Chapter 280: Sheldon's Date
Ron sent the date invitation message on Raj's laptop and received an immediate yes. Without even needing to ask, the three scientists took the initiative to convince Sheldon to agree.
Ron was, of course, thrilled.
Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler—how could Ron not recognize her potential?
She seemed like exactly the type of person who could complement Sheldon's unique personality! Someone with similar intellectual interests who might actually understand his quirks and help him grow as a person. Even Sheldon's mother, Mary, hadn't been able to get through to him the way the right partner might.
While Ron had always been skeptical about the whole "soulmate" concept, this situation made him wonder: maybe the right person really could make all the difference!
The exciting news was so significant that George, the first to hear it, rushed to tell Mary and claim credit for encouraging the setup. For the first time in weeks, she allowed him two beers as a reward.
Keep in mind, for health reasons, George was currently limited to three beers per week.
"Ron, what does this girl look like? Do you think she'll be good for Sheldon?" Mary asked anxiously, like any mother worried about her son's social development.
"She might seem a bit academic, but that could be perfect for Sheldon. I've sent her photo to your email. You can have Missy take a look tonight."
"As for whether they'll hit it off, I honestly don't know, but at least she agreed to meet him, right? That's definitely a promising start."
Ron knew this had potential to be significant, but explaining his intuition seemed too complicated.
"What about Sheldon? Did he actually agree to go?"
Raj gave him a thumbs-up, and Ron relayed the confirmation: "Absolutely. They're meeting at 3:30 PM. I'll call you after the date to let you know how it went, okay Mom?"
Ron felt like he was hosting some kind of matchmaking reality show, genuinely invested in both participants' success.
After hanging up, Ron surveyed the lab. Sheldon had already solved the technical problems that morning and was currently browsing at the comic book store. Ron doubted he'd be motivated to dress up for the occasion.
Given Sheldon's priorities, he'd rather spend time analyzing the latest Batman storylines.
Howard was the most practically minded of the four, so he needed to stay and continue the engineering work. Leonard, as an experimental physicist, was also skilled with hands-on projects, and his long experience working with Sheldon meant he could decipher those cryptic equations Sheldon had scrawled on the whiteboard.
That left Raj as the obvious choice.
"Raj, could you please help Sheldon get ready? After all, this is his first real date, and I'd like him to look at least somewhat... presentable."
Howard had arranged a 3:30 PM meeting at a low-key coffee shop, claiming it would reduce pressure on both parties. Ron couldn't detect any nervousness on Sheldon's face—only mild irritation.
"In approximately ninety minutes, after I witness this social experiment fail spectacularly, which response would you prefer?" Sheldon walked reluctantly ahead of them. "The classic 'I told you so'? Or perhaps just a knowing smirk?"
"Think whatever you want, but I promised Mom I'd make sure you actually showed up to meet this woman who's apparently willing to date you," Ron gently pushed Sheldon forward. "Besides, I'm genuinely curious about someone the algorithm considers compatible with you in every meaningful way."
"Hey, we can't assume we're wrong yet," Raj protested weakly, though his tone suggested even he had doubts.
"Hello! I'm Amy Farrah Fowler. Are you Sheldon?" Before Sheldon could respond, a brown-haired woman wearing glasses approached from behind him.
Sheldon turned around and said, "Hello, Amy. I should mention upfront that you've been deceived by an overly optimistic matching algorithm into agreeing to meet a complete stranger. Also, I was coerced into this arrangement through sock-related blackmail."
Using dirty laundry as leverage to get Sheldon on a date? Brilliant strategy! Ron secretly gave Raj an approving nod.
"If that's some kind of colloquialism, I'm unfamiliar with it," the woman spoke at a measured pace, each word precisely enunciated in a way that sounded almost robotic. "If you mean it literally, I share your aversion to unsanitary garments."
"Regardless, I'm here because I promised my mother I'd attempt at least one social engagement per year."
"Fascinating. I had a similar arrangement with my mother regarding church attendance." Ron noticed Sheldon's ears perk up slightly. Based on Ron's extensive experience with him, Sheldon only showed that reaction when encountering something genuinely intriguing.
"I don't object to the theological concept, but I fail to understand why organized religion requires regular attendance tracking."
"It operates on the same principle as website analytics. The latter converts user engagement into advertising revenue, while the former maintains community participation levels."
Ron stepped forward. "If you think of Christianity as a social platform, attendance is like a daily login bonus. The difference is that instead of virtual rewards, you get neighborhood social credit. It's essentially gamification of community involvement."
"Surely you don't have to conduct this entire conversation standing up? Sheldon, would you like to offer the lady a beverage?"
"Certainly, but I should establish ground rules first: all physical contact, including but not limited to romantic gestures, is completely off the table."
Amy nodded seriously. If not for their completely different appearances, voices, and genders, Ron might have thought he was seeing Sheldon's clone!
The algorithm was remarkably accurate. Ron put himself in Sheldon's position—if he were Sheldon, he'd definitely be intrigued by this woman. And judging by his body language, the real Sheldon was already interested.
In fact, Sheldon was clearly fascinated.
"May I purchase you a refreshment?" Sheldon gestured toward the counter with uncharacteristic politeness.
"Hot water, please."
"My God, what have we unleashed?" Howard's jaw dropped. "If these two ever reproduce, their offspring would probably develop artificial intelligence and accidentally trigger the robot apocalypse!"
Raj nodded gravely: "We may have just doomed humanity."
"But at least you're now heroes to the Cooper family," Ron patted both their shoulders. "What can I get you guys to drink? My treat."
(End of Chapter)
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