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

Chapter 729 Indeed, women are born actresses! (2 updates)
The aftereffects of the hangover were like an invisible spider web, entwining every corner of the hotel and completely ruining the originally planned trip.

The morning sunlight streamed into the living room through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, but it couldn't dispel the languor and weariness that permeated the air.

Each person found a comfortable corner and tried to soothe their still-protesting bodies and nerves in their own unique way.

Eri Kisaki sat upright on a single sofa by the window, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, a steaming cup of black coffee beside her, intently browsing the laptop screen in front of her.

As an elite in the legal profession, her way of relieving discomfort also carries a strong professional flavor—studying all sorts of bizarre and outlandish case precedents in Los Angeles.

From "filing a lawsuit because the neighbor's tree looks too much like a monster" to "a robber being compensated for emotional distress because the victim mocked his poor robbery skills".

These sentencing standards made her frown and shake her head at times. The clash between the cold legal provisions and the absurd reality created a peculiar interest, which effectively diverted her attention from her headache.

Not far away, Yukiko was lying comfortably on a soft carpet, propped up on her elbows, holding a tablet computer.

Ignoring her still somewhat pale complexion, she enthusiastically urged Conan, who looked helpless beside her, to recount the case they encountered on the plane on their way here, so that she could continue taking notes.

While yawning, Conan was forced to repeat the details of the deduction, his little face filled with a look of utter despair, as if he wanted to be left alone.

In a relatively open area on the other side of the living room, Xiaolan had already changed into sportswear. She asked the waiter to install and secure the standing boxing target, and then she began her karate practice without any distractions.

"Hey!" "Ha!" The crisp shouts, accompanied by precise and powerful kicks and punches, cut cleanly through the air.

Every move and every stance is imbued with power and beauty, as if to expel the remaining alcohol and discomfort from the body along with the sweat.

That focused and energetic figure stood out from the other languid people in the room, yet it became a beautiful sight in itself.

The one who knew how to enjoy herself the most was none other than Sonoko. She simply sprawled out on the deck chair on the terrace, covered with a thin fleece blanket.

The California sun shone warmly on her, and she looked like a feline photosynthesizing, with even her toes exuding a lazy and comfortable air, as if she planned to sleep like that forever.

Shiraishi E deliberately placed a freshly brewed cup of black coffee, Eri's favorite, gently beside her.

"Thank you." Eri Kisaki looked up from the bizarre cases, adjusted her glasses, and felt the perfect temperature on her fingertips as she took the coffee.

She seemed amused by a case she had just seen, and in a good mood, she pulled Shiraishi E back as she was about to leave, pointing to a line of text on the screen: "Look at this, someone actually took it to court because they suspected their pet parrot was being 'psychologically bullied' by their neighbor's cat, and the judge actually accepted the case and suggested that both parties conduct 'interspecies mediation'."

Shiraishi E leaned over to take a look at the brief and bizarre case description, and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

He shook his head: "Indeed, the world is a big place full of wonders. Compared to these bizarre cases, I think our experience last night seems... well, a little bit more normal."

He stopped talking at the right moment, but the knowing smile on his lips made Eri blush slightly. Then, without making a sound, she stepped on the sole of his foot with her high heel as a warning!

Shiraishi E left, feigning pain, and then, carrying the remaining two cups of coffee, walked towards Yukiko and Conan, who were still engrossed in "replaying the case" on the carpet.

"Ah! The coffee is just in time, E!" Yukiko cheered, took the cup, and inhaled the aroma with satisfaction.

Conan's eyes lit up suddenly, as if he had seen a savior—or rather, a perfect excuse to "urinate."

He immediately clutched his stomach, his little face scrunched up, and said in an exaggeratedly anxious, childlike tone, "Ah! Oh no! I... I need to go to the bathroom! Mom, let Brother Baishi tell you the rest of the story. He was there too, and he saw it all clearly!"

Before he could finish speaking, and before Yukiko could react, he sprang up from the carpet and disappeared in a flash, his speed comparable to when he was searching for clues at a crime scene.

Shiraishi E watched Conan's disappearing figure and shook her head helplessly. That brat, he certainly knew how to shirk responsibility cleanly and efficiently.

He had no choice but to sit down on the carpet, take the tablet that Yukiko handed him, and, based on the crime scene photos and the few words of the report on it, begin to fill in the specific details of the murder case, describing the tense atmosphere at the time and the key points of reasoning.

Yukiko, holding her coffee cup, listened with great interest, occasionally exclaiming "Oh~" or "I see!"

However, just as Shiraishi E got to the crucial point, she suddenly put down her cup, craned her neck like a thief, and looked around to make sure that Ran was focused on practicing her boxing in the distance, Eri was engrossed in her computer, and Sonoko seemed to be asleep on the terrace. No one else in the entire living room was paying attention to their corner.

She turned back, the serious expression of a "female detective" vanishing instantly, replaced by a mischievous, smug, and infinitely ambiguous smile. She nudged Shiraishi E with her elbow, lowering her voice as if sharing top-secret information known only to the two of them:

"Hey, Emi... stop talking about the case. Tell me, how did you feel last night...?"

She paused deliberately, a sly glint in her eyes, "Aren't you having fun? Aren't you excited?"

"?!" Upon hearing this, Shiraishi E was startled and turned to look at Yukiko in surprise, almost thinking that she had misheard.

He instinctively asked, "You...you still remember?!"

"Hehe..." Yukiko raised her chin triumphantly, like a kitten that had successfully stolen some cream, her smile growing even brighter. "Of course I remember~ How could I forget such a wonderful 'party'?"

She leaned closer and whispered boastfully, "And besides, if it weren't for me... stirring things up and fanning the flames, would you have had such incredible luck? Hmm?"

Those eyes clearly said: You'd better thank me!
Shiraishi E instantly realized that one of the "instigators" of last night's chaotic and erotic situation was right here.

He recalled the feeling of last night, and his heart warmed, his face flushed, but he felt even more grateful to the woman in front of him.

He nodded repeatedly, his tone utterly sincere: "Thank you! I must thank you! Ms. Yukiko, I will never forget your great kindness! Really, if it weren't for you... I'm afraid I would never have experienced such a... wonderful night in my life."

He racked his brains and used the word "wonderful," which he felt was both apt and not too explicit.

"Just saying thank you isn't enough, is it?" Yukiko raised an eyebrow, then, taking advantage of the situation, she reached out and gently poked his arm with her finger. "Give me some real action to show your gratitude!!"

Shiraishi E was incredibly astute; she immediately understood! This was clearly a demand for both "hush money" and "creative reward" all at once.

He responded almost without hesitation, his tone conveying a sense of "I understand you" and his confidence: "No problem! I'll continue to invest in that movie you're planning to prepare! Starting with 1 billion yen, how about that? If the script and production require it, there's no upper limit!"

"Really?! That's amazing!!" Upon hearing this, Yukiko's eyes lit up like stars, and her smile blossomed completely.

Overwhelmed with joy, she momentarily forgot herself and leaned in to give Shiraishi E a quick kiss on the cheek, leaving a faint lip print.

After kissing her, he realized he might have been a little too excited. He quickly pulled out a tissue, playfully scolding himself, "Oh dear, I got carried away when I was happy," while carefully wiping the lipstick stain off Shiraishi E's cheek, muttering to himself:

"Thank you so much, Hui-kun! Now the funding problem is completely solved! I'm sure I can make a masterpiece that surpasses the previous one!"

Shiraishi E felt the lingering warmth and faint fragrance on her cheek, and seeing her ecstatic expression, she couldn't help but smile.

He steadied himself and encouraged the film in a professional, agent-like tone, "Then you must polish the script carefully, and the cast and production must not be sloppy. I believe that with your vision and influence, plus ample funding, this film will definitely be another box office hit!"

"Don't worry, leave it to me!" Yukiko confidently patted her chest, her whole being radiant with joy at securing such a huge investment, as if all the hangover and fatigue from before had vanished.

The two exchanged a smile, and a tacit understanding based on shared secrets and the exchange of interests quietly permeated the air.

After seeing Yukiko off, Shiraishi E let out a soft sigh of relief, took out a bottle of chilled sports drink from the beverage box, and turned to walk towards Ran, who was still sweating in the living room.

At this moment, Xiaolan's ponytail swung gracefully with her movements, and a few strands of hair on her forehead were soaked with sweat and stuck to her smooth skin.

Every punch and kick she threw whistled through the air, landing precisely on the punching bag, as if she were releasing all the lingering alcohol and some inexplicable restlessness within her through this method. "Ran, take a break and drink some water," Shiraishi E approached and handed her a drink.

Upon hearing the sound, Xiaolan swiftly stopped. She was slightly out of breath, her chest rising and falling, and her fingertips were still warm from the exercise as she took the drink.

"Thank you, Hui." She wiped the sweat from her cheeks with a towel, thanking him sincerely, but her eyes flickered slightly.

She unscrewed the cap and tilted her head back to take a big gulp. The icy liquid slid down her throat, seemingly calming her down a bit.

Then, as if she had made up her mind, she quickly glanced left and right like a thief, confirming that her mother was still focused on the computer, her older sister Sonoko was sunbathing on the terrace, and her aunt Yukiko was still fiddling with her tablet on the carpet.

After doing all this, she turned around, and a blush spread rapidly across her fair cheeks, all the way to her ears.

She couldn't look Shiraishi E in the eye, her head lowered, her fingers unconsciously picking at the label on the drink bottle, her voice becoming soft and stuttering: "That... yesterday... last night... what happened... you, you can... please don't... don't tell anyone..."

She paused, her voice even lower, almost a whisper, "Especially... my mother can't know!"

Her biggest worry was that the image of her as a well-behaved, sensible, and pure daughter in her mother's heart would collapse because of this.

The thought of her mother looking at her with disappointment and shock made her feel flustered.

Shiraishi E found it somewhat amusing to look at her nervous yet adorable appearance.

He immediately raised his hand, gave a standard "OK" sign, and solemnly assured, "Don't worry, I'm tight-lipped. I'll forget about what happened last night as soon as I leave this door."

Xiaolan seemed relieved after receiving his assurance, but another emotion welled up inside her.

She suddenly let out a huff, a hint of embarrassment in her voice, and reached out to pinch Shiraishi E's arm lightly, scolding, "Hmph! You've...you've taken advantage of me the whole time...Are you happy now?!"

A slight stinging pain shot through her arm, and Shiraishi E immediately made a grimacing face in pain, loudly proclaiming her innocence: "Oh! I'm innocent! Ran, please be reasonable, I'm the most innocent one, okay?"

He spread his hands, looking both helpless and amused. "I was just sitting there drinking and relaxing last night, doing nothing! It was you guys... it was you guys who... uh, came over on your own initiative. I was ganged up on, so how can you blame me?"

"Ah...you...you're talking nonsense!" Xiaolan was speechless at his "defense," and her face turned so red it looked like it was about to bleed.

Those blurry and embarrassing moments from last night kept swirling in my mind. It really did seem like... it was our side that "made the first move."

She stammered for a long time, unable to think of a strong rebuttal. Finally, she could only stomp her foot in embarrassment and anger, and forcefully command, "I...I don't care! Anyway...anyway, you forget it! Forget everything that happened last night!!"

After saying that, as if afraid of hearing any more of his embarrassing "truths," she turned around abruptly and walked back to the boxing target as if fleeing in panic.

She took a deep breath, assumed the starting stance for karate again, and struck the target even harder, as if the target were some culprit that was making her flustered, ashamed, and angry.

The shouts of "Hey!" and "Ha!" were louder than before, as they tried to use vigorous movement to cover up their pounding heart and burning cheeks.

Shiraishi watched her retreating figure as she practiced with an almost cathartic air, smiled helplessly, rubbed the spot where she had been pinched, and silently sighed in her heart: This beating was truly well-deserved.

Watching Ran's back as she practiced karate with increasing embarrassment and frustration, Shiraishi E couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head.

He turned and went back inside, took a pitcher of chilled freshly squeezed orange juice from the refrigerator, filled a clean glass to the brim, and then walked toward the sun-drenched terrace.

The garden was still like a lazy cat, sprawled in the lounge chair, basking in the California sun, feeling even moving a finger was a struggle.

Hearing footsteps, she opened her eyes and saw Shiraishi E carrying juice. A bright smile immediately appeared on her face.

"Ah~ Hui, you're such an angel! I was feeling a bit thirsty." Her voice was soft and husky, as if she had just woken up.

She struggled to sit up slightly and took the glass of clear orange liquid.

"You're welcome. Try it; it's freshly squeezed orange juice that the hotel just delivered this morning," Shiraishi said with a smile.

Yuanzi took a small sip at first, then her eyes lit up as if her taste buds had been activated by the sweet, sour and refreshing taste. She then gulped down most of the glass in one go and let out a long sigh of relief: "Ha—I'm back to life! It tastes really good. It's definitely freshly squeezed and doesn't have that artificial sweetener taste from canned drinks."

"I'm glad you like it. I'll get you more if you need more." Seeing her satisfied expression, Shiraishi E also felt happy.

"That's enough, thank you." Sonoko waved her hand and placed the empty cup on the small round table next to her.

But she didn't seem satisfied with that. Her eyes darted around, and she looked at Shiraishi E with a hint of coquettishness, pleading softly, "Um... E-kun, can you do me a favor? I don't know if it's because I had too much fun yesterday, or if this recliner isn't comfortable enough, but I feel sore all over and uncomfortable... Could you massage my shoulders and back for me?"

Shiraishi E was already used to this young lady's requests, and he readily nodded: "No problem, leave it to me."

He walked behind the recliner, found a suitable spot, and gently placed his hands on Sonoko's shoulders.

Through the thin fabric, her skin could feel the warmth of the sunlight. His fingers began to gently massage her stiff shoulder and neck muscles.

"Hmm... the pressure is just right, it feels good..." Sonoko let out a satisfied sigh, put her blindfold back on, and relaxed to enjoy the moment.

However, in this relaxed atmosphere, she suddenly seemed to remember something, and mumbled in a nasal, dreamlike voice, "It's all your fault..."

"Huh? What's it to me?" Shiraishi E continued working on her hands, looking somewhat puzzled.

Sonoko's voice carried a hint of coquettishness and accusation: "Of course it's your fault last night..."

"!!!" Shiraishi E's fingers, which were massaging, suddenly stopped, and the composure on her face was instantly replaced by astonishment.

He almost thought he was hallucinating, and instinctively leaned down, asking incredulously, "Wait... Sonoko, you... you remember what happened last night too?!"

"Huh?" Upon hearing this, Sonoko ripped off her blindfold, turned her head, and looked at him with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot, her tone matter-of-fact with a hint of smugness: "How could I not remember! Well... uh, it was such an earth-shattering scene, it's hard to forget even if I wanted to!"

Seeing the shocked expression on Shiraishi E's face, as if she had discovered a new continent, she seemed to find it amusing and added with a grin, "But don't worry!"

She patted her chest, making a gesture of assurance, "I won't tell anyone! After all... I have my pride too, you know! It would be so embarrassing to talk about something like that!"

Shiraishi Eto was so surprised that she forgot to continue the massage.

So... all four of them... remembered!
But when they woke up in the morning, they all acted as if they had collective amnesia!
Attorney Fei's calm composure, Ran's shy denial, and even Sonoko, who seems to be the most unable to keep a secret, are all portrayed flawlessly!
He didn't notice a single flaw at the time!

As for Yukiko, she's a world-class actress. Her realistic acting is part of her professional skills, so it's understandable.

But when did Eri Kisaki, Ran, Sonoko... all of them become such amazing actors?!

That innocent look, that natural confusion, that perfectly timed embarrassment... didn't reveal the slightest trace of remembering the absurd things that happened last night!

At this moment, looking at Sonoko, who had put her blindfold back on and was comfortably enjoying the sunshine and massage, Shiraishi E felt as if a thousand horses were galloping through her heart, which ultimately turned into a sigh mixed with amazement, helplessness, and a hint of understanding:

Indeed, women are born actresses!

(End of this chapter)