381-383

Chapter 381: Shouldn’t It Be Love? 

An apartment party. 

The same scene, nearly the same lines. 

Last time, it was Ted who said it. 

This time, it’s Robin. 

If only it could just be the two of them in these moments. 

“Oh, Ted~” 

Lily couldn’t help but glance at Ted, who was still pretending to play it cool. Her eyes were full of pity and guilt. 

This was her fault. 

She’d known Adam for so long that she’d forgotten just how magnetic he could be to women. 

That’s right! 

Who else but Adam could make someone like Robin—gorgeous, worldly, and a total pro at this—lose her cool like that? 

“Adam!” 

Before Robin could say anything even more over-the-top, Lily quickly waved at Adam as he walked in. Then she leaned toward Robin and whispered, “That’s Adam, the one I told you about earlier.” 

“The surgeon~” 

Robin’s eyes lit up even more as she murmured, “You didn’t mention he was this hot and classy. But I guess he’s a surgeon, so it makes sense. How else would patients trust them so much?” 

“…” 

Lily’s mouth twitched, her eyes filling with more wry amusement and self-blame. 

This vibe… it was exactly like when Ted first met Robin—completely smitten, head over heels. 

But this wasn’t going to end like it did for Ted. 

Robin was all about casual flings. 

And Adam? He was famously laid-back—there was no way he’d say something cheesy like “I love you.” 

Plus, last time it was a guy chasing a girl. 

Now it’s a girl chasing a guy. 

If Robin went full-on aggressive like Ted had, with her looks, not even Lily could resist—let alone Adam, a guy. 

That’s right! 

Even though Lily was head over heels for Marshall, she couldn’t deny Robin’s charm. Sometimes her eyes would wander, lost in a little fantasy. 

That’s part of why she and Robin had become besties so fast. 

“Oh, poor Ted~” 

Thinking about it, Lily couldn’t help but sigh inwardly for her friend. 

Same mindset, deeper empathy. 

She got it… 

“Hey, Lily.” 

Adam walked over. 

“Let me introduce you two.” 

Feeling Robin nudge her from behind, Lily reluctantly started the introductions. “Adam, this is Robin. Robin, this is Adam.” 

“Hey, Robin.” 

“Hey, Adam~” 

In his past life, Adam had watched How I Met Your Mother, so Robin’s presence didn’t faze him at all. He greeted her calmly. 

Robin, though, was a little too enthusiastic. 

“So, you’re a surgeon?” 

“Yeah.” 

Adam smiled. “Those two doctors you interviewed on TV earlier? They’re surgical interns from my team.” 

“Wow!” 

Robin let out an exaggerated gasp. “That’s such a crazy coincidence~” 

Adam shot a quick glance at Lily. 

This wasn’t quite right. 

In his memory, wasn’t this supposed to be the part where Ted and Robin were a thing? 

Lily kept throwing him looks. 

But they came so fast and furious, it was less like subtle hints and more like her eyelids were having a seizure. 

Adam was a little thrown off. 

This was… eye chaos… 

“Your colleagues were hilarious—going to a strip club with a wad of singles and saying it was change from buying a $40 newspaper. Are all surgeons that funny?” Robin piped up again when Adam didn’t respond right away. 

“Only Chris and Stu are like that,” Adam said, quick to distance himself. 

Those two clowns—had they not pulled off that live emergency save, and had it not been on a random NYC news channel no one watches, they’d be total laughingstocks. 

They chatted a bit more about it. 

Adam didn’t say much. 

“Haha, you’re so funny!” 

It was a pretty normal conversation, but Robin acted like he’d hit her funny bone. She reached out with her left hand, patted his chest, and kept tossing her long hair back with her right. In a weird, dramatic tone, she laughed, “So, so funny~” 

As she flipped her hair, her signature perfume wafted stronger. 

Adam’s mouth twitched. 

He knew this move! 

Back when Rachel had set her sights on him, she’d unleashed her full arsenal—standard, super, ultimate, final flirt mode—and it was eerily similar. 

Rachel’s approach was subtle, getting him to open up, playing the soulmate card. 

Robin’s was over-the-top, gushing about his “humor,” playing the admiration card. 

Rachel would walk away mid-chat, letting him admire her silhouette. 

Robin kept flipping her hair, letting him catch her scent. 

Rachel traced circles on the back of his hand. 

Robin gave his chest a playful tap. 

Adam had no doubt—if Robin knew about the whole parallel-universe-S.H.I.E.L.D.-deputy-director thing, she’d pull out her own ace, just like Rachel with her invincible red cheerleader uniform. She’d strut in wearing her S.H.I.E.L.D. Deputy Director/Sky Carrier Commander outfit, all icy and commanding, demanding he hand over his weapons of mass destruction for S.H.I.E.L.D. oversight… 

He’d turned Rachel down—not because she wasn’t stunning, but because he didn’t want to mess up his friendship with Leonard or derail his path as a doctor. 

He’d turn Robin down—not because she wasn’t gorgeous, but because Ted and Barney would be tangled up with her forever. Keeping his friend group drama-free was his rule. 

Wait. 

What if he just… didn’t stay friends with Ted and Barney? 

Barney would totally get it. 

Hmm… 

Adam started to waver. 

“Adam.” 

“Marshall.” 

Lily stepped away for a sec, and Marshall swooped in, his conflicted expression screaming that he’d been sent on a mission. 

Adam sighed inwardly. 

Ted and Barney? Whatever. 

But Marshall and Lily? They were friends he genuinely admired. 

And they were inseparable from Ted. 

For the sake of friend-group harmony—and to avoid the messy musical-chairs dating chaos—Adam decided to let it go. 

Robin was hot, sure, but not drop-dead hot. 

Plus, she was a seasoned player—maybe even more so than him. She might have that trick where she’s all “madly in love” one second and “totally over it” the next… 

Adam kept piling on the excuses in his head. 

But none of them felt solid enough. 

“Wanna step aside for a sec?” 

Marshall gave Robin an apologetic smile and shot Adam a look. 

“You guys chat. I’ve got something to talk to Lily about,” Robin said, surprisingly chill as she walked off. 

“Adam, Ted threw this party on a whim just to confess to Robin again…” Marshall spilled the story of Ted and Robin’s latest chapter. 

He didn’t outright say, “Don’t hit on her.” 

Robin was single, after all—fair game, technically. 

But the nudge was clear. 

“I get it,” Adam said, clapping Marshall on the shoulder. “The heart’s not everything. To me, friendship’s way more important.” 

“Yeah!” 

Marshall nodded hard, genuinely touched. He couldn’t think of anyone who valued friendship more than Adam. 

But then it hit him—something felt off. 

Huh? 

Shouldn’t it be love? 

Why’d he say “heart”? 

Marshall’s look at Adam shifted, a little weirded out… 

Chapter 382: Straight to the Razor 

The apartment party was in full swing. 

“So, this is the real Adam, huh?” someone teased. 

“Yup, I’m just that loyal,” Adam shot back with a grin. 

Matthew caught on quick, exchanging a knowing glance with Adam. 

Sure, that’s what they said. 

But deep down, Matthew knew Adam was the kind of guy who truly got friendship and valued it above all else. 

Because, let’s be real—how much of this world is actually about love? 

What’s the most basic thing driving a guy to chase a girl? Isn’t it just instinct—heart, or something like that? 

For Adam to put friendship over that? That was pretty damn impressive. 

Okay, fine—Matthew conveniently ignored the fact that Adam wasn’t exactly hurting for options like Robin… 

Meanwhile, in Matthew’s bedroom: 

“Lily, where’s your razor?” Robin demanded, gripping Lily’s shoulders with both hands. 

“No way!” Lily yelped. 

“Yes way! Hand it over!” Robin insisted. “It’s been days since I shaved my legs.” 

Western dating tradition 101: Shave your legs before a date. It’s a basic courtesy to the other person. 

Monica swore by it. 

Honestly, that was tame compared to some. 

Take Penny and the gang—they’d be getting regular bikini waxes down the line. Like that time Amy spent six or seven years wearing Sheldon down, and for her birthday, he decided to “gift himself” to her. Penny and Bernadette dragged her straight to the waxing salon. 

Not every girl was like that, though. 

Some had a vibe more like East Asian women—less maintenance, less fuss. 

“You made your own rule, remember?” Lily shot back. “No shaving your legs for the first three dates. You said it’d build self-control—legs hairy, dignity intact!” 

She paused, then added, “This doesn’t even count as a first date. Where’s your resolve?” 

“It got surgically removed by the perfect doctor,” Robin quipped, smirking at her own joke. 

“No!” Lily shook her head, stubborn as ever. 

She was regretting this more by the second. 

Who could’ve guessed Robin would be this shameless—ready to go all-in the second they met? 

“Please, Lily,” Robin begged, clasping her hands together. “I don’t want to be like this, but Adam’s just too hot. You get it, right? You know how I feel!” 

“…” 

Lily had no comeback. 

Robin wasn’t wrong. 

She did get it… 

“Adam’s a total player,” Lily warned, trying to talk some sense into her. 

“Really?” Robin’s eyes lit up like Christmas lights. 

Lily groaned inwardly. 

Bad boys, huh? Women can’t resist ‘em. A guy with a reputation like that only made him more appealing. 

“He’s the worst kind of player,” Lily pressed, psyching herself up. “His motto’s literally ‘more than friends, less than lovers’—and he’ll never let you level up to ‘lovers.’” 

“That’s perfect!” Robin gushed. “We’re so alike! I almost never make it to the ‘lovers’ stage either—it just fizzles out naturally. It’s chill, easy, free. I love it.” 

“…” 

Lily was exhausted. 

She hadn’t realized Adam and Robin’s weird worldviews matched up so perfectly. 

What a pair of oddballs! 

Ted, it’s not that I didn’t try. Their vibes are just too bizarre, Lily grumbled to herself. 

“Lily?” Robin stared at her with puppy-dog eyes. 

“Adam dates multiple girls at once,” Lily blurted, making one last desperate move. “Word is, his stamina’s insane—one girl can’t even keep up.” 

“No way, really?” Robin frowned. 

“Swear to God,” Lily said, seizing the moment. “His energy’s legendary. One of his old roommates—a girl—couldn’t handle it and moved out. She just let his sleazy behavior slide. You’d never survive, emotionally or physically. Double whammy!” 

“I don’t buy it,” Robin said, suddenly grinning. “Guys love to exaggerate. If he’s really like that, I’ll take it.” 

Raised by her dad like one of the boys, Robin was tough as nails—competitive, fearless, obsessed with violent sports and guns. A total gun nut. 

Her? Scared? Please. 

If anything, this made her more curious about Adam. 

Lily slapped her forehead. 

She was out of moves. 

“Lily, I just moved to New York from Canada,” Robin said earnestly. “My career’s just getting started. Sure, I can say I’m a reporter for New York Metro News One, but all I get are tiny, forgettable stories no one cares about. And let’s be honest—New York Metro News One’s a nobody in the media world. I’ve got big dreams, though. I want to be the best journalist out there—a Pulitzer’s gotta have my name on it someday. That means pouring my time and energy into work. Romance? Right now, I just want something casual. You get me?” 

She went on, “It’s not like I’m marrying Adam tomorrow. I need to test the waters and see what he’s really like. With me being me, and him being him, neither of us is losing out, right?” 

“The razor’s in the bathroom,” Lily said with a wry smile. “I’ll grab it for you.” 

What else could she say? 

Other than shouting “Hell yeah!” and handing over the razor, she’d done all she could. 

“Thanks!” Robin beamed. 

Back in the living room: 

“Babe, what’s wrong?” Matthew asked, rushing over as Lily emerged looking glum. 

She spilled the whole story. 

Matthew’s jaw dropped. 

“Maybe we should talk to Ted?” Lily suggested, glancing at Ted, who was still over there trying way too hard to play it “cool.” She sighed. “Robin’s after real casual—Adam-style casual. Ted can’t fake that.” 

“Yeah,” Matthew agreed. “Robin’s all about her journalism career, Adam’s obsessed with his doctor gig. They both put work first, heart and soul—relationships are just a side dish. Ted? He’s all about love and marriage, heart and soul. They’re on totally different wavelengths.” 

“So what do we do?” Lily fretted. “Ted seems super serious about this! Not that I blame him—Robin’s got the looks, the personality, the vibe. If I were Ted, I’d think she was my soulmate too.” 

“I’ll talk to him,” Matthew said with a sigh. “Either way, this party’s for Robin—Ted set it up. We can’t let Adam and Robin mess with him tonight. I’ll get Adam to leave early. After that, whatever happens happens.” 

“Think Adam will go along with it?” Lily asked skeptically. 

“He will,” Matthew said, grinning. “Honestly, he’d even turn Robin down flat for Ted’s sake if it came to it.” 

“No way, really?” Lily raised an eyebrow. 

“Babe, Adam might be a flirt like Barney, but their character? Night and day,” Matthew said seriously. “He’s all about loyalty to his friends—that’s what I admire most about him. So yeah, he’ll agree. But whatever happens later with him and Robin? We’ve gotta stay out of it. Ted and Robin aren’t a thing, and if she keeps throwing herself at Adam, we can’t expect him to hold out forever. That’d be inhumane.” 

“I get it, babe,” Lily nodded. 

With that, they split up. 

Lily went to grab the razor for Robin. 

Matthew headed off to convince Adam to ditch the party before Razor Robin pounced. 

Chapter 383: Encrypted Folder Apartment Party 

“Whatever, I’m chill,” Ted said, striking a pose with way too much effort. 

“Nobody’s more chill than me,” he added, vibing hard. 

He was clearly waiting for his big moment—half an hour from now, he’d explode onto the scene. 

“Ted!”  

Matthew and Lily walked over, catching him still trying so hard to look casual. They couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him. 

“Stop pretending. Robin’s gone,” Lily blurted out. 

“What?”  

Ted froze. He hadn’t even stepped into the spotlight yet, and the leading lady had already left the stage? 

“Robin’s into Adam…” Lily explained, laying it all out. 

“No!”  

Ted couldn’t handle it. Especially when he heard how Robin acted when she first met Adam—it was eerily similar to how he felt when he first saw her. It wrecked him. 

“It’s the truth,” Matthew said, his gaze suddenly steady. “Ted, face it—Robin’s not your one true love.” 

“No! She is!” Ted shouted. 

“Oh, really?” Matthew shot back. “Got any proof? That love-at-first-sight vibe doesn’t count. Robin’s reaction already showed it’s just hormones talking.” 

“We’ve got the same interests,” Ted argued, scrambling for evidence that he and Robin were meant to be. “She likes dogs, Scotch whisky, quoting Ghostbusters lines. She hates olives—yes! The olive theory! You guys came up with that one yourselves.” 

Lily loved olives. Matthew hated them. When it came to olives, no fights, no fuss—just perfect harmony. They’d dubbed it the “olive theory.” 

Matthew pressed his lips together and turned to Lily. “Babe, I’m sorry. I lied—I actually like olives too.” 

“What?”  

Lily and Ted gasped in unison. 

“It was our first date,” Matthew explained, sheepish. “Lily, you asked if you could have my olives. I was just an 18-year-old horndog back then, waiting my whole life for a girl to take my olive branch—figuratively speaking. What was I supposed to say besides, ‘Sure, I hate olives’?” 

“No!” Lily groaned, pained. 

Ted just stared, dazed. 

“I’m sorry, Lily, I lied,” Matthew said. “But does our relationship really need some olive theory to hold it up?” 

Lily paused, then locked eyes with him, her voice soft but certain. “No, it doesn’t.” 

“Ted,” Matthew continued, holding Lily’s hand and turning to him, “you’ve seen every first Lily and I ever had. Remember what it was like when we started dating? Was it anything like you are now—barely even in a relationship, already throwing around ‘I love you’ and ‘you’re my soulmate’?” 

Ted went quiet. 

Back when Matthew first started dating Lily, he’d been straight with Ted: “Bro, it’s just a fling. You don’t think I’d give up the whole forest for one tree, do you?” 

“Relationships take time to build,” Matthew pressed on, his wannabe-lawyer energy kicking in. “If you really believe in soulmates, then you should trust that you don’t have to try so hard to find her. One day, she’ll just show up—like Lily did when she knocked on my dorm room door.  

“But you’ve gotta be ready. Don’t rush it. Take it slow, get to know her. What’s yours will always be yours. If you keep doing what you’ve been doing—falling head over heels for every girl you meet, going all-in too fast, burning hot one second and ice-cold the next—you’re gonna hurt a lot of good women.  

“And if you don’t change? Even if your ‘one true love’ shows up—or even if it’s Robin and she falls for you—can you say you’ll still feel this way in a month? What about a year? How many ‘Robins’ have you already left in the dust?” 

Ted opened his mouth but couldn’t answer.  

Without a photographic memory, he honestly couldn’t keep count. 

“You’ve been hanging around Barney too much,” Matthew sighed. “You’re too goal-oriented. You see me and Lily getting engaged, and bam—you want love, you want a ring, and you lock onto that. How’s that any different from Barney and his random challenges? Where’s the Ted who used to cry over a picture of his high school sweetheart, Helen? Can you even feel that way anymore?” 

“Yeah,” Lily chimed in. “Even if the olive theory was real, so what? It’s just one tiny thing you and Robin might click on. How many olives do you even eat in a year? The real difference between you two is how you see love and work. She’s all about her career, chasing it across the country—maybe the world. You’re all about feelings.  

“Imagine her reporting news all over the U.S., or even globally, and you barely see each other a few times a year. Even if it’s true love, what then? That’s the big, unfixable problem—not some theory we made up, but the long-distance reality everyone knows about. You’re not some kid scamming high school girls before college anymore.” 

“Ted, take some time to figure yourself out,” Matthew said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Don’t rush. If destiny’s real, then today, tomorrow—someday—she’ll show up.” 

Ted stood there, silent.  

Was he really wrong? Had he already let his true soulmate slip away? 

The Next Day 

Latest updates first on 69 Book Bar! 

Medical Center 

“How’s Cristina doing?” Adam asked, running into Meredith outside the hospital. 

“They got her into surgery in time. She’s fine—she’s even itching to get back to work today,” Meredith said with a faint smile. 

“Heh,” Adam chuckled.  

That sounded exactly like Cristina. 

“George!” Meredith called out as George hurried past. 

He didn’t even glance her way, just stormed into the hospital. 

Meredith gave a wry smile. 

“No!” Adam muttered, a bad feeling creeping up. “Don’t tell me George went back to the clinic last night?” 

Meredith didn’t answer. She just dropped her head and walked inside. 

“No!” Adam groaned, rubbing his temples.  

This vibe? Something was definitely up.  

And there went the favor he’d earned from Dr. Shepherd, the attending—poof, gone.  

Damn that 100% drunk-pants-dropping curse. 

Locker Room 

SLAM!  

George changed into his scrubs and slammed his locker shut.  

That much anger? Did he strike out? 

Adam kept his thoughts to himself, playing it cool like he hadn’t heard a thing.  

Last night’s memories were fuzzy—just telling Meredith to look after Cristina and dragging George out. Beyond that? Nada. 

With that, Adam mentally locked away his guesswork.  

File name: 19980901. Size: 30MB. Encrypted.  

He glanced at his mental “folder.” Next to it, file 19980831 stood out—48GB of space.  

Having a photographic memory like this wasn’t surprising to him. He’d “copied” it from Sheldon.  

Little Sheldon could recall his parents’ unmentionable moments from infancy, triggered by his dad’s “damn” over some beef. Grown-up Sheldon once stewed for years over something that ticked him off, only unleashing it to teach Leonard a lesson.  

How’d he manage that with his personality? Easy—encrypt the maddening memory,Whether it's taking the initiative or being passive..., tuck it away until the right moment to crack it open.  

If Sheldon could do it, so could Adam.