Chapter 198: Chuck: I Anticipated Your Prediction!
After his usual exchange with Sheldon, Chuck collected the double karma points awarded by the system, filed them away mentally, and continued walking inside.
Justine shook her head and followed. Entering the classroom, she saw Professor Alicia Harper already there, organizing her teaching materials at the podium. Beside her, a large, heavyset man with a small ponytail was speaking obsequiously. Professor Harper looked displeased but resigned.
"Professor Harper, I've recently had a new inspiration and am preparing to sculpt a new goddess statue. I've already ordered two tons of marble, which will arrive next week. When it's finished, you absolutely must come see it and share your thoughts!"
"Mr. Gold, that won't be necessary. I'm not interested in sculpture,"
Professor Harper politely declined.
"Professor Harper, you're being too modest."
Gold, seemingly oblivious to Professor Alicia Harper's polite refusal, sized her up with the fervent gaze one would give a muse: "Your insights into art are profound—that's common knowledge. And it was after our conversation that I was inspired to create this new goddess statue; you could say it's practically a collaboration."
"Mr. Gold, please have some self-respect!"
Seeing that he was not only oblivious but also becoming increasingly inappropriate, Professor Alicia Harper's face hardened, and she dismissed him firmly: "This is a classroom. Class is about to start. Please leave!"
"Okay, okay, don't be upset."
Gold raised his hands in mock surrender, took a step back, but still couldn't resist gushing: "Every smile, every frown, every expression—absolutely captivating! I have a feeling this new goddess statue will be my greatest challenge, and also my crowning achievement! It's going to be perfect!"
By this time, the students had arrived one after another, and many smiled knowingly at the scene.
In this free country, being a creep is rebranded as "romantic freedom."
"Who's that guy?"
"You don't recognize him? That's Evan Gold, a famous New York artist—a master sculptor."
"Oh, an artist. That explains it."
The crowd murmured amongst themselves.
No one was surprised that someone was pursuing the intelligent and beautiful Professor Alicia Harper. Even if others had already struck out, how many men would give up before suffering heavy losses?
Especially an artist!
"He's married!"
Cheryl, sitting in the back, couldn't help but point out, "And Professor Alicia Harper has a husband too!"
"He's an artist!"
someone teased. "Besides, Professor John Harper isn't making a fuss about it. Why are you? Do you have a thing for Professor Alicia Harper too?"
"Don't be ridiculous!"
another joked. "She's clearly into Detective Chuck! Too bad he's got Amazing Amy."
"Shh! He's here!"
At that moment, Chuck entered, and the teasing immediately stopped.
As Gold with his ponytail walked past, he smiled at Chuck, clearly recognizing him.
"That's him,"
Justine reminded Chuck quietly.
Chuck didn't react, settling into his usual seat. Cheryl said indignantly, "That guy is outrageous! He's married, yet he brazenly harasses Professor Alicia Harper and Tracy!"
"Ignore him,"
Justine advised. "The more attention you give him, the worse he'll get. If he causes a scene, you'll just be helping him spread his drama. Tell Tracy to stay away from him and his wife."
"I already told her I wouldn't get involved,"
Cheryl frowned. "But honestly, Nancy Gold, aside from being a bit pretentious, seems like a decent person."
"A decent person who lets her husband hit on her classmate and a married female professor?"
Justine scoffed.
"Money,"
Chuck said calmly, as if that explained everything.
"You mean she knows exactly what kind of person her husband is, but she's after the status and lifestyle of being Mrs. Gold, so she turns a blind eye to his behavior?"
Cheryl asked with disgust.
"It's also possible she's already planning a divorce and is letting this behavior continue to gather evidence for a bigger settlement,"
Chuck said matter-of-factly.
"Really?"
Cheryl was taken aback.
"What's so surprising about that?"
Chuck glanced at Professor Alicia Harper, who was preparing to begin her lesson, and added, "Some spouses even pimp out their partners to secure a larger share of the assets in divorce court."
"Now that you mention it, that does seem possible,"
Cheryl said thoughtfully. "Outside of this situation, Nancy isn't stupid in everyday interactions; actually, she's pretty sharp."
"This is going to be entertaining,"
Justine laughed. "I wonder if this artist will still be in the mood to sculpt his new goddess statue after getting cleaned out by his wife."
In the world of primetime drama, the most tragic thing in life is being alive but broke!
Especially for the wealthy—that kind of pain hits twice as hard!
At that moment, Professor Alicia Harper glanced at the empty seat in the middle of the first row, then immediately looked toward the back row, meeting Chuck's calm gaze. She quickly looked away. "Dr. Wolfe, do you know where Sheldon Cooper went?"
Justine smiled, lowering her head.
As expected of a professor—she was already well-versed in Chuck and Sheldon's dynamics, immediately identifying the culprit.
"Either the restroom or the dean's office,"
Chuck stated his assessment.
"What happened this time?"
Professor Alicia Harper asked with a weary smile. "How did he manage to provoke you this time?"
"He was gloating about his little friend wetting himself from a single intimidating look,"
Chuck stated bluntly.
A burst of laughter erupted in the lecture hall. Not only Professor Alicia Harper, but most of the students in the class knew that Chuck always gave Sheldon a taste of his own medicine. Combined with Chuck's mention of the restroom, they immediately guessed that Sheldon had probably wet himself too.
"You didn't..."
Professor Alicia Harper was at a loss for words, both amused and exasperated. "Dr. Wolfe, would you please come with me to look for him?"
"Sure,"
Chuck said calmly, "but I don't recommend I be the one to go with you."
Another round of laughter rang out in the lecture hall, everyone understanding Chuck's implication: if he went, Sheldon probably wouldn't need to come out—saving everyone the trouble of him going back in.
Professor Alicia Harper had considered this as well, and as she was about to ask another student to go, she saw Sheldon walk in.
"Oh!"
Professor Alicia Harper exclaimed in surprise. "Cooper, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Young Sheldon glanced toward the back row, stubbornly raising his chin. "What could possibly be wrong with me?"
Seeing everyone staring at his pants, he immediately realized they already knew what had happened, and defiantly looked directly at Chuck. "I anticipated your tactics and brought spare pants in advance. That's right! I'm gradually figuring out your patterns; it'll be harder and harder for you to get to me from now on. I am Sheldon Cooper!"
"Good job!"
Facing the eager gazes of everyone around him, Chuck nodded in acknowledgment. "How many pairs of pants did you bring?"
"..."
Young Sheldon's triumphant smile froze.
Oh no!
He forgot that Chuck could anticipate his predictions.
(End of Chapter)
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