Chapter 279: Paige Says - I Approve This Relationship, Do Whatever You Want!
Chuck drove back to the hillside villa.
Monica wasn't there.
Only Mia sat in the living room, looking distant. When she saw Chuck return, her eyes refocused with a complex expression. When Chuck looked at her, she lowered her head.
"Is something wrong?"
Chuck asked.
"No."
Mia shook her head. "How did it go?"
"Don't worry about it."
Chuck showed no sign of concern.
Mia nodded.
Just as Chuck was watching her, his phone rang.
It was Monica.
"Yes?"
"Chuck, come quick—Joey's in the hospital."
Monica's anxious voice came through the phone.
"And?"
Chuck asked calmly.
"..."
Monica paused. "Shouldn't you come see him?"
"Alright."
Chuck didn't press further and agreed.
On the other end of the line.
New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
In a private room.
Lying in the hospital bed, Joey looked at Monica expectantly. "How'd it go?"
"He agreed to come."
Monica put away her phone, her expression helpless. "But don't expect him to help you. You heard him..."
"Does he already know what happened?"
Phoebe asked with a knowing grin.
"Is that really surprising?"
Monica complained. "I don't even need to tell him—he's so perceptive, he can figure out anything from the slightest hint."
"So it's not that he doesn't care about me."
Joey's face brightened, and he said optimistically, "That's good, that's good."
"This is all your fault!"
Monica glared at Joey. "Why did you have to go after Linda of all people? She's ten years older than you!"
"Age is just a number."
Joey said with a grin. "Linda's in her prime right now, okay!"
"But she's Paige's mother!"
Monica sneered. "Don't forget where you are right now? And why you want to see Chuck!"
"..."
Joey's smile froze. Looking at his left leg suspended in traction, he shivered and forced a dry laugh. "We're only suspecting it was Paige right now. I feel like it was more likely just an accident."
"Sure."
Monica, as Paige's guardian, had always been by Paige's side and had worked with Chuck on so many research projects. She had considerable insight into the mindset of a super genius. Regarding Joey's wishful thinking, she scoffed, "You should be grateful she even gave you a hint. Otherwise, you wouldn't even know who did it."
"She said she wanted us to be happy."
Joey protested.
"That was in front of her mother, Linda."
Monica reminded him. "And listen carefully—you only heard what she said, but didn't you notice the look in her eyes when she said it?"
"I'm not that bad of a catch."
Joey said dejectedly.
"Not good enough!"
Phoebe chuckled. "If you were as impressive as Chuck, I don't think Paige would have any objections!"
"It's not entirely my fault."
Joey looked at Monica. "If you hadn't introduced me to Linda, I wouldn't have fallen for her."
"...My bad."
Monica's eye twitched. "I never expected you two to hook up. What a mess!"
"When Chuck gets here, you have to help me."
Joey looked at Monica pitifully. "If it really was Paige, only Chuck can help me."
"I'll do my best."
Monica said helplessly.
"Are you planning to cosplay as Dr. House?"
Chandler walked in at that moment and, seeing Joey's setup, immediately teased, "Dr. Drake Ramoray?"
"Hey! Good idea!"
Joey had been worried, but upon hearing Chandler's words, his professional actor instincts immediately kicked in, and his eyes lit up as he began imagining himself as Dr. Drake Ramoray, the character he was currently playing on the hit soap opera "Days of Our Lives."
"Dr. House is a very compelling character. I think I could make Dr. Drake Ramoray lean more towards that direction.
That would definitely make the show more compelling.
Yeah.
That makes sense too. Dr. Drake Ramoray is already an excellent doctor. All he needs to become Dr. House is a major accident.
A once cheerful and charming doctor who, after a devastating accident, becomes a patient himself, suffers tremendously, and transforms into this brilliant but bitter doctor... That's very creative!"
As he spoke, he started to get up.
"What are you doing?"
Monica quickly stopped him.
"I'm calling the writers to pitch this idea."
Joey said excitedly. "I think we can change the storyline like this!"
"Hold your horses!"
Monica said impatiently. "At this rate, the role will be yours naturally anyway, because if you don't take care of yourself, you'll be able to play it authentically without having to fake the limp."
"No one can compete with you for this role except Dr. House himself."
Chandler teased.
"Don't tell him!"
Joey exclaimed in alarm.
He'd met Dr. House before and knew the guy had a soft spot for soap operas. If he found out about this brilliant idea, who's to say he wouldn't abandon his promising career as a renowned diagnostician to compete for the role?
After all, everyone loves acting, and there are countless people who cross over into entertainment!
After chatting for a while, Chuck pushed open the door and entered.
"Chuck!"
everyone greeted him.
"How are you feeling?"
Chuck glanced at Joey on the hospital bed.
"I'm fine."
Joey smiled.
Chuck looked at him without speaking.
"Aren't you going to ask what happened?"
Joey said with an awkward smile.
"Does it matter?"
Chuck asked expressionlessly.
"..."
Joey's smile grew even more awkward.
He was certain Chuck already knew.
He wasn't surprised—he didn't think he could hide anything from Chuck, especially since he really needed Chuck's advice and help.
"It's really not my fault."
Joey said earnestly. "Trust me!"
"Yeah, it's all because Paige's mom, Linda, is too attractive."
Chandler said sarcastically. "Sound familiar?"
"You should tell Chuck the whole truth."
Monica reminded him.
"Okay!"
Joey immediately agreed obediently.
It turned out that because of Monica, Paige's mom Linda had come to visit her daughter and happened to run into Joey, who was looking for Monica.
Linda immediately recognized the famous Dr. Drake Ramoray!
After all, the character Joey was playing had become the dream man of countless soap opera-obsessed housewives across America.
Joey was fine at first.
But under Linda's enthusiastic questioning, Joey, who had been reserved initially, began to really look at her.
Linda looked fairly ordinary, but as Paige's mother, she had a certain appeal.
Joey became more enthusiastic.
Monica hadn't thought anything of it—after all, there was a ten-year age gap, and she was Paige's mother, so she didn't warn Joey.
When Joey showed up at the apartment with Linda, Monica was stunned.
Her first reaction was that this was a bad idea.
And as expected, when Paige learned the news, although she remained calm, even wearing a sweet smile,
Monica, who knew Paige well, immediately saw the dangerous undercurrent hidden beneath that sweet smile.
If Joey were a normal person, like Chandler... Ross... well, Chandler and Ross aren't exactly normal either—it seems like there really isn't a normal person in her circle.
If he were, then it wouldn't be so bad.
But Joey's a player, completely uncommitted, and he's in the middle of his big career breakthrough as a rising celebrity.
More importantly, Paige is still Paige!
This is absolutely a disaster waiting to happen!
Monica had been worried sick about this.
Then, the 'accident' happened without any real surprise—Joey inexplicably broke his leg and ended up in the hospital.
Reminded by Monica, he recalled the way Paige looked at him when Linda wasn't watching, and finally understood.
But now he was stuck in a predicament.
"What are you thinking?"
Chuck asked calmly after hearing the story. "Are you planning to marry Linda, settle down, and live a quiet life?"
Joey immediately became uncomfortable, looking at Chuck with an awkward smile, waiting for another option.
But unfortunately, Chuck didn't offer anything more, just looked at him.
"Or, are you planning to immediately settle down, marry Linda, and live a quiet life?"
Chandler immediately caught on and mocked, slightly rephrasing Chuck's words while emphasizing the key phrase: quiet life.
"I'm not ready to get married yet."
Joey pleaded, looking at Chuck. "Isn't there any other option?"
"What are you talking about?"
Just then, a woman's voice rang out from outside the ward.
Everyone turned to look and saw Paige's mother, Linda, walking in with a worried expression. "Joey, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine..."
Joey's gaze involuntarily fell on Paige, who was following behind Linda.
"Chuck, you're here too."
Paige's eyes were only on Chuck, and she smiled sweetly.
Chuck nodded.
Joey kept giving Chuck meaningful looks.
Chuck didn't react.
Paige also stopped looking at Chuck and focused her gaze on Joey, especially on his suspended left leg, her eyes smiling.
But Joey, who had already realized that Paige was no ordinary girl, could no longer appreciate the sweet smile of young Paige. He felt a chill run down his spine and was even distracted by the affectionate greeting from the mature Linda.
"Chuck, Paige has a math problem she wants to ask you about. Why don't we all step outside?"
Monica finally tried to smooth things over. "The doctor said patients need plenty of rest."
Everyone turned to look at Paige.
Paige didn't speak, still smiling at Joey.
"Let's go."
Chuck, after being tugged a few times by Monica, felt it was enough and didn't want to waste any more time. He nodded to Paige.
"Okay."
Paige nodded with a smile.
Everyone went outside, leaving only Linda with Joey.
Phoebe and the others also tactfully left, giving Chuck and his group some space.
Paige looked at Monica, who was the last one standing there.
"I'll go grab you a drink."
Monica also left.
"What have you been up to lately?"
Paige asked with displeasure. "I haven't seen you in forever."
"I've been dealing with things."
Chuck replied succinctly.
"You can finally make time now?"
Paige said with a slight edge. "Looks like Dr. Drake Ramoray's injury was quite worthwhile."
"What are you planning?"
Chuck, sensing Paige's intention to keep Joey incapacitated, asked directly.
"I already told him."
Paige glanced toward the ward. "I'm willing to do anything as long as my mother is happy... I'm confident I can make that happen.
But I promised you I'd get your permission first, so I gave him a little warning.
Now it seems that was the right call."
Chuck understood her meaning.
If he hadn't come when Joey got hurt, Joey wouldn't be considered Chuck's friend, and there would be no need to continue seeking Chuck's permission.
But now that Chuck was here, whether because of Monica or some other reason, it meant Joey fell into the category of friends Chuck and she had previously established.
Naturally, she couldn't just do whatever she wanted.
"If they break up amicably, can you accept that?"
Chuck asked the crucial question.
"That depends on what kind of 'amicable breakup' we're talking about."
Paige's expression became much more serious. "I don't want my mother to get her heart broken again, especially not by some guy who isn't worth it."
"Understood."
Chuck nodded. "I'll talk to him. I believe he can handle it properly. If he can't, as long as it's not irreversible, you're free to do whatever you want!"
"Deal!"
Paige nodded sweetly, tilting her head to look at Chuck. "So what have you been busy with lately?"
"Just some cases."
Chuck looked at her. "Haven't you been pretty busy yourself?"
"You know about that?"
Paige's eyes lit up, and her smile became even sweeter. "The person I've been playing chess with online—it's not you, is it?"
She shook her head. "No, the playing style doesn't seem like yours! It must be a girl, like me! And a genius girl at that!"
"Of course—anyone who can beat you must be a super genius girl."
Chuck said.
"You know who she is?"
Paige looked at Chuck. "Don't you?"
"Want to know?"
Chuck stared at her. "Didn't I hear that if you beat her, you'd learn her identity?"
"You think I can't beat her?"
Paige's demeanor shifted.
"Have you won yet?"
Chuck asked bluntly.
"..."
Paige's eyes sharpened, her smile vanished, and she stared intently at Chuck, saying each word slowly and deliberately, "I will definitely beat her!"
"I look forward to that day!"
Chuck said calmly.
This was the truth.
Because the person Paige was playing chess with online was Anna. Ever since Anna learned that Paige also carried Adler genetics and was considered Anna's relative, Anna, who observed the world through Chuck's eyes, had taken notice of this genius girl who shared her bloodline.
Then the two became chess rivals online.
Originally, this kind of game wouldn't have particularly interested Paige, but unfortunately, her opponent was Anna, and even with Paige's genius IQ surpassing Sheldon's, she hadn't won a single game.
This immediately ignited Paige's fierce competitive spirit.
Forget the young Paige—even Chuck, who had played against Anna for so many years, had never won!
That's right!
Chuck had never beaten Anna!
Even after Chuck used two doses of the Water of Life, boosting all his attributes twice, he still hadn't won against Anna even once.
It was safe to say that in the realm of pure intelligence, Anna was the strongest opponent Chuck had ever encountered.
Add to that the psychological dimension of chess, and Anna, with her singular focus, could be considered a true supercomputer.
An AI version at that!
A genuine system intelligence.
He genuinely hoped that one day in the future, Paige would be able to beat Anna through sheer brilliance—Anna would surely be delighted.
Of course, it didn't matter if Paige couldn't do it.
Because Chuck would definitely manage it eventually.
(End of Chapter)
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