Chapter 337: Chuck: Lisa, Don't Even Think About It!
"You just want to see me make a fool of myself, right!"
Dr. House picked up the phone and scoffed.
"No!"
Chuck shook his head.
"No?"
Dr. House on the other end of the line didn't believe him at all: "Even Detective Chuck lies sometimes. If people knew, they'd be shocked. Because if it were me, I'd be happy to see you make a fool of yourself."
"House!"
Dr. Wilson's voice came from the other end of the line, trying to stop him.
Even at this point, his best friend was still spouting sarcasm, making him terrified.
Sure enough, Chuck's sister Hailey was right; House had a serious self-destructive tendency.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Dr. House said nonchalantly.
"You said something wrong,"
Chuck said bluntly. "If I wanted to see you make a fool of yourself, I'd ask you a question."
"What question?"
Dr. House asked with interest.
"After Detective Mike Tritter arrested you, did he arrange for a larger thermometer for you?"
Chuck asked calmly.
"..."
Dr. House on the other end of the line paused.
After being arrested last night, he was held in the police station's holding cell, but he wasn't alone; someone sang next to him all night, making it truly agonizing.
When his time was up, he immediately called Detective Mike Tritter, who was waiting outside, and asked him to release him.
Because in 12 hours, the police would either charge him or release him.
When he reminded Detective Tritter of this rule, the man calmly replied, "Which do you prefer?"
At that moment, he suddenly understood the meaning behind Detective Tritter's repeated statements during the hospital visit and during his arrest: "You're a bully, you treat others like fools, and others can treat you like a fool too. Unless you encounter someone even more ruthless, making you experience how others feel about you, you'll never change."
With his intelligence, he easily saw that Detective Tritter was manipulating him.
He knew that if he said "Let me go," Detective Tritter would actually release him.
But Detective Tritter knew that with his pride and stubbornness, he would absolutely not choose the latter.
He knew that Detective Mike Tritter knew he knew he knew.
And he did choose the latter, calling his good friend Dr. Wilson to bail him out.
But afterwards, he faced prosecution.
He didn't care about that, but he was extremely annoyed by the feeling that Detective Mike Tritter seemed to see right through him, constantly forcing him down only one path.
In the past, when dealing with other people—well, mainly patients, especially those with difficult-to-diagnose illnesses—he would always give them several options, and they could only follow the one he truly provided.
What if they didn't do that?
He had enough means to force them to do as he intended.
And clearly, now Mike Tritter had become him, while he had become the one being manipulated.
And then, thanks to Chuck's reminder, he discovered that this Mike Tritter, who seemed to have become him, was more principled than him.
Because if they were in each other's shoes, he might actually have arranged for someone to humiliate the other person, just as Chuck suggested.
After all, he had just mocked the other man before his arrest: "I only regret not finding a bigger thermometer."
"Looks like he didn't,"
Chuck said seriously. "He's so upright, a model American cop. I'm curious if he'll regret it."
"I'll ask him for you when I get the chance,"
Dr. House quickly recovered, saying sarcastically, "But it's no use if he regrets it. After all, in your eyes, we're just into each other.
Oh, wait.
Maybe that's the real reason he didn't do it!
He just wants to do the opposite, so he wouldn't let me have some fun~"
"You're right,"
Chuck nodded. "You were bailed out by Wilson? It seems you still haven't won his forgiveness. Are you ready to go to jail?"
"You really think House will go to jail?"
Dr. Wilson asked anxiously.
"His sharp tongue has been preparing all along,"
Chuck said bluntly.
"..."
Dr. Wilson's lips twitched.
This was truly a double entendre.
It meant that Dr. House's sharp tongue easily offended people and would eventually lead to jail, and it also meant the terrible life Dr. House would have in jail.
Who's really more sarcastic here?!
"Chuck, can't you really help House talk to that Detective Mike Tritter?"
Dr. Wilson asked, his head throbbing.
Although he had already found the best criminal defense attorney in Princeton for Dr. House, putting aside Dr. House's completely uncooperative attitude, just based on Chuck's words, he seriously doubted that this matter could be resolved even with the best criminal defense attorney.
As his best friend, how could he not worry?
"Don't worry, House going to jail is just for show,"
Chuck said seriously.
"Stop joking, okay?"
Dr. Wilson said with a wry smile.
"I'm not joking,"
Chuck said expressionlessly. "If you find any instance where Detective Mike Tritter went too far, come to me anytime, and I'll help you.
But before that, be prepared for House to go to jail!
Driving under the influence! Reckless driving!
House not only lacks medical ethics towards his patients, but he also has absolutely no sense of public responsibility towards other innocent civilians.
Detective Mike Tritter is the embodiment of justice in this matter!
Note!
I'm not being sarcastic when I say justice!"
"Come on!"
Hearing this, Dr. House couldn't hold back any longer and retorted sarcastically, "Others can say I'm driving on drugs, driving recklessly, but you can't! Aren't you the same? I've seen you speeding, that's what you call reckless driving!"
"We're different!"
Chuck retorted bluntly, "My willpower is strong enough to control the amount of medication I take, and I'm also systematically using exercise, combined with my strong willpower, to reduce my body's physiological need for drugs.
And my driving skills—I've never driven recklessly, unlike you!"
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.
Before hanging up, Dr. Wilson's comforting voice could still be heard: "House, Chuck didn't mean to say that..."
Chuck understood that the issue of driving skills had touched a nerve with Dr. House.
But he was just telling the truth.
If Dr. House's driving skills were really as good as his, he wouldn't have had that accident and become disabled.
Even after becoming disabled, he still rode his motorcycle recklessly, and he even carried Vicodin painkillers in his pocket like candy, grabbing a handful to pop at will.
He didn't have Chuck's superhuman reflexes; if things continued like this, something bad would happen again sooner or later. If he was alone, it would only harm him.
But if someone was with him, it would harm both of them!
So Chuck poked him where it hurt, feeling perfectly justified.
Hmm.
If he could, he would go even further!
After hanging up the phone, he saw Lisa, the Texas girl, and Professor Alicia Harper looking at him strangely.
"Boss, an even bigger thermometer, huh~"
"Don't even think about it! No way!"
Chuck bluntly interrupted.
Lisa, the Texas girl, was stunned at first, then her face suddenly turned red, her heart pounding—quite a sight to behold.
"What do you mean, no way?"
Professor Alicia Harper looked at Lisa's reaction strangely.
"It's nothing, it's nothing."
Lisa, the Texas girl, blushed and waved her hand, not daring to bring up the topic any further.
"Chuck, is Dr. House really alright?"
Professor Alicia Harper couldn't figure it out for a moment, thinking she would ask later, so she put it aside and asked the crucial question.
"He won't die,"
Chuck said calmly. "That's enough."
"Alright."
Professor Alicia Harper, though grateful to Dr. House for saving her life, didn't say anything more seeing Chuck's attitude, and sighed, "It's just a pity for Dr. Wilson."
"Hmm?"
Lisa, the Texas girl, was particularly sensitive to this in her emotional state and immediately looked up at her. "Alicia, do you mean..."
"They are best friends."
Professor Alicia Harper hesitated and shook her head. "I feel that no matter what outrageous things Dr. House does, Dr. Wilson will always stand by him, forgive him, and help him. If Dr. House goes to jail, I'm afraid he won't be able to handle it."
"Wow!"
Lisa exclaimed, her eyes full of gossip, and couldn't help but look at Chuck. "Boss, what do you think?"
"One day in the future, Greg House will change his name to Greg Wilson!"
Chuck said expressionlessly.
"Huh, isn't it James House?"
Professor Alicia Harper asked curiously.
Dr. Wilson, full name James Wilson.
"Because House will definitely cause trouble again in the future, this surname will have to be abandoned sooner or later,"
Chuck said.
"Oh, you mean that?"
Professor Alicia Harper finally understood.
She thought Chuck had assumed their roles were reversed.
After chatting about Dr. House for a while, Professor Alicia Harper remembered her earlier question: "By the way, what did you mean by 'no way' earlier?"
Lisa, the Texas girl, quickly leaned over and quietly explained.
Professor Alicia Harper immediately blushed: "..."
Princeton University.
The President's Office.
The female president handed a drafted contract to Sheldon's father.
Sheldon's father glanced at the contract and immediately felt dizzy. He opened his mouth, paused, and then pointed at the contract, asking softly, "Are we Party A or Party B in this contract?"
"Party A,"
Mrs. Cooper nudged her husband, muttering, "Didn't you hear Chuck say, 'Who's the boss, who's Party A?'"
"...Party A!"
The president's lips twitched, but she quickly suppressed it, ignoring Chuck's name and smiling. "But regardless of which side you're on, you're both parties involved. Speaking of which, would you like a Lone Star beer?"
She then took an ice-cold Lone Star beer from the cooler beside her.
"Sure!"
Sheldon's father immediately smiled.
"George!"
Mrs. Cooper glared at her husband again.
"She offered it, I didn't want to be rude!"
Sheldon's father said matter-of-factly.
"It's only 11 a.m.!"
Mrs. Cooper retorted.
"Let me know if you need anything,"
the president said, putting down her beer and preparing to get down to business.
"You also think Sheldon's invention has value?"
Sheldon's father still felt a bit unreal.
"Who knows?"
The president chuckled, "Most of the time these inventions don't go anywhere. They might get some attention, or they might just disappear without a trace... It's just a formality."
"But you said my funding database could make this school very wealthy."
Sheldon immediately protested.
"That doesn't mean anything."
The president laughed, "A yacht that's fully loaded might still be a small boat, and a dinghy is still a boat!"
"I feel much better hearing you say that."
Mrs. Cooper said smoothly, "You're right, it's really nothing, so we've decided to have Chuck invest."
"What?"
The president's smile froze.
"President, we didn't mean anything by it, it's just that Chuck is a good friend of Shelly's, and the terms are better."
Mrs. Cooper tried to explain, "Besides, this little gadget with an uncertain future is nothing to a world-class university like Princeton, isn't it?"
"..."
The president's lips twitched.
That was true!
But just because it was nothing to Princeton didn't mean it was nothing to her.
She held a significant stake in the contract.
In her opinion, this project was quite promising; otherwise, she wouldn't have said she envisioned a leisurely and luxurious retirement.
"Why don't you reconsider?"
the president forced a smile. "After all, we've done so much for your son and your family; there's no need to create distance now."
"Oh,"
young Sheldon immediately looked disappointed, muttering to his mother, "Her reaction is even better than I expected."
"We should go too!"
Mrs. Cooper quickly pulled young Sheldon aside, rising to say goodbye. "Thank you Princeton University for everything they've done for Shelly and us. No wonder Shelly and Chuck chose Princeton... Well, that's settled then. We have other matters to attend to, so we'll be leaving now."
"Alright,"
the president could only reluctantly rise, forcing a smile, "You can discuss it further with Dr. Wolf when you get back. We can collaborate."
"Okay, I'll definitely pass on the message."
Mrs. Cooper pulled young Sheldon out.
"Can I have a Lone Star beer?"
Sheldon's father sat up, but didn't move, his eyes fixed on the chilled Lone Star beer next to the president. When everyone looked over, he awkwardly explained, "I... I'm a little homesick."
"..."
The president was speechless at Sheldon's father's shamelessness, but still reached for it.
Good grief!
She had the school pay for the plane ticket, round trip, and now not only was she not getting a contract, but he dared to shamelessly ask for a chilled beer, and the worst part was he was claiming to be homesick.
Was Texas really that great?
He'd only been here for a day!
"No, thank you!"
Mrs. Cooper quickly pulled her reluctant husband away.
She had sensed the threat in the president's earlier words, though subtle, it was undeniably a threat.
In the past, she might have considered compromising.
After all, her son's studies were important, and she would be worried about offending the president of Princeton University over something like this.
But since Chuck had initiated this, after talking with him, she believed Chuck would help her son.
After all, successful training requires the crucial prerequisite of a stable and reliable partner.
Therefore, she felt more confident than before.
She left without hesitation; she genuinely had other matters to attend to!
(End of Chapter)
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