It wasn't an apple that hit Newton.

The woman known as Ms. Therese was a woman in her late twenties. She had light golden curly hair that reached her shoulders, captivating deep blue eyes, and long legs that made up almost three-fifths of her body.

Although she was only wearing a simple brown trench coat, the buttons were not fastened, and the bulging white shirt underneath was directly exposed, which was tempting to commit a crime.

If this outfit had a few fewer buttons, she might be mistaken for a streetwalker if she stood on the street.

After correcting him, Therese ignored the male playwright and instead looked Li Cheng up and down a few times: "I haven't seen you in any theater troupe. Are you the writer His Highness brought, the author of 'Domineering Love'? I'm quite interested in your work. How about we find a coffee shop to chat?"

"No, it's my friend..."

Li Cheng originally wanted to reject it outright, but upon closer inspection, he realized that the woman in front of him was a mature older sister with light blonde short hair, a heavy bust, and a lively and cheerful expression, and he immediately changed his mind.

"Ahem, although it wasn't me."

Li Chengyi changed his tune, saying, "But I also offered a lot of suggestions during the process, which should be helpful to you—specifically, which coffee shop?"

Holly, who was standing to the side, turned her face away, unable to bear watching any longer.

"Not you?"

Therese frowned upon hearing this, scrutinized Li Cheng again, and then shook her head, saying, "No, although you look quite young, I won't consider you unless you're seven or eight years younger."

Li Cheng was taken aback: "Seven or eight years old? Wouldn't that make him a little boy?"

Therese said matter-of-factly, "Yes, I like little boys."

???

Li Cheng slowly typed out three question marks.

He wondered if he had misheard, but looking around, he found that everyone around him, including the middle-aged man who appeared to be a playwright, had calm expressions and seemed to be used to it.

"What? Is that not allowed?"

Therese put her hands on her hips, her tone even carrying a hint of pride, and said, "Little boys are the most beautiful things in the world, treasures bestowed upon mankind by God. Is there anything wrong with me liking little boys?"

“Completely different from those annoying adult men who are like flies, little boys have soft cheeks, small hands, feet and bodies, and can be easily picked up and spun around.”

As Therese spoke, she hugged the non-existent void tightly, as if there really was a little boy there.

"Then the little boys will cry out shyly, 'Let me go!' Some of them will try to struggle, but others will become attached to their sister's warm embrace. It's so cute!"

Therese then cupped her flushed cheeks, her body wriggling like a maggot.

"But the best part is getting the cute little boy drunk, watching his eyes glaze over, his legs go weak as he collapses into my arms, his face flushed—I don't know if it's from shyness or drunkenness...that feeling is just amazing!!!"

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Evolving Errors on the Path of Life

Therese's eyes lit up as she launched into a long, enthusiastic discussion about her fantasies about the little boy.

For a moment, Li Cheng didn't know whether to despise her or admire her courage to face herself honestly.

And Therese, true to her role as a dramatist, described the various scenes with such vividness, as if she had personally experienced them... Wait a minute, could this really be something she actually did??

Is it like some deranged murderers who have been at large for many years, with their cases remaining unsolved, until finally, unable to resist the urge to show off, they write their methods into a novel...? By the way, that smug murderer has already been caught.

Upon considering this possibility, Li Cheng was deeply shocked, and a thought swirled in his mind.

—Let go of that little boy, come at me if you have a problem.

At this time, Therese's fantasies continued to be released, and were even gradually developing in some indescribable or even monstrous directions.

However, judging from this scale, her strange and monstrous claims are either pure fiction or she actually needs her subordinates to offer 500 young boys as tribute every year. Considering the latter is almost impossible, Li Cheng breathed a sigh of relief...

Weird!

Li Cheng frowned and squinted, making a disgusted expression, roughly like "Subway, old man, looking at his phone.jpg".

Seeing this, the male playwright quietly reminded her, "Ms. Therese..."

"Oh right, I almost forgot."

Therese suddenly realized something, and she quickly turned around and waved to Li Cheng: "Don't waste time, let's hurry up, His Highness must be getting impatient."

"Isn't it you who's wasting time...?" Li Cheng thought to himself, then lifted his foot and followed.

The three of them soon arrived at the entrance of the rest room.

Li Cheng had assumed that the three of them would go in together, or at least that he would go in with them.

However, Therese greeted the guards at the door without a second thought, then casually left Li Cheng and Holly outside the door and went inside alone.

?

How come this perverted dramatist is even more arrogant than me?

Li Cheng was confused for a moment. When he came to his senses, he saw that neither the guards nor Holly had any reaction. Holly was even looking at the pattern and structure of the wooden floor under her feet with a bored expression, which made him even more confused.

......

In the rest room.

As soon as Therese closed the door, she turned around and shouted in an exaggerated tone, "Your Highness!!!"

"As expected, it feels very awkward to hear you call me Your Highness."

Even when no one was around, Veronica maintained a dignified sitting posture, but her face twitched slightly: "Just call me by my name."

"Yes, yes, Veronica."

Therese shrugged: "I'm just giving you face in front of your new subordinate, aren't I?"

Veronica glanced at the closed door and shook her head slightly: "He is not my subordinate, nor would he willingly become my subordinate."

Veronica had initially considered this idea, but as she learned more about it, she completely abandoned the plan.

Because she simply couldn't see through Li Cheng's thoughts.

Money? Status? Women?

Generally speaking, people always pursue something, but Veronica didn't know what Li Cheng was pursuing, what he was doing it for, or what he wanted.

She could only vaguely discern that Li Cheng had a 'hidden purpose,' but she couldn't figure out what it was. She only knew that everything he did was probably for that 'hidden purpose.'

Under this speculation, Veronica even entertained the terrifying thought that their accidental contact was a pre-planned arrangement by the other party. However, upon closer inspection, it seemed too far-fetched, so she dismissed the idea.

Veronica snapped out of her reverie and focused her attention on Therese.

"what?"

Upon hearing Veronek's answer, Therese's eyes widened in surprise, as if Columbus had just discovered a new continent. "Not a subordinate? Then... is it the pretty boy you've taken a fancy to?"

???

Veronica's face darkened: "Therese, is this the only thing you can think of?"

"Hahaha, just kidding, just kidding."

Therese fanned herself dramatically with her hand: "Aren't you getting on in years? Besides, you really like the style of his books, so I assumed..."

It has to be said that nobody believed Li Cheng's self-deceiving "my friend" story at all.

Verona was already used to Therese's unreliable personality, so she decisively ignored her nonsense and went straight to the point: "How is your play rehearsal going?"

“Very good.” Therese gave an OK sign and then put it down. “The rehearsals went very well—by the way, I recently recruited a very interesting actress, and we get along very well. I’ll introduce her to you later.”

"I get along really well with Therese..." Veronica paused for a moment, then nodded, "Okay."

After that, there was some more casual chatting among friends. Therese complained that the playwrights these days were a bunch of boring guys, always writing about family feuds, hero saving damsels in distress, and knights and princesses, without any originality.

Veronica told her that Li Cheng should have returned another new novel to her, and that she could take a look at it later.

......

Outside the lounge.

Li Cheng, who had been puzzled by this person's arrogance, finally couldn't help but inquire, "What's the background of this... cough cough, independent and unconventional dramatist lady?"

Holly glanced at him, as if to say, "How can you not even know this? You still have the nerve to associate with His Highness: Her name is Therese Mitt, and she is the granddaughter of Grand Duke Mitt."

“Miss Therese and His Highness grew up together and had an excellent relationship. Even after they grew up, they maintained a very good personal friendship.”

"But don't go around saying things like that. Miss Therese doesn't have a very good reputation."

?

Grand Duke Mittel's granddaughter? She grew up with Veronica?

Li Cheng was stunned, wondering if the description he heard was the same person who had just made that strange xP declaration in broad daylight.

Putting aside the fact that the two have some similarities, is this really the Duke's granddaughter? She just stays in this little theater, acting as a perverted theater artist who takes pride in harassing young boys?

mdzz.

Li Cheng suddenly remembered something else and asked, "How old is Therese today?"

“23, just two years older than Your Highness,” Holly answered instinctively, then asked warily, “What are you trying to do by asking that?”

Is she really the leaker maid? She even managed to find out Veronique's age. Although it's not a secret, the way she leaked it was a bit too casual.

"It's nothing, just asking casually."

Li Cheng chuckled.

After that, he chatted with Holly casually about everything, including but not limited to the weather, food, servants, etc. Holly always managed to pinpoint the topic to something related to Veronica and then leak information.

After chatting for an unknown amount of time, the door to the rest room suddenly creaked open, and Therese reappeared in the doorway.

Li Cheng stopped talking and glanced at him sideways.

After learning the true identity of this perverted playwright, his gaze towards him completely changed, as if he were looking at some rare species rather than a human.

It's really hard to imagine how two people, Veronica and Therese, who are completely opposite inside and out, could be raised in the same environment.

Veronica is dignified and elegant, keeping herself completely covered up, always with a stern face, never revealing her true thoughts, and currently plotting to seize the throne.

Therese, on the other hand, doesn't seem like a respectable person. She dares to say anything, even openly expressing her perverted desires for young boys in front of people she's just met. Currently, she's hiding in a small theater as a playwright.

Logically speaking, Veronica is a talent properly cultivated by aristocratic education. Even if ordinary people cannot achieve that level due to their abilities or personality issues, they will at most not be as perfect as her.

But Therese managed to force an incorrect evolution, which is quite remarkable.

Just then, Li Cheng suddenly noticed something—as he glanced at Therese, Therese was also gazing at him. Even their expressions were somewhat similar, as if they were examining something new and interesting.

"I'm way past my expiration date, why are you still staring at me..." Li Ce thought to himself, but said aloud, "Is there something you need, Miss Therese? Is there some quality about me that attracts you?"

Therese hasn't noticed any special qualities yet, but after her previous conversation with Veronica, her perception of Li Cheng has changed significantly.

She nodded with interest, and said without any attempt to hide it, "I am indeed somewhat interested in you."