The next morning.
Baishi Hui went to Teitan High School in his school uniform as usual.
He had to be more low-key during this period.
The commotion this time was so big, both the underworld and the authorities must be looking for him.
As a person, you absolutely cannot get carried away.
Once you get carried away, it's easy for things to go wrong.
Better play it safe first.
During class, Baishi Hui used his phone to surf the internet and pass the time.
He checked all morning and found that the major news websites were still performing consistently.
They simply brushed over the spectacular battle at the South Pier with a single sentence: "an explosion caused by a gas leak."
As for the speed and passion from that night, they even used "car accident" as an excuse to perfunctorily deal with it.
Currently, the top headline on major news websites was about a certain A-list celebrity's downfall, being exposed for sleeping with fans.
This instantly exploded the internet's popularity.
An internal war among fans broke out on various platforms.
Some fans were unwilling to believe it was true, stating that this was definitely defamation and a rumor, urging everyone not to believe it! Let the bullets fly for a while!
Some fans expressed disappointment, not expecting the celebrity they had followed for so many years to actually have a downfall, and began to turn from fans to haters.
There were also fans who said it was great, finally a downfall! When will it be my turn?
...
This familiar taste, this familiar routine, Baishi Hui knew what was going on with a single glance.
A very typical method of diverting attention.
Although the method was old-fashioned, it must be said that it was very effective.
Compared to those bloody and brutal news stories, people still preferred to gossip and watch those glamorous celebrities have their downfalls.
When it was lunchtime, the three of them gathered in Class 2-B to eat together.
"Gifts I bought for you... As for where I bought them, I signed a non-disclosure agreement, so I can't say."
Baishi Hui handed Ran and Sonoko a small gift, indicating that he hadn't forgotten them during this time.
"Thank you!!"
Ran and Sonoko received the gifts with surprise.
After asking if they could open them, they eagerly did so and found them to be delicate small bracelets.
"They're so pretty~~"
Ran put hers on immediately, feeling especially happy and thinking she was valued.
"Ran, these are even sister bracelets!"
Sonoko said happily after noticing this, "Baishi~~~ You're so thoughtful!!"
As soon as the small gifts were taken out, the atmosphere became quite good.
After happily chatting about everyday things for a while, Sonoko asked, "Baishi, are you free this weekend?"
"Yes... Are we going on a vacation to Izu?"
Baishi Hui remembered what was mentioned last time.
"That will probably have to be next time."
Sonoko smiled happily, seeing that he still remembered, "My Akemi is having a class reunion this weekend... She's worried it might be awkward, so she hopes I can invite a few people over to liven up the atmosphere."
Upon hearing this, Baishi Hui immediately reacted.
The Bandaged Man Murder Case at the Villa!
He remembered this case; the killer's murder method was quite creative!
"Okay."
Baishi Hui nodded and agreed.
Anyway, he didn't have anything else to do, so he might as well go relax.
"Including Shinichi, that makes four of us going!"
Ran said with some anticipation, "It's been so long since we got together!!"
"Yeah, yeah!!"
Sonoko nodded and sighed with emotion.
Baishi Hui heard that "Shinichi" was also going?
He became even more interested.
With a single man and woman in one room, it would be natural for other things to happen, right!
But... Conan should be coming too, right?
On Friday afternoon, after Baishi Hui got into Sonoko's van, he indeed saw Conan.
He wasn't surprised... If the other party hadn't shown up, he would have found it strange.
After greeting Suzuki Ayako, everyone headed to the resort villa in the suburban mountains.
Coming so early was naturally for cleaning.
After Conan took the rag, he couldn't help but complain, "Sonoko Akemi, your family is so rich... Why can't you hire someone to clean?"
In response, Ayako gently explained, "I think it's cleaner to clean it ourselves, and it also shows more sincerity!"
"I don't think so."
Conan mumbled softly.
"Besides... Don't you think it's meaningful for everyone to clean together?"
Sonoko said full of enthusiasm.
"I don't think so either... I really envy young ladies who don't have to do housework."
Yukiko, disguised as Shinichi, said softly; it was rare for her to agree with Conan.
If you did it every day, let's see if you could still say that!
Complaints aside, the cleaning work still had to be done.
While working, Yukiko saw that Sonoko started complaining about being tired and couldn't continue after only working for a little while.
On the other hand, Ran worked very seriously, wiping every corner spotlessly clean, and never complained about the hard work from beginning to end!
This made her even more satisfied with this prospective daughter-in-law!
No way, no matter what, she couldn't let this prospective daughter-in-law be snatched away!
Yukiko made up her mind that she must find an opportunity to be alone with Ran later.
She waited and waited, waited and waited.
Finally!
After dinner, Yukiko saw an opportunity.
She extended an invitation to Ran: "Ran, the moon is nice tonight, do you want to go for a walk together?"
"Mm-hmm~~~"
Ran happily agreed.
She also wanted to stroll through the forest at night.
However, Ran also invited others, saying, "Do you want to go together?
"You go ahead, I'll do the dishes."
Ayako politely declined.
"I'm not going, I'll help Akemi with the dishes."
Sonoko didn't want her Akemi to work so hard.
Baishi Hui also waved his hand and said, "I'll just watch the moon from outside the door... You two go ahead."
"Huh?"
Conan looked up at Baishi Hui in great surprise; he had been prepared to stop him.
He didn't expect him not to go?
Seeing that no one else was going, Ran went out with "Shinichi".
Baishi Hui walked unhurriedly to the doorway, sat down on the stairs, and began fishing while admiring the moon.
Soon, a fish took the bait.
Conan came out from inside, sat down next to Baishi Hui, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Shirashi, why aren't you going?"
Baishi Hui smiled faintly and said, "They haven't seen each other for a long time, they must have a lot to say... Let them have some quality time alone."
Conan, using his identity as a child, asked curiously, "But aren't you worried? What if Xiao Lan and Shinichi get together... Shirashi, you won't have a chance!"
"Not worried!"
Baishi Hui glanced at Conan and chuckled inwardly... Worried about what? Worried they're going to grind tofu?
Conan was very surprised and couldn't understand the other person's thoughts.
He decided to be more direct and asked, "Could it be... Shirashi, you don't like Xiao Lan?"
Baishi Hui suddenly thought of something, he reached out and felt his pocket... No cigarettes.
Can't do it without a cigarette, can't create the atmosphere.
He simply bought cigarettes and a lighter from the lifestyle section of the system store and pretended to take them out of his pocket.
With a click, Baishi Hui lit a cigarette for himself and exhaled smoke, saying, "You have to be a bit more free-spirited as a person! Loving someone doesn't necessarily mean being with her for a lifetime."
"If I like a flower, I don't necessarily have to pick it.
If I like the wind, should I tell the wind to stop so I can smell it?
If I like clouds, should I make the clouds come down and cover me?"
"The brilliance of a fleeting moment is enough, softly I go, just as softly I came."
Conan watched the scene before him and listened to these words, causing his whole body to tremble, his eyes filled with surprise!
He didn't expect Baishi Hui to be so free-spirited, so unrestrained!!
The look in his eyes towards the other person unconsciously carried reverence and envy!
Conan subconsciously compared himself to the other person.
Then he felt a strong sense of defeat.
Look at his perspective, how broad it is!
Now look at my own perspective... Why is it so narrow?
Alas, I am ashamed.
Truly ashamed!
Thinking of this, Conan lowered his head in shame.
Baishi Hui took in the changes in his expression and knew that this child had been swayed by him.
So, he added more effort and continued to persuade, "Love is not just about possession, it's also about responsibility."
"When you feel that you can be responsible for a person's future life, then you can confidently say you love her."
"Ran can be said to have grown up in a single-parent family, living separately from Lawyer Fei since she was little... So she deeply longs for a complete family from the bottom of her heart."
"I ask myself, I cannot do what Mouri Detective does and accompany her every day."
"So I won't deliberately approach her... If fate doesn't bring us together, then I won't force it."
After hearing these words, Conan fell into a long silence.
These words were like sharp daggers piercing his heart.
Pain!
My conscience hurts so much!!
Conan suddenly felt so selfish!
He had only considered whether he was happy and joyful, but had never thought for Ran!
What if he only changed back after ten years?
Wouldn't that delay Ran for ten years?
Her entire youth would be wasted.
What if he only changed back after twenty years?
Wouldn't that make Ran wait bitterly?
By then, she would be over thirty, entering middle age!
What if he never changed back in the future?
Wouldn't that make Ran wait for nothing?
How desperate would her life be then!!
...
An indescribable sense of shame surged from Conan's heart.
He found himself so selfish, so despicable, so shameless, so vile!!
To possess Ran, he even went so far as to ask Conan's Mom for help, using all sorts of methods!!
I really deserve to die~~~~
How could I have done such a thing!?!
What if I can't change back, will that make Ran a living widow?
Ah~~~~ I'm practically not human!!
Thinking of this, Conan was filled with shame, deeply remorseful, and wanted to sink into the ground!
After this emotion surged to its peak, he couldn't control himself and slapped himself twice!
The crisp sound of the slaps directly stunned Baishi Hui.
He didn't expect Conan's reaction to be so intense.
Just because he said a couple of sentences, he immediately slapped himself?
His face was red...
Could it be... I also have a talent for Tongue Jutsu?
The stinging pain brought Conan back to his senses.
After noticing Baishi Hui's strange expression, he quickly explained, "There were... mosquitoes!!
They kept flying around... So annoying!"
"Mm... There are indeed a lot of mosquitoes outside, let's go back."
Baishi Hui didn't expose him, and after extinguishing the cigarette butt, he returned to the room.
Conan stood alone at the doorway for a while, as if he had made some kind of decision, then turned and left.