It wasn't an apple that hit Newton.

Li Cheng adopted an understanding demeanor, then changed the subject: "In my opinion, the Earth revolves around the sun, and the apple falls from the sky—these two things share the same principle."

"How is this possible?"

"Why is it impossible? The principle is fair, regardless of rank or status."

Seeing Newton rendered speechless by the question, Li Cheng felt a slight sense of superiority, but he quickly suppressed it.

Li Cheng, Li Cheng, don't forget your own level—you're a fish that slipped through the net of compulsory education, a remnant of the expansion of university enrollment.

Besides, showing off isn't for personal satisfaction, but to cultivate a good relationship with Newton and create a prestigious first impression, making it easier to persuade or convince him later. One mustn't put the cart before the horse and indulge in the thrill of appearing superior in front of others.

Li Cheng regained his composure and continued... "From a small detail, one can know the bigger picture; from a single snowflake, one can know winter has arrived. Know that everything is interconnected. A butterfly flapping its wings can cause a great storm on a distant shore. Similarly, a tiny apple falling from the sky can interact with the vast earth..."

"So what exactly is the principle behind it?" Newton suddenly interjected.

Tsk, it's really hard to fool people without solid facts...

Li Cheng wasn't embarrassed by being interrupted while chanting. He calmly said, "Don't rush, we'll be there soon... I was researching the problem of apples falling to the ground. After drawing a conclusion, I discovered that this conclusion can also be extended to other things. Everything is affected by it, so I call it 'universal gravitation'."

"gravity?"

“Universal gravitation.” Li Cheng nodded in affirmation. “There is mutual attraction between all things. Even between you and me, there is attraction, but it is so weak that it is imperceptible. And the magnitude of this force is related to the mass of the object.”

After saying this, Li Cheng did not continue, because he saw that Newton's brows were tightly furrowed, as if he was thinking about this brand-new concept for her and for this era.

"All things in the universe are mutually attractive..."

"The magnitude of the force is related to the mass of the object..."

"Everything...gravity...mass..."

Newton muttered to himself, chewing on the words carefully.

This sentence awakened her, and many small things from her daily life automatically came together in her mind. A mysterious feeling, as if she had grasped something but was still just a little bit off, made her fall into deep thought.

This thought process felt like it had lasted for a century.

Fifteen minutes later.

"I get it! Universal gravitation, it's universal gravitation!" Newton suddenly exclaimed, her eyes bright, and she couldn't help but say, "This is amazing! Universal gravitation is amazing! Whoever came up with this term must be a genius!"

Is this a Western version of Wang Po selling melons, praising her own wares?

Li Cheng's lips twitched, and he forced a smile: "Congratulations, Miss Newton, you have successfully grasped a new piece of knowledge."

"what?"

Newton was still immersed in the joy of his contemplation when he was called out to Li Cheng, who was still standing there waiting. He quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I forgot you were still here."

"It's okay, I understand. Once a spark of thought is ignited, it won't stop until it burns out."

Li Cheng, shameless and nonchalant, made up a story: "Once, I was so distracted that I boiled my pocket watch thinking it was an egg. That was incredibly embarrassing."

"Haha, that's hilarious!" Newton laughed, chuckling twice, and then said, "Excuse me, did you really come up with this all by yourself? It's not that I don't believe you, I'm just a little shocked."

No, this was actually your idea alone... Li Cheng smiled and pointed to the apple tree overhead: "I figured it out right here."

"I'm not lying, I've just omitted the subject," he added in his mind.

Just as Li Cheng was gloating over this clever idea, Newton's eyes narrowed upon seeing the apple tree, and his relaxed expression tightened again.

"I almost forgot... Thank you so much for sharing your valuable knowledge."

Newton once again tried to put on an authoritative expression and said, "But if you don't explain why you're in my house, I'll still call for help."

???

Li Cheng's expression froze instantly.

This isn't what we agreed on!

According to the script, shouldn't they immediately show their admiration for my knowledge, then ignore my mysterious background as a stranger, and regardless of any danger, insist on inviting me as a guest, providing me with good food and drink...? Well, that certainly doesn't seem very likely.

"Oh, this is it..."

Overconfident, Li Cheng hadn't anticipated this turn of events and hadn't prepared any explanation, so he could only make things up on the spot: "Well, when people think about problems, they tend to ignore the external environment and often unintentionally do unexpected things..."

Li Cheng continued his rambling: "It's like being walking and getting distracted by thinking about something, then coming back to your senses to find yourself lost at a crossroads in life, ending up in some strange place... well, that's roughly the feeling."

"Oh, is that so? I understand completely now, so that's how it is."

Newton actually nodded in understanding.

"Ah, this works too?..." Li Cheng was overjoyed: "Yes, yes, that's it!"

However, under Li Cheng's expectant gaze, Newton took a deep breath, opened her throat, and shouted in a high-pitched voice unique to young girls, "Help..."

Chapter Three: Difficult Trust

You don't know anything!

Li Cheng instinctively lunged forward, interrupting the opponent's 'forbidden technique of calling for help'.

"Don't shout!"

He pressed down on Newton, using his weight advantage to firmly suppress Newton's struggling movements, while his large right hand tightly covered Newton's mouth.

The scene looked like a villain holding a girl hostage, but Li Cheng didn't care. He knew that if he had been a step later and let Newton shout, he might be subdued by several muscular men right now.

"You coward, you've betrayed Hui Fangguo! (Let go, or I won't let you get away with this!)"

Newton struggled while making strange whimpering noises and threatening Li Cheng with his eyes, demanding that he let go.

"What are you looking at?"

Li Cheng's anger flared, and he said with malice, "Let me tell you the truth, I am actually your father's betrothed to you when you were born! You actually want to arrest me? Let's see how I teach you a lesson!"

After saying that, he used his free wolf paw to give Newton's pert little butt a slap, as if he had given up and was about to smash it... Hmm, very bouncy, much more substantial than the one above.

"Well!"

Newton was jolted, his face flushed red, then his expression hardened, and he struggled even harder.

"Heh, you don't believe me? Let's talk slowly until you do."

Seeing this, Li Cheng smiled coldly: "I'll count to three and then I'll let go. You're not allowed to shout, understand? Nod if you agree."

Newton nodded hastily, but a sly look flashed in his eyes.

Li Cheng, seemingly oblivious, continued, "Alright, I'll start counting. Three, two, one... Let go."

As soon as he felt his lips touch the fresh air again, Newton opened his throat:

"save......"

Li Cheng, who was prepared, covered Newton's lips again.

"Hehehe, you didn't listen to a word I said..." Li Cheng's expression was gloomy, and a wicked smile appeared on his lips: "You bad kid who lies needs to be punished."

As he spoke, he raised his left hand high and then brought it down heavily.

*Slap, slap slap, slap slap slap, slap slap slap slap...* Under the witness of the apple tree, a brutal act is taking place in the garden.

Five minutes later.

After working on the ox drum for a while, Li Cheng felt his arms getting a little sore, so he stopped.

"Can we have a proper talk now?"

"Waaaaah."

Newton had long since lost the ability to speak, and her cheeks were bright red as if dripping blood. Tears of shame had already overflowed her eyes, yet she still tried to widen her pupils in a futile attempt to prevent them from flowing completely.

Um, isn't it a bit inappropriate to bully a little girl like this...?

Such a thought only existed in Li Cheng's mind for a moment before he immediately dismissed it—if she were to shout that out, his fate would probably be no better, especially for a stranger in a foreign land with no identity, no job, and no acquaintances.

"I will let go next."

Li Cheng adopted an open and honest attitude: "If you still don't cooperate, I'll pretend I was never here and never saw you."

It's unclear which part of those words resonated with Newton, but she nodded slowly.

Li Cheng released his hand.

"You bastard, how dare you hit me!"

Newton didn't shout, but she cursed through her tears, then opened her mouth and bit down hard on Li Cheng's exposed wrist—this was the only way she could vent her anger.

Who cares if what you say is true or false? Lord Isaac Newton will not yield! Come on then! Hit me! Insult me! Copernicus was burned at the stake for his beliefs, do you think I, this young lady, will succumb to this petty violence?

However, she waited and waited, but the expected retaliation never came.

Newton looked up unexpectedly and saw Li Cheng's ever-calm face. His dark eyes were like a tranquil lake, making people put aside their distracting thoughts upon seeing them.

She couldn't help but relent and asked, "Why didn't you resist? Did you think it would be useful to try to please me now?"

Li Cheng said, "It's not to flatter you, but because I was a bit impulsive just now, this is my punishment."

As he spoke, he glanced at his wrist, which now bore two lines of blood, and discreetly hid it behind his back... This isn't Newton, it's Dogton! Ahhh, I must hold back, I can't scream. Now is the perfect opportunity; if I scream, all my coolness will vanish.

Then Li Cheng reached out his other hand and gently wiped away the tears on Newton's face, whispering, "Don't cry."

When Li Cheng was halfway through wiping, Newton turned his face away and said, "Hmph, don't try to get close to me. Do you think I'm stupid? If I had a fiancé, would my parents have kept it from me?"

This is really troublesome... Luckily, I know about Newton's life, so I should still be able to make something up now.

"Don't worry about that. I never expected to fulfill that promise," Li Cheng said. "Man is born free, and each person is an independent being. No one is obligated to keep a promise made by their predecessors."

"..."

Newton's expression softened considerably: "Then why did you lie to me?"

Li Cheng let out a long sigh: "I didn't lie to you. I said that just now to gain your trust first... Anyway, let me tell you a story first."

As a well-known keyboard warrior who knows a little about everything and a third-rate online literature enthusiast, Li Cheng understood that this was a challenge in his life—he needed to concoct a story on the spot that was convoluted, consistent, and thrilling, and most importantly, had few flaws, or at least few superficial flaws, in order to temporarily gain Newton's trust.

However, if possible, he would prefer to use this opportunity to participate in a variety show called "I Am a Writer".

[Note 1: The following is all fabricated by Li Cheng]

[Note 2: Since no biographical information about Newton's father could be found, Li Cheng actually fabricated the story on top of the author's fabrication, which can be described as fabrication to the power of two.]

[Note 3: This is an alternate history, please bear with us.]

France, 1640.

An Englishman also named Isaac Newton, dissatisfied with Charles I's dictatorship, began his travels across the European continent.