An Old Father's Smile

One month later.

Central Perk.

"Adam, what have you been busy with lately? I feel like I haven't seen you much."

Monica asked with concern.

"I'm currently rushing to meet a deadline for my manuscript."

Adam smiled wryly, "The big spenders aren't satisfied with the progress. There's nothing we can do. This won't just happen this month; it'll be the norm for the next two years."

Two years?

Monica exclaimed, "So long?"

"Time is relative; when you're busy, two years can pass by very quickly."

Adam laughed.

In fact, it's just a matter of four words.

Recently, the big spenders have been urging Adam to finish his manuscript, and even wanted to come to his house to "seek advice." Adam is under a lot of pressure and has decided to speed up the process, reduce the time he spends slacking off and chatting with Monica and the others, and stop taking it easy.

Monica and the others were slow to react, after all, they were just friends and had their own things to do. The reason they seemed to be together every day was because they had concentrated all the time they could spend together throughout the year.

In reality, gatherings every now and then are the norm.

Heather felt it most deeply.

She discovered Adam's hard work on the very first night, and watching Adam type kept her awake. Firstly, she wasn't used to it, and secondly, the rhythmic sound of his typing suddenly made her feel wide awake.

Fortunately, Adam had a solution.

If you're not sleepy, I'll make you sleepy. When you're so tired you fall asleep, there's nothing that feels strange.

Zhou Shuren said: There were originally no roads in the world, but as more people walk on them, they become roads.

Adam wholeheartedly agreed.

As Adam got busier, Adam laid-back nature was suppressed. Realizing that being a lazy bum all the time wasn't a solution, he decided to try to compress his four-year undergraduate degree into three years, saving every year he could.

Therefore, the next two years will be very busy.

So, what's the latest news?

Adam, of course, couldn't say things like, "Your charm is limited, and the big spenders aren't buying it," so he quickly changed the subject.

The next two years will be very busy, but they will pass quickly. That doesn't mean we'll stop keeping in touch.

Adam's feelings for everyone were no longer just abstract; chatting and joking with them had become an integral part of his life, and of course, he couldn't give them up.

Furthermore, there's the relationship with Leonard that needs to be maintained and improved through Rachel.

Therefore, the only change will be reducing the frequency of long gatherings, from several times a week to once a week or once every two weeks. People will come over for breakfast or have a coffee at a cafe and then leave. This will not change.

Feelings are something that develop over time. A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. There's a reason why characters in American TV shows value their friends more than many relatives or even family members.

Because they are the ones who spend every day together.

"It's nothing, Chandler just resigned."

Monica thought for a moment and then smiled.

"What?"

Adam exclaimed in surprise, "Chandler resigned?"

He then looked at Chandler and asked, "Why?"

"Because I don't like it."

Chandler shrugged and said, "Ever since you told me that Lord of the Mysteries was going to release a third edition of 500,000 copies and make a profit of 2.5 million, I've noticed that you all have clear career plans. I'm the only one doing a job that I don't like, and I've been doing it for five years. It was supposed to be a temporary job, but now it's starting to feel more and more like a real job."

"You don't like data processing?"

Adam said speechlessly, "Then why did you study this in college?"

"I don't know either."

Chandler shrugged, then hesitated, "Because of the high salary?"

"So what kind of job do you like?"

Adam pressed for an answer.

It evokes the heavy feeling of an elderly father seeing his son give up a high-paying job just because of the phrase, "The world is so big, I want to go see it."

"I don't know either."

Chandler joked, "But what I do know is that when my boss told me he was going to promote me to manager, I couldn't take it anymore, so I just quit."

"..."

Adam rolled his eyes, exasperated, and said, "You can't handle a promotion? Wouldn't a raise be better? Even if you don't like this job, you can always look for something better while you're still employed. Quitting like this is too impulsive."

"I know, I know."

Chandler was clearly conflicted as well.

"After he resigned, he specifically sought out a career consultant to find out what kind of job he was suited for. Guess what the result was?"

Monica suppressed a laugh.

"It's definitely still data processing."

Adam hit the nail on the head. "This is what you studied in college, and you worked in this field for five years after graduation. You've got the qualifications to be a manager. All you've done and seen are related things. If you're not suited for this, what are you suited for?"

"Then what should I do?"

Chandler said dejectedly, "We can't just go back like this, can we? People will laugh at us."

"Of course you can't go back like that, unless your boss begs you to go back."

Adam pondered for a moment and said, "And since we've already come this far, why don't you think carefully about what you really want to do? Choose something you like and stick with it. Everyone starts as a newcomer in any industry and needs enough time to grow."

If everyone were as willful as you were before, you can't expect to change careers and start all over again in middle age, right? Even if you can tolerate competing on the same starting line with young people a generation younger than you, you'll most likely outrun them.

They're young and have no burdens, but you, in middle age, need a stable, high income to support your family. At that point, you have even less choice. Do you think a midlife crisis is a joke?

"You actually think I would have a family?"

Chandler often quipped, "I think I might be alone for the rest of my life."

His parents cast a huge shadow over him, which made him extremely afraid of love and marriage.

"Of course there will be."

Adam's expression softened as he thought of Nora, and he said gently, "And you will be very happy. Think about it, once you have such a happy family, what a huge blow it would be to your family if you said you didn't like the job you've worked so hard to build up to a high position over the past ten years, and you had to start all over again?"

Chandler paused for a moment, then said softly, "Do you really think I'll have a happy family?"

"Of course, I'm sure of it."

Adam said seriously, "And you will be happier than most people, because you know the negative impact of a broken family on children. I believe you will be a good husband and a good father, and your family will be exceptionally happy because of you."

"Thanks."

Chandler listened to Adam's description, the cynical expression on his face disappeared, and a sincere and hopeful smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

"We are friends, and we are family."

Adam patted Chandler on the shoulder and gave him a fatherly smile, "Think carefully about what kind of work you really like, try different things, choose one you like the most, and take your time."

Of course, I know you don't have much savings, but with me here, you don't need to worry about money. Right now, your most important thing is to find the right direction. I believe you can find a job that you both enjoy and excel at.

"Oh~"

Monica, who was watching from the side, was both moved and gratified.

These are the friends she cherishes so much.

very nice.