Chapter 101

After leaving Joy Garden, Teresa returned to the hospital for work. That afternoon, once her shift ended, she invited Gary out for dinner. Since she was planning to pursue a PhD, she wanted his advice. Gary, in high spirits, ordered several of his favorite dishes. Sitting across from each other, they began reminiscing. They spoke about their university days, the struggles of preparing for admission exams, and the nervousness of stepping into the operating room for the first time. Gary was animated, sharing amusing stories from his career. Yet he never forgot to offer Teresa guidance. Concerned she might feel pressured, he avoided dwelling too much on exam talk. The atmosphere was lively and relaxed. Teresa realized it had been a long time since she had felt so at ease. Listening to Gary describe the hardships of exam preparation, she found it grueling but couldn't help feeling a pang of envy. If she had chosen further studies over marriage back then, would her life have been d