It wasn't an apple that hit Newton.

Although she could answer, she felt it was as absurd as suddenly asking, "When do you usually poop?"

"Stop fooling around."

Li Cheng grabbed her slender wrist and easily stopped her action, which was more like a coquettish gesture than a push: "I asked this very seriously. I wanted to calculate your safe period and determine if today is suitable."

"Safe period?"

Lavoisier was puzzled by this unfamiliar term.

Li Cheng knew she didn't understand, but explaining it from the beginning would be too troublesome, involving a lot of human anatomy and physiology that were unknown in this era. He was preparing for sex, not for class, so he summarized it in one sentence: "It's the period when it's difficult to get pregnant."

Lavoisier asked in surprise, "This can be calculated?"

Li Cheng nodded and replied, "Of course, it's usually not easy to get pregnant during the seven days before and after bleeding."

Although it was a bit strange to discuss the safe period during the first time with a lover in the 17th century, Li Cheng felt it was quite necessary if conditions allowed.

Until modern times, the mortality rate during childbirth remained high. According to two less rigorous statistics, the mortality rate for first-time mothers was between 5% and 15%, or even 30%.

Contraception methods are very unreliable and come in all sorts of forms, such as animal bone amulets and folk remedies and herbs. Although there are also casings made from animal small intestines, they are not only troublesome to make and expensive, but also very uncomfortable to wear. Moreover, the manufacturing process is not very rigorous and they are prone to leaking air.

Therefore, Li Cheng could only use a method with a low success rate but at least no harm to his body: try to only do it during the safe period. He had secretly observed and statistically analyzed Newton's menstrual cycle (doesn't that sound a bit perverted?), and except for uncontrollable factors such as drunkenness, he resolutely avoided messing around during the fertile period.

"Is it really necessary? It's just having a child."

Although he understood that Li Cheng was doing this for her health, Lavoisier still didn't quite understand.

After all, this era strongly encouraged having children, because population was an important strategic resource, both for individuals and nations. So, although Lavoisier knew that having children was a dangerous thing, he had no idea whether he could not have children or have fewer children.

“Of course, having a baby is a very dangerous thing.” Li Cheng nodded and said, “If we haven’t even known each other for two years and you have an accident because of pregnancy, I will feel very sad for the rest of my life.”

At this moment, Lavoisier suddenly thought of a scenario and asked somewhat cautiously, "What do you plan to do if I get pregnant?"

Li Cheng asked, puzzled, "What else can I do? I'll support you."

“That’s not what I meant.” A strange light gleamed in Lavoisier’s eyes. “I meant if I were the first to get pregnant, before you and that Newton…”

Hey, hey, hey, stop messing around!

In that instant, countless scenes from historical palace dramas flashed through Li Cheng's mind: drugging, miscarriage, the substitution of the crown prince, and the endless cycle of one actor taking the stage after another...

To prevent such a bizarre scene from unfolding, Li Cheng firmly stated, "Nothing has changed. I love you, not your child."

"Humph."

Unexpectedly, Lavoisier snorted and pouted, saying, "If you don't like it, fine. I'll raise my own children; you don't need to worry about them."

???

No, did I say I didn't like it?

Li Cheng was speechless for a moment, then urged in a low voice, "Stop playing around, when exactly did you bleed last time?"

"I'm not telling you, I'm going to calculate it myself."

Lavoisier turned his head to one side.

Although it seemed like she was just throwing a tantrum, she still had a little scheme in mind, because as long as Li Cheng couldn't calculate her due date, she could have the baby whenever she wanted.

Li Cheng had no objections and quickly told her how to calculate the safe period.

Lavoisier, following Li Cheng's method, silently calculated in her mind. She was very good at math and immediately came to the conclusion: "Don't worry, today is a safe period."

Li Cheng was overjoyed upon hearing this, thinking to himself that the last obstacle had completely disappeared.

Not only her face and skin, but Lavoisier's figure was also perfect. Unlike some poor girls who have to work hard to squeeze out even a little bit of beauty, she could still have a tall and towering figure even if she did nothing, which filled people with the desire to climb.

Here we can quote George's original words again, "Because the mountain is there."

However, some preparations must be made before climbing the mountain. Li Cheng stretched out a sinister hand and grasped that slender waist that could be held in one hand.

[After thinking about it, I decided to block her.]

Li Cheng brought his lips close to her delicate earlobe and whispered, "I'm going to begin."

"Okay, you can come here."

Lavoisier responded nervously and shyly.

Compared to a first time driven by pure impulse, this kind of first experience, where both parties agree on all the consequences and even consider the safe period, may lack passion and romance, but it gives people a sense of security and warmth.

Everything was ready. Li Cheng was poised to act, and Lavoisier had also made the preparations a girl should make.

Knock knock knock—

However, at this crucial moment, an untimely knock on the door suddenly sounded.

"Professor Lavoisier."

Mitchell's middle-aged man's voice rang out from outside the door: "Sorry to disturb your sleep, but Mr. Li Cheng disappeared early this morning. Do you know where he went?"

Although he asked this question, he actually noticed Li Cheng's coat left in the living room and, after ruling out the possibility that the other party had left the house, he vaguely guessed where Li Cheng had gone.

If it were the old Mitchell, he certainly wouldn't have been so tactless as to knock on Lavoisier's door so early in the morning; he would have simply pretended not to know.

But last night, in order to prove he was gay, Li Cheng made up a lie that lovers eventually became siblings!

So Mitchell, unable to bear witnessing the painful scene of their future sibling reunion, tried to intervene out of conscience! And he just happened to be there at that crucial moment! A truly crucial moment! A giant third wheel!

For a moment, Li Cheng and Lavoisier were stuck in an awkward position, unsure whether to continue or not.

Women in such special circumstances often lack assertiveness, not only due to personality but also related to memories ingrained in their genes. Even Lavoisier was no exception; she instinctively asked Li Cheng, "What should we do?"

Although Li Cheng was furious with the old man's behavior, he hadn't forgotten what he had rambled on about yesterday, hoping that Mitchell, the big third wheel, would back down and obediently give up their space for their lovey-dovey moments.

He leaned close to Lavoisier's delicate earlobe and whispered, "Tell him I've left."

Lavoisier did as he was told.

She called out loudly, "Li Cheng has already left. He said he had some urgent business to attend to."

But Mitchell showed no intention of leaving. After all, his goal was to prevent any potential sibling-like relationship between the two, and this statement was practically equivalent to them not even having started, so naturally he had to stop it.

So he knocked on the door firmly and said, "Mr. Li Cheng left his coat in the room. If he left on his own, he shouldn't have forgotten it."

coat?

Lavoisier glanced at the embarrassed Li Cheng and replied, "He probably just forgot. I'll send it to him later. Do you doubt me?"

Mitchell, however, did not leave: "I have no doubts. I just wanted to confirm if you could come out and meet me. Just once is fine."

?

Seeing that Mitchell was so persistent, Lavoisier got a little angry. She originally thought that Professor Mitchell was a good person. Even though he had repeatedly interfered with her time alone with Li Cheng yesterday, she had not particularly blamed him.

But knocking on a woman's door so early in the morning, and making all sorts of excuses to see her, is just too much! Even if you have doubts, you can't do this, right?

Li Cheng saw the anger on Lavoisier's face. His lips twitched, and he said helplessly, "This can't be blamed on Professor Mitchell. Last night, to prevent him from misunderstanding that I, the one who was going to sleep with him, was gay, I lied and said we were actually siblings. But you don't know, I kept it from you..."

He gave a brief retelling, and Lavoisier, upon hearing this story of lovers who ended up as siblings, was so shocked he was speechless: "Huh?"

Mitchell was still knocking on the door, saying, "Could you come out and see me? If it's inconvenient, I can wait outside for a while."

"That's it, Mitchell probably wanted to help me."

Li Cheng said with a headache, "He never intended to stay in the first place; I practically forced him to do it."

Lavoisier understood a little better: "So... there was no catching up or any late-night talk yesterday at all. You deliberately dragged Professor Mitchell into the way to avoid me?"

Li Cheng nodded honestly and said, "Yes—let's get up first. There's still a long way to go, we can do it later."

Lavoisier, however, did not heed this advice. The thought of what would happen if she and Li Cheng were truly siblings filled her with lingering fear.

They actually made up such an outrageous story...

She bit her lower lip tightly. To Li Cheng's surprise, she suddenly kicked him in the stomach, saying with a hint of embarrassment and annoyance, "I'm not coming anymore! Since you're so unwilling, don't come again!"

Chapter 220 I Believed It All

Lavoisier's kick, though not forceful, landed squarely on Li Cheng's lower abdomen. Li Cheng immediately winced, feigning great pain, and even let out a soft groan.

"what--"

Does it hurt a lot?

Lavoisier was a little startled; she felt she hadn't used much force at all.

Li Cheng looked at Lavoisier with deep confusion: "Do I look like the kind of person who would pretend to be in pain when I'm not?"

It definitely hurts a little, but it's not that bad. It's about the same as a joke punch between friends. But it's a huge loss to be kicked like that for nothing. I have to find a way to get my money back.

Lavoisier had initially felt a little guilty, but upon hearing the question, she nodded subconsciously, quite agreeing, "Yes, you are the kind of scoundrel who would do that."

"..."

When appealing to his emotions failed, Li Cheng tried to reason with him.

"A man's genitals are extremely sensitive. If we were to rank the pain, the pain of a man's testicles being crushed would be even greater than childbirth. Even the slightest bit of force would cause excruciating pain," he explained earnestly. "So even if you kick me lightly, it will still hurt a lot."

Although he felt something was off, that area was indeed very important to men, so Lavoisier sincerely apologized: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... Do you want me to kick you too?"

"That's not necessary."

Li Cheng generously said, "Just give me a massage."

She thought she had really hurt him, but it turned out he was just trying to do this... Lavoisier blushed and glared at him: "I can rub him, but I might not be able to control the force well."

"Hmph, not a shred of sincerity."

Seeing this, Li Cheng decisively gave up. He then snorted coldly and said, "Since that's the case, then I'll have no choice but to resort to the laughing torture, one of the most brutal forms of private torture."

Before Lavoisier could even react to what "laughing torture" meant, Li Cheng bent down and crawled into the quilt, grabbing Lavoisier's small feet and squeezing them tightly to prevent her from escaping—Lavoisier's figure was slender, but her feet were rather small, making them easy to grab.

"No, it's dirty there."

Lavoisier gasped, clearly uncomfortable with having his foot grabbed.

Li Cheng continued his actions regardless of the consequences, but he did not actually inflict tickling. He simply stroked the smooth instep and arch of Lavoisier's foot gently, giving him a wonderful sensation that was neither ticklish nor pleasant—not uncomfortable, but even a little comfortable.

"Are you scared?" Li Cheng's somewhat muffled voice came from under the covers.

"Um..."

Lavoisier grunted. Li Cheng's continued movements caused her pupils, and another pupil, to become moist again, and her breathing to quicken. If no one disturbed them, it would be broad daylight...

Knock knock knock—

"Professor Lavoisier."