Taken

Friends Bar.

"Is there really a problem?"

Adam laughed and said, "Let me guess, there are still many dreams that haven't been realized, so you feel that getting married would completely sever these dreams, and you're a little unwilling to do so?"

"Yes, this is it!"

Lily's eyes widened. "How did you know?"

"Aside from this, I really can't understand what problems could possibly arise between you and Marshall, such a perfect match."

Adam joked, "Given how inseparable you two are, there's absolutely no way you could have an affair or anything like that."

"Well..."

Lily hesitated for a moment.

"No way?"

Adam was shocked. "You cheated on me?"

Although he witnessed Marshall and Lily's loving life in his previous life, this world has undergone various changes to varying degrees due to his butterfly effect.

He wasn't really sure Lily wouldn't cheat on him.

"It doesn't count."

Lily smiled wryly and said, "Didn't you guess that I have many unfulfilled dreams from my teenage years?"

Before I went to college, I had a boyfriend in high school, but he described his life to me directly, and I didn't want to be tied down.

So when I graduated, I broke up with him.

Then, on my first day at university, I met Marshall and described my dream to him.

I want to travel to France, Spain, and Italy, simply enjoy life, and paint them all. Even if I have to work as a waiter in a lousy café for five years, I don't care.

I want to be a painter, a free-spirited artist.

And then there's the grand lesbian romance.

Last night, while Robin was berating you, I also told her about my troubles.

She comforted me...

"What am I supposed to be?"

Adam breathed a sigh of relief, "Marshall won't mind."

That's not the point.

Lily cried out, "The point is, what happened to me? Where did that girl full of dreams go? I broke up with my high school boyfriend because I didn't want to be tied down by him and pursue my dreams. Then I met and fell in love with Marshall, and now we're getting married. So many dreams, and not a single one of them have come true..."

"You've achieved your last dream, haven't you?"

Adam laughed.

"What kind of great lesbian love is a comforting kiss from a friend?"

Lily rolled her eyes.

"That's life."

Adam cautioned, "Sometimes what people think they want isn't actually what they really want."

Take a look at your three biggest girlish dreams.

For your first trip, you and Marshall can definitely do it during your honeymoon. Trust me, traveling alone is no fun at all, unless you're thinking of having Yan Yu.

The second is to be a wild and unrestrained artist. Those who know, know. Are you sure you want to be an artist, or do you want to live the wild and unrestrained chaotic life of an artist?

The third one is a great lesbian romance.

Did you understand the pattern?

What pattern?

Lily didn't react for a moment.

"They are all related to a troubled mind."

Adam said meaningfully, "It's normal to be full of wild fantasies when you're a girl, but there's an insurmountable gap between imagination and reality. Once you cross it, it's hard to turn back. Do you really envy Barney's life?"

"I'm not..."

Lily wanted to deny it.

She had always criticized Barney's chaotic life, but now that her three most cherished teenage dreams were somehow similar to Barney's life, she felt somewhat embarrassed.

"So it was just tourism, just wanting to become an artist?"

Adam did not mention the third dream.

Because that one point, no matter how you look at it, isn't exactly simple...

"Yes, that's it!"

Lily nodded quickly.

"For a simple trip, as I said before, you and Marshall can do it, whether it's for your honeymoon or later, it's not difficult at all."

Adam analyzed, "As for a pure artist? That's even simpler. Do you think you have artistic talent?"

"I don't?"

Lily wasn't sure.

"Whether it exists or not."

Adam laughed and said, "You must think you have it, otherwise you wouldn't keep thinking about it. Not just anyone can be an artist. This profession depends a lot on talent, don't you think?"

"Um."

Lily nodded.

Artists are skilled at discovering and capturing beauty, which is a profession that requires a great deal of talent.

Emmm.

Mathematicians, of course, are the ones who rely most on talent.

Because mathematicians either know how to do something or they don't, there's no Schrödinger -like state involved.

But artists are different.

There are a thousand Hamlet in a thousand people's eyes.

The beauty that artists see is often not appreciated by ordinary people, who think it's just doodles or random scribbles.

Therefore, most artists are Schrödinger artists.

Ordinary people and experts have completely different observation results.

The lack of a unified standard has led many art students to believe they are exceptionally talented, like a pearl covered in dust, ready to reach the pinnacle of life once the dust is swept away.

But in reality, these are all illusions like "I am invincible before I make a move" and "I am omnipotent when I get serious".

Lily clearly had the same misconception.

"That's simple."

Adam laughed and said, "Since this is an industry that highly values talent, it's actually quite easy to test whether your dream of becoming a great artist is achievable."

I'll introduce you to a master painter so he can see if you have any talent.

If so, you can continue to fantasize.

If not, then abandon your fantasies as soon as possible and accept the dream life you and Marshall have.

How many people in the world are able to meet the right person at the right time and in the right place?

Your love with Marshall is enough to make 99.99% of the world envious.

Nothing is perfect, so don't force it.

"If I don't go for the test, you'll definitely get the master to criticize me."

Lily waved her hand hesitantly.

"I promise I won't lie."

Adam raised his hand and said, "Of course, if you really don't believe me, you can take your painting and fly straight to Paris afterwards to see a few masters. Just don't go to people who are 'unappreciated' or art professors, because their praise won't be objective. They're either trying to scam money or pick up girls."

In his past life, Adam watched Lily fly to Paris, where her art teacher belittled her painting as utterly nonsensical. Heartbroken, she returned home and resumed her happy life with Marshall.

This is simply a deliberate attempt to romanticize reality.

The reality is that even if Lily's drawing is utterly nonsensical, her art teacher wouldn't directly belittle her like that, take away Lily paintbrush, and say that he can't teach someone with such terrible talent as Lily, and that he has to kick her out.

Instead, they would only praise her for her good drawing skills, noting that she was clearly improving day by day.

Then let her persevere.

Of course you need to spend money.

Or 'let's be friends'...

Lily's determination to serve dishes in a run-down coffee shop for five years might actually come true with this encouragement of 'continuous improvement'.

Then one day, he realized he had lost both his money and his loved ones.

By then, it will be far too late to regret it.

Ultimately, no one is indispensable to anyone else.

Time can erase everything.

As a friend, Adam naturally couldn't just stand by and watch Lily go astray.

God knows, with his butterfly effect, in this world of American TV shows and movies, will Lily still encounter that kind-hearted person who directly belittles her lack of talent?

They were fooled into actually working there as waiters while pursuing their dreams.

If Taken is needed, that would be troublesome.

P. S.: Thank you Twilight of Leaves for the donation!