in front of him gradually came into focus.

The sunlight slanted across the desk from the window, and the shadowy figure of Associate Dean Clark slowly withdrew his tapping fingers from the desktop and leaned back in his chair again.

And Professor Miller, sitting by his side, also sighed slightly at Dean's just now.

Dean, coming back to his senses, seemed to just realize where he was, "Sorry, Mr. Clark, Professor Miller, I... just now..."

"I understand," Clark looked at him sympathetically, "Nobody wants to see such terrible things happen."

"Relax, Dean, the school is aware of your situation, and we will offer you the greatest support within our authority," Professor Miller comforted him in a timely manner.

"Alright~" Dean, who was originally contemplating how to explain, simply spread his hands and shrugged.

Carlock set down the report in his hands and instead interlaced his fingers on the table. His thumbs twirled around each other a few times before he slowly began to speak.

"The mental health office says that you have been having episodes of mental absence or even experiencing... hallucinations?"

"Yes," Dean nodded, "But I think I am now recovered..."

"No," Clark gestured for him not to rush his explanation.

"Dean, we're also very sorry about what happened with your family. But you just turned eighteen this year, you haven't even had your birthday yet.

So don't rush to act like a grown man, then pretend to be strong under the sympathetic eyes of others, shouldering everything at home.

It's too early for you, Dean, you're still a child."

Clark tried to soften his voice, "So we suggest you take a year off, or at least one semester, even though the psychological evaluation report didn't suggest this."

Dean didn't know how to respond for a moment, but indeed, he had just recently emerged from a state of utter confusion.

After all, the soul of a future life merging with this body needed time to adapt.

Meanwhile, Clark thought that this student was concerned about the losses that taking a leave of absence would bring, so he explained considerately.

"Dean, I've learned from Professor Miller that you performed excellently in your first semester. Like your high school transcript, dazzling, astonishing."

Professor Miller, who had been sitting upright on the side, smiled, nodded, and handed Clark a report on Dean's academic performance this semester.

"Wow~" Clark admired the report, not surprisingly.

"A GPA of 3.8, which is a very rare achievement for an electrical engineering major.

Furthermore, completing 20 credits in just the first semester of college, Dean, as your high school recommendation letter says, you truly live up to the name of a genius."

While amazed by Dean's transcript, Clark couldn't help but feel sorry for his plight.

But at that instant, Clark had made a decision in his heart.

"Dean, during your leave of absence, the school's policy on your full scholarship will remain unchanged and will continue as scheduled.

And as long as you maintain a GPA above 3.5 upon your return, the full scholarship will support you until graduation."

Frankly, this promise is indeed a very generous offering for a college student and their family.

Yet Dean didn't appear excited; he looked up and offered a response that took both Clark and Miller by surprise.

"Mr. Clark, I still need to give the decision to take a leave of absence some serious thought. If possible, I would prefer to apply for an extended break of one to two weeks."

Clark and Professor Miller exchanged surprised glances, with the former reconfirming.

"Dean, are you sure you're in a state to continue your studies? Although taking a leave of absence will cost some time, I think it might be more beneficial for you at this time."

"Of course," Dean nodded affirmatively.

"Alright," Clark shrugged, "If you insist, I will explain your situation to the Dean of Academic Affairs. What do you think, Professor Miller?"

"Considering Dean's grades, he could essentially take the rest of the semester off and it wouldn't be a problem," Miller even thought that Dean really didn't need to spend four years in college; two would be enough for him.

"If that's the case, then..."

Ding-a-ling~ The phone on the desk rang, interrupting Clark's sentence midway.

Giving both men a 'just a moment' look, Clark picked up the phone, "Hello~..."

After about two sentences, Clark hung up the phone.

"Dean, your family has come to pick you up."

Dean stood up, "Mr. Clark, I..."

"Your holiday request has been approved."

"Thank you," Dean nodded and quickly left the office.

Family? For some reason, Dean felt somewhat uneasy.

Watching his departing figure, Miller seemed to have a trace of regret on his face.

"Let him take care of his family affairs first. It's been less than a month since his mother passed away, and his father is facing charges of imprisonment. It's indeed cruel for this young man who has just come of age."

But that's life, nobody knows what will happen tomorrow. Clark actually believed that Dean would handle all of this, judging by his calm demeanor just now.

...

Once he was out of the administrative building of the school, Dean's expression was still somewhat dazed.

Damn it, several days had passed, but he still couldn't adapt to his current identity.

From the beginning, he would zone out for long periods, his head filled with illusions, to now, when he would occasionally space out, this process had lasted nearly a week.

It wasn't until today that his brain fully cleared up. Could this be the aftereffect of transference?

During these days of adjustment, to avoid drawing attention to his strange state, Dean had to maintain a mostly expressionless face most of the time.

That's right, the calm Dean that Vice Dean of Academic Affairs Clark mentioned could well be because he was daydreaming.

As for the reason behind Clark and the others calling him for a talk and suggesting he take an academic hiatus today, Dean probably knew what was going on.

After all, just yesterday, that aunt he had never met had called him.

On the phone, the aunt kept comforting Dean. Not to be overly sad about his mother's passing or lose faith in life because of his father's arrest.

His mom in heaven, and his aunt's family would all support him, encourage him to complete his university education, and become the first person in the Price family to earn a college degree.

Sigh, Dean rubbed his forehead. He didn't know whether to feel sorry for his current plight or to be invigorated by being the hope of the entire village.

"Dean~!"

Just as he was contemplating his immediate plans, a voice full of concern called out to him from ahead.

Dean had just looked up when swoosh, his head was enveloped in a pair of arms.

What followed was the smell of cheap perfume and a soft bosom.

"Oh~ Dean, my Dean! My poor Dean!" the woman's caring voice instantly filled Dean's ears.

"Aunt Rachel..."

"It's okay, child, if you want to cry, just cry. I promise I won't laugh at you for being like a girl again."

"..." Dean.

After being engulfed and forcibly comforted by Aunt Rachel, Dean finally breathed fresh air again.

Only then did he notice a middle-aged man in his forties standing next to Aunt Rachel.

"Uncle Frank," Dean greeted him proactively.

"Dean, you're a great lad~!" Frank, wearing his work clothes, patted Dean's shoulder. Frank was Aunt Rachel's second husband.

Although his family had suffered a series of misfortunes, at least Dean appeared quite strong, which made Frank more willing to help him through the tough times.

"By the way, Dean, where's your luggage? I called the school and explained to them that you might take a long vacation," Aunt Rachel, looking at Dean with empty hands, couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Uh..." Dean then remembered that his aunt had told him the day before on the phone that he should pack his luggage to take home today.

"Never mind, we're not far from Youngstown; if we need to, we can just come back." Aunt Rachel, wearing a thick coat, did not dwell on the matter.

She thought it was just because Dean was overwhelmed with grief that he had forgotten these trivialities.

"Dean, let's get in the car. What you need to do now is to have a good rest in the car. When you wake up, I promise that a piping hot and delicious-smelling apple pie will be right in front of you."

Aunt Rachel embraced Dean and led him into the backseat of a somewhat old Ford Focus.

Peering through the foggy car window, Dean took another look at his school.

Cleveland State University, he hardly even had any memories of it.