Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

"I saw that Ai Haibara has found a bunch of handsome guys."

Ai held a glass of juice in her hand, watching Sera Masumi spread rumors and caused trouble in front of Masakazu and Momiji with a blank expression.

Sera Masumi described it vividly, and even gave a detailed description of the handsome men's appearances.

Sera Masumi described even the lights and music at the party as if she were there herself.

Ai listened too, and even yawned.

She herself hadn't even noticed the lights and music, yet Zhenchun knew.

Zhengyi and Hongye listened quietly, blinking occasionally and making surprised expressions in cooperation.

Hongye walked over to Ai and lovingly patted Ai's head, startling Ai so much that she dropped the juice in her hand.

Ai glared at Hongye.

Don't look at me with that disgusting gaze.

Hongye also suppressed her loving expression and poked Xiao Ai's cheek, saying, "At her age, do you think she'd be looking for a handsome guy?"

Then Zhengyi and I can't believe it either.

Zheng Yi also poked Ai's little face and said, "I believe Ai. Ai is definitely not that kind of person. Masumi, don't slander my Ai."

"Masumi, can you please stop spreading rumors?" Ai looked at Sera Masumi helplessly.

This guy is a repeat offender.

Let's not talk about the previous rumors that Sato had a crush on Masakazu, since there was a real possibility of that, and it was still quite unclear.

Just last time, this guy said that Zheng Yi had dinner with a bunch of girls, and they were chatting and laughing and behaving intimately.

Ai didn't believe it.

She was more convinced that Shoichi was behaving intimately with Gin and other members of the organization than with a bunch of girls.

She was just a little confused, but Hongye exploded at that moment.

She carried Ai and followed Sera Masumi to find Masakazu. When they found Masakazu, they discovered that there was indeed a group of girls.

A bunch of elementary school girls.

Zheng Yi ran into Ayumi and her classmates playing, greeted them, and offered to treat them to something to eat.

A group of little girls saw the handsome older brother and started pestering him to play with them.

When Koyo and Ai arrived, Seiichi grabbed them and took them to keep the little girl company before going home to sleep.

Zheng Yi pinched Ai's cheek and asked curiously, "Are you even interested in going to see handsome guys looking like this? Do they even pay attention to you?"

Xiao Ai remained silent.

Of course, I ignored it.

That unreliable Sonoko took her and Ran to the party together.

Not to mention her, not many people even bother with Xiaolan.

At that age, they're all at the age to get married. What are Sonoko and her two high school students and an 'elementary school student' doing getting involved?
It's just that Yuanzi herself likes to talk to people.

Ai and Ran almost ate all the fruit at the party.

People talk until their mouths are dry and they have nothing to cleanse their mouths even if they take a break.

Ai slapped Shoichi's hand away, stood up, puffed out her chest, and adopted the posture of an older sister, lecturing Sera Masumi: "You should watch what you say. Don't believe everything you hear and spread rumors about things you're not sure about."

"I didn't make things up," Sera Masumi said, pursing her lips.

She was completely innocent.

You really found a bunch of handsome guys, even though none of them paid any attention to you.

Moreover, Zheng Yi really did date a bunch of girls back then, and their behavior was definitely intimate.

But who knew you two would have such bad tempers, and you went to find someone before even letting them finish speaking.

'Girl' 'Girl'!
I didn't say it was a woman; you're all being too sensitive.

Sera Masumi pouted, while Masakazu and Momiji pinched Ai's cheeks from both sides.

This little adult-like demeanor is so cute!

Ai's momentum lasted less than a minute before it was shattered by those two bastards, Momiji and Shoichi.

Zhenchun is here!

Can't you guys give me any face?

What they do behind closed doors is one thing, but my sister is here today!

When Masumi saw Ai being bullied, she wanted to try it herself, but she was stopped by Ai's eyes.

Never mind, she's my older sister after all, I can't just bully her myself.

In front of Masumi, Shoichi and Momiji still gave Ai some face, only poking her cheek and not doing their usual routine.

Zhenchun rubbed her eyes, feeling that she really couldn't come here more often.

Otherwise, if I keep watching Masakazu and the others bully Ai, what if I can't help but rub my mom's face when I get back?
That's incredibly unfilial; your mother would beat you to death.

"By the way, how's the research on the antidote going?" Sera Masumi asked.

“Great progress has been made,” Ai said casually.

Sera Masumi's lips twitched.

Every time I ask, they say there's been a lot of progress, but when I ask for more details, they say they don't know how much progress has been made.

Despite numerous inquiries, no new drugs have been developed, and the situation has remained unchanged.

Sera Masumi said helplessly, "Even if there's no antidote, is there any medicine to stabilize this state?"

It changes size from time to time, which has a significant impact on life.

Sera Masumi is constantly nagged by her mother, and she wishes her mother would stop nagging her and find her a school to attend.

"No, not at all." Ai shook her head.

What's wrong with things being the way they are now?

You don't have to be a child all the time; you can occasionally revert to adulthood, stretch your body, and remind yourself not to forget your real age.

pretty good.

The only slight inconvenience is during the transformation.

"Never mind then," Sera Masumi said with a regretful expression.

Ai walked up to Masumi and tapped her on the forehead: "Don't spread rumors anymore, understand?"

"What do you mean?" Zhenchun said, covering her head indignantly.

She was telling the truth.

Whether it's Sato's crush on Shoichi or Shoichi's intimate behavior with so many girls, which one is fake?

And it wasn't just spreading rumors; she only told a few people.

"Humph!"

Ai snorted and asked Sera Masumi, "Then how did you know? Did Sonoko tell you?"

“No,” Sera Masumi shook her head and said, “There are so many people at the party, it’s a matchmaking event, and it would be quite conspicuous for a little girl like you to walk in.”

Ai's eyelids twitched.

That bastard Sonoko, knowing what they were doing, led them over there?
"Hee hee~"

Sera Masumi gave a strange laugh and, just like Masakazu had done earlier, poked Ai's cheek.

Ai slapped Sera Masumi's hand away.

It's one thing for Zheng Yi and Hongye to treat him like this.

You're my sister! How can you have no manners at all!

……

"Conan, Ran found a bunch of handsome guys yesterday."

"What!?" Conan's eyes widened, and he grabbed Shoichi's arm tightly, asking, "What exactly happened?"

Zheng Yi sighed and said, "It's all because the garden is unreliable."

"Sonoko?" Conan was taken aback.

Yesterday, he saw Yuanzi take Xiaolan out and thought Yuanzi was reliable and could distract Xiaolan.

Zheng Yi said, "Sonoko insists on dragging Ran and Ai to find handsome guys. She's blind. She doesn't even consider Ai's age."

At the party, Ai only focused on eating fruit, then watched Ran and the others chatting and laughing.

Conan blinked, then his eyes turned red.

"Just yesterday?" Conan asked.

His voice was trembling, but fortunately Zheng Yi didn't notice.

“It was yesterday,” Zheng Yi said. “Ai went to play with Ran, and for some reason, Sonoko suddenly dragged them to find a handsome guy.”

Conan lowered his head slightly, not letting Shoichi see his eyes.

His face looked somewhat ferocious.

I think I paid for the money to find handsome guys at that park!
Moreover, it was his request that Sonoko take Ran out.

Snowflakes are falling, and the north wind is howling~
Conan is in great pain.

If you knew that, you might as well let Xiaolan stay home and study how to dissect herself.

It seemed that only then did Shoichi notice Conan's unusual behavior. He patted Conan on the shoulder and comforted him, "I heard it from Sera Masumi and Ai. It might not be true. Try to think positively."

Conan's lips curled into a stiff smile.

How can I possibly think this through?
How can this still be fake?

Haibara and Ran were together that day, so how could she be lying?
"Sigh! It's all Sonoko's fault." Masakazu said in a low voice, "If it weren't for her, Ran definitely wouldn't have gone."

"Brother Zhengyi, I'm going back now," Conan said.

He doesn't want to do anything right now, he just wants to go back to the firm.

Zheng Yi blinked and said in a low voice, "Actually, Xiao Lan might just be going to eat fruit."

"Uh-huh."

Conan's face stiffened.

Is this possible?

Yes, I believe Xiaolan.

Conan staggered back to the detective agency and was relieved to see Ran studying human anatomy.

He walked up to Xiaolan and asked softly, "Sister Xiaolan, where did you and Yuanzi go yesterday?"

"Oh, I went to a party."

Xiaolan said casually, "That guy Yuanzi is really something. Her sister organized that party, which was basically a blind date event. We were so embarrassed when we went there."

Ai and I spent the rest of the time eating fruit at the party, while Sonoko kept trying to talk to people. Even her older sister couldn't stand it anymore and pulled her away several times.

"Oh, oh, oh." Conan nodded.

Ran glanced down at Conan's reaction, frowned, and realized that his reaction seemed rather ordinary.

Conan put down his small backpack and took out several books.

He handed the book to Xiaolan, who took it with a puzzled look.

"What are these?"

"This is a book I bought for my older sister Xiaolan with my allowance."

Conan smiled and said, "Doesn't Ran like reading these books? So I bought a few more so Ran can read them at her leisure."

I think I'll just stay home and be a homebody.

Reading more books is better than going out and fooling around with the kids.

It's best to avoid associating with fair-weather friends like Yuanzi.

"what?"

Ran was completely confused by Conan.

You want me to read this kind of book?
Xiaolan glanced at the book titles; some were about human anatomy, and others about making specimens.

Before, when she read these books, Conan would tremble with fear, and now he's actually buying them for her.

It's so weird.

If you're not scared at all, then what's the point of me watching?
"Ran-neechan, are these books enough? If not, I'll go buy you some more." Conan stared wide-eyed at Ran, trying to appear as innocent as possible.

"That's enough, that's enough."

Ran glanced at Conan, then at the books, and nodded gently.

Outside the Mouri Detective Agency, Sonoko was humming a cheerful tune, carrying two elegant shopping bags, preparing to take Ran to the newly opened amusement park.

"Ding-dong-"

Less than three seconds after the doorbell rang, the door was suddenly pulled open.

Standing at the door was Conan, whose face seemed to scream "Keep Out."

Conan asked, enunciating each word clearly, "What...are...you...here...for?"

Sonoko was startled by the aggressive little brat. She blinked, looked down at Conan, and looked completely bewildered.
"Huh? I'm here to see Xiaolan! Didn't you cry and beg me to take her out to cheer her up yesterday? I canceled several appointments today just to pick her up and take her to the amusement park!"

Ha, this woman is bragging.

You think you can have several dates?
"Don't even think about it!" Conan refused without hesitation, blocking the way to the living room completely.

"Xiaolan isn't feeling well today, so she's not going out."

Conan felt scared when he thought about where Sonoko had taken Ran yesterday.

He absolutely cannot let Sonoko, that dangerous element, get even a step closer to Ran!
"Huh? Ran's sick? I'll go in and check on her." Sonoko pushed Conan aside and was about to go inside.

"no!"

Conan blocked the door and said, "The doctor said Ran should rest well, so don't go in and disturb her."

"Kid, are you serious?" Sonoko looked at Conan suspiciously.

This kid is acting strange today. Why won't he let me see Xiaolan?

Conan whispered, "Of course it's true. Ran has already gone to bed. You should come see her another day."

"It's okay if she's asleep. I'll be quiet and try not to wake her up."

"no!"

Conan adopted a stance of defending his territory to the death: "You're not seeing Ran today. Ran needs quiet rest right now. Hurry up and leave, don't disturb Ran!"

Sonoko rolled her eyes at Conan's tense expression.

She reached out and pinched Conan's cheek, pulling it hard: "You little brat, did you take some kind of poison today? Yesterday you were pitifully stuffing money into my hand, begging me to make sure Ran was taken out, how come your attitude has completely changed overnight?"

"Let go! Don't pinch my face!" Conan struggled desperately to push Sonoko's hand away.

You wretched woman, get out of here!
Soon, Xiaolan will hear what's going on on our end.

Just as the two were at an impasse, Ran's voice drifted down from upstairs: "Who's here, Conan? Who are you talking to?"

Upon hearing Ran's voice, Conan immediately shouted back, "It's okay, Ran-neechan! He's just a salesman! I'm chasing him away!"

Sonoko was so angry she almost jumped up, pointing at Conan's nose and yelling, "You little brat! Who's the salesman?!"

Conan glared back defiantly, saying, "I'm talking to you!"
"Hurry up and leave! We don't need insurance!" Conan pretended to close the door.

The garden was burning with rage.

This brat actually wants to isolate me from everyone, preventing me from seeing Xiaolan, and even said I'm buying insurance!

"No! I feel you really need insurance!"

Sonoko said with a sinister smile, "Let me show you what I'm capable of!" (End of Chapter)