Life Through the American TV Show World

The Cooper Household.

Finally, it had arrived. 

At the exact moment Adam heard the system notification, he felt a surge of emotion, almost bringing him to tears. Was it easy earning even a single intelligence point? Absolutely not! 

Wow, +6 intelligence points! 

No matter how tough it got, Adam thought, even if there were a dozen Peggy-like individuals challenging him, he'd still endure it all! 

Since his arrival in this world, only three people had ever increased Adam's intelligence: 

- Juno, +1! 

- Young Sheldon, +5! 

- And now, Peggy, +6! 

Previously, Adam thought Peggy's ability to dominate Young Sheldon in every situation was due to her precocious nature, combined with environmental factors. But the system had just revealed the undeniable truth: 

Peggy's intelligence truly outmatched Sheldon's. 

"Here you go," Sheldon said as he brought in a freshly brewed cup of tea. 

"Poor kid," Adam thought, glancing at Sheldon with a trace of pity. 

With Peggy's extraordinary intelligence, now that she was no longer stuck in self-pity, her future in the scientific world was bound to be dazzling. Who knew if Sheldon could cope with it? 

If time travel were possible, Adam was convinced Sheldon would hop in, transform into the Terminator, and arrive just thirty minutes earlier—not to save Peggy or Adam, but to eliminate one of them. 

Scientists are undoubtedly a great force driving societal progress, but their greatness lies in their contributions to science, not necessarily their moral character. 

In truth, many renowned scientists have had questionable personal ethics. 

Take Thomas Edison, hailed as the "Wizard of Menlo Park." The reality? Most of the inventions credited to him were developed by others, and he used various means to claim them as his own. 

Of course, most scientists wouldn't even acknowledge Edison as one of their own, regarding him more as a businessman than a scientist. 

Similarly, in the future, Sheldon and Amy's work on super-symmetry might lead to a Nobel Prize in Physics, after other scientists validate the theory's correctness. However, their glory was almost stolen by two lucky researchers who stumbled upon evidence confirming their theory. 

Were it not for the fact that Sheldon was the main character in *The Big Bang Theory*—a comedy nearing its conclusion—the reality might have unfolded just as Sheldon feared: the theory was theirs, but the recognition went to someone else. 

Sheldon clearly isn't the most magnanimous person either, as seen in future disputes with Dr. Kim. 

Then again, maybe Peggy could grow into someone who utterly outshines and suppresses Sheldon, earning his respect—or even fear. 

Like, say, a rebellious astrophysicist who enjoys immersive multiplayer role-playing games. 

Or perhaps a sarcastic experimental physicist who's grown disillusioned with such games but still commands attention. 

To dominate someone like Sheldon, a giant baby with an inflated ego, it would take a free-spirited, crowd-loving scientist. 

Peggy's future was truly something to look forward to. 

"You're smiling so creepily," Peggy remarked, giving Adam a sidelong glance. 

"Uh…" Adam snapped out of it, chuckling awkwardly. 

"Sheldon, which university are you planning to attend?" Peggy asked, her childish sentimentality mostly replaced by the logic and aloofness of a super genius. 

"University?" Sheldon tilted his head in thought. "I really like the Physics program at Caltech. It's one of the best in the world. My dad took me there for a visit once. When I saw their faculty dining room, I don't know why, but I had this strong premonition that I'd have many exciting conversations there." 

"Pfft!" Adam couldn't help but burst out laughing. 

"What's so funny?" Sheldon asked, confused. 

"Nothing," Adam replied, suppressing his laughter. "For some reason, I think you're absolutely right. I can even picture it: you sitting there, speaking eloquently, surrounded by colleagues who are so captivated by your words they forget to eat, absentmindedly moving their forks and knives." 

"Hmm." Sheldon's imagination took over, and he conjured not just an image but a vivid mental video. Satisfied, he nodded. "Exactly like that." 

"He's mocking you," Peggy interjected coldly. "You know, not just scientific geniuses get stared at like that—so do madmen." 

"Cough, cough," Adam cleared his throat, trying to play it off. "Don't joke like that. Sheldon's obviously a scientific genius! Right, Peggy, what about you? Which university are you planning to attend?" 

"I haven't decided yet," Peggy replied, her gaze softening as she recalled Adam's earlier advice. Following his lead to change the topic, she added, "I've received offers from over ten universities, including Harvard, Yale, Caltech, Princeton, and Columbia." 

In America, education is a massive industry, with higher education being a particularly lucrative segment. 

Universities attract students by boosting their prestige and rankings, charging hefty tuition fees for significant profits. 

For instance, in *How I Met Your Mother*, Barney Stinson's favorite charitable activity involved donating money to the dancers at clubs who were working there to pay off student loans. 

Or take the growing phenomenon of college "sugar babies" seeking benefactors to pay their way. 

For those who truly succeed, it might all be worth it. But unfortunately, many students end up burdened with massive loans and empty resumes. 

However, someone like Peggy, a potential Nobel laureate who could elevate a university's prestige while having the means to pay her way, is a dream candidate for any school. 

Take Leonard, for example. With an IQ of 173, he works as an experimental physicist at Caltech—a respectable job. Yet, after over a decade of work, he still hasn't fully paid off his student loans, even as he approaches forty. 

It's no wonder elite universities rake in astronomical profits. 

So naturally, they compete fiercely for talent like Peggy. 

"What?" Sheldon exclaimed in surprise. "You've already received invitations?" 

"Yes," Peggy replied with a smile. "College admissions are a two-way street. For geniuses like us, top universities are eager to extend offers. Haven't you received any invitations yet?" 

"No," Sheldon replied, his face falling. His lips trembled, and he looked like he was on the verge of tears. 

Earlier discussions and chess matches lacked concrete benchmarks. But university invitations were an official metric, and Peggy had completely outclassed him. 

Proud and arrogant, Sheldon couldn't take it. 

"Don't cry," Adam said hurriedly. "Maybe those top universities have sent you invitations, and you just don't know it yet." 

"Why wouldn't I know?" Sheldon asked, teary-eyed. 

"Well…" Adam hesitated, caught in a dilemma. He knew Sheldon's mother, Mary, was reluctant to let her young son leave home. If he pointed that out, Mary's piercing glare would surely follow. 

"You can just ask your mom," Peggy suggested. 

"Mom!" Sheldon's high-pitched voice immediately echoed through the Cooper household. 

---

**(End of Chapter)**