506-510

Chapter 506: Let’s Go Together 

Peggy’s apartment. 

Erika flicked her hair back and flashed Adam her brightest smile.  

So, who’s Adam?  

He’s the kind of guy who gets it right away.  

And just like that—  

“Does your hand still hurt?”  

Adam grabbed Peggy’s hand, inspecting it with a worried look, his voice dripping with concern.  

“…”  

Both Peggy and her sister Erika blinked, totally thrown off.  

What’s going on here? 

For Peggy, no matter how cozy things got in the bedroom, Adam had never been this mushy in public before.  

He didn’t seem like the type either.  

And honestly, Peggy wasn’t big on this whole public-display-of-affection thing anyway.  

“I’m fine,” she said, pulling her hand back and shooting Adam a little frown.  

“Whether you’re fine or not, I’ll be the judge of that.”  

Adam went full-on domineering CEO mode, snagging her hand again and gently toying with it like it was his personal treasure.  

“…”  

Peggy glanced at Erika, whose expression was starting to look off, and suddenly it clicked. She didn’t say anything more, just let Adam indulge his little power trip.  

Erika wasn’t dumb either.  

She’d been around the block—boyfriend after boyfriend—and had a sixth sense for this kind of vibe.  

She caught Adam’s drift immediately.  

And it made her stomach twist even more.  

Normal guys, like her flirty jerk of a boyfriend, would usually want both sisters, right?  

Sure, she hated how her boyfriend teased Peggy, but right now, she hated Adam’s lovey-dovey show-off routine even more.  

If she remembered correctly, Adam was a total player back in high school.  

A guy like that—shouldn’t he be more intrigued by her status as the big sister?  

What’s with the act?  

Or… was Peggy’s charm really that irresistible?  

Then again, thinking about Peggy’s stunning looks and her untouchable achievements, Erika felt a wave of helplessness wash over her.  

Other women might not have that kind of pull, but her little sister? She wasn’t your average gal.  

Turning a playboy into a loyal good guy? Yeah, that actually seemed plausible with Peggy.  

“Erika, you must be hungry. Let’s grab some food together,” Adam said warmly, his peripheral vision catching Erika’s shift. The flirty spark in her eyes was gone, replaced by a hint of gloom. He figured he’d pushed enough, so he let go of Peggy’s hand and tossed out the invite.  

It’s not like he was some prudish old-fashioned type who scoffed at certain “combinations.”  

Nah, he just cared about Peggy more.  

She’d just “given him a kid,” and hitting on her sister right after? That wasn’t something a pure, upright guy like Adam would do.  

Plus, sure, Erika was pretty—decent enough—but in Adam’s eyes, after seeing countless beauties, she was maybe a seven out of ten.  

Compared to Peggy, the ultimate gorgeous scientist girl, 

Carolyn’s saintly aura, 

Heather’s commanding presence, 

MAX’s sharp-tongued sass, 

Robin’s cool heroism, 

Nora’s sultry queen vibes, 

Kate’s hot detective energy, 

Jennifer’s Transformers-level edge, 

and Alice’s “you can’t handle my boyfriend, but you can’t handle me either” tenacity—  

not to mention the encrypted folder in Adam’s mind full of other standout women—Erika’s looks didn’t quite measure up. And she didn’t have that captivating soul to make up for it either.  

Special status or not, she wasn’t that big a deal.  

Adam had made time to come here specifically to win Erika over and clear out any instability around Peggy. No way was he about to stir up trouble for himself.  

Erika? 

Nah, not worth it!  

“It’s been a while since we last saw each other, huh?” Adam said, trying to spark some convo since Erika seemed down.  

“Yeah, it has,” Erika replied, glancing at Adam and Peggy sitting together. Her tone turned snarky. “If I remember right, Peggy was, what, eleven back then? And you were… seventeen? Eighteen?”  

“Time really flies,” Adam said with a smile, dodging her jab. “Mrs. Watson’s getting remarried soon, huh? Erika, have you met David? Solid guy, right?”  

“Solid or not, who cares?” Erika shot back with a cold laugh. “How long’s it gonna last anyway?”  

Even though she still held a grudge against her mom for walking out, she couldn’t say a single bad word about David after meeting him.  

In just a short time, David had given her a taste of fatherly love she hadn’t felt in forever—not since her real dad remarried and basically forgot about her.  

But like Peggy, she wasn’t big on believing in marriage. She just wasn’t as hardcore about it as her sister.  

“Has David seen the bruise on your face?” Adam asked, easing into the real topic.  

“Yeah,” Erika said, her hand brushing the faded mark on her cheek where her boyfriend had hit her. Her expression got complicated—part sadness over the abuse, part warmth from David stepping up for her like a dad.  

But she was used to her boyfriend’s hot-and-cold routine: sweet and romantic one minute, violent the next.  

And David? He was too civilized to do much about it.  

patreon:belamy20  

In the end, it all just fizzled out.  

“Dick’s not always like that,” Erika said, finally remembering her boyfriend had been hauled off. She tried to defend him. “Don’t hurt him, okay?”  

“No worries,” Adam said with a grin. “Peggy already stuck her neck out for you. Why would I bother messing with him? I just didn’t want him hurting Peggy’s family again, so I had a cop give him a little scare. You’re not seriously worried the police would hurt him, are you?”  

“…”  

Erika’s face twisted weirdly.  

She hadn’t been too concerned at first, but now that Adam mentioned “cop,” she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.  

Still, she couldn’t exactly say, “Oh yeah, American cops can be dangerous,” could she?  

“How’s your mom doing with David lately?” Adam asked, switching gears to give Erika a breather.  

“They’re fine,” Erika said, shoving down her worries and sarcasm. “They’re getting married soon. I’m helping Mom plan the wedding. I actually came over to talk to Peggy about being a bridesmaid.”  

After meeting Adam, her feelings for her boyfriend suddenly didn’t seem so strong anymore. The urge to defend him faded too.  

“Bridesmaid?” Adam raised an eyebrow. “Peggy, for her mom?”  

“Yup,” Erika said. “Not just Peggy—me too. Mom doesn’t have any super close girlfriends, and she wanted both of us in the wedding, so she figured Peggy and I could be bridesmaids. My boyfriend Dick was supposed to be a groomsman…”  

“Peggy’s not into it?” Adam cut in.  

“She’s waiting to see if you’re free,” Erika said, her voice dripping with jealousy. “She wants you as her groomsman.”  

“I don’t like walking the red carpet with randoms,” Peggy said, frowning.  

Adam grinned at Peggy, then turned to Erika. “When’s it happening? Where?”  

“At David’s hometown, some little place in Washington,” Erika said. “Two weeks from now, November 18th.”  

Then she griped, “Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner, and they only got engaged a few weeks ago. I don’t get why they’re rushing it so much. It’s all so last-minute.”  

Adam chuckled to himself.  

No kidding—they’re not young anymore, David’s busy with his startup, so of course they’re cutting corners and speeding things up.  

Heck, maybe it’s even a shotgun wedding.  

If they wait too long, the bride might not fit in her dress!  

No wonder they’re in a hurry.  

“Peggy, I can make time that day. Wanna go together?” Adam asked. He’d had late-night heart-to-hearts with her before and knew that beneath her aloof, icy exterior, she had emotional needs too.  

She didn’t not want to go.  

She just didn’t want to go alone and end up paired with some random guy—or, well, random monkey—walking down the aisle.  

Because with Erika and her boyfriend set as bridesmaid and groomsman, Peggy would have to link arms with some stranger for the ceremony.  

“Okay,” Peggy said, locking eyes with Adam, a tiny smile tugging at her lips.  

“…”  

Erika, who’d been helping plan the whole thing, suddenly felt like bailing.  

Chapter 507: One Thing Tames Another New Jersey. 

Peggy’s apartment.  

“So, it’s settled then!”

Adam could sense Erica’s growing disgust with the food talk, so he wisely stopped locking eyes with Peggy and turned his attention back to Erica with a grin. “I’ll be going with Peggy. Anything we can help with?”  

“Do you guys even have the time?” Erica asked, skepticism dripping from her tone. “If you’re already juggling whether you can even show up, how are you supposed to help plan anything?”  

“Oh, don’t count us out just yet,” Adam said with a sly smile. “If there’s anything you need, just hit up Lisa—she’ll sort it out for you. Consider it Peggy and me pitching in, alright?”  

“…”  

Erica had no comeback for that. Money talks, and Adam’s endless resources left her speechless.  

“If you want to give your mom and David a romantic wedding, I’ve got a friend you should totally chat with,” Adam continued, still smiling. “They call him the Prince of Romance. Guy’s got wild ideas—plus, he’s an architectural designer. I introduced him to David before; they hit it off.  

Talk to him. Trust me, he’ll be a huge help in pulling off that dreamy wedding for your mom and David.”  

“The Prince of Romance?” Erica snorted. “Please tell me he didn’t come up with that himself.”  

“Nah, not at all,” Adam said with a playful smirk. “I gave him that title. He just calls himself an architectural designer chasing his one true love. But take my word for it—he is the Prince of Romance.”  

“Fine, whatever,” Erica replied. She was barely in her twenties, so Adam’s hype naturally piqued her curiosity about this so-called romantic prince. “But I’m heading back with Dick tomorrow. There’s still a ton to do for the wedding.”  

“Push it back a few days. I’ll book you a first-class ticket,” Adam said without missing a beat. “Tomorrow night, I’ll have someone bring you to New York. You can meet my buddy Ted Mosby—have a good chat with him.  

You can help plan the wedding from New York, no problem. And if you need anything, Lisa’s got your back.”  

A few days would be enough for Erica’s boyfriend, Dick, to heal up from the bruises on his face. Peggy might be a “boxer” of sorts, and yeah, Adam’s training had made her stronger than most girls her age—but she wasn’t some invincible Barbie doll. Her punches weren’t that lethal. With some pro-level care, Dick’s face would be back to normal soon enough.  

By then, there’d be no visible evidence tying him to Peggy. A quick threat, and they could cut him loose. Adam had already tipped off an old cop buddy to keep an eye on him. Give it some time—once Dick stopped connecting the dots back to Adam and Peggy, any shady move he made would get “accidentally spotted” by a “good Samaritan” who’d call the cops.  

He’d pay for his slip-ups, all above board. Adam had checked the guy’s rap sheet on the way over—plenty of messy run-ins with the law, not his first rodeo. One more step over the line? Totally plausible.  

As for Erica? A few days with Ted—seeing what real romance and gentleness look like—she’d ditch the “romantic but abusive” vibe in a heartbeat. It’s all about one thing taming another. Ted Mosby, the sexy architectural designer, lady-killer, and Prince of Romance? His rep’s well-earned.  

“Alright,” Erica said, nodding. With Adam laying it out like that, she had no reason to say no. She was pretty cheerful about it, actually.  

Next up: chowing down on some good food while shooting the breeze.  

Now, if this were little-kid Peggy, she’d be the glue holding the trio together, taking charge of the convo. Back then, she was like Sheldon and Missy rolled into one—Sheldon’s genius IQ paired with Missy’s killer social skills. When your brain’s that sharp, everything’s crystal clear. It’s not about not knowing—it’s about whether you care to act on it.  

Emotional intelligence? Same deal. Take Sheldon: Did he really not get stuff? Nah. He just didn’t give a damn—wouldn’t waste a second thinking about it. High IQ chases self-obsession; high EQ cares about everyone else. Time’s finite. Spend it worrying about others’ needs, and your own goals take a hit. It’s a clash that can’t be fixed.  

Wisdom’s the combo of IQ and EQ—you can tweak the balance if you’ve got the time. Most regular folks? They’re stuck griping that they don’t have enough of either, no chance to even pick a ratio. Geniuses usually go 7:3—seven parts IQ, three parts EQ. That’s why they come off quirky but still approachable.  

Sheldon, though? He went all-in at 9.9999:0.0001, ditching EQ almost entirely. That tiny 0.0001 was just enough for his mom and grandma, who adored him, and a survival instinct to not get pummeled. That’s why he seemed so clueless—brutally honest to a fault. Later, his crew softened him up, made him more human. But like Leonard and Howard after getting girlfriends, his achievements tanked. His brain slowed down so much he started questioning his whole existence.  

That Nobel Prize in Physics? Without a “happy ending” stroke of luck, he’d have been sunk. Probably would’ve ended up like countless other theoretical physicists—teen prodigy, bursting with talent, diving into the sea of theory, never making a splash again. His focus got muddy.  

Little Peggy’s high EQ back in the day? That was her making do. She knew her parents’ fights stemmed from her being “different.” She cared about them, so she played the part—dolls, sweetness, the whole “normal girl” act—to patch up the family cracks. With her super-genius IQ, a 9:1 split still let her shine with both smarts and charm.  

But when she spilled her real feelings to little Sheldon over chess? That was her truth. Like him, she was proud—obsessed with being the best. After her parents’ divorce talks and her failed “go normal” phase—snapped out of it by Adam—she flipped the switch. She doubled down on herself, mirroring Sheldon’s 9.9999:0.0001 split.  

Academics? She soared—crushed Sheldon, became the youngest PhD and mathematician ever. But the trade-off? She stopped hanging with Missy. Looked down on everyone with icy indifference. Erica didn’t mean much more to her than Missy did to Sheldon. Heck, if she hadn’t spent so much time with Adam, nudging her EQ up a tiny bit, those punches might not have even happened.  

“Erica, come on—I’ll show you my place,” Adam said, shooting Lisa a look. She caught the hint and jumped in to invite Erica over.  

“Lisa’ll help you out after this. You two can hash things out,” Adam added with a grin.  

“Uh, sure,” Erica said, a little thrown but rolling with it. She got up and followed.  

Over there, Lisa kept pushing Erica to stay the night. After a bunch of no’s, she finally dropped the subtle truth bomb. So, when Erica came back for her clothes, she gave Adam this weird look—like he was some kind of creep.  

Adam just smiled and waved her off. Back in the day, he’d cannonballed through a speech to win Peggy’s friendship and boost his wisdom stats, accidentally tanking her EQ by a million. Now? He was putting in a million times the effort to fix it. He didn’t expect her to bounce back into the quirky, double-genius bombshell she could’ve been. But if he could just get a little more of that punch-throwing spark out of her today? He’d call it a win.  

Chapter 508: Live in the Moment 

The next morning, Adam drove back to New York.  

At the medical center—  

“How’d last night go?” Adam asked, tracking down Christina.  

“You think I can’t handle things?” Christina shot back with a yawn, then added, “Oh, and that favor I owed you? Consider it paid.”  

“Of course.” Adam grinned, nodding. He chatted with Christina a bit more before heading into Mr. Martin’s VIP room.  

After a quick check-up, everything looked good.  

By the time daylight hit, Dr. Shepter showed up and got straight to the surgery. It was a minimally invasive procedure—using an endoscopic scalpel through Mr. Martin’s nasal passage to remove a Rathke’s cleft cyst from his pituitary gland.  

The surgery wasn’t complicated; it was all about precision. And just like that, it was over.  

Stepping out of the operating room, Adam ran into George in the hallway, buzzing with energy.  

“Adam, you gotta live in the moment, man!” George said, pointing at him dramatically. He grabbed a chart from the nurse’s station, did a little spin-dance move, and strutted off, practically glowing.  

“What’s up with him?” Adam asked, half-laughing, half-confused.  

“Dr. O’Malley got a blessing from the Big Guy upstairs today,” the know-it-all nurse said with a smirk.  

“A blessing?” Adam perked up. “What, did he score some rare surgery or something?”  

“Nope,” she chuckled. “He almost went to meet God this morning, but then God sent a holy pigeon to bring him back to earth. Told him to enjoy life now and check in with the man upstairs when he’s old and gray. That’s why he’s so hyped.”  

Adam pressed her for more details and finally pieced it together.  

So, earlier that morning, George was outside the hospital buying a donut for breakfast. Right as he was about to take a bite, a splat of bird poop dropped from the sky and landed smack on his donut.  

Grossed out, George chucked the tainted treat on the ground.  

Cue the pigeon swooping in to munch on it.  

It was straight out of some old comedy—like that scene in Wulin Waizhuan where Lao Xing, fresh from begging in the capital, saw Lao Bai with a chicken leg, spat on it, and went, “You gonna eat that?”  

No? Cool, then he’d take it. His spit, his rules.  

Adam had a sneaking suspicion this pigeon was a crafty little mastermind, pulling a fast one for a free snack. Who else could’ve dropped that perfectly timed poop bomb?  

George, clueless about such antics, didn’t suspect a thing. Seeing the pigeon chowing down, he decided to just walk away.  

But the second he stepped aside—  

Bam! A figure came crashing down from above, flattening the pigeon and the donut—and covering the exact spot where George had just been standing.  

In other words, if it weren’t for that miraculous bird poop, George would’ve been the one pancaked.  

Turns out, the falling figure was a window washer who’d plummeted from the fifth floor. If George had been hit, he’d be dead—or at least crippled.  

But here’s the kicker: the guy who fell should’ve had a collapsed lung, a shattered spine, and a severed artery. Instead? Just a busted leg.  

A freaking miracle.  

No wonder George was bouncing off the walls.  

At noon, in the cafeteria—  

“Look at this!” George said, rushing over to Adam and proudly waving a pigeon claw like it was a trophy.  

“That’s the holy pigeon that saved you?” Adam asked, eyeing it.  

“Yup!” George said, twirling the claw reverently. “I pulled it off the patient’s back and asked to keep it. Gonna get it made into something later—my lucky charm. God’s watching over me, man.”  

“Pfft!” Christina snorted. “That pigeon got splattered flat on the guy’s back. With all those feathers, why not collect ‘em and make a hat? Call it your ‘Lucky Bird Crown from God.’”  

“You don’t believe in God?” George shot her a glare.  

“I believe in science,” Christina fired back.  

“Then explain what happened to me today!” George pressed.  

“Dumb luck,” she said with a grin. “Oh wait—bird poop luck!”  

“Alright, chill,” Adam said, stepping in as the two started to bicker. “George, didn’t you just say to live in the moment? Arguing with Christina isn’t exactly living it up.”  

“She’s got no respect,” George grumbled. “It’s like the patient—such an awe-inspiring miracle, and they don’t even care.”  

“Hm?” Adam’s curiosity piqued. “The patient’s not happy?”  

“Yeah,” George griped. “This miracle had three witnesses: the pigeon’s in heaven now, so it’s just me and him left on earth. We should be bonding over our second chance, thanking God for teaching us to seize the day and live a little.  

But he’s just sulking, won’t talk to me, and keeps saying I’m too loud…”  

“You don’t see the problem here?” Adam hinted.  

“What problem?” George blinked.  

Christina leaned in, listening.  

“Remember a while back when I saved that cross-dressing guy who jumped off the hospital roof?” Adam said. “If I hadn’t grabbed him in time, it wouldn’t have just been a high heel smacking my buddy Barney in the head. You think that was a miracle?”  

“Wait—you’re saying the patient didn’t fall by accident? He jumped?” Christina caught on instantly.  

“If it was an accident, he wouldn’t be acting like this,” Adam said, shaking his head. “George, you really should thank God. Otherwise, you’d have died for nothing.”  

“What?!” George froze, his face turning red.  

He’d thought he and the patient were bonded by some divine gift. Now it hit him—the guy was almost his killer.  

The twist was too much.  

“I’m gonna talk to him!” George snapped, jumping up with the pigeon claw in hand and storming off toward the ward.  

“These suicidal types—don’t they have any decency?” Christina muttered. “If you’re gonna off yourself, at least look down first. Is it that hard? Always dragging innocent bystanders down with them—what’s the deal?”  

If jumpers just took a quick peek below, they could avoid hitting anyone at free-fall speed.  

“Ugh,” Adam sighed.  

It wasn’t rare. Sometimes it was a two-for-one deal—one jumper, two dead bystanders.  

Even sadder? Sometimes the jumper survived thanks to a “human cushion”—some happy-go-lucky pedestrian who didn’t make it, while the one who wanted to die got hauled off in an ambulance and patched up by doctors.  

In George’s words, was that God’s punishment?  

patreon:belamy20  

After they finished eating and stepped out of the cafeteria, they ran into George again—his face flushed with anger.  

“Jerk!” the usually chill little guy spat out, cussing for once.  

“So, he jumped?” Adam asked, already knowing the answer.  

“Yeah,” George fumed. “He wouldn’t admit it outright, but he didn’t deny it either—just let it hang there. No wonder he didn’t vibe with my excitement. Total jerk. Almost killed me and doesn’t even say sorry.”  

“Get him a shrink,” Adam suggested.  

Per protocol, anyone with mental health issues like that needed counseling.  

Chapter 509: Rich Beyond Reason Nighttime. 

Near the medical center. 

A classy little bar.  

“Wow, this place beats McLaren’s by a mile!”  

Ted walked in and immediately started gushing, eyeing everything around him. “Check out these sofas, the booths, those chandeliers!”  

“Well, duh—look who brought us here,” Lily said, leaning against Marshall, soaking in the bar’s vibe.  

“If Barney finds out we ditched him to come here, he’s gonna lose it,” Marshall chuckled.  

“Let him freak out, as long as he doesn’t drive me nuts,” Adam grinned. “Work as an intern doctor’s been insane lately, so I picked a spot close to the hospital. Figured while I’m roping Ted into a favor, we could all hang out too.”  

Normally, Joe’s Bar was right across from the hospital—decent vibes, great for friend chats. But after last time, Adam was done with Joe. He’d saved the guy’s life, and what did Joe do? Stabbed him in the back over medical bills. Sure, it’s “understandable,” but Adam wasn’t about to let it slide. Since then, he hadn’t set foot in Joe’s. This hangout needed a fresh spot.  

“What favor?” Ted asked, grabbing the fancy beer Adam ordered for them. He took a big, satisfied swig and leaned back, curious.  

“Here’s the deal…” Adam gave a quick, polished rundown of Erica’s situation. “It’s my good friend’s mom’s wedding, so I’m hoping you can toss her some solid advice.”  

“Ugh!” Lily cut in, instantly annoyed, her eyes widening at Adam. “For something like this, you ask Ted? Shouldn’t you be asking the only almost-bride here with actual experience?” She jabbed a finger at herself.  

“Of course, I need your help too, Lily,” Adam said smoothly. “But Ted’s got a knack for talking to women. Those earnest eyes of his? Total charm trap. He can sneak in some emotional guidance for Erica while he’s at it.”  

“Ted’s better than me?” Lily’s eyes got even bigger, her competitive streak practically spilling over.  

“Not exactly,” Adam said with a sly smile. “It’s just… I’d feel bad if Marshall got mad at me~”  

“Why would Marshall be mad—” Lily started, still not catching on.  

Marshall, though, got it right away. He leaned in and whispered something in her ear.  

“Oh, that was just a joke!” Lily’s face turned red, and she waved it off. “I’m not into that…”  

“Mm-hmm,” Adam nodded, all serious. “I believe you.”  

Lily: “…”  

“You sure I can help?” Ted jumped in, steering things back. “I haven’t even found my other half. I’m a mess myself—how am I supposed to guide your friend’s sister through her feelings?”  

“Just chat with her,” Adam said casually. “Think of it like saving a good girl from a big bad boss. No pressure. I believe in you.”  

“…”  

Ted was speechless. No pressure? Right.  

“We can’t tell Barney about this,” Adam warned. “I’m done dealing with his chaos.”  

“We’ll cover for you,” Lily said. “Adam and Barney can’t clash again, or Barney’ll snap.”  

“Not my fault,” Adam shrugged. “Last time, I begged him—begged—and had Marshall back me up, telling him to steer clear of Marshall’s professor. And what’d he do?”  

“He went anyway,” Marshall sighed.  

“But your paper got a B+,” Ted piped up, defending his bro. “You don’t even know how hard Barney worked for that B+. Tweaked his back, landed in the hospital—again. Even then, he swore he’d get you an A next time!”  

“Heh,” Marshall laughed, picturing his grumpy, 50-something professor grinning as she handed him a B+, glancing at Barney on the hospital bed like he was the hero. Too funny.  

“Fine, since it worked out, I’ll let it slide that Barney gambled with my future,” Marshall said.  

“It turned out okay this time,” Adam shook his head. “But can we really keep leaving these high-stakes messes up to chance?  

Think about it! That’s why I didn’t invite Barney today and asked you all to keep it hush-hush. He’s too selfish—won’t rein it in even a little for his friends. I’m over it.  

But since we’re all buddies, as long as he doesn’t mess with my stuff, I won’t mess with him.”  

Ted, Lily, and Marshall went quiet.  

“Barney’s changed a bit,” Lily said, wrinkling her nose to lighten the mood. “Still a clown, but he’s toned it down.”  

“Yeah,” Marshall grinned. “Adam, your lessons hit him hard.”  

“Hard?” Ted snorted. “Try terrifying. Even thinking about it gives me chills.”  

“Why’re you scared?” Adam laughed. “You don’t pull half the crazy stuff Barney does. Why put yourself in his shoes?”  

“…”  

Ted clammed up. Could he admit that, deep down, he kinda wanted to go wild like Barney, even if he always half-resisted?  

“Oh, hey,” Adam said, checking the time. Erica wasn’t here yet. He looked at the trio. “What do you think of this bar’s name?”  

“Lindsay’s Bar?” Lily sipped her beer. “It’s fine, I guess. Why?”  

“I don’t like it. Thinking of changing it,” Adam said with a grin. “How’s ‘Friends Bar’ sound?”  

“Friends Bar?” They mulled it over, nodding. Pretty good.  

“It’s catchy, but how’re you gonna rename it?” Ted asked, curious.  

“Easy—I’m buying the place,” Adam said, still smiling. “Since you all like the name, I’ll go with it.”  

“What?!” All three yelped in unison.  

“Everyone likes it here, and it’s right by the hospital where I work,” Adam explained. “So, I had a lightbulb moment earlier. Once I buy it, this can be our new hangout spot. I’ll drop by when I’ve got time, and we can all catch up more often.”  

“That’s it?” Ted blinked, dumbfounded. “You’re buying a bar just for that?”  

“Isn’t that reason enough?” Adam shot back, grinning.  

This over-the-top, filthy-rich move left the three “broke” friends speechless.  

“So, what do you think?” Adam asked. “I’ll hook each of you up with a VIP card—your own reserved booth. We’ll shift our base from McLaren’s to Friends Bar. Sound good?”  

“Uh…” Lily, Marshall, and Ted exchanged looks, hesitating. “It’s awesome here, but it’s kinda far from where we live. McLaren’s is right downstairs. Maybe we’d swing by on weekends…”  

“Works for me,” Adam said, unfazed. “Weekends are plenty. I couldn’t hang every day anyway—one meetup a week’s perfect.”  

“Then why buy it?” Ted couldn’t help asking.  

“Why not?” Adam looked at him, genuinely confused.  

“For one weekly hangout?” Ted’s brain couldn’t process Adam’s money logic.  

“Like I said—isn’t that enough?” Adam smiled.  

patreon:belamy20  

Buying this bar? Part of it was legit about hanging with Marshall, Chandler, and the gang more. Adam’s residency at the medical center still had years to go. Med life’s a race against time—shaving off a few minutes a week adds up over years. He’s short on hours, not cash.  

Lily, Marshall, Chandler, Monica—they’re bar-and-coffee-shop regulars anyway; a little travel time’s no big deal for them. Plus, it’s a casual middle finger to Joe for that backstab. With Adam’s hospital clout, a few visits here, and the staff’ll follow. That’ll hit Joe’s medic-focused bar where it hurts.  

And finally, Adam can play the good boss—top-notch service, fair prices, occasional discounts for hospital pals. It’s just networking with a side of profit. Less money’s still money, right?  

Three birds, one stone. Perfection!  

Chapter 510: So, What’s the Deal with You Three? 

Not long after, at the Old Friends Bar—  

“Hey, I’m Ted!”  

“Hey, I’m Erika!”  

Erika showed up fashionably late, and the second she did, Adam, Lily, and Matthew could feel this crazy pull in the air.  

Ted’s classic slow-mo “staring into the abyss” move kicked in for the Nth time.  

His eyes? Locked on her.  

Emmm.  

It’s the same old song and dance every time Ted meets a girl who gives him butterflies.  

Adam exchanged a look with Lily and Matthew.  

Their smiles said it all—playful, teasing, or just plain resigned.  

Adam knew this one was in the bag.  

Passive Ted? Eh, jury’s still out on whether he’d seal the deal.  

But motivated Ted? Oh, he’d get it done, no question!  

Sure enough, after some quick intros, Ted turned on the charm full blast. In no time, he had Erika giggling nonstop.  

Adam, Lily, and Matthew—three whole living, breathing people—might as well have been invisible.  

Yup.  

If you don’t let awkwardness faze you, it’s everyone else who ends up squirming.  

Adam shot Lily and Matthew a subtle nod, mumbled something to the flirty duo, and the three of them slipped out of the booth.  

Erika threw Adam a quick, sheepish glance.  

Ted? Totally oblivious—dropped a few more smooth lines and yanked her attention right back.  

“Boss.”  

The female bodyguard who’d dropped Erika off stepped up as Adam exited the bar, giving him a quick greeting.  

“She’s got your number, right?” Adam asked.  

“Yup,” the bodyguard nodded.  

“Cool. Why don’t you find a spot nearby to chill for a bit?” Adam said with a grin. “I’m guessing this’ll take a while. She might not even head back tonight. Just wait for her call to pick her up.”  

The bodyguard nodded and drove off.  

“No way,” Lily blurted out. “They just met! You really think they’ll hit it off that fast?”  

“How long’s it been since Ted last got his romance on?” Adam teased.  

“Uh…” Lily thought for a sec. “A while. Ever since that ‘Singles Station’ fiasco where that doctor chick turned him down, he’s been moping around.  

That top-tier matchmaker from Singles Station said he tanked her perfect pairing streak—100% success rate, gone. She was so bummed she almost shut the place down.  

Said if she couldn’t find someone for Ted, he’d die alone.  

But Ted convinced her to keep looking—slowly, for free.”  

“Ha! That doctor was about to get married,” Adam said, shaking his head with a laugh. “Did Ted seriously think he could swoop in with his ‘96% compatibility’ math nonsense and get a bride-to-be to ditch her 85%-matched fiancé days before the wedding?”  

“She asked him that exact question,” Lily said with a shrug. “And obviously, Ted thought it was a solid plan.”  

“Man, Ted can be shameless sometimes,” Adam said, smirking. “But that’s what makes him the Romance Prince—gotta have thick skin to play the game.”  

“It’s kinda a silver lining, though,” Matthew chimed in, steering clear of dunking on his buddy. “At least that doctor caught his cancer early and got it treated.”  

“That mole!” Lily gasped. “Who’d have thought a little mole could turn into cancer? That’s terrifying.”  

“Babe,” Matthew said, pulling Lily close to comfort her. “We’ve all had full checkups—no cancerous moles here.”  

“It was basal cell carcinoma,” Adam explained. “Usually benign. Ted’s case turning malignant? Super rare. No need to freak out.”  

“It just freaks me out looking back,” Lily said, clinging to Matthew’s arm and shrinking a little.  

Adam nodded.  

In his past life, there’d been a whole wave of “mole cancer” panic in the news.  

Tons of people—like Lily—started stressing over every little spot on their skin, wondering if it’d turn deadly.  

I mean, who doesn’t have a mole or two?  

Adam had worried too.  

But then all those laser mole-removal ads started popping up everywhere, and he relaxed.  

Science on one side, marketing on the other.  

When bad news is just a hype train for cash, it’s actually good news.  

And sure enough, like so many overhyped stories, it blew over and faded away.  

In this life, with his medical training, he didn’t even blink at that stuff anymore.  

Still, when Ted came to him about that mole, Adam’s first thought was Sheldon—y’know, from The Big Bang Theory.  

Sheldon always griped about how, thanks to Missy’s “nut-kicker” antics, he should’ve worked harder in the womb to absorb her completely.  

That way, he’d have no annoying twin sister—just a mole.  

Ted’s cancerous mole made Adam wonder: what if Sheldon had tried harder?  

If Missy turned into a mole and it went malignant, she might’ve taken her brother down with her.  

patreon:belamy20  

Now that’s a sibling love-hate story for the ages.  

Emmm.  

Next time Sheldon whined, Adam was ready to hit him with that one—guaranteed to make those big eyes pop.  

“Let’s bounce,” Matthew said, peeking back into the bar. Ted and Erika were leaning closer, laughing their heads off. He nodded at Adam’s hunch.  

A month-plus dry spell? That was Ted’s breaking point.  

Erika was a stunner, but even an average girl could’ve sparked Ted’s romantic mode right now.  

“I still think it’s too fast,” Lily said, glancing back and shaking her head.  

“Heh,” Adam chuckled.  

“What’s so funny?” Lily snapped, catching a whiff of shade in his laugh.  

“Nothing,” Adam said, grinning. “Just remembering what Ted said about you and Matthew back in your college dorm days.”  

Oh yeah—back then, Lily and Matthew hit it off the second they started college. Things moved fast.  

One night, they were in the dorm, all lovey-dovey.  

Matthew, being a guy—and a horny one at that—wasn’t satisfied with second or third base anymore. He was swinging for a home run.  

Lily tried to pump the brakes, painting this dreamy picture of what their first time should be like: a fancy oceanfront suite, flowers, candles, wine, sexy lingerie…  

The works.  

Everything perfect.  

But three minutes later?  

That fantasy went up in smoke.  

C’mon—two hot-blooded college kids in the heat of the moment? Who’s holding back?  

They weren’t saints!  

So Matthew suggested a round two.  

Lily didn’t say no—didn’t want to say no.  

The only one objecting was Ted, stuck on the top bunk, getting rocked by physics and losing his mind.  

Too bad for him—objections overruled.  

Matthew tossed him a Walkman and headphones and called it a day.  

Spoiler: the headphones and music didn’t help one bit.  

“Heh heh,” Matthew snickered.  

“Hey! Stop laughing!” Lily’s face went beet red. She swatted Matthew’s shoulder, then Adam’s.  

“Okay, okay, we’re done,” Adam said, holding back a laugh and putting on a straight face. “Yeah, they’re moving fast, but as long as there’s no second round… we get it.”  

“Adam Duncan!” Lily lunged at him, claws out.  

A playful scuffle broke out.  

Then Lily started grilling him about Robin, and Peggy—Erika’s sister—giving him a look like, “So, what’s the deal with you three? Something’s off here.”  

Adam just smiled. “We’re all good friends.”  

And then—boom—the hospital got crazy busy, and Adam bolted.  

(End of Chapter)