New York.
Adam first saw Sheldon onto the train, then drove Paige back to her apartment.
Only then did he head to Friends Bar, where he met up with Marshall, Lily, and the others, who had been clamoring to celebrate.
"So this is the MacArthur Genius Grant trophy."
Lily ran her fingers over the trophy, sighing in wonder.
"Adam, you're incredible."
Ted said enviously, "When will I ever get one of these trophies?"
"You'll have a chance."
Adam smiled. "When you design a world-famous building someday, we'll celebrate for you too."
"I hope so."
Ted looked both wistful and bitter.
He knew in his heart that the odds were practically zero.
Setting aside the talent and opportunities needed to become a top-tier architect.
Even among true master architects, none had ever received this award.
Although the MacArthur Genius Grant covered every field, its focus still leaned toward science.
Architecture was art.
And artistic achievement was far too subjective, highly controversial, and covered an extremely broad range.
Winning it as a master architect was almost impossible.
"Let me see it, ah—oh..."
Marshall leaned forward to take the trophy, but suddenly clutched his waist and cried out.
"What's wrong?"
Ted jumped in alarm.
"Lily, watch yourself."
Adam teased with a smile. "Marshall's graduation season is coming up, and he has to prepare for the bar exam. He's busy and exhausted, so restrain yourself a little."
It was almost April now. In New York, registration for the bar exam was in April, while the exam itself was in July.
Marshall had worked hard for three years for this very day.
It really had the same feel as the college entrance exam from Adam's previous life.
Only it was even more intense.
Because Marshall and the others were adults. Every one of them had