Conan: When Shinjiu and Maolilan swap bodies

The redness on Qingze's ears faded, and he glanced sideways at the person beside him, giving him an expression that said, "I've seen right through you."

"...If you want to see me take a bath, just say so."

Ran Mouri blushed and said angrily, "Taking a bath is taking a bath, and soaking in a hot spring is soaking in a hot spring! Don't confuse the two!"

What kind of talk is that!

"Alright, let's go soak in the hot springs then."

Now that he's soaked in the hot spring, he'll have a reason to refuse any women's attempts to get him to go to the hot spring tonight.

......

On the lakeshore, Sera Masumi, through a handkerchief, was carefully examining the body that had been dragged ashore.

The deceased was a young man. Although his body was swollen and deformed from being submerged in the lake water, his originally handsome facial features could still be discerned.

His mouth was wide open, his lips a lifeless dark purple, and a few fine, pale mushroom-like bubbles clung to his mouth and nose—the silent physiological marks of the drowned.

The man's thick sweater was soaked with water, clinging heavily to him, and he wore an expensive watch on his wrist, which gleamed coldly.

Initial examination revealed no obvious external injuries on the body surface.

All signs point to a simple drowning – however, whether it was an accidental fall or someone pushing him into the abyss remains to be seen.

Sera Masumi stood up and looked around the lake shore.

She walked slowly along the waterline, bending down to observe the soil and grass, trying to catch a trace of something unusual in the chaotic scene.

Sera Mary stood quietly to the side, watching her daughter's retreating figure.

Since that incident, Makoto has become much quieter.

She knew better than anyone that uncovering the truth and solving the mystery was the shining light in her daughter's eyes, the direction she was willing to devote her passion to.

But reality forced her to bury this passion deep in her heart, and even to personally kill its future.

At this moment, looking at Zhen Chun's focused profile as she surveyed, a light seemed to flicker in her expression again, as if a soul had been re-infused into this body.

Mary felt a sharp, throbbing pain in her chest, as if something invisible was gripping her heart.

She turned her face away, no longer looking in that direction.

Her daughter had promised her that she would no longer stand in public as a detective, and would no longer publicly deduce and take risks.

As long as she doesn't come into the open or become a target... let her pursue any truth in private.

Mary gazed at the lake and gently closed her eyes.

Chapter 497 Want to go for a soak with me?

Police arrived quickly and set up a cordon.

When Kogoro Mouri announced his name, he immediately attracted the attention of the local police officers.

"So it's Mr. Mori, I've heard so much about you."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Kogoro Mouri quickly explained the situation, and the police began their investigation.

The deceased was named Yoshimura Tomoya, a guest visiting the mountain resort. He was accompanied by four other people, and like Suzuki Sonoko, they had booked a private garden.

The four arrived at the lakeside and were horrified when they saw the body of the deceased.

There was sadness, shock, and utter bewilderment.

Sera Masumi's gaze fell on the group of people.

She found no signs of slipping or falling by the lake. The water level at the edge of the lake was shallow, no more than half a meter. Even if someone accidentally slipped into the water, it wouldn't be so easy for them to drown.

To drown directly, one would have to go to the wooden viewing platform that extends into the lake.

However, there are guardrails on the platform, so it's not that easy to fall off.

She found some remnants of wool fibers on the wooden railing, the same type as those on the deceased's sweater.

It must have been left on the railing when someone pushed it down, causing friction and scraping.

The murderer is probably among these people.

The problem now is that the time of death is difficult to determine.

The lake water was icy cold, which greatly obscured the time of death. She could only estimate that the time of death should have been last night, but the exact time would have to wait for the forensic autopsy.

Therefore, it will be difficult to find the murderer among these people in a short period of time.

Keeping her promise to her mother, she didn't stand out by asking questions, but simply told Kogoro Mouri what she had discovered.

Kogoro Mouri said he understood and began questioning the five people about their basic information together with the police.

There were four people: three men and one woman. The three men were dressed in expensive clothes, while the woman was dressed rather simply.

“Last night, we sang karaoke and drank together until 11 p.m., and then we all went back to our rooms to rest,” said the man named Sano Shuichi first.

Others immediately echoed this.

"Because we had been drinking, we slept until almost noon. We didn't see Tomoya until the afternoon, and that's when we realized he was missing. We asked the resort to help us look for him, but we never expected..."

As she spoke, one of the girls started to cry.

"That means the deceased died after 11 o'clock." Kogoro Mouri's sharp gaze swept over the four suspects.

"Do you have an alibi for what happened after 11 p.m.?"

The group of people looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Since we'd all been drinking, we all went back to our rooms to rest..."

Subaru Okiya noticed that a man had been looking at him several times. The gaze swept over his entire body, lingered on his buttocks, and then fell on his face. When he looked back, the man casually looked away.

Subaru Okiya adjusted his glasses, which reflected a few cold glints.

……

Qingze walked to the hot spring pool in the courtyard. It was a natural hot spring pool, emitting steam.

A bamboo fence surrounds the hot spring, acting like a screen that separates the hot spring from the courtyard, yet allows glimpses of the inside and outside through the fence.

Beside the hot spring are large, rounded pebbles, and the bottom of the pool is also made of pebbles.

Qingze checked the water temperature; it was around 40 degrees Celsius.

"Want to come along?"

He looked up at Ran Mouri, a hint of mockery in his eyes.

Ran Mouri, clutching a towel and a bath towel, quickly shook her head.

"You've already changed into a yukata, why aren't you getting in the water?"

"No, no, no!" Ran Mouri shook her head like a rattle-drum.

"Cut~"

Qingze took off his bathrobe, revealing his swimsuit, and slowly walked into the hot spring.

The girl's hair was tied up, her skin was fair with a faint pink hue in the sunlight, her shoulders and neck had smooth and graceful lines, and her limbs were long and slender.

The swimsuit she wore was simple, but it had a slit in the back, revealing a bit of her waist.

Her excellent body curves are outlined, with a prominent bust and shapely hips, showcasing her amazing strength.

Looking down, the girl's legs are long and straight, with even and firm muscles.

The moisture clinging to her skin gave the girl a glowing aura.

Even though Qingze was wearing a very conservative swimsuit, Ran Mouri felt her cheeks and ears burning for some reason.

Qingze was soaking in the hot spring, with only his head sticking out, and he let out a comfortable sigh.

He leaned against the edge of the hot spring pool, tilting his head slightly. In the misty steam, his clear, girlish eyes held a playful, knowing question.

Why are you blushing?

Ran Mouri blushed even more at his teasing tone.

"I... am shy."

She admitted it in a low voice.

This is the first time I've seen myself in a swimsuit, soaking in a hot spring, from this "other's" perspective.

As the water ripples, the curves of her body are faintly visible.

What made her feel even hotter and her thoughts even more chaotic was the thought that Qingze was currently in control of that body—

How he changed into this outfit, how he admired it, how he felt... every imagined scene was incredibly impactful, making his body feel extremely hot.

"You soak, I'll watch over it for you." She took a step, hurriedly trying to leave.

"Eh~"

A drawn-out, delicate sound came from behind.

"Not only will you not come with me to the tub, but you won't even stay by my side... It's so heartbreaking, sob sob..."

That deliberately affected tone, combined with her own voice, made Ran Mouri's scalp tingle instantly, and she stopped in her tracks.

"I won't leave, I won't leave..."

Come here.

"Why are you so far away from me?"

"Come closer."

What are you afraid of?

One sentence after another, the voice like a honey-scented hook, gently scratching at the heart.

Even though she knew he was deliberately causing trouble and that getting closer would definitely lead to "trouble," her feet still wouldn't obey her commands, and she slowly moved back until she stood still by the hot spring, the rising steam hitting her face.

Qingze looked up at her, water droplets sliding down the graceful lines of "Ran Mouri's" neck.

He suddenly reached out, grabbed her, and pulled her down sharply—

Water splashed everywhere. Caught off guard, Ran Mouri was pulled into the warm pool water, her yukata instantly soaked and clinging heavily to her body.

Ran Mouri panicked, "The wound got wet!"

Aoze chuckled softly, a captivating smile blooming on Ran Mouri's face—a smile she had never seen before.

He stood up; the hot spring water was only waist-deep, and his soaked swimsuit clung to his body.

He placed his hands on Ran Mouri's shoulders and gently pressed her down to sit on the shallow steps at the bottom of the pool.

Then, he leaned closer.

The gentle scent of Ran Mouri, carrying the warmth of a hot spring, brushed against her ear, her voice low and soft, like the tickling of a feather:

"I know my body better than anyone. The wound just got wet; it's no big deal for us."

Before she could finish speaking, Ran Mouri felt a weight on her legs as her waist was wrapped around her.

The thin, soaked clothing was practically useless, as body heat was transferred and mingled without any obstruction.

The kiss was passionate and intense.

Chapter 498 Think with me, let's switch back

Ran Mouri felt her whole body burning up, especially the areas where her body was in contact with something.

The fire of lust burned fiercely and intensely, the repressed desires deep in the soul intertwined with the sensations of the body at this moment, creating an unprecedented surging wave that almost overwhelmed the dam of reason.

The distance was too close, close enough to feel each other's uncontrollable heartbeats, close enough that only two layers of soaked fabric pitifully separated them.

Aozawa released the long kiss, instead gently biting the earlobe of the person in front of him with his teeth, his hot breath spraying onto it, his voice hoarse and unlike that of "Ran Mouri":

"Think about it with me... switch back."

Switch it back!

Yes, we need to switch it back.

Ran Mouri regained some of her senses and returned his kiss, more proactive and eager than before.