Conan: When Shinjiu and Maolilan swap bodies

Without saying a word, Ran Mouri quickly turned around and changed into her outdoor clothes.

A few minutes later, the two walked into the courtyard side by side. The mountain night air was crisp and piercing, turning into white mist with each breath.

"What exactly happened?" Ran Mouri held his hand tightly, her fingertips icy cold, her brows furrowed with deep worry.

Qingze turned his head to look at her. In the dim light of the street lamp, his eyebrows drooped, and his eyes were dark and devoid of any light.

He didn't specify what he was going to do; he simply said:

"My vacation... is over."

Ran Mouri's heart sank.

She understood, of course, what this "vacation" meant—it was the precious time he had spent away from the organization for the past few years, a time when he could live like an ordinary person.

This is the "rest" time the organization has given him.

And now, this period of recuperation has officially ended.

"So... the organization has a mission?" Her voice unconsciously became very soft, with a slight tremor.

Qingze noticed the tremor in her voice.

His eyes lowered slightly, his gaze darkening. "Yes. And... I'll be busy for a long time."

Ran Mouri's throat tightened, a thousand words stuck in her chest, but in the end, she simply hugged him tightly, her voice muffled:

"Be very careful."

Qingze looked down at her, and where Ran Mouri couldn't see, his expression was somewhat dangerous.

"Aren't you going to ask me for anything?"

Although he didn't say it explicitly, the organization's mission couldn't be separated from bloodshed.

Ran Mouri shook her head.

Qingze had not broken free from the organization, nor could he defy its demands.

Phrases like "Can we not do the mission?" or "Don't kill anyone?" serve no practical purpose other than burdening Qingze.

“I know you don’t like doing those things, and if there’s a way to avoid doing them, you would of course choose not to. I just hope you’re okay and don’t get hurt.”

Hearing Ran Mouri's words, Qingze's dangerous thoughts quickly faded away, replaced by a feeling of comfort and warmth, like basking in the winter sun.

Qingze wrapped his arms around her waist, rested his chin gently on the top of her soft hair, and smelled the familiar, comforting fragrance emanating from her.

He affectionately nuzzled her hair and softly instructed her:

"Message me if you miss me, anytime. Remember to water the plants at home... Don't neglect learning various skills."

"For this mission, I'll be partnering with Gin. I'll try to find opportunities to tell you where I am and what I'm doing. You too, tell me everything that happens each day, no matter how small, just in case our consciousnesses suddenly switch."

Gin is very perceptive. Even though Ran is already very good at impersonating him, if they suddenly switch bodies, he will definitely notice something is wrong if he doesn't know the situation. He must be given an injection in advance.

"Mmm." Ran Mouri nodded vigorously in his arms.

She stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck, tilted her head back, and kissed him.

The kiss was intense and passionate, carrying with it a deep sense of reluctance to part.

For a long time, the lips are divided.

Their breathing was somewhat erratic, mingling with the cold air to form a white mist.

Ran Mouri stepped back slightly, but she couldn't bear to leave his embrace completely.

She raised her hand and gently straightened his collar, which had been wrinkled during their embrace, smoothing out every crease on his coat. Her movements were gentle and slow, like a wife seeing her husband off as he was about to embark on a long journey.

"Don't overwork yourself...eat on time." She felt like crying, but forced a smile.

Qingze looked down at her.

If you never possess something, you won't crave it.

Once you possess something, you can no longer bear separation or loss.

He felt that his mental state was deteriorating again.

He kept reassuring himself.

Almost there... Rum is already in his hands, and that damned BOSS is not far from death.

"Make sure to message me every day!" he reminded me again.

"Hmm. Don't find me annoying then." Ran Mouri blinked, her voice becoming playful, trying to lighten the slight sadness before parting.

Qingze smiled, "How could I find you annoying? I wish you were by my side, talking to me every day. Let's go back, it's cold outside."

"No." Ran Mouri shook her head stubbornly. "I want to watch you leave."

Qingze smiled and gently tapped her forehead with his finger.

"I'm just going to be busy for a while, don't make it sound like a life-or-death separation. I'm getting on the bus."

Qingze waved and got into the car.

If he stayed any longer, he feared he would truly not want to leave.

The engine started, and the headlights pierced the darkness.

Ran Mouri watched the car disappear from sight.

Chapter 510 Rum's Hard Life

A cold wind blew from the mountains, and the breath condensed into white mist.

Ran rubbed her cold hands and looked up at the moon in the sky.

Tonight's moon is a crescent moon, hanging low and emitting a soft, pale light.

It had only been a minute since we parted, but my heart was already filled with longing and reluctance.

She lowered her eyes and turned to walk back.

Even though she has grown a lot since then, she still can't help him much.

When it comes to organizations, there's nothing she can do.

Seeing Ran come back through the door, head bowed and looking dejected, Sonoko Suzuki immediately went over and put her arm around her shoulder:

"What's wrong? Why do you look like that when you're seeing someone off? Did Qingze bully you?"

"No..." Xiaolan shook her head, sat down on the tatami mat, and said in a muffled voice, "It's just... the sudden separation makes me feel a little empty."

Upon hearing this, Sonoko blinked, then breathed a sigh of relief and plopped down next to her.

"Oh dear, I thought it was something serious!"

She put her arm around Xiaolan's shoulder and shook her vigorously.

"It's just a temporary separation! What are cell phones for these days? Video calls, voice messages, messages—you can reach someone anytime, anywhere. It's not much different from being together!"

She spoke with great confidence, clearly drawing on her experience.

She and Makoto Kyogoku have been in a long-distance relationship for many years and have long since figured out their own way of getting along.

"It's the honeymoon phase, I understand~"

Sera Masumi drawled, pretending to be deep as she cupped her cheek in her hand, but her eyes sparkled with a playful light. "You wish you could be together 24/7, and being apart for even a few minutes feels like a life-or-death separation, right?"

As she spoke, she suddenly changed the subject, her lips twitching down in a wronged manner, and she winked at Xiaolan:

"But you know, when someone heard I was transferring schools, they weren't this sad... It's actually a little heartbreaking~"

"Hey, did you hear that, Xiaolan? Even Shiliang is jealous of your boyfriend!"

Sonoko Suzuki immediately joined in the teasing, playfully nudging Ran with her elbow.

Xiaolan's cheeks flushed slightly from their banter, and she retorted in a low voice, embarrassed, "How can that be the same..."

Friendship and love are different in their ways of showing concern; how can she compare them?

Sonoko smiled and leaned closer, affectionately putting her arm around her shoulder. Her voice softened, carrying the knowing comfort of someone who had been through it all:

"Okay, okay~ But Ran, there's more to life than just dating."

She shook Ran Mouri, trying to shake off her low spirits.

"You can't just forget about us good friends now that you have a boyfriend. Eat well, have fun... and of course, when you miss him, miss him intensely!"

She spoke in a lively tone, sharing her own experiences from her long-distance relationship with Makoto Kyogoku:

"Look at me and Zhen, we're doing just fine! There's a saying, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder.' When we're apart for a while, the reunion feels even sweeter and more precious!"

Ran Mouri blushed at what he said.

What "newlywed" and all that...

Sera Masumi also dropped her joking expression, nodded seriously, and looked at her gently:

“Sonoko is right. You have your life and dreams that you need to focus on, and he has his things to deal with. A relationship where you care about each other but move forward independently is a healthier and longer-lasting one.”

Listening to her two friends' words of comfort, Ran Mouri felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted from her heart.

Yes.

She is not capable enough right now.

Living your own life well, not adding burden to Qingze, and playing the role of him well when consciousness is swapped is already helping.

If you want to achieve more, then work hard to learn and grow.

A smile, just like any other, appeared on her face.

"Yes, I know. It's getting late, let's get some rest!"

……

It was already past midnight when we arrived in Tokyo.

The city has lost its hustle and bustle, the streets are empty, and only a few car lights streak across the damp night.

Qingze hailed a taxi, gave an address, and let the car drive him to some inconspicuous corner of the city.

Inside the car, he was checking the surveillance footage on his phone.

The surveillance cameras did not issue any warnings, and everything has been normal for the past few days.

He quickly reviewed the surveillance footage from the past few days, his gaze landing on the camera in the basement.

After confirming that there was nothing wrong, he closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

The taxi stopped by the roadside, and Qingze walked to an old, detached building.

It was completely silent all around; not even the chirping of insects could be heard.

Qing Zeze walked around the area to check the situation before entering the villa and going into the basement.

The air suddenly became cold and damp, mixed with dust and an indescribable stuffy smell.

At the end of the stairs was a heavy iron door with heavy chains hanging on it.

The chains slipped, and the dull thud echoed clearly in the silent underground space.

Inside a closed room, Rum suddenly sat bolt upright.

He looked more haggard than the last time I saw him; his hair was disheveled and his eyes were sunken.

He was covered only by a thin, dark-colored quilt, and the wooden bed beneath him was so hard it hurt.

The basement had no windows, and only a low-wattage light bulb overhead provided a meager light source, making it difficult to distinguish between day and night.

The walls were mottled and stained with water. The air was stagnant, and there was a lingering musty smell and the odor of excrement.

The conditions were so harsh that they saddened listeners and brought tears to their eyes.

Qingze stood at the door, not going in immediately.

He checked the place again to make sure there were no signs of external intrusion or internal damage before entering and turning his gaze to Rum on the bed.

Rum recognized the person who had come, and his fear was quickly replaced by a complex expression that mixed hatred, humiliation, and vigilance.

He didn't speak, but just stared intently at Qingze.

Qingze strolled into the cell, which was only about ten square meters in size, his footsteps echoing clearly on the cement floor.