Chapter 53: From "Pathogen" to "Milo"
In an instant, Sheldon's body trembled slightly as if jolted by electricity. The expression on his face changed dramatically.
Was it joy mixed with wonder, as if he'd discovered a new law of physics? His vigilance and fear quickly melted away like snow in the sun, replaced by an almost childlike curiosity and desire for exploration.
He was like a child touching a warm puppy for the first time, moving from initial apprehension to tentative exploration, and finally being completely captivated by the experience.
As for the puppy, when Sheldon's fingertip touched the top of his head, his reaction wasn't enthusiastic licking, but extreme stillness. His entire body instantly froze, and only then, in a slow and restrained manner, did he nudge Sheldon's finger upward.
Sheldon tentatively used his entire palm to more boldly stroke the puppy's back. The puppy accepted the petting, but his response was always strangely restrained. His tail only wagged slowly and slightly, and his eyes remained watchful.
"His thermodynamic output is quite stable," Sheldon muttered, as if recording experimental data. "The coefficient of friction of the fur is lower than expected. Tactile assessment... pleasant. Acoustic analysis indicates a state of relaxation..."
The expression on his face grew increasingly relaxed, and the corners of his mouth even began to curve upward uncontrollably, forming an arc that could be called a "smile."
"See?" David whispered to Leonard. "I told you he'd like him."
Leonard watched dumbfounded and replied in a low voice, "The speed of this transition... it's comparable to quantum state collapse."
Sheldon seemed completely absorbed in the interaction with the puppy. He began petting him more actively, even gently scratching under his chin with his fingers. The puppy, however, still seemed somewhat cautious, appearing a bit stiff.
"He needs a name," Sheldon suddenly looked up. "A unique, distinctive name. We cannot continue referring to him as 'it' or 'that organism.'"
"Only you referred to him as 'that organism' and 'pathogen.' We all just called him a cute puppy." Leonard couldn't resist a jab, given the completeness of Sheldon's change of heart.
David's mind sparked, and he seized the opportunity, saying, "Exactly. Sheldon, why don't you give him a name?"
Sheldon was clearly stunned. He pointed at himself, asking incredulously, "Me? Are you certain you wish for me to bestow a name upon him? This is typically decided by the primary caregiver or the owner."
"I'm certain," David nodded affirmatively. "I believe that with your intellect and... well, uniqueness, you'll definitely come up with a great name."
Sheldon's face instantly shone with the glory of being entrusted with a great responsibility.
He immediately stood up, frowning in concentration, muttering to himself: "The name... must conform to his species characteristics, physical attributes, and ideally contain some scientific or cultural significance... 'Quark'? Too small. 'Zeus'? Too mythological, lacking empirical basis. 'Fermion'? No, he clearly exhibits gregarious tendencies like a Boson... Ah! I have it!"
He suddenly stopped, turned around, and announced, "'Milo'! Derived from Slavic languages, meaning 'gracious' or 'beloved.' Furthermore, it's also reminiscent of units of measurement, fitting his canine vitality! And phonetically, the name is concise, powerful, easy to call, and easy to remember!"
"Milo..." David repeated. "Perfect. His name will be Milo from now on!"
"Milo!" Sheldon called out to the puppy, but the puppy clearly didn't know he'd been given a name yet and didn't react.
Seeing this, David knew the time was right. Striking while the iron was hot, he said to Sheldon, "Sheldon, look—you're now the person who named Milo. In a sense, you're now one of the closest and most important people to him."
Sheldon straightened his back, his face showing an expression mixed with pride and responsibility.
"Therefore," David continued, "Leonard and I need to rush to the university immediately to deal with the 3D scan data. Milo just arrived in this new environment and can't be left alone, and Penny's at work. So, I wanted to ask if you could look after Milo. What do you say?"
The smugness on Sheldon's face instantly froze, replaced by a trace of panic: "Look after him? Me? Alone? This... this exceeds my expectations! My schedule doesn't include 'Temporary Canine Supervision'! This requires replanning my..."
"Sheldon," Leonard interrupted his excuses, "it's only for a few hours. It's simple: play with him a bit and wait for us to get back. Besides, this is 'Milo,' the Milo you personally named! Can you really leave him alone in a strange apartment?"
Sheldon looked down at the furry little creature at his feet, then looked at the hand he'd just used to pet him, his face showing internal struggle.
"Fine," he took a deep breath, as if accepting a sacred mission. "Given that I am the bestower of his name, and based on the brief interaction just now where a preliminary positive bond has been established, I agree to assume the responsibility of temporary guardian."
"That's wonderful! Sheldon and Milo—this will be a legendary tale told forever in our friend group!" David poured another dose of flattery onto Sheldon to prevent him from changing his mind.
He then handed over the key to 5A and quickly told Sheldon where the dog food and newly purchased toys were located.
"As for feeding amounts and water, you'll need to check the instructions on the dog food bag or look it up online."
Afterward, David and Leonard left Apartment 4A and closed the door. On the stairs going down, Leonard suddenly burst out laughing.
"Haha... I still can't believe it," Leonard shook his head, his face full of disbelief. "Sheldon Cooper is actually dog-sitting in the apartment? Can you imagine? That's like imagining Stephen Hawking doing the Macarena!"
David also laughed and said, "Sheldon's speed of switching between hating and loving the same thing is truly like a kid's. That quality of his—the pure, wholehearted dedication and curiosity once his psychological defenses are down—is also very childlike."
Leonard nodded in deep agreement: "Exactly. To be honest, it's only because we occasionally see these childlike qualities in him—like the simple affection he has for Milo right now—that we, his long-suffering friends, are able to control ourselves and not throttle him when he's at his most obnoxious, stubborn, and inconsiderate."
The two laughed as they got into the car and quickly arrived at Caltech.
In the Physics Department lab, Leonard couldn't wait to open the server and retrieve the 3D scan data that had been processed by Martin's "Data Scavenger."
When the clear, clean, noise-free physical signal image appeared on the screen, Leonard couldn't help but cheer.
"It's perfect! It's like the data got a spa treatment!" Leonard exclaimed excitedly, pointing at the details on the screen. "Look at this signal contour—how sharp it is! All the interference patterns are gone! David, you absolutely have to introduce me to your friend Martin sometime. I need to thank him properly—he really saved our bacon!"
Without waiting for David to reply, Leonard continued, "When the paper is published, we definitely have to put him in the acknowledgments."
Next, the two immediately plunged into intensive work. They ran complex analysis scripts, adjusted model parameters, and deeply excavated the physical laws hidden behind the data.
The only sounds left in the lab were the tapping of keyboards, the clicking of mice, and the occasional low discussion between the two. Both were immersed in the world of scientific research, almost forgetting the passage of time.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, just as David was intently staring at a fitted curve on the screen, his phone on the desk suddenly rang, breaking the silence of the lab.
David reflexively glanced at the caller ID, picked up the phone, and muttered to himself before answering, "I completely forgot about this over the past couple of days!"
Chapter Unlock Conditions
500 Power Stones → 1 Chapter
10 Reviews → 1 Chapter
20+ advance chapters on P4treon: DarkFoxx