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436-438

Added 2025-07-15 16:30:02 +0000 UTC

Chapter 436: Fellow friend, Please Stay

Medical Center.

Hospital Room.

"Adam, how's my mom?" Ted asked anxiously.

"Mrs. Mosby has stress-induced cardiomyopathy..." Adam explained the situation. "There's no real cure, just precautions. She needs to be careful, especially on this day each year. No extreme emotions—no big highs or lows. Someone should always be with her, or better yet, she should check into the hospital in advance to stay safe."

In the hospital, emergency intervention was always available.

A stopped heart? No big deal.

They could bring her back in minutes.

"I'm so sorry, Mom."

Ted immediately blamed himself. "Today’s my birthday, but it's also your day of suffering. The pain and joy of that day still haunt you, and it’s all my fault."

Adam glanced at him.

Tsk, tsk!

Hardcore logic, right there.

Though, technically, he wasn't wrong.

Damn it, Ted!

"No pain, only joy."

Ted’s mom gave an awkward smile.

His dad, however, seemed to understand something. His faint smile was a bit cold, but he didn’t seem to care.

So, they were just putting on a united front.

They must have been distant for a long time, only keeping up appearances for Ted’s sake, avoiding unpleasant topics so he wouldn’t be hurt.

Adam couldn't help but imagine 3D models of Ted and his dad, standing side by side. Zooming in, he studied their facial similarities carefully.

Hmm...

The neighbor, Old Wang, might have been wild, but Ted's dad? Clearly the superior competitor.

Adam's mind suddenly conjured up a classic mythological scene—

King Ted speeding away, while his father shouted behind him: "Fellow friend, please stay!"

And then...

"Better you than me."

Morally questionable?

Maybe.

But Adam found it hilarious, spacing out for a good while before snapping back to reality.

After giving Ted's parents a few more instructions, Adam left the room.

As expected, Ted followed him out.

"Adam, thanks a lot."

"Don’t mention it." Adam smiled. "We’re friends, after all."

"Speaking of which..."

Ted extended his arm, pretending to be casual. "Today’s my birthday. Marshall and Lily are throwing me a party tonight. You should come!"

"Sorry."

Adam shook his head apologetically. "I really don’t have time..."

Then he told him about Alice Grey.

A foolproof excuse.

No one could argue with that.

Not even Ted.

Of course, if it were Marshall and Lily, Adam would probably squeeze in the time.

After all, time is like a sponge—you can always squeeze out a little more.

But just like the core group in Friends revolved around Chandler and Monica, Adam had his own division for How I Met Your Mother. For him, the core was Marshall and Lily.

Leonard once said: "The top doctors come in two types: those who are completely detached, like Alice Grey and Gregory House, and those who are in the process of becoming that way, like Richard Webber and Preston Burke."

Doctors who care about every patient? Either they never improve their skills, or they eventually have an emotional breakdown. Reaching the top requires a certain level of detachment.

Adam had only been interning for three months, yet he'd already witnessed so much joy and sorrow.

And the road ahead? A never-ending cycle of it.

Meredith and George liked to visit the NICU to watch newborns—it helped them cope.

Even for someone as capable as Adam, if he wanted to reach the top, he needed to find a way to manage his growing emotional burden.

Would he rather spend his limited free time enjoying the warmth of Marshall and Lily’s relationship, or indulging in Joey, Ted, and Barney’s chaotic nonsense?

Before starting his medical career, he would have chosen the latter.

But now, that option was gone.

"I see..." Ted rubbed his hands, looking conflicted.

"Don’t worry."

Adam knew exactly what he was thinking but wasn’t about to give in. He smirked. "I may not be there, but you’ll still get a gift. I’ve got something just for you."

"Is it what I think it is?!"

Ted looked excited.

"Nope."

Adam shook his head.

"Come on!"

Ted pleaded. "Adam, it’s my birthday! Just give me her phone number!"

"Nope."

Adam chuckled. "This year’s gift is something I just got today. It’s perfect for you, and since it’s your birthday, it’s meant to be. If you want the number as a gift, I can give it to you next year."

"..."

Ted’s face darkened.

Next year?!

That’s a whole year away!

And the number? Only 5 months and 17 days left!

You think I’m an idiot?

In reality, Ted had never waited the full six months they originally agreed on. He’d started pestering Adam almost immediately, even dragging Marshall and Lily into it.

But Adam never budged.

At this stage, Ted wasn’t the mature Ted Mosby yet—he was still just Ted the Player.

A great girl like Teresa? No way was Adam letting Ted ruin her.

"What kind of gift is so special?" Ted asked suspiciously.

"You want to see it now?"

Adam raised an eyebrow, then remembered that opening gifts immediately was common here, so he didn’t mind.

In some cultures, no wrapping was even needed—you could tell what it was just by looking.

"Can I?"

Ted was still fixated on Teresa’s number, hoping he could guilt-trip Adam into giving in.

"Sure."

Adam grinned. "Actually, it’ll have even more impact if you see it here."

He led Ted to his birthday present.

"What... is this?!"

Ted was dumbfounded.

Adam flicked the CT scan, making a clicking sound.

"This is your gift—something unique. Something unforgettable."

That’s right.

Adam had gifted Ted Mr. Linden’s CT scan.

With an arm around Ted’s stunned shoulders, he pointed at the bullet lodged in the scan and vividly recounted the story of Mr. and Mrs. Linden.

"Ted, any thoughts?"

"..."

Ted was speechless.

"No doubt about it—Mr. and Mrs. Linden were truly in love," Adam said with a grin. "But love and hate go hand in hand. He cheated, she shot him in the head. Do you think she was a sharpshooter? Maybe she didn’t actually mean to kill him—just scare him a little?"

Ted swallowed hard, still speechless.

"You’ve met a lot of great women over the years," Adam teased. "You loved them, and they loved you. Only one of them ever studied Krav Maga."

He clapped Ted on the shoulder. "You’re lucky."

Ted shuddered and blurted out, "I hate guns!"

"Heh."

Adam smirked.

Funny, considering Robin was a total gun enthusiast.

Maybe, deep down, Ted was afraid of becoming Mr. Linden.

Who knows?

But in the end, in their original timeline, he and Robin ended up together.

Hopefully, it was a happy ending.

Adam’s mind drifted to an image of Robin in full S.H.I.E.L.D. gear, rifle in hand, looking fierce.

Wait, why did I say "again"...?

Chapter 437 – Just One Question: Are You Scared?

Medical Center.

After receiving the carefully selected birthday gift from Adam, Ted firmly declined Adam’s invitation to witness Mr. Linden’s tragic state firsthand.

Watching Ted practically flee the scene, Adam couldn’t help but chuckle.

Maybe one day, if Ted falls in love again or if love sweeps him away like a tornado, he’ll ask beforehand:

"Do you play with guns?"

If not, then he can sincerely say, "I loved you once, but not anymore. I don't want to keep hurting you."

But if they do?

Well, then he’ll get the same thrilling experience Adam had when he first crossed over—flanked by the magical Amy on one side and Little Red Riding Hood Juno in the distance.

Breaking up? Not an option.

The only way was to endure, cautiously and carefully, until the woman grew tired of him and ended things herself.

That’s definitely not cowardice!

It’s simply following one’s heart while staying within the lines!

Emergency Room.

"What’s going on?"

When Adam arrived, he saw two police officers chatting outside an examination room and turned to ask a nurse.

"A female college student..."

The nurse immediately leaned in, chattering excitedly as she recounted the incident in vivid detail.

"From Princeton University?"

Adam’s expression shifted.

He knew it was unlikely to be Peggy—or Leonard and Dr. Elizabeth Princeton cosplaying, for that matter—but he still couldn’t help but take a look.

The two officers glanced at Adam briefly before returning to their conversation, indifferent.

Through the window blinds, Adam saw a beautiful young woman sitting inside, looking utterly drained. A cigarette trembled between her fingers as she took a shaky drag. Tears had long since ruined her makeup.

Nurse Carol was beside her, gently comforting her and encouraging her to report the incident.

Adam shook his head and walked away.

Nightfall.

By then, the full story had spread throughout the hospital.

After hearing it, Adam immediately called his assistant, Lisa, asking her to keep an eye on Peggy. He even considered hiring two female bodyguards for her.

Then, he called Leonard, warning him to be careful as well.

In this era, Leonard was prime fresh meat—he needed to be extra cautious out there.

Finally, Adam called Juno to talk about what had happened.

"This Princeton student was originally at her apartment when her boyfriend’s close friend drove up, saying her boyfriend had sent him to pick her up for a get-together.

She didn’t think much of it and went along.

When she arrived, she realized her boyfriend wasn’t there—only two other guys.

Her boyfriend’s good friend claimed he’d be there soon and suggested they start drinking while they waited.

Then, after a few drinks… things got blurry. She never saw her boyfriend that night."

"She couldn't say no?"

Juno asked on the other end of the line.

But before Adam could reply, she already had the answer:

"Obviously, she did. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have escalated to calling the police and seeking medical evidence."

"Yeah."

Adam could hear the shift in Juno’s tone. He suddenly regretted bringing this up, considering her other identity, but all he could do now was show concern.

"You and Karen should also be careful. There are a lot of bad people in this world."

"Way more than you think."

Juno’s voice dropped, tinged with cold anger.

"Adam, do you know how many sexual assault cases are reported across the U.S. every year? You wouldn’t believe it—20% of all women report an incident to the police annually."

"What?!"

Adam sucked in a sharp breath, stunned.

"And that’s just the reported cases," Juno continued, her voice icy. "Nearly 50% of them involve couples or happen within marriage. But even if we remove those, the percentage is still over 10%. If we account for unreported cases, the real numbers are terrifying. What you encountered today? It happens every single day. Colleges are especially bad."

The high rate among couples and marriages made sense.

In the U.S., dating often follows a three-date rule before intimacy, but marriage is a much bigger commitment—leading to an average dating period of 4.3 years.

During that time, if a woman suddenly feels uncomfortable, she can accuse her partner of assault.

And marriage is no exception.

At first glance, it seems like a strong protection for women.

But when the percentage gets this high, it overwhelms law enforcement—turning police and society numb to the issue.

Which, in turn, only worsens the problem.

Adam was speechless.

He’d always known this was a serious issue, but he had never imagined it was this widespread.

And knowing Juno’s pragmatic nature, he didn’t doubt her statistics for a second.

His mind drifted back to the two officers from earlier.

They hadn’t cared in the slightest. They had repeatedly pressured the victim, their expressions practically saying, "Why are you wasting our time?"

Because in their eyes, half of these cases—those involving couples and marriages—ended with settlements or dropped charges.

To victims, that meant resolution and closure.

To police? It meant wasted time and resources.

So even officers who started their careers with righteous ideals eventually became jaded, just wanting to wrap things up quickly.

"Why don’t I remember this being such a big deal when we were in college?"

Adam asked, puzzled.

"It depends on the place," Juno scoffed. "Female college students report the least because they have the most to lose. They have bright futures ahead of them. If they come forward, they’ll face endless humiliation—not just from classmates, but from the entire legal process."

"You mean the trial?"

Adam caught on.

"Exactly."

Juno’s tone darkened.

"As a victim, if you go to trial, you’ll be forced to relive every single detail. And I mean every detail—more than most novelists could ever imagine.

99% of people break down under that kind of second-wave trauma and relentless humiliation.

Even if you manage to testify, the defense attorney will poke holes in your story from every angle.

Why were you dressed so provocatively?

Were you asking for it?

You were classmates, friends—how can you prove you weren’t in a relationship?

More often than not, the victim ends up emotionally wrecked, the case collapses, and justice is never served.

Over time, these crimes continue, but barely make the news.

Because by now? Nobody’s surprised anymore."*

Adam inhaled sharply, unsettled.

"Should I hire bodyguards for you and Karen too?"

He asked, serious.

"No need," Juno replied with a chuckle, her previous coldness melting away. "It’s horrifying, yes, but it’s not lawless chaos. As long as we stay cautious and avoid risky situations, random home invasions are still rare."

Adam frowned. "Rare doesn’t mean never."

"Relax," Juno reassured him. "Karen and I are always together. And don’t forget—we handle scalpels for a living. If someone tries anything? Heh."

She let the implication hang in the air.

"But Peggy? You should definitely keep an eye on her. She’s in college, she has no defense skills, and—let’s be honest—she’s your precious little gem. You can’t be too careful."

"I’m hiring her six female bodyguards. Right now."

Adam said without hesitation.

For once, he didn’t joke back.

He was dead serious.

Chapter 438: This Isn’t St. Juliana Hospital!

After hanging up the call with Juno, Adam immediately dialed his assistant, Ada. He instructed her and Lisa, another assistant, to hire six female bodyguards for Peggy—ones who could carry firearms.

With his future-driven vision and billions in capital, his assets practically grew on their own.

A superyacht or a private jet? Maybe he couldn’t buy those on a whim just yet.

But hiring a few extra bodyguards? That was easy.

In the Hallway

Nurse Carol paced back and forth, looking anxious.

“What’s wrong?” Adam asked, already having a good guess.

“Jenny is gone,” Carol blurted out, panicking.

“Did you check with security?” Adam reminded her.

Carol froze for a moment before realizing what he meant. She immediately pulled out her phone and called security.

“She left,” she said after the call, sounding dejected. “How could she leave? She should’ve fought back! If no one resists, those bastards will only become bolder.”

Adam sighed.

This was reality.

Once the initial surge of bravery fades, most people choose to retreat.

Self-preservation is human nature.

“Carol, this was her choice,” an older nurse who had been standing nearby gently interjected. “After what happened, her boyfriend didn’t believe her—thought she did it on purpose—and broke up with her. She’s been through enough. You can’t force her to face this.”

“But she said no!” Carol argued, her voice shaking. “She fought back! And because her boyfriend didn’t believe her, she should be even more determined to stand up and tell the truth…”

Adam couldn’t listen anymore. He turned and walked away from the ER.

He felt bad for Jenny, but he was powerless to help.

What was emotional exhaustion?

This.

At least his brain worked differently.

He mentally packed up all that negativity, encrypted it, and shoved it into a mental folder labeled Do Not Open.

Feeling refreshed, he shifted his focus back to preparing for his private medical lesson with the legendary Dr. Grey later that night.

Learning made him happy.

In the Dead of Night

The private lesson ended.

Christina was still full of energy, eager to pull Adam aside for more questions, but he refused.

He still had to head to New Jersey for his usual rounds.

Despite his mental encryption, the events of the day still lingered.

As he walked past the nurses’ station, an unexpected sound reached his ears.

A sound that… shouldn’t be echoing through a hospital at this hour.

Adam froze mid-step, his expression one of pure disbelief.

A group of nurses huddled together, giggling.

“…I’m not imagining this, right?” Adam asked, torn between amusement and exasperation.

“Nope.”

One of the blushing nurses nodded toward a nearby patient room. “New admission. Dr. Shepherd prescribed it… until his surgery tomorrow.”

“Dr. Shepherd prescribed it?”

Adam’s mouth twitched.

It was way too late for this kind of nonsense.

This was New York Medical Center.

Not some anime hospital like St. Juliana’s!

Curious, Adam walked over.

Room 3

Inside, a middle-aged, overweight white man lay in bed, staring intently at the TV.

He didn’t even acknowledge Adam’s presence.

From the speakers, those sounds continued to play.

On the couch nearby, a woman—presumably his wife—sat knitting. She looked up at Adam and smiled, completely unfazed.

Adam picked up the patient’s chart.

Henry Labette, 42 years old. Herniated spinal disc. Allergic to all pain medication.

Ah. That explained it.

“Henry’s in a lot of pain,” the woman explained, setting her knitting aside. “The doctor said watching… these kinds of movies helps release dopamine, which eases his pain and keeps it at a tolerable level.”

“You scheduled a spinal implant with Dr. Shepherd tomorrow?” Adam asked, amused.

It was a great surgery. After his trip to New Jersey, he’d try to snag it for himself.

That is, if hospital drama didn’t get in the way.

He sighed internally.

Shepherd and Meredith Grey’s ridiculous love saga again…

Originally, when Dr. Montgomery—Shepherd’s wife—showed up, Meredith had completely ignored him.

Then the truth came out—Shepherd had been cheated on. Hard. So, Meredith softened toward him.

Next, Shepherd got his divorce papers. He was this close to being free.

Cue more flirting.

Then came the plot twist—he hesitated. Didn’t sign the papers.

Meredith, pissed, ghosted him again.

For the past week, Adam had taken on a ton of surgeries that would’ve normally gone to Meredith. She was too caught up in her emotional rollercoaster to care.

Which suited Adam just fine.

But just when he thought she was done with Shepherd…

Boom.

Some patient must have inspired her because she went full drama mode, marched up to Shepherd, and told him:

“Pick me. Choose me. Love me.”

Adam nearly choked on air when he heard.

You’re almost thirty. Have some dignity.

His dream of snagging more prime surgeries? Shattered.

Now that she’d made her move, the ball was in Shepherd’s court.

Regardless of what he chose, one thing was certain:

If there was a surgery, he’d take Meredith with him.

Whether it was as a devoted boyfriend or a guilt-ridden ex, she’d be there.

Adam internally rolled his eyes.

"You two are so dramatic. Just drink some hot tea and calm down."

Back to Henry

“Yes,” Henry’s wife nodded. “Hopefully, after the surgery, we won’t need to do this anymore.”

“Dr. Shepherd is one of the best neurosurgeons,” Adam said, putting the chart back. He glanced at the TV and added, “But even if he prescribed this, and even if it works, you should probably turn the volume down and keep the door closed. It’s still a hospital.”

“Of course, Doctor.”

She got up and lowered the volume.

Adam nodded and closed the door on his way out.

He couldn’t really blame himself for assuming the worst.

After all, the movie Henry was watching was called…

“Slutty Nurses.”

And judging by the dialogue, it featured doctors, nurses, and patients.

Perfect.

Since he was allergic to all pain meds, watching that helped distract him from his pain.

Medically? Justifiable.

But of all the movies out there…

Why choose this one?