Ke Xue: The thief Cao is actually myself

Chapter 708 A Helping Hand from My Future Father-in-Law! (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)

"Is that so? I know!"

Upon hearing Kogoro Mouri's words, Byakuya maintained a gentle smile, nodded slightly, and replied, "Uncle Mouri, you can rest assured, Ran and I will definitely not forget to bring back your favorite food."

Kogoro Mouri chuckled, "Haha, that's good then. Conan and I will be waiting at home." As he spoke, he subtly glanced at Conan beside him, thinking to himself: That little rascal Conan always loves to follow others around and get involved in everything. I hope he doesn't ruin my daughter's plans at this crucial moment!

Thinking this, he first coughed lightly without making a sound, then quickly and almost imperceptibly winked at Conan, his eyes carrying a hint of warning, as if to say: Kid, you better behave yourself! If you dare to mess up my daughter's good time like before, don't blame me for being ruthless!
Conan keenly noticed Kogoro Mouri's subtle movements and the threatening look in his eyes. How could he not understand what he meant? He couldn't help but secretly purse his lips, thinking helplessly: "Hmph, do you need to hint at it in such a roundabout way? I never intended to go."

After all, I'm not the kind of masochist who enjoys making myself suffer. How could I possibly want to see the girl I like being all lovey-dovey with another man?
That's just asking for trouble!
Conan's fleeting expression didn't escape Kogoro Mouri's notice. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of wariness flashing within them. To avoid further trouble and ensure things proceeded smoothly, Kogoro Mouri spoke decisively, raising his voice slightly, "Alright, it's getting late. You two young people shouldn't dawdle any longer. Let's get going and enjoy this rare treat!"

As he spoke, he deliberately turned his head and gave Ran a meaningful look. His expression seemed to silently convey: My dear daughter, you must seize this opportunity to deepen your relationship with Byakuya. Don't let your father's efforts go to waste!
Ran Mouri instantly understood her father's intention, and her cheeks flushed slightly, like a peach blossom quietly blooming in spring, exuding a touch of shyness. She first looked at her father somewhat embarrassedly, her eyes carrying a hint of reproach, as if complaining about his bluntness.

Then, she slowly turned her gaze to Bai Ye, her eyes filled with tenderness and deep love.

At this moment, she was filled with anticipation for the wonderful time she would spend with Bai Ye, yet she also felt a pang of shyness due to her father's slightly explicit hints. This complex mix of emotions made her heart beat faster involuntarily.

Bai Ye, being so observant, immediately noticed Ran Mouri's slight embarrassment. He subtly and gently took Ran's hand, applying a slight pressure, and gave her a tender and reassuring look, as if whispering: Don't worry, darling, I'm here. There's nothing to worry about.

Ran Mouri's cheeks grew increasingly hot, the blush spreading rapidly like a magnificent sunset. She gently nestled against Shiro, feeling the warmth emanating from him, her heart filled with sweetness and peace.

Conan witnessed the two of them being so affectionate, and a wave of annoyance surged through his heart.

He knew in his heart that he should try to let go of his feelings for Ran Mouri. After all, Ran Mouri's heart was clearly already with Byakuya, and he, as her childhood friend, had no chance at all.

Not to mention, he hasn't found a way to restore his original body yet; he's just a six or seven-year-old child.

Even without Byakuya's appearance, how could a child like him, in his current state, possibly continue the beautiful childhood sweetheart story with Ran Mouri?

Does he really want Ran Mouri to wait for him in vain for ten years?

Such thinking is far too selfish!

Knowing this is one thing, but watching Xiaolan, who once had his heart and soul completely devoted to him, now so deeply in love with another man is like having a fishbone stuck in your throat, something you can neither spit out nor swallow down, it's just so unbearable.

Unconsciously, Ran Mouri noticed the undisguised loneliness and sadness on Conan's face, and a pang of pity welled up in her heart. But she was also acutely aware of her own feelings; they were firmly tied to Byakuya. So, she instinctively tightened her grip on Byakuya's large hand, as if drawing strength from it, or perhaps to express her stance to Conan, and then gently said to him, "Conan, we'll be back soon. Be a good boy and listen to Daddy at home, okay?"

Conan suppressed the bitterness in his heart and forced out a smile that looked worse than a grimace, replying in a forcedly relaxed manner, "I understand, Ran-neechan."

Behind that smile lay the bitterness and helplessness he tried his best to hide.

"Dad, Conan, we'll be going now."

Ran Mouri said, her body unconsciously moving closer to Byakuya, her eyes filled with happiness and anticipation for the upcoming date.

"Well, go ahead, go ahead."

Kogoro Mouri waved his hand, putting on an extremely open-minded appearance, but in his heart he hoped that his daughter's relationship with Byakuya could take a step further, and prayed that his daughter could find her own happiness.

Then, Ran Mouri and Byakuya walked hand in hand out of the agency. The warm sunlight shone on them, its golden glow like a dreamy veil, adding to the romantic atmosphere. It was as if a sweet and beautiful picture had been carefully drawn for them, making their figures appear even more warm and romantic, like a prince and princess in a fairy tale.

Watching the two walk away hand in hand, Conan felt a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him. There was a deep sense of loss, sadness, and above all, a helpless acceptance of reality.

He knew perfectly well that his relationship with Ran Mouri had undergone a complete and unknowing transformation, and the beautiful past was gone forever.

This realization weighed heavily on his heart like a boulder, making him feel an indescribable heaviness, as if even breathing had become difficult.

However, life had to go on, and he could only silently bury this feeling deep in his heart and try to face the new reality. He silently turned around, dragged his heavy steps back to the sofa in the office, sat down, and stared blankly out the window, his eyes revealing endless confusion.

At this moment, his mind was filled with a whirlwind of thoughts, a jumble of ideas intertwined like a tangled mess, yet he didn't know where to begin. Ran Mouri had found her own happiness; perhaps it was time for him to truly let go of the past and seek a new life for himself…

However, it's easier said than done; the word "let go" is far from easy to grasp!
After all, you have to understand that his affection for Ran Mouri has lasted for more than a decade. How could he easily let go of such a deep affection that has lasted for more than a decade?

Those were his most precious memories from his youth, the softest corner of his heart, how could he easily let them go...

Just as Conan was immersed in these complex and conflicted emotions, the office phone suddenly rang, the sharp and piercing ring instantly breaking the slightly dull and oppressive silence.

Conan snapped out of his reverie, glanced briefly at Kogoro Mouri, who was busy in the bathroom, and then slowly got up and walked towards the phone, wondering to himself: Who could be making this call? And what new things will it bring?

Walking to the phone, Conan took a deep breath, trying to quickly shake off the complicated emotions he had just been experiencing. He then slowly reached out and picked up the receiver: "Hello, this is the Mouri Detective Agency."

A deep, slightly magnetic voice came from the other end of the phone: "Hello, is Detective Mori there?"

Conan frowned slightly. Relying on his extensive experience assisting Kogoro Mouri in handling cases, he keenly sensed the subtle hint of a commission coming from the other end of the phone.

However, the fact that they didn't choose to visit in person but instead made a phone call makes this request seem a little unusual...

“Uncle Mori is out on business right now. You can tell me first, and I will relay the message to him exactly as it is.” Conan tried his best to make his voice sound calm and reliable, showing a maturity and composure beyond his years, and trying to give the other person a sense of trustworthiness.

The person on the other end of the phone hesitated slightly, as if weighing whether to speak to Conan, who seemed so young. After a moment, he slowly said, "My name is Takashi Matsuo, and I am the host of the detective segment on Nichiuri TV. I am calling to invite Detective Mori as a special guest to participate in our detective segment in two days."

Conan's heart skipped a beat. The detective segment program on Nichiuri TV was renowned and extremely popular among detective enthusiasts.

Being invited to be a guest on the show was undoubtedly a happy thing for Kogoro Mouri.

But why didn't the other party choose to come directly to the detective agency and communicate with Kogoro Mouri in person, instead choosing to make a phone call?

Could it be that they think Kogoro Mouri is all hype and not worth their time to visit in person? Or perhaps their work at the TV station is simply too busy, leaving them no choice but to send an invitation by phone?
"Mr. Matsuo, why did you decide to invite Uncle Mori? And why not come to the agency and talk to him in person?" Conan asked curiously, while picking up a notepad and starting to carefully record key information.

Takashi Matsuo chuckled softly on the other end of the phone and patiently explained, “We have always greatly admired Detective Mori’s exceptional investigative abilities. Some of the cases he solved previously were reported by the media and generated a strong response among the audience, leaving a very deep impression on everyone. Originally, we planned to visit Mr. Mori directly at the agency, but unfortunately, we went several times and were unable to find him at home. I was also worried about missing the best opportunity to invite him, so I tried calling the agency to see if I could get lucky.”

Conan nodded slightly, finding the reason quite reasonable: "I see, Mr. Matsuo. I will certainly convey your invitation to Uncle Mori accurately. However, in order for Uncle to better understand the situation, could you first tell me the general content of the program? That way, when I convey it to Uncle, I can explain it in more detail and comprehensively."

"of course can!"

Takashi Matsuo cleared his throat and said methodically, "The theme of this program is 'Classic Case Review and Reasoning Challenge.' During the program, we will carefully select some representative and influential cases from the past for in-depth analysis. We will not only explain the ins and outs of the cases in detail, but also reveal some previously unseen details. Afterwards, we will set up a tense and exciting reasoning challenge segment, inviting guests to analyze and deduce based on case clues on the spot, and interact with the audience in front of the TV in real time. We all agree that with Detective Mori's rich experience in handling cases and his unique reasoning perspective, he will definitely add a lot of exciting highlights to the program."

After thinking for a moment, Conan said seriously, "Mr. Matsuo, this program sounds really interesting. I think Uncle Mori would be very interested in it. If there's anything else that needs special attention, or any special requests for the program segments, please tell me without reservation."

Takashi Matsuo pondered for a moment, then continued, "The time is set for two days from now, in the afternoon, at the Nichiuri TV studio. I hope Detective Mouri can arrive an hour early so he has enough time to familiarize himself with the environment and the entire program flow. Also, to increase the program's fun and challenge, there may be some unexpected interactive segments during the program, which will require the guests to have strong adaptability."

As Conan listened, he quickly jotted down notes on a sticky note: "Okay, Mr. Matsuo, I've written it all down in detail. I promise to tell Uncle Mori all this as soon as he gets back. By the way, Mr. Matsuo, if I may ask, will Uncle Mori receive any compensation for participating in this program?"

He wasn't particularly concerned about the exact amount of the reward, but if some clueless detective found out that he had agreed without even asking about the payment, well, his "good days" would probably be coming to an end.

Takashi Matsuo chuckled lightly: "Of course, we at Nichiuri TV always value the contributions of our guests. This time, we will also pay Detective Mouri the appropriate compensation according to the TV station's standards. I will send you the specific amount via email later, and you can discuss it with Detective Mouri."

Conan quickly replied, "Okay!"

(End of this chapter)