章節 3: Integrating to the group (somewhat?)
After finishing their meal, the group of friends began chatting leisurely.
With Mike's attentive hospitality, the barrier between him and the others gradually dissolved.
Although Sheldon occasionally cast a glare at Mike with his piercing eyes, the rest of the group slowly grew more accepting. As the saying goes, cannibals have soft mouths but short hands.
Only Sheldon harbored a deep hatred toward Mike. Sheldon was known for his vengeful and straightforward nature.
However, Mike never let it bother him since he was more interested in their intellectual capabilities than their opinion of him.
Observing that the conversation was winding down, Mike decided to move on to the next step.
"I've noticed that you all rarely eat at home. I can come and cook for you in the evenings since I work during the day. I really enjoy the company of friends and sharing a meal with them," Mike proposed.
"Ah!" Several people exclaimed simultaneously.
Mike's culinary creations were undoubtedly a delight for the taste buds, but there was a catch.
His dishes carried an intense level of spiciness, a fiery sensation that they could only handle in moderation.
The thought of consuming such heat day in and day out seemed like a recipe for madness.
Besides, their bodies simply couldn't endure the constant onslaught of spiciness, especially in the delicate regions.
Jokes about spending 24/7 in the bathroom and the comical consequences of consuming too much spicy food circulated among them, serving as a humorous reminder of the limits they faced.
However, Rajesh wore a contented smile. He had a fondness for spicy food, being a natural foodie.
Leonard spoke up first. "Mike, we appreciate your kindness, but there's no need for you to go through all this trouble. We're accustomed to eating out, and it's almost embarrassing to ask you to cook for us every day," Leonard politely declined.
At that moment, Sheldon, always upright and forthright, voiced his opinion.
"We have our schedules filled every day, so we don't really welcome the idea," he stated, rolling his eyes and displaying a look that screamed "annoyance."
Mike understood that Sheldon disliked disruptions to their established routines, and he realized he was interfering with their regular lives.
Rajesh whispered something to Leonard, and after Leonard repeated it, he said, "We could make Thursday Mike's day instead of our usual Chinese food day. Mike's Chinese food is far superior to the overly sweet and greasy offerings from Panda fast food." It turned out that Rajesh had misophobia (fear of germs), and he could only convey it through Leonard.
Howard, seated nearby, agreed, saying, "I support Rajesh's decision. Besides, Mike's a good guy." The others turned their gaze to Leonard.
This puts Leonard in a dilemma. He had a tendency to believe that anyone who treated him somewhat nicely was a good person, or else he wouldn't have been able to tolerate Sheldon's peculiar temperament.
For Rajesh, orderliness wasn't a priority as long as the food was delicious. He hadn't witnessed any undesirable behavior from Mike, aside from his overenthusiasm.
Howard felt the same way. Mike was a little too enthusiastic, but otherwise, he seemed harmless.
Furthermore, Howard had a relatively good relationship with Rajesh, so he supported Rajesh's suggestion.
While everyone looked to Leonard for a final decision, Penny unexpectedly spoke up.
"Compared to eating out, I actually prefer eating Mike's food. I think it tastes fantastic," Penny stated, surprising everyone.
After all, Mike was her ex-boyfriend, and it was only natural to assume that she would be the most opposed to the idea.
"I just think you guys are nice, and I enjoy being friends with you. It doesn't matter what we eat; I don't mind," Mike chimed in, taking advantage of the situation. After all, Mike was drawn to their intellect and skills.
At that moment, Leonard made the final decision. Looking at Penny, he decided to agree with Rajesh's suggestion and make Thursday "Mike's Day." After all, eating Chinese food outside all the time was tiring, and Mike's food was undeniably excellent.
Leonard glanced apologetically at Sheldon, who let out a distressed cry from the side.
Although Sheldon remained dissatisfied, the others accepted Mike's presence.
Yet, the mischievous Sheldon still sought an excuse to complain.
"Why should someone who hasn't even achieved a master's degree join our team of super scientists?" Sheldon asked, his tone tinged with disdain.
"I have a master's degree in fitness," Mike proudly replied, acknowledging the peculiar degrees that exist in the United States.
"Just a useless master's degree in a worthless field, and you call yourself our friend?" Sheldon retorted, a look of contempt crossing his face.
This remark instantly offended two people. Howard was also a master, and Penny was deeply hurt by Sheldon's words.
Both shot angry glances at Sheldon. If Mike hadn't known Sheldon was just a mean-spirited brat, he might have been tempted to teach him a lesson.
"Hey," Penny interjected, her voice filled with confidence. "Who says you need a master's degree to pursue your dreams? I may not have one, Sheldon, but I don't need it to be an actor. Talent and dedication can take you far in any field. There's more to life than textbooks and titles. Real-world experience counts for something, you know. So, open your mind and maybe you'll learn something from someone who hasn't spent their entire life in an ivory tower."
Leonard quickly stepped in as a peacemaker, apologizing to the two offended individuals. "I'm sorry, Sheldon is just straightforward and not malicious. He simply struggles with his choice of words."
Mike smiled, showing that he understood Sheldon's character.
Although Howard was somewhat irritated, he had spent enough time with Sheldon to know his quirks.
Penny, however, didn't hold back. The term "useless" didn't affect her much, but it was incredibly insulting.
In the end, Leonard had to apologize once again. Mike helped mediate between the two parties. He didn't want to deviate too much from the original plot, as a heated argument like this would directly alter the dynamics between Penny and Sheldon, making it difficult for Leonard to please them both.
As the quarrel subsided, Penny stormed out and returned to her apartment. At the same time, Mike headed back to his own place. He had achieved his goal for the day, and now it was time to focus on the future.
Catching up with Penny, Mike wanted to say something to her.
"Hi! How about working out together tomorrow morning? We're friends now, right?" Mike asked Penny.
"Of course! I'm not that petty," Penny replied before retreating into her apartment.
"Okay! See you tomorrow!"
The next morning, Mike woke up early and activated his system.
—--------------------------------------------------------
<NEW>Top Game Talent (from Penny): Innate ability to understand and excel at various game mechanics, strategies, and tactics.
—---------------------------------------------------------
Glancing at the attribute panel, Mike looked at Penny with a perplexed expression. What kind of woman was she? Her favorability had instantly reached 80 points.
The Road Killer talent focused on driving and was likely to cause traffic chaos.
Frankly, Mike didn't quite fit Penny's typical type. Not at all. And he knew about the complicated relationships that unfolded among the group later on, which made him feel somewhat uneasy.
Considering Penny's geek talent, Mike decided to accept it without hesitation.
As for the Road Killer talent, he shrugged it off. A gaming talent was better than none. After all, gaming talents could be useful in certain situations, and they were certainly entertaining.
As for Sheldon, Mike knew all too well that he was a vindictive brat.
If he was sick, he needed to be healed!
Regarding Leonard, Mike felt that he could genuinely win him over. Somehow, his favorability towards Mike had reached 20 points, though Mike couldn't quite pinpoint why.
Rajesh, on the other hand, was quite understanding. He enjoyed spicy food, as evidenced by his enthusiasm at the dining table.
—---------------------------------------------
Character Profile: Mike Lee
Strength: 10
Physique: 10
Agility: 6
Intellegence: 5
Spirit: 5
Favorability Ratings:
(The Big Bang Theory)
Sheldon: -50
Leonard: 0
Howard: -20
Penny: 80
Rajesh: -10
—---------------------------------------------
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