Lu Yan's mother nodded. Her face, tanned from years of hard work, was smooth without a single wrinkle, and glowed with a faint light. She spoke calmly, "I admit that Ayan has always worked hard and dared to prove herself. She participated in every competition she could. Those certificates and awards are proof of her hard work."

A girl who proves herself through hard work can't be too bad.

Lu Yan's mother continued, "In our vocational schools, you can take the college entrance exam after two years and the exam after three years. Ayan chose to stay in school for her second year in order to get a bachelor's degree. She took the college and bachelor's degree exams this year, and the results are out. She passed both, but she lacked a bit of luck."

What a regrettable result! It's hard for anyone to feel this way. It's also rare that Lu Yan can maintain a good mood when facing everyone. If Lu Yan's mother hadn't said anything, no one would have noticed.

"So... Ah-Yan went to a vocational college?"

She clearly met the score requirement, but couldn't get into a bachelor's program and could only attend a vocational college. If it were her, she definitely wouldn't have been as calm as Lu Yan.

"Yes, sigh, that's the limitation of not attending high school. You can't apply to universities outside the province; you can only choose universities within the province. And this year, only one university in our province is accepting students majoring in clothing design from vocational schools. Thousands of vocational school students majoring in clothing design are competing for sixty spots. Ayan didn't win."

The competition in society is fierce, and so is the competition in schools. This is the helplessness and cruelty of reality. Thousands of people are trying to cross a single-plank bridge, but the bridge will eventually break. Those who successfully cross the bridge are all happy, while those who fall into the water either perish on their own or try to climb out and perhaps catch up with those in front.

Lu Yan is currently using a mask to cover herself, which proves that she still has hope and still wants to make a change. She is just worried about the outcome and doesn't dare to let everyone know.

"She went to a vocational college. Her first choice school didn't accept her, and the second and third choice schools only accepted first-choice students, so naturally they wouldn't accept Ayan. I just don't understand, what's the point of having so many choices if those schools only accept first-choice students? In the end, Ayan was accepted by her fourth choice school, which was very far away. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Sigh! Fate is so cruel."

Lan Qingyue took a deep breath and turned slightly to hug Lu Yan's mother. "Big sister, some things, once missed, can never be undone. Maybe this luck didn't fall on Ayan's head, but Ayan is so smart and hardworking. No matter what her choice is, she should have a plan. You should believe in her."

Lu Yan's mother sighed again and patted Lan Qingyue's hand. "I hope so, Miss Lan. Thank you for listening to me ramble on for so long today. I feel much better after saying this.

Life's important choices only come once. Once missed, there is no second chance. Lu Yan's missed opportunity may become a lifelong regret. Lan Qingyue had also experienced the kind of heart-wrenching pain of this regret, and even after many years, she still couldn't forget it.

Thinking of this, Lan Qingyue's eyes reddened, and she hugged Lu Yan's mother tightly.