Conan: When Shinjiu and Maolilan swap bodies

"We've only just met, so how can Mr. Qingze be so accurate?"

"Your emotions are written all over your face; only a blind person wouldn't be able to see them."

Ran Mouri sighed.

"Is that so? I might indeed be a bit cowardly." Her voice was low, and she rarely opened up about her inner thoughts in front of strangers.

"There are some truths I dare not pursue, afraid of hearing answers I don't want to hear; that's cowardice."

"Those endless chores, every time I get angry I want to do nothing, but every time I give in, that's also a form of cowardice..."

Qingze chewed on the shrimp he had peeled, listening to the girl analyze her inner thoughts as if listening to a story, and then giving her evaluation again.

"It seems you have a good sense of self-awareness."

Ran Mouri ignored Aoze's sarcasm and continued:

"Sometimes I fantasize about someone coming to change my life, pulling me away from that unknown, oppressive circle. But when that actually happens, what I feel most is fear..."

"What do you mean by the encirclement?"

"I don't know, I just always feel like I'm surrounded by something, like I'm in it, like I'm blindfolded and my ears are covered."

Ran Mouri's gaze was fixed on the dishes on the table, but it seemed to penetrate the tabletop and look at her own short yet long past.

"It's like I didn't know my dad was almost sniped, or that there were listening devices in the house. It's like there are many hands blocking me from uncovering secrets. They tell me, 'You don't need to know anything, just be okay.' But nobody cares whether I want this or not..."

Ran Mouri gripped the chopsticks in her hand tightly.

She clearly managed to retrieve the item from the trunk and save Ai Haibara from danger.

She was able to leap out of the fire amidst the explosion, with a resolute will, and lead Conan to safety from the brink of death.

She could clearly dodge the bullets fired at her and kick away the daggers aimed at her...

Clearly, she did so many things.

Why does everyone assume she is someone who needs protection?

"Control your strength, the chopsticks are breaking."

Aoze's words directly interrupted the emotions that Ran Mouri had been building up.

She looked down at the chopsticks in her hand; the hard black walnut chopsticks had actually broken.

"I...I'm sorry!" she apologized awkwardly.

"It's just a pair of chopsticks, what's there to apologize for?"

Despite what Aozawa said, Ran Mouri was still embarrassed.

She went to the kitchen, changed her chopsticks, and sat back down.

The conversation was interrupted for a moment, then resumed.

"Mr. Qingze probably thinks I'm being pretentious and ungrateful..."

Ran Mouri's voice was low as she ate her rice with her head down, as if she didn't expect anyone to understand her.

These sentimental girlish thoughts that she had never confided in anyone else must have seemed utterly insignificant and overly sentimental to someone like Mr. Qingze.

Tears streamed down my face without my noticing, I couldn't control them at all.

Qingze glanced at her and, unusually kindly, tossed a peeled shrimp into her white rice.

"No, not really. It's just that I sometimes find it quite interesting to hear about a young girl's thoughts and feelings."

"The will imposed by others is not your own will, even if it is done in the name of your own good."

The girl lowered her head, and as she listened to these words, the tears in her eyes flowed even more fiercely.

It was as if he had finally received recognition, and the overwhelming emotions were impossible to suppress.

She bit her lip and cried silently.

"If you want to cry, just cry. Holding it in like this will only hurt my health."

Qingze is not good at comforting people; he is only good at making sarcastic remarks.

But at times like these, such words are especially useful.

Ran Mouri burst into tears, her sobs flowing freely.

Qingze watched her cry quietly, seeing her own face covered in tears and hearing the sobs coming from her own voice. His expression was complex and indescribable.

The last time he cried was a long time ago.

Tears flowed uncontrollably, just like that.

Why was he crying?

I can't quite remember some of them.

Ran cried for a while, then calmed down, wiped her nose, and looked a little embarrassed.

"Sorry, I got a little excited."

"I'm so tired of hearing your apologies and sorrys."

"You can be trapped in what you call an encirclement. All I can say is, Ran Mouri, you are not firm in your own convictions."

Qingze's words were as incisive as ever, completely dispelling Ran Mouri's confusion.

"Not resolute?" Ran Mouri asked herself.

She does seem to lack self-confidence and is always compromising.

"Don't you already have the answer yourself?"

Ran Mouri looked down and ate the shrimp that Aozawa had peeled. The shrimp was peeled very well, with the head and shell removed, leaving only the plump meat.

Although you can't taste the flavor, the firm texture is so clear.

She lowered her head, then suddenly revealed a faint smile.

Although Mr. Aozawa won't admit it, he's actually very gentle.

Qingze continued eating, and before he knew it, a pile of shrimp shells had accumulated in front of him. He already felt very full.

He resisted the urge to continue eating, took off his gloves, picked up the iced cola, and sipped it slowly.

Meanwhile, Ran Mouri barely touched her food.

"Do you usually talk this much? You're so busy talking that you don't even eat."

Ran Mouri smiled sheepishly, her earlier heavy mood completely gone.

"No, most of the time they're the ones doing the talking, and I'm the one listening."

"But for some reason, I always have so much to say to Mr. Qingze. All those words that I've kept in my heart and never spoken to anyone before suddenly came out..."

"Perhaps it's because you've become me."

Most of the time, she was a listener, listening to Shinichi Kudo, Conan, her father, and all sorts of other people.

There are stories to tell, but they are few and far between.

When facing someone who has become like yourself, the urge to confide in them is unstoppable.

Ran Mouri's long speech was summarized in one sentence by Aozawa.

"Oh, so you're lacking love."

Ran Mouri shook her head. "No, I feel very happy. Everyone around me is very kind to me. I don't lack love."

Qingze chuckled enigmatically, “Is that so? But from what you’ve told me, that’s not the case.”

"My parents have been separated for many years. I started taking care of my father, who was an alcoholic and a gambling enthusiast, at a young age. I also took on household chores. My childhood sweetheart is more interested in reasoning than in me, and she hasn't appeared in a long time."

"The only person who can truly soothe your heart is probably your best friend, but that's all..."

"Ran Mouri, do you dare say you don't lack love?"

Chapter 9: Do You Understand Character Design?

Ran Mouri fell silent, somewhat dazed.

Is she really lacking in love?

However, her parents love her very much, and she doesn't feel like she lacks love.

"You lacked significant guidance from your mother during your upbringing, and your father was also inadequate. The broken family has left you with an insecurity; you fear loss and the unknown. You love others, but not enough of yourself—these are all manifestations of a lack of love..."

"Mr. Qingze is amazing. We've only known each other for a day, yet he understands me so well," Ran Mouri exclaimed.

Everyone says that Shinichi Kudo is a great detective, but she thinks that Aozawa in front of her is the real genius.

They've only known each other for a short time, yet her own inner thoughts, which she herself couldn't fathom, were so clearly revealed.

"I studied psychology because of work requirements."

Qingze's tone was as unremarkable as if he had eaten an orange yesterday.

"Besides, you've already shown enough."

Ran Mouri's eyes revealed admiration.

"Is Mr. Qingze attending university?"

"No."

"Alright, take your time eating."

Qingze stood up, grabbed a laptop, and sat down on the sofa.

He propped the laptop on his lap and began typing rapidly.

Seeing that he seemed to be preparing for work, Ran Mouri kindly reminded him.

“Mr. Qingze, it’s not appropriate to sit down right after you’ve finished eating.”

She doesn't want to develop a big belly.

"Shut up, you."

Qingze rolled his eyes, picked up his phone which had received a message, grabbed his laptop, and went into the study.

Watching Qingze's retreating figure, Ran Mouri smiled and murmured something softly.

"How hypocritical..."

Ran Mouri's good mood lasted until she finished eating and cleaned up the kitchen and table.

Qingze came out with several books and documents.

These documents were just printed out; the ink was still warm.

"I was going to give you some time, but it seems that's not possible now. You're going out the day after tomorrow, so your task today and tomorrow is to finish reading these books and materials."

An Actor Prepares

Six Lectures on Acting

"impromptu"

There aren't many books, just three, and they're all related to acting.

There isn't much material, but there are still a dozen or so pages.

Ran Mouri glanced at it; the densely packed words made her feel uneasy.

She understands the importance of learning acting and practicing her skills.

But what does this stack of documents mean?

"What is this?" she asked with difficulty.

"My persona."

"what?"

Qingze silently threw the things onto the coffee table, looking at her as if she were an idiot.

"Character design, do you even understand?" As if he wasn't expecting her to understand, Qingze explained again, "Character personality design, behavioral logic design, language logic design..."