It wasn't an apple that hit Newton.

Since arriving in London, Stoller had consistently shown Li Cheng kindness and assistance, which Li Cheng had always kept in mind. Therefore, Li Cheng took Stoller's advice very seriously, and even began to consider whether to adjust his original plans.

"Observe for a while longer."

After a moment's thought, Li Cheng decided that it was not the right time to make changes. After all, Veronica was indeed a very suitable partner, and her status as a royal princess was a very good cover and help.

Moreover, Veronica has some seemingly unrealistic desires. Compared to that unknown prince who could be said to have been born with an easy life, she has an inner drive to change her current situation.

More importantly, it's very interesting... Li Cheng smiled slightly as he recalled the two novels he had sent to Veronica.

After some analysis and by getting information out of Holly, the maid who leaked the information, he roughly guessed that Veronica was very annoyed by his out-of-context remarks.

However, she was too embarrassed to urge him to update in person, feeling that it would be against her image. So she could only try to indirectly encourage Li Cheng's writing motivation by contacting her playwright friend... well, although it almost had the opposite effect, causing Li Cheng to decide to stop writing altogether.

Of course, being amused doesn't mean Li Cheng will let his guard down; he will be more suspicious of Veronica than before.

"Sir, we've arrived."

The coachman's voice snapped Li Cheng out of his thoughts. He paid the fare and then got off the carriage.

Compared to his last return, Li Cheng was surprised to find the wooden gate at the entrance wide open, and a figure dressed in a black and white maid outfit standing motionless in the garden, facing Newton.

Beside her, another familiar little golden figure was lying on the wooden table in the middle of the garden, making corrections.

"Welcome back, Mr. Li Cheng."

Hearing the noise from Li Cheng at the door, Freya immediately changed her posture, turned around and bowed to him.

Chapter 113 Potatoes and Carrots

"Welcome back, Mr. Li Cheng."

Freya spoke with a strained air. A closer look revealed a subtle weariness in her eyes and a pale complexion, as if she had suffered unimaginable torment in the past few days.

what's the situation?

Li Cheng was curious about what had happened in the past two days, but lacking information, he had no way of guessing.

"Freya, don't move."

Just then, Newton's voice, which sounded authoritative but was also very high-pitched, rang out: "If you keep moving around, I won't be able to draw properly here."

draw?

"......Yes."

Freya glanced at Li Cheng with a hint of despair, her eyes filled with hope.

Even the usually hardworking maid showed such an expression, which shows how serious the problem is, to the point that it's comparable to a news interruption on Tokyo TV.

Although Li Cheng was unaware of what had happened, he felt he had to take action.

"Cough cough."

Li Cheng rubbed his empty stomach and said, "Freya, I'm a little hungry. Can you go and prepare lunch for me?"

"Please make sure you give it to me!"

Freya's spirits lifted immediately, and without even seeking Newton's permission, she transformed into a black and white figure and disappeared from sight.

"what are you doing?"

Freya, the model, ran away, and the great painter Miss Newton complained angrily, "Freya went to prepare lunch, so who am I supposed to paint? Don't you know that you need to practice more to improve?"

"I'm hungry, there's nothing I can do about it." Li Cheng shrugged. "How about... you try drawing me?"

"Draw you?"

Newton looked Li Cheng up and down, then scoffed, "Hmph, he's alright."

Hey! What's with that disgusted attitude? I stepped up to you even though it was obvious being your model wasn't a good idea! Do you believe I'll just turn around and leave you only able to draw ants?

Li Cheng's lips twitched, and he picked up a stool from the table.

"Don't sit."

Newton stopped him from taking the stool.

Li Cheng: "???"

“I’m not good at drawing seated poses yet,” Newton explained to Li Cheng in a seemingly very professional way. “The lines are too complicated, and the shadows are also difficult to handle. Standing up is much easier in comparison.”

Why not just draw a half-length portrait?

Li Cheng suppressed his doubts, put down the stool, and walked to a place a little further away from Newton. Under her direction, he struck a pose with his hands naturally crossed in front of his lower abdomen and his feet together—somewhat like a waiter at the restaurant entrance.

Feeling a bit bored standing there, Li Cheng casually asked, "Have you encountered anything interesting these past few days?"

"I met a guy named Halley, he was quite interesting," Newton casually replied.

"Anything else? Anything that's not interesting?"

“I also ran into Hooke, whom I mentioned to you last time.” Newton raised an eyebrow, his tone somewhat indignant. “Not only was he not interesting at all, but he was also a lunatic.”

Hooker?

Li Cheng recalled that when Newton stripped Louise naked and pushed her onto the bed to study human development, he had mentioned it once when Li Cheng reprimanded him. But at that time, she only knew that Hooke was good at painting and seemed to be in poor health.

So what does "mentally ill" even mean? Is it a physical illness or a mental illness? Or is it both?

Li Cheng couldn't help but ask, "Is it a physical illness or a mental illness?"

"He's mentally ill."

Newton said with absolute certainty: "She insulted a stranger's height the moment they met, then mocked him for his ugly drawing, said she liked women, and even confessed her feelings to Halley—do you think she's out of her mind?"

Did Hooke mock Newton's height? And did he say he liked women and confess his feelings to Harley on the spot?

? ? ? ? ? ?

What the hell happened?

Li Cheng was completely dumbfounded, feeling as if his worldview was about to be overturned—were all scientists eccentric? Or was it Hooke's will from another world stubbornly resisting? Subconsciously mocking Newton while stubbornly liking women?

Although her body was abused and feminized by the consciousness of the universe, her mind remains male? Could she have even taken a Japanese name, Edogawa Hook?

Lost in thought, Li Cheng casually agreed, "You're right."

Newton's anger had subsided considerably thanks to Halley's soothing words, but Li Cheng's conversation reignited it.

"Exactly! So what if the drawing isn't quite right? What's wrong with using some of her paint?" Newton got more and more agitated, almost throwing his pen aside. "If she weren't so crazy, and if Halley hadn't pulled me away, I would have definitely taught that girl a lesson!"

I think I suddenly understand why Newton practiced drawing here...

Li Cheng took out his silver pocket watch with a complicated expression, glanced at it, then put it back and asked, "How's the painting coming along?"

"Almost there—but you can move now."

Newton said this as he focused on scribbling on the white paper.

Filled with curiosity, Li Cheng broke free from his original restaurant waiter stance and walked towards the desk.

At first glance, the white paper shows two black potatoes joined together, with four carrots stuck into the larger potato. But upon closer inspection, one can see that the potato's shape vaguely resembles a dodecahedron, and the patterns on it give the strange impression that the potato is grinning.

"what is this?"

Li Cheng frowned deeply.

Where's my full-body portrait you promised? Why are there potatoes and carrots? Why does the potato look like it's laughing? Why does the carrot look like it's wailing? Why, why, why...

Newton retorted, "You don't even recognize yourself?"

Who the hell wouldn't recognize what this indescribable clump of vegetables is? I've heard in my past life that the ultimate horror lies in the most ordinary-looking things around us. If these potatoes and carrots could be served on the dinner table, that would be the ultimate horror! Surpassing even Junji Ito's ultimate horror themes!

Li Cheng silently shifted his gaze to avoid losing his composure.

"How is the drawing?" Newton asked.

"...Very unique."

Li Cheng glanced at the sun high in the sky and suddenly thought of something: "Did you spend the whole morning drawing portraits like this... for Freya?"

"More or less?"

Newton recalled: "At first, I had Freya sit down and I drew her, but I couldn't draw her sitting posture very well, and it was a bit abstract. Later, I had Freya stand up and I drew her much better."

Are you sure you've got everything sorted out?

Li Cheng glanced at the carrot that looked like it was wailing, and seemed to understand why Freya had suddenly become so haggard.

"How long do you plan to last?" He wanted to prepare himself mentally.

"Well..."

Newton did not answer directly, but instead asked in return, "I remember you once said that 'the best way to defeat a man is to defeat him in the area where he is best at.'"

"I did say that."

"So I'm going to practice painting hard." Newton said with a very serious expression. "I'll beat that crazy woman in the art world so that I can wash away the humiliation I've suffered."

Chapter 114 Feeling the Atmosphere

Don't get my competitive spirit ignited in some weird place! I don't know how good Hook's painting is, but I'm sure yours is exceptionally bad! Your paintbrush looks like it's about to cry.

Li Cheng immediately went to the kitchen to begin a serious meeting between the two of them.

"Although I don't want to talk about Miss Newton like this," Freya said with a wry smile as she fried fish, "her painting style... might not be in line with people's aesthetic sense today."

No, no, no, it doesn't conform to 21st-century aesthetics either. Besides, this isn't even a matter of aesthetics anymore; it's the kind of feeling that makes you lose your sense of self-esteem just by looking at it a few times! I guess only when humanity completes the Instrumentality Project will we be able to barely appreciate Newton's paintings!

Li Cheng asked, puzzled, "Were Newton's drawings like this before?"

He now seriously doubts how Newton managed to grow up so well. If the church had accidentally seen Newton's paintings, she would probably have been suspected of summoning demons and imprisoned in the Inquisition long ago.

Freya flipped the golden-brown fish over and shook her head firmly: "No, at least a month ago, Miss Newton's occasional doodles weren't this... special."

A month ago? Isn't that the time I traveled to? — The question is, what does that have to do with me? Does listening to a few Cthulhu bedtime stories make me a god? Am I some kind of evil god's lackey?

"Actually, I have no objection to Miss Newton drawing pictures."

Freya sighed, "If only she wouldn't make me a model, and wouldn't make me watch her."

This reminded Li Cheng that he hadn't told Newton about renting the house yet.

So, after the fried fish was served, he took the opportunity to announce it.

“I’ve hired a new housekeeper, and I expect to be able to rent a much more spacious garden villa in the next few days.” Li Cheng turned to look at little Newton, hoping to take one back with him. “The new house is quite big, and I’m getting bored by myself. You can move in with me.”

Newton hesitated for a moment, then snorted, "I don't need to. I'm used to living here."