I'm in Conan, I'm not a gangster

Chapter 707 An Unexpected Incident at the Party (2 Updates)
As part of Yukiko Kudo's close friends and family, E Shiraishi and her entourage had the opportunity to attend a well-known awards ceremony in Hollywood.

The venue was dazzling with stars and lights, and the air was filled with a complex atmosphere of perfume, anticipation, and competition.

They sat in their assigned seats and watched the entire awards ceremony.

Watching the host introduce the program, the guests present awards, and the winners give their acceptance speeches, Conan Edogawa couldn't help but yawn slightly. He muttered to E Shiraishi next to him, "It feels... similar to the graduation ceremony I used to watch for senior high school students at Teitan High School, just on a bigger scale and the clothes are a bit more expensive."

Shiraishi E's gaze swept across the venue, and she replied in a flat tone, "Being an audience member feels pretty much the same no matter where you are. If the spotlight isn't on you and the applause isn't for you, it's naturally boring. But if you're the main character on stage, the feeling is completely different."

Hearing this, Eri nodded in agreement. She gestured for Conan to look at Yukiko, who was sitting in the candidate's seat not far away, and said softly, "Shiraishi-kun is right. Look at Yukiko, the smile on her face hasn't disappeared since she entered. Her mouth is almost stretched to her ears."

"To be able to return to the center stage of this industry as a director at this age, regardless of whether she wins an award, is a huge affirmation for her. She has really stolen the spotlight this time, and she must be very happy."

Ran followed the gaze, her eyes filled with admiration: "Yes! Aunt Yukiko is really amazing! She was a national idol who swept Japan when she was in her twenties, and now in her thirties, after retiring from acting for many years, she has made a strong comeback to the international film scene as the 'Best New Director'! It's like a movie script!"

Sonoko Suzuki, unusually, put aside her haughty demeanor and nodded in agreement: "Indeed! Women like her, who have successfully transitioned from top actresses to directors and even been nominated for international awards, are extremely rare worldwide! This is not just luck, but also genuine talent and hard work!"

Although she comes from a wealthy family, she never hesitates to praise those who are truly capable.

As Conan listened to the adults' evaluations of his mother, although his face remained expressionless, a small sense of pride involuntarily rose within him. After all, that radiant woman on stage was his mother.

After exchanging a few words of admiration around Yukiko, everyone quickly turned their attention to other parts of the venue. When their gaze swept over the actors' and guests' seats, Ran and Sonoko immediately became excited!
"Wow! Look! It's the male lead from 'Star Trek'!"

"Oh my god! Over there! It's the one who just won the Oscar for Best Actress!"

"I absolutely loved the romantic comedy she starred in!"

"........."

The two girls huddled together, whispering excitedly as they pointed out familiar faces they often saw in Hollywood blockbusters, their excitement palpable.

In stark contrast to their excitement were Conan, Eri Kisaki, and Emi Shiraishi.

Conan has no interest in idolizing celebrities; he feels that those stars are far removed from his world of deduction.

Due to her profession, Eri Kisaki has handled legal cases for some celebrities and knows that they may be very different from their on-screen image in private. Therefore, she has long since demystified them and has no celebrity filter.

Shiraishi E, on the other hand, showed little interest. He glanced at the blonde, blue-eyed or hot-bodied celebrities, feeling nothing and even a little bored.

I don't know a single one of them.

There's neither a water gun-loving Leonardo DiCaprio nor someone who looks like Teacher Xu; it's boring.

He felt unfamiliar with many celebrities in this world, only a small number were familiar to him.

After a long and arduous journey, the awards ceremony finally came to an end.

Everyone immediately got up and went to meet Yukiko, who was beaming with joy.

Yukiko held a symbolic certificate of nomination in her hand, but there was no disappointment on her face. On the contrary, she was even more radiant when she saw her friends and family.

She excitedly announced to everyone, "Let's go! There's an after-party coming up! I've already got an invitation! These are top-tier Hollywood social parties, and it's rare for outsiders to have the chance to attend!! I'll show you all what it's like!"

Ran and Sonoko's eyes lit up immediately! Opportunities to get up close and personal with so many celebrities and directors are rare! They exclaimed, "We have to go!"

Shiraishi E, Conan, and Eri Kisaki exchanged glances. Although they weren't particularly interested in the party itself, they didn't want to spoil Yukiko's fun, so they all nodded and agreed to go together.

………………

Yukiko drove everyone to a modern building with a strong sense of design. Several tall, serious-looking security personnel stood at the entrance.

Yukiko was clearly a regular here. She simply smiled and nodded to the security personnel, who immediately recognized her and respectfully made way for her, without even bothering to check the large group of "friends and family" behind her.

Entering the party venue felt like stepping into another world.

Soft lighting, dynamic music, and the air filled with the scents of fine champagne, cigars, and various perfumes.

Inside, the atmosphere was lively, with elegantly dressed people and familiar faces from the screen everywhere – including rising stars, established actors and actresses, and even several Grammy-winning singers.

Ran and Sonoko's eyes widened instantly, and they covered their mouths in excitement, almost screaming. "My God...that's...that's Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones? She's so thin and beautiful!"

"Look over there! It's Timothée Chalamet! He's even more handsome than in the movies!"

Seeing the two girls' excitement, Yukiko smiled and whispered a reminder to them: "Remember, at these private parties, try not to take photos or videos casually. It's very impolite and could cause trouble. However, if you have the chance to talk to your favorite celebrity, it's usually fine to politely ask for a photo."

"Yes, yes! We understand!" Xiaolan and Yuanzi nodded repeatedly, like two attentive elementary school students.

Once Yukiko had settled them in, she was like a fish returning to water, immediately integrating into her own circle.

She gracefully walked towards the crowd and greeted several directors, producers, and celebrity friends who were talking familiarly.

"Yukiko! Congratulations on being shortlisted!"

"Hey! Director Kudo, I watched your short film, it was really interesting!"

"This must be the legendary Yukiko Kudo! I've heard so much about you!"

"........."

People kept coming up to Yukiko to chat, and she responded calmly, laughing and joking, becoming a small focus of the party.

Ran and Sonoko watched from the sidelines, once again marveling at how Yukiko's connections and influence in the international film industry remained formidable even after many years of retirement.

At that moment, Eri Kisaki's eyes lit up. She spotted an elderly man with gray hair and an air of elegance in the crowd. "That's Richard Crohn, a leading figure in the field of intellectual property in the United States. I heard his speech at the International Lawyers' Conference in Tokyo last year; it was brilliant." She immediately became interested, straightened her clothes, picked up her wine glass, and walked forward with grace, conversing with him in fluent English.

Seeing this, Ran and Sonoko also mustered up their courage and walked over to a female celebrity they both admired, known for her approachability, politely expressing their appreciation and asking for a photo.

The female celebrity seemed to be in a good mood and happily agreed, even chatting with them for a few minutes, which made the two girls very happy.

In stark contrast to this lively social scene are Emi Shiraishi and Conan.

The two had no interest in following celebrities or socializing. After entering the venue, they glanced around and headed straight for the dazzling array of food and beverages in the corner of the party.

The long dining table was filled with a variety of exquisite delicacies: from French foie gras and caviar to Japanese sushi, from Italian Parma ham to all sorts of delicious-looking desserts.

Without any hesitation, the two picked up plates and began selecting items.

"Mmm! This smoked beef tastes really good!" Conan took a bite and his eyes lit up.

“Indeed, the cooking time and seasoning are just right.” Shiraishi E also agreed, picking up another piece of grilled salmon that was crispy and fragrant: “It tastes even better than many high-end restaurants. It seems that the chef hired for this party is very skilled.”

The two reached a consensus and decided to focus on enjoying the food that evening. They found a relatively quiet corner, savoring their delicious meals while watching the lively social scene in the distance, like two detached food critics, quite content in their own way.

--------

At the party, Ran and Sonoko successfully took photos with several of their favorite celebrities, and they were both very excited.

However, just as they were preparing to find their next target for a photo, Sonoko suddenly felt a wave of discomfort in her stomach. She frowned and said to Ran, "Ran, I'm going to the restroom. Can you wait here for me?"

"Okay, Sonoko, go ahead, I'll wait for you here." Ran nodded considerately.

After Sonoko left in a hurry, Ran stood alone, curiously looking around at her surroundings.

Just then, an elegant and familiar figure walked gracefully toward her.

"Oh, isn't this Xiaolan? I never expected to see you here!" A magnetic female voice rang out.

Xiao Lan turned her head and her eyes lit up immediately. The person who came was none other than the internationally renowned movie star Chris Vineyard!
"Miss Chris! Long time no see!" Ran replied with delight. "I came with Aunt Yukiko and the others."

Vermouth wore an impeccably charming smile, but she knew perfectly well that she had come specifically because she knew Ran would be here.

She exchanged a few friendly words with Xiaolan, complimenting her on how beautiful she looked that evening, before leaving.

As she turned around, Vermouth's formulaic smile faded slightly, and she subtly winked at a smartly dressed white woman in the crowd.

The woman nodded slightly to indicate that she had received the message.

Immediately afterward, the white woman, holding a wine glass, walked naturally to Xiaolan, a professional expression of admiration on her face: "Excuse me, miss. I couldn't help but notice you; you have a unique and captivating charm! Have you ever considered entering the entertainment industry? I'm a talent scout, and I believe you have the potential to become a star!"

Xiaolan was a little embarrassed by the sudden conversation. She politely declined, saying in broken English, "Thank you for the compliment, but I have no interest in being an actress."

The talent scout, however, persisted, saying, "I understand. But could you give me ten minutes? I'd like to explain the relevant opportunities to you further. Girls with such natural charm as you are truly rare."

Xiaolan is kind-hearted by nature and doesn't know how to firmly refuse other people's enthusiasm. Seeing how earnest the other person was, she hesitated for a moment, but still nodded: "...Okay, just for a little while."

Seeing this, the talent scout's face lit up with joy, and he quickly suggested, "Great! It's a bit noisy here. Why don't we go to a quieter place over there to talk? That way we won't be disturbed."

Xiaolan hesitated for a moment, then subconsciously glanced in the direction of the food area, just in time to see Shiraishi E looking in her direction.

This calmed her down a bit, so she nodded and followed the talent scout a few steps toward a relatively quiet corner at the edge of the party area.

However, just as they were moving, several guests who were talking and laughing loudly happened to pass by and stopped right between Xiaolan and the dining area, completely blocking Shiraishi E's view.

Shiraishi E, who was holding a small cake in the distance, frowned when she saw Ran being led away by a stranger.

"What's wrong?" Conan, with food stuffed in his mouth, asked indistinctly.

"Those people are blocking Xiaolan," Shiraishi E said, staring in that direction.

Conan swallowed his food dismissively and said, "Hey, what's the big deal? Is it worth getting so nervous? Look at this setting, so many celebrities, so many bodyguards, what could possibly happen? Maybe it's just a casual flirtation!"

Shiraishi E, however, was not so optimistic, her tone carrying a hint of wariness: "That's because you don't know how chaotic the entertainment industry in Europe and America is... Never mind, I'll go and take a look."

He had just put down his plate and was about to walk over when the guests blocking his way dispersed, chatting and laughing.

Conan looked up and immediately said, "Look, Ran's still standing there, talking to that girl. I told you you were worrying unnecessarily!"

Just as Shiraishi E breathed a sigh of relief, her gaze swept over the leg lines and posture of Ran, who had her back to them, and her pupils suddenly contracted: "No! That leg shape... she's not Ran!"

As he spoke, he quickly walked around to look from a different angle—sure enough, the girl wearing a dress in a similar color to Xiaolan's was actually an unfamiliar Asian face!

Conan saw it clearly too, and his expression changed drastically!
The two immediately rushed to that corner, and Shiraishi E directly addressed the white talent scout, asking in a cold tone, "Where did that Asian girl you were talking to go?"

The white talent scout was taken aback by his imposing manner. His eyes flickered, and he subconsciously pointed to an inconspicuous door leading to the back corridor, saying, "She...she went that way."

Without wasting any words, Shiraishi E immediately took out her phone, quickly snapped a clear photo of the talent scout as evidence, and then hurried after her in the direction she pointed without hesitation.

Conan followed closely behind, quickly pulling out his phone to dial Ran's number, a sense of foreboding filling his heart.

The phone rang, but no one answered, which made him extremely anxious.

(End of this chapter)