Chapter 557: Childhood Meeting
Before Lana could answer, Lucian pulled her into his embrace.
The next moment, he captured her lips. Lana’s eyes widened slightly. However, she didn’t pull away.
Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with equal intensity.
After a long while, they finally separated.
Lucian let out a satisfied sigh. Then he buried his face against her neck. His warm breath brushed against her sensitive skin.
"Lana..."
"Hmm?"
"You’re turning twenty-one soon."
Lana immediately understood what he was implying.
Her cheeks turned bright red. Without hesitation, she slapped his arm. "Why do you always think about those things?"
Lucian laughed. "Well, I learned everything through a silver cat."
The moment he said that, Lana instantly covered his mouth. "Don’t you dare bring that up."
Lucian’s eyes curved with amusement. After she finally released him, he helplessly raised both hands. "Fine, fine."
Then he sighed dramatically. "What can I do? I’m simply a lonely future husband destined to be bullied by his future wife."
Lana immediately burst into laughter. The two continued chatting for quite some time.
That night, Lana stayed in Lucian’s room. Not because of anything special.
Ever since she had learned about his miserable childhood, her thoughts constantly drifted toward him.
She could not help imagining how lonely he must have felt back then. The moonlight poured through the window, bathing the room in a silver glow.
After a long silence, Lana looked toward Lucian. "Lucian..."
Lucian turned toward her. "Hmm?"
Lana hesitated briefly. Then she lowered her gaze. "I’m sorry."
Confusion immediately appeared on his face. "What are you apologizing for?"
Lana took a deep breath. "I learned that you visited the Lee Family during the time when I had a crush on Simon Lee."
Her voice became softer. "To be honest, I don’t even know if I would have believed you back then."
She clenched the blanket lightly. "During that period... if you had been at your lowest point, I don’t know whether I would have stood by your side."
For a few seconds, Lucian simply stared at her.
Then suddenly, he laughed. Lana blinked in confusion. Lucian shook his head helplessly.
"I knew it."
A smile appeared on his face. "You don’t remember it at all."
The moment those words left Lucian’s mouth, Lana froze. "What do you mean?"
Lucian remained silent for a few seconds. His gaze drifted toward the moon hanging peacefully in the night sky.
A faint smile appeared on his lips. "You don’t remember it, Lana."
His voice was unusually gentle. "But when you were fourteen years old, you visited Simon Lee’s family, the Lee Family."
Lana blinked. "I did?"
Lucian nodded. "At that time, I happened to be there."
His eyes softened slightly as old memories resurfaced. "You saw me standing near the courtyard."
He chuckled quietly.
"Honestly, I was in a pretty miserable state back then. My clothes were old, my appearance wasn’t particularly presentable, and I probably looked like some poor servant wandering around the streets every day."
Lana listened attentively. Lucian continued. "You walked straight up to me."
His smile deepened. "Then you handed me candy."
Lana’s eyes widened.
"You even gave me your hat." The more he spoke, the more confused Lana became. "And then?"
Lucian laughed softly. "You started teaching me survival tips."
Lana immediately stared at him. "I what?"
Lucian nodded. "You looked incredibly serious while saying them too."
His voice became playful as he imitated her younger self.
"’Listen carefully. If you want to survive in this world, you need to learn how to sneak snacks into your room without getting caught.’"
Lana’s face immediately turned red.
Lucian continued mercilessly.
"Rule number two. Never trust adults when they say vegetables taste good."
By now, Lana wanted to disappear. "Rule number three. If you’re being bullied, throw a frog into their room."
Lana covered her face. "Oh my God..."
Lucian burst into laughter. Meanwhile, Lana looked completely horrified. "Are you sure that was me?"
She pointed at herself. "Maybe you’re confusing me with someone else."
Lucian immediately shook his head. "No."
His answer was firm. "I’m absolutely sure."
His eyes met hers. "How could I possibly forget? I still remember the cheerful girl who was overflowing with energy."
His voice softened.
"The girl who was constantly getting into trouble. The girl who always carried that mischievous smile. The girl who somehow made everyone around her laugh."
Lana felt her heart skip a beat. Lucian looked toward the night sky again.
Meanwhile, Lana couldn’t help becoming curious.
"So..."
She hesitated. "Was that when you fell in love with me?"
Lucian immediately laughed. "Do you really think someone can fall in love from a single act of kindness?"
Lana paused. After a few seconds, she slowly shook her head. She didn’t believe that either.
After all, if someone fell in love simply because another person had shown kindness once, then what they loved wasn’t truly the person.
It was merely the feeling created by that kindness. Lucian nodded slightly. "Exactly."
A faint smile appeared on his face. "I simply had a very good impression of you."
He looked at her. "I thought you were adorable."
Lana couldn’t stop the smile forming on her lips.
Lucian continued. "After that, I met you again."
His voice became quieter. "You had been kicked out of your family."
Lana remembered that period. It certainly hadn’t been one of her brightest moments.
Lucian chuckled. "That was when I discovered your talent for weapon design. And your talent for mystic cultivation and causing trouble."
Lana immediately protested. "I do not cause trouble."
Lucian stared at Lana until she looked away. "Fine. Maybe occasionally."
Lucian laughed. "I started spending more time with you."
His gaze became distant. "Gradually, I got used to your presence."
"The way you laugh. The way your eyes sparkle whenever you’re plotting something. The way you smile after successfully tricking someone. The way you argue over absolutely everything."
Lana immediately frowned. "I do not argue over everything."
"You just proved my point."
Lana opened her mouth.