Chapter 238: The Oil Painting Beauty - Where's My Sister?
Two weeks later.
Columbia University.
"Professor."
"Professor Vicknair."
A middle-aged man with auburn hair and a light beard responded to the greetings with a gentlemanly nod and smile, carrying his briefcase, and walked down the corridor to his office.
As soon as he opened the door, his eyes were drawn to a figure as beautiful as a painting.
He didn't say a word. Someone had suddenly appeared in his office, and he quietly closed the door before calling out to the beauty who was looking at the oil painting on the wall with her back turned. "Jamie, you've come."
"Surprised?"
The beauty who was looking at the oil painting with her back turned didn't turn around, her voice indifferent.
"No."
Professor Vicknair's face showed a faint bitter smile.
"I'm entrusting the organization in this part of New York to you for supervision."
The beauty turned around; it was Anna's sister, the Oil Painting Beauty. She looked at Professor Vicknair and said calmly. "You should be able to see my expectations of you."
"I know."
A hint of admiration flashed in Professor Vicknair's eyes.
If the beautiful woman before him was the Queen of Crime, then he was the crown prince she placed her hopes on, the one who would inherit her throne.
Of course, compared to being the crown prince, he longed to be king.
He always felt he had a chance.
After all, not only did the throne need a successor, but the Queen's perfect genes also needed a man's help to be passed on.
The fact that he was being expected of such things was itself a testament to his capabilities; who in the organization was more suitable for the Queen than him?
All of this naturally required the Queen's approval, and he believed that day would come.
However, with the appearance of that man, the Queen's behavior deviated from absolute rationality; she inexplicably invested so many completely unnecessary resources in this man.
This made him feel a sense of crisis.
It wasn't that he couldn't see the man's merits, but he didn't think those merits were enough to replace him.
However, all of this was based on the premise that the Queen remained the absolutely rational Queen of Crime.
And this global Queen of Crime named Jamie Moriarty was, after all, just a beautiful woman not yet thirty.
He couldn't help but suspect that she had fallen for this man irrationally.
And blind love was a completely unnecessary and dangerous commodity for people like them.
This was the most important motivation behind his repeated deliberations when his subordinates reported to him and requested that Chuck be eliminated, even at the risk of being discovered by the Queen of Crime, ignoring her orders, and preparing to secretly kill Chuck.
He felt it was for her own good!
Unfortunately, it failed.
And the consequences were more severe than he had imagined.
"And how have you been overseeing this area for me?"
The Oil Painting Beauty looked at him expressionlessly. "Or tell me, how many people are still under your supervision in this vast New York?"
"He did it all!"
Professor Vicknair explained. "We just need to get rid of him, and everything can return to normal."
"Tell me, how many are left?"
The Oil Painting Beauty repeated.
"Only me left."
Professor Vicknair bowed slightly. "I admit his abilities exceeded my expectations. In two weeks, he found all my subordinates and wiped them all out. I find it hard to imagine how he did it... This further confirms my statement that he is a great threat to the organization and to you. We should eliminate him..."
The Oil Painting Beauty just looked at him, no longer speaking.
He couldn't continue speaking, because he knew she didn't want to hear him anymore.
"Why?"
Professor Vicknair, sensing his impending death, asked the same question that had been nagging at him as his subordinate, Agent Babbage. "Why do you treat him so differently? You personally gave the order from the beginning; you hate private detectives!"
Indeed!
As the second-in-command of the organization overseeing New York, he was the one who personally ordered the bald assassins to go after Chuck.
"I've never treated him differently,"
the Oil Painting Beauty shook her head. "Even now, I hate him!"
Professor Vicknair stared intently into her eyes, trying to find any trace of deception, but to no avail.
However, he felt no relief; instead, his heart grew heavier.
Because at this moment, she had no reason to lie to him.
"Why?"
Professor Vicknair staggered, his body unsteady as he sat down on the sofa, feeling the approach of death, and uttered a hoarse voice.
He desperately needed a reason, a reason to convince himself that the perfect crime queen wasn't blinded by love and deceiving herself.
The Oil Painting Beauty glanced at her watch, walked over, knelt down, and looked into his eyes. She murmured. "Because he was my sister's eyes, and my sister was my only family in this world. Now, because you disobeyed my orders and tried to gouge out her eyes, she wiped out all your men to vent her anger, and then disappeared."
Her voice turned icy cold. "So, you deserve to die!"
"Your sister?"
Professor Vicknair was stunned. He slumped weakly against the sofa, using his last ounce of strength to lift his head and stare intently at the Oil Painting Beauty, trying to discern the truth.
What sister?
What kind of sister was so powerful that she wiped out all his men?
It wasn't Chuck Wolfe?
Filled with endless doubt, he breathed his last.
The Oil Painting Beauty reached out and checked his body. After confirming his death, she got up, sent a text message, and then left silently.
A moment later, a figure entered, faced the lifeless Professor Vicknair, and began cleaning without any reaction, packing him up and taking him away.
Central Park Café.
"Look, what a beautiful girl!"
Joey exclaimed, her eyes widening as she approached. She nudged her roommate Chandler, gesturing for him to look.
"Wow!"
Chandler peeked over and a teasing smile immediately spread across his face. "She really is beautiful—Joey, you're in luck!"
"You mean I should go up and talk to her?"
Joey feigned modesty. "That's not a good idea—she looks like she's waiting for someone."
"Are you Chandler Bing?"
Chandler asked, puzzled.
"Of course not."
Joey was taken aback, looking at Chandler with confusion.
"That's fine then."
Chandler said with a self-deprecating laugh. "For Chandler Bing, a stunning beauty like that is obviously out of the question for someone as awkward as him, but you're not Chandler Bing—you're Joey Tribbiani!"
"Yeah."
Joey nodded, pursing his lips, looking convinced. "I'm Joey Tribbiani!"
Actually, he wouldn't need any reason or excuse; he would still have gone up and talked to her anyway.
He straightened himself up, then walked over excitedly, flashing the classic Joey smile at the beautiful woman sitting alone by the window. "Hi, I'm Joey, how you doin'~"
Just then, Ross walked in, saw this scene, and walked up to Chandler, speechless, saying uncertainly. "Chandler, am I seeing things? Is that Professor Alicia Harper? Joey is hitting on Professor Alicia Harper?"
"You're not seeing things!"
Chandler mocked. "Joey always thinks he's irresistible; it's time he learned his lesson."
"She's a married woman..."
Ross's gaze never left Professor Alicia Harper, dazed. "Isn't this a bit much for Joey?"
"Then why don't you try?"
Chandler looked at him with a knowing smile.
"Can I?"
Ross instinctively revealed his thoughts.
"Aren't you a married man?"
Chandler scoffed.
"..."
Ross was speechless, staring at him.
However, unlike usual, he generously decided to forgive Chandler, because he was in a very good mood today and felt that Chandler's words weren't so cutting.
Not being a married man has its advantages!
He immediately started fixing his hair and clothes, ready to go over at any time.
Sure enough.
Soon, the would-be Romeo Joey returned dejectedly.
"How did it go?"
Chandler teased. "Did you succeed?"
"She's waiting for a friend,"
Joey said awkwardly. "And she's a married woman—I didn't see the ring on her hand just now..."
"You didn't even see such a big ring?"
Chandler mocked. "Where were you looking?"
"I went to say hello to Professor Alicia Harper..."
Ross explained his 'reasonable motive' in a transparent manner, dawdling as he walked over.
"He knows her?"
Joey's eyes widened. "Professor Alicia Harper? That name sounds familiar... I feel like I've heard it somewhere before."
"I'll give you a hint—Monica's rival,"
Chandler teased.
"Oh, it's her!"
Joey slapped his forehead, his fingers twitching, and exclaimed in realization. "Chuck's physics professor—oh my God! So it's her! No wonder Monica has been so worried about her as a rival, and the most important one at that!"
When Monica first met Chuck, she was very anxious about their relationship. As old friends, Joey and the others witnessed everything and naturally knew of Professor Alicia Harper.
Ross had met Professor Alicia Harper, and Chandler had met her after becoming Chuck's assistant. Of the three men among his old friends, only Joey had only heard of her by name but never seen her. Now he was truly impressed, realizing that her reputation was well-deserved, and meeting her in person was even better than hearing about her!
"Wait a minute!"
Joey belatedly looked at Chandler. "Since you know she's Professor Alicia Harper, why did you still tell me to go and hit on her?"
"That's what makes it more interesting,"
Chandler shrugged. "Maybe you'll even be able to do what Chuck couldn't!"
"Sounds interesting,"
Joey nodded again, but quickly shook his head with a wry smile. "Forget it, I know my own limitations. What can I compare to Chuck? Don't you think she's waiting for Chuck?"
"I hope so,"
Chandler said playfully. "That would be quite a show."
"You mean..."
Joey immediately imagined a dramatic scene and chuckled.
This was Monica's territory, and her apartment was upstairs. If Professor Alicia Harper was waiting for Chuck, it would truly be dramatic... and he loved watching drama, especially involving beautiful women.
How exciting!
"I'll call Monica right now!"
Joey, always eager for drama, said.
Chandler didn't stop him, because he knew they weren't waiting for Chuck at all.
Neither Chuck nor Professor Alicia Harper were the type to provoke others just for the sake of it.
Ross quickly retreated as well.
"How was it?"
Chandler teased. "Did you learn anything about physics like Chuck?"
"Don't get me wrong, I just greeted her. We're all scientists... I'm not like Joey, who knowingly hits on a married woman!"
Ross was particularly defensive after his failure.
"Yeah, right!"
Joey scoffed.
Monica quickly came down and immediately spotted Professor Alicia Harper. Amidst the gossipy gazes of the crowd, she walked straight over. "Alicia, what are you doing here?"
"Monica."
Professor Alicia Harper greeted Monica with a natural smile, and after Monica sat down, she explained. "I'm waiting for a friend."
"What friend?"
Monica asked instinctively, realizing her mistake as soon as the words left her mouth, and quickly added. "If it's inconvenient to say, never mind."
"It's alright—you'll probably see her soon anyway."
"Is there anything inconvenient?"
Professor Alicia Harper smiled. "I have a pen pal who has an exceptionally high appreciation for art, especially painting. We've been corresponding, and I only recently learned she's in New York, so we arranged to meet."
"Her?"
Monica immediately grasped the key point, her smile instantly becoming much more sincere. "What does she do?"
"I didn't ask in detail, but she probably works in the arts,"
Professor Alicia Harper shook her head. "Most likely a painter."
Monica looked at her with curiosity, a thought flashing through her mind, and scrutinized her closely.
"What's wrong?"
Professor Alicia Harper also noticed Monica's unusual gaze, collected her thoughts, and looked over with a puzzled expression.
"Nothing,"
Monica naturally didn't want to reveal her unfounded thoughts, and smiled. "My friends are over there—I'll go now, so I won't bother you any longer."
Professor Alicia Harper followed Monica's gaze, smiled at Ross and Joey who were awkwardly waving at her, then looked away and turned to look out the window.
"What's the story?"
Joey asked, his eyes brimming with gossip.
"What do you mean, 'what's the story!'"
Monica glared at Joey, who seemed to be itching for drama with Professor Alicia Harper.
"Is she waiting for Chuck?"
Ross couldn't resist teasing her.
"Of course not!"
Monica knew what her brother was thinking. Remembering the thought that had crossed her mind, she said with a knowing smile. "Don't even think about it, or you'll definitely regret it!"
"What would I regret?"
Ross retorted, unconvinced.
"Ha,"
Monica chuckled without replying.
Just as the old friends were chatting and laughing, the shop door opened, and a graceful figure walked in.
"Wow! So beautiful!"
"So elegant!"
Joey and the others immediately gushed—even Monica was momentarily stunned. Under their watchful eyes, the beautiful woman glanced around and walked towards Professor Alicia Harper.
"Eileen Klein."
"Alicia Harper."
Professor Alicia Harper stood up and shook hands with the beautiful woman who had introduced herself. This picturesque scene left everyone speechless.
(End of Chapter)
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