At the lake.
Three mermaids were playing in the water.
Adam stood on the shore, holding a steel spear, keeping watch.
After playing for a while, Juno took the initiative to come ashore, changed into her clothes, and took over Adam's guard duty.
Karen followed suit.
Adam didn't hesitate. Wearing just a pair of shorts, he dashed into the lake.
This time, it was Heather who started teaching him small swimming techniques.
Adam's physical fitness was exceptional, making him a fast learner. He could dive deep and hold his breath for a long time, playfully splashing around with Heather.
Soon enough, even the agile and graceful Heather couldn't keep up with Adam's pace. She pouted in mock annoyance as he swam circles around her.
If their second senior brother saw this, he would die of envy.
Why was it that when he did the same thing, he got scolded by seven spider spirits, but Adam received nothing but flirtatious complaints?
Discrimination!
This was absolute discrimination!
They played in the water for a long time before Juno's teasing laughter finally made Adam reluctantly end the fun.
The four of them returned to the cabin in the woods, chatting and laughing.
Their daily routine was simple but fulfilling:
- Hunting, skinning, and stitching in the mornings.
- Practicing combat and shooting in the afternoons.
- Swimming in the evenings.
- Relaxing at night—some chatting, some watching movies, others doing extra training.
Life was peaceful and enjoyable.
Truly, the joy of this place made them forget about returning home.
In between, Heather also took them sightseeing around nearby attractions.
Traveling is all about the mood.
Exploring beautiful places with a group of gorgeous women—one of the most wonderful things in the world.
But if Adam had been alone?
That would have instantly turned into one of the most miserable experiences.
The difference between joy and loneliness often comes down to just one person.
Sunday.
Early morning.
The four of them got up early and successfully hunted a deer. They quickly skinned and butchered it, dividing the meat into three portions and storing them in the freezer in their off-road vehicle.
Their luggage had already been packed the night before.
Adam and Heather took one car, while Juno and Karen took another.
They left the cabin in the woods and split ways in Hartford.
Juno and Karen headed north to Boston, while Adam and Heather drove south to New York.
"You have so many friends."
Hearing Adam talk about how he planned to distribute the venison, Heather couldn't help but feel a little envious.
Adam had divided the meat into three portions: one for Monica and her group, one for the Green family, and one for the Leonard family.
Originally, it should have been five portions.
One was meant for Ted, Matthew, and Lily, and another for Peggy.
But since Matthew and the others were still students living in dorms, they wouldn't be able to process the meat. So Adam decided to send their share to Monica, who could prepare it for them.
As for Peggy?
He wanted to give her some and even knew her address, but it didn't feel appropriate to visit her home alone.
After all, Peggy was just a thirteen-year-old girl, and her mother was divorced. If Adam showed up by himself to deliver venison, it might seem weird—he didn't want to be mistaken for a creepy older guy.
Besides, his connection with Peggy was mostly based on their mutual friendship with young Sheldon.
What stood out most in Adam's memory was when he had gone out of his way to comfort the heartbroken Peggy, giving her an inspiring speech about the importance of friendship and how he could be her friend—only for Peggy to completely ignore him and turn to look at a clueless young Sheldon instead.
For Peggy, only someone with a comparable level of intelligence, like Sheldon, could be her peer and friend.
And Adam?
He was merely an accessory to Sheldon.
Even though Adam's IQ had now risen to 146, it was still a significant gap from Sheldon's 187. He had a long way to go—let alone matching Peggy, who was estimated to be even smarter than Sheldon.
Trying to bond with Peggy before reaching that level would be a waste of time—she wouldn't even acknowledge him.
Unlike Sheldon, who could be won over with toy trains and anime, Peggy's pride and aloofness were undeniable.
What she valued most was intellectual exchange.
If you couldn't even understand what she was saying, how could she possibly take you seriously?
Luckily, thanks to Sheldon, Adam had managed to earn a sliver of Peggy's recognition back then.
Even though they hadn't seen each other or kept in touch, Sheldon remained their mutual link, and through him, Peggy continued to contribute to Adam's growing intelligence.
One day, Adam would surpass both of them in intelligence.
And when that day came, what kind of reaction would Peggy have?
Adam was looking forward to it.
"A friend's friend is also a friend, so my friends can be your friends too," Adam said with a smile. "They're all great people—you'll definitely like them."
"I believe it."
Heather nodded expectantly.
Even though she had been betrayed by her ex-boyfriend and best friend, Adam and Juno had come into her life like a seamless transition, instantly washing away her sadness and anger.
So at this moment, she didn't feel much pain from the past. She was still full of hope and anticipation for friendship and love.
Two hours later, they arrived in New York.
Adam first dropped Heather off at City College of New York.
Then he returned to his apartment, locked up his firearms and ammunition separately, and headed to Apartment 520, where he handed the largest portion of venison to Monica.
"Wow! We're having a feast tonight!"
Joey was the first to cheer.
"By the way, how's everyone's love life going lately?"
Adam suddenly thought of something and asked.
"It's alright."
"Same as always."
"Why do you ask?"
Everyone looked puzzled.
"Venison is very nutritious."
Adam smirked. "If you're in a relationship, eat more. If not, eat less—otherwise, you might get a little too heated."
"Damn it!"
Chandler scoffed. "Even eating meat is an insult to us single people now?"
"Wait a minute."
Rachel suddenly picked up on something. "Didn't you say you went hunting with Juno and Karen? You must have eaten a lot of venison—so how did you, uh, handle the heat?"
"Whoa! Something's up!"
"Spill it!"
"Come on, tell us!"
"Was it Juno or Karen? Or… hmm~?"
Monica and the others' eyes lit up, eagerly closing in on Adam.
"You guys are overthinking it."
Adam chuckled. "Juno, Karen, and I are just friends. The reason I didn't have a problem eating all that venison is because I made a new friend."
"A new friend?!"
Everyone shouted in unison.
They all knew what Adam's so-called "friends" were usually like.
After Adam told them about Heather, Ross, Chandler, and Joey were all filled with jealousy.
"Next time, take us with you! We want to have an adventure too!"
The three of them whined.
At that moment, Phoebe walked in.
"What are you guys talking about? You all sound so excited—oh, Adam, you're back!"
"Nothing much."
Adam shot Monica a look, signaling her to save some venison for him to give away tomorrow. Then, as Phoebe gasped in horror, exclaiming, "Deer are so cute! How could you kill one?!" Adam made a quick escape.
*(End of Chapter)*