Joe's Bar.
As the system notification rang in Adam's mind, his brain seemed to explode.
Bang!
Big Bang!
It was as if his brain had undergone a cosmic explosion.
Countless nebulas formed, stars appeared.
The photographic memory he previously had as a half-finished product had now transformed into a high-definition version.
The complex mathematical formulas he struggled with last night were now easier to understand, and inspiration kept flowing.
The world seemed to slow down at that moment, becoming clearer than ever.
"My IQ just broke through 180—I've officially stepped into the realm of super geniuses. I'm now in the same category as Peggy and Sheldon."
Adam was ecstatic.
Although he still couldn't engage in deep intellectual discussions with Peggy and Sheldon without prolonged study and contemplation, something that was once impossible had now become possible.
And with Adam's boundless energy, that possibility would soon become a reality.
Just imagining Peggy's shocked expression, her mouth hanging open in disbelief, filled Adam with motivation.
That final push from genius to super genius—it was Christina who gave it to him.
Though Christina was arrogant, competitive, and had the face of a middle-aged woman from the Southern Universe, she had provided him with those crucial three intelligence points. Looking at her now, Adam felt a newfound appreciation.
If they were just friends, her appearance didn't really matter.
Adam wasn't a racist or a member of the "looks matter" club… well, at least not when it came to ordinary friends.
After having a few drinks at the bar, the group returned to the hospital.
The hospital had an on-call room for resting.
It was a small, narrow space with two or three bunk beds arranged side by side, accommodating four to six people.
Like the locker rooms, there was no gender segregation.
If you were tired, you could just walk in, lie down, and sleep.
If someone needed privacy, they could lock the door from the inside, and everyone else would understand. People generally respected that unspoken rule.
Technically, with the hospital's mandatory 566-hour training regulation, it was already two or three in the morning. To maximize their chances of getting assigned to surgeries, they should have taken this as a rest day and come back at five in the morning to compete for cases.
But aside from Adam, Christina and the others didn't seem too concerned about strictly following that rule.
Despite having endless energy and theoretically being the one who should stay in the hospital the most, Adam had an obsessive-compulsive adherence to following procedures and regulations.
In this regard, he was even more rigid than Christina and the rest.
If they got caught, they would just admit fault and accept their punishment.
But Adam couldn't tolerate even the slightest risk in his path to growth.
That's why, even though he was an incredibly capable intern, he was also known for playing it overly safe.
Green Clinic
"That giant tumor removal surgery last night—beautifully done!"
Leonard was in high spirits. "I knew it! You have the same passion and talent I did back in the day. As long as no one takes your opportunities, people like us are destined to shine!"
"Heh."
Adam responded with a polite smile.
This was the third time Leonard had said something like that.
"I'm saving all the good surgeries for you here," Leonard continued excitedly. "I've already spoken to Sherry. Any time there's an opportunity, she'll send you over to other departments. Take as many surgeries as you can, show them why I trust an intern with this much autonomy!"
"Thank you, I definitely will."
Adam smiled.
After their conversation, Sherry sent him to the emergency room.
This special treatment made Bald Chris and Chubby Stu a little jealous.
Working in the ER, where you could interact directly with patients, was far better than doing endless rounds and writing up case notes.
If Adam got lucky, he could catch a case requiring surgery, and as the first doctor on the case, he would naturally become the primary in-charge and follow it into the operating room.
The most frustrating part?
Even though Chris and Stu were technically responsible for managing Green Clinic's patient beds, whenever a major surgery came up, Dr. Green would call Adam back without hesitation—not only to let him participate but to give him as much hands-on practice as possible.
Sometimes, Dr. Green would just supervise while Adam performed the entire procedure.
That was a privilege usually reserved for senior residents, if not beyond that.
Most residents could only perform minor procedures independently. When it came to major surgeries, attending physicians had to take over.
Even seasoned senior residents didn't get as much hands-on surgical time as Adam did.
It was only because Sherry had an exceptionally good personality and got along well with Adam that there wasn't any backlash.
If this had been Dr. Bailey, or any other ambitious resident, there would have been protests and resistance long ago.
"Your arms aren't sore, are they?"
As soon as Susan saw Adam, she playfully squeezed his arm. "You were up till dawn with that giant tumor case, and now you're back after just a few hours of rest? You really are an energy machine~"
"Not sore at all."
Adam chuckled helplessly.
Clearly, his feat of holding up the massive tumor had cemented his reputation for sheer physical endurance.
"Adam, there's a patient in Room 5. Let's go check it out."
Susan teased him briefly but then shifted back to business.
"Alright."
Adam had no objections.
Room 5
Following Susan inside, Adam saw a young white man sitting there, looking uneasy.
"I'm Dr. Lewis, and this is Dr. Duncan."
Susan introduced them briefly before asking, "Mr. Gale, what seems to be the problem?"
"...I…"
The young man hesitated.
"Mr. Gale, we're doctors. There's nothing you can't tell us."
Susan reassured him.
"Can… Can I speak to Dr. Duncan alone?"
The young man avoided eye contact with Susan.
"Of course."
Susan exchanged a glance with Adam and nodded.
"I'll leave this to you, Dr. Duncan."
"Got it."
Adam smiled.
As she left, Susan whispered teasingly, "I didn't know your charm worked on men too."
Adam's mouth twitched slightly.
Once the door closed, he turned to the young man. "Mr. Gale, you can tell me your symptoms now."
"I… I want to get a contraceptive injection."
The young man finally mustered the courage to say it.
"…"
Adam nearly pulled a muscle in his back from sheer surprise. His expression was a clear "That's it?", but he held back his sarcasm and asked seriously, "Can I ask why?"
Getting this injection wasn't just expensive—it was uncomfortable, both physically and mentally. Most young men wouldn't go out of their way to get it.
The usual approach would be the classic "I'll just be careful" mindset.
"It helps me stay calm."
The young man said anxiously, "I looked it up online… if I take enough doses—"
"You'll chemically castrate yourself."
Adam interrupted. "Did you read that part?"
"I know."
The young man nodded solemnly.
"So… you want to be chemically castrated?"
Adam was speechless. "Can I ask why?"
"No."
The young man snapped, "Can't you just give me the shot?"
"Absolutely not."
Adam shook his head. "I'm just an intern—I don't even have that authority. I should call Dr. Lewis—"
"No, don't!"
The young man stopped him.
"Mr. Gale, we're doctors. We've seen it all—nothing can shock us."
Adam reassured him. "And doctor-patient confidentiality is a thing. No matter how embarrassing your issue is, you can trust us. But we need to understand in order to help you."
"Alright…"
The young man stood up, pacing back and forth before finally making up his mind.
He looked Adam dead in the eye and, with complete seriousness, declared:
"I'm in love with a cow."
Adam: "…"