420-422

Chapter 420: You’ve Got This! 

At the medical center, Adam and Christina were outside the VIP ward, sneaking a peek at George and Alice Grey—Meredith’s mom—sharing a bed. They swapped a quick look, no words needed, and instantly knew what they were gonna do next. 

Inside the ward, George O’Malley had one foot on the bed and one on the floor, too nervous to fully climb in. He squirmed around, totally uncomfortable, his brain spiraling. Who am I? Where am I? What the heck am I doing? But the loudest thought bouncing around in his head was: What would Meredith think if she saw this? 

“He looks super awkward,” Christina whispered. 

“Yeah, and he should,” Adam said with a grin. “The guy’s pale and chubby, like a big marshmallow, and he acts the part too. Everyone thinks he’s gay, you all treat him like one of the girls, but people forget—he’s still a dude.” 

“So?” Christina asked, tilting her head. 

“So,” Adam said, smirking, “in the right moment, he can still turn into a total wolf. How else do you think he had that little fling with Meredith? And now, here he is with her mom? Ha!” 

“Oh, you mean…” Christina’s eyes widened as it clicked. She glanced back at George with a grossed-out look. “Him? That’s nasty! Do all guys have these weird, disgusting thoughts?” 

“Nah, not me,” Adam shot back, playing innocent. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” 

“Yeah, right,” Christina snorted. 

“Anyway,” Adam laughed, “I’ll leave this to you for a bit. I’ve gotta take my friend for a test. I’ll swing back to take over later. Once the caregivers show up tomorrow, we won’t have to deal with this anymore.” 

“Fine,” Christina nodded, dropping the topic. 

Adam headed off and realized Chandler still hadn’t come out of the bathroom. He knocked on the door. “Chandler? You good?” 

“Just a sec,” Chandler mumbled, sounding embarrassed. 

“Not bad,” Adam teased, checking his watch. “Those morning runs must be paying off, huh?” 

“It’s not that,” Chandler groaned. 

“Take your time, call me when you’re done,” Adam said with a grin. 

“Do I really have to do this?” Chandler’s voice came out all whiny from inside. 

“Yup,” Adam replied, pausing for effect. “You’d better handle it yourself, or I’ll have to get Monica or a nurse to help you out.” 

“There are nurses who do that?” Chandler asked, sounding shocked. 

“Oh yeah,” Adam said, barely holding back a laugh. “Some nurses are like that tailor Joey told you about—they love going the extra mile, totally free, totally voluntary. You’d be into him.” 

After that, the bathroom went dead quiet. 

“Chandler?” Adam called out. 

“Go away!” Chandler yelled. “I don’t need him!” 

“Haha, alright,” Adam cracked up. “But if you don’t hurry up and take care of it, I’m sending him in.” 

With that, he walked off, still laughing. 

Ten minutes later, Chandler crept out and awkwardly handed Adam the sample—like it was some sacred relic. 

“Let’s hit the lab,” Adam said, not taking it himself but making Chandler hold onto it as he dragged him along. 

The results came back quick. 

“A little low, but still normal,” Adam said, relieved as he scanned the report. 

“What’s that mean?” Chandler asked, totally lost. 

“Means you can have kids, but it’s gonna take some effort,” Adam said with a smile. 

“Wait, what?” Chandler blinked. “I thought we were checking for STDs or something!” 

“We did that too,” Adam said, all serious. “You’re clean there. Now we’re just waiting on Monica.” 

Right then, Monica walked out. She’s got a sixth sense for this stuff and could tell something was up. She looked nervous as hell. 

An hour later, Adam had her results. 

“So?” Monica asked, her voice shaking. 

“Not great,” Adam sighed. “No STDs, but your body’s not exactly primed for pregnancy.” 

“Oh no!” Monica gasped, looking like her world just crashed. 

“How?” Chandler asked, pulling her into a hug. 

“Probably the weight loss,” Adam explained. “You used to be pretty heavy, Monica, and dropping all that so fast to get this figure? That kind of extreme dieting messes with your body. Plus, there’s your natural makeup too.” 

Think about how Monica handles cookies—she wouldn’t touch them at first, but once she caved, she couldn’t stop. That’s a sign she’s still hardcore dieting. She went from being a “two-in-one” big girl to slim in no time, basically shedding a whole person’s worth of weight. For a woman, that’s at least 100 pounds. Losing that much that fast? No surprise it threw her system off. 

“I can’t get pregnant?” Monica whispered, covering her mouth in panic. 

“It’s not impossible,” Adam said, softening his tone. “Just trickier. Good thing Chandler’s normal. If you two start trying now and keep at it for a few years, you’ve got a solid chance.” 

“Really?” Monica looked at him, desperate for hope. 

“Really,” Adam nodded. “And hey, there’s a perk.” 

“What perk?” Monica perked up. 

“You can skip the condoms now,” Adam grinned. “Saves cash and spices things up.” 

“Chandler, we’re heading home,” Monica said, grabbing his arm. “Tonight, no sleeping. Actually, until I’m pregnant, you’re not getting a full night’s rest!” 

“But we just got back from our honeymoon!” Chandler protested. “Can’t we chill for a bit?” 

“No way,” Monica snapped. “Clock’s ticking.” 

As she yanked him toward the door, Chandler glanced back at Adam with a glare that screamed betrayal. 

“You’ve got this!” Adam called out, throwing him a fist pump for encouragement. 

Chapter 421: I Consider You a Friend, But You’re Acting Like My Dad? 

The Next Day. 

Medical Center. 

“Phew.” 

After Adam finished examining Dr. Gray, Christina—standing by his side—read the answer in his eyes and let out a long sigh. 

What a relief! 

That little chubby George had only managed to drag Dr. Gray’s emotions back over twenty years. 

Dr. Gray’s expertise and experience have always been top-notch. 

Indeed. 

George—who had been mistaken for Zack—never really measured up to Dr. Gray, and nothing could ever compare to her deep passion for medicine. 

“Zack, don’t interrupt Dr. Gray’s work—come with me,” Adam said with a smile. 

“Right, don’t disturb my work,” Dr. Gray agreed with a nod. 

“…” 

Helpless, George had no choice but to follow Adam out. 

When he turned back, intending to say something to Dr. Gray, he found Christina blocking his path, her little eyes practically screaming, “Hurry up and go—don’t mess around, or I’ll beat you up!” 

Adam’s gaze was full of mischief as he teased, “So, how’d you sleep last night? Looked like you slept like a baby, huh?” 

The good news had erased most of his irritation with George. He had originally planned to punish him, but now it was just all playful teasing. 

“Adam, it’s not what you think…” George’s chubby face instantly flushed. 

“Don’t bother explaining,” Adam waved him off. He was an old hand at this routine—the whole “no need to explain; any explanation is just a cover-up for the truth” spiel. 

“Hey, don’t you guys tell Meredith, okay?” George pleaded. 

“Of course I have no problem, but do you really think Christina would keep such explosive news from Meredith?” Adam shot back teasingly. “Besides, you two don’t have any secrets between you. What’s there not to say, Zack?” 

George looked utterly mortified. 

“Relax,” Adam grinned. “Meredith won’t mind at all.” 

“Really?” George’s eyes lit up. 

“Of course—she might even be dying for you to be Zack right now.” 

Adam said seriously, “That way, you get to take care of Dr. Gray, and she won’t have to take care of you.” 

“Adam!” George exclaimed, a bit annoyed at being teased once again. 

“Okay,” Adam raised his hand. “But seriously, if I were you, I’d ask Dr. Gray which brand of cologne Zack uses.” 

“Why?” George asked, taken aback. 

“Women who grow up without a father tend to develop a bit of a daddy complex,” Adam explained with a laugh. “There’s actual research showing that if you’re dating a woman like that and you use the same cologne as her dad, your chances of getting her into bed go up tenfold.” 

With that, Adam left a pensive George behind and quickly walked away. Adam worried that if he stayed any longer, he’d burst out laughing. 

That so-called scientific study was something Beverly had once passed on to her son Leonard. Leonard did end up in bed with Penny that very night, but whether he actually used the same cologne as Penny’s dad is debatable. And besides, Meredith is different from Penny. For someone like her—who lost her father Zack when she was just five—a daddy complex might not mean she adores his scent; it could just as easily be rooted in disgust… 

At Green Clinic: 

“Adam, did Rachel come to the Medical Center for a check-up yesterday?” 

Leonard complained, “Why didn’t you tell me?” 

“Rachel told me over and over not to mention it,” Adam replied with a laugh. “She’s perfectly fine, so I didn’t say anything—after all, finding you is just like finding me!” 

Leonard paused in surprise, then nodded and laughed, “That’s true.” 

He had gone through so much effort to accept Adam’s closeness and do everything he could to help him grow—wasn’t it all for this moment? After all, he was steadily getting older, and in the future, when a medical issue arises, people won’t be turning to him but to Adam! Adam had already taken care of this and even pointed it out first, which truly filled Leonard with satisfaction. 

“So, have you thought of a name for Rachel’s baby yet?” 

Leonard was in such high spirits he couldn’t help but grin as he pulled Adam aside for a chat. 

“If you ask me, if it’s a boy, name him Adam Green! As long as my grandson is even half as awesome as you, I wouldn’t even care if he were a love child!” 

“She did have that idea,” Adam said, his lips twitching. “But Chandler and Monica already reserved it.” 

“That’s not acceptable!” Leonard objected. “What gives them the right to reserve it first? Do they even have a kid yet?” 

“Not yet,” Adam replied with a shake of his head. “But they’re working on it.” 

“Then that’s that!” Leonard waved his hand. “They’re your friends, and Rachel is your friend too. If Rachel ends up having my grandchild, then his name will be Adam Green! I said so!” 

“…” 

Adam’s lips twitched, leaving him speechless. If this were in the East—with Rachel and Ross saying stuff like that—Adam would have beaten them up already. 

I treat you as friends, yet you act like my parents? 

You’re taking advantage of me! 

You’re asking for trouble! 

But this isn’t the East—it’s the USA! In America, it’s traditional to name your child after a relative, friend, or someone you admire. This isn’t an insult—it’s recognition! It’s legacy! It’s honor! 

For example, in The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon and Amy’s son is named Leonard Cooper! Originally, Sheldon even planned to add a middle name—Nimoy! After all, it was taken from his favorite TV character, Leonard Nimoy (the actor who played Spock in Star Trek). But Amy vetoed it. According to her exact words, “If you’re going to name him Leonard, just be content with that!” 

Clearly, Amy didn’t want their son named Leonard either. Since they were always together, you’d inevitably end up having to call them Big Leonard and Little Leonard. If clueless onlookers mistook Little Leonard for the son of Leonard and Amy, that would be downright awkward! 

But there’s nothing you can do about it. Sheldon insisted! And Leonard had sacrificed so much for Sheldon that, no matter how much Amy disliked it, she had no choice but to endure and accept that potentially awkward name. For Leonard, such an honor was almost as sweet as Sheldon thanking him during his Nobel Prize acceptance speech. At first, Leonard was genuinely happy—feeling that after nearly twenty years of being tormented by Sheldon, it was all worth it. But once Sheldon explained himself, Leonard’s gratitude evaporated in an instant. 

“Leonard, I know you’ll never win a Nobel Prize in your life, but my son certainly will. That way, your name will be indirectly immortalized in Nobel Prize history,” Sheldon declared bluntly. “So, don’t thank me!” 

“Thank you?” 

All I want to do is strangle you—or blast your head off with the Force! 

Luckily, Leonard was an old ninja; he only had to give Sheldon a meaningful look. And Sheldon took that as a sign of gratitude. 

Perfect! 

He really is such a great friend! 

It’s precisely because of this custom that Adam can only accept his friends’ enthusiastic endorsements with a wry smile—while secretly hoping that one day there won’t be a situation where everyone starts calling him “dad”! 

Friends: “Adam!” 

Kids: “Dad, Mom!” 

Adam: “…” 

Chapter 422: Who’s the Hottest Doc at the Medical Center? 

Medical Center 

Adam had finally shaken off the shadow of his friends naming their kids after him and was on his way to the ward to check on a case he was really into. But then, he got hit with a curveball. 

“Duncan, you’re off this case. I’m handing it over to Grey,” Dr. Bailey announced, her decision final. 

“Alright,” Adam replied with a wry smile, turning to leave. 

“What’s going on? Adam Duncan got booted from his own case again?” someone whispered. 

“Unbelievable.” 

“Dr. Bailey’s the real deal. When it comes to fairness, she doesn’t mess around. She’ll put you in your place no matter who you are!” 

“I’ve even seen her go toe-to-toe with the chief once. He backed down!” 

“She’s the moral compass of this medical center, no joke.” 

“Yeah, if she ever becomes chief resident, I’m all in for her.” 

“…” 

The second Adam walked away, the chatter spread like wildfire—mostly people gloating over his misfortune and singing Dr. Bailey’s praises. 

Noon – Cafeteria 

“You seriously got kicked off by Dr. Bailey?” Liz asked, wide-eyed. “What was it this time?” 

She wasn’t shocked that Dr. Bailey had sidelined Adam; she was just curious why. That was the magic of Dr. Bailey. Love her or hate her, everyone respected her fairness and skill. The only reason she wasn’t chief resident yet was because the spot wasn’t open. Otherwise, she’d be the top pick hands down. 

Chief resident isn’t just a title—it’s an administrative gig. You’re in charge of all the residents, and you need the kind of charisma that makes everyone turn to you first when they’re in a bind. If you can’t handle that, you’re sunk. But with the responsibility comes perks: scheduling OR time, assigning resident duties, sitting in on big hospital meetings. It’s basically a mini-chief role—a key stepping stone to becoming an attending. Every ambitious senior resident with a few years under their belt fights tooth and nail for it. And being the frontrunner for that hot seat? That says it all. 

“Dr. Bailey’s got her reasons,” George chimed in, barely hiding his glee. “And I’m sure they’re solid. I trust her.” 

“Man, that’s some strong cologne,” Adam said, shooting George a look. “New brand today?” 

“…” George’s pale face turned red, then dark. Yep, busted. 

George was a guy who believed in science. Adam had mentioned something to him once, and he’d taken it to heart. It was like those old folks—rational their whole lives, but past a certain age, they fall for every health supplement ad and wellness scam out there. It’s a desperate need to cling to life. For George, it was his crush on Meredith. Adam had said it was backed by “science,” but even if it’d been some old wives’ tale, George would’ve tried it. Switching cologne? No big deal. He was going to wear some anyway, so why not try a new one? 

He’d even slyly asked Alice Grey for advice and scored a tip. During a break, he’d dashed to the shop next to the hospital, grabbed the new stuff, and strutted past Meredith a few times. But instead of swooning, she’d wrinkled her nose and asked why he’d switched to that cologne. Cue George’s heartbreak—his goddess thought it stank. That’s why he was so openly smug about Adam’s flop today. He didn’t know if Adam had set him up, but he was happy to see him crash and burn. Misery loves company, right? 

“I’ll switch back tomorrow,” George muttered, looking like he might cry as Meredith walked up with her tray, frowned at him, and paused mid-step. 

“Sure, Meredith, you stole Adam’s case,” Liz teased with a grin as Meredith sat down. 

“Stole? Hardly,” Meredith said, shaking her head. “He just wasn’t the right fit for it.” 

“What case?” Liz asked, leaning in. 

“Kerry Lodge, 23, blushing syndrome and high fever,” Cristina cut in. “She’s got neurosurgery this afternoon with Dr. Shepherd. Super interesting case. If I were you, Adam, I’d have fought for it. It’s not like you’re the only one making her blush—Shepherd’s her attending, and he does too!” 

“What?” Liz nearly choking on her food. “She blushes at every hot guy she sees?” 

“No,” Meredith said with a sympathetic look. “She blushes whenever her heart rate spikes, and it’s a dead giveaway of what she’s feeling. That’s why she’s so determined to get this surgery, even with the risks.” 

“Her back, stomach, and thighs sweat to compensate. Eating can make her sweat too,” Adam added. “Less than one percent of patients might end up with facial paralysis, spinal nerve damage, pneumothorax, or hemothorax. If any of that happens, it’s bad—really bad.” 

“All just to stop blushing,” Cristina said. “Me? No way I’d risk full-body paralysis for someone to mess with my brain. So what if my heart races? Who cares?” 

“We haven’t lived it,” Meredith countered. “We can’t really understand how desperate she feels.” 

“Cristina, you might not be so chill about it either,” Adam pointed out. “Imagine you’re into a case or surgery, your heart speeds up, and boom—you’re blushing and sweating. It’s not a big deal to hide, but it could tank your focus in the OR, right?” 

“Oh,” Cristina paused, then nodded. “Okay, yeah, that hits home. If it were me, I’d be torn.” 

Don’t do the surgery, and it messes with your skills. Do it, and it might still mess with your skills. For someone like Cristina, dead-set on becoming a legendary surgeon, that’s a brutal choice. 

“So,” George said, jaw practically on the table, “Adam got kicked off because the patient blushes when she sees him?” 

“Yep,” Meredith confirmed. 

“She blushes at both Adam and Dr. Shepherd?” Liz asked, gossip mode activated. “So, who makes her blush more?” 

“Now that’s an interesting question,” Cristina said with a smirk. “Who’s the hottest doc at the medical center?” 

“How do you even compare that?” Meredith snapped. “Everyone’s got their own taste.” 

“Fair, my bad,” Cristina shrugged. “New question then: In Kerry Lodge’s eyes, who’s the hottest? Miracle Doc or Dreamy McSteamy?” 

Adam’s mouth twitched. Why did that sound so awkward? 

“No one knows?” Cristina teased. “The patient can handle Shepherd but nearly spiked a fever again with Adam. Dr. Bailey didn’t pull any punches—she just kicked him out. Doesn’t that say it all?”