He's in Detective Conan, and he's the mastermind behind everything.

"Oh, how do you know he always hangs up on me instantly?"

"Isn't this how it always is when people are focused on doing something and get interrupted? At most, they'll give a few perfunctory words, but afterwards, they won't even remember what they said."

"So that's how it is. So Shinichi forgot about our date because I suggested the wrong time?"

“If you informed him beforehand, or even reminded him a second time, then it is still his problem.”

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

"Tsk, do you completely misunderstand?"

"what?"

"Don't promise what you can't do. Kudo has stood you up on your dates many times. Even if I completely agree with his reasons, it's still his fault from your perspective. Just waiting and being understanding won't work. You need to talk to him clearly."

Xiao Lan remained silent.

Someone knocked on the door outside the club, followed by quiet conversation a few seconds later, which gradually escalated into a commotion.

Detective Index, Shinichi Kudo, etc...

"I already told you," Xiaolan sighed softly.

"And then he never changed his ways?" Ying Sheng asked.

“He did apologize sincerely and said he would be more careful next time. But no matter which date it is, all sorts of unexpected things always happen, and there's nothing I can do about it. According to what you said, Shuiyue-kun, he is contributing to society, and I shouldn't even blame him.”

"What the hell? Is Tokyo really that hot in terms of murder rates?"

"Mainly Beika Town."

"Then you should move."

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

"Then how about we improve the quality of the police so they're not so incompetent that they have to call detectives for everything? Or confiscate Kudo's phone so the police can't call him and have to find other detectives?"

"...I think I'll go back and persuade my dad to move."

Ran covered her face speechlessly, "Besides, this definitely won't solve any problems, because there's no other detective as good as Shinichi. And he enjoys solving cases himself, so Inspector Megure will still come to him."

"The private detective business in Tokyo is quite lively, isn't it? Kudo doesn't even have a single competitor?"

Have you seen any other detectives mentioned in the newspapers?

"There's a guy named Amuro Tooru who's not only handsome, but also great at finding cats, and he's very popular with rich women."

"..."

Xiao Lan glanced at him sideways, and seeing Ying Sheng winking at her in confusion, she turned back helplessly.

"Shinichi is not only efficient, but he also doesn't charge fees. No one can compete with him. My dad is also a private investigator, and he hasn't received a proper case in a long time. He even called him a scab."

"No charge?" Ying Sheng pondered. "What do you think would happen if I asked him to investigate the yakuza who drew my blood?"

"Huh? Did Mizuki-kun really encounter the Yakuza?"

"Such things are not important."

Hotaru suggested, "Investigating the yakuza is dangerous, and Mori-kun, your karate is amazing, so why not team up with him? When your crush can help your career, your relationship will definitely improve!"

Xiao Lan's eyes lit up. "That makes sense. If I can help him, he won't let me go home alone next time he solves a case!"

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

Ying Sheng cleared his throat.

“Oh, my dear Watson, my dear Lan, I need you, and it is the perfect time for you to come.”

Ran blushed and turned her head to face the wall. "You mean, you want me to become Shinichi's partner and assistant, and go through those cases with him?"

"That's right!"

Hotaru said resolutely, "We are lovers and partners who will share life and death. Is there a closer relationship in this world? Go for it, Mori-kun!"

Xiaolan clenched her fist tightly, "I will definitely try my best!"

But after a few seconds, she became somewhat discouraged. "I've actually tried reading mystery novels before, but maybe I'm just not interested in that kind of thing. I just can't get into them, let alone have the talent for deduction."

"Just practice slowly, start as the main fighter, then become an assistant."

Ying Sheng raised his right hand, and the wide white sleeve of his shirt slid down naturally. "That morning I was wearing a hoodie, and you were able to spot the wound on my wrist at a glance, which means you have pretty good observation skills."

"Actually..." Xiaolan said weakly, "I first smelled a faint smell of blood."

"A keen sense of five senses, an exceptional talent for detectives."

"Huh...really?"

"Of course, I spent a long time cleaning up that morning, but you still found it right away. Imagine if you were at the crime scene, you might have discovered the clues that Kudo overlooked and pointed out the real culprit directly?"

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

"Perhaps, but your talent is undeniable."

Ying Sheng thought for a moment, "Your lack of interest in mystery novels might be because of Kudo's Muggle behavior, which has given you a prejudice against the detective profession. Otherwise, given your father's influence from a young age, you should..."

"excuse me."

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

"Forehead……"

Ying Sheng paused for two seconds, then propped himself up and sat up. "That's because of their terrible performance, which is why you dislike detectives so much..." He paused.

"Wait a minute, something's not right!"

Since you don't like this kind of thing, forcing yourself to study it for Kudo's sake is too painful.

Ying Sheng scratched his head. "I'm a practical person. I simply think this is beneficial for your future relationship, not that I'm unconditionally accommodating him. But if you can't accept it, then forget it."

Xiaolan hesitated for a few moments, her eyes lowered slightly, "But I still have to do something, right?"

"The National College Sports Games are starting next weekend, right?"

Ying Sheng looked at the countdown hanging on the wall of the venue.

Bright red, ten days!

"Mori-kun has also signed up for the karate tournament, right? Let's win the championship in one go!"

Ran looked up as well, seemingly lost in thought. "If we win the championship, will you let Shinichi and me go on a date?"

"Idiot, don't you think you're already passive enough?"

"But you just said that wasn't compromise."

"how about you?"

"I……"

"If you could really do that, you would have already cornered Kudo on the rooftop and taken advantage of him. Don't look at me like that. I was just giving you a reasonable method, not saying you had to do it. Besides, we're going in a different direction now."

"Very well, here comes the rational noble young master again. Please enlighten me, Your Highness."

"forgive me."

Ying Sheng gave a wry smile, his expression gradually turning serious: "To put it simply, if you were to marry Kudo in the future, would you become a full-time housewife?"

"Eh... this question..."

"No running away, no turning your head, look at me, you're not even allowed to blush, answer seriously."

Xiaolan froze, stiffly turning her head to look at Yingsheng. The gaze in his dark eyes, which seemed to see through all pretense, stung her slightly, and she quickly turned her head away.

"I think... I guess."

"why?"

Isn't that how it is in Japan?

"So, are you content with this?"

"what?"

"Knowledge, achievements, glory, and even self-worth—everything that has made you second to anyone for so many years—are you really willing to give it all up for so-called love, becoming a complete appendage to a man?"

After another long silence, for some reason, Xiaolan suddenly thought of her mother.

Did she also face this kind of questioning back then?

For a long, long time...

"What exactly is Shuiyue-kun trying to say?"

Xiaolan lowered her head, her tone somewhat gloomy and enigmatic.

Chapter 17 Evolution Failure, Terrible Lan

"It's nothing more than some old, tired platitudes, you probably already know them, right?" Ying Sheng laughed.

"I don't know," Xiaolan said.

"really?"

Xiaolan fell silent again, keeping her head down for a long time. "Living for yourself, relying on others, and the idea that if you blossom, butterflies will come—that's probably it, right? Of course I know all that, but... I can't do it."

"So that's it."

Ying Sheng chuckled softly, "You can't live without him?"

"Yes."

Even if it changes everything beyond recognition?

That's just speculation.

"And that's too far away?"

Xiao Lan slowly closed her eyes, her voice muffled.

"Correct."

"Okay, whatever you like."