CHAPTER 141: CHAPTER 141: LEGENDARY BEYOND BELIEF

The tea here is far from the high-quality of the past, but Gu Yachen got addicted to it, drinking cup after cup, finding it all sweet to the taste.

He was elegant, deep, and had such charm.

Gu Jiayin quietly watched him, utterly captivated by his every move, because every detail reminded her so much of her brother, the brother who loved her the most.

Several times, she almost blurted out the words she had imagined saying a million times: Brother, thank you for still being alive.

If it weren’t for his face and voice being so different, she would almost have believed he was her brother.

As soon as he finished a cup, she would pour him another one, and the picture was so harmoniously warm as one sipped and the other admired.

Until the pot of tea was empty.

Gu Jiayin tried her best to pour again and again, until the last drop dripped from the teapot, she awkwardly raised her head and softly asked, "Shall I brew another pot?"

Gu Yachen chuckled lowly, with a playful indulgence flashing in his eyes, "I’m already full."

Despite saying this, he still took the cup and drank it clean to the last drop.

Gu Jiayin gently put down the teapot, suddenly feeling it strange how she could sit so warmly with a man she had only met twice.

Yet, although it seemed unbelievable, she couldn’t help feeling close to him, both mentally and physically.

And he also enjoyed this closeness.

More than once, she confirmed that she had never met him before, nor knew him.

So, if they hadn’t met in this life, then they must have met in a previous one, and very likely had a deep connection then, which explained such an intense familiarity upon meeting again in this life.

Thinking of this, she suddenly found herself absurdly ridiculous.

And then she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

The low, gentle laughter, echoing playful affection in the quiet tea-scented room.

Gu Yachen put down his cup and laughed along, "What’s so funny?"

Gu Jiayin bit back her laughter, pursing her lips while looking at Gu Yachen, though a hint of a smile still lingered, "Aren’t you planning to tell me who you are?"

"Didn’t I say, it’s Lan Yue."

Gu Jiayin couldn’t help but pout, even actually with a little bit of coquettishness, something that was almost instinctive in front of Gu Yachen, "Lan Yue, what kind of nonsense is that? Have I seen or known you?"

Gu Yachen’s smile deepened, "Didn’t we meet on the Eagle Emperor Cruise?"

Gu Jiayin pouted, "The first time we met, you were willing to risk your life for me. Do you like me?"

Gu Yachen smiled blandly, "I quite like you."

"Love at first sight?"

"Hmm..." Gu Yachen mused over the words, "I suppose you could call it love at first sight, but not on the Eagle Emperor Cruise, it was much earlier."

Much earlier, from the time when they were just born.

Gu Jiayin grudgingly straightened up in her seat, "Didn’t you say we’d never met before?"

Gu Yachen laughed again, for years he hadn’t missed a single day thinking of her with this coquettish, adorably teasing demeanor, which was exclusively his; she would only act this way with him.

"We did meet before, it’s just that you forgot about me."

He also knew that without coming up with a reasonable explanation, he couldn’t just associate with her out of the blue. Gu Jiaceng didn’t allow him to reunite with her, so he had to find another way to make contact.

Gu Jiayin rolled her eyes, thinking hard, but couldn’t recall, "When?"

"When you were five years old."

Gu Jiayin blinked, listening intently.

Gu Yachen continued, "Do you remember when you were five, you once gave a little beggar two pieces of candy on the street?"

Gu Jiayin shook her head, "I gave candies to many little beggars."

Indeed, when she was a child, she was full of compassion and whenever she saw a little beggar, she couldn’t resist giving away the candy Pei Nianchen had given her, which in her young eyes, was the most precious thing.

Sharing the most precious items was a way of showing kindness and love to the little beggars.

Gu Yachen knew her gestures back then so intimately, it came naturally to bring them up without raising any suspicion from her.

Gu Yachen nodded, "Yes, I was one of those lucky little beggars."

To think, the little beggar had grown up to be a legendary thief; it sounded quite extraordinary.

But Gu Jiayin had little doubt, primarily because Gu Yachen inherently invoked such a sense of trust from her, and additionally, she believed in any potentially adventurous tales since she was quite a legend herself.

Who would have thought that Licheng City’s top socialite would eventually become a covertly trained agent for the Suri Royal Family?

So, she listened quietly, "Just because I gave you two pieces of candy once, you remembered me and risked your life to save me on the Eagle Emperor Cruise?"

The story sounded like this little beggar was quite noble, returning a kindness a hundredfold.

The more she thought about it, the more like a TV series it seemed, incredibly whimsical.

Unknowingly, Gu Jiayin was becoming more and more naive tonight.

The smile on Gu Yachen’s face never faded, and he continued to gently coax her,

"You should understand, to a little beggar back then, your two pieces of candy were priceless, and let alone, you were dressed like a little princess at the time, leaving me with a particularly deep impression. After that, I watched over you and for a time visited your school entrance daily to beg."

"Oh." Gu Jiayin nodded knowingly and laughed awkwardly, "You do remember favors."

"Hahaha..."

Gu Yachen finally let out a laugh, "Yes, such a grateful little beggar like me is rare indeed. Would you consider having me as your brother?"

Seeing her hesitant expression, he added, "Though back then I was a little beggar who cherished a piece of candy as the highest blessing, now I’m a globally feared thief who could grab any treasure to ensure you lead a rich life. Accepting me as your brother would be advantageous."

He longed to hear her call him brother again.

Gu Jiayin looked at the gentle and humorous man before her, feeling a warmth for no particular reason, and as she once again gazed into his eyes, she couldn’t help but call out, "Brother."

But as the word reached her throat, she swallowed it back down, and awkwardly smiled, "I already have a brother."

Indeed, she had a brother named Gu Yachen. Despite Lan Yue’s resemblance to Gu Yachen, he was still not him.

When she lost him, she vowed never to call another person brother. Her brother was unique, residing in the deepest part of her soul, irreplaceable by anyone.

Gu Yachen fixed his gaze on Gu Jiayin’s eyes, his emotions surging; how could he not understand her sentiments?

After half a minute, he laughed, feigning nonchalance, "Just kidding, why so serious?"

The atmosphere suddenly became slightly awkward, and he began shifting the topic to more serious matters, "I have a reliable contact inside the Eagle Emperor Insurance Building and have obtained the building’s internal blueprint. In three days, Wei Yang will personally inspect the building, and we’ll seize the opportunity to take the fake eye and open the safe door."

Gu Jiayin nodded, "Alright."