Conan: When Shinjiu and Maolilan swap bodies

"I don't object to you two dating, but you need to be mindful. Be careful when you need to, don't cause her trouble, and don't hold her back..."

Qingze met his gaze and nodded earnestly:

"I understand. Don't worry."

Kogoro Mouri lingered for a while longer, chatting with the pretty actresses in the film crew, which drew a dangerous glare from Eri Kisaki.

Qingze looked around the entire crew, estimated the number of people, and took out his phone to order afternoon tea.

If you want to be a star, you have to cultivate goodwill.

Vermouth walked through the slightly noisy film set and precisely spotted the familiar figure leaning against the wall on the outskirts of the crowd. Without stopping, she walked straight over.

"The mission is over?"

Qingze glanced at her and continued operating his phone.

Vermouth glanced at his phone screen, a mocking smile playing on her lips:

"Oh, so the miser's being generous today?"

In the past, he would try to get reimbursed for even the smallest expense when going on a mission, but today he has changed his ways.

"Is spending money at work the same as spending money on your girlfriend?"

"Give me a cappuccino."

Qingze pouted and ordered a cappuccino.

"Didn't Gin ask you to take control of that all-age recognition system and find Sherry? I thought you'd be incredibly busy lately."

Vermouth smiled enigmatically. "I've had Naomi Algent, the developer of the all-age recognition system, under control a long time ago, but why should I report it so quickly?"

What are the benefits of submitting this so early?

Are you being dragged into a mission by Gin?

"As for Sherry," she said, her gaze shifting to Qingze, her smile enigmatic, "don't you know where Sherry is?"

Qingze clicked his tongue twice, "Having a traitor like you is a misfortune for the organization."

Vermouth clicked her tongue twice, "Yeah, having a traitor like you is a misfortune for the organization."

Qingze: "...Is it fun to mimic my speech?"

"I'll die if I don't learn to speak like you," Vermouth retorted with a smile.

Chapter 550 Are you suitable to stand beside her?

Qingze raised his head, his eyes drooping like dead fish eyes. "You want to fight?"

“Come on, hit her, right here, in front of Xiaolan, her parents, and all her colleagues, kick her teacher.”

Vermouth pointed to her stomach, "Come on, kick me here, don't hold back."

Qingze: "......"

"Neuropathy."

Qingze put away his phone and turned to leave.

"Ha, you mental patient, you're calling me a lunatic."

Vermouth crossed her arms, wishing she could shoot him.

Qingze turned around and gave her a cold look, while Vermouth looked up at the sky.

As Qingze approached, Ran Mouri, who was resting, immediately spotted him.

A radiance suddenly burst forth from the depths of his eyes, quickly spreading across his brows and filling his entire face.

She subconsciously raised her arm and waved at him, her fingertips drawing a light arc in the air, the smile on her lips clean and vivid, carrying an almost overflowing joy.

This brief and natural moment happened to fall into the director's eyes.

The director suddenly sat up straight from behind the monitor, his eyes shining as if he had discovered a treasure.

Without hesitation, he grabbed the megaphone and shouted:

"Cut! Wait—don't move!"

The entire room fell silent instantly.

"Quick! Adjust the camera positions, all cameras should be aimed at Ran Mouri! Ran Mouri, go back to your previous seat—"

As she spoke, the camera was quickly set up, its dark lens pointed directly at her.

Ran Mouri was a little stunned by the director's sudden request, but the camera was already pointed at her.

She could only try to concentrate and recreate the joy that had just flowed naturally in front of the camera.

Qingze's smile slowly faded.

He stopped and looked at Ran Mouri, who was instantly surrounded by lights, cameras, and enthusiastic crowds.

She stood in the center of that artificial light, seemingly separated from him in a dim corner by an invisible barrier, as if they were in two different worlds.

His eyelashes drooped slightly as he stood silently in place, looking at the light, yet his eyes reflected no light at all.

Vermouth reappeared beside him at some point.

She gazed in Ran Mouri's direction, her eyes filled with undisguised pride and satisfaction. But when her gaze fell upon Aoze beside her, her expression became unusually complicated, as if she were looking at the biggest stain on that beautiful girl.

“Do you think,” her voice was soft, yet pierced with the precision of a needle, “that you are truly suited to stand beside her?”

Qingze seemed to have heard it, yet he also seemed not to have.

He didn't answer, but silently continued to gaze in that direction.

Watching her surrounded by people, watching her becoming more and more dazzling, watching the amazed and admiring gazes around her.

In a daze, he seemed to see the path to a bright future laid out beneath her feet.

She will attract everyone's attention and lead them to a wider world.

And what about him?

He was just a killer who had to do everything he could to hide his identity, who couldn't be in the light of day, and who was even a little mentally unstable.

An existence living in shadows and bloodshed.

She loves him now, that's for sure.

But what about the future? What about after that?

As her world becomes brighter and more expansive, how long can this relationship, built on such a drastically different foundation and as ephemeral as a dream, last?

A familiar, melancholic mood washed over me uncontrollably, cold and sticky, quickly engulfing all other senses, leaving only boundless desolation.

He glanced at the figure in the center of the light, then turned and left.

It was more than half an hour later when Ran Mouri finally managed to escape the repeated adjustments made by the camera and the director.

She looked around, but couldn't find that familiar figure anywhere.

"Sonoko, have you seen Aozawa?"

The gardener also looked around, somewhat puzzled:

"Huh? I remember he was right there... Did he leave?"

Just as I was wondering, my phone vibrated slightly.

Ran Mouri clicked on the message; it was from Aoze:

[Something urgent has come up, I have to go now.]

I ordered afternoon tea for the entire crew, and I left your phone number. It should arrive soon. Distribute it in your own name when it arrives.

[Great performance! Keep it up! /encouragement.jpg]

Looking at the words on the screen, Ran Mouri couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.

Why did you leave so suddenly?

Traffic was constant on the highway.

Qingze rested one hand on the steering wheel, staring blankly at the monotonous road ahead.

The car window was half open, and a fierce wind rushed into the car without any order, making my hair look messy.

Achoo—!

An unexpected sneeze broke the silence inside the car.

He raised his hand to wipe his nose, his face remaining expressionless, and silently rolled up the car window.

The howling wind was shut out, and the car was quickly filled with warmth and silence.

After parking the car in the service area, he leaned back in his seat, staring blankly at the roof.

Even though there are still many things to do, I just don't want to do anything, think about anything, or move. I also want to be in the light.

I don't know how long I stood there in a daze, but then I felt hungry.

He started the car again somewhat numbly and drove towards the safe house.

Back at his lodgings, he grabbed something to eat, but the deep-seated fatigue and lack of energy didn't dissipate.

Instead, it surged up like a tide, wave after wave.

He slowly rummaged through the medicine bottle, swallowed a few pills with cold water.

The medication was slow to take effect, and as he slumped into the sofa, he suddenly felt a strong urge to drink.

He doesn't drink often, firstly because it's hard for him to get drunk, and secondly because if he does get drunk, he might do something completely out of control.

This is more dangerous than a medical episode.

Whether in a state of excitement or depression, although the state is not very controllable, the person is still conscious.

If you get drunk, that means you completely lose consciousness.

He slowly stood up, rummaged through the cabinet, and found a few bottles of wine.

Since you want to drink, then drink a little.

……

Because the scenes were few and mostly consisted of independent flashback shots, filming went very smoothly.

In just one day, all of Ran Mouri's scenes were completed.

After changing out of her costume and removing her makeup, she breathed a long sigh of relief.

Performing under the watchful eyes of the crowd and the focus of cameras means that even the slightest mistake could require starting over, which puts considerable pressure on the performer.

But strangely enough, this process of focusing on another "self" also gave her an unprecedented sense of engagement and release, and a subtle flutter of affection quietly arose in her heart.

She took out her phone, and the screen lit up. Apart from the message from that morning informing her of her departure, Qingze had not sent any new messages.

However, some friends, after seeing the crew updates posted by Sonoko, sent messages to inquire or offer encouragement.

Ran Mouri replied to each question carefully.

Vermouth smiled and put her arm around her shoulder: "Let's go, Ran, let's celebrate your first successful shoot!"

She has already booked a restaurant and invited the director, producer, and several main actors.

Expanding your network is an essential step to entering this circle.

"Okay." Ran Mouri put away her phone and nodded in agreement.

At the dinner party, glasses clinked and toasts were exchanged.

With her parents present, teachers guiding her, and Sonoko accompanying her, Ran Mouri was poised and graceful, her speech and behavior calm and polite.

Several industry veterans sized up this gentle yet principled young woman, secretly admiring her:

With a strong background, a natural talent, a calm and composed demeanor, and undeniable genius, his future is limitless.

Ran Mouri took out her phone several times, but it remained silent; Qingze had not sent any messages.

Her message went unanswered.

The call was dialed, but no one answered and the call was automatically disconnected.