Duncan Household.
"Wow, my son looks so handsome!"
As Adam stepped out in his sleek suit, his mother, Amy, couldn't help but praise him from the bottom of her heart. "The girl you're taking tonight is so lucky, isn't she, Bob?"
"Yes, absolutely!"
His father, Bob, nodded repeatedly and, with a hint of narcissism, said, "Adam, looking at you reminds me of my younger self."
"…"
Seeing Bob's bald head and protruding belly, Adam twitched his mouth and couldn't help but say, "Dad, can I ask you for a favor?"
"Anything."
Bob patted his chest confidently. Then, as if realizing something, he leaned in closer to Adam, wearing a sly expression. "You want some... protection? Don't worry, I've got you covered. It's your graduation dance tonight—curfew doesn't apply!"
While speaking, he pulled out what looked like a deck of magic playing cards. The sight immediately reminded Adam of Rajesh and Howard.
In the future, Rajesh and Howard would always carry supplies like this with an overabundance of confidence in themselves. Clearly, Bob had similar faith in his son.
However, what Adam had actually wanted was for Bob to list all the reckless things he had enjoyed doing in his youth so Adam could ban them entirely—for the sake of his hairline.
Of course, Bob's misunderstanding was understandable.
In the U.S., and soon worldwide due to Hollywood's influence, holidays and parties often coincided with a high rate of blurred-image incidents (if you know, you know). Special event parties only raised those rates even higher.
A group of hormone-fueled young men and women, gathering during their farewell days, swaying in dim, flickering lights and emotional background music? Unless they've mastered the Sunflower Manual (a mythical skill of restraint), who could resist?
"Bob!"
Amy's voice raised, and she rolled her eyes at her husband.
"Come on," Bob smirked and said, "Adam's an adult now. He needs to know about these things. Or do you want to be a grandma right now?"
"Hell no!" Amy shouted. "Adam is the most promising kid in our family. I won't let him be tied down by children!"
She then grabbed Adam and seriously warned, "Don't go making any babies. You know, back in my day, I could dance, sing, and write poetry—I was almost a star! But then your dad tricked me into having a baby, and now I'm stuck in this small town working as a nurse…"
"Mom."
"Hmm?"
"The baby you're talking about is me."
Adam couldn't help but interrupt Amy's rambling.
"Oh, right."
Amy laughed awkwardly. "I didn't mean anything bad. You're our love's treasure, and we both love you. I don't regret my choice one bit... but wouldn't it be better if you pursued your dreams first, achieved them, and then raised kids with someone you love?"
"That makes sense."
Adam nodded seriously.
Under Amy's mix of happiness and concern, and Bob's combination of encouragement and mischief, Adam grabbed two car keys from Bob and drove his pickup truck toward Karen's house.
At the Cooper Household
Driving past Sheldon's house, Adam noticed George Jr., Sheldon's brother, standing by his car in a sharp suit. He remembered they were classmates. George Jr. was also graduating that day, so Adam pulled over to say hello.
"Hey, George."
"Hmph!"
George Jr. snorted coldly, turned away, and ignored Adam.
"Missy, what's going on?"
Adam turned to Missy, Sheldon's sister, who was gleefully enjoying the scene.
"He hates you," Missy said with a teasing grin.
"I can see that."
Adam shrugged. "But why?"
"Veronica."
Missy pouted like a grown-up. "She's my brother's girlfriend now, so you get it, right?"
"Veronica Green? Veronica Mitchell? Or Veronica May?"
Adam asked, unsure.
Name duplication was universal, and coincidentally, he knew several Veronicas.
"Fky!"
George Jr. flipped Adam off.
"The one with the sweet dimples," Missy reminded him with an eye-roll.
"Oh, Veronica May!"
Adam nodded in realization. "She does have the sweetest dimples. OMG! Believe me, that's definitely God's gift. Congrats, George. I heard she's turned into a good girl now. I wish you both the best."
With that, he cheerfully stepped on the gas and drove off.
Beauty causing trouble—an age-old truth worldwide.
Veronica May had a history: smoking, drinking, tattoos, cheating… guys had to queue up just to meet her. But she was self-aware and didn't see herself as a "good girl." That's how Adam became acquainted with her.
Much like his other female acquaintances, their discreet friendship naturally began and ended without fanfare.
A few years ago, Mary, Sheldon's devout mother, was tasked by her church pastor to host a Halloween-themed "Hell House" event.
This haunted house depicted the consequences of the seven deadly sins—gluttony, greed, sloth, lust, pride, envy, and wrath—with the aim of leading people toward repentance.
The event was a spectacle. While most attendees came just to watch, one girl, deeply moved by the portrayal of lust's consequences, sought Mary for confession and drastically changed her life.
That girl was Veronica.
Before the Hell House, George Jr. had already taken a liking to Veronica. Back then, she was as wild as ever and even invited George to her house, partly because of Sheldon's tutoring.
However, her visit to the Hell House changed everything. She became virtuous and devout, leaving George in emotional turmoil.
Later, as George grew more confident and charismatic with age and work experience, he finally rekindled Veronica's interest.
The two recently became a couple.
However, George overheard Veronica's friends teasing her about a past "friendly relationship" with Adam.
Coupled with Adam being a friend of Sheldon, whom George disliked, the "new and old grudges" combined. George didn't act on his anger solely because his mom, Mary, and sister, Missy, both liked Adam.
At Karen's House
Ding-dong.
Adam adjusted his suit and rang the doorbell. Hearing the sound of footsteps approaching, he felt an inexplicable surge of excitement.