Ke Xue: The thief Cao is actually myself

Chapter 600 It’s okay, we are just friends! (Please give me a monthly ticket!)

"Sister Xiaolan, how could it be impossible for Brother Shinichi to like you? He really misses you."

Conan pretended to be innocent and asked, but there was a subtle nervousness in his eyes. He was eager to know what Mao Lilan really thought, but he was afraid to hear the answer that would break his heart. This contradictory feeling was like a double-edged sword, pulling back and forth in his heart. "Brother Shinichi said that he would marry you as his bride in the future. He even thought of the name of your future child."

Looking at him deeply, Mao Lilan bit her lower lip, took a deep breath, and tried to make her voice sound calm and natural: "Conan, emotional matters are complicated. It's not that I have to be with someone just because you say he likes me. Besides, Shinichi and I are just good friends, and we will only be good friends, that's all."

When Conan heard Ran Maoli's answer, he felt like a basin of cold water was poured from head to toe, and a chill spread all over his body. His eyes dimmed instantly, but soon, he forced himself to cheer up, put on that innocent smile on his face again, and said: "Sister Xiaolan, you must be joking, Shinichi brother is so outstanding and treats you so well, how can you not like him? You will definitely be together in the future."

Damn it, when Xiaolan said “we’re just good friends”, was that what she really meant from the bottom of her heart, or was it just an excuse to deliberately cover up her true feelings?
Also, what kind of feelings does she have towards that guy Bai Ye?
If he doesn't figure out these issues, he won't be able to sleep peacefully!
Mao Lilan turned her head slightly to avoid Conan's inquiring gaze, and her tone unconsciously carried a bit of melancholy and relief: "Conan, I know Shinichi is a very good person, and I am very grateful for his care and love for me. But each of us has our own life and our own choices. Emotional matters cannot be forced, we can only let nature take its course."

Conan's heart suddenly sank, as if it was tightly grasped by an invisible hand. He tried hard to maintain a smile on his face, but the waves in his heart could not be calmed down.

At this moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

Because, from the words of his childhood sweetheart, he had already heard that the other party really did not have any kind of thoughts between men and women towards him. Instead, her feelings for Bai Ye might have gone beyond the scope of ordinary friends.

Thinking of this, Conan slowly clenched his fists. The veins on the back of his hands bulged and his fingertips turned slightly white due to the force, which was silent proof of his efforts to restrain himself.

Damn it, is he going to watch the girl he likes being taken away by this abominable guy Bai Ye?
No, he would never accept such a thing!

Conan took a deep breath, trying to calm the surging emotions in his heart, but the unwillingness in his heart almost swallowed him up, and his nails almost dug into his palms. He eagerly retorted: "But Xiaolan, Shinichi... he really loves you! He is not afraid of any danger to protect you. In those cases, he disregarded his own safety to ensure your safety. How could you forget these?"

Conan's eyes were slightly red and he was a little emotional. At this moment, he hoped that his childhood sweetheart would change her mind and firmly choose him.

Mao Lilan raised the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, with a bit of tenderness in her eyes, but also an unquestionable firmness: "Conan, there are some things you don't understand yet. The relationship between people is not static. In the past, Shinichi and I... did have many good memories, but now, we have embarked on different paths."

"He has his ideals and pursuits, and I have my own life. It's impossible for him to say that he likes me, so I will just stay here and wait for him foolishly!"

Mao Lilan shook her head slightly, her hair swaying gently with the movement, "And, as I just said, he and I are just good friends, nothing more than that. It was like this before, and it will only be like this in the future!"

As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently drifted to Bai Ye beside her. At that moment, the tenderness and love surging in her beautiful eyes were like the most beautiful flowers in spring, bright and hot.

Her heart has long been tied to Bai Ye, so how could she be shaken by a few words from Conan, her former childhood sweetheart?

What's more, a high school detective kept saying that he liked her, but he repeatedly left her alone in order to solve the case, without considering whether she would encounter any danger when she was alone.

If this is what the other person likes, then she would rather not have it!
Bai Ye seemed to notice Mao Lilan's gaze. He turned his head and met her eyes, with a gentle smile on his lips, as if silently responding to her feelings.

Mao Lilan's cheeks flushed slightly, just like the clouds in the sky dyed by the setting sun. She subconsciously lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, trying to hide her inner shyness and panic. But the slightly raised corners of her mouth still revealed the sweetness in her heart. The air around them seemed to be filled with a different kind of warmth.

Conan saw the whole scene and felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if he had been hit hard by a heavy hammer. He clenched his hands unconsciously, and his nails dug deep into his palms, leaving white marks.

No, Xiaolan is his, he absolutely cannot lose his Xiaolan! And he absolutely cannot just sit there and wait for death!
Conan roared in his heart, his brain working rapidly, trying to come up with a response. He had to do something to pull Xiaolan's heart back to him and take back the future that belonged to them.

At this moment, Conan suddenly had an idea. He remembered an extremely unforgettable thing that he and Xiaolan had experienced together - that was the agreement they made under the cherry tree when they were children.

At that time, he had a childish face but vowed to Xiaolan that when they grew up, they would come to see the cherry tree together.

Conan thought that perhaps he could use this memory to awaken his childhood sweetheart's feelings for him.

So, Conan pretended to be mysterious and said to Mao Lilan: "Sister Xiaolan, do you still remember the promise you made under the cherry tree when you were little? Brother Shinichi has always remembered it. He said that he would fulfill that promise no matter what."

When Mao Lilan heard this, her body trembled slightly, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes, with memories and a little imperceptible emotion. But soon, that emotion was replaced by determination in her eyes.

She said softly: "Conan, although the memories of the past are beautiful, we can't go back. Besides, that was just a promise we made when we were young. Now Shinichi and I have grown up and have new lives and choices."

Conan's heart tightened. He didn't expect Mao Lilan's attitude to be so firm. But he didn't give up and continued, "But Xiaolan, Shinichi really cares about that promise. He has been working hard to fulfill it. Are you really not moved at all?"

When he said this, he paused, took a deep breath, and tried to make his voice sound calm and firm: "Also, Sister Xiaolan, have you ever thought that the reason why Brother Shinichi is not with you is because he is working hard for the future, in order to give you a better life."

Mao Lilan was slightly stunned, raised her head and looked at Conan, with a trace of confusion in her eyes: "Conan, what are you talking about?"

Conan continued: "Brother Shinichi... has actually been working hard for your relationship. He didn't tell you because he didn't want you to worry. He hopes that you can live a normal life instead of being drawn into his dangerous world. The reason why he didn't show up is not because he doesn't care about you, but because he cares about you too much." "He has been silently protecting you from behind, even if he is in danger, he doesn't want you to be sad for him. He likes you, and he expresses it in another way."

When Mao Lilan heard this, her eyes flickered slightly.

She knew that what Conan said might make sense, but she was sorry that her heart had already been filled with Bai Ye. The feeling of being protected and cherished was something that her childhood sweetheart, Kudo Shinichi, had never given her.

"Conan, I know you are speaking for Shinichi. I also know Shinichi's feelings and appreciate his efforts. But feelings are not just about words, nor are they about waiting, nor are they about sacrifice. What it needs is companionship and understanding, not repeated waiting and disappointment."

When her childhood sweetheart was still active, all she got from him was neglect and disappointment.

But Bai Ye is different. He always comforts her when she is unhappy and accompanies her when she needs him, making her feel valued and cherished, and making her feel extremely at ease.

This feeling of being valued and cherished made her feel unprecedented peace of mind and filled the long-standing void in her heart, which was something that the high school detective Kudo Shinichi had never given her.

When Conan listened to what Mouri Ran said, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if a sharp blade was piercing straight into his heart, making him almost unable to breathe.

He finally had to admit that the feelings he had always held on to might have become insignificant in the eyes of Mao Lilan. All his efforts seemed to be in vain in the face of the deep bond between her and Bai Ye.

Because Xiaolan's heart may have completely belonged to Bai Ye, and he can only watch.

But he still didn't want to give up. He took a deep breath and tried to make his voice sound calm and firm: "Sister Xiaolan, I know you have made a choice, but I still want you to know that Brother Shinichi has never changed, and his love for you remains the same. Maybe one day in the future, when you are in danger, the first person to appear by your side will still be him."

There was a glimmer of stubbornness in Conan's eyes, like a candle burning stubbornly in the darkness. He wished that with these last words, he could plant another seed about Shinichi in Mouri Ran's heart.

Mao Lilan looked at the persistent Conan in front of her, her eyes full of helplessness, and said softly: "Conan, I know you are a kind child, and thank you for your concern for me all the time. But you have to understand that everyone has their own way of happiness, and I... I have found my own happiness."

To be honest, she was a little troubled by Conan's constant pestering.

But she has always been kind-hearted and couldn't bear to be too harsh on Conan.

She thought for a moment, and continued in a gentle but unquestionable tone: "Conan, I hope you can understand my choice, and I hope you can be happy for me. In the future, don't bother about this matter anymore, okay?"

Conan bit his lower lip so hard that his teeth almost dug into his flesh, and a faint smell of rust filled his mouth. He clenched his fists, his body trembling slightly, and he tried his best to suppress the emotions surging in his heart. It was a complex emotion of unwillingness, pain and loss that almost swallowed him up completely.

"Sister Xiaolan, are the times you and Brother Shinichi spent together really meaningless to you?"

Conan's body trembled slightly, and his voice was filled with sobs that he couldn't suppress, as if his throat was choked by sadness. "All those adventures we experienced together, all those days we spent together, don't count?"

Conan's eyes were filled with pain and struggle, and tears of unwillingness flashed in his red eye sockets. He found it hard to accept that the relationship that was once as solid as a rock could be so easily diluted by the torrent of time and replaced by another person.

Seeing the pain and despair on his face, Mao Lilan's eyes flashed with a trace of pity. She sighed softly, her voice soft but with unshakable firmness, and slowly said: "Conan, I will never forget those memories, they are extremely precious to me."

She paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her inner turmoil. "But people always have to look forward, and life will not stay in the past. I am very grateful that Shinichi has appeared in my life. I remember all the good things he has given me. But now I have found a new direction and encountered new happiness!"

Ran Mao Li's tone was gentle but firm, and every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting Conan's heart.

As she spoke, she raised her head and looked at Bai Ye not far away again. Her eyes were full of tenderness and determination, as if she was announcing her feelings to the world: "That person is no longer just a simple support for me. He is the most important piece missing in the puzzle of my life and the refuge of my soul. I will hold his hand tightly and walk with him unwaveringly, no matter whether Shinichi returns or not, no matter whether the future awaits us with thorns or a smooth road!"

When Conan looked at Ran Mouri like this, he felt a sharp pain in his heart.

His mind uncontrollably emerged with the image of himself as Kudo Shinichi, the one with quick thinking, full of confidence, and radiating light when reasoning.

He couldn't help but wonder, if the person standing in front of Xiaolan at this moment was the high school detective Kudo Shinichi, would Xiaolan's choice be completely different?

"Sister Xiaolan, if you knew the current situation of Brother Shinichi, would you still be so determined?"

Conan's eyes flashed with a desperate determination. He clenched his teeth and dug his nails deep into his palms. He decided to go all out. "Actually, Shinichi brother..."

(End of this chapter)