It wasn't an apple that hit Newton.

This is a somewhat old villa. The broken parts of the fence are covered with green and unidentified plants and weeds. There are flowers planted at the entrance that are hard to tell whether they are real or fake lilies. Considering the street name, they should be fake lilies.

The young store manager knocked gently three times on the door. After a short while, the heavy, dark wooden door opened from the inside, and a somewhat thin figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

She was a young woman, around twenty years old, with hair and a long dress that were both a deep, dark black, making her already pale, almost sickly-looking skin appear even paler.

As for her appearance, she was not bad, but judging from her cold gray eyes and tightly pursed thin lips, she was a young lady who was not easy to deal with.

Upon discovering that the person standing at the door was the young manager of the tailor shop, the unapproachable young lady gave him a cold glance and said somewhat impatiently, "Didn't I tell you I needed to rest? Don't bother me these next few days unless it's absolutely necessary?"

The young store manager quickly apologized, "I'm so sorry, Ms. Hook, I know you're not feeling well, but I really have something to attend to..."

ha?

Upon hearing the young store manager's description of the difficult-to-deal-with lady, Li Cheng was taken aback—Hulk? Robert Hulk? Why was the person in charge sent such a guy?

No wonder he felt the black-haired girl in front of him looked familiar, but couldn't quite place her. He thought it was just his imagination, but it turned out she really was someone he had seen before.

“Mr. Orenki, this is our manager, Ms. Robert Hook.”

At this moment, the young store manager turned around and introduced Hu Ke to Li Cheng with a respectful and admiring tone. Meanwhile, Li Cheng was already recalling his previous meeting with Hu Ke.

While in London, Li Cheng had a brief encounter with Hook at Anderson's birthday party for Louise (referring to reciting the menu). However, later, when Li Cheng had finished recounting Anderson's dark history and was preparing to embellish it, Hook stopped him in the garden to discuss something, but they ultimately did not reach an agreement.

What a coincidence! They arranged for someone who had met me before to join them.

Li Cheng was having a bit of a headache. He could only hope that Hu Ke had forgotten about him, which would save him the trouble of making up excuses.

Unfortunately, Hook's memory seemed to be much better than his, or perhaps Li Cheng had left a deep impression on her, because after frowning and recalling for a few seconds, she showed a somewhat interested smile:

"Aurunki Lee?"

"Yes, that's my name."

Seeing this, Li Cheng had no choice but to emphasize it again. Then he quickly waved for the troublesome young store manager to go back first. After hesitating for two seconds, seeing that Hu Ke did not object, the young store manager turned around and left, but before leaving, he said to Li Cheng:

"Miss Hook's tone may sometimes be a bit tactful, please don't mind it too much."

After the young store manager left, Li Cheng continued talking to Hu Ke.

"Long time no see... cough cough, although it seems we've only met once." He said awkwardly, "I didn't expect to run into you in Paris, what a coincidence, hehe, hehe."

"It's quite a coincidence that we actually ran into someone who seems to be missing."

Hooker leaned against the door with his arms crossed, seemingly quite interested, and said, "Why would a newly rich man from London pretend to disappear and come to Paris alone under an assumed name?"

How could he possibly reveal such a secret so easily? So Li Cheng countered, "Miss Hook, why don't you tell me why you were willing to travel all the way to Paris by boat and car to be my subordinate? To be honest, I'm quite curious. Your family shouldn't be short of this salary, right?"

"Ah."

Hook didn't intend to pry, and instead explained, "It's mainly to pass the time. I was originally going to come to Paris, and I only agreed because I was interested in it, and it's also a way to kill some time."

"To kill time?"

Li Cheng was completely unconvinced: "You came all the way from London to Paris to work for me, just to kill time?"

"Please don't flatter yourself, Mr. Orange—I didn't come to Paris for you; I was going to come to Paris anyway."

Hook paused, his expression a mix of helplessness and concern: "It's mainly because of Halle. She accepted a man's invitation and insisted on coming to Paris to see the comet. I was worried about her being alone, so I secretly followed her to Paris as well."

In fact, Hu Ke did not know Li Cheng very well.

Initially, she only planned to team up with Li Cheng to orchestrate a crackdown on Harley's father's Putian-affiliated soap factory by the Patent Office, thereby prompting Harley to seek her help and ultimately making Harley her girlfriend.

However, Li Cheng had an upset stomach due to the terrible food at the birthday party that day, and his behavior was not very reliable, which made Hu Ke give up the idea and carry out the anti-counterfeiting plan by himself.

The anti-counterfeiting plan went smoothly at first. Harley's father's factory that produced counterfeit soap was shut down by the patent office, and the family's finances were in trouble. It seemed that Harley was about to seek help from Hook, who had connections with the patent office.

Unfortunately, although Li Cheng had already "disappeared" at that time, Hooke did not expect that Newton had a close relationship with Li Cheng. After hearing the news, he immediately helped Halley.

Fortunately, Halley, wanting to repay Newton, took the initiative to visit Hooke, hoping that Hooke could help Newton join the Royal Society. Otherwise, Hooke would have really been a fraud in London.

Despite this, Harley only agreed to go out with her more often, and the two spent a few alone together, which was quite different from what he had initially envisioned.

After that, Hook stopped paying attention to Li Cheng's news. He only learned about Li Cheng's disappearance through casual conversation with Harley, and he forgot about it as soon as he heard about it. Li Cheng? He really didn't know him!

As for why Hook came to Paris to become the person in charge... just as Hook explained earlier.

On a secondary note, Hook had heard about Roy's money-spraying hiring and was somewhat interested in the matter itself.

The main point is that Halle was very interested in the invitation from Cassini, the director of the Paris Observatory, and planned to come to Paris to observe the comet.

Out of caution, Hook, who had come to Paris with him, was a bit bored. Hearing that someone was looking for experts in fashion design to go to Paris, Hook agreed, partly to pass the time.

Chapter 274 "Rival in Love"

“That’s right, Mr. Orange.”

Hook shrugged: "Although we didn't reach an agreement last time, we can be considered partners for the time being this time."

Leaning against the threshold, she quickly realized the flaw in Li Cheng's name and put it into action, even replacing the original form of address.

Once is one thing, but don't keep calling me Mr. Orange! Call me Mr. Aurunki! Do you think this is some kind of children's TV show? Even if it were, you should call me Big Brother Orange!

Although Hook was extremely impolite, Li Cheng tolerated it for the time being, considering Roy's letter that indicated his professional competence was highly commendable.

"Let's talk about work. This is a client I recently took on."

He took out the design sketches for the outfit he had designed for Phillips and handed them to Hook: "Remember to make it according to these sketches."

"Hmm... the design is indeed quite good."

After taking the design drawings and glancing at them briefly, Hook first gave a low affirmation, then his gaze suddenly focused on the final portrait of Phillips, which he couldn't look away from for a long time.

Ah, those beautifully shaped, slender collarbones, those smooth, fair shoulders, that adorable, slightly upturned curve... and that mysterious smile with its subtle upturn at the corners of her mouth, her elegant, flowing golden hair...

"Whose is this?"

Hook was both surprised and surprised.

I'm used to it. Come on, praise my drawing skills...

Li Cheng showed no surprise at the sight, but instead straightened his collar, preparing to face the astonishment.

After staring at the painting for several minutes, Hook reluctantly turned to Li Cheng, holding the portrait of Phillips in the painting, and asked, "What is the name of this beautiful lady?"

Li Cheng was taken aback: "What?"

I asked her what her name was.

Hook's gaze couldn't help but return to the drawing paper, his eyes incredibly gentle. "Since you're the customer you brought in, you can't possibly not even know their name, can you?"

Li Cheng asked, puzzled, "I know... but is it necessary?"

"Absolutely necessary."

Hu Keqiang said.

Seeing her slightly furrowed brow and serious expression, Li Cheng also became serious, while his mind involuntarily drifted into speculation—could it be that Phillips was indeed some high-ranking nobleman or direct descendant, and that Hook had happened to recognize him...?

With that thought in mind, Li Cheng immediately stopped hiding anything: "Her name is Phillips."

“Phillips, Phillips…”

Hook muttered it to himself a few times to make it more memorable, then narrowed his eyes slightly and exclaimed, "What a beautiful name, just like her—I've decided, I'm going to pursue her."

?

Li Cheng, who was initially on high alert, was completely dumbfounded after hearing her declaration of love: "You asked for my name just for this?"

"if not?"

Hook retorted, "How am I supposed to pursue someone I don't even know their name?"

Is this the key point?

Li Cheng's lips twitched, and he couldn't help but ask, "By the way, weren't you pursuing that... Harley?"

Hook nodded frankly: "Yes."

Li Cheng asked with a strange expression, "So... you're going to pursue two at the same time?"

"Yes."

Hook stretched out his arms toward the void and solemnly declared, "But I will give them equal and just love, regardless of poverty, wealth, sickness, or health, and will not show any favoritism to any of them."

Li Cheng's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets: "You want them all?"

Hook slightly raised his chin: "Only children make choices."

you are vicious.

Li Cheng was speechless for a moment, but he felt that something was not quite right about the matter.

It wasn't until he rewound his mind and recalled what had happened a few hours earlier—Phillips pulling a dagger from under her skirt—that he finally realized the problem: Damn it, Phillips was a cross-dresser! What kind of woman was she?!

In other words, a cross-dresser is now being pursued by a female keto?

What kind of hellish drawing is this?!

Imagining that scene, Li Cheng instinctively shouted, "Wait a minute, Miss Hook, you can't pursue Phillips!"

"why?"

Hook's expression immediately turned cold, and his gaze toward Li Cheng became hostile.

Li Cheng was about to shout, "Because that's a man, ahhhhh!", but the words caught in his throat.

Can I say?

Of course not. He's not familiar with Hooker, and they haven't built any trust between them. Who knows what would happen if Hooker leaked it?

But if he doesn't tell the truth, how can he stop Hook from pursuing Phillips?

"Forehead......"

Li Cheng thought hard for a moment but couldn't come up with a reason, so he finally made one up: "Because love should be purely between two people..."

"Ha! Why don't you men say the same thing when you're having secret rendezvous with your lovers?"

Hook sneered, "Or are you saying only men can do it, but I can't?"

"No, I don't care how many you find, the main thing is that these two... are not quite the same."

Li Cheng was initially speechless at this statement, which resembled a martial arts technique, and then looked up at the sky—at least he had no interest in looking for cross-dressers.

"How could it be any different?"

Hook scoffed, "My private matters are none of your business."