Lin Lin and Tyler's journey began eight years ago in New York City during their final year of dental school. Lin Lin was visiting from Dalhousie University in Canada for an externship in oral surgery at Columbia University, where Tyler was a dental student. Her initial impression of him was that of an ambitious student who acted as if he were already a surgical resident. Yet, beyond her undeniable beauty, Tyler was captivated by Lin Lin's ambition and grace. He admired her kindness and how effortlessly she connected with those around her. The residents even remarked that she was the best and most hardworking extern they had ever encountered.

A year later, fate intervened when Tyler matched into the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery program at Columbia, while Lin Lin began her general practice residency at Mount Sinai Hospital. Months passed in their respective programs before they found their way back to each other.

In September 2017, while trying to surf at Rockaway Beach with a friend, Tyler decided to reach out to Lin Lin. Coincidentally, she was also out with a friend, and they agreed to meet on Tyler’s rooftop. As luck would have it, their friends left, leaving just the two of them to enjoy the evening with a couple of bottles of wine. As the night unfolded, Lin Lin playfully claims that Tyler tricked her into a date, marking the beginning of their love story.

A few months later, after a delightful outing that included the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden, and dinner at Zero Otto Nove, Tyler asked Lin Lin to be his girlfriend. Her one-year residency blossomed into three more years as she matched into Orthodontics at Montefiore Medical Center.