Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

Chapter 373 You'll know when you grow up!

The damp air inside the cave seemed to have solidified, with only the sound of dripping water echoing on the stone walls in the distance.

The distance between the two gradually shortened, and Kogoro Mouri could clearly smell the faint scent of gardenias in Ruri's hair.

He lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling on her trembling eyelashes, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Liuli subconsciously closed her eyes, a blush spreading across her fair cheeks, her fingers nervously clutching the hem of his clothes.

At the moment when their lips were about to touch——

"Da da da"

Suddenly, clear footsteps echoed from the darkness not far away, sounding particularly jarring in the silent cave.

Kogoro Mouri froze, slamming his fist heavily against the uneven rock wall beside him, the rough stone surface scraping his knuckles painfully.

"Damn it! Which bastard had to come and join the fun at this time?!"

He glared at the direction from which the sound came, his teeth clenched, veins bulging on his forehead, wishing he could rush out and grab that blind fool immediately.

Liuli blushed and tugged at his sleeve: "Hurry up and let's go."

"No way!" Kogoro Mori whispered, "I have to see which guy ruined my plans!"

Without saying a word, he pulled Liuli behind the stone statue.

"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Liuli bit her lower lip anxiously.

"Shh," Kogoro Mouri put his index finger to his lips and used his other hand to pull her into the shadows.

The footsteps grew closer, and he cautiously peeked out. By the light of the chandelier on the cave ceiling, he recognized the approaching people as the twin sisters from the bus.

"One-san," Shizuka, with her ponytail, said in a tearful voice, "you have to help me this time."

Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had just been crying.

"Heh," the girl with the Buddha image on her chest sneered, "How long has it been since I heard you call me that? It was the same last time..."

"Onesan, I really have no other choice!"

Shizuka suddenly grabbed her sister's wrist, her nails almost digging into her skin.

"Tai-suke seems to have discovered something. He just threatened me that if Satoru finds out, he definitely won't forgive me."

He Xiang abruptly pulled her hand back, the Buddha statue flashing a cold light in front of her chest: "So what if you know? At worst, we'll just break up."

"One-san!" Shizuka's tears welled up. "I truly love Goji! I'd rather die than leave him!"

He Xiang's hand, which was playing with the Buddha statue, suddenly tightened, and her voice seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth: "Last time, you also threatened me with death."

Shizuka knelt down on the damp ground with a thud, tears streaming down her face as she looked up: "One-on-one, please help me just one more time... You've been taking care of me ever since Mom and Dad passed away. Can you really bear to see me get hurt?"

Upon hearing the words "Dad and Mom," He Xiang's body visibly stiffened.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, the icy coldness in her eyes had melted slightly: "You said the same thing last time."

Kaori rubbed her temples wearily.
"Fine, I hope it's really like you said, this is the last time."

"Onesan, you agreed?" Shizuka smiled through her tears, the tear tracks on her face glistening in the dim light.

Kaori nodded gently, and the Buddha statue swayed slightly with her movement: "Let's go, I'll go talk to Taisuke."

As their voices faded, the two sisters disappeared into the depths of the cave. "Tch, so it was those twins," Kogoro Mori muttered, glaring angrily in the direction they'd gone, his fist clenching and unclenching at his side. "They ruined my plans."

“Alright, Kogoro,” Ruri took his hand and gently tickled his palm with her fingertips, “Let’s go.”

"Wait," Kogoro Mouri suddenly turned around, grinning as he trapped his girlfriend between himself and the rock wall, "Let's finish what we were doing before we talk."

Liuli turned her face away shyly, but still obediently closed her eyes.

Just as their lips drew closer again, footsteps sounded from not far away once more.

"Damn it! Which bastard is it again?!" Kogoro Mouri roared in fury.

Just as Liuli was about to dissuade them, two heads suddenly appeared from around the corner of the cave ahead.

Lin Xiuyi raised an eyebrow with a half-smile, while Furuya Rei asked innocently, "Brother Kogoro, Sister Ruri, what are you doing hiding here?"

"Our appearance has angered Kogoro to this extent, what do you think they're doing?" Lin Xiuyi teased.

Kogoro Mouri gave an awkward laugh, while Ruri, her face flushed red, stomped her foot angrily: "Shuichi! You're still joking with us!"

"Alright, alright, it was my fault," Lin Xiuyi immediately raised her hands in surrender, "I shouldn't have interrupted your good time."

"You!" Liuli snorted angrily.

Lin Xiuyi's gaze shifted between the two of them: "Judging from your expressions, you seem to have made up? I was worried that if you broke up, Yingli would torment me."

Upon hearing this, Liuli's face instantly darkened again.

Kogoro Mouri looked at his friend with a sullen expression. "I just managed to coax her out of trouble, and you've come at just the right time!"
“Let’s go back together,” Lin Xiuyi tilted her head toward the cave entrance. “Eri and the others are very worried about you.”

"Ruri-neechan," Furuya Rei obediently stepped forward, "Shall we go back?"

Liuli glanced coldly at Lin Xiuyi, snorted, and strode out of the cave.

The three men quickly followed. Kogoro Mouri leaned close to Shuichi Hayashi and complained in a low voice, "Couldn't you have come ten minutes later?"

"What?" Lin Xiuyi nudged him mischievously with her elbow. "Did I ruin your plans?"

"What good news?" Furuya Rei suddenly appeared between the two of them, his eyes sparkling.

Kogoro Mouri tapped him on the head in an annoyed tone: "You'll understand when you grow up!"

"Tch," Furuya Rei curled his lip, looking disdainful. "It's just a kiss, what's so great about it?"

"Ahem! Ahem!"

Kogoro Mouri choked on his own saliva and coughed violently.

Upon hearing this, Liuli, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped in her tracks, then quickened her pace and almost started to run.

"You brat." Kogoro Mouri pretended to teach Rei Furuya a lesson, but was stopped by Shuichi Hayashi.

He took a brass lock out of his pocket and put it into Kogoro Mouri's hand.

"The love lock between me and Ruri?" Kogoro Mouri's eyes widened in surprise. "Isn't that hanging over the Dragon Love Bell?"

“I bought it from the administrator,” Lin Xiu said, glancing meaningfully at Liuli’s retreating figure. “I don’t need to teach you the rest, do I?”

"This..." Kogoro Mouri scratched his head, "You've described the love lock in such a way, if Ruri sees it, she'll probably be even angrier."

(End of this chapter)