Ke Xue: The thief Cao is actually myself

Chapter 616 Fireworks fade easily! (Seeking monthly tickets!)

"Ta Tata..."

The crowd hurried along the street, their hurried footsteps were particularly clear in the quiet night, and every step seemed to be a race against time.

The evening breeze blew gently, bringing with it the coolness unique to the night, ruffling everyone's hair and clothes.

But this gentle breeze did not relieve everyone's anxiety at all.

Because the fireworks show is about to begin!

This annual romantic spectacle is a long-awaited dream moment in everyone's heart. No one wants to miss that fleeting yet extremely brilliant moment.

After all, this is not only a visual feast, but also carries people's yearning and remembrance of good times.

Just as she passed by a convenience store, Mao Lilan seemed to be distracted by something. She stopped abruptly, a trace of annoyance flashing across her face: "Ah, I forgot to wake up Aunt Yumi..."

Maori Kogoro frowned, looking anxious, and waved his hand, with an unquestionable eagerness and a little impatience in his tone: "Don't worry about her, the fireworks are about to start!"

It's already this critical moment, who has the time to worry about that woman who always acts eccentrically and causes people headaches!
In his opinion, the top priority at this moment is to rush to watch the fireworks!

Omura Jun also echoed, trying to comfort Mao Lilan and let her put aside her worries: "Maybe someone else has called her."

"But...what if everyone forgets..."

Mao Lilan bit her lip, still a little worried about Horikoshi Yumi. After a little hesitation, she turned around firmly, her tone revealing an unshakable determination: "I'd better go back and take a look!"

Bai Ye stood beside her, looking at Mao Lilan's worried look, his eyes full of tenderness and pampering, and said softly: "Then I will go back with you, Xiaolan, and we will come back together when the time comes."

Mao Lilan looked up at Bai Ye, a touch of emotion flashed in her eyes, and then she said to Mao Li Kogoro: "Dad, you guys go first, we will go over later."

After saying that, without waiting for Kogoro Mori to reply, she and Bai Ye turned around and hurried towards the hotel.

Looking at the two people's backs as they walked away, Maori Kogoro couldn't help but mutter in frustration: "Really! Just ignore that kind of woman!"

Atsushi Omura was standing aside. When he heard what Kogoro Mori said, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, revealing an awkward but polite smile.

He admitted that Yumi Horikoshi was a little unsociable and had a rather introverted personality, but they had been classmates for many years after all. Was it necessary to be so disgusted and merciless towards her?

However, after all, Kogoro Mori was his old classmate, so he couldn't say much to him. He could only silently sigh in his heart about the complex and subtle interpersonal relationship between them.

Thinking of this, Omura Jun cleared his throat, trying to ease the slightly awkward atmosphere: "Well, let's hurry up, maybe when they come back, the fireworks will just start."

Maori Kogoro curled his lips and responded with disgust: "Humph, I hope they can move faster, otherwise we will miss the fireworks, which will be a real disappointment."

After saying that, he strode forward with a bit of impatience in his steps. Omura Jun quickly quickened his pace to catch up.

Along the way, the street lamps on both sides of the street emitted a dim light, stretching the shadows of the two people long, and as they walked forward, the shadows swayed on the ground.

Kogoro Mori would complain in a low voice from time to time, and Atsushi Omura would respond absentmindedly, but his eyes would look in the direction of the hotel from time to time. He felt a little uneasy in his heart, as if he had a premonition that something bad was happening quietly in the hotel.

……

On the other side, Mao Lilan and Bai Ye were walking side by side on the way back to the hotel. The setting sun was like a blazing fireball that was about to burn out, painting the sky an orange-red. The afterglow was like golden gauze, gently spreading on their hurried return journey, lengthening the figures of the two people walking side by side.

Mao Lilan lowered her eyes and thought for a long time. Finally, she broke the silence, raised her head slightly, and asked softly: "Bai Ye, are you worried that Aunt Yumei will get into trouble?"

Her voice was soft and a little hesitant, as if she was afraid of disturbing the uneasiness lurking in the air.

Bai Ye's steps suddenly paused, and a flash of surprise flashed across his eyes, which was fleeting. Then, he raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a teasing smile, trying to use this relaxed smile to dispel the tense atmosphere in the air: "Xiao Lan, I didn't expect that after staying with me for so long, your observation skills are almost catching up with those of a great detective."

The afterglow of the setting sun fell on Bai Ye's face, casting a soft golden glow on his angular features. Mao Lilan looked at his smile, and her cheeks unconsciously flushed, as if dyed red by the sunset. She waved her hands in a panic and explained, "No, I saw that you looked a little strange just now, and then I remembered that Conan was there too, so I unconsciously thought about it this way."

There was no way she could help but think about it.

After all, when her childhood sweetheart was still a child, every time she went out with him, it was as if they were "targeted" by a case, and they would almost always run into a case without any warning.

The originally happy time is always ruthlessly interrupted, and in the end we can only return home with regret and disappointment.

After her childhood sweetheart turned little, this "misfortune" became even worse.

Even if they just go to the convenience store to buy a bottle of drink or take a walk in the park, they will inexplicably run into a case, as if they are entangled in some invisible curse and cannot get rid of it no matter what.

Recalling the past, Mao Lilan's eyes couldn't help but reveal a trace of helplessness and fatigue.

No one wants such "bad luck", and no one wants to go out for a meal or go shopping without peace, encountering murders, robberies and other unpleasant things at any time and anywhere.

Naturally, she is no exception.

Not to mention, a certain high school detective, every time he encountered a case, would be like a chicken with blood injected, often regardless of everything, just leaving her where she is and diving into the case, making her feel extremely lonely and helpless at those moments.

“Sometimes I really wonder…”

Her voice was so soft that she almost sounded like she was talking to herself, and her eyes were lowered, staring at the shadows of the trees swaying in the breeze on the ground.

"Does becoming a detective bring with me some strange magnetic field?"

As soon as she said that, she suddenly realized what she had said. She raised her head hastily, waved her hands in panic, and added: "Ah, I'm not complaining that you shouldn't be a private detective! I know that you are just like Shinichi, both of you are looking for the truth, but... it's just that this situation is really helpless."

She sighed slightly, and a trace of loneliness flashed in her eyes, as if she was reminiscing about the good times that were stolen by the case.

"The detective's magnetic field?"

Bai Ye stared at her quietly, the afterglow of the setting sun settled in his eyes like melted gold. He did not respond immediately, but tilted his head slightly and looked at the gradually darkening sky in the distance, as if thinking about something. After a long time, he turned his head, his eyes gently fell on Mao Lilan's face, and whispered: "Maybe there really is such a magnetic field."

"But don't worry. In my heart, cases are never as important as you. Even if you really encounter a case, I will not leave you alone and let you get hurt."

As he spoke, he reached out and gently held Mao Lilan's hand, as if giving her promise and strength.

Mao Lilan raised her head and looked at Bai Ye's gentle profile and determined eyes. A warm current surged in her heart. That warm current was like the warm sun in winter, dispelling the haze in her heart and making her heart beat faster unconsciously.

The evening breeze blew by, bringing with it the coolness unique to early autumn, but it could not blow away the slight heat on her face.

"Thanks…."

She said softly, her voice choking a little.

After so many years, someone finally understood her anxiety and was willing to make such a promise to her.

Bai Ye gently squeezed her palm, with a warm smile on his face: "Silly girl, what's there to thank me for?"

The two of them held hands and continued walking towards the hotel.

As they got closer to the hotel, Mao Lilan felt the uneasiness in her heart become stronger and stronger, and her expression became solemn again. She held Bai Ye's hand tightly, as if to draw strength, and said: "Bai Ye, I don't know why, the closer I get to the hotel, the more panicked I feel. I always feel that something bad is going to happen."

She took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and continued, "Besides, Aunt Yumei was in a really bad state before. She was terribly depressed. I was really worried."

Mao Lilan frowned slightly, the worry in her eyes became more and more intense, her voice unconsciously lowered, and her full of worry almost overflowed.

"I'm really afraid she'll do something stupid."

Bai Ye noticed that her fingertips unconsciously tightened the hem of her skirt, and her knuckles turned bluish white.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the girl's eyelashes cast tiny shadows on her face, but could not hide the worry surging in her eyes.

"Don't worry too much..." Bai Ye reached out and gently rubbed Mao Lilan's hair. The warmth from her fingertips made her slightly startled. "Maybe you're just overthinking it. Maybe Aunt Yumi just overslept."

Mao Lilan sighed softly and whispered, "I hope I'm overthinking it."

Although she said this, the uneasiness in her heart was growing like weeds. She always felt that something bad was happening quietly. The ominous premonition was like a heavy stone, weighing her down so much that she felt it was hard to breathe.

Subconsciously, she quickened her pace, and the sound of her leather soles hitting the stone slabs became more and more urgent, as if this would allow her to escape the impending doom with Yumi Horikoshi...

"Boom bang bang..."

Just as they were about to arrive at the hotel, a strange light suddenly flashed in the sky, followed by a low roar.

The two of them stopped and looked up at the sky behind them reflexively.

There, a giant firework was slowly blooming in the night sky. In an instant, the red light like blazing flames, the pink light like flowing clouds, and the purple light like a dream intertwined together, brilliant and dazzling, instantly lighting up the entire night sky, so beautiful that it was breathtaking and made people hold their breath.

“It’s time to start!”

Mao Lilan and Bai Ye beside her looked at each other with anxiety in their eyes, and said hurriedly: "We have to wake her up quickly! I remember Aunt Yumi's room is at the front of the second floor, let's go find her!"

Otherwise, she was worried that her aunt might miss the spectacular fireworks display, leaving her with an irreparable regret.

Bai Ye naturally wouldn't have too many objections to this, "Yeah."

The two walked quickly into the hotel. The corridor was quiet, as if time had stopped there, with only their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.

"Room 201! This is it!"

Arriving at Yumi Horikoshi's door, Mao Lilan raised her hand and politely placed her fingertips on the door. The knocking sound was crisp but weak, and seemed a little thin in the silence: "Aunt Yumi, Aunt Yumi, are you awake? The fireworks have already started. If you don't get up, you won't be able to see the fireworks."

However, the room was as silent as death, with no response at all, so quiet that it made people feel creepy.

Mao Lilan frowned slightly, feeling a strong sense of uneasiness in her heart. She knocked harder on the door and shouted loudly: "Aunt Yumi, are you in there?"

But there was still no sound in the house. Only their voices kept echoing in the empty corridor, making the silence even more eerie.

Mao Lilan's pupils suddenly shrank, and the uneasiness in her heart became more and more intense. The uneasiness was like a surging tide, instantly drowning her. Immediately, she reached out and grasped the door handle without thinking, wanting to push the door open and go in to find out what was going on.

But at this moment, suddenly, a familiar voice sounded nearby, interrupting her actions, "Oh! I wondered who it was! It turned out to be Xiaolan and Bai Ye!"

"Uncle Nakamichi?!"

Mao Lilan was slightly startled and looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a bald strong man standing not far from her.

He was wearing a loose bathrobe with a towel casually draped over his shoulders. Beads of sweat the size of beans were sliding down his cheeks, flashing strangely under the dim light.

It turned out to be one of her father’s old classmates - Nakamichi Kazushi.

Nakamichi Kazushi looked at Mao Lilan and Bai Ye deeply, with a faint smile on his face, but a little nervousness in his eyes, and asked: "Xiao Lan, didn't you go to the venue first?"

Mao Lilan quickly explained: "We came back to wake up Aunt Yumei."

"Wake Yumi up?"

Zhongdao Hezhi hesitated for a moment, his expression was hard to read. After a moment, he waved his hand and said in a nonchalant manner, "I think you'd better not call her! Because, she hates it most when someone wakes her up when she's asleep!"

As he spoke, his eyes unconsciously drifted towards the door of Room 201, and then quickly moved away. That casual glance seemed to hide some unspeakable secret...

(End of this chapter)