It wasn't an apple that hit Newton.

"Your name..." The landlady frowned slightly upon seeing Li Cheng's signed name.

“Orunki, is there a problem, madam?” Li Cheng asked in return.

In a foreign land, he had to give himself another pseudonym. This should be his fourth name. Sometimes he was afraid of getting confused, so he had to use a simple and easy-to-remember naming rule.

"No problem, it's a name that sounds delicious."

The landlady commented.

???

Li Cheng suddenly realized why this woman with two houses was still single.

In any case, he finally settled down in Paris and, after a simple tidying up, moved into the empty courtyard all by himself.

"Hmm, we should play 'Londoners in New York' here, even though this isn't New York and I'm not from London."

After making a self-deprecating remark, Li Cheng sat down at his desk and began planning his next course of action.

There are many options for sabotaging Veronica's wedding. But most of them either don't value time, don't value life, or don't value logic.

After repeated screening, Li Cheng chose the option that maximized profits, combined safety and feasibility, and was also the most interesting.

—To become a rising fashion designer in the Parisian fashion world.

Chapter 255 Additional Services

However, before that, we need to explain why Li Cheng came to France alone.

The reason is actually quite simple... Apart from Lavoisier, very few of Li Cheng's acquaintances understand French!

Therefore, considering the inconvenience of bringing his family to a foreign land, and the fact that the territory's industrial development still needed Lavoisier, he had no choice but to come to France alone.

Ah, I suddenly thought of a riddle/half-criticism—why do some people have more than one girlfriend, but then have to take care of themselves when they get pregnant? Countdown: three seconds.

three.

two.

One.

Zero, revealing the answer—because the one who's pregnant isn't your girlfriend.

Haha, didn't expect that, did you? It's hilarious, isn't it?

Hehehehehe......

Oh right, being all alone isn't entirely accurate. Li Cheng also contacted Roy, the general manager of a textile factory in London and the factory's top worker, under the guise of expanding the market, and sent him an urgent letter—he was too busy to start his Parisian fashion designer career from scratch.

The textiles of Britain and France differ greatly. France produces few cotton textiles and prefers linen and yarn. In addition, France's local protectionist policies make it difficult for us to open up the cotton textile market...

However, if they can find a new path in high-end fashion, grasp their most prized key features, and lead a fashion trend for cotton textiles in France, they might be able to boost cotton textile sales...

In summary, I need to make a trip to Paris myself, and I also need your assistance with the following points...

Roy was greatly surprised when he received the letter, thinking to himself that he had indeed followed the right boss. He then excitedly said that he would do it immediately.

Li Cheng figured that he could trust Roy to handle things, so he didn't reply to many more letters. He spent some time telling Newton and the others about his last wishes, and then sent Veronica a farewell letter with an ambiguous meaning. After that, he hurriedly packed his bags and rushed to France.

Time waits for no one...

However, even in a hurry, time is still needed. Roy's assistance still needs to be received. In the meantime, Li Cheng plans to experience the atmosphere of Paris, the fashion capital, and conduct some research.

Without taking a break, he hurriedly went out to collect fashion magazines and newspapers that he could buy in Paris in order to learn about the most popular styles at the time.

Fashion cannot be separated from the masses; overly avant-garde art is premature for current human aesthetics. Instead, it's better to first understand the preferences of the average person to more effectively choose the right approach.

"I need all the fashion-related newspapers and magazines from the past year, including the Rheinische Zeitung, the Mercury Gazette, and Ladies' News. The price is negotiable."

But simply collecting these things wasn't enough. After much consideration, Li Cheng decided to pay a fee and place a small advertisement in the Rheinische Zeitung.

Starting next week, in the sections recommending businesses and designers in newspapers, you'll see a small, inconspicuous corner listing this: "Aorunji Li, provides clothing design services. They possess boundless creativity and a bespoke fashion sense. Affordable prices, enthusiastic service. Address: 14 Tulip Street."

In Paris, for fashion designers like Fanfan who are trying to make a name for themselves, such advertisements are like pebbles, easily lost in the crowds and unable to attract the attention of true fashionistas.

But for ordinary people, these small, peripheral advertisements are enough to attract their attention, and Li Cheng can practice on these people and familiarize himself with the business process.

After finishing all this, Li Cheng returned home exhausted. He planned to take a shower, clean himself up, and then lie comfortably on the bed to read newspapers and magazines until it got dark before going to rest.

But just as his bottom touched the stool, there was a knock on the door.

No way, the advertising effect is that significant... Wait, my ad is for next Monday, even if it's significant, it still has to wait until Monday!

Li Cheng opened the door with a puzzled look on his face and found it was Mrs. Hudson.

“Excuse me, Mr. Orenki.”

Just then, the landlady was holding a wooden lunchbox and smilingly handed it to him: "I accidentally made too much dinner. Would you mind if I helped you finish it?"

Although he didn't understand how an extra portion could be made, he couldn't refuse his neighbor and landlord's kindness, and besides, he was really too lazy to go out for a meal, so he thanked them and agreed.

However, after accepting the lunchbox and returning to his room, Li Cheng felt increasingly uneasy—there was a layer of water vapor condensing inside the thick lid of the lunchbox, indicating that the dinner had been prepared for some time.

I don't believe it's a coincidence that they prepared dinner early and delivered the lunchboxes right when I got back to my room.

Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious; someone is either a crook or a thief!

Li Cheng immediately became alert, then puzzled—but what could Mrs. Hudson possibly want from me, a newcomer like myself? After thinking it over, it seemed the only thing that could be him, this young and handsome man...

What should I do? Should I firmly refuse? Although Mrs. Hudson is quite well-preserved, given my current social standing, it seems a bit unfair to be taken advantage of by an older single woman for a few meals...

After finishing his dinner with some unease, Li Cheng returned the cutlery to its place and politely knocked on Mrs. Hudson's dark-colored door to return the lunchbox.

"Is the taste to your liking?"

Mrs. Hudson accepted the lunchbox and stared intently at Li Cheng, seemingly expecting some kind of answer.

"Great craftsmanship, just my taste."

Li Cheng glanced at her cautiously and took a half step back without making a sound.

No matter how you look at it, it's a loss. Besides, I've already suffered a loss once. If the insurance measures aren't in place, I might really be trapped by an old single woman, and in another ten years I'll really be supporting my own mother.

"That's good. Although I have some confidence in my cooking skills, different people have different tastes."

Mrs. Hudson, however, seemed oblivious to his subtle movement of taking a half-step back. As she spoke, she gently swayed her tightly bound waist, a mysterious and delighted smile curving her lips, and continued with a smile in her eyes:

"So... will you still need it in the future?"

Li Cheng: !!!

Holy crap, are you finally going to reveal your true intentions? Let me tell you, don't think you can get rid of me with a few meals. I'm no longer the kind of person who needs to be fed by a woman! Besides, I don't need your meals.

Just as Li Cheng was about to politely decline, Mrs. Hudson continued, "Would you like to order food?"

"...?"

Swallowing back the words he was about to say, Li Cheng countered, "Food service?"

Mrs. Hudson finally revealed her main purpose for this unexpected favor, but it wasn't to try the young man; rather, she planned to use a free dinner to promote her cooking skills.

"Yes, food ordering service."

She said, "It only costs 20 sushi a week. If you agree, I will prepare an extra dinner every day and deliver it to your door. Also, if you need it, breakfast and lunch are negotiable, but the price will be calculated separately."

Providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner to tenants is a very reasonable and common way for landlords to generate revenue.

After all, Hudson already needs to buy groceries and prepare his own dinner, so cooking an extra dinner for one person isn't a burden; on the contrary, it can reduce grocery expenses. As for the tenants, it not only saves them the trouble of cooking for themselves, but it's also more affordable and convenient compared to restaurants outside.

"..."

Li Cheng paused for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and said, "Hmm, that's a good suggestion."

Chapter 256 A Skirt

As the capital of France, Paris is a gathering place for countless dignitaries and celebrities. It is a place where endless balls, banquets and salons are held all the time. After all, going in and out of rigid and formal social occasions is the "daily work" and "communication method" for many upper-class people.

Today is just like any other day.

In an unassuming villa on Daffodil Street, adjacent to Tulip Street, a salon with a moderate number of participants was being held. All the guests were already seated, awaiting the mysterious host, who always managed to invite renowned artists, musicians, and writers to the event.

A moment later, the organizers of the salon appeared.

It was a young woman wearing a white lace dress with gold thread trim. The hem of the dress was stretched high into a semi-circle by the frame, and it was decorated like a cake with countless pearls, agates, gemstones, and silk flowers. Each of the small ornaments on it was enough to support a middle-class family's life of luxury. The extravagance of the dress made people doubt its authenticity.

Between the layers, there are intricate and dazzling twisted lines sewn with fine stitches, which seem to reveal angels holding trumpets, a radiant sun, and golden blooming flowers.

Intricate and magnificent...

A woman who can wear such a gorgeous long dress that so clearly demonstrates her family's wealth, even if she has an ordinary appearance, can become the most dazzling presence in social situations, winning the favor and flirting of countless men and women.

Moreover, the owner of the long dress was not ugly. She had smooth, long golden hair, a round and smooth chin, a symmetrical and beautiful nose, and innocent, baby-like eyes, making her pure and elegant.

Even disregarding her status as an organizer, this woman became the focus of everyone's attention from the moment she appeared, with all the men and women gathering around her like stars around the moon.

"Miss Phillips, you are as beautiful as ever today."

“Miss Phillips, I’ve recently come up with a new idea…”

“Miss Phillips…”

Faced with countless compliments and attempts to strike up a conversation, the woman known as Miss Phillips simply smiled and nodded, offering almost no response, and when she did say something, it was just a few words of agreement like "um" or "oh".

Even so, no one expressed any dissatisfaction. After all, a beautiful woman of noble status (although no one knew her status at all) always had privileges.

And so the salon officially began. Everyone found their own spots and gathered, in varying numbers, on the sofas, chatting about the Parisian weather, clothes, literature, music, plays...

Throughout the entire process, Phillips simply sat quietly to the side and listened, rarely interjecting, and the guests all knew the young lady's temperament.

They were so lively and happy, but don't forget that while some are adored, others are neglected.

In the corner of the room, a young girl sat alone on the sofa, rarely noticed by anyone.

Sofia Scott.

If you were to carefully compare her to Phillips, who was at the center of the crowd, you would find that their looks were almost identical. Although her dress wasn't as extravagant as Phillips', which used a lot of pearls and gemstones, it could still be described as luxurious.

The only problem is... her outfit happened to be a style that was popular a year ago, and she had already worn it in front of others more than once.

If we could turn back time twelve months, Sofia could have been a contender for the spotlight at the salon, or at least a supporting role. But twelve months from now, Sofia's outfit would be comparable to the treatment a programmer would receive if he wore what he thought was a stylish plaid shirt to a blind date.

Either their family's financial situation is so bad that they can't afford a new dress even after a year.

Or they're just completely clueless old-fashioned people who don't understand fashion at all.

Unfortunately, Sofia was the former. Due to a misjudgment in her family's business direction, she not only lost a large amount of her existing assets, but also found her life to be very tight, leaving her with no extra money to pursue those expensive clothes—though she had plenty of prints, though.

This wasn't the first time she'd been ignored, but for someone who lacked entertainment, this was one of the few times she could have some. She could admire other people's trendy clothes while listening to them gossip about the latest happenings. It was just that being alone was a bit of an eyesore.