**Inside the restaurant.**
"*Ha! Cough! Ha!*"
Hearing Leonard Green's self-congratulatory remarks, Ross couldn't hold back anymore. With his signature mumbling chuckle, he spread his hands and reminded, "I'm also a doctor."
"Yes, yes, yes. You work at that library."
Leonard glanced at him dismissively and responded perfunctorily.
"Hello?"
Ross was furious, raising his voice, "That's the Prehistoric Biology Museum, not a library!"
"What's the difference?"
Leonard scoffed.
"Of course there's a difference!"
Ross beca even more animated. "It's like saying a dentist isn't a real doctor! How can you compare a library to a Prehistoric Biology Museum?"
"You're a doctor?"
Leonard finally looked at Ross seriously. "A dentist makes at least $100,000 a year. How much do you make?"
"…"
Ross froze. He only made around sixty or seventy thousand a year, which was already decent, but he couldn't compete with dentists—let alone soone like Leonard, a senior attending physician in a major hospital.
"We were talking about
being a doctor. What does money have to do with it?"
"You claim to be a doctor, yet you earn less than a dentist."
Leonard retorted sharply, "Dentists aren't even considered real doctors, so for you, what difference does it make whether it's a library or so Prehistoric Biology Museum?"
If this were in the East, this argunt could be refuted. But in Arica, where money is king and making money is a virtue, this logic was airtight.
That's also why Aricans rarely ask about each other's inco—even among close-knit friends like the *Friends* gang, they weren't entirely aware of one another's financial situations.
Don't ask. If you ask, it's *private*!
"There's no hierarchy in jobs. What matters most is personal interest and societal value."
Seeing that Ross was on the verge of exploding, Adam quickly stepped in to diate. "Ross loves dinosaurs, and it's because of people like him that *Jurassic Park* was a success. Just like Dr. Green enjoys saving lives, helping countless patients."
"Just call
Leonard."
Leonard Green had a newfound respect for Adam and couldn't be bothered dealing with the impulsive Ross anymore. He smiled and let Adam switch to a more casual address.
In Arica, friendships were considered the ideal relationship.
Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters—family mbers aid to be friends. Spouses, too, were expected to be friends. Every relationship was encouraged to move toward friendship because it symbolized equality.
And as friends, naturally, you called each other by na.
"Alright, Leonard."
Adam was secretly delighted, his smile growing even brighter. "You know I plan to beco a cardiothoracic surgeon. Could you share your experiences from when you were starting out? Any tips for success?"
"Brown-noser!"
Everyone collectively rolled their eyes.
Adam's smile didn't waver in the slightest.
Co on. *Paper knowledge is always shallow; true understanding cos from practice.*
No matter how many books he read, his understanding of the dical profession would still be like viewing flowers through fog or a blind man feeling an elephant.
Since he couldn't officially start practicing yet, consulting a seasoned attending physician about the industry's realities would be invaluable—it could save him from taking unnecessary detours.
And ti saved ant a longer lifespan for Adam.
In this situation, it wasn't about groveling. A few flattering words and so ass-kissing—what was the big deal?
Besides, considering Rachel was a friend, Leonard could technically be considered an elder. This was just a polite complint.
Would he rather act like Ross—hitting on soone's daughter, getting mocked, and then storming off at the first sign of discomfort?
That wasn't *freedom*—that was *selfishness*!
"Experiences, huh…"
Leonard took a sip of his whiskey, his eyes filled with nostalgia. "Back then, I was just like you—dreaming of becoming a surgeon. After graduating from college, I got into Columbia dical School. By my third and fourth year, I was already interning at NYU dical Center.
After dical school, I continued at NYU dical Center, working my way up from intern to resident, and eventually attending physician. Before I knew it, more than twenty years had passed."
"My dad was the best among his peers!"
Rachel said proudly.
It was clear that Leonard had shared many stories from his youth with her.
Deep down, Rachel admired her father imnsely—the man who single-handedly supported their family. That admiration fueled her fascination with doctors.
Not to ntion, her ex-fiancé was a dentist. In the original tiline, every ti she encountered a handso doctor, she would get weak in the knees.
"I can imagine."
Adam nodded with a smile. "Leonard, you must have worked really hard back then."
**No words, no sentence, no content in 69shu—skip!**
"Of course!"
Leonard said proudly, "Everyone admitted I was the hardest-working and most talented intern among my peers."
"Hard work pays off—that's the Arican Dream!"
Joey pursed his lips and nodded vigorously, feeling deeply moved.
Because right now, he was also working hard to achieve *his* Arican Dream—becoming a great actor, like Al Pacino. Even reaching just one-tenth of Al Pacino's success would be enough!
"Bullshit!"
Leonard suddenly cursed. "Hard work *does* pay off, but most of the ti, achieving your dreams isn't just about working hard enough!"
"What do you an?"
Adam's eyes lit up. *This* was exactly the harsh truth he wanted to know.
His entire plan revolved around growing into a top-tier surgeon through relentless effort—ensuring a safe and stable way to extend his lifespan. He firmly believed in this path.
But was there a hidden trap along the way?
"I was the best and hardest-working among my peers. But do you know who has achieved the most success today?"
Leonard sneered.
"Definitely not you."
Ross smirked, taking the opportunity to jab back.
He was still bitter about the earlier conversation. Any chance to get a dig in, he couldn't resist.
"Ross!"
Rachel shot him a disapproving look.
"Oops~"
Ross shrank back, offering an awkward smile while miming a zipping motion across his lips.
Ever since high school, he had harbored a crush on Rachel.
Now, post-divorce, as he lanted that he *just wanted to get married, not divorced*, Rachel had shown up in a wedding dress after running away from her own wedding.
Though he hadn't mustered the courage to pursue her yet, in his mind, Rachel was his destined one.
How could he afford to offend his *true love*? At least… not until she was officially his.
"So, the most talented and hardworking you… didn't achieve the most success?"
Adam refocused on Leonard. "Are you saying soone got ahead through connections?"
At that thought, his expression darkened.
In a fair competition, with his system constantly improving his attributes, he feared no one.
But if even a technical profession like dicine wasn't fair, then he was in trouble.
**(End of Chapter)**
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