"Hey, Peggy, long time no see."
Although Adam was stunned by how Peggy had grown even more beautiful instead of losing her charm, he was no longer the high schooler he once was. He quickly regained his composure and greeted her with a smile.
"It really has been a long time. Come in."
Peggy stepped aside, her tall and well-proportioned figure making way for him.
As Adam walked in, his eyes were immediately drawn to a whiteboard—just like the one Sheldon used—covered in complex mathematical formulas. On the desk by the window, there was a thick stack of calculation papers, filled from top to bottom with handwritten equations.
A vivid image formed in his mind: a beautiful young woman, working tirelessly under the glow of a lamp.
"Where's your mom?"
Adam casually asked while glancing around the apartment.
"Why do you ask?"
Peggy smirked. "The first thing you do when you step in is ask about my mom? Do you have a thing for her?"
"Heh."
Adam chuckled. "Peggy, you've become much more humorous and outgoing since we were kids."
"If it's not my mom you're interested in, then… could it be me?"
Peggy locked eyes with Adam, a sparkle in her gaze making his heartbeat stutter.
No way…
A bold thought crossed Adam's mind, but the habit of associating Peggy with Juno's smiling face made him suppress it immediately.
"Ahem. Don't joke around. We're just friends."
"If we're friends, then why have you never come to visit me in the past seven years? You've been living right next door in New York."
Peggy's tone became slightly aggressive.
"Sheldon is still your best friend. Has he ever visited you?"
Adam countered with a smile.
Peggy's confidence wavered for a moment.
Although she had high emotional intelligence, her deeply ingrained arrogance was difficult to suppress. Very few people ever caught her attention—maybe just one and a half individuals.
Adam was that "half," and most of that credit belonged to Sheldon. The rest was because Adam had once gone to great lengths to snap her out of a foolish decision with endless motivational speeches.
That's right.
Looking back, Peggy felt nothing but embarrassment about her past self.
She couldn't understand why she had been so fragile back then.
Marriage?
It was just two people teaming up to get through life.
Divorce was no big deal.
Why waste time obsessing over love and relationships when uncovering the deepest mysteries of the universe was far more interesting?
Had it not been for Adam, she likely would have spent years lost in emotional turmoil before coming to this realization. Even then, she was confident her intelligence would have allowed her to start over.
But Adam had saved her years of wasted time—time she could now use to peel back more layers of the universe and achieve even greater accomplishments.
So, even though his intelligence didn't quite meet her standards, she still acknowledged him as a friend. Not on Sheldon's level, of course, but half a friend was enough to grant him access to her world.
"You've changed."
Peggy studied Adam with great interest. "The old you wasn't this confident."
In her memory, Adam used to try his hardest to impress her—but awkwardly so. A single comment or look from her could send him retreating. Now, though, he carried himself with ease and could even fire back at her instantly.
"People change."
Adam smiled.
Back then, his useless system couldn't help him at all, and he was constantly surrounded by terrifyingly intelligent, emotionally sharp, ruthless, and decisive individuals who completely outclassed him. Confidence was a luxury he simply couldn't afford.
On top of that, he used to crave the wisdom points that came with being Peggy's friend.
When you need something from someone, you naturally humble yourself.
But now? He didn't need anything from her. That changed everything.
"So tell me, what made you so confident?"
Peggy leaned forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Is it because you became a billionaire from writing books? Or because you hold a scalpel and decide people's fates as a doctor? Or maybe… it's all the beautiful women who've boosted your confidence as a man?"
"…"
Adam wasn't used to this level of bluntness.
"Looks like it's all three."
Peggy smirked. The way she looked at him made Adam sigh internally—it was too similar to Juno's uncanny ability to read people like an open book.
If Juno's intuition was a natural gift, then Peggy's insight was a result of her extreme intelligence and high emotional awareness.
If she wanted to, she could unravel the secrets of the universe. So how could she not see through a person's thoughts?
She wasn't a Trisolaran sophon, after all.
"My mom went on a trip abroad with her boyfriend."
Peggy abruptly changed the subject.
"Really?"
Adam was momentarily caught off guard by the sudden shift, letting out an awkward laugh. "So… why did you call me over? Do you need my help with something?"
"No rush."
Peggy blinked playfully. "I have faith in you."
Adam forced a smile, but his mind had already started generating scenarios…
"So, how are things with Juno?"
Peggy asked with a smirk.
"Uh."
Adam hesitated but eventually said, "We're great. We've always been best friends."
"Just friends?"
Peggy's smirk deepened. "I don't believe you."
"A lot of people don't."
Adam chuckled. "But we really are just best friends—nothing more, nothing less."
"Is it because you're not interested in her, or she's not interested in you?"
Peggy pressed. "Sheldon and I are best friends too, but I am interested in him. Unfortunately, he's basically asexual and has zero interest in me."
"…"
Adam was momentarily speechless. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "I think it's mutual. Juno has Karen, and I'm not in the mindset for romance at all."
"Adam Duncan, the legendary playboy—who doesn't know?"
Peggy teased. "Sheldon once told me his brother, George Jr., used to curse your name all the time."
"Heh."
Adam smirked but didn't respond.
George Jr. had every right to be mad. After all, Adam had shared some secrets with Veronica.
If he were in George Jr.'s shoes, he'd be cursing himself too.
"Do you know why I called you here?"
Peggy suddenly asked.
"Why?"
Adam's heartbeat picked up again.
"Sheldon told me to."
Peggy's lips curled into a devilish smile. "I've always wanted to conduct a practical biology experiment with him, but he's forever a child—completely uninterested and downright repulsed by the idea. I'm one step away from being blocked."
Adam's heartbeat pounded in his ears.
That wicked smirk made Peggy's beautiful face exude an entirely new level of temptation.
Even Akina Speed Star Adam had never encountered something like this before.
Not even Heather—his favorite, breathtakingly beautiful yet terrifyingly ruthless ex—had given him this kind of feeling.
This wasn't about looks or body shape.
It was an entirely different kind of spiritual impact.
For a moment, Adam genuinely felt like he couldn't handle it.
"Ahem. That's… very Sheldon."
Adam instinctively tried to break the increasingly intimate atmosphere—but the words caught in his throat.
Because Peggy had already leaned in…
And silenced him completely.