Chapter 241: Candles, Red Wine... and Her Maniacal Laughter!
"Chuck."
Professor Alicia Harper caught up with Chuck, her face flushed with embarrassment, hesitant to speak. "It's not what you think..."
"No need to explain,"
Chuck said calmly.
"..."
Professor Alicia Harper was at a loss for words.
Of course, she didn't really want to explain to Chuck either.
But Chuck had witnessed what just happened, and she felt it wouldn't be right not to say something.
"We're just pen pals."
Professor Alicia Harper's thoughts, though racing endlessly, ultimately boiled down to the simplest acknowledgment.
"I know,"
Chuck nodded.
"...I don't want anyone else to know about this."
Professor Alicia Harper finally said what she truly wanted to say.
"Okay,"
Chuck agreed without hesitation.
Although he had a naturally curious streak, he wasn't a gossip.
Besides, not telling anyone about today's events was beneficial to him as well.
After all, Anna's existence was not only Eileen's weakness but also his. Not revealing any potentially compromising information was in everyone's best interest.
Professor Alicia Harper's expression softened when Chuck agreed. She nodded, glanced back, and met Eileen's gaze as she gestured to her from the floor-to-ceiling window. Seeing Eileen's gesture, her face flushed crimson, and she turned and quickly left.
Monica's apartment.
Knock knock knock.
Knock knock knock.
Knock knock knock.
Hearing the familiar knocking pattern, Monica lit up and quickly opened the door: "Chuck, you're here!"
"I'm here."
Chuck didn't explain his sudden visit, simply stating this before entering. He glanced around the apartment and noticed young Howard was also there.
"Hi."
Under his cousin's threatening glare, young Howard tried his best to control his perverted tendencies, greeting Chuck in an awkward manner.
"Howard, you can leave now!"
Monica not only gave him a warning look but also immediately started shooing him away after his greeting.
"No way!"
Young Howard glanced at Rachel and Phoebe, who were cheerfully greeting Chuck, and had no intention of leaving. He grinned and said, "Dr. Wolfe is mine and my friend's idol. I want to soak up more of his influence."
"Not necessary!"
Monica ignored him completely and flatly refused. "Little Leonard will be influenced by Chuck. You can be influenced through him—that's enough. I'll have Ross take you home."
She still had some gossip she wanted to discuss with Chuck, and of course, she couldn't let her perverted little cousin eavesdrop.
So, no matter how much young Howard protested, Monica called Ross and had him escorted away.
"Chuck, did you see Alicia's pen pal?"
With the extra person gone, her gossipy nature began to burn brightly. Rachel asked the most crucial question on Monica's behalf.
"Yes."
Chuck nodded.
"Was Chandler right?"
Monica's eyes flashed dangerously.
She really didn't want Chuck to meet Eileen. But she couldn't help it! Eileen's looks and demeanor... even she almost felt attracted to her—way too threatening.
"No,"
Chuck bluntly stated that he needed to see Eileen for his case.
"Oh, I see..."
Rachel and Phoebe said in drawn-out voices, their gazes toward Monica strange, clearly conveying, 'This is exactly what Chandler said!'
This seemed like fate, something that couldn't be stopped—much worse than Chandler's meddling.
Chuck knew what they were thinking, but didn't explain that it wasn't fate, but manipulation.
Regardless, she would always find her way to him.
"Did she help you?"
Monica's smile was somewhat strained.
"She did,"
Chuck nodded. "I already have the answer to the case."
"That's good, that's good,"
Monica forced a smile.
Chuck chatted with them for a while, and after his watch vibrated almost imperceptibly, confirming there were no remote monitoring devices, he bluntly ended the small talk: "Monica, do you have time for research?"
"Now?"
"Huh?"
"Got it, understood!"
Chuck's direct question elicited varying expressions from the three women. Monica looked awkwardly at her two best friends, while Rachel and Phoebe exchanged bewildered glances, widened their eyes in surprise, and then knowingly got up and left.
"I'm going to take a shower now."
Seeing this, Monica stopped pretending and excitedly got up to prepare.
In the world of sitcoms, there's no such thing as inappropriate timing; it's normal research activity, a sign of healthy affection.
"Okay."
Chuck nodded and followed her.
"What's this?"
Monica looked at Chuck with surprise and delight, an unbelievable thought forming in her mind.
Did Chuck want to shower together?
"No."
Chuck shook his head. "I have something to ask you while you're getting ready."
"Oh."
Monica was slightly disappointed, but more curious. "Go ahead and ask."
"Was there a stranger here just now?"
Chuck inquired.
"A stranger?"
Monica was taken aback, then thought for a moment and said, "Besides Howard, a new resident moved into Mr. Heckles' old apartment downstairs. She's also a woman. She came over to introduce herself and chatted with us for a while. Why are you asking about that?"
"What did she look like?"
Chuck continued.
"Very ordinary, nowhere near the experimental baseline,"
Monica blurted out.
"Detailed description of her appearance,"
Chuck prompted, already holding out paper and pen.
"Oh, you want to sketch her."
Monica, a long-time research partner of Chuck's, immediately understood his purpose. Looking somewhat nervous, she asked, "Who is she? Is there a problem?"
"She's not a good person,"
Chuck said, then, seeing her tension, reassured her, "Don't worry."
"Okay."
Monica took a deep breath and began describing the woman's appearance. With Chuck's repeated corrections and prompts, a face almost identical to the one she had seen gradually appeared in the sketch.
"That's her!"
Monica nodded. "What's going on?"
"You don't need to worry about it."
Chuck adjusted his decorative glasses, looked at the sketch for a few more seconds, then put it away and reminded her, "Hurry up and get ready; I need to shower too."
"Continue?"
Monica was stunned.
This was clearly dangerous and something was seriously wrong. Was it appropriate to continue with that kind of thing?
But surprisingly, Chuck's words eased her tension considerably, and she completely trusted him. It probably wasn't a major problem; otherwise, Chuck wouldn't abandon his important work to continue doing research in the middle of the day.
After a thoroughly satisfying research session...
"Why bother with all that? Just go downstairs to the apartment and check—maybe she's still there..."
Monica, radiating a relaxed and carefree aura, muttered to herself as Chuck stood up. But as Chuck turned and looked at her, she caught herself, smiling sheepishly, "My bad, she's obviously faking it. How could she really be living downstairs?"
"Don't tell anyone about this,"
Chuck instructed.
"Okay,"
Monica smiled.
She wanted as many secrets as possible that only she and Chuck shared.
Chuck didn't say anything more. After cleaning up in the apartment, he left, adjusted his decorative glasses, and muttered in a voice only he could hear, "Did you find anything?"
His watch vibrated almost imperceptibly.
Chuck took out his phone, which was already lit up. The woman's information from the sketch appeared on the screen.
"Keep a close eye on her,"
Chuck muttered, "An invisible hand is most powerful when it remains unseen. I hope she knows her place and doesn't overestimate herself... and test my patience."
New Jersey.
Professor Harper's house.
Professor Alicia Harper returned from Columbia University, radiating unusual energy. As soon as she got home, she started tidying up the house and preparing dinner.
"John, you're home,"
she greeted him with a smile.
"Yeah,"
Professor John Harper nodded, staring blankly at his radiant wife. She took his briefcase and pulled him into the house.
They had been giving each other the cold shoulder for months since their big fight.
He hadn't really felt anything.
His mind was completely absorbed in solving the mathematical problem P=NP. The cold war with his wife didn't make him feel bad; instead, it gave him a feeling of being back in the oppressive yet motivating atmosphere of the Cold War era.
Lately, he'd had much more inspiration and made significant progress on the equation.
Seeing his wife like this now, he felt conflicted. His rational side wanted to say, "Let's not do this, let's continue this cold war," but his remaining emotions told him that if he said that, their marriage would be over.
Professor Alicia Harper set her husband's briefcase down, helped him to the table, and began serving food while humming a tune.
Candles and wine were already set on the dining table.
After serving the meticulously prepared meal, Professor Alicia Harper turned off the lights, asked her husband to wait, and returned to the bedroom. When she emerged, in the soft candlelight, a stunningly beautiful and captivating woman gracefully walked out.
Even Professor John Harper, whose mind was preoccupied with mathematical problems, was momentarily mesmerized.
The meticulously dressed Professor Alicia Harper was pleased with her husband's dazed expression. She walked around him once, then returned to sit opposite him across the table.
"John, do you remember how we met?"
Professor Alicia Harper raised her wine glass, swirled the wine inside, and spoke softly, her voice slightly husky, her eyes somewhat unfocused.
"I remember."
Influenced by the atmosphere, Professor John Harper also recalled his happy past with his wife, smiling shyly. "Back then, I was focused on my research, and the university forced me to teach classes because I was a professor and had certain teaching obligations to impart knowledge to young scientists."
"Like me,"
Professor Alicia Harper chimed in with a smile.
"Yes."
Professor John Harper nodded, his eyes fixed on his charming wife, lost in memories. "I reluctantly agreed, intending to just get through it quickly, but there was construction going on outside, which was incredibly noisy and bothering me. So I went over and closed all the windows, trying to block out the noise as much as possible.
Then you stood up from among the students and said it was too hot to close the windows. You got up, went to the window, said a few words to the construction workers below, and asked them to take a break for one class period. The workers readily agreed, and then you told me the problem was solved and we could start class. No one can resist your charm!"
"Actually, I just wanted to get your attention."
Professor Alicia Harper took a sip of red wine, feeling the alcohol flow through her body. Her eyes, now hazy, drifted back to the past as she murmured, "Back then, I had just started college, and all I wanted was to study hard.
I worked multiple part-time jobs for a long time to save up for my tuition. Achieving academic success was my biggest goal.
But when I saw you, I was captivated. You were a genius professor at the university, a math prodigy, and even I, who was focused on my studies, couldn't resist you."
Professor John Harper was delighted to hear his wife's sweet words, but the awkward man could only manage, "The current math prodigy is Dr. Wolfe. If he were my contemporary, I wouldn't be considered a prodigy at all."
"..."
Professor Alicia Harper's pleasant mood faltered. She wanted to complain about why Chuck had to be mentioned at this moment, but then she remembered what had happened during the day. Her delicate hand unconsciously touched her forehead, her face flushing. Fortunately, the red wine and candlelight concealed this from her husband's attention.
Then she gave a self-deprecating laugh, because even in broad daylight, her husband wouldn't notice anything amiss.
"How's Dr. Wolfe doing lately..."
Professor John Harper didn't notice his wife's silence. Mentioning Chuck immediately shifted his attention; the perfect atmosphere of red wine and candles vanished, replaced by concern for Chuck's current situation and boundless anger and regret over the sabotage of their organized math treasure hunt.
"Don't mention him,"
Professor Alicia Harper said, her mind involuntarily flashing back to Chuck as her husband continued his rambling. She shook her head, stood up, and walked behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck, murmuring softly. Her every gesture conveyed a wife's most basic need for her husband.
"Let go,"
Professor Harper said. As he expressed his concern for Chuck and his desire to collaborate with him on key aspects of the P=NP problem, he suddenly felt his breathing become labored. Looking down, he saw his wife's arms around his neck and immediately pulled away, frowning.
"No!"
Professor Alicia Harper was deeply agitated and exceptionally emotional today, so naturally she wouldn't listen to her husband's stubborn, dismissive request.
"Let go... let go!"
Professor John Harper's mind was filled with equations, and a sudden inspiration struck him. Seeing that his wife not only didn't let go after he'd asked several times, but instead held him even tighter, he grew irritated and forcefully pulled her arms away, pushing her to the ground.
"I'm sorry, I don't want to... I have work to do."
Professor John Harper looked at his wife on the ground, his eyes showing some reluctance, but the fleeting inspiration in his mind made him unable to stay and care about his wife's feelings.
He had more important work to do!
So he hurriedly went into his study to try and capture that fleeting inspiration.
In the dim candlelight, Professor Alicia Harper lay sprawled on the floor. Dressed in a revealing gown, she struggled to rise, but immediately failed. Staring at the closed study door, she suddenly abandoned any thought of getting up. She lay back down, gazing absently at the candlelight shadows dancing on the ceiling, her mind replaying her encounters and romance with her husband.
Then, a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips, quickly widening and becoming extremely unnatural. A bizarre laugh erupted from her mouth.
"Hahaha..."
The laughter grew louder and louder, yet she seemed oblivious, laughing wildly with all her might, without stopping.
When Professor John Harper was finally forced to come out, he saw his wife lying there, laughing hysterically, veins bulging on her forehead, showing no sign of stopping.
At that moment, he—who had initially intended to scold his wife for disrupting his train of thought—suddenly felt a chill and realized something was terribly wrong.
(End of Chapter)