Conan: When Shinjiu and Maolilan swap bodies

Although Gin did not answer Shuu's question, sometimes, not answering is a form of tacit agreement.

Gin's disguise as Koniak is practically a blatant indication that Koniak is Aozawa!

Such a dangerous person was right next to Xiaolan, and she was completely unaware. It was too dangerous, too terrifying...

Looking back on his behavior now, she feels nothing but dread.

This person is such a good actor, such a good faker!

What exactly is he trying to do by disguising his identity?

"Can I leave after the New Year? I still have some things to take care of."

Having learned her lesson, she will suspend her studies immediately, conceal her face when going out, and not reveal her whereabouts. In this way, it will not be so easy for that organization to find her.

Sera Marie looked at her daughter, noticing her calm and serious expression, and nodded.

"Okay, be careful."

Visa processing takes time, and Zhenchun is still a minor. Going to a foreign country alone requires a guardian.

These are all things that require time to plan.

"You need to hide yourself; you can't continue solving cases as a detective."

Sera Masumi remained silent, her back suddenly slumping.

After moving my mother to a new place to live again, the sun was already setting.

Wearing a hat and a mask, Sera Masumi stood at the bustling crossroads, the wind blowing from all directions, carrying an inescapable damp chill.

The world was vast, yet only a few paths were presented before her, and she was forced to walk among them, completely against her will.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Xiaolan, asking how I was feeling and saying she wanted to visit me.

Sera Masumi's lips curled into a slight smile.

She took the day off today, using the excuse that she wasn't feeling well.

She raised her hand and dialed a number.

"Xiao Lan, are you free? I'd like to invite you to dinner. Just you, okay?"

Her tone was as usual, with no hint of anything amiss.

Ran Mouri, who was preparing dinner at home, was taken aback when she received the phone call.

"Dinner?"

Why did you suddenly invite her to dinner, and why did you invite her alone?

Is there something you want to say to her?

Although she knew that Sera was alright, she still didn't know what had happened last night.

"Why are you suddenly inviting me to dinner?"

"Because I'm planning to transfer schools."

"Transfer schools? Why the sudden transfer? Where are you transferring to?" Hearing this, Ran Mouri felt a pang of sadness.

For Sera, leaving was indeed a good way to protect herself.

However, if that happens, it will be difficult for us to see each other again.

"Go abroad..."

"What happened? Where are you eating? I'm coming over now..."

Chapter 455 He is a very good person

Ran Mouri got out of the taxi, checked the address, and went into a restaurant.

Upon entering, a wave of warmth washes over you, keeping out the cold winter winds.

Sera Masumi, sitting in the corner, waved to her, revealing her cute fangs.

Ran Mouri laughed, took off her scarf, and walked over.

She walked over and sat down opposite her, a look of worry on her face.

"Why the sudden change of schools?"

She guessed it, but she shouldn't know it now.

"It's my family's arrangement." Sera Masumi smiled easily, leaning forward to look at her with a hopeful look in her eyes. "Even if I transfer schools, we'll still keep in touch, right?"

“Yes!” Ran Mouri nodded vigorously.

Sera Masumi handed over the menu, "Here, take a look at what we want to eat."

Ran Mouri ordered several signature dishes, chatting casually while subtly observing her condition.

She looked exactly the same as usual, and even smiled as she spoke.

Ran Mouri didn't know what had happened last night, but she imagined it must have been dangerous. However, the marks looked as if they had been carefully wiped clean, and the surface was as smooth as a calm lake.

Although Shi Liang was smiling, the smile didn't reach her eyes, as if it were behind a thin but hard glass.

It's like standing at a vast, empty crossroads, unable to move forward or backward at will.

Ran Mouri felt a little depressed.

Sera was only emotionally affected when she saw her deceased brother suddenly appear, and she even murmured something in a low voice before Gin discovered her relationship with Mr. Akai.

On this path, even the slightest misstep can lead to enormous consequences.

She was reminded that she must be extremely careful in the future, especially when she swapped bodies with Qingze.

As the food was served, Sera subtly steered the conversation toward Aozawa.

As she ate, her voice was full of the unique, amused curiosity that comes with girls gossiping:

"Xiao Lan, how exactly did you meet Mr. Qingze? Tell me in detail."

Ran Mouri understood that Sera was beginning to suspect Aozawa's identity.

She smiled gently, as if she were genuinely recalling a beautiful first encounter.

She recounted the same story she had told her father and Conan before, only this time with even more detail.

"I was in a bad mood that day, so I took a walk alone in the park. Then I went to the lake and sat there lost in thought. He was fishing quietly next to me. For some reason, my mood got worse and worse, and I started crying..."

"He asked me why I was crying, and I couldn't explain it to myself at the time. I just felt... confused and very sad..."

Sera Masumi listened intently, and even stopped eating with her chopsticks.

The initial encounter sounded natural, even somewhat coincidental, not like it was deliberately arranged.

Ran Mouri's lips curved into a somewhat helpless smile: "I don't know how, but I ended up chatting with him."

Her gaze drifted into the distance. "He was truly remarkable. Though he didn't say much, he saw through my cowardice in just a few words..."

Upon hearing this, Sera Masumi frowned, clearly disapproving.

"Cowardly? Where are you cowardly?"

How can this word be associated with Xiaolan?

He said, "I'm trapped by my life. I want to change, but I don't know how, so I'm stuck in the same place. I want to correct things, but I always give in first..."

"But isn't that cowardly?" Sera Masumi still disagreed.

"Perhaps... it's a kind of 'gentle predicament'."

Ran Mouri didn't argue, she just smiled and steered the conversation back to the story.

"Back then, I unknowingly talked to him a lot, and now when I think about it, they were all just trivial girlish thoughts..."

A blush, a mixture of nostalgia and slight embarrassment, rose on her face. Her memory seemed to return to that day, to the moment when their bodies had just been swapped, when she was in front of Qingze, tears streaming down her face.

"It's hard to believe, isn't it? When I first met him, he seemed incredibly aloof, but this seemingly cold person actually listened to me quietly for so long..."

"After that, we exchanged contact information and chatted with each other from time to time, and we gradually became familiar with each other."

Sera Masumi listened quietly, and some guesses began to form in her mind.

That was probably the time when Ran discovered Conan's true identity and was feeling particularly sad.

At a time when one's psychological defenses are weak and one desperately needs to confide in someone and receive support, the sudden appearance of such a perceptive, patient, and insightful person of the opposite sex can indeed leave a deep and indelible impression.

Her gaze quietly fell on Xiaolan's eyes and brows, which softened unconsciously as she talked about Qingze.

A realistic but somewhat cruel thought flashed through my mind:

If Xiaolan didn't possess such outstanding looks and a warm temperament, would the seemingly cold and aloof "Qingze" have taken the initiative to speak up, or even listened patiently?

Looking at Xiaolan's profile, now lost in the dim light of her memories, she felt increasingly heavy-hearted.

Given the depth of Xiaolan's feelings for Qingze, if I were to rashly point out Qingze's dangerous identity, not only would Xiaolan never believe me, but it could also lead to unpredictable and terrible consequences, and even destroy the trust between them.

Judging from Qingze's attitude towards Xiaolan so far, Xiaolan's safety is not in danger for the time being.

But this safety is only temporary.

No one can say for sure how much sincerity a killer has in his feelings, nor can anyone guarantee that he won't do something terrible once Xiaolan learns the truth.

Suppressing these surging doubts, Sera Masumi's face regained its pure curiosity, her eyes sparkling as she pressed on with the question:

"What kind of person is Mr. Qingze?"

Ran Mouri was slightly taken aback by her question, and then fell into a brief moment of thought.

"If I really wanted to summarize it, it would be difficult to explain in simple words."

She shook her head gently, her voice carrying a hint of intimate distress, "He... isn't the kind of person who can be easily categorized by labels."

"Don't be fooled by his usual composed and confident demeanor in front of others..."

Her tone gradually became lighter, as if she were sharing a little secret that only she knew.

"Actually, in private... she's childish and arrogant, loves to show off, is cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and says one thing but means another..."

She raised her eyes, her gaze warm and reassuring, as if piercing through all the awkward appearances and directly touching the core essence.

“Deep down, he is a very gentle person, but he hides this gentleness and wraps it in all sorts of awkward shells.”

He doesn't want others to see his true feelings, so he says one thing but means another.

Because he was hurt too deeply in the past, he avoids other people's kindness and goodwill.

He isolated himself from the world and avoided connecting with people.

He was lonely, afraid of losing, yet yearned for it all, which made him awkward and conflicted.

He can analyze others with great clarity, but when it comes to himself, he's like a doctor struggling to heal himself.

“He is a very complicated person, but to me, he is a very good person.”

Chapter 456 He is not Koniak

Sera Masumi gazed intently at Ran in front of her, listening to her description of Aozawa.

A few days ago, she might have smiled and thought: Ah, so that's what that person is like in private.

But now, these words only evoke a sense of absurdity.

Koniak.

The name was like a needle, piercing her heart, a lump in her throat.

Naïve, gentle, cold on the outside but warm on the inside...

Can these wonderful qualities and the darkness represented by that code name truly overlap in the same soul?

How much of this is a pretense and an act for Xiaolan?

She suppressed all sorts of cold, sharp thoughts deep inside, but on her face, she revealed just the right amount of surprise and curiosity, and smiled:

"So this is what he's like in private... That's surprising."

Ran Mouri sighed, a worried look appearing on her face.

"He's actually quite lonely. Because of his past experiences, he doesn't really enjoy interacting with people."