"Doctor, was that really a thing?" Eleanor blinked.


    Lyman looked at her. "You turned down the opportunity to study abroad back then, don''t you remember? But I''ve kept the spot reserved for you," Lyman said. "I recall asking Simone to talk to you about it, and Simone said you weren''t nning to go abroad for the sake of your child."


    Eleanor''s memory suddenly returned to two years ago. She seemed to remember Dr. Langley asking her about this, and she had indeed rejected the offer firmly.


    "It was a spotn specifically secured for you. It''s a real shame you didn''t take it," Lyman continued. "But with your current achievements, you have every reason to be proud."


    Eleanor''s eyes widened slightly. Ian had specially secured that spot for her? Was this around the same time he gave the spot in thebined Master''s-PhD program to Faye Yeaton? He had made these arrangements for her?


    Eleanor forced a smile. "I couldn''t leave. My daughter needed me very much at that time. I had to give it up, no matter how good the opportunity was."


    Lyman nodded. "I understand the difficult position you were in. Simone told me as much. Butn also mentioned to me back then not to tell you he had arranged it, as he was worried you wouldn''t ept. Just as I was about to have a serious talk with you, he stopped me, saying we could bring it up againter when you had the time."


    Eleanor nodded slightly. Even if Dr. Lyman had spoken to her in detail back then, she likely would have rejected him anyway, which would have only hurt his feelings.


    "Although you andn are divorced, it''s clear he has been quietly paving the way for you," Lyman said, looking at Eleanor with fatherly affection. He recalled that the past few symposiums in Kingston had all been opportunitiesn had pushed for her to attend, which also proved she had the ability to handle such important meetings.


    But Lyman didn''t n on mentioning these details. It was all in the past. And Eleanor''s current sess was indeed inseparable fromn''s support; he had provided her with resources and financial backing in every aspect.


    Eleanor pressed her lips together. She suddenly wondered ifn had also had something to do with her being awarded a doctorate by Ashford Medical University.


    Eleanor stopped walking and looked at Lyman earnestly. "Dr. Lyman, I have one more question for you."


    "Go ahead," Lyman said, his expression gentle.


    "Wasn involved in Ashford Medical University awarding me my doctorate?"


    Lyman paused, then a meaningful smile spread across his face. "Indeed, the selection process was very rigorous. was based entirety on your outstanding contributions to leukemia research."


    The answer sounded very official. Eleanor was about to drop the subject.


    But Lyman continued, "Of course,n did y a role in moving things along."


    Eleanor stopped in her tracks. So he was involved after all. Lyman looked at her and sighed. "Eleanor, in academia, connections are just as important as ability. It''s true thatn rmended you to the selectionmittee, but the final decision rested with them. If your research hadn''t been outstanding, no amount of rmendations would have helped. You could sayn just opened a door for you. How far you walked through it was all up to your own capabilities."


    Eleanor walked a few more steps in silence before looking up at Lyman. "Thank


    you for telling me all this, Dr. Lyman."


    By now, they had reached the auditorium. Lyman said to her, "Today''s a big day for you. You''ve earned this. Go ahead in."


    Eleanor followed him inside and


    1.n


    soon met President Maxwell of the Military Medical University. Severa of the senior figures there were particrly fond of Eleanor, and easily joined their conversation about academic topics.


    and she