**New York University Medical Center.**
"Damn it!"
Adam stared in shock at the man in the suit who had just turned to face him—because that face was none other than John Coleman!
"Surprised? Didn't see that coming, did you?"
Just then, Caroline appeared, teasing him.
Clearly, she had known all along but had deliberately kept it to herself, just to see Adam's shocked reaction. After all, many people at the hospital had the same expression when they first saw him, including her.
"What's going on?"
Adam asked, but before Caroline could answer, he had already figured it out. "Twin brother?"
John was dead—undeniably, completely dead. Even if he had come back as a ghost, he wouldn't be appearing so openly. The only logical explanation was that John had a twin brother.
"That's right."
Caroline laughed. "His name is Luke Coleman, and he's a real estate lawyer."
"I see."
Adam nodded, curiously studying John's twin brother. Although Luke looked identical to John and had the same gentle, refined smile, his eyes were noticeably livelier.
Considering Luke's profession as a lawyer—where arguing with everyone, even the air, was part of the job—compared to John's career as a more reserved architect, the difference made perfect sense.
"Alright, I'm off."
Adam withdrew his gaze and bid farewell to Caroline.
"Call me~"
Caroline made a phone gesture with her hand near her ear. Seeing Adam nod, she watched as he disappeared down the hallway before finally turning back.
At that moment, Luke Coleman stepped out of the hospital room, briefly locking eyes with Caroline. They exchanged polite smiles, then looked away and went their separate ways.
After walking a few steps, Luke suddenly stopped, turned around, and watched Caroline's retreating figure, lost in thought…
---
**The Next Few Days**
Compared to Ted and Matthew, who were cramming and pulling all-nighters before exams, Adam finished his finals with ease.
Columbia University was a top-tier school, and it wasn't yet like it would be decades later—back then, finals were still tough, with an average GPA of only 2.8.
Students faced immense academic pressure.
If their grades consistently fell behind, they would be dismissed, meaning they wouldn't receive a prestigious degree. Many of them had bet their futures on getting into a top school, taking on massive student loans to do so.
Every year, these academic tragedies unfolded at elite universities.
Decades later, things would change.
Since American universities were, at the core, businesses, having too many students fail and drop out would discourage future applicants from taking the risk.
And businesses need satisfied customers.
So, over time, exams became easier, GPAs inflated rapidly, and the pressure of failing all but disappeared. Students felt great about themselves, enjoying frat parties and social events as if they were back in high school.
Until graduation.
Many of them couldn't even read and fully comprehend their own major's textbooks.
High scores, low abilities—they had learned almost nothing in college.
In contrast, the current system—with its academic rigor and high stakes—pushed students to work hard. As a result, most of them would go on to have fulfilling, successful lives.
---
**Winter Break Begins**
With finals over, winter break had arrived.
Adam was preparing to go home.
---
**Apartment 520**
"Man, being a student is awesome. You guys already get a break," Chandler said nostalgically.
"Yeah," Ross nodded. "Remember when we used to go on trips during break? Those were the good old days."
"The good old days!"
Chandler sighed in agreement.
Monica rolled her eyes.
Phoebe looked wistful.
Joey pursed his lips, furrowed his brow, and nodded slowly, as if deeply moved.
The three of them had never been to college…
Monica had struggled with her weight in high school and learned early on to be self-sufficient. She became skilled at baking cookies and, after high school, chose to train as a chef rather than go to college.
Phoebe, due to family tragedies, ended up homeless as a teenager and never even got the chance to finish high school.
Joey had been just as clueless as Adam's former self, PJ, and had dropped out of high school to pursue an acting career.
So Chandler and Ross's nostalgic talk about their elite college experiences? The other three couldn't relate at all.
"Adam, any plans?"
Monica asked curiously. "Heading straight home?"
"Yeah," Adam replied with a smile. "I've been here for a few months—it's time to visit home."
"How are you getting there?"
Phoebe asked. "Need a ride?"
"Adam's obviously flying," Joey said with a grin. "He's a famous writer now!"
"Thanks, but no need," Adam said, thanking Phoebe before explaining, "A couple of friends are coming to pick me up, and we'll drive back together. Juno and Karen dropped me off when I first arrived."
"Juno and Karen?! *All five of them gasped in unison.*
Joey, Chandler, and Ross exchanged knowing smirks.
"A female classmate or a girlfriend?"
Monica asked, her lips twitching slightly—clearly, she still had a bit of a thing for Adam.
"Definitely just classmates," Phoebe said.
"One classmate and one girlfriend?"
Ross speculated.
"Why not both girlfriends?"
Joey waggled his eyebrows at Adam, looking at him with a mischievous 'I see what you're doing' expression.
"Or maybe they're a couple themselves?"
Chandler quipped. "Otherwise, our friend group is getting way too *gay*!"
"…"
Ross twitched at the comment and rolled his eyes.
His ex-wife being a lesbian was still a sore subject. If Chandler hadn't been making fun of himself too, Ross would have seriously considered punching him.
Then again, Chandler's father *was* a Vegas drag performer, so…
"Uh…"
Adam hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"When are they getting here?"
Monica asked. "We should meet them!"
"They're coming from Harvard tomorrow," Adam said. "We'll hang out here for a few days before heading back."
When Adam first arrived for school, he had just been a clueless freshman and had only wandered around Columbia's campus with Juno and Karen.
Now, he was a seasoned New Yorker—with money. Naturally, he planned to show them a great time.
Originally, he had considered buying a car and driving home himself. But when Juno called and said they'd pick him up, he decided to skip the purchase.
New York had excellent public transportation, making car ownership unnecessary. In fact, having a car here was more of a hassle than a convenience, mostly because of the nightmare that was parking.
For example, Monica and her friends didn't own cars. When Phoebe offered Adam a ride, she had meant borrowing her grandmother's old taxi.
Even in the future, when Ross excitedly bought a sports car to show off, he ended up trapped in a parking spot for *days*. When he finally managed to drive it out, he saw an unattractive guy with the exact same car. Furious, he sold it immediately.
Chandler had always earned a good salary as a data analyst, Rachel later became a senior executive in the fashion industry, and Joey eventually made big money in soap operas—but none of them ever bought a car.
Not because they couldn't afford one, but because they simply didn't need one.
Adam, despite having tens of thousands of dollars saved up, had plenty of expenses ahead—like the cabin in the woods he planned to buy, the medical equipment he needed, and the specialized training he wanted.
Why waste money on a car?
He wasn't Ross or Joey—he didn't need a flashy sports car to impress people.
*(End of chapter.)*