Boston.
At the book signing event.
Adam's arrival completely ignited the atmosphere.
"What's your na?"
After sitting down, Adam smiled and asked the first fan in line.
"Daisy."
Standing at the front was an average-looking young woman who beca extrely 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 rembered in his past life, as an unknown and struggling writer, the thrill of receiving his first comnt or donation. Even later, when he beca a diocre, full-ti author scraping by, the mont 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 encouragent 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 imdiately stepped forward.
Adam asked for their na as well and wrote:
"Your friend, Adam Duncan."
If soone specifically requested a personalized ssage, he happily obliged.
This took much more effort than simply signing his na.
The event organizer from Random House ca over to remind him to sign only his na, 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 ssages significantly extended the event's duration. No matter how much stamina he had, continuously signing for such a long ti 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 seed 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 forr 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 ti 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 helt.
Stuart claid 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 helt signed by an actor from a comic book adaptation, then what's the point of our lives?!"
Leonard was montarily 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 rchandise businesses thrived.
If Leonard, Sheldon, and Adam had never t 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.
anwhile, 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 sa "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 alard. "What's happening to ?"
"Let
guess."
Emily glanced at Adam, then at Amy. She had always been interested in dicine 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 imdiately. "What's wrong with ?"
"You really don't know?"
Emily chuckled. "You're in college already…"
Then she rembered that, despite Amy's sowhat 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 mont, then calmly returned to normal.
"…Just 'oh'?"
Emily was dumbfounded.
Most girls, if told they were aroused in public, would at least blush in embarrassnt. Even Penny, before she beca experienced, would have reacted that way at 14.
Confidence in these matters was sothing one developed over ti.
But Amy's reaction was entirely abnormal. She was a teenage girl displaying the composure of soone 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.
anwhile, 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 ant she could provide Adam with a substantial boost to his own intellect.
However, his excitent didn't last long.
The mont he saw Amy make that odd "Hoo~~" sound at him, his smile froze in place…
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