Conan: When Shinjiu and Maolilan swap bodies

Banquets are where he should be.

Chapter 465 A day apart feels like three autumns

Final exams began as scheduled.

In the quiet examination room, only the scratching sound of pens slicing across paper could be heard.

Ran Mouri unfolded the distributed test paper, took a deep breath, cleared her mind of distractions, and began to focus on answering the questions.

These past few days of studying late into the night have paid off; the questions are much easier to answer than I expected.

After writing her name down, Sonoko's gaze involuntarily drifted to the empty seat of Sera Masumi diagonally in front of her.

Even if I want to transfer schools... I can take the exams first and then leave, right?

She felt a little down and planned to contact Shi Liang after the exam to have a proper get-together and say goodbye formally.

......

After another sleepless night, having sorted out Rum's pile of complicated matters, Qingze leaned back in his chair and rubbed his sore temples.

He unlocked his phone, the faint light from the screen reflecting on his face.

The lock screen wallpaper is a photo—a girl gently stroking the beak of a dolphin, a faint smile on her lips, her eyes soft.

That was taken by Ran Mouri; it was taken by him, and it was taken by her.

It was one of the few videos on his phone that he had watched countless times.

The moment his gaze fell on the screen, Qingze's brows relaxed involuntarily, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

He hovered his fingertip over the chat app icon for a moment, typed two words, and then deleted them one by one.

At this time, she should still be in the exam room, her phone silent.

He stared at the darkened screen, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the phone.

The feeling of being in love is truly special.

A day apart feels like three autumns; if I think about it carefully, it should have been a year since we last met.

I really want her to stay by my side forever, to be with me all the time...

Unable to control his extreme thoughts, Qingze ate a piece of candy and stared blankly out the window.

The sunlight outside the window is bright; it looks quite warm.

It would be really nice to sunbathe together...

After a moment of distraction, his gaze fell on the black device belonging to Rum on the table.

After a moment's hesitation, he dialed a number.

......

Bai Yu sat by the window in the bookstore downstairs, a thick hardcover book spread out on her lap.

The afternoon light filtered through the glass, casting warm, dappled patterns on the pages of the book.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She glanced at the caller ID, closed the book, gently put the phone back in its place, then got up, pushed open the door, and went out.

The winter sun generously bathed her in warmth, and as she pressed the answer button, her voice was as gentle as the sunlight:

"Qingze, good morning."

"Good morning," came Qingze's calm voice from the other end of the phone. "There's something I'd like to ask you."

"There's no trouble involved in your matter. Just let me handle it." Her tone was light and natural, with genuine composure.

"Have you ever handled any matters for Rum before?"

“Yes, I handle a lot of his daily work,” Bai Yu answered readily, though she had a vague idea of ​​what was going on.

"Rum is in my hands now."

Qingze's voice came through the radio waves, clear and calm, "I need you to temporarily impersonate him and handle his affairs."

Bai Yu paused almost imperceptibly.

They've already caught Rum? They acted faster than she expected.

"it is good."

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me." Bai Yu stopped and looked up at the azure sky, her tone firm. "My new life is thanks to you. I've never felt burdened by doing things for you."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then the call ended.

Bai Yu put away her phone, and the sunlight reflected off her glasses, creating a white glow.

She took a deep breath of the cool air, her gaze gradually becoming sharp and focused.

Although she left the organization, she never forgot her hatred for it.

......

The bell rang, signaling the end of the exam. Ran Mouri watched as her papers were collected and stretched with a sigh of relief.

After writing test questions all day, my brain and wrists are a bit sore.

"Ah—I've finally made it through another day!"

Sonoko, like a deflated balloon, slumped onto her desk and sighed:

"These past few days of studying have completely drained my energy! After the last exam tomorrow, I absolutely have to relax!"

“Yes!” Ran Mouri wholeheartedly agreed.

After the exams, the long-awaited winter break will finally begin.

"I've got it all figured out!" Sonoko instantly perked up, her eyes sparkling. "Let's go to a hot spring! Let's invite Uncle and Auntie, Aozawa, Professor Agasa, and the Detective Boys. It'll be more fun with so many people! Let's go out and have some fun to shake off the bad luck from the exams!"

“Okay!” Ran Mouri nodded happily.

The steaming hot springs can completely relax a person, and she definitely needed such a relaxation.

"It's a pity Conan is still in the hospital, otherwise it would be even more lively." Sonoko shook her head regretfully when she thought of Conan.

The two friends packed their bags and walked out of the classroom side by side, chatting as they strolled down the corridor.

"Hehe, my A-Zhen is on vacation too, I've invited him to see a movie tonight!" Sonoko said happily.

"Huh? Aren't you going to study? You have an exam tomorrow."

"Relax! We've seen everything we needed to see, one more night won't make a difference."

Sonoko waved her hand, then suddenly remembered something and looked at Ran, "By the way, you were just muttering that tomorrow is the 20th, what's wrong? Is there anything special about it?"

Ran Mouri's eyes crinkled into a smile, her tone carrying a hint of mystery: "Hmm... I'm remembering something."

"So mysterious..." Sonoko muttered, her curiosity piqued, but seeing that Ran didn't intend to elaborate, she didn't press further.

Chatting and laughing, the two had already reached the school gate.

As Ran looked up, she was met with those familiar eyes.

Qingze stood quietly under the roadside trees in the winter, his brown coat open at the front, outlining his clean shoulder line. The scarf around his neck hung loosely, its ends curving slightly in the wind.

His gaze fell on Ran Mouri, his eyes filled with a smile.

Ran Mouri paused, then her face lit up with a delighted smile.

"Aze?!" She quickened her pace, almost running over. "What brings you here? Haven't you been very busy these past few days?"

"Yeah, I just finished a while ago."

Qingze naturally reached out and took the schoolbag from her shoulder. His fingertips inadvertently brushed against the back of her hand, and the icy temperature made him frown slightly.

He reached out and cupped her slightly cool hand in his warm palm, the gesture intimate and natural.

He looked down at her, his voice low, like a feather brushing against her ear.

Do you miss me?

Ran Mouri looked up and nodded without hesitation, her eyes reflecting the dappled light of the streetlights: "Yes!"

Qingze's lips curled up instantly, and a smile spread from his eyes, impossible to hide.

He raised his hand and gently pinched her cheek; the touch was slightly cool.

"So honest. Did missing me affect your exam performance? If you failed, I won't be responsible."

"Hmph, I won't fail!" She wrinkled her nose and glared at him deliberately, looking incredibly cute.

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow, continuing to tease her, "What if you really fail? Will you secretly shed tears?"

"How could I possibly cry because of an exam!"

She was amused and embarrassed, so she pulled her hand away from his grasp, clenched it into a fist, and lightly punched his shoulder.

Qingze immediately hissed, feigning pain as he clutched his chest, his brows furrowed, and his voice exaggeratedly weak:

"Ouch...it hurts. You're going to crack my sternum."

"I was pounding his shoulder..." Ran Mouri retorted, reaching out to touch the spot he had just been covering.

The moment I raised my hand, he grasped it precisely.

The warmth of his palm enveloped her fingertips.

Chapter 466 Tomorrow is worth looking forward to.

Qingze showed no sign of pain whatsoever; a smile played in his eyes.

"I was just kidding," he said softly, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand. "But if you hit it again, it might really crack."

"Ouch—"

The girl next to her, Yuanzi, exaggeratedly dragged out her words, winking and making faces, "They start flirting as soon as they appear. Looks like I won't need to eat tonight, I'll have plenty of dog food!"

Xiaolan blushed and gave Yuanzi a reproachful look.

Qingze smiled and stuffed her hand into his pocket as well.

"Alright, alright, I won't disturb your time together!" Sonoko waved her hand with a grin and tactfully slipped away first.

Qingze led Xiaolan forward. Xiaolan looked up at him, her eyes sparkling, and asked, "Are you tired?"

"It's alright," Qingze chuckled.

After he finished handling most of the matters, he handed Rum's phone and computer over to Bai Yu.

"You should have finished your exams by the day after tomorrow, right? Do you want to come to Yokohama with me?"

Yokohama?

"Yes, there's an opening ceremony at Sky Gate, and I want to attend. The observation deck up there offers a panoramic view of Yokohama Port and Tokyo Bay; the scenery should be quite impressive."

"Okay!" Ran Mouri readily agreed.

The number of people around them gradually decreased, and the two of them strolled slowly with their hands in the same pocket.

The afternoon sun felt wonderfully warm on my skin.

Qingze caught a falling leaf and suddenly remembered a sentence he had seen somewhere.

Do you know?

"Take a walk, feel the breeze, and watch the sunset."

"These things, which existed before you, were called:"

"Walking, wind blowing, it's getting dark."

Ran Mouri stopped in her tracks and turned her head to stare at him blankly.

The light gradually gathered and danced in her eyes, reflecting his appearance at that moment.

Qingze gently released his hand, letting the fallen leaves fly away from his fingertips. Sunlight fell on his face, peaceful and gentle.

He turned his head and looked at me; the faint smile on his face was even brighter and more captivating than the sunlight at that moment.

“These things that are so ordinary to me that they are almost boring become something to look forward to because you are here.”