Ke Xue: The thief Cao is actually myself

Chapter 726 White Night: Conan, you're truly a good son to me! (Seeking monthly votes!)

As night deepened, the steam rising from the hot spring pool, under the gentle caress of the bright moonlight, shone with a soft, hazy luster, like pearls.

Yukiko Kudo nestled gently in Byakuya's arms, her body still lingering with the weariness and afterglow of their intimate interaction.

On her fair skin, a few faint blushes, flushed with excitement, were faintly visible in the misty spray.

"Are you cold?" Bai Ye's gentle voice came from above her head, carrying a unique warmth and contentment. His strong arms held her tightly, his fingers unconsciously and gently combing her wet hair, the movements soft and soothing.

Yukiko Kudo shook her head slightly, but subconsciously moved closer to his warm chest, as if it were her safest haven at that moment.

At this moment, her feelings were as complicated as a tangled mess.

The comfort of physical relaxation intertwined with the indescribable complex emotions deep within her heart, making her both yearn to immerse herself in this warmth for a long time and feel vaguely uneasy, wanting to escape.

"Let me carry you back to your room," Bai Ye said softly, and then easily lifted her out of the water. Glistening water droplets slid gently down their intertwined bodies, shimmering like silver in the moonlight.

Yukiko Kudo did not resist, quietly letting him wrap her in the soft yukata. Her eyelids felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead, and all the strength seemed to have been drained from her body.

In a daze, she felt Bai Ye gently place her on the tatami mat, and then a warm quilt softly covered her body.

"Sleep now." A soft, feather-like kiss landed on her forehead.

In the final moments before she drifted off to sleep, a vague thought flashed through Yukiko Kudo's mind: Could this really be the last time she and Byakuya had such an intimate encounter?
……

"Well……"

In the early morning, the soft light, like a lively sprite, carrying the clear coolness of a cold spring, carefully slips into the room through the thin window lattice and the lingering steam of the hot spring, outlining a dividing line on the floor like a golden ribbon.

Yukiko Kudo slowly woke up with a strange feeling.

Before she was fully conscious, she first felt the heaviness in her body, especially the slight soreness in her limbs, which seemed to be silently reminding her that what happened last night was not a dream.

In a daze, she felt warmth coming from beside her. She slowly opened her hazy eyes and saw Bai Ye's arms wrapped around her waist, his even breathing gently brushing against the back of her neck.

"woke up?"

Lying on his side, his fingertips gently traced the smooth back of Yukiko Kudo, feeling her steady breathing, and a glint of something unfathomable flashed in Byakuya's eyes.

Last night, Yukiko Kudo was passionate and fiery, but now she was like a docile kitten, quietly curled up in his arms. Her long brown hair was casually scattered on the pillow, and a few strands of hair playfully clung to her slightly flushed cheeks, adding a unique charm to her.

"Mmm..." Yukiko Kudo hummed softly in her sleep, unconsciously snuggling closer to Byakuya. Her eyelashes cast delicate shadows in the morning light, and a satisfied smile played on her lips.

Bai Ye couldn't help but lean down slightly and place a gentle kiss on her bare shoulder.

The moment his lips touched her skin, Yukiko Kudo trembled slightly and slowly opened her eyes.

"Good morning, Ms. Yukiko." Byakuya's voice was deep and magnetic, characteristic of early morning. He deliberately used a respectful title, but his fingers unconsciously slid gently towards her slender waist.

Yukiko Kudo blinked, and memories of last night flooded back, instantly flushing her cheeks with an even deeper blush.

"What time is it now?" She tried to get up, but the soreness all over her body made her slowly fall back onto the pillow.

Bai Ye chuckled softly, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face: "It's still early, we have plenty of time, my dear Mrs. Yukiko..."

This affectionate term of endearment, carrying a strong sense of belonging, was like a fine needle, gently piercing Yukiko Kudo's nerves and causing ripples to appear in her recently calmed emotions.

Her slender shoulders involuntarily tensed slightly as a complex mix of emotions welled up inside her—shame, anger, and deep exhaustion intertwined, almost making her choke up.

She wanted to argue, to break free from his still-encircling arms, but helplessly found that she didn't even have the strength to lift her eyelids.

The exhaustion in her body seemed to be a reminder of her indulgence last night. Everything that happened last night had completely drained her of her "confidence," leaving her utterly without the right to "argue."

Bai Ye keenly noticed her momentary tension, and his smile deepened. Instead of loosening his grip, he held her even tighter, letting her completely immerse herself in his warm embrace and unique scent.

"but……"

He lowered his head, his warm breath mingling with tenderness, and gently kissed away the last trace of a tear at the corner of her eye. His lips glided lightly across the sensitive skin around her eyes, filled with endless intimacy and care.

Then, his lips brushed against her ear, and he whispered like a gentle breeze, a languid and tender whisper reaching her eardrums: "My dearest wife..."

He deliberately drew out his words, "You were really enthusiastic last night!"

His palm gently slid down her body's curves. "I was so passionate that I didn't even think about what today would be like."

"Byakuya!" Kudo Yukiko glared at him, both embarrassed and annoyed, but was melted by the gentle kiss that followed.

……

Time passed slowly, and as the midday sun became scorching and filled the entire room, Yukiko Kudo could no longer remember how many loving moments they had spent together.

Her voice became extremely hoarse, her body looked exhausted as if she had just completed a long journey, and every inch of her skin ached slightly.

"Enough... really enough..." She lay on the tatami mat, breathing slightly, her long golden hair soaked with sweat and clinging to her back.

If this continued, she felt she was really going to die!
Bai Ye gently embraced her from behind and kissed her reddened earlobe: "This is the last time, I promise." However, this "last time" lasted until sunset.

As the gentle glow of the setting sun streamed into the room, replacing the scorching midday sun, Yukiko Kudo finally collapsed onto the bed, utterly exhausted, too weak to even move a finger.

Bai Ye tenderly carried her into the hot spring pool, where the warm water gently enveloped her, relieving her aching muscles.

She leaned against the edge of the pool, her eyes closed, and peacefully let Bai Ye wash her body.

“You’re a monster…” she murmured, half-asleep.

Throughout the entire day, apart from eating something and drinking some water to replenish his energy, Bai Ye hardly let go of her for a moment.

She was even a little dazed, feeling as if she were about to die in this loving hot spring inn.

Bai Ye chuckled softly, gently massaging her tense calf muscles with his fingers: "Is this a compliment?"

Yukiko Kudo did not respond. Passion and exhaustion had drained all her strength, and at this moment, she was too lazy to even move her fingertips.

Bai Ye chuckled softly, carried Kudo Yukiko back to her room, carefully dried her body, and changed her into a clean yukata.

Then, Bai Ye lay down beside her, gently stroking her sweaty temples with his fingers.

"Are you hungry?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with a contented languor and gentleness.

Yukiko Kudo shook her head slightly; all she wanted to do right now was get a good night's sleep.

Gazing at Yukiko Kudo's exquisitely beautiful face, a mixture of satisfaction and weariness etched on her features, her expression seemingly telling a story of both the joy and exhaustion she had just experienced, a tender smile unconsciously curved Bai Ye's lips. He gently pulled the blanket over them, carefully covering their tightly intertwined bodies, his voice low and gentle, a murmur that sounded both soothing and comforting: "Then get some rest."

"Hmm..." Yukiko Kudo responded softly, her voice filled with weariness.

Holding Yukiko Kudo's soft and delicate body in his arms, he gradually became immersed in the warm and peaceful atmosphere of the white night. His consciousness began to become hazy and indistinct, his breathing gradually became even and steady, and then he slowly drifted into sleep...

"Jingle Bell……"

However, just as Byakuya was sleeping soundly with Kudo Yukiko in his arms, a sharp ringing sound suddenly rang out.

In this almost silent room, the shrill ringing of the bell seemed particularly abrupt, like a bolt of lightning ripping the night sky, tearing the tranquility in two.

Yukiko Kudo, who was immersed in a sweet dream, couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly, as if annoyed by the noise that disturbed her peaceful slumber.

Bai Ye, who was awakened, raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes. But after seeing the name on the caller ID, he narrowed his eyes slightly and then quickly pressed the volume button, trying not to make too much noise so as not to completely disturb the beauty in his arms.

Then, he carefully got out of bed and quietly went to the toilet next door to avoid disturbing Yukiko Kudo's sleep.

"Hey, Ran, what's wrong? Your voice doesn't sound right. What happened?" As soon as Bai Ye answered the phone, his keen intuition allowed him to detect the unusual sound in Ran's voice, and his concern was evident in his words.

On the other end of the phone, Ran Mouri was extremely anxious, speaking rapidly like a machine gun: "Byakuya, Conan, Ayumi, Mitsuhiko, and Genta haven't come home yet. I'm worried they might be in danger. Can you help me think of any way to find them?"

Her voice trembled noticeably, a tremor that seemed to be a manifestation of the anxiety and fear deep within her heart, like a surging tide, clearly and intensely transmitted through the receiver.

Upon hearing this, Bai Ye's expression instantly turned serious. He pondered for a moment, then said in a calm and reassuring tone, "Don't panic, Ran. It's precisely in times like these that you need to stay calm. Panic won't solve anything. Think carefully, where did Conan and the others go today? Could they have gotten lost?"

In such an emergency, staying calm is key to solving the problem; only by thinking calmly can a solution be found.

Ran Mouri paused for a moment, then tried to calm herself down and said, recalling the events, "Conan and the others went to the nearby department store after school today, but I called the department store, and they were already closed. I only heard an automated reply. I don't know if they're still nearby. I'm really worried that something might have happened to them."

Her voice was choked with sobs, and her worry seemed to burst through the receiver, making the listener feel her pain deeply.

Bai Ye pondered for a moment, quickly sorting through possible clues and solutions in his mind, and said, "I see. Have you contacted anyone else? For example, their close classmates at school, or friends they often hang out with. Maybe someone knows where they went afterward. The more people who know clues, the greater our chances of finding them."

He tried to uncover clues from more angles, not letting go of any possible opportunity to find the children.

Ran Mouri sighed, her voice filled with helplessness and worry, almost on the verge of tears, "I asked Professor Agasa, but he doesn't know where Conan and the others are either. I've also called Ayumi, Mitsuhiko, and Genta's mother, but their children haven't come home either. I just called Inspector Megure, but he hasn't made any progress either. I really suspect that Conan and the others might have been kidnapped! The thought of that possibility terrifies me."

Bai Ye quickly comforted her, "Don't worry too much, Xiao Lan. Calm down. We can't be sure yet that the children have been kidnapped. Maybe they were just having so much fun that they forgot the time. I'll use all my connections and resources to see if we can find them. Wait for my news at home, keep your phone on, and contact me anytime if there are any new developments."

He knew that his girlfriend needed more than just practical help; she needed reassurance and support. He wanted to give her strength with a firm tone.

Ran Mouri quickly replied, "Okay, Byakuya, thank you for your help."

Although his father was a detective, he was usually muddle-headed and not up to the task.

Meanwhile, Inspector Megure, despite being a police officer, has already ordered his subordinates to conduct a search for Conan and the others within his jurisdiction.

However, while others may not know the true capabilities of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department officers, as a local resident, how could she not know?
If they were truly capable, why would they allow their childhood friend, a high school detective, to repeatedly become the savior of the Japanese police?
That's why, in this extremely anxious moment, she didn't hesitate to call her boyfriend for help.

After all, at this moment, the only person she could rely on was him, and the only person she could count on was him.

Bai Ye said gently, "You're my girlfriend, why are you talking to me about trouble? Just stay home and wait patiently, I will definitely bring the children back safely."

Ran Mouri nodded slightly, "Then I'll wait for your good news..."

(End of this chapter)