336-338

*Chapter 336: Toolman Adam*

*Peggy’s Apartment*

"Who am I?"

"Where am I?"

"What am I doing?"

Adam was trapped in a moment of existential crisis.

When his dazed eyes finally refocused, they locked onto a pair of long eyelashes, so close they were almost poking his eyes. Beneath those lashes were bright, mischievous eyes filled with an alluring smirk.

"Holy shit!"

Adam finally snapped back to reality—he was wall slammed...

"What are you staring at?"

"I'm staring at you. So what?"

"Try staring one more time!"

For a brief moment, Adam and Peggy seemed to enter the realm of telepathic communication, just like Lily and Matthew.

"Are you sure?"

"Quit pretending to be innocent. Sure about what? If you really didn’t want this, wouldn’t you be asking for my birthday to make sure I’m of age? Or just pushing me away outright?"

"June 25th. You’re of age."

"Heh! How do you remember so clearly?"

"We're friends."

"You remember all your friends' birthdays?"

"..."

What else was there to say?

Nothing.

No more talking.

Not even with their eyes.

---

*Downstairs*

Leonard stood below, gazing expectantly at the third floor, waiting for Adam to bring good news.

Half an hour passed.

"No rush, no rush," Leonard muttered to himself.

An hour passed.

"Adam did say he hadn’t seen Dr. Peggy Adler in seven years. Catching up, of course, takes time."

Leonard was very understanding.

Two hours passed.

As the crisp autumn wind blew, Leonard started to feel a chill.

"Dr. Peggy Adler needed Adam’s help with something. He’s probably busy. It's normal for it to take this long… He wouldn’t forget that I’m waiting for him, right?"

Three hours passed.

The sun was now at its peak.

Still no sign of Adam.

Leonard, haunted by memories of being forced to play the cello by his mother, Beverly, found his mind replaying classic melodies—all of them tragic and sorrowful.

"Adam must have really forgotten I’m down here waiting... Also, what the hell is he doing up there for so long?"

Leonard pictured Adam’s handsome face and Peggy’s stunning beauty. His heart grew heavier.

"No way, no way, no way..."

Even as doubt crept in, Leonard remained rooted in place. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to leave—it was that he couldn’t move. His whole body felt drained of energy.

By 2 PM, he had been waiting downstairs for five hours.

Still, no Adam.

Then, he spotted a short-haired girl carrying a large box, walking towards the apartment building.

"Excuse me, is this Dr. Peggy Adler’s apartment?"

The short-haired girl scanned the building and noticed Leonard standing downstairs with his glasses. She approached him with a bright smile.

"Yes," Leonard's eyes lit up. "Are you delivering food for Dr. Adler? I can take it up for you!"

"Heh, no need."

The girl shook her head with a smile. "I can handle it myself."

"Oh."

Leonard was a little disappointed as he watched her carry the large box into the building.

---

*Apartment 3A*

Ding dong.

The short-haired girl rang the doorbell.

"Lisa, you’re here."

A moment later, Adam opened the door halfway, leaning against the frame with a smile.

"Boss, here’s the food you ordered."

Lisa handed him the large box, her expression slightly odd.

"Thanks, Lisa."

Adam took the food box, which was so large that he had to open the door a bit wider.

"Boss, do you need anything else?"

For a split second, Lisa caught a glimpse of the scene inside—

A girl was sitting at the desk, draped in Adam’s jacket, furiously writing on a stack of papers. Her exposed side profile was so breathtaking that, even as a fellow woman, Lisa felt her heart skip a beat.

A beast!

This girl was clearly still a student, even rushing to finish homework for class tomorrow.

And Boss actually had the nerve…!

Could she be Dr. Peggy Adler’s younger sister? Or her daughter?

"No, that’s all. You can head back now."

Adam shook his head, gave her a quick dismissal, and shut the door.

Lisa, now overflowing with wild and unspeakable assumptions, went downstairs. Seeing Leonard still standing there, she filled in the blanks once more. Her gaze toward him turned sympathetic.

But she wasn’t about to lose her cushy, well-paying job by gossiping about her boss’s personal life.

Besides, with Adam’s looks, status, and wealth—even his age—what he was doing wasn’t all that shocking.

Maybe they were actually in love?

Perspective changes everything.

Lisa’s initial discomfort faded as her mind twisted the situation into a romanticized version.

She still felt sympathy for Leonard, but now, it had a slightly different flavor.

---

*Inside the Apartment*

"Peggy, eat something?"

Adam walked over with the food box, speaking gently.

Peggy remained focused, furiously writing, not reacting at all.

Mathematical formulas flowed effortlessly from her pen. The complex calculations didn’t even seem to require thought—she was like a human calculator.

"Peggy!"

Adam called her again.

"Don’t bother me!"

Peggy didn’t even look up, her delicate forehead furrowing slightly in concentration.

Adam immediately felt a pang in his chest. He hated seeing Peggy frown…

Who would have thought he’d ever be like this?

Adam chuckled bitterly, his mind flashing back to earlier events.

Peggy’s sudden, soul-piercing questions had left him speechless.

In truth, if he really didn’t want it, with his reflexes, there was no way Peggy could have caught him off guard.

He had just… gotten lost in her features.

Against someone as naturally alluring as Peggy, Adam had little resistance.

So he stopped pretending.

After all, she was an adult.

They were both grown-ups. If they felt a spark, acting on it was perfectly reasonable.

And so, Adam went all in.

That’s right—he was the Drift King of Mount Akina!

A few hours should’ve been enough to teach Peggy a lesson.

But then—something completely unexpected happened.

Two hours into the battle, Peggy suddenly shoved him away. Without even acknowledging his frustration, she stumbled to the desk, grabbed a pen, and immediately started scribbling calculations.

She ignored him entirely.

Adam, left speechless, simply got up, draped his coat over her, and went to take a cold shower.

And she had not stopped writing since.

"Did I… inspire her?"

As he called his assistant’s assistant, Lisa, to order some iron-rich food, his thoughts spiraled.

Muses inspire artists… Does that make me Adam, the Muse of Genius?

Adam found himself in an unfamiliar, complicated state of emotion.

He knew he shouldn’t be feeling this way—it went against his principles, and he was probably just overthinking things.

But still, he let the feeling linger.

Just for a moment.

Watching the scene before him, so picturesque and serene, Adam’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Chapter 337: Wait for My Call

*Peggy’s Apartment.*

Adam quietly admired the picturesque scene.

For a long while.

Then, suddenly, he felt like he had forgotten something.

He tried hard to recall, but for the moment, nothing came to mind.

"Forget it."

Shaking his head, Adam stopped thinking about it. He opened the lunchbox and started enjoying his meal while keeping an eye on Peggy.

He wanted to see if she could truly remain completely immersed in her scientific research despite the tempting aroma of food.

The result was reassuring.

Peggy didn’t react at all.

"Guess my cooking skills haven’t declined."

Adam compared himself to the delicious food and felt relieved.

"Peggy’s mom and boyfriend are traveling abroad?"

As he ate, he thought, Seeing how she’s completely engrossed in her research, it’s really concerning that no one’s taking care of her.

With that in mind, he scanned the apartment and quickly spotted several signs that screamed ‘Mom’s gone, and Peggy can’t take care of herself.’

He shook his head.

"This won’t do!"

Adam stroked his chin, thought for a moment, then called his assistant, Ida.

"Check if apartment 3B in this Princeton University building is for sale.

If it is, buy it immediately.

Higher price? No problem!

If it’s not for sale, find the nearest available unit in this building and buy it.

Make it quick—preferably before nightfall!

Also, aside from cooking, is Lisa good at housework?

She is? Great.

Find me a new chef. I have other plans for Lisa.

That’s all."

After hanging up on Ida, Adam immediately called Lisa, his assistant’s assistant.

"Lisa, do you want a promotion?"

The result was obvious—Lisa eagerly accepted the new role, getting promoted from an assistant’s assistant to a direct assistant reporting to Adam himself.

He chose Lisa because she was efficient, reliable, and capable.

Given Peggy’s current state, Adam wasn’t about to hire just any housekeeper for her.

Having Lisa live nearby to take care of her put his mind at ease.

"When Peggy is in her zone, don’t disturb her inspiration. But make sure she stays healthy. Striking the right balance won’t be easy…"

Adam rattled off everything he could think of, making sure Lisa understood.

"Don’t worry, boss."

Lisa, thrilled about her promotion and pay raise, was now fully committed. She even imagined Boss must truly love this girl… Maybe she’s the future Mrs. Boss!

She pounded her chest in determination. "I’ll take good care of her!"

Then, something didn’t seem right.

"Uh… Boss?"

"Hmm?"

"The girl I saw when I delivered the food earlier… Do you mean her, or do you mean Dr. Peggy Adler?"

Lisa hesitated before adding, "Or… both?"

"…"

Adam’s mouth twitched. "What do you mean both? The girl you saw is Peggy Adler! What the hell is going on in your head?"

"Nothing, nothing!"

Lisa laughed it off, but inside, she was thinking, How was I supposed to know? Rich people like you always have wild lifestyles! Is it so weird that I thought there were two of them?

But wait, that young girl is actually Dr. Peggy Adler? Are PhDs that easy to get nowadays? A young, beautiful female doctor… Boss’s taste is top-tier.

After ending the call, Adam stood up and walked around, considering how to improve Peggy’s living environment.

As he passed a mirror, he glanced at his reflection and froze.

His expression turned odd.

Was this still him?

What happened to ‘more than friends, less than lovers’?

"Damn my past life’s Eastern traditions of emotional attachment!"

Adam reflected for a long time and finally realized the reason behind his behavior.

Yes, Peggy was indeed more beautiful, intelligent, and alluring than Heather, Max, or Bianca. But that alone wasn’t enough to make him lose control like this.

The real reason lay elsewhere.

He had spent so much time in this American TV drama-like world that he had gradually been assimilated into its culture. He had grown accustomed to its norms.

But that didn’t mean the values he developed in his past life had disappeared.

They had simply buried themselves deeper, dormant until the right trigger brought them back to the surface.

Once he understood this, Adam chuckled at himself and sat back down on the sofa.

This is just how things are.

Peggy was special, but in this free-spirited world, with her personality, even if Adam wanted to take things seriously early on, she wouldn’t necessarily feel the same.

Her ruthless, trigger-happy attitude said it all.

This kind of relationship held no meaning for her.

The ultimate mysteries of the universe—that was what she truly cared about.

There was no point in overthinking. That would be foolish.

And Adam wasn’t foolish.

So, as he watched Peggy work, he took the time to adjust his mindset.

He was good at that.

The afternoon passed quickly.

*Nightfall.*

The city lights flickered on.

Ida had been efficient. She personally delivered the keys to apartment 3B across the hall, with Lisa by her side.

"Nicely done," Adam praised.

"It’s all thanks to your willingness to pay extra," Ida pointed out bluntly.

"Lisa, Peggy is in your hands now," Adam said with a smile before turning to her. "Call me if anything comes up."

"Got it, boss!" Lisa responded with enthusiasm.

"Peggy, this is Lisa. She’s living next door now. If you need anything, just ask her."

After leaving those instructions, Adam walked up to Peggy and softly said, "I have to get up early for work tomorrow. I’m heading out."

Peggy remained silent, lost in thought.

Seeing this, Adam shook his head, gestured for Lisa to stay, and left with Ida.

Just as he was closing the door, Peggy’s voice called out from behind him.

"Wait for my call."

Adam turned around, surprised to see that Peggy hadn’t moved an inch. For a second, he thought he imagined it.

But Lisa’s exaggerated thumbs-up and smug expression confirmed it—Peggy had actually spoken.

Adam couldn’t help but smile.

*Inside the elevator.*

"Boss, Lisa said there’s a guy downstairs who’s been waiting for Peggy. Seems like he’s really interested in her…"

Ida mentioned casually before Adam suddenly interrupted.

"Shit! Leonard!"

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Adam rushed out.

Sure enough, in the same spot, stood a lonely figure.

"Leonard, I’m sorry—I forgot."

Adam hurried over, apologizing profusely.

So that’s what I was forgetting.

"Adam, what took you so long?"

Leonard complained, "How could you forget? What were you even doing up there?"

"Uh…"

Adam wasn’t sure how to explain.

But as a friend, he didn’t want to give Leonard the wrong impression.

So, he patted Leonard’s shoulder and said seriously, "Didn’t you say Dr. Elizabeth Princton from the physics department is also really pretty? How about I introduce you two?"

Leonard: "…"

Chapter 338: Adam’s Small Goal

*"You and her?"*

Leonard’s expression was a mix of conflict and relief.

After such a long wait, especially as night fell, the crisp autumn breeze had turned into a full-fledged chill.

With his impressive 173 IQ, could Leonard really not guess what Adam had been doing upstairs?

He wasn’t Sheldon, after all.

When it came to things like this, he was particularly sensitive.

His nerdy brain, naturally inclined to fill in the blanks with colorful imagination, combined with his genius-level intellect, had conjured up all sorts of possibilities—both reasonable and absurd—during the ten-hour wait.

Now, with Adam’s subtle but unmistakable hint, an image of Adam and Peggy's "wedding photo" instantly popped into Leonard's mind.

One was his goddess.

The other was his best friend.

To his frustration, he had to admit—they actually made a perfect couple.

And now Adam was trying to use another woman to shake his admiration for his goddess, Peggy?

Even if that woman was only slightly less dazzling than Peggy—someone like Dr. Elizabeth Plimpton!

But was he the kind of man to be so easily swayed?

*"You said it yourself!"*

Leonard's conflicted and unhappy expression vanished in an instant, replaced by a grin that practically reached his ears.

That’s right!

He was that kind of man!

He was a top student at Princeton’s physics department, not some naïve kid. Both Dr. Peggy Adler and Dr. Elizabeth Plimpton were women he deeply admired.

And both were utterly out of his league.

There were plenty of goddesses like them.

Natalie Portman! (Queen Amidala from Star Wars!)

Sarah Michelle Gellar! (Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer!)

And countless other beautiful female characters from movies and TV shows.

That’s right!

He, Leonard Leakey Hofstadter, was a man of broad affections!

*"Yes, I said it."*

Adam wasn’t surprised at all.

Because this was so Leonard.

*"Are we going right now?"*

Leonard’s eyes lit up again.

This was Dr. Elizabeth Plimpton we were talking about.

A scientific beauty second only to Dr. Peggy Adler.

He didn’t feel the least bit unworthy.

As Adam’s good friend, he knew he couldn’t compare to Adam.

So if Adam was destined to be with Peggy Adler…

Then wasn’t he being with Elizabeth Plimpton simply divine will?

Praise be to God!

Praise be to Adam!

For a brief moment, Leonard naively believed that God had erased everyone else from the world, leaving only the four of them on Earth.

Thankfully, Adam had no idea what was going through Leonard’s mind.

Otherwise, he’d probably just give another polite, apologetic smile…

*"Tonight’s too soon. Next time."*

Adam put an arm around Leonard. *"First, I need to contact her. Second, you should at least dress properly. You can’t meet her looking like this, can you?"*

Leonard glanced down at himself.

He had only been hanging around outside Peggy’s apartment, hoping to "accidentally" run into her. So, he hadn’t dressed up at all.

But now that he had the chance to meet his second goddess, he suddenly felt self-conscious about his outfit.

*"Yeah…"*

*"Come on, you must be hungry. Let’s go have a feast and plan out the details of your meeting with Dr. Plimpton."*

Adam grinned.

*"Yes, yes, yes!"*

Leonard had already forgotten all his previous frustration. He nodded repeatedly, grinning from ear to ear.

If a ten-hour wait could get him this kind of help from Adam, what was ten days?

That’s right!

For love, he had infinite patience!

Otherwise, how else would he eventually win over Penny?

Howard and the others summed up Leonard’s success in one word: Persistence!

It was his natural talent!

Adam took Leonard to a nearby upscale restaurant for a lavish meal.

Over dinner, Leonard excitedly and passionately recounted all sorts of legendary stories about Dr. Elizabeth Plimpton.

Hearing the level of detail, who could believe he hadn’t thought about her before?

But that was fine.

Adam liked friends who were easily satisfied and didn’t cause unnecessary drama.

---

After dinner, Adam drove Leonard back to his Princeton apartment before heading back to New York.

*"What on earth were you doing today? You’re way too fired up!"*

Bianca looked at Adam, a little wary of his enthusiasm.

*"Helping out a friend,"* Adam replied casually, multitasking as he spoke.

Bianca was too exhausted to continue the conversation. Just before she passed out, one final thought crossed her mind:

"I have to move out tomorrow. I can’t live like this anymore."

Adam, feeling refreshed, got up and went to his study.

As his assets continued to grow rapidly, he had taken the time to renovate his study into a real library.

The room spanned over 1,000 square feet, with bookshelves lining the walls, filled with books—most of them massive medical textbooks.

These books alone were worth a fortune.

Tonight, however, Adam didn’t immediately grab a medical book to "scan" as he usually did. Instead, he wandered through the study for a bit before picking up an advanced mathematics book and flipping through it.

In the past, he had been solely focused on earning his medical doctorate—becoming a great physician, saving lives, and pursuing longevity.

Now, with his grand goal progressing steadily, and with more and more surgeries under his belt, the urgency of increasing his lifespan had diminished.

And after everything that happened today, he suddenly had the urge to set a smaller goal.

With his IQ now at a staggering 177—and still rising—he was already qualified to aim for the peak of the scientific hierarchy: Mathematics!

Being a "genius of inspiration" was nothing special to Adam.

If he was going to do it, he’d do it right.

He’d be the one true genius!

The *only* one!

Why did Sheldon matter so much to Peggy?

Because their IQs were on par, and their shared mathematical talents gave them a deep intellectual connection.

But Sheldon, having chosen theoretical physics, and with an IQ slightly lower than Peggy’s (Sheldon at 187, Peggy estimated at over 190), was destined to never surpass her in mathematics.

Adam, however, was different.

His IQ would continue to rise. Surpassing both Sheldon and Peggy was inevitable.

Plus, with his near-infinite stamina—steadily evolving beyond human limits—he could achieve groundbreaking work in mathematics even as a hobby.

At the very least, he could finally hold intellectual conversations with Peggy.

Moreover, mathematics was the foundation of all sciences.

If he could enhance his mathematical computation abilities to a level close to, or even beyond, Peggy’s, it would directly benefit his medical career.

The high-resolution photographic memory and boundless imagination he had subtly acquired from Sheldon, combined with his vast medical knowledge, had already allowed him to construct a *3D dynamic model of human physiology* inside his mind.

Even in its early stages, this model had already caused many to mistake him—an intern—for a seasoned attending physician in disguise.

If he could add *Peggy-level mathematical skills* on top of that, it would be like upgrading his CPU.

His *3D dynamic medical model* would undergo an incredible evolution.

At that point, Adam’s diagnostic skills would skyrocket.

His path to becoming a legendary physician would be smooth as silk.

Eternal life?

Not just a dream.