Conan: The Man Behind the Romance

Chapter 16: Xiaolan is about to undergo a super evolution

Xiaolan sighed softly, "I really didn't help Shinichi. Sometimes I even hindered him when he was solving a case."

Yingsheng smiled, "I don't think he'll be a hindrance."

"Oh, how do you know that he always hangs up on me within seconds."

"Isn't it like this when people are focused on something and get interrupted? At most, they say a few perfunctory words, and even they can't remember what they said afterwards."

"I see. So Shinichi forgot about our date. Was the time I mentioned wrong?"

"If you had informed him in advance, or even reminded him twice, it would still be his problem."

"Okay...it seems like he's just too focused on solving the case. I should be more considerate."

"Tsk, you don't understand at all?"

"what?"

"Don't promise things you can't keep. Kudo has canceled your dates many times. Even if I agree with his reasons 100%, it is definitely his fault to you. It won't work to just wait and understand. You have to make it clear to him."

Xiaolan was silent.

There was a knock on the door outside the society, and a few seconds later a low conversation was heard, which gradually spread into a noise.

Detective Index, Kudo Shinichi and so on...

"I said that." Xiaolan sighed.

"And he refuses to change despite repeated admonitions?" Yingsheng asked.

"He also apologized sincerely and said he would be more careful next time. But no matter which date it is, all kinds of accidents always happen. I can't do anything about it. According to what you said, Shuiyue, he is contributing to society. I shouldn't even blame him."

"What the hell, is the murder rate in Tokyo that high?"

"It's mainly Beikacho."

"Then you should move."

"...Can't you say something more practical?"

"Then think of a way to improve the quality of the police so that they won't be so incompetent that they have to call a detective for everything? Or confiscate Kudo's phone so that the police can't call him and can only call other detectives?"

"…I'd better go back and persuade my dad to move."

Xiaolan covered her face speechlessly, "And this definitely won't solve any problems, because there is no other detective better than Shinichi. And he himself likes solving cases, so Inspector Megure will still look for him."

"The Tokyo private detective industry is pretty busy, right? Kudo doesn't even have a competitor?"

"Have you seen any other detectives in the papers?"

"There's a guy named Toru Amuro who is not only handsome, but also very good at finding cats. He is very popular among rich ladies."

"..."

Xiaolan glanced at him sideways, and saw Yingsheng blinking at her in confusion, so she turned back helplessly.

"Shinichi is not only efficient, but also doesn't charge any fees. No one can compete with him. My father is also a private detective, and he hasn't received a serious commission for a long time. Some people even said he was a scab."

"No charge?" Yingsheng thought, "What do you think will happen if I ask him to help investigate the Yakuza who drew my blood?"

"Huh? Did Shuiyue-kun really meet Jidao?"

"Such things are not important."

Yingsheng suggested: "Investigating the Yakuza will be very dangerous. Maori-kun, you are very good at karate, so why not work with him? When your crush can help your career, your affection for each other will definitely increase!"

Xiaolan's eyes lit up. "That makes sense. As long as I can help him, he won't let me go home alone next time he solves a case, right?"

"Not only that, if you can help him a few more times, he will probably think of you when he watches Sherlock Holmes."

Yingsheng cleared his throat.

"Oh, my dear Watson, my dear Lan, I need you, and you could not have come at a more convenient time."

Xiaolan's cheeks flushed, and she tilted her head to face the wall. "You mean, let me become Shinichi's partner and assistant, and go through those cases with him?"

"That's right!"

Yingsheng said firmly: "Not only are they lovers, but they are also partners who share life and death. Is there any closer relationship in the world than this? Forge ahead, Maori-kun!"

Xiaolan clenched her fists and said, "I will definitely work hard!"

But after just a few seconds, she became a little discouraged again, "I actually tried to read mystery novels before, but maybe I just have no interest in this area. I can't get into it at all, let alone the talent for reasoning."

"Just practice slowly, first as a force, then as an assistant."

Yingsheng raised his right hand, and the wide white sleeves fell naturally. "That morning I was wearing a sweatshirt, and you were able to spot the wound on my wrist at a glance, which shows that you have good observation skills at least." "Actually..." Xiaolan said weakly: "I smelled a faint smell of blood first."

"All five senses are sharp, a great talent as a detective."

"Eh...really?"

"Of course, I spent a long time cleaning up in the early morning that day, but you still found it right away. Just imagine, if you were at the crime scene, you might be able to find clues that Kudo overlooked and point out the real culprit directly?"

"Hmm... Suigetsu-kun has just stayed in that environment for too long, and his sense of smell has become numb."

"Perhaps, but your talent is unquestionable."

Yingsheng thought for a moment, "You are not interested in detective novels, maybe it's because of Kudo's Muggle behavior that you have a prejudice against the detective profession. Otherwise, under the influence of your father since childhood, you should..."

"excuse me."

Xiaolan sat up suddenly, clenched her fist and swung it in the air, "My dad is actually a very bad guy!"

"Forehead……"

Yingsheng was stunned for two seconds, then he propped himself up and sat up, "That's because of their poor performance that you are disgusted with detectives..." He paused.

"Hiss, that's not right!

Since you don't like this, it would be too hard for you to force yourself to study for Kudo."

Yingsheng scratched his head. "I am a practical person. I simply think that this will be beneficial to the development of your relationship in the future. I am not unconditionally accommodating him. But if you can't accept it, forget it."

Xiaolan hesitated for a few breaths, her eyebrows slightly lowered, "But I have to do something."

"The high school comprehensive sports meet will start next weekend."

Yingsheng looked at the countdown hanging on the wall of the venue.

Big red, ten days!

"Karate competition, Maori-kun has signed up for it, right? Then let's win the championship in one go."

Xiaolan also looked up, thoughtfully, "If I win the championship, Shinichi and I will go on a date?"

"Stupid, do you still think you're not passive enough?"

"But you just said that it wasn't concession."

"how about you?"

"I……"

"If you really could do it, you would have blocked Kudo on the rooftop and pushed back. Don't look at me with such strange eyes. I just gave you a reasonable method before, and I didn't say that you must do it. Besides, now it's another direction."

"Well, the rational nobleman is here again. Your Highness, please teach me something."

"forgive me."

Yingsheng smiled bitterly, and his expression gradually became serious: "In simple terms, if you marry Kudo in the future, will you become a full-time housewife?"

"Hey... this question..."

"Don't run away, don't turn your head, look at me, don't even blush, answer seriously."

Xiaolan was stunned and turned her head stiffly to look at Yingsheng. The gaze in his black eyes that seemed to be able to see through all pretense made her feel a little painful, and she quickly turned her head away.

"I think... I guess."

"why?"

“Isn’t it the same in Japan?”

"Then are you willing?"

"what?"

"Knowledge, achievements, honor, and even self, everything that has never lost to anyone for many years, because of the so-called love, you have to give it all up and completely become a vassal of a man. Are you really willing to do that?"

There was another long silence. Inexplicably, Xiaolan suddenly thought of her mother.

Did she face this kind of torture back then?
A long time, a long time...

"What exactly do you want to say, Mizuki-kun?"

Xiaolan lowered her head, her tone somewhat dark and mysterious.

(End of this chapter)