"Well," the dean said awkwardly, "you seem to understand Sheldon pretty well?"
"We've crossed paths twice before,"
Chuck said noncommittally.
"You clearly have some insight into Sheldon."
The dean wasn't so easily brushed off, and continued, "Could you please share any strategies you have for managing Sheldon's behavior? Of course, you can't do things like make bird sounds and reduce him to tears—I don't want angry parent calls."
"Sure,"
Chuck nodded.
"What would that be?"
The dean was thrilled.
There were pros and cons to recruiting such a young prodigy, and while the benefits hadn't materialized yet, the headaches were already piling up.
She was constantly being asked to resolve these kinds of situations, even ones she couldn't handle. Who could stand it if this kept happening?
Seeing how well Chuck seemed to understand Sheldon, able to easily push his buttons whenever he wanted, he must know him very well. She figured if she could pick up a tip or two, she could easily manage this "prize exhibit" without it being a burden while also making her job much easier. That would be the perfect solution.
She'd only asked on a whim, not really expecting much.
Who would have thought it would actually work?
"Simple—be his mother!"
Chuck said, and walked out.
"...Being his mother would drive me to drink."
The dean had also met Mary Cooper, Sheldon's mother, and knew Mary's approach worked with Sheldon. But when it came to copying Mary's methods and trying to earn Sheldon's "maternal" approval, she simply threw in the towel.
Only a masochist would want to do that!
Chuck followed Professor Alicia Harper toward the lecture hall.
"Dr. Wolfe."
"Professor Harper."
Seeing Professor Alicia Harper pause outside the academic building, waiting for him, he nodded in acknowledgment.
"What's the story between you and Mr. Cooper?"
Professor Alicia Harper couldn't help but ask. "It feels like you two have some kind of rivalry going?"
"He's not targeting me specifically, he targets everyone,"
Chuck paused, explaining, "I was just responding naturally."
"..."
Professor Alicia Harper thought about it, and realized Sheldon's arrogant personality was indeed like that. She was left speechless.
The two entered the classroom one after the other.
Professor Alicia Harper gave a brief explanation, and when Chuck returned to his seat, class resumed.
After class,
many students gathered around the podium, some asking questions about the coursework, and others just fishing for gossip.
Chuck glanced at her and left.
Hmm!
Admiration, just pure admiration.
After leaving the academic building and walking on the campus quad, unlike other students who were hurrying to other buildings for their next classes, Chuck prepared to leave campus entirely.
Chuck only had to take physics courses, and the rest of the general education requirements like philosophy, mathematics, and literature had all been completed when he went to college and earned his doctoral degree, so he didn't need to repeat them.
Not long into his walk, he heard quick footsteps behind him, approaching rapidly.
Chuck stopped and turned around, only to see two blonde girls suddenly halt. One nudged the other, and the sweet-looking blonde waved at Chuck, who was looking their way. "Hi, I'm Cheryl, and this is my best friend Justine. We just met in class."
"Chuck Wolfe,"
Chuck nodded at them.
Of course he remembered them.
"Aren't you going to your next class?"
Cheryl asked.
"I only have to take my major courses,"
Chuck explained.
"Can I get your number?"
Cheryl gathered her courage as Justine's expression reminded her that class was about to start.
"Here's my card."
Chuck glanced at her, pulled one from his wallet, and handed it to her.
"Okay, gotta run!"
As soon as Cheryl took the card, Justine immediately pulled her toward the academic building.
Time was running short!
She wasn't someone who just wanted to coast by—she was an honor student on a full scholarship, so she couldn't afford to be late.
Not to mention now that she had classmates like Chuck and little Sheldon, the academic pressure had suddenly increased exponentially, and she couldn't tolerate any slip-ups.
If her roommate and friend Cheryl hadn't insisted she come along, she wouldn't have bothered at all.
Evening.
At the Hofstadter house.
Little Leonard, returning home from junior high, saw the sullen look on Sheldon's face, and a smile tugged at his lips. After his mother Beverly left the room, he sidled over and asked, "Sheldon, having a rough day?"
Yes.
He tried hard to keep his lips from curving upward, but his subtext remained unspoken: "If you're miserable, tell me all about it so I can enjoy it!"
"Hold on."
Little Sheldon was just about to find someone to vent about Chuck's bullying when the phone rang. He gestured for little Leonard to wait and picked up the receiver.
"..."
Little Leonard's expression immediately soured.
This was his house, and he, as the host, should be the one answering the phone, not some visiting kid!
How incredibly rude!
"Paige."
Little Sheldon, naturally oblivious to Leonard's thoughts, took the phone, heard who was calling, and exclaimed, "How was my day? It was absolutely awful!"
With that, little Sheldon launched into his complaints about Chuck.
"Chuck?"
Leonard's eyes lit up at the name, and as he listened to little Sheldon's grievances about Chuck, his grin stretched from ear to ear.
Chuck was definitely his hero, always bringing him such entertainment!
If only he could be like Chuck.
On the other end of the line.
In a Columbia University dorm room in New York City, a brilliant young woman holding the phone also began repeating Chuck's name: "Dr. Chuck Wolfe?"
"Who?"
the woman who was obsessively cleaning nearby heard and called out.
"Monica, do you know Dr. Chuck Wolfe?"
The brilliant young woman, Paige, looked questioningly at her guardian, who had suddenly lost her composure.
"You can call me Monica or even 'Bad Girl Monica,' but why do you always call me 'Mon'?"
Monica grumbled in annoyance.
"I despise redundancy; it's inefficient,"
Paige said dismissively. "Mon, do you know Dr. Chuck Wolfe?"
"...I know a Dr. Chuck Wolfe. I wonder if it's the same person you're talking about."
Monica, unwilling to argue with the girl about nicknames, was startled to hear Chuck's name mentioned again.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
Peggy's eyes glinted with interest.
"No, no,"
Monica waved her hand defensively, remembering her first encounter with Chuck.
Paige turned her attention back to her phone conversation with little Sheldon. As she listened to Sheldon's account of Chuck's behavior, she observed Monica, who had been eavesdropping so intently she was practically pressing her ear to the phone, and raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"It's definitely the Chuck I know,"
Monica said excitedly.
The name might be common, but this kind of distinctive personality was definitely the Chuck she knew!
It seemed like fate was bringing her and Chuck together, and the thought filled her with excitement.
(End of chapter)
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