Chapter 7 — Ethan and Penny's Conversation
Hawking's voice continued on the TV:
"If the universe is truly infinite, then someday… we will meet our past selves again."
The area around the television felt like a sacred temple of science.
But on this end of the couch, Penny and Ethan were clearly living in a completely different parallel universe.
Penny hugged a mug in both hands, leaning against one side of the sofa.
She noticed Ethan sitting quietly beside her, sunk deep into the cushions, his gaze slightly unfocused—like his mind was somewhere far away.
"You don't look so good," she said softly. "You look tired. Is the clinic really that exhausting?"
Ethan paused, silent for two seconds, then answered, "It's fine. I just… met a special patient."
"Was he rude?" Penny's eyes sparkled with gossip. "Trust me, I'm very experienced with that kind of thing. If a customer annoys me, I don't yell—I just sneeze into his food. Or spit."
Ethan laughed despite himself. "Great. Next time I'll call you and have you come sneeze directly onto my patient's wounds."
Penny burst into laughter. "I have no idea how that would work in a clinic."
She blinked mischievously. "Maybe… you can leave a towel—or scissors—in their stomach?"
"Excellent idea," Ethan replied with complete seriousness. "I'll consider it."
Ethan's deadpan expression made Penny smile even wider.
And somehow, the heavy mood Ethan had been carrying—thanks to that "Jigsaw old man"—finally loosened a little.
He glanced at the four nerds in front of the TV, all totally absorbed, and suddenly looked amused.
"Hey, Penny," Ethan said, his tone shifting playfully, "want to see something cool?"
"Of course." Penny rested her chin in her hand. "But I'm begging you—please don't tell me it's another lecture."
"Relax," Ethan promised. "This is way more exciting than that."
He leaned in close and whispered a few words, his breath almost brushing her ear.
Penny froze for a moment, then lifted an eyebrow. "You sure?"
Ethan nodded.
Penny looked at the four science monks still glued to the TV… then back at Ethan.
"Alright," she said. "Let's try it."
She cleared her throat and spoke loudly, acting it out like a scene.
"Hi, Doctor… my chest hurts a little. Can you check me?"
Ethan played along immediately. "Of course. But I'll need you to take off your top."
"Okay." Penny paused, lowering her voice into something dramatically sultry. "Do I need to take everything off?"
Ethan hesitated half a beat. Then, very seriously:
"…Yes."
"Alright then."
The air turned strangely quiet for two seconds.
Then Ethan continued.
"Penny," he said, "I just noticed you have a mole on your chest. You know that means something."
Penny blinked. "It does?"
"Yes." Ethan nodded solemnly. "It means—you have great ambition."
"Great ambition?" She tilted her head. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Ethan said smoothly, "you're going to be very successful someday."
Penny smirked. "So are you complimenting my ambition… or my generous chest?"
Ethan smiled faintly. "Both."
They glanced toward the TV.
The four geniuses were still completely absorbed—motionless, unwavering, like monks guarding sacred scripture.
Ethan spread his hands at Penny as if to say: See?
Penny couldn't help whispering, amazed, "Unbelievable!"
They both laughed.
A moment later, Penny tilted her head. "Wait… Ethan."
"How did you know I have a mole on my chest?"
"…What?"
Penny's eyebrows rose slowly.
"Didn't you just say you didn't see anything?"
The air froze.
Ethan blinked—then stiffened like he'd been struck.
Penny crossed her arms and stared at him, a wicked smile creeping onto her face.
"So you did look, huh?"
"I swear—I only—"
"Observed the patient's symptoms?" Penny cut in.
"Yes! Yes!" Ethan nodded vigorously. "From a doctor's perspective!"
Penny burst out laughing. "Relax, Doctor. I'm not going to sue you."
She winked, teasing: "Honestly, I'm kinda happy you looked. At least it means my body didn't disappoint you."
Ethan cleared his throat. "From a medical perspective… you're—uh—developed very well. Very healthy."
Penny's eyes sparkled. "So if I come to you for a breast exam next time, can I get it free?"
"If it's you," Ethan said seriously, "I'll pay you."
Penny collapsed onto the couch laughing so hard she nearly folded in half.
"If you were my boyfriend," she gasped, "we could totally play the 'doctor checking the patient' game!"
They laughed again.
But halfway through, Penny's gaze drifted—unconsciously—toward Ethan's profile.
Ethan noticed almost immediately. He touched his cheek, puzzled.
"What? Is there something on my face?"
Penny blinked. "Leonard says you guys are all PhDs… but even among PhDs, the difference is way too big."
As she spoke, she nodded her chin toward the four guys in front of the TV, still worshipping Hawking like it was a religious experience.
"You look pretty normal. And them…"
She shrugged. "You know."
Ethan chuckled. "Maybe it's because I studied psychology too. Psychology is about people—emotions, thought patterns, behavior. Physics and engineering are about the laws of nature."
He paused.
"But people don't follow laws—especially…"
Penny instantly jumped in. "Especially women, right?"
Ethan choked on his words and coughed awkwardly. "Uh… what I meant was—mental patients."
Penny snorted. "Heh. Basically the same thing."
She leaned back, amused.
"So what you're saying is: because you study people, you know how to deal with people. But they only study nature, so they can only get along with nature… or their own species."
She continued, mock-serious:
"As PhDs, they have to take classes and learn a thing before they can even interact with that thing—even if that thing is another human being."
Ethan stared at her.
"…Sure," he said finally. "That interpretation works."
He gave up trying to explain.
After a short pause, Penny couldn't help asking again:
"Seriously though—you're nothing like them. Why do you still live together? And you all seem… pretty close."
"I've known Sheldon since we were kids," Ethan said with a smile. "He was always a genius. When he was eleven he tried to build a nuclear reactor to power the city…"
Ethan sighed.
"…and got surrounded by the FBI."
Penny's eyes went wide. "You're kidding?!"
"I'm dead serious." Ethan nodded. "A lot of people think he's a weirdo. Sometimes Leonard and the others look like weirdos too."
He looked toward the TV again.
"But I know the truth. They just love things most people don't understand."
Ethan continued softly, "They're actually easy to get along with. As long as you don't laugh at what they care about… they'll treat you like a friend."
He smiled.
"Even like family."
Penny stared into his eyes, and something subtle stirred in her chest.
"Oh…" she blurted. "You're really… kind."
Ethan blinked. "Huh? Weren't we talking about Sheldon? Why are you complimenting me?"
"Because you are that kind of person," Penny said seriously.
Ethan smiled and shook his head lightly. "Thanks."
After a brief silence, Ethan asked, "What about you? Why'd you move here?"
Penny hesitated, then decided to tell the truth.
"I broke up with my live-in boyfriend. Had to find a new place fast." She shrugged. "Luckily it was the smoothest apartment hunt I've ever had, or I'd be homeless."
"Everything happens for a reason," Ethan said, smiling. "So what's the plan next?"
Penny instantly perked up. "My dream, obviously—acting!"
"I've always wanted to be an actress!" The second she started talking about it, her whole face lit up.
"So far I've done one commercial and two background roles—but I'm still trying. L.A. is brutal, so I thought I'd try my luck here. Lots of theater… and indie films."
Ethan frowned slightly. "Indie film circles are small… and the number of good people is even smaller. If anyone disrespects you, call me."
Penny arched a brow, teasing. "Did you even give me your number?"
Ethan froze. "…Uh. I guess… no."
"Exactly."
"Sorry—I forgot." Ethan hurriedly pulled out his phone.
As he did, something slipped from his pocket along with it—
A check drifted down to the floor.
"What's this?" Penny bent down and picked it up.
Then she saw the numbers.
And completely froze.
"One hundred thousand dollars?!"
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh… yeah. That's today's treatment fee."
"A treatment fee?!" Penny nearly choked. "So I comforted you for half an hour, and you didn't tell me you earned a hundred grand in one day?!"
Ethan spread his hands. "It was an accident. And I don't think that's the point."
Penny lifted the check under the light, staring at the zeros like they might multiply.
"My God. I make twelve dollars an hour—plus tips where customers might grab my butt."
She looked up at him slowly, lips stiff.
"And you…"
"…make more than my entire yearly income in a day."
That realization hit her like a truck.
"This is emotionally devastating."
Ethan coughed awkwardly. "It sounds insane, but I swear it really was unexpected this time!"
Penny leaned closer, eyes shining. "So what are you gonna do with it?"
"Pay the clinic's debt."
"And what about the rest?"
"The rest…" Ethan sighed. "Pay slowly, I guess."
Penny stared. "Wait—a hundred thousand isn't enough? You have that much debt?!"
Ethan nodded. "Yeah. Still about… seven hundred thousand left."
Penny almost stopped breathing. "SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND?!"
"Yep."
"WHAT did you do?" Penny blurted. "Buy an entire hospital?!"
Ethan scratched his head. "Pretty much."
He hesitated. "…I bought the building the clinic is in."
Penny's eyes widened. She sat straight up like she'd been electrically shocked.
"You BOUGHT it?! Not renting?!"
"…Yeah."
Penny stared at him like she was seeing him for the first time.
"You're literally a doctor… with your OWN clinic."
Ethan made a helpless sound. "Uh…"
Penny pointed at him.
"I think from now on, you should stop calling your life 'tragic.' Because your tragic makes everyone else's life look even more tragic."