Ke Xue: The thief Cao is actually myself

Chapter 717 Department Store: Don't come any closer! (Seeking monthly votes!)
Noticing the pleading looks in his friends' eyes, Conan couldn't help but sigh slightly. He then reached out and pushed up his glasses, the lenses gleaming in the afterglow of the setting sun. He said calmly and steadily, "Hey everyone, don't rush. Let's first recall where we've been since we got the autographed photos."

"Especially Genta, think carefully again. Besides taking a picture with Kamen Rider, have you been to any special places or done anything unusual since then?"

After hearing Conan's words, Genta tried hard to hold back his tears and began to recall in a sobbing voice: "I...I think I went to buy an ice cream, and then...and then we just kept walking along this road."

Upon hearing this, Mitsuhiko's eyes lit up instantly, and he hurriedly said, "Then let's look along the way we came. Maybe that autographed photo was left on the way to buy ice cream."

However, Conan did not act immediately, but instead posed a new question: "Don't rush this, Genta, are you sure the last time you saw Kamen Rider's autographed photo was after the photo was taken?"

Yuan Tai nodded vigorously and said with certainty, "That's right. I remember after we finished watching the performance, I took it out to look at it again, and then I kept it in my schoolbag."

Mitsuhiko and Ayumi exchanged a glance and said in unison, "We remember too. The photo we took with Kamen Rider is still here!"

"Taking pictures?" Conan had a sudden inspiration and reached out to Ayumi, saying, "Ayumi, can I borrow the pictures we took?"

Ayumi nodded obediently, then reached into her pocket and pulled out a photo of the group taken together, handing it to Conan and saying, "Here you go..."

"I remember that time..."

Conan casually took the photo, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he carefully examined every detail in the picture.

In the photo, Mitsuhiko is holding up a Kamen Rider autograph and happily making a big "V" sign at the camera.

Ayumi sat on Kamen Rider's arm with a beaming smile, her face radiating happiness.

As for Genta, he stood behind Kamen Rider, grinning widely, his eyes narrowed into slits, smiling brightly at the camera.

Conan's gaze slowly moved across the photograph, not missing a single clue.

Suddenly, he realized that what Genta was holding in the photo wasn't Kamen Rider's autograph, but a huge hot dog.

Upon seeing this scene, Conan had a sudden realization; his intuition told him that the hot dog might be a key clue.

"Genta did say that he was hungry."

"hungry?"

Hearing Conan's words, Genta blinked, as if he had been enlightened. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead. Thanks to Conan's "reminder," he finally remembered where he had forgotten the photo. "That's right, I remember now! My stomach was growling with hunger at the time, so I ran to buy a hot dog!"

"Then... when I received the hot dog from that older woman, I was so excited and in a hurry to pay that I just casually left the autographed photo on the hot dog stand..."

"Ha ha……"

Mitsuhiko's lips twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but raise his hand to his forehead.

He couldn't believe he'd lost the autographed Kamen Rider photo because of his absentmindedness; he didn't know how to describe his feelings at that moment.

However, being so focused on eating that they forgot about taking photos is exactly the style of this friend!
Genta was unaware that Mitsuhiko was inwardly criticizing him. When he finally realized where he had left the autographed Kamen Rider photo, he immediately jumped to his feet, his face resolute, and shouted, "I've decided! I'm going to get it right now!"

He paused slightly, then turned his gaze to Conan and the others beside him, asking eagerly, "Are you guys going or not?"

Conan frowned slightly, his eyes filled with worry, and quickly dissuaded him, "Don't go, Genta, okay? Look at the time! The department store is about to close. I think we should just forget about it!"

Keep in mind that when they left the department store, it was already close to closing time, and now that so much time has passed, the department store is probably already closed.

Rather than making a long trip only to find out it was a wasted trip, it's better to come back tomorrow morning to pick it up.

Anyway, that autographed Kamen Rider photo isn't going to grow legs and run away.

Mitsuhiko quickly chimed in, "Yeah, if we go now, it'll probably be too late. How about we come back tomorrow to get it?"

Ayumi chimed in, "Conan and Mitsuhiko are right, Genta, I think you should go get it tomorrow..."

However, Yuan Tai, who was filled with anxiety at the moment, couldn't listen to their advice at all. He said angrily, "Hmph, it's not like your photos are lost, of course you're not worried."

"If you guys aren't going, fine, I'll go by myself!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Tai turned around and dashed off like an arrow towards the department store.

"Hey, Genta..."

"Wait a minute!"

Seeing this, Conan, Mitsuhiko, and Ayumi exchanged glances and, with no other choice, hurriedly gave chase.

The three of them ran while shouting for Yuan Tai, but Yuan Tai was only thinking about getting his autographed photo back as soon as possible, and his steps did not stop at all.

As darkness fell, fewer and fewer pedestrians appeared on the streets. Their shadows, illuminated by the dim streetlights, stretched long, like an abstract painting.

As Conan ran, he pondered to himself.

He fully understood how much Yuan Tai cherished the autographed photo, but if the department store was already closed so late, Yuan Tai would inevitably be even more disappointed. Moreover, letting a young child go out alone at night inevitably poses certain safety risks.

"Ta Tata..."

Just as they were about to reach the vicinity of the department store, Genta suddenly stopped and then furtively hid in a corner, seemingly plotting something.

Conan and his two friends caught up, panting, and asked, "Genta, why...why did you stop?"

Yuan Tai pointed ahead and said dejectedly, "There are security guards here..."

Everyone looked in the direction Yuan Tai pointed and saw several serious-looking security guards standing at the entrance of the department store.

At that moment, one of the guards glanced down at his watch, then turned slightly and shouted into the mall, "Please hurry, everyone! The security system will be activated in ten minutes!"

Seeing this, Genta's shoulders slumped instantly, and tears welled up in his eyes again. He murmured to himself, "My autographed photo..." Conan gently patted Genta's shoulder and comforted him softly, "Don't be sad, Genta. We'll come back tomorrow morning. Maybe the hot dog stand owner will find the autographed photo and kindly keep it for you."

After all, they were about to close, so how could they let a child in?

In such situations, shopping malls usually only allow customers to exit, not enter. Unless, of course, a customer has lost an extremely valuable item!

The problem is that while a signed photo of Kamen Rider might be incredibly precious to Genta, it might just be an ordinary piece of paper to adults.

They would never, and would not, delay everyone's departure time and the department store's normal closing procedures because of something like this.

On the contrary, it's more likely that they'll be sent away with something like, "Come with your parents tomorrow. We're closing now, so don't go in and cause trouble."

Mitsuhiko quickly added, "Yes, Genta, don't be discouraged. Your name is on that autographed photo; no one else will take it!"

Ayumi nodded vigorously beside her, encouragingly saying, "Let's come earlier tomorrow, we'll definitely get it!"

Yuan Tai sniffed, tears still glistening in his slightly red eyes. His gaze swept over the faces of his friends, each one filled with sincerity and concern, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

However, he was unwilling to give up on getting back the autographed photo of Kamen Rider.

After all, they had already arrived at the department store and were only one step away from successfully getting the autographed photo. At this point, he did not want to give up easily.

"No, I must get the autographed photo back today!" Genta said firmly, his eyes filled with stubbornness.

“But…” Mitsuhiko looked anxious, his brows furrowed tightly as if in a knot, “Genta, once the security system is activated, that entrance/exit will be closed immediately!”

Yuan Tai, however, remained defiant and snorted defiantly, "Hmph! It's alright, there are still ten minutes before the security system activates, I'm sure I'll be able to get the autographed photo!"

"It's now!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Yuan Tai seized the moment when the security guards were enthusiastically greeting customers leaving the department store, and like a nimble little cheetah, he dashed into the department store with lightning speed...

"Damn it, Genta, you again..."

"Forget it, really! Wait for me..."

Seeing this, Conan was about to speak up to stop them, but before he could finish speaking, he saw Mitsuhiko and Ayumi follow Genta without hesitation, rushing in like two little followers.

Left with no other choice, he had to follow them again.

After all, as an "adult," he really couldn't bear to let these mischievous, unruly children act alone!
As Conan ran, he inwardly groaned. "Ugh, these kids are such a headache," he thought, "especially that chubby kid, he's absolutely unruly and willful. How did he end up with such a bunch of friends!"
Upon entering the department store, the lights had been dimmed, and the once bustling and noisy shopping mall was now unusually quiet.

Their footsteps echoed loudly in the empty hall.

Based on his memory, Genta ran towards the hot dog stand without hesitation.

Conan and the others followed closely behind him, worried about Genta's safety and afraid of being discovered by security guards.

Just as they were getting close to the hot dog stand, suddenly, a rhythmic sound of footsteps came from afar, and it was the footsteps of security guards on patrol!
Genta turned pale with fright and quickly hid behind a nearby shelf, with Conan and the others following closely behind.

The security guard's footsteps grew closer, each step feeling like a blow to their hearts. Everyone was so tense they dared not breathe, silently praying that the guard wouldn't spot them.

Fortunately, Lady Luck seemed to be on their side at that moment. The security guards didn't notice their presence, and the tense footsteps gradually faded away, disappearing at the end of the silent corridor.

Yuan Tai breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ran towards the hot dog stand.

When they arrived at the stall, Conan squatted down without saying a word and began to search carefully on the ground nearby.

Ayumi and Mitsuhiko followed Conan's example, diligently searching every possible place.

Yuan Tai searched anxiously, muttering repeatedly, "Where is the autographed photo...?"

To their disappointment, they searched for a long time without finding anything, whether it had been picked up by someone else or taken away by the shopkeeper.

Just when everyone was feeling a bit disappointed and thought they might have to leave empty-handed, Conan suddenly spotted a white corner in a small corner next to the stall.

His eyes lit up immediately, and he carefully picked it up. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the Kamen Rider autographed photo that Genta had lost!

"Found it!" Conan shouted excitedly, his voice filled with barely suppressed joy.

Upon hearing the sound, Genta rushed over like a rocket. Seeing the autographed photo he had lost and found, he was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes again: "Thank goodness, I found it! My treasure! Conan, you're amazing!"

Conan smiled and handed the autographed photo to Genta, his eyes full of affection, saying, "Be careful next time."

Yuan Tai excitedly accepted the autographed photo, tears welling in his eyes, and nodded vigorously, saying, "Yes, I definitely will!"

Gently placing the autographed photo into his backpack and zipping it up, Yuan Tai patted the backpack lightly. "This time I will definitely take good care of you and will never lose you again."

After saying that, he seemed to finally remember his friends. He turned around, his eyes full of gratitude: "Thank you all. If you hadn't been with me, I definitely wouldn't have been able to get the autographed photo back."

Mitsuhiko smiled and said, "You're welcome. We're comrades, it's only right that we help each other!"

Ayumi pursed her lips. "And this time, it was all thanks to Conan's brilliant deduction!"

Conan smiled shyly, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, it's nothing. But Genta, don't be so impulsive next time."

Yuan Tai scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and said, "Hehe, I know, I'll be more careful next time. Thank you so much this time, how about I treat you to ice cream!"

"Good! Good!"

Mitsuhiko and Ayumi exchanged a glance and quickly nodded...

(End of this chapter)