Chapter Four: A Strategic Encounter with Sister Lei

Rui Tears was utterly astonished to discover that the Lai Sheng sisters were the renowned thieves known as Cat's Eye. Who would have thought these seemingly ordinary and beautiful sisters harbored such a secret identity?

"But, big brother, how did you know they were Cat's Eye?" Rui Tears asked, her eyes wide with disbelief. This was a secret within a secret.

"I've already told you, it's my secret," Zhang Fan replied with a smile, gently pressing his finger to Rui Tears' lips, signaling her to cease her inquiries.

Zhang Fan then shared his plan with Rui Tears. The process was straightforward. Considering the distance from the Cat's Eye Café to the National Art Museum, even a car ride would take half an hour. This meant that from 10:30 to 11:30 PM, the Lai Sheng sisters would likely not be at the café.

Observations over the past few days revealed that, except for essential shopping, Lei and Tong seldom left the café. There must be secrets hidden within its walls, Zhang Fan reasoned, although he had yet to uncover them.

This one-hour window provided Zhang Fan and Rui Tears ample opportunity to search for these secrets. Even if they found nothing, Zhang Fan could seize the chance to confront Lei about their true identities, although such an opportunity was hard to come by.

At ten o'clock that evening, Zhang Fan and Rui Tears stayed hidden in his room, listening intently for any sounds. The house was eerily quiet, a fact that Zhang Fan found mildly irritating.

As the minute hand of the clock finally landed on six, it was time to act. They nodded to each other and quietly opened the door, their eyes scanning the darkened hallway.

The hallway was pitch black, with clouds obscuring the moonlight outside, creating a somewhat eerie and oppressive atmosphere. Rui Tears instinctively clung to Zhang Fan's arm, reminiscent of a scene from a horror movie.

"Lei," Zhang Fan called softly, but there was no answer. After calling out for Lei, Tong, and Ai with no response, he felt relieved and switched on the overhead lights, commencing their search.

They first checked the café's basement but found no sign of it. Had he been mistaken? After a thorough second search, they were still empty-handed.

"What should we do, big brother? We've only got the sisters' rooms left. Wouldn't it be rude to enter without Lei's permission?" Rui Tears asked, worry etched on her face.

"You silly girl," Zhang Fan said, amused by her concern. With only three rooms left and ample time, he decided to search them himself. It was now 11 PM; Tong and Ai were probably just completing their heist.

Whose room should he start with? Zhang Fan decided to begin with Lei's. As he opened the door, he was taken aback.

Why was Lei home? And what was with her attire? Dressed in a loosely tied white yukata, her damp hair suggested she had just bathed.

Calm down, he told himself. It appeared that Lei hadn't been concerned about the museum's security tonight and had stayed back to watch over him and Rui Tears. How could he have overlooked this detail? Zhang Fan realized he still had much to learn about human nature.

"Is something the matter, Zhang Fan? It's quite late," Lei said, her voice tinged with confusion but no sign of accusation, just a smile as she addressed him.

"Well, Lei, it seems we should have an honest talk. Continuously guessing each other's motives is exhausting," Zhang Fan said after a moment of silence, deciding to confront the situation head-on. Lei must have known about their rummaging downstairs; her keen senses would have detected him the moment he entered.

"An honest talk? Sure, Zhang Fan, what would you like to discuss?" Lei asked as she sat on the sofa, casually revealing her legs. For Zhang Fan, a mere magician, the temptation was overwhelming.

"Could you... perhaps change into something else first?" Zhang Fan swallowed hard, shifting his gaze away from Lei's alluring figure.

"Ah, you're so adorable, Zhang Fan," Lei laughed, heading to the bathroom to change into a more casual summer outfit. Although her allure remained, it was far less distracting, allowing Zhang Fan to speak more comfortably.

"So, I'll be forthright. You, Lei, are Cat's Eye, aren't you?" Zhang Fan asked seriously, sitting opposite her.

"Of course, we run the Cat's Eye Café," Lei replied nonchalantly, almost jokingly.

"You know that's not what I mean!" Zhang Fan raised his voice, refusing to be sidetracked.

"How did you find out? Did you join our café because you already knew?" Lei asked after a pause, her tone turning serious. She seemed to hold all the cards, a trait typical of the enigmatic Lei.

"It seems I've lost this game from the start, but I willingly concede to you, Lei," Zhang Fan admitted, spreading his hands in a gesture of admiration.

"It's simple. Rui Tears and I received a mission to join Cat's Eye, so here we are," he explained.