Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

As soon as Kogoro Mouri sat down, his mind was still preoccupied with the matter that had been hanging in the balance since the previous night. Before they could even exchange a few pleasantries, he went straight to the point and asked:
"By the way, what about Mrs. Arai? Has there been any news of her this past night?"

The moment those words were spoken, the relaxed atmosphere in the living room instantly turned slightly somber.

Last night, Mr. Arai contacted Ruri specifically to say that his wife had just gone to a friend's house for some urgent business and was too busy to contact him. Ruri was relieved and immediately relayed this "good news" to Kogoro Mouri.

Both of them thought that this mysterious disappearance was finally over.

But later, Kogoro Mouri heard a completely different assessment from Shuichi Hayashi.

Mrs. Arai most likely did not leave voluntarily, but was kidnapped. Mr. Arai's statement was likely a lie fabricated under the threat of the kidnappers.

Lin Xiuyi had repeatedly told him not to tell Liuli his suspicions, because without evidence, it would only cause the girl unnecessary anxiety.

Kogoro Mouri nodded in agreement, knowing that Shuichi Hayashi was always steady in his actions and rarely made mistakes in his reasoning.

But he couldn't keep things to himself. Lying in bed thinking it over, he finally couldn't resist and secretly called Liuli before going to sleep, telling her all about Lin Xiuyi's suspicions.

He didn't embellish the story; he simply relayed it verbatim. Yet, like everyone around her, Liuli had an almost instinctive trust in Lin Xiuyi's judgment.

Lin Xiuyi never speaks without certainty, much less makes wild guesses to scare people.

That's why Liuli worried all night and barely slept.

Hearing her boyfriend mention Mrs. Arai again, Ruri's relaxed expression instantly fell again.

"They probably haven't come back yet. I didn't sleep much last night because I was worried. I kept an eye out for any noise from next door."

"If Mrs. Arai really went home, there's no way I wouldn't have heard any of the commotion they were making."

She kept her ears perked up all night, listening to the sounds coming from the Arai family next door, but the house remained quiet, like an empty house with no one living there, without a trace of human presence.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuyi slowly walked to the window and calmly looked at the closed gate of the Arai family not far away.

The flowers and plants in the yard were neatly arranged, the doors and windows were tightly closed, and the curtains were drawn tightly. From the outside, everything looked perfectly normal.

But this excessive calmness seemed to him more like a deliberate pretense.

"Has anyone from their family gone out since last night?"

Liuli tried hard to recall, but still gently shook her head: "I don't think so. I've been at home the whole time and didn't notice anyone coming in or out."

Standing to the side, Eri Kisaki frowned as she observed the serious expressions on their faces. After a moment's thought, she suggested:
"Should we... go and check it out? After all, it's a human life at stake. If there's real danger, it might be too late if we're even a step too late."

Upon hearing this, Liuli immediately raised her head, her eyes filled with anticipation, and looked at Lin Xiuyi standing by the window.

From childhood to adulthood, no matter what troubles or difficulties she encountered, as long as Lin Xiuyi offered a solution, it would eventually be resolved.

"Xiuyi..." the girl called softly, her eyes conveying a clear meaning. Lin Xiuyi met their gazes, remained silent for a few seconds, carefully weighing the pros and cons, and finally slowly shook his head.

"...Let's forget about it. Putting aside whether Mr. Arai will believe us, a group of us suddenly showing up at his door will only make him feel offended and suspicious, and might even make things worse."

"Besides that, more importantly, if my guess is correct, Mrs. Arai really has been kidnapped,"

"To ensure the transaction goes smoothly and to prevent the family from calling the police, the kidnappers will most likely send someone to monitor the Arai family in the vicinity."

"With so many of us, going together in a large group would be too conspicuous and easily attract the attention and suspicion of the kidnappers."

“If they feel things are out of control, or if they think Mr. Arai has secretly contacted outsiders, and if they become angry and hurt Mrs. Arai, then things will be really bad.”

Every word he uttered hit the nail on the head, causing everyone to nod in agreement, and their initial anxiety gradually subsided.

Kogoro Mouri scratched his head, asking somewhat impatiently:
"But we can't just sit here and do nothing, can we? What if the kidnappers are really hiding in the shadows, and Mr. Arai can't handle it alone?"

Lin Xiuyi pondered for a moment and quickly came up with an idea: "How about this, Liuli, you go over alone later, pretend to be a neighbor visiting, and casually ask about Mr. Arai's wife."

“You’re the next-door neighbor, and you’re young. In the eyes of the kidnappers, you’re just an ordinary high school girl,”

Even if someone notices it, they won't think much of it and will just assume it's just normal neighborly concern, which won't arouse suspicion.

“Okay!” Liuli nodded vigorously without hesitation. “I’ll go over in a bit and ask Mr. Arai when Madam will be back and if there’s anything I can help with.”

With the plan finalized, everyone felt relieved for the time being and sat back down in the living room, chatting idly, mostly about Liuli's new life after moving.

Liuli smiled as she talked about her new home, the nearby shops, and the route to school, trying to lighten the mood.
But his gaze would still occasionally drift towards the Arai family's house outside the window.

Lin Xiuyi occasionally chimed in with a few words, but his gaze kept drifting to the quiet mansion next door. His doubts did not dissipate despite the temporary calm.

It's impossible for a cheerful mother with children to disappear for two days without making a single phone call.

This is highly unusual no matter how you look at it.

After chatting for about ten minutes, Ruri checked the time and decided it was about time. She stood up, straightened her clothes, and prepared to go to the Arai family next door to gather information, as planned.

But just as she was about to step towards the door, Lin Xiuyi, who had been standing by the window, suddenly narrowed her eyes slightly.

He clearly saw that the tightly closed gate of the Arai family across the street was opened from the inside.

A man who looked to be in his thirties walked out. He was of medium build, dressed in a neat suit, and carrying a black briefcase. He was calm and composed, showing no sign of panic or anxiety.

The man closed the door, walked straight to the car parked in front of the door, opened the door and got in. He quickly started the car and slowly drove away from the Arai family home.

"That man is Mr. Arai." Ruri immediately leaned to the window, pointing in the direction the car had gone, and whispered to Hayashi Hideichi. (End of Chapter)