"Keep the change!"
After Lin Yi handed a ten-thousand-yen bill to the driver, he turned and headed up to the Mouri Detective Agency.
Just as he reached the stairs, Lin Yi heard the argument between the Mouri father and daughter.
"It's just a class reunion for the university Karate club. What are you so nervous about?"
"I'm not nervous!"
"If you're not nervous, why do you want to follow me? What is a little brat like you doing coming along to an adult gathering?"
"Why can't I go? You used to take me with you!"
"Used to? The last reunion was five years ago! You were so small five years ago, how could I feel safe leaving you home alone? You're sixteen now and even have a boyfriend! It's a rare weekend; just go play with your boyfriend! Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Okinawa... are none of those places okay? Why do you insist on coming to my class reunion? Is it that interesting?"
"Oh! You're explaining!! Explaining is just covering up! You're definitely hiding something!! Do you want to do something to betray Mom?"
"..."
Lin Yi's footsteps stopped immediately, and he turned to quietly head back downstairs.
The father and daughter were currently in the heat of an argument. If he went in now, he would undoubtedly become a target.
One was his girlfriend, the other was his father-in-law; helping either wouldn't work.
It was better to let them argue for a bit and go back in when it was almost over.
"Right, Ran mentioned earlier that a milk tea shop opened near her house."
Lin Yi suddenly remembered the information Ran and Sonoko had revealed while chatting at school.
Coincidentally, he hadn't tasted milk tea in a long time either.
After asking a passerby, he quickly found the milk tea shop.
It was quite popular. Lin Yi queued for half an hour before it was his turn.
Carrying three large cups of iced Coconut Jelly Pearl Milk Tea, Lin Yi headed back to the Mouri Detective Agency.
On the way back, his phone rang again. It was Ran calling.
As soon as he picked up, Ran's complaining voice came through: "Why haven't you arrived yet! Didn't I tell you to hurry up? It's been almost an hour!"
"There was a traffic jam... I'm almost there, about ten more minutes."
"Then hurry up!"
Ran was very angry. Obviously, she couldn't wait for Lin Yi to appear so he could help her deal with Mouri Kogoro.
As a fellow man, Lin Yi understood Mouri Kogoro's situation perfectly.
He finally managed to raise his daughter with great effort and could finally go out and mess around. Who knew that before the separation he was controlled by his wife, and after the separation, he'd be controlled by his daughter.
Lin Yi felt that he should help Mouri Kogoro out.
Out of sentiment:
Mouri Kogoro had helped him so much; Lin Yi felt he would feel guilty if he wasn't a bit nicer to him.
After all, he had been his tool for so long, and he hadn't even paid him a salary, which was a bit embarrassing.
Out of logic:
If Mouri Kogoro didn't cheat, Eri Kisaki wouldn't be able to make any blatant moves on her end.
If Mouri Kogoro cheated first, then Eri Kisaki definitely wouldn't be as hesitant as she was now, not even telling him her name.
In conclusion, this time Lin Yi had to stand on Mouri Kogoro's side.
He had to convince Ran to let Mouri Kogoro attend his class reunion.
While thinking, Lin Yi had already returned to the Mouri Detective Agency.
Coming up to the second floor, the sound of arguing inside the house had already ceased.
But Lin Yi knew that the silent cold war was still ongoing.
Knocking on the door, Lin Yi said, "Uncle Mouri, sorry to disturb you."
After giving a greeting, Lin Yi pushed the door open and entered.
Then he saw Mouri Kogoro sitting in his work chair, looking stiff-faced while reading a newspaper.
Ran, on the other hand, was sitting on the sofa, taking her frustration out on her phone.
"I just bought some milk tea at the shop over there... come and have a taste."
Lin Yi delivered the milk tea to Mouri Kogoro. Since he was familiar with Lin Yi, he naturally took it and drank without ceremony; it just so happened that his throat was parched from the argument.
He handed the milk tea to Ran. Ran had originally planned to lose her temper at Lin Yi for coming over so late.
However, after seeing the name on the milk tea, she realized that Lin Yi had specially waited in line to buy it for her.
"How did you know a milk tea shop opened nearby?" Ran asked.
"You told me last time, don't you remember?" Lin Yi said.
"Oh."
Lin Yi's answer made Ran very happy; she had only mentioned it in passing, yet he had remembered it.
This improved Ran's mood considerably. Taking another sip of the milk tea—cold, sweet, and full of toppings—her anger subsided even further.
Lin Yi feigned ignorance and asked, "What's wrong? Did you have a disagreement with Uncle Mouri?"
After taking several large gulps, Ran finally said, "Dad is going to a class reunion!"
"And then?"
"He plans to go alone! He won't take me!" Ran said dissatisfiedly.
Mouri Kogoro put down his milk tea and said, "It's our class reunion. You're not my classmate, so why get involved? Kid Lin, you be the judge!"
Lin Yi felt as if he heard a 'ding,' like someone announcing, 'Round Two, officially begin.'
Ran said to Lin Yi, "If my dad didn't have something to hide, why wouldn't he want to take me? Besides, it's not the first time I've met the other uncles and aunties! What's the harm in me tagging along! Am I right!"
"How is it not a problem?" Mouri Kogoro said to Lin Yi, "Kid Lin, don't you think only classmates should attend a class reunion? Otherwise, why call it a class reunion?"
"..."
The father and daughter pair started arguing again.
Lin Yi silently picked up his milk tea and started drinking.
Hmm... pearls really do get cloying easily; he didn't want to eat any more after just a few.
If he had known, he would have asked that young lady to put in more coconut jelly.
It's a pity there was no red bean milk tea... it's my favorite.
Should I remind them to launch new products?
No... the concept of red bean milk tea should be left to Mihara Sakurako. Business at the cafe has been a bit sluggish lately, so maybe red bean milk tea can earn back some popularity.
While Lin Yi's mind was wandering, the two of them had mostly finished their argument.
Ran grabbed Lin Yi's clothes, shook them, and said, "Yi! You be the judge!"
Lin Yi put down the milk tea in his hand and said with a serious face, "I think... Ran, you probably shouldn't follow Uncle Mouri to his class reunion. After all, your presence is a bit inappropriate."
A winner's smile appeared on Mouri Kogoro's face, and he happily took a large sip of milk tea, feeling wonderful.
In contrast, Ran's face instantly went cold.
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