Chapter 333: Little Sheldon's Meemaw
"Chuck..."
Dr. Wilson smiled bitterly.
He couldn't tell if Chuck was genuinely convinced the police's potential retaliation was normal or just being petty.
Even if he knew the exact answer, he dared not speak.
"Don't worry,"
Hailey said with a smile, "It's not him who's suffering, it's you, Dr. Wilson."
"Why?"
Professor Alicia Harper asked curiously.
Hailey smiled, "Dr. House has self-destructive tendencies and isn't afraid at all. So if this policeman is truly the kind of person I sense who believes in an eye for an eye, he won't be satisfied with just causing Dr. House pain.
He'll definitely teach him a lesson, forcing him to genuinely submit and admit his mistakes.
And given Dr. House's pride, he'd rather die than admit defeat.
In the end, the only thing that can make Dr. House beg for mercy is harming those around him.
And who else could he have besides Dr. Wilson?"
"..."
Dr. Wilson's lips twitched, speechless.
Well!
The one who should really be worried isn't his best friend, but himself!
However, he quickly recovered from this realization and immediately used his judgment: "Chuck, what do you think?"
"Don't worry,"
Chuck said honestly, "When he really affects you, I'll have that policeman control the scope of the retaliation. Making House beg in agony won't just involve hurting you."
"Yeah, if all else fails, he can consult Chuck,"
Hailey teased. "I guarantee it'll only be Dr. House who suffers, learns a lesson, and doesn't affect innocent Dr. Wilson, so the cop won't be seen as the most hated villain when he's clearly on the side of justice."
"Nobody called him a villain,"
Dr. Wilson smiled wryly. "House can be really excessive sometimes."
As Dr. House's best friend, he often felt Dr. House went too far, but because of their friendship, he saw things through a lens of sympathy and didn't find it unbearable.
But now, after Hailey's analysis and summary, looking at the matter from an outsider's perspective, he realized that Dr. House had indeed gone far too far.
"Remember, don't prescribe medication for House! And definitely don't give false testimony for House!"
Chuck warned.
"You mean that cop will take House to court?"
Dr. Wilson asked, startled.
"After hearing the whole story, didn't you notice that the cop's attitude really changed when he saw House taking drugs in front of him?"
Chuck said. "Do you think that as a cop, he couldn't tell whether House was taking drugs because of the pain in his leg or because he was an addict?"
"I can tell,"
Dr. Wilson said with a wry smile.
His good buddy, Dr. House, had long been eating Vicodin like candy, taking a few every now and then, always in bunches.
Even in an environment where doctors across the country prescribe excessive amounts of painkillers, causing many patients to unknowingly become addicted, this behavior of taking several at a time is still glaringly obvious.
Let alone in front of a cop.
"Do you know the police's attitude towards drug addicts?"
Chuck said expressionlessly, "Some of them educate their children to stay away from drugs by taking them to see hardcore drug addicts.
They show them how they look like zombies, their faces contorted, their teeth rotten, neither human nor ghost, instilling in their children a genuine fear and aversion to drugs.
It's a pity that given the current environment, such people are still too few.
Otherwise, if this kind of education were universally implemented, the United States wouldn't be the world's largest consumer of drugs, with an annual growth rate comparable to the national debt."
"..."
Dr. Wilson was dumbfounded.
This was the first time he'd heard of this.
As a doctor, he was expected, and he himself expected, to treat everyone equally, including drug addicts.
Even more so, to show them compassion.
At least, that's how it seemed.
And now he knew there was such a way of treating them.
He might not agree, but he had to admit it might be an effective method.
Sigh.
Now he seemed to understand that police officer patient even more.
As a police officer, facing a doctor who is negligent and sharp-tongued, and who even takes drugs while being treated in front of him, it's truly remarkable that he was able to control his emotions and politely and clearly express his demands.
"The police have so many methods for dealing with drug addicts,"
Hailey said. "The simplest is to cut off his drug supply, so he can't get it. Then, without doing anything, he'll be in extreme discomfort.
It's just a pity that your only good friend is a doctor who can prescribe drugs. Your soft heart is your biggest weakness; he can easily exploit you, putting you in danger.
If that policeman really investigates and asks you to testify, you'll most likely commit perjury for the sake of friendship. In that case, Dr. House will be harming both of you.
You'll both suffer greatly!"
"You heard me,"
Chuck said calmly. "I can control the scope of his retaliation so it doesn't affect you. This is indeed a good opportunity to teach House a lesson, and incidentally, it can also help him kick his drug addiction.
As a doctor, using physical pain as a pretext to constantly take drugs in front of patients and everyone else—if I didn't know him, I would definitely suspect that he's been paid by pharmaceutical companies to advertise for them.
Don't deny it!
Your medical profession has long been swayed by the persuasive tactics of pharmaceutical companies. No matter what the illness, you first prescribe painkillers, making people addicted and selling painkillers.
You even put instructions on painkiller advertisements about how to modify them into harder drugs.
If you can't even harden your heart to truly help him get out of this, and instead choose to help him cheat the system and commit perjury, I have nothing more to say. I just hope that when you lose your medical license and end up on the streets, you won't regret it."
Dr. Wilson finally hung up the phone helplessly.
He knew that Chuck, like his best friend Dr. House, was a man of his word and wouldn't listen to anyone's advice.
Now, he could only hope that the policeman wouldn't actually turn into a villain and destroy his best friend.
"You really aren't going to do anything about it?"
Professor Alicia Harper looked at Chuck.
"You think I should?"
Chuck retorted. "Let House continue taking drugs and mistreating patients like this? Just because he's disabled?"
"No."
Professor Alicia Harper smiled wryly. "He may have serious problems, but he is indeed a renowned doctor who can save lives."
"He can save lives even without mistreating patients, perhaps even better."
Chuck shook his head. "And he's not the only miracle doctor."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Hailey laughed. "Do you think I can become a miracle doctor like him?"
"You can't?"
Chuck looked at her.
"Now that you mention it, even if I can't, I can only say I can!"
Hailey laughed. "I'll do my best!"
"Sigh."
Professor Alicia Harper sighed deeply.
"Don't worry,"
Hailey comforted her with a smile. "Chuck said he owes him a favor, so no matter what happens in the end, he won't be in any serious trouble."
"I hope so,"
Professor Alicia Harper shook her head. "He did save my life, after all."
"That was because Chuck persuaded him,"
Hailey, who knew the story, laughed. "He doesn't care about your life, he cares about your illness! Chuck cares about your life!"
"Indeed,"
Professor Alicia Harper's sultry eyes glanced at Chuck, a smile playing on her lips.
The two chatted for a while longer before Hailey's phone rang. When she answered, her mother, Bran, was urging her to go home again.
"Look, look, that's my mom for you, afraid I'll bother you here,"
Hailey complained to Chuck after hanging up.
"You're still in school,"
Professor Alicia Harper smiled. "You can come visit when you're on break."
"You said it!"
Hailey immediately smiled at her: "Will you come with me?"
"Sure."
Professor Alicia Harper readily agreed.
Although it was their first meeting, she had a good impression of Hailey, and given that Hailey was Chuck's sister, she naturally wouldn't refuse the request.
"Then it's a deal!"
Hailey looked at Chuck triumphantly: "Don't be reluctant to let her go."
"I won't."
Professor Alicia Harper gave Chuck a meaningful look: "He's very busy."
"That's true."
Hailey smiled knowingly: "He's very busy~"
Chuck remained unmoved.
He never hid his busyness from others.
The next day.
Chuck drove Hailey to the airport.
"I've already arranged with Alicia to come over as soon as school lets out."
Hailey sat in the passenger seat, smiling as she reminded him: "I'm doing you a favor this way."
"I never need this kind of favor."
Chuck said bluntly.
"Okay, you're awesome!"
Hailey gave a thumbs up, skipping the topic and moving on to her thoughts: "I'm thinking of skipping a grade, going straight to college, then medical school, and getting my medical license as soon as possible, but I'm worried about upsetting Lindsay."
"You decide for yourself,"
Chuck said expressionlessly, driving.
"Fine,"
Hailey pouted, "I'm starting to doubt whether what I said last night about Dr. House not caring about Alicia's life while you do was true. I guess you don't care either, right?"
Chuck didn't answer.
The car soon arrived at the airport.
"Chuck!"
A surprised shout came as soon as they arrived.
Chuck looked over and saw Leonard standing alone, with Sheldon and Beverly standing next to him.
"Dr. Wolowitz!"
"Dr. Hofstadter!"
"Dr. Wolowitz."
"Mr. Cooper."
Chuck brought Hailey over and greeted them.
"Hi, Sheldon, we meet again."
Hailey smiled at Sheldon.
"Hmm."
Sheldon looked at her warily.
"Hello, I'm Leonard, Chuck's friend."
Little Leonard lowered his head shyly, glancing at Hailey every now and then.
"I know you!"
Hailey smiled. "Chuck mentioned you to me."
"Really?"
Little Leonard looked up in surprise.
Chuck neither denied nor confirmed.
"What are you doing here?"
Hailey asked curiously.
"Picking up Sheldon's family!"
Little Leonard immediately introduced, "It's about what happened last time. I don't know if Chuck told you, but we've come up with a great idea and are preparing to launch it. We need investment. Chuck had already decided to invest because of me, and he even offered the best terms, but Sheldon wouldn't listen..."
"It's my idea, I decide!"
Little Sheldon interrupted sharply, stepping back slightly behind Beverly, not daring to look Chuck in the eye. "My meemaw has money to invest; we don't need anyone else to invest."
"Your meemaw has money?"
Chuck looked at him. "No, she doesn't!"
"She..."
Little Sheldon wanted to insist, but meeting Chuck's calm gaze, remembering the first time he met Chuck, and the first time his meemaw met Chuck, he instantly became speechless.
Okay!
In front of Chuck, a senior IRS advisor, neither he nor his meemaw dared to say they were rich.
Because that money was unreported income and hadn't been taxed properly.
Even someone as straightforward and confident as him, after being brought to tears by Chuck's tax law arguments so many times, knew what he could and couldn't say.
If anyone had watched the original timeline of the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory, they would know that in just over a year since young Sheldon met Chuck, he was already more mature than the thirty-something-year-old Sheldon from the original timeline.
Yes.
At least when facing Chuck, his maturity was heartbreaking.
As the saying goes: there's no such thing as a peaceful life; someone is always bearing the burden for you.
For Sheldon, that's it—there's no such thing as a naive, immature adult; someone always makes you sharp and precocious!
"Shelly!"
Just then, a joyful shout interrupted young Sheldon's precocious sadness, and a group of four approached.
It was young Sheldon's father, mother, meemaw, and twin sister Missy.
"Mom!"
Hearing his mother call, young Sheldon, for the first time acting like a child, rushed over with his awkward gait.
But a moment later, he glanced back fearfully at Chuck, making it clear to everyone that this wasn't a display of maternal affection, but rather a young animal seeking refuge from danger.
"Missy, it's me, Leonard! We finally meet!"
Young Leonard grinned foolishly at Missy as she approached.
"It's nice to meet you,"
Missy said, smiling and shaking his hand.
Young Leonard had really put in a lot of effort to get here.
"Me too!"
Young Leonard excitedly returned the handshake. After Missy let go, he stood there grinning from ear to ear, staring at his hand that had just held hers.
"This kid is definitely suited to be Sheldon's friend,"
Sheldon's meemaw remarked, watching the scene.
"Hehe...Wait!"
Upon hearing this, Leonard scratched the back of his head with his other hand, finally having a chance to look away from Missy. He looked in the direction of the voice, and when he saw Sheldon's meemaw, he immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Connie Tucker!"
Sheldon's meemaw's smile instantly froze.
"What? Connie Tucker?"
Young Sheldon looked over, puzzled.
"No, it's nothing, just Connie Tucker!"
Sheldon's meemaw interrupted, giving Leonard a threatening look before glancing at Missy.
"Maybe I'm mistaken."
Leonard, though unaware of the situation, instantly understood what to do with his 173 IQ. He gave a perfunctory reply and then shook his head, remaining silent.
"You mean the adult film actress Connie Tucker?"
Leonard wisely kept quiet, but that didn't mean the straightforward Beverly wouldn't. She sized up Sheldon's meemaw and nodded, "She does look a lot like her!"
"Like what?"
Sheldon asked, "Who is Connie Tucker?"
"Nothing!"
Sheldon's meemaw repeatedly signaled, but Beverly ignored her, continuing to explain what she knew.
"Connie Tucker is a famous adult film actress from the 1970s. She used her real name as her stage name. She looks a lot like your grandmother."
(End of Chapter)
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