It wasn't an apple that hit Newton.

Snapped--

Annie slammed the book shut and looked intently at Li Cheng: "Li Cheng, I suddenly have confidence!"

Li Cheng: "?"

"Your secret technique is amazing! I feel it's even better than what Sister Beatrice taught me." Annie's eyes seemed to burn with a raging fire, a rare flame of ambition within her. "I think I can do what you said!"

Li Cheng wiped away his cold sweat: "...I'm glad I helped you. After all, we're friends."

"No, Li Cheng, you're no longer my friend, you're my brother!"

Anne corrected him with a serious expression.

Bro, my foot! Don't use those descriptions randomly! You can't be brothers without a fierce younger brother! No matter how hard you try, you'll only ever be a chest D!

From now on, your problems are my problems, and my problems are your problems!

The second half of the sentence is redundant! It's purely a negative effect, okay?

"Okay, I understand."

Li Cheng didn't want to discuss this brotherly topic any further, so he moved on to the next step: "Next, we need to come up with a story to make sure it doesn't give anything away to your father..."

Although Li Cheng had explained it to Annie once before, it was too rushed at the time, and many details were not taken into account.

......

"Do you understand?"

"I understand completely now."

"very good."

After successfully completing the collusion, Li Cheng took out a letter from his bag and handed it to Annie: "Give this to Mr. Stoller for me, and don't forget to say that it was sent by me."

Because of Anne, Li Cheng tried to minimize his meetings with Mr. Stoller until the loom business was finalized.

------

evening.

Stoller, clutching an exquisite cane inlaid with rubies, strode briskly back home. After handing his coat and cane to the servant who came to greet him, he headed straight for the dining room.

Anne had been waiting at the table for a long time, and when she saw her father arrive, her face lit up with joy—it was finally time to eat!

As soon as Stoller sat down, Anne eagerly began cutting her steak. After a full day of performances and intense activity, she was already starving.

A silent meal.

After clearing away three-quarters of the food in front of her, Annie finally remembered something and looked up, saying, "Dad, Li Cheng asked me to give you a letter. I left it on your desk in your study."

"Li Cheng's letter?"

Stoller immediately thought of the red-haired young man who had impressed him, and realizing it seemed like he hadn't seen him in a long time, he asked, "Why doesn't he come over himself?"

"I do not know."

Anne readily gave her an answer.

Stoller's hand holding the knife and fork hovered in the air for a moment, then he continued cutting the steak in front of him as if nothing had happened... He was used to it.

His only expectation for Annie now is the progress of her relationship with Li Cheng.

Fortunately, things seem to be going quite smoothly. Not long ago, the two of them went on a trip to the outskirts of the city together. Recently, they have found common interests and often spend the whole day together discussing drama. There was even a play that was written by Li Cheng and supervised by Annie.

These days, it's really hard to find a suitable son-in-law, and Li Cheng is quite a catch. Stoller felt he should pay more attention to him, so he asked, "When do you think the play you were supervising for Li Cheng will be performed?"

!!!

Annie instinctively wanted to show a look of horror.

However, at that moment, she suddenly remembered that the book "An Actor Prepares" mentioned that one should treat every aspect of life as a rehearsal and deal with it with the most focused spirit.

So, at that critical moment, Anne, combining Therese's selfless guidance during this time with her physical instincts, forcibly twisted her horrified expression into another similar but completely opposite one.

She slowly turned her head to one side, her trembling hand instinctively touching half of her face to cover her lips, which were pale from fright, and said as if she were very embarrassed.

"That's just a little hobby of Li Cheng's, and he might not perform it for the public."

"I see."

Stoller, unsuspecting, said, "If it's performed publicly, just let me know, and I'll go see it."

Watching her father deceive her so easily for the first time, Annie was surprised, but she became even more convinced of the book "The Art of Transformation" that she had just placed on her bedside table, intending to read it again.

Chapter 109 Newton, the Soulful Painter

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.

To celebrate the successful conclusion of the horse races, a grand banquet was being held at Hollirudhouse Palace, with long tables laden with a variety of delicious foods, including foie gras, roast beef, lamb stew, and bouillabaisse.

In addition, the table was filled with bottles of alcoholic beverages that reflected various alluring lusters and were available for free consumption. Servants in short vests were carrying trays and moving between the elegantly dressed gentlemen and ladies.

This group consisted of nobles, playwrights, and musicians who had received Charles II's permission to escape the plague together. There were even acrobats and equestrian experts, though those latter were not entitled to attend the banquet and had to dine outside.

The reason for such a complex composition is that Charles II spent a period of exile in Europe during his youth.

During that period, Cromwell was still in power in Britain. He was not favored by any European monarchs, was poor and hopeless. Whenever he had money, he would enjoy it, which led him to become proficient in art and develop a deep liking for most artists who were also poor.

"Edward, cheer up."

While enjoying his alcoholic beverage, Charles II said to the pale-faced young man beside him, "Tomorrow we will set off back to London. The plague is under control, the war is about to be won, and many of the troublesome fellows in Parliament have died. A whole host of good things await us."

"Besides, don't you want to see your sister? When she was little, she loved to follow you around."

“…”

As he listened to Charles II's description, Edward's face grew increasingly somber, but he still managed a forced smile and said, "Of course, I'm very happy."

------

London.

As for Newton, Halley treated him with great hospitality for two days, and then, to please him, took him to the observatory to observe the night sky, telling him stories about the stars as she observed them.

For Newton, who had few friends due to differences in age, knowledge, and personality, such treatment was rare. And Halley, in particular, was a woman of solid learning and mathematical talent, leading Newton to develop a rare sense of appreciation for her.

The two quickly grew closer.

Seeing that the time was right, Halley proposed to introduce Newton to her "acquaintance at the Royal Society," so that she could better dispel the doubts of some gossipy people.

Newton agreed.

......

The Royal Society of London.

Throughout the journey, Halley remained secretive, not revealing to Newton who he was to meet, only saying that it was someone who would greatly surprise Newton. This continued until the two arrived at their scheduled meeting.

"It's in the room right ahead."

As Halley spoke, he opened the door for Newton.

Inside the room, a woman with a pale face sat by the window. She had delicate features and slender arms, and wore a long black dress with many ruffles. In front of her was an easel, and around her were various paints and brushes.

She didn't look like a scientist from the Royal Academy of Sciences; she looked more like a noblewoman studying painting.

"Let me introduce you to Robert Hook, Vice President of the Royal Society."

Halley quickly introduced Newton, saying, "Miss Hooke is a well-known supporter of female scientists and is the honorary president of the London Women's Rights Association. She would never discriminate against anyone."

Upon hearing the door open, Hook's gaze shifted from the easel to the doorway.

Her gaze lingered on Halley for two seconds, then turned to the left. Finding no target, she looked down and spotted tiny Newton, a look of confusion on her face.

After a moment, Hook frowned and looked at Harley again: "Is this the person you introduced? He looks like a child who hasn't grown up yet."

A child who hasn't grown up...

Newton felt his sore spot had been hit squarely, and she jumped up in a fit of rage, shouting, "Who's a child! I'm 16! I'm old enough to get married!"

"......oh."

Hooker nodded, then ignored Newton, who was jumping up and down, and refocused his attention on the easel in front of him and a dead sparrow that was being used as a model not far away.

This dismissive attitude further fueled Newton's anger. She gritted her teeth, seemingly ready to rush up and fight at any moment—because of her size, Newton usually had a hard time gaining the upper hand in physical confrontations, but she was confident that she could win against the sickly-looking Hooke.

Seeing this, Harley quickly reached out and pulled her back, saying, "Don't be angry. Miss Hook is just being frank; she didn't mean it."

She had known Hooker before and understood his temperament; frankness was a polite way of putting it. And Hooker's manner of speaking just now was already very tactful, even considering that Newton was also a woman.

The problem is that Hooke is the vice president of the Royal Society. If Newton were to fight with him on their first meeting, he would be lucky to avoid being kicked out on the spot, let alone gain the support of the Royal Society.

If Newton were to join the Royal Society as a woman in the future, he would need the help of the woman before him even more.

Thinking of this, Harley quickly leaned down and whispered in Newton's ear, "Bear with it, you still need her help."

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

After being persuaded by Halley, Newton finally calmed down.

Later, with Harley's mediation, Hooker confirmed that the blonde girl in front of him was not a relative's child brought by Harley, but a genuine recommended candidate. His attitude softened considerably, and he did not anger Newton by mentioning her height.

Seeing that the meeting was going very smoothly, the elderly mother Harley was very pleased.

However, problems still arose.

After a serious academic conversation, Newton suddenly became interested in Hooke's fully equipped drawing tools and asked, "May I try it? I studied drawing for a while before."

Hooker glanced at Newton with some surprise, seemingly not expecting her to be able to draw.

"can."

As he spoke, Hooke slowly stood up, offering Newton his seat in front of the easel. He then tossed aside the half-finished, lifelike sparrow he had been painting, laid out a new sheet of paper for Newton, and even prepared the paints.

Newton began to draw with great confidence.

......

Ten minutes later.

"finished."

In a good mood, Newton stood up from his seat and invited Hooke to come forward and watch.

Out of respect for painting, Hooke had not peeked at Newton's painting process until now, instead sitting quietly in another corner of the room with Halley. Now, hearing that Newton had finished, she could no longer suppress her curiosity and wanted to see what kind of surprise he would bring her.

With excitement and anticipation, Hook looked at the drawing paper, but all he saw was darkness.