Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

"So many days have passed, and these troublemakers still haven't figured out who the good guys are."

Zheng Yi sat on an imported Italian calfskin sofa, holding the public opinion report that had just been submitted by the public relations department, and shook his head with a pained expression.

That expression was like that of a savior who had just been misunderstood by the whole world, his brows filled with the loneliness of being the only one sober in a world of drunks.

People only criticized Zheng Yi, who was the first to raise prices, saying that he made everyone have to take out loans even for cremation, which was utterly heinous.

He sighed, his finger lightly tracing the line on the report that read "User satisfaction dropped by 99%," his tone filled with pity:

"Don't they know how high the cost of maintaining service quality is under inflation? I'm doing this to ensure the deceased have a dignified passing! Dignity, you understand!"

Despite the public opinion, Zheng Yi was magnanimous and didn't bother with these people; he simply blocked them out.

"You don't need to be too sad."

Hongye sat gracefully on a single sofa, holding a bright red apple in her hand.

"Even though they keep cursing you, they will still go to Tokyo Hirozen for your family's cremation."

Hongye swallowed the apple in her mouth, revealing a composed smile befitting a young lady from a prestigious family in Kyoto: "After all, the dead don't care where they are, and the living have even less of a choice. Infamy won't stop you from making money."

Zheng Yi raised an eyebrow: "Hongye, what you said may be rough, but the reasoning is sound."

"Besides, you've been scolded quite a few times before," Hongye added, delivering another jab.

The only difference is the reason for the criticism.

You should have gotten used to it a long time ago.

Ai sat on the carpet next to her, holding a steaming cup of hot cocoa in her hands.

Zheng Yi has a skin as thick as bulletproof glass; this amount of public pressure is probably like a mosquito bite to him.

Even a mosquito bite would leave a bump, but Zheng Yi's skin couldn't even swell up with a bump.

"Yes." Ai replied sullenly, holding her cup.

Seeing Ai's mature demeanor, Hongye couldn't help but put down the apple, reach out and pinch Ai's plump, collagen-rich cheeks, and chuckle:
"Ai, I feel like Zheng Yi's competitors are even dumber than him. You could be an entrepreneur too."

Ai blinked, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Before she could react, Hongye continued in the tone of someone coaxing a kindergarten child, "Someone as smart as you might become a female billionaire someday."

These words sounded like a compliment, but Ai's expression instantly turned strange, as if she had swallowed a fly.

Because Hongye knew that she was actually eighteen years old, not a child.

The way this voice was used to coax a child sounded sarcastic and sarcastic no matter how you looked at it.

Ai instinctively wanted to argue back, but seeing Momiji's "I meant well" expression, she felt that getting angry would only make her seem petty.

She could only sullenly lower her head, bury her face in the cup, and pretend to be studying the milk foam on the surface of the hot cocoa.

"No."

Just then, Zheng Yi, who had been immersed in self-pity, suddenly waved his hand and interrupted Hongye's fantasy with a serious expression.

Ai looked up at him, puzzled. "Why?"

Zheng Yi said confidently, "Because I will suppress you."

Ai: "..."

Hongye: "..."

The air froze for three seconds.

Seeing Ai's speechless expression, Zheng Yi didn't think there was anything wrong with what he said.

He sat up straight, crossed his hands on his knees, and struck a pose like a business mentor.

"Xiao Ai, you need to understand that the business world is like a battlefield."

Zheng Yi pointed to the bustling street outside the window and said in a deep voice, "Look at those tall buildings, every crack in their bricks is filled with the ashes of the losers."

If I made you the richest woman in China, who would be the one stuffed into the cracks between the bricks? Me? Obviously not.

Ai rolled her eyes silently: "So you're planning to be the one filling in the gaps?"

"No, I'm not that ruthless," Zheng Yi corrected. "Sincerity is the ultimate weapon. I get people to back down by being sincere."

Ai's lips twitched slightly.

Whether you're sincere or not, I don't know, but you're definitely a killer.

This guy, who clearly built his career on threats and intimidation, actually has the nerve to talk about sincerity?

Throughout all of Japan, Ai Haibara doesn't know anyone who has filled more gaps than Shoichi.

Zheng Yi couldn't help but look at those who were cursing him again, still feeling a little worried.

"Maybe I should do something. I'm a little worried about being criticized by so many people," Zheng Yi said.

"You'd better not do anything," Ai said.

Because you were criticized by those capitalists, you did something, and then you were criticized by ordinary people.

If you do anything else, the criticism will likely continue.

Ai had no idea how Masakazu, that incompetent idiot, could be so rich. It was truly unfair of fate.

"Do you think doing charity would improve my reputation?" Zheng Yi asked.

Ai Haibara had already started to sneer: "Are you going to call on everyone in the company to help you fold origami cranes and donate them?"

As expected, Zheng Yi is a target of criticism.

Ai looked at Zheng Yi suspiciously, feeling that Zheng Yi might have some kind of special constitution that made him like being scolded, which was why he deliberately disgusted the public.

“Of course I’ll donate money, and I’ll donate all my assets,” Zheng Yi said.

Ai was startled.

you?
Donate all assets?
She quickly ran to Zheng Yi and reached out to touch his forehead.

It's not hot at all.
"Have you been possessed?" Ai asked.

Hongye stared at Zhengyi in disbelief, feeling as if Zhengyi was possessed by a ghost.

Zheng Yi said very seriously, "I really have this idea: after I die, I will donate all my property."

Hearing Zheng Yi mention the preconditions, Hongye still couldn't hide her shock.

Ai, on the other hand, just pursed her lips.

She said dismissively, "Who knows how many years will pass after you die? By then, probably no one will remember what you said, and no one will even know if you broke your promise."

"Besides, you're dead, your property will definitely go to your children. What money does a dead person have? Ghost money?"

There are plenty of ways to do it anyway.

They're giving the public empty promises now to improve Zhengyi's reputation, but who knows if they'll just default on them later?
If this news isn't reported for a while, Zheng Yi might outlive everyone who knows about it.

"Why are you so blunt?" Zheng Yi said with a hint of dissatisfaction.

Although I am not a good person, how could you directly state my despicable nature?

Don't I have any pride?
Zheng Yi grabbed Ai's cheek and said, "Have you forgotten that you still owe me a lot of money? Do you want me to chase you for your debt?"

"What money?" Hongye asked curiously.

"No!" Ai was forced to tilt her head back, her cheeks were pulled out of shape, and she could only mumble her rebuttal.

"I've kept the IOU all this time, are you trying to renege on your debt?"

Ai pouted and reached out to pry open Seiichi's hand to protect her face.

Seeing this, Hongye became even more interested. "Stop bullying the child," Hongye said, trying to be fair.

"However, I am quite curious. How did Ai end up owing you money?"

"Is that even a question?" Zheng Yi counted on his fingers as if it were a matter of course: "She eats my food, drinks my water, and lives in my house. That night she had a high fever, and I was the one who fed her medicine; she was dirty, and I had the maid bathe and change her clothes; even the shoes she was wearing were bought by me. Every single one of these things cost money."

"Why bother with such a small amount of money?" Hongye muttered under her breath.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yi released his grip and said with a righteous expression, "Hongye, you can't say that. Even close brothers need to keep clear accounts, let alone people with no blood relation like this."

"Not related by blood or marriage?" Hongye raised an eyebrow and looked at Xiao Ai.

Hongye thought to herself: I bet you've kissed me quite a bit.

After listening, Hongye nodded thoughtfully: "I see."

Seeing Ai's pitiful look, she suddenly waved her hand with a flourish: "Since that's the case, then I'll pay this debt for Ai. How much? One million? Or two million? This is a small amount, I can afford it."

Ai was stunned for a moment, and looking at Hongye's domineering and wealthy demeanor, she felt a surge of emotion.

Is this what friendship among the wealthy is like?

Zheng Yi was also taken aback for a moment, then revealed a meaningful smile: "Hongye, are you sure?"

"Of course." Hongye confidently raised her chin. "I have a lot of pocket money, so how much does Ai owe you?"

"Not many, really not many."

Zheng Yi turned around, walked to the desk, opened the drawer, and took out a thick stack of documents.

"Originally it was only 2.37 million yen, after all, that was for the first aid, clothing and cleaning up that night."

As Zheng Yi spoke, he unfolded the stack of documents in front of Hongye, as if he were displaying some precious work of art.

"However, as you know, the economy has been sluggish lately, and inflation is severe. So I've made a slight... flexible adjustment to the interest rates here."

Hongye looked down.

First IOU: Medical expenses and nursing care expenses, principal of 237 million, monthly interest of 10%, compounded.

The second IOU is for compensation for emotional distress (because Ai screamed in the middle of the night and scared Masakazu), amounting to 50 yen, with a late payment fee of 5% per day.

The third IOU: Depreciation fee for the trench coat (Ai's trench coat got soaked), amount 100 million yen, plus penalty for breach of contract...

Hongye's gaze swept over the numbers, and her confident smile gradually froze.

10% monthly interest?

What is this? Is it loan sharking?

This isn't an IOU, it's clearly a contract of servitude!
And what's with this "trench coat depreciation fee"? A trench coat costs a million? Is it made of gold?
The red leaves fell silent.

She looked at the constantly scrolling number, then at Ai Haibara beside her with an innocent expression, and finally at Masakazu's sincere face.

After a long while, Hongye took a deep breath, silently reached out, and helped Zheng close the stack of IOUs.

"Sorry to bother you."

Hongye stood up, regaining her elegant and composed demeanor, as if the person who had just made the bold statement about helping others pay off their debts was not her at all.

"How could you do this?" Zheng Yi said with dissatisfaction, "You don't want to pay back the debt after just reading one IOU, but there are other IOUs."

Zheng Yi continued flipping through the documents.

The densely packed IOUs made Hongye's scalp tingle.

In particular, the amount of money she funded Ai's research into an antidote was astronomical, and Momiji was well aware of her financial situation.

This is not something I can touch.

She looked at Ai and asked, "With such a high interest rate, how did you dare to borrow it?"

Ai shook her head.

Living under someone else's roof, what could she do?

Moreover, she had long intended not to repay the money, so she signed the IOUs that Zheng Yi brought over without even looking at them.

"Hongye, please help Ai repay a little bit. It's all from the bottom of your heart," Zhengyi said with a smile.

Koyo quickly shook her head and said, "I suddenly remembered that I still have a few waka poems to memorize, and my elders at home are urging me to go back. Since Ai owes this kind of... this kind of special debt, then I won't get involved."

After saying that, Hongye picked up the apple on the table, took a big bite, and said indistinctly, "After all, I can't pay it back."

She can't even afford to pay the interest on Ai's loan.

Ai is a tough person too. She carries so much debt, but you can't tell at all when you're with her. She has such a good mentality.

Zheng Yi shook his head in disappointment as he watched Hong Ye flee in disarray.

Hongye is still not loyal enough; she's unwilling to redeem Ai, not even by paying a little interest.

"Alright, now that Hongye is gone, let's talk about your repayment plan."

He held the thick stack of IOUs in his hand, slapping them together like playing cards, making a crisp, rustling sound.

Ai sat on the sofa, watching Shoichi perform with a blank expression.

There was no trace of guilt about owing money in her eyes, nor any sense of urgency to repay it.

She silently reached out a hand from behind the cushion, fumbled around on the coffee table for a while, and picked up a straw.

Zheng Yi frowned: "What are you doing with that straw?"

Ai Haibara remained silent.

She simply leaned forward slightly and skillfully inserted the thin straw into Zhengyi's coffee cup.

Her movements were fluid and graceful, as if the cup had always been hers.

Then, she lowered her head slightly and took a gentle sip through the straw.

Zheng Yi: "..."

After taking a sip, Ai even licked her lips, then looked up at Shoichi.

What's yours is mine, and what's mine is still mine.

It's impossible for me to repay the money.

This is the only way I can live my life—just eating and drinking for free.

"You..." Masakazu pointed at Ai and said, "What are you doing?"

Ai finally spoke, her voice soft and sweet, yet assertive: "Drink your coffee."

Zheng Yi: "???"

He was a little confused.

Ai continued leaning back on the sofa, saying, "Since I owe you so much money, what's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine."

"Ok?"

What kind of robber logic is that?

Ai said softly, "You're so rich. If I don't help you spend your money, it's just a pile of worthless paper. I'm helping you realize the value of your money."

Masakazu stared at Ai in shock.

When did she become so shameless?

Who taught him? (End of Chapter)