Chapter 97: Superficial Chuck
The next day.
Thanksgiving break ended and students returned to campus.
"Hmm, that's odd."
Little Sheldon walked onto campus neatly dressed and carrying a small suitcase. He looked at the campus security office and stared at it curiously for a few extra moments.
Professor Alicia Harper, who was walking over, saw this and asked with a smile: "Sheldon, what are you looking at?"
"The security guards are different."
Little Sheldon made his observation: "There are more of them."
Professor Alicia Harper followed little Sheldon's gaze and saw that it was true. She nodded knowingly when she understood what had happened, but it wasn't appropriate to explain these things to little Sheldon, so she smiled and said: "Isn't that a good thing?"
"Yes, the university paying more attention to campus safety is good."
Little Sheldon nodded, turned his attention away from the more professional-looking guards in the security office, and gave his approval.
"Let's go,"
Professor Alicia Harper said. "Class starts soon."
As they walked side by side toward the academic buildings, they spotted Chuck. Professor Alicia Harper took the initiative to greet him, "Dr. Wolfe."
The mathematical proof they'd exchanged at dinner had brought them closer.
"Professor Harper,"
Chuck paused, looked over, nodded, and glanced at little Sheldon. "Mr. Cooper."
"...Dr. Wolfe,"
little Sheldon called out reluctantly.
"Dr. Wolfe, you and Sheldon are classmates. Why don't you just use first names?"
Professor Alicia Harper suggested, noticing little Sheldon's irritation.
"No."
Chuck refused.
"Why not?"
Professor Alicia Harper was puzzled.
"Because it's about respect for academic achievement,"
Chuck said matter-of-factly. "Without proper recognition, a doctorate would be meaningless. And if academic titles don't matter, then earning my Ph.D. wouldn't have much point."
"You got your doctorate just to be called Dr. Wolfe?"
Professor Alicia Harper was incredulous. She didn't believe Chuck was so shallow.
"For some people, yes."
Chuck glanced at little Sheldon.
"..."
This look not only left Professor Alicia Harper speechless, but also made little Sheldon even more uncomfortable.
He had the distinct feeling that Chuck was talking about him specifically.
The three of them walked together. Professor Alicia Harper walked in the middle, looking at the composed Chuck on her left, then at little Sheldon who was suddenly frowning. She couldn't help but ask, "Sheldon, did you go home for Thanks giving?"
"Yes."
Little Sheldon complained, "My mom made me come home for the holiday."
"You didn't enjoy it."
Professor Alicia Harper understood.
"I didn't."
Little Sheldon frowned, "This year's Thanksgiving was even worse than usual."
"Why do you say that?"
Professor Alicia Harper glanced at Chuck unconsciously. She knew what had happened on campus over Thanksgiving, and she knew it was connected to Chuck, but with little Sheldon present, it was difficult to ask about it.
"This year, my Uncle Dan and Aunt Jessica came too,"
little Sheldon said. "Aunt Jessica's father manages a casino in Las Vegas. Their family is very wealthy, and he's really impressed with Uncle Dan. My dad got jealous, and he's arguing with my mom again."
"That sounds unpleasant,"
Professor Alicia Harper sighed.
"I haven't even gotten to the bad part yet,"
little Sheldon looked at Professor Alicia Harper with surprise. Then, with his typical bluntness, he continued, "My parents arguing is normal—nothing worth mentioning. Dad's just a high school football coach who married mom when he had a motorcycle. He's jealous of Uncle Dan, who married into money. That's normal too. I say it's bad because Uncle Dan's visit seriously affected me."
"Of course it did,"
Professor Alicia Harper finally said, unable to hide her exasperation.
For someone like Sheldon, something only becomes "bad" when it affects him directly; otherwise, he doesn't care at all.
"Aren't you going to ask how they seriously affected me?"
Sheldon looked at Professor Alicia Harper expectantly.
"How did they seriously affect you?"
Professor Alicia Harper didn't want to continue this topic, but seeing Sheldon's expression, she had no choice but to ask.
"I'm glad you asked."
Little Sheldon, who had been ready to vent his frustrations, now looked relieved: "You know that gambling is really just applied probability theory, and I excel at mathematics.
Uncle Dan never paid much attention to that before, but when he heard Dad bragging about how I used math to help his football team design winning strategies in high school, plus my current participation in the mathematical treasure hunt with its million-dollar prize, Uncle Dan suddenly changed his attitude. He enthusiastically invited me to Las Vegas to 'help out.' After Mom firmly rejected that idea, he kept contacting me privately, asking me to explain how to use mathematics for 'scientific gambling.' His ridiculous questions were incredibly annoying."
"What kind of uncle is that!"
Professor Alicia Harper frowned: "He actually wants to exploit his nephew for gambling!"
"Oh, he's not the first one to try this."
Little Sheldon shrugged, "My Meemaw did the same thing two years ago, but I actually like my Meemaw."
As they spoke, the three of them reached the classroom and took their seats.
"Hi, Chuck."
Classmate Cheryl pulled her best friend Justine over to sit next to Chuck. Once seated, she leaned over and whispered, "Thanks for saving Justine."
Chuck glanced at Justine.
"She didn't tell me about it,"
Cheryl, reading Chuck's expression, explained immediately. "She wouldn't have told me normally. I overheard the news from my dad's security team. It was terrifying."
She put her arm around Justine's shoulders, fear evident on her face.
"Safety first,"
Chuck said. "Either you have the ability to protect yourself, or don't refuse the security detail your family provides."
He glanced at a woman sitting nearby.
"You spotted her already? You're incredible!"
Cheryl followed Chuck's gaze and made a face. "After what happened, I have to go back to my old restricted lifestyle. Otherwise, Dad won't let me return to school."
"It's a privilege to have someone protecting you,"
Justine sighed.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you."
Cheryl hugged her best friend reassuringly, "You'll never have to deal with anything like that again."
Justine smiled.
In her mind, her best friend Cheryl, who had never experienced that kind of danger, didn't understand the uncertainty of depending on others. The only person you can truly rely on is yourself.
(End of chapter)
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P@atreon/Soulforger (45+ advanced chapters)