Ke Xue: The thief Cao is actually myself

Chapter 558 Once the seed of doubt is planted, no one can stop it from taking root and sprouting!
The next day, the first ray of sunlight in the morning, like a layer of gauze as thin as a cicada's wing, gently and quietly fell on the bend where the van had been picked up.

Early in the morning, Mao Lilan and some kid rushed here, wanting to see if they could find any key clues in this area.

However, just as she arrived nearby and before she had time to carefully observe the surrounding environment, she saw a familiar figure standing quietly in the broken isolation net, staring straight at the staff who were still busy salvaging in the river, as if she and the river were the only ones left in the whole world.

The person was wearing a blue skirt with a grey jacket, black stockings and exquisite high heels. She had a slender figure and her appropriate clothing made her look even thinner. She looked lonely and sad, and exuded an aura of loneliness and sorrow, like a statue frozen in sadness.

It was Secretary Hanai whom they had met before.

"Ms. Hanai, Ms. Hanai..."

Mao Lilan blinked her beautiful eyes and greeted her in a clear voice.

However, what puzzled and puzzled her was that no matter how many times she called out, Secretary Hanai seemed to be under a spell and did not respond at all.

The other person just stood there blankly, turning a deaf ear to her calls. It seemed that only the sound of salvaging on the river could attract her attention.

Ran Mao Li looked down at Conan beside her in confusion.

What's going on? Why, even though she was shouting so loudly, Secretary Hanai ignored me?
Could it be that she didn't want to pay attention to me, or was her voice too soft?

But that's not right. The distance between the two parties is not too far. At such a close distance, her voice will definitely reach the other person's ears.

But why?
Thinking of this, Mao Lilan frowned beautifully, full of doubts, and quickly came to Secretary Hanai, then stretched out her finger and shook it in front of her, and asked worriedly, "Ms. Hanai, are you okay?"

Conan followed closely behind and quickly walked to Secretary Hanai and Mouri Ran.

"what!"

Hearing what Mao Lilan said, Secretary Hanai, who was immersed in the abyss of her own thoughts, suddenly woke up. She turned around abruptly and saw Mao Lilan and Conan. She forced a faint smile on her face and said in a gentle but somewhat dazed tone: "It's you!"

While walking slowly along the road surrounded by isolation nets, Mao Lilan looked at Secretary Hanai beside her with concern, her beautiful eyes full of worry: "Ms. Hanai, what's wrong with you? We just called you for a long time."

Secretary Hanai lowered his head slightly, a barely perceptible panic flashed across his face, and then he explained, "I'm sorry, my ears aren't very good, I might not have heard it."

As she spoke, she subconsciously raised her hand and gently pinched her nose with her fingers. The action seemed unintentional, but Conan captured it keenly.

"What is this gesture?"

Seeing her actions, Conan couldn't help but feel suspicious.

If he remembered correctly, this gesture should be used by people who know how to dive or people who experience tinnitus on airplanes to relieve ear discomfort.

Could it be that Secretary Hanai had previous diving experience, but forgot to equalize the ear pressure after diving, which is why he had hearing problems?

Thinking of this, Conan paced around Secretary Hanai quietly for a while and suddenly said, "Ms. Hanai, you said your ears are not good, but when we met yesterday, you reacted normally to the sounds around you."

Secretary Hanai heard this and a trace of panic flashed across his face. Like a frightened deer, he subconsciously avoided her gaze and pretended to be calm, "Maybe... maybe I'm not in a good mood today."

As she spoke, her voice trembled slightly, with a hint of barely perceptible nervousness.

Conan became more and more suspicious, thinking to himself: Would a poor condition really seriously affect hearing? Besides, how could he not hear anything at all when he was so close? He just couldn't believe this explanation.

Just when Conan was full of doubts, Secretary Hanai turned her head slightly to face Mao Lilan and Conan, and said slowly in a voice as gentle as the spring breeze: "I think you have been worried about Naoko!"

When Mao Lilan heard this, her eyes were full of concern, and she said calmly: "I believe that Takei Naoko..."

Halfway through her speech, Mao Lilan paused for a moment, as if silently cheering herself up in her heart. Then, her tone became more and more firm, and she continued with a resounding voice, "Takei Naoko-san, she must still be alive!"

Secretary Hua Jing raised the corner of his mouth slightly, pulling out a slightly bitter smile, and said softly: "I hope so. This child has always had a hard life. She lost her mother when she was young and has always depended on her father. It's not easy for her to grow up. I really hope she can be safe and sound."

After saying that, she raised her hand and gently smoothed her hair that was messed up by the wind. A complex emotion flashed in her eyes, like guilt and helplessness.

Mao Lilan looked at Secretary Hanai's worried look, and felt sorry for her. She subconsciously took a step forward, reached out her hand and gently patted Secretary Hanai's shoulder, and said in a very gentle tone: "Ms. Hanai, don't worry too much. We will do our best to find Naoko. Don't worry, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, we will never give up."

"If you have any memories of Naoko, even if it's just a small thing, you can tell us. Maybe it contains the key clue to finding her." Mao Lilan tilted her head slightly, with a sincere light flashing in her eyes, and added earnestly.

Secretary Hanai nodded slightly, and a trace of moisture flashed across her eyes, as if she was covered by a thin layer of mist. She sighed softly, her voice low, with a bit of helplessness and confusion, and slowly said: "I... I don't know how to say it. Naoko has changed a lot recently. She used to be smiling, like a little sun, but recently she is always frowning, as if she was overwhelmed by some heavy worries. She also always talks to herself, saying something I can't understand, as if she is having a secret conversation with someone, or as if she is avoiding something terrible." Mao Lilan gently held Secretary Hanai's hand. Her palm was soft but strong, conveying warmth and comfort, and her eyes were full of tenderness and determination: "Ms. Hanai, don't blame yourself too much. We will do our best for Naoko's matter. The information you know is very important to us, and it may be the key to solving the mystery."

Secretary Hanai nodded, and a gleam of determination flashed in her dim eyes, like a weak flame burning in the darkness: "I know, and I will do my best. Naoko is like a sister to me, and I can't watch her get into trouble. No matter what the cost, I will help her out of this predicament."

When she said this, she seemed to have suddenly thought of something crucial. She raised her head abruptly, her eyes filled with anxiety and anticipation. "By the way, Xiaolan, how is the investigation of Detective Maori and Mr. Bai Ye going? Have they found any useful clues?"

Mao Lilan pursed her pink lips, and a trace of loss flashed across her eyes that were originally as bright as stars. Her expression dimmed unconsciously, and she said apologetically: "I'm sorry, Ms. Huajing. After returning home yesterday, Dad and Bai Ye worked tirelessly to analyze clues and asked relevant people everywhere, leaving no possible corners unanswered, but we still have nothing to show for it. We are also very anxious, so I thought about coming to the scene again early this morning to see if we can find some details that we missed before."

When Secretary Hanai heard this, the worry on his face became even more intense. His originally relaxed brows were tightly twisted into the shape of a "川" character. His hands unconsciously clenched the corners of his clothes, and his fingertips turned slightly white due to the force. His voice trembled slightly, with an undisguised despair: "How could this be... Is there really no clue at all? Naoko, where are you, and why is there no news at all?"

Mao Lilan looked at Secretary Hanai's face full of worry and anxiety, and felt even more pity in her heart. She hurriedly comforted her softly, "Ms. Hanai, don't worry. Dad and Byakuya are both very experienced detectives, and now Inspector Megure and others are also helping. With so many people working together, we will definitely find Naoko and will definitely not let her get into trouble. Maybe in the next second, good news will come."

Secretary Hua Jing nodded slightly, tears welling up in her eyes, sparkling in the sunlight, her voice choked with sobs, and she said with deep gratitude: "Thank you, I feel more at ease with your help. If it weren't for you, I really don't know what I would do..."

"but……"

Secretary Hanai walked slowly to the isolation net with heavy and slow steps.

Her eyes were fixed on the police officers wearing bright life jackets who were salvaging the body. She leaned forward slightly, lying on the net, her expression as sad as a fallen leaf in late autumn, and murmured to herself: "Even with so many people, we still can't find her. Where is Naoko?"

Seeing this, Mao Lilan hurriedly walked to Secretary Hanai and patted her shoulder again, trying to comfort her with her own strength: "Ms. Hanai, don't be too sad. Things haven't come to the final step yet. We will definitely find Naoko."

"Thank you for your comfort, Xiaolan!"

Secretary Hanai turned her face slightly, tears still lingering on her face, and her eyes sparkled with tears. Her voice was choked with sobs: "No matter what the final result is, I will always remember everything you have done for Naoko."

After speaking, Secretary Hanai slowly straightened up and bowed gently and solemnly towards Mao Li Ran, as if to convey her most sincere gratitude from the bottom of her heart.

Then she turned around, her figure gradually moving away into the distance until she disappeared from everyone's sight.

Looking at Secretary Hanai's lonely back as she left, Mao Lilan's eyes were instantly filled with pity and sympathy, and she sighed softly, "How pitiful!"

"Pitiful? What's pitiful?!"

Just as she was sighing, suddenly, a familiar voice, like a thunder, exploded in Mao Lilan's ears without warning, startling her and making her body tremble slightly.

Mao Lilan looked carefully and realized that who else could it be if it wasn’t her boyfriend Bai Ye?
Bai Ye looked hurried, with beads of sweat on his forehead, as if he had just experienced a hurried rush.

Sweat slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the ground beneath his feet, disappearing in an instant.

Sweat slid down his cheeks, dripped onto the dry ground, and disappeared in an instant, but silently told of his eagerness to come all the way.

Seeing Bai Ye's appearance, Mao Lilan's eyes flashed with surprise, the corners of her mouth unconsciously raised, and her voice was soft and relieved: "Bai Ye, you are here!"

Bai Ye was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling violently, trying to calm his breathing, his eyes full of concern and anxiety: "Xiao Lan, I just heard you say you were pitiful when I arrived, what happened?"

"Is such that……"

Mao Lilan sighed softly, her expression a little solemn. She told Bai Ye everything from the first time she met Secretary Hanai to all the details by the river.

After listening to this, Bai Ye's brows knitted tightly into the shape of a "川" character. There was a sharp flash in his eyes, as if he was thinking about some key clues. "It seems that Secretary Hanai's behavior is indeed suspicious. Her sadness may not just be caused by worrying about Naoko. After all, if a person is purely worried about the safety of relatives and friends, there will not be so many abnormal details. There must be a deeper reason behind this."

"I also feel that she seems to be hiding something from us." Mao Lilan echoed from the side, with a hint of doubt in her eyes.

Listening to their conversation, Conan pushed his glasses up, his eyes behind the lenses calm and sharp: "Bai Ye-sama, um, I just noticed that when Secretary Hanai mentioned Miss Naoko, her eyes obviously avoided her gaze, and she also made a gesture to relieve tinnitus before, which is very strange."

As he spoke, Conan also explained the theoretical basis for his suspicion: "My uncle once told me that when people lie or deliberately conceal something, they will subconsciously avoid eye contact. Secretary Hanai's avoidance is likely a sign of guilty conscience."

"And the action of pinching the nose to relieve tinnitus is usually done after diving when the ear pressure is not balanced properly. So, I wonder if she has participated in some diving-related activities recently?"

Bai Ye nodded slightly, approving Conan's inference: "Conan, you have observed very carefully. The connection between them must be very complicated. It seems that Naoko's disappearance is far more complicated than we thought. Maybe what we see now is just the tip of the iceberg, and there are bigger secrets hidden behind it."

Mao Lilan nodded thoughtfully: "So, we may have overlooked a lot of key details before. We need to re-examine the clues we have so far, maybe we can find a new breakthrough."

(End of this chapter)