The video played for a full hour.
Hawking's voice finally stopped, and the living room fell into a sacred silence.
Three PhDs plus one Master's degree holder wore solemn expressions, as if they had just received a scientific communion.
Sheldon: "This is the pinnacle of wisdom, Leonard. Can you feel that... tremor running through your whole body?"
Leonard rubbed his stiff neck: "What I feel is an aching back."
When he turned his head, his attention was immediately drawn to one side of the sofa—
Ethan Rayne and Penny were sitting side by side.
They were sitting very close, and the atmosphere was relaxed and natural.
Penny was laughing while saying something, her laughter light and quick, like bubbles popping in the night.
Ethan Rayne responded by tapping his fingers on his knee, his tone gentle.
Leonard's smile instantly froze. He inexplicably felt a subtle "sense of danger" in the air.
He coughed, walked over casually, placed his hand on Ethan Rayne's shoulder, pretending to listen to their conversation.
Ethan Rayne looked strangely at the hand on his shoulder: "Leonard, don't you think you're being a little too intimate?"
"Oh! Oh! Sorry!" Leonard reacted, pulling his hand back at the speed of light: "I sat on the floor watching TV for too long, I needed to stretch."
After speaking, Leonard raised his arms and made a few movements, but since he never exercised, his body trembled and his movements were distorted.
Ethan Rayne glanced helplessly at Penny, finding her looking at him with a proud gaze.
She and Ethan Rayne exchanged a look—that unspoken understanding was instantly established.
[See? This is the normal reaction men have when they see me.]
[Yes, Penny, your charm is too dangerous.]
Neither of them spoke, but with a flash of their eyes, the message was accurately conveyed.
Leonard stood there, completely unaware of what had transpired.
"Hey, you guys seem to be having fun, what did I miss?" he asked with a tight smile.
Ethan Rayne turned his head and couldn't help but tease: "You missed Penny's chest."
"...Huh?"
Howard immediately jumped up as if struck by lightning: "Who just said—'chest'?"
After Howard, Rajesh also came over, his face full of gossip.
Ethan Rayne looked around at the boys who had instantly encircled them: "Yes, she said her chest felt a bit uncomfortable, so I helped her do an examination."
Howard: "She took off her clothes just now?!"
"Of course. Have you ever seen a doctor use a stethoscope through clothes?"
The three boys looked like they had missed out on a hundred million dollars. Penny couldn't help but burst out laughing and said, "You were too engrossed in the video. When I said I was taking off my clothes, none of you even turned your heads."
Hearing Penny not deny it, the three men looked even more dejected.
Howard couldn't help but say, "It requires regular check-ups, right? When is the next one? Can we be there to help next time?"
Ethan Rayne: "Of course... not!"
Howard regretted: "Sigh, I should have studied medicine."
It was getting late. Howard and Rajesh left the apartment, Sheldon had already gone back to his room, and Leonard was still hovering around the two of them, refusing to leave. Ethan Rayne got up, ready to return to his room, intending to give Leonard and Penny some space.
Leonard suddenly called out to Ethan Rayne, let out two dry laughs, and tried hard to regain some presence: "I was just thinking, where is Penny going to stay tonight? It's so cold outside, she could—uh, sleep in my room. Ethan Rayne and I can just squeeze together."
As soon as he said this, the air instantly fell silent.
Penny looked surprised and politely said, "Thank you, Leonard, but won't that be too much trouble?"
"No! Not at all!" Leonard looked at Ethan Rayne with an almost pleading look, "Right? Ethan Rayne?"
Ethan Rayne shrugged, and Penny could only smile awkwardly but politely.
Early the next morning, before the alarm clock went off, Ethan Rayne was woken by his biological clock.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he noticed that something wasn't quite right—
A... hairy thigh was resting on his waist?
He subconsciously turned his head—the next second, his entire body froze instantly.
"—Leonard!"
Leonard, who had never woken up this early, was startled awake. After a moment of confusion, he subconsciously threw off the blanket.
Ethan Rayne laughed exasperatedly: "If you're not wearing underwear, I swear I'll give you a sex change operation! From now on, you'll be called—Sister Lei!"
Leonard felt a chill down below, quickly covered himself with his hands, and looked at Ethan Rayne in horror.
Ignoring the trembling Leonard, Ethan Rayne changed into a tracksuit, put on his headphones, and went out for a morning run.
Queens in the morning was still covered in light mist, and the wind from the river blew on his face, tasting slightly salty.
Ethan Rayne jogged while thinking about his conversation with Penny yesterday.
He smiled—she truly lived up to her role as the female lead in The Big Bang Theory, with high emotional intelligence and explosive charm.
Penny's appeal to straight men wasn't just about her looks and figure; it was also her refreshing personality that made people unconsciously want to approach her.
"She truly is a typical social genius."
As for Leonard pursuing Penny, he probably could only succeed relying on time and what Sheldon described as "unceasing, endless entanglement."
And his appearance, he wondered if it would affect their final outcome like a butterfly flapping its wings.
"Forget it, I won't worry about this. I'll just let nature take its course."
Queens wasn't luxurious, but it was better than average, though not the best.
There weren't many early runners on the street, and they didn't greet each other when passing by.
New York's pace was too fast; even breathing had to be factored as a cost.
"People in Los Angeles at least smile," Ethan Rayne thought as he ran. "Running there, you can meet seven or eight new friends, talk about Kobe, talk about sunshine. But in New York—if you greet someone, they'll suspect you're selling gym memberships."
After running for over an hour, he was drenched in sweat, and his body was completely awake.
Returning to the apartment, Ethan Rayne took a hot shower, changed back into a shirt and slacks, and prepared to start a new day.
Leonard, who had gone back to sleep, was woken up again. He rubbed his sleepy face, put on his glasses, and watched Ethan Rayne adjusting his tie in front of the mirror.
"You're up too early," Leonard yawned. "Is a doctor's job so demanding?"
"The early bird gets the worm," Ethan Rayne replied. "And the late worm—doesn't get eaten."
Leonard smiled, but his expression quickly became hesitant.
He adjusted his glasses and cautiously asked, "Ethan Rayne, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Do you—uh—like Penny?"
Ethan Rayne stopped what he was doing and looked at the slightly nervous eyes reflected in the mirror.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because... I can tell," Leonard whispered. "She really likes you—you guys hit it off so well last night, I don't know how you did it. No girl has ever smiled at me that much."
Ethan Rayne smiled faintly, not answering immediately.
Adjusting his tie, he said, "Penny is very likable, and I am interested in her."
"So you like her?" Leonard's tone was nervous.
"I do like her," Ethan Rayne shrugged. "But I won't deliberately do anything; I'll let things take their natural course."
Leonard stared at him for two seconds, his mouth twitching.
"Your answer... I don't understand it."
"That's because feelings are never black and white," Ethan Rayne smiled. "I'll treat her as a friend. But if she asks me out, and the atmosphere is right, I'll go."
"It sounds like—you won't make the first move, but if she throws herself at you, you won't refuse."
"BINGO~"
Ethan Rayne snapped his fingers, wearing a smug expression.
"You!" Leonard pointed at him. "That's so unfair!"
"Life is inherently unfair," Ethan Rayne laughed. "Besides, don't you think Penny's feelings are what truly matter? Her happiness is the most important thing."
"Fine." Leonard looked a little dejected.
Ethan Rayne finished adjusting his clothes, then briefly smoothed down his hair.
"Good luck, little boy trapped by love—Uncle Ethan Rayne is off to work and make money!"
"Get lost!"