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Chapter 241: Hoo
🕑 Added 2025-05-03 03:03:54 +0000 UTC*Boston.*
At the book signing event.
Adam’s arrival completely ignited the atmosphere.
“What’s your name?”
After sitting down, Adam smiled and asked the first fan in line.
“Daisy.”
Standing at the front was an average-looking young woman who became extremely excited upon hearing Adam’s question.
Adam signed the inside cover of Daisy’s newly purchased book with the words:
"To Daisy, your friend, Adam Duncan."
Then, he handed it back to her with a smile.
“Thank you! Thank you!”
Daisy took the book and, seeing the signature, was overjoyed.
“No, thank you.”
Adam responded sincerely.
These readers, especially the loyal ones, were his lifeblood.
He still remembered in his past life, as an unknown and struggling writer, the thrill of receiving his first comment or donation. Even later, when he became a mediocre, full-time author scraping by, the moment he got his first big supporter was still exhilarating.
It was never about the money—out of a 1,000-dollar donation, he might only receive 500 or even 300. But the encouragement far exceeded its monetary value; it was a profound validation of his worth.
In this life, he stood on the shoulders of literary giants, becoming a well-known author with an ever-growing fanbase. Yet, he remained deeply grateful for his readers' support.
Daisy left happily, and the second person in line immediately stepped forward.
Adam asked for their name as well and wrote:
"Your friend, Adam Duncan."
If someone specifically requested a personalized message, he happily obliged.
This took much more effort than simply signing his name.
The event organizer from Random House came over to remind him to sign only his name, but he refused. These were enthusiastic readers, and he wanted to fulfill their small requests.
He couldn’t bear to see their disappointed expressions.
This was also why he didn’t participate in book signings often.
Personalized messages significantly extended the event’s duration. No matter how much stamina he had, continuously signing for such a long time was exhausting.
His principle was simple: If he held a book signing, every attending reader should leave completely satisfied.
The line kept moving forward, but it hardly seemed to shrink. More readers kept arriving, and even passersby joined in out of curiosity.
This was normal.
Take Leonard and his friends, for example. Whenever they saw a celebrity, they’d ask for an autograph—even from former stars they barely recognized. If they stumbled upon a signing, they’d likely get in line just for the experience, even if they weren’t fans.
It was a habit.
Like that time at Stuart’s comic book store, when Leonard and Sheldon co-purchased the Lord of the Rings Greatsword. Stuart priced it at $250, calling it a limited-edition "friendship price."
Sheldon, unable to grasp sarcasm or sales tactics, genuinely believed Stuart was giving them a deal and urged Leonard to buy it.
Leonard, however, knew better. He haggled the price down to $200. Stuart countered with $235, then $225, and finally settled on $210—on the condition that he throw in an Iron Man helmet.
Stuart claimed it was signed by Robert Downey Jr.
Leonard simply asked, “So?”
Stuart was instantly offended, exclaiming, “If you’re going to question the significance of a plastic helmet signed by an actor from a comic book adaptation, then what’s the point of our lives?!”
Leonard was momentarily speechless and agreed to the price.
Then, Stuart dropped his dramatic act, happily processed the order, and mumbled, “Guess I’ll be eating well this week.”
It was thanks to people like Leonard and Sheldon that Stuart hadn’t starved. Occasionally, he even ate well. It was also why comic book stores, publishing houses, film studios, gaming companies, and merchandise businesses thrived.
If Leonard, Sheldon, and Adam had never met and just happened to pass by this book signing, they’d likely join the line, buy a signed book, and figure out if they liked it later.
Adam’s signing continued.
Meanwhile, red-haired Emily and Amy slowly moved forward in the line.
When Amy got close enough to see Adam’s radiant smile, she suddenly trembled and let out a strange sound:
"Hoo~~"
Emily, who had been watching her closely, was shocked.
When Amy made the same "Hoo~~" sound again, Emily—despite her lingering annoyance—couldn’t help but show concern.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
Amy looked panicked. “My heart rate is increasing, my palms are sweaty, my mouth is dry, and certain blood vessels are pulsating.”
“Certain?”
Emily pressed for details.
“My ears and… um, lower body.”
Amy grew even more alarmed. “What’s happening to me?”
“Let me guess.”
Emily glanced at Adam, then at Amy. She had always been interested in medicine and planned to study it in the future. She had a good understanding of common physiological reactions and, being a girl herself, quickly pieced things together.
“This reaction started when you saw Adam, right?”
“Yes.”
Amy nodded immediately. “What’s wrong with me?”
“You really don’t know?”
Emily chuckled. “You’re in college already…”
Then she remembered that, despite Amy’s somewhat mature appearance, she was still just 16. In the U.S., it would be unusual for a teenage girl to be this unaware, but not impossible.
Leaning in, Emily whispered, “You’re experiencing sexual arousal.”
“Oh.”
Amy froze for a moment, then calmly returned to normal.
“…Just ‘oh’?”
Emily was dumbfounded.
Most girls, if told they were aroused in public, would at least blush in embarrassment. Even Penny, before she became experienced, would have reacted that way at 14.
Confidence in these matters was something one developed over time.
But Amy’s reaction was entirely abnormal. She was a teenage girl displaying the composure of someone much older.
“I have a stomach, so I get hungry.”
Amy stated matter-of-factly. “I have reproductive organs, so of course, I experience arousal. It’s normal, isn’t it?”
“…Heh.”
Emily’s mouth twitched.
She suddenly had no idea how to respond.
That logic was flawless—especially when paired with Amy’s deadpan expression and serious tone.
What could she even say?
Forget it. She’s just a weirdo.
Emily sighed and decided to ignore Amy.
Meanwhile, Adam continued signing books, smiling as he looked up at each fan.
But when his gaze landed on Amy and Emily, he was briefly taken aback before his expression lit up.
Emily was one thing, but Amy was a certified genius.
A neuroscientist who could keep up with Sheldon Cooper, collaborate on cutting-edge physics research, and share a Nobel Prize in Physics—her intelligence was undeniable.
She might not have been as smart as Sheldon, but she was likely smarter than Leonard.
Sheldon was a 5+, Leonard a 3+, so Amy was probably a 4+.
That meant she could provide Adam with a substantial boost to his own intellect.
However, his excitement didn’t last long.
The moment he saw Amy make that odd "Hoo~~" sound at him, his smile froze in place…
(End of Chapter)
