Thanksgiving night.
Peggy wanted to be Adam's mentor.
Adam, determined not to be seen as someone sponging off others, decided to take the "soft life" and make it his own. 😂
So, he started asking Peggy about sports mathematics.
Even though this was an everyday world without any super magical powers, the moment Peggy tapped Adam's forehead with her finger, something wild happened. His soul felt like it got jolted right out of his body, floating in midair, watching his physical self on the bed—striking poses from the Yijin Jing one second and the Shenzu Jing the next.
It was like Doctor Strange getting his mind blown open by the Ancient One. 🤯
Suddenly, Adam gained a deeper understanding of Buddhist teachings. Everything felt like an illusion—dreams, bubbles, dew, lightning—something to just observe and let go.
"Hey, don't just stand there spacing out. Ask me your questions already!"
Peggy's soul floated up too, snapping Adam out of his Zen moment.
"Oh, right!"
Adam snapped back to reality and started bombarding her with math problems he'd stumbled over while self-studying. Peggy, being the genius mathematician she was, gave him quick, spot-on answers.
Hmmm…
Back in the day, Adam would've been totally lost listening to her. But now, with his brain syncing up to Peggy's level, her explanations were short, sharp, and crystal clear. It was like a light bulb went off in his head! 💡
His math skills shot up like a rocket.
And Peggy? She got sparked by Adam's quirky, genius-angle questions. Her eyes lit up with wisdom, a little smirk tugging at her lips.
That night, both of them were on cloud nine—mind and body in total harmony. 😊
The next morning, Adam saw Juno and Karen off, called his assistant Lisa to pick Peggy up at noon, and headed to the hospital, full of energy, ready to dive back into saving lives and extending lifespans.
At the ER:
"Morning, Dr. Duncan!"
The sharpest little nurse greeted him with a big smile.
"Morning, Violet!"
Adam grinned back.
"Were those two friends of yours yesterday a doctor and a nurse?" the sharpest nurse asked, curiosity bubbling. "I heard they worked together like a dream."
She'd been off duty yesterday—missed the highway pileup. It wasn't as crazy as that train derailment, though. Plus, it was Thanksgiving. Besides the surgical chief and a few department heads, a ton of staff hadn't made it back yet. She was one of them.
"Yup," Adam nodded, then thought about Juno and Karen's seamless teamwork. He glanced at the sharpest nurse.
Juno had Karen. Alice Grey had her dedicated OR nurse of 18 years. Maybe he needed a nurse who could sync with him too.
This nurse would need:
1. Talent—both technical skills and quick wits. His future medical team had to be top-tier; no point in a pro dragging along amateurs.
2. Youth—someone to stick with him long-term. Older meant communication gaps and eventual replacements. Too much hassle.
3. Vibe—they didn't have to be a supermodel, but they should be easy on the eyes, with a good attitude. No hero worship required, but a healthy respect for him was a must.
Fans weren't necessary, but a loyal supporter? That'd do. Otherwise, things could get bumpy.
The sharpest nurse checked all those boxes.
Her skills and smarts? No question—she didn't just earn the nickname "sharpest" for gossip. Her nursing game was top-notch, one of the best in the hospital. Without that, she'd have no clout to back up her sass!
Young? She'd just turned 20.
Vibe? She was one of his biggest hospital cheerleaders, with above-average looks that suited his taste just fine.
Of course, even if she fit perfectly, she still couldn't touch Karen's level of synergy with Juno. That was next-level stuff.
As these thoughts zipped through his head, Adam chatted with her a bit more, asking how she'd spent Thanksgiving. If he was serious about grooming her for his future team, he'd need to get a feel for her personality and lifestyle too. In this drama-filled world, life and work could clash hard—plenty of people proved that.
"Doctor!"
A woman burst in, supporting a man. "My husband's got stomach pain!"
Adam stepped over, checked him out, and asked the usual, "Did he eat anything unusual?"
"Nope," the man groaned, while the woman hesitated.
"Alright, we'll need an X-ray," Adam said, spotting a sleepy John Carter shuffling over. "Carter, take…"
"Moe Paszkiewicz," the woman cut in, catching Adam's glance.
"Take Mr. Paszkiewicz for an X-ray," Adam directed.
"Yes, Dr. Duncan!" Carter perked up and jogged over.
The sharpest nurse had already rolled up a wheelchair, settling Moe in and reminding Carter, "Mention Dr. Duncan's name."
Carter nodded and wheeled him off to the X-ray room.
"How's he been lately?" Adam asked, watching Carter go.
"Not bad," the sharpest nurse replied. She knew Adam was keeping an eye on Carter and had been quietly observing him too. "Among the med interns, he's got a solid foundation, a good attitude, and he works hard. Yesterday, while the other interns went home for Thanksgiving, he stayed. Crashed in the on-call room when he got tired."
"If he's that dedicated, why doesn't he hang around me more?" Adam chuckled.
"Oh, I know this one!" she laughed. "He's still hung up on making those authentic Eastern-style braised pig trotters you like. He's been practicing, but he hasn't nailed it yet, so he's too shy to get close."
"Not flexible enough," Adam said, shaking his head. "But his heart's in the right place."
New Year was coming up soon. In a few months, Adam and his batch of interns would finish their year-long internship. Pass the exam, and they'd be full-fledged residents, mentoring the next wave of interns.
John Carter, one of those lucky pre-grads who snagged an early internship, had a good shot at sticking around. If he kept up the effort, he could land a residency spot at the medical center and join the next intern crew.
And if Adam vouched for him? Done deal.
Since Carter seemed eager to learn from him, Adam had been quietly sizing up his character, ethics, and talent. He was willing to give him a shot. The pig trotter thing? Just a casual joke. Still better than Dr. House next door humiliating his team! 😅
"Dr. Duncan, here's the X-ray," Carter said, jogging back with the film.
"What's this?" Adam asked, glancing at it.
"Gastrointestinal blockage?" Carter guessed.
"Treatment?"
"Injection to stimulate bowel movement," Carter said. "Let it pass naturally."
"No way something this big comes out on its own," Adam shook his head. "Come with me. Let's ask Mr. Paszkiewicz what he really ate."
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