321-323

*Chapter 321: Rage from the Heart*

“What’s going on?”

Adam couldn’t help but ask.

“You don’t know?”

Meredith looked at Adam with an unusual expression in her ‘affectionate’ eyes.

“You really don’t know?”

Liz was laughing the hardest.

“What happened?”

Adam frowned.

He genuinely had no idea.

And that made him very annoyed.

“January 30th—every night, a groom.”

Liz gloated. “Now, everyone knows that our hospital has a ‘Mr. January 30th.’”

“Barney Stinson!”

As soon as Adam heard this, he immediately understood what had happened. He gritted his teeth and said each word slowly.

This had to be the work of Barney Stinson, who was currently hospitalized.

Then, the scene from that morning replayed in Adam’s mind.

*Men’s restroom.*

Adam was using the urinal.

The chubby Stu and the bald Chris walked in side by side, taking positions on either side of Adam.

Their gazes simultaneously shifted toward him.

One of them had a lewd grin, while the other had a look of disbelief and self-doubt.

Adam was used to being compared to others. He simply finished his business and left.

A real man never looks at others. Besides, if anyone was going to feel insecure, it wouldn’t be him.

But thinking back now, Stu and Chris probably had heard some gossip and had come to verify it.

Then, more rumors must have spread from them, escalating the situation even further.

“Bianca is so lucky,” Christina sighed.

“Yeah,” Meredith agreed, her uniquely alluring voice making people feel tingly.

“Winning in love, losing at work,” Liz mocked. “Haven’t you noticed that the nurses are hostile toward Bianca? Now that they know Adam is handsome, rich, and unbelievably strong, their jealousy is practically uncontrollable. This morning, I even saw them purposely giving her a hard time.”

Adam’s mouth twitched.

Offending nurses—or being targeted by them—was definitely bad news for an intern doctor.

After all, the saying “Doctors diagnose, nurses treat” wasn’t baseless.

Without nurses, a doctor’s workload would be a living nightmare.

Can you imagine a doctor diagnosing a patient, only for that patient to vomit or lose control of their bladder and bowels, and then the doctor having to clean it up?

Unscheduled patients were all called in through the nurses’ station.

If a nurse disliked you, they could keep calling you for the most difficult and disgusting tasks.

Would you go or not?

Complain?

Nurses had signed contracts and union protection. The boss wouldn’t get involved in disputes between doctors and nurses. You had to solve your own problems.

And if you caused trouble, the nurses would unite against you, making your life hell—with nowhere to complain.

Thinking about how Bianca might be facing hostility and even being deliberately tormented because of him, Adam couldn’t sit still. He got up and left.

This situation needed to be handled carefully, or it would become a big problem.

As he reached the corner, he spotted a group of nurses chatting. Adam immediately began eavesdropping.

*“Is it true? Dr. Duncan is handsome and rich, but he seems so refined. Is he really that powerful?”*

*“Of course it’s true! Dr. Fowler and Dr. Turk confirmed it.”*

*“Some people are just naturally gifted.”*

*“Even Dr. Turk, who’s Black, said so. ‘Naturally gifted’ isn’t even enough to describe Dr. Duncan.”*

*“That’s right. Not just anyone can be ‘Mr. January 30th—every night, a groom!’”*

*“Looks like Dr. Duncan is quite the player too.”*

*“A man who doesn’t enjoy life in his youth is wasting it.”*

*“Olivia seems to like Dr. Duncan. She’s gorgeous—maybe she has a chance.”*

*“Not necessarily. It depends on chemistry. For all we know, Dr. Duncan might prefer someone like me.”*

“…”

The gossiping crowd fell silent, staring speechlessly at a plump Black nurse who confidently swayed her overly curvy hips.

At the corner, Adam’s mouth twitched even more.

He knew this nurse wasn’t joking—she genuinely believed it.

And this wasn’t just empty talk.

Just yesterday, Adam had treated a curvaceous Brazilian woman with a swollen belly.

After examination, he found that she wasn’t pregnant but had a tumor. Thankfully, it was benign.

Then something surprising happened.

The Brazilian woman refused Adam’s suggestion to have surgery.

Her reason?

Her husband loved her body the way it was—curvy and voluptuous.

Since the tumor was benign and not life-threatening, she didn’t want a scar on her stomach ruining her bikini look.

When Adam tried to persuade her to reconsider, she got mad. She even accused him of discrimination, saying:

*“I’m not fat. This is real feminine beauty! You guys who only like those twisted, skeletal women don’t understand true curves!”*

Blah, blah, blah.

Adam could tell this wasn’t just an angry retort—it was what she truly believed.

Then, today, her husband came in and confirmed it.

According to him, when she was pregnant, her maternal glow was absolutely stunning.

So, he truly loved his wife’s plump figure.

Of course, for the sake of her health, he still wanted her to have surgery, even if it meant sacrificing the body he adored.

And then reality took an even more ridiculous turn.

As the husband showed pictures of their happy family, trying to convince the doctors, Adam immediately noticed something wrong.

Based on genetics, two out of their three children clearly weren’t his.

The reason the Brazilian woman was so confident?

Aside from her husband loving her curves, she also had a secret lover who adored them too.

She didn’t want surgery—not because of her husband, but because her lover probably wouldn’t like the scar on her stomach.

Adam subtly pointed out the genetic issue, and the woman, realizing she had been caught, confessed everything.

After Adam assured her he wouldn’t reveal her secret, she finally agreed to the surgery—at the cost of giving up her lover.

And this wasn’t even an isolated case.

In the future, there would be an entire family who would gain fame across America because of something similar.

That’s why, when Adam heard the confident declaration of that plump Black nurse, he was utterly speechless.

“Damn it!”

He cursed under his breath and took a detour.

*VIP Ward.*

“...Yes, yes! Listen, you guys, Adam and I are best friends, partners, comrades-in-arms! We’ve been through countless legendary nights together…”

Before even stepping inside, Adam could already hear Barney’s unmistakable voice spewing shameless nonsense.

Thinking about how Barney was the root of all this trouble—even causing a chubby Black nurse to openly drool over him—rage surged through Adam.

He roared:

*“Barney Stinson!!!”*

Chapter 322: Dare to Take on Ten?  

VIP Hospital Room  

“Adam, you’re here! Come on, tell them about our legendary bet.”  

As soon as Barney saw Adam, he waved excitedly, acting as if they were best friends.  

“Dr. Duncan.”  

The young nurse, Olivia, blushed slightly.  

Several other nurses also looked at Adam with curious and admiring eyes.  

Adam nodded, his gaze sweeping over them and then landing on Barney, who was winking at him repeatedly.  

“Can I have a moment alone with Mr. Stinson?”  

“Of course.”  

“I have things to do, so I’ll be going.”  

The nurses quickly took the hint and left.  

“Adam, you’re something else!”  

Barney was lying on the hospital bed, his left leg in a cast. He grinned at Adam and held up his hand.  

“Come on, give me a high five!”  

“What, even with a broken leg, you’re still hitting on women?”  

Adam smirked. “Are you trying to show off your tricks here at the hospital again?”  

“Nothing can stop my passion for flirting.”  

Barney straightened his tie.  

That’s right!  

He wasn’t wearing a hospital gown—he was dressed in a suit!  

When you have money, you can do whatever you want.  

And Barney’s motto was: Suit up!  

So, he was always in a suit.  

“And you’re using me as a topic of conversation?”  

Adam’s expression turned dangerously sharp.  

Barney shivered inside, his smile turning awkward.  

For some reason, he suddenly remembered the soul-crushing moment when he lost their previous bet. After abstaining for a month, he had tried to make a comeback in front of a familiar college girl—only to be hit with the devastating words: ‘That’s it?’  

“Adam, it’s just that your charm is too much! They’re all interested in you—”  

“And you’re using me as a topic of conversation?”  

Adam repeated himself, his face completely unreadable.  

“…”  

Barney started to panic. A bad feeling crept into his heart.  

“Do you want to win back the crown?”  

Adam suddenly chuckled after staring at him coldly for a while.  

“Of course!”  

Barney’s eyes lit up. “Are you proposing a new challenge?”  

Even though he suspected that Adam’s challenge was meant to punish him, he still couldn’t resist the excitement and thrill of it.  

Life should be colorful and full of challenges—what’s the point of just existing?  

“Smart.”  

Adam smirked. “Do you dare accept?”  

“Bring it on!”  

Barney didn’t hesitate for a second.  

He had never backed down from a challenge!  

“You need two months to recover from your leg injury. During this time, if you can hook up with ten medical staff members—home run required, gender doesn’t matter—I’ll return the crown to you and acknowledge you as the best.”  

Adam’s tone was full of amusement. “Of course, you cannot use me as a pretext or mention me in any way. If you fail, you have to remain completely abstinent for six months—*no exceptions, not even by yourself.*”  

“That’s brutal!”  

Barney’s eyes widened.  

That one month of abstinence had nearly driven him insane.  

Halfway through, when he realized victory was impossible, he had at least relieved himself to make it to the end. That was the only reason he survived—but at the cost of becoming The Flash in the process.  

Now, it was six months—and no self-help allowed.  

If he lost, it would be pure hell.  

“Do you dare?”  

Adam smirked.  

How else could he vent his frustration after Barney stirred up trouble using his name?  

“Challenge accepted!”  

Barney tightened his tie, his eyes burning with determination. “This time, you’re going down!”  

Two months. Ten home runs.  

That meant one every six days.  

For someone who used to change partners every night, it didn’t seem too hard.  

Sure, his broken leg made it trickier, but in a way, it also worked in his favor.  

Women who would normally reject him outright might hesitate when they saw him injured.  

And as long as they hesitated—that’s when he worked his magic.  

With enough attempts, at least a few would give in.  

A hospital this big? Ten was definitely doable!  

So, he was sure he would win!  

“Heh.”  

Adam chuckled. “I’ll be watching.”  

Like the old saying goes: You think you're winning, but I’m the one who never loses.  

If Barney lost, six months of abstinence would be pure torture for him—more than enough to make up for Adam’s irritation.  

And if Barney won?  

All Adam would lose was a meaningless crown Barney had previously lost to him—plus a simple ‘You’re the best’ acknowledgment.  

But what did Barney gain?  

Not just victory. He also dramatically increased his risk of catching something nasty.  

Adam had always been wary of hooking up with hospital colleagues, thanks to how medical professionals were depicted in TV dramas.  

The hotter they were, the bigger the risk.  

No exceptions.  

If Barney managed to score ten times, his risk factor would skyrocket.  

Adam knew there was no way Barney would go for unattractive targets.  

Of course, even if Barney did get desperate and resort to a “lights-off, eyes-closed, just-get-it-over-with” strategy, Adam wouldn’t care.  

Either way, Barney would suffer, and Adam would be entertained.  

That was Adam’s hidden lesson.  

Sure, this was a TV-show-like world where main characters wouldn’t get anything incurable, but treatable diseases were still disgusting.  

And once you got one, even if you were cured, it was still humiliating.  

For someone like Barney, who prided himself on being a ladies’ man, this would be a brutal wake-up call.  

It might even change his entire approach to life.  

If that happened, Adam would have done a good deed—maybe even earned himself a few extra karma points.  

Hmm… this was going to be fun. Definitely worth trying.  

No matter the outcome, Adam was 95% sure he would come out on top.  

Want to casually mess with people’s lives? Go find Ted.  

Want to experience harsh, unforgettable punishments? Come find Adam.  

Beep. Beep.  

Adam’s pager buzzed at his waist.  

“Remember the bet.”  

He pointed at Barney before leaving the VIP room in high spirits.  

Emergency Room 

“Dr. Lewis is looking for you,” a nurse reminded him.  

A curly-haired woman saw Adam and immediately perked up, pointing at him.  

“I want him to treat me!”  

“Dr. Duncan is busy,” the nurse replied. “It’s just a minor burn. We already called Dr. Carter—he’ll be here soon.”  

“No way!”  

The curly-haired woman shook her head. “I want Dr. Duncan. I’m the patient, and I have the right to choose my doctor.”  

“What’s going on?”  

Susan walked over after hearing the commotion.  

The nurse explained the situation.  

“Adam, since the patient specifically requested you, why don’t you take a look?”  

Susan chuckled.  

“Alright.”  

Adam had no objections.  

Examination Room 

“How did you burn yourself?”  

Adam asked while checking the injury.  

“I poured hot water into the sink, and it splashed back.”  

The woman stretched out her long legs and smiled lazily.  

“It’s not serious. A first-degree burn. No blisters, no scars.”  

As he applied burn cream, Adam explained.  

“Why is there a nurse here?”  

The woman glanced at the silent nurse standing nearby and smirked. “She’s not doing anything. She doesn’t need to be here.”  

“Hospital policy,” the nurse replied expressionlessly.  

The woman: “…” 

Chapter 323: A Friend to Women  

Emergency Room. 

Private Hospital Room.  

The sharp-tongued remark from the nurse made the curly-haired beauty a little displeased. However, when she saw Adam’s face and felt his gentle touch as he carefully applied burn ointment, her irritation melted away.  

“You have such a delicate touch; it feels nice,” she said seductively.  

The nurse rolled her eyes in response.  

Adam’s mouth twitched slightly. He chose to ignore the flirtation and instead focused on his task. “This ointment will help you feel much better.”  

Private hospital rooms were meant to protect patients’ privacy, but in this situation, they felt more like a liability to Adam.  

Dealing with the flirtations of the curly-haired beauty was a headache.  

Hospital policy strictly prohibited intimate interactions with patients.  

Besides, Adam wasn’t that kind of person.  

On the other hand, if he outright rejected her advances, she might become angry and falsely accuse him of harassment. In a closed-off space like this, it would be difficult to defend himself.  

Fortunately, the experienced nurse had followed him in, ensuring he wasn’t left alone with the patient.  

This made Adam more cautious: Men need to protect themselves when out in the world, too.  

With the nurse present, he wasn’t worried about false accusations. Still, he continued pretending not to hear the woman’s flirtations, hoping to avoid provoking her further.  

However, he underestimated both his own charm and the woman’s persistence.  

“Your fingers are so long,” she said, refusing to give up. Then she added with a sly smile, “You know, there’s a scientific study that examines the correlation between finger length and certain other body parts. Dr. Duncan, have you heard of it?”  

Adam remained silent and quickened his pace in bandaging her wound.  

Of course, it had to be that kind of "scientific study."  

Even someone as unmotivated as Lü Xiaobu knew how to make money by participating in those so-called scientific experiments. It was hardly surprising that a flirtatious woman like this knew about them too.  

“Not only are your fingers long, but they’re also incredibly strong,” she continued, her voice sultry. “If I had known there was a doctor as… skilled as you here, I would have worn cleaner underwear before coming in.”  

Adam focused on bandaging the wound, ignoring her completely.  

“I know you can see it,” she teased, tilting her head as she tried to catch his gaze. “And you can feel it too.”  

Cough, cough.  

The nurse, unable to tolerate it any longer, cleared her throat loudly. “This is a hospital. Please keep the conversation professional.”  

Adam finished his work and stood up. “Keep these bandages dry for at least a day. No showers or baths—only sponge baths. You should heal in a few days.”  

As he turned to leave, the curly-haired beauty laughed. “Are you afraid of me?”  

Adam smiled without answering and walked away.  

“Giggle.”  

She chuckled smugly.  

“He’s not afraid of you,” the nurse suddenly said. “He’s just not interested in you. Dr. Duncan is a rising star in the medical field. To him, there are only two kinds of people: patients and non-patients. You’re just a patient—nothing more.”  

The woman smirked. “Then why did you stand here the entire time, doing nothing?”  

“Because we were worried you might try something inappropriate and ruin Dr. Duncan’s future,” the nurse replied coldly. “Were we wrong to be concerned?”  

The woman let out a soft laugh, draped her shawl over her shoulders, and strutted away.  

The nurse’s concerns were absolutely valid.  

Had she not been there, the curly-haired beauty might have tried to grab Adam’s hand while he was applying ointment, use her long legs to tease him, or even lean in for a kiss.  

Who knew what she would have done?  

“Vixen,” the nurse muttered under her breath as she watched the woman leave.  

Back at the nurse’s station, she recounted the incident, sparking outrage among her colleagues. They quickly made a decision: From now on, Adam must always have someone with him in situations like this.  

To hell with patient privacy!  

Meanwhile, Adam went off to find Susan.  

“Dr. Lewis.”  

“Adam, done already?” Susan asked with a teasing smile.  

“Yeah, all done,” Adam replied with a wry smile.  

“I swear, if you worked in obstetrics, you’d be every pregnant woman’s best friend,” Susan joked. “I bet most of them would rather have you in the delivery room than their husbands. Just one look at your face during labor, and they’d feel energized no matter how exhausted or in pain they were.”  

Adam chuckled. “Well, if I ever hit rock bottom, I’ll take your advice and become a full-time midwife.”  

Susan burst into laughter.  

“By the way, I heard you were looking for me?” Adam asked.  

“Oh, it’s nothing major,” Susan said, calming down. “I know you’re passionate about medical research. We have a patient who needs an exploratory procedure, and I thought you’d be interested in observing.”  

“Of course,” Adam said, nodding gratefully. “Thanks, Dr. Lewis.”  

Technically, Adam belonged to the surgical department at Green Clinic and was under the supervision of resident doctor Sherry. His occasional work in the emergency department was mostly to gain experience.  

Normally, emergency department cases requiring surgery would be assigned to ER interns first.  

Susan was definitely giving Adam special consideration.  

“No need to thank me.” Susan handed him an X-ray film. “This is the patient’s scan. Take a look and give me your diagnosis.”  

Adam held the X-ray up to the light, quickly processing the relevant information. “There’s a high-density shadow in the middle lobe of the right lung. It could be an infiltrative lesion, a dense scar from a past infection, an inhaled foreign object, or possibly a granuloma.”  

“What’s your recommended course of action?” Susan asked in a mentor-like manner.  

Even though Adam had earned his medical degree, as an intern, he was still considered a trainee. It was common for residents and attending physicians to quiz interns on cases.  

Generally, only those who answered correctly would be allowed to assist in surgery.  

After all, if you couldn’t even understand the case, how could you operate?  

“I’d start with a bronchoscopy,” Adam responded. “If we can’t determine the cause that way, then we proceed with an exploratory surgery.”  

A bronchoscopy was a non-invasive procedure, whereas surgery was invasive.  

Whenever possible, non-invasive methods were preferred.  

No matter how effective surgery was, cutting into the body always caused damage.  

That’s why professions with strict physical requirements, like pilots, had to ensure their bodies remained unscarred—even the smallest surgery could impact performance.  

In traditional Eastern medicine, such procedures were believed to deplete a person’s vital energy.  

“Good. Come with me,” Susan said, satisfied with his answer.  

Adam’s strong diagnostic skills were one of the reasons she gave him extra opportunities.  

After all, the responsibility for an intern’s diagnosis fell on the supervising resident.  

If you gave someone an opportunity, you had to take responsibility for them.  

That was only fair.  

(End of Chapter.)