Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

Lin Xiuyi stood aside, quietly watching the girl's flustered appearance without saying a word.

He could tell that Ogiwara Chisato was nervous, and he could understand her feelings.

After all, cooking with a strange boy was a first for her.

After finally peeling the potatoes, Ogiwara Chisato started cutting potatoes and carrots.

She usually cuts vegetables, and while not perfectly neat, she's still quite efficient.
But today, her hands were trembling, and she couldn't cut accurately with the kitchen knife.
The potatoes, which should have been cut into small pieces, were instead cut into irregularly sized chunks by her.
The carrot, which was supposed to be cut into small pieces, was accidentally cut into long strips by her.

"Oh no..."

Looking at the messy potatoes and carrots she had chopped, Ogiwara Chisato gave an embarrassed smile, feeling a little anxious.

She had never been so embarrassed before. She couldn't even cut vegetables properly, and Lin Xiuyi had seen it all. It was so shameful.

In a panic, Chisato Ogiwara tried to salvage the situation. She picked up a kitchen knife and tried to cut the carrots, which had been cut into long strips, into smaller pieces.

But because she was too anxious and flustered, her hand slipped, and the kitchen knife instantly cut her finger.

Fresh blood flowed out, dripping onto the white cutting board, standing out conspicuously.

"hiss……"

A piercing pain shot through her finger, causing Ogiwara Chisato to gasp involuntarily. Despite the pain, she forced a weak smile, trying to hide her injured finger behind her back so as not to worry Hayashi Shuichi.

But Lin Xiuyi still saw her actions.

"Are you okay?"

Lin Xiuyi's expression changed, and she immediately strode forward, grabbing the girl's hand.

"How could you be so careless? You're bleeding, does it hurt?"

The moment Lin Xiuyi grabbed her hand, Ogiwara Chisato's body stiffened instantly, her cheeks turned bright red, her heart pounded involuntarily, and even her breathing became rapid.

"No...it's okay, Brother Xiu."

Ogiwara Chisato gave an awkward laugh, her eyes darting away, avoiding Lin Xiuyi's gaze, her voice barely audible.

"It's just a small wound, it's not serious, it'll be fine in a bit."

After saying that, she subconsciously tried to break free from Lin Xiuyi's hand and put her injured finger in her mouth.

This is a habit she's had since she was little. No matter if she accidentally cuts her hand or bumps into something, as long as she puts the injured area in her mouth, she feels that the pain will be greatly reduced.

"Don't do anything reckless!"

Upon seeing this, Lin Xiu immediately pressed down on her hand and quickly pulled the girl's finger out of her mouth.
"Saliva does not stop bleeding. In fact, the antithrombin in it can prolong bleeding time and increase the risk of wound infection."

Startled by his serious tone, Ogiwara Chisato obediently let him hold her hand, without struggling any further.

"...I understand, I won't do it again."

"It's okay, just be more careful next time."

Lin Xiuyi held the girl's hand and carefully placed her injured finger under the tap, then turned on the tap.

The clear water gently washed over the girl's fingers, rinsing away the blood from the wound little by little.

Ogiwara Chisato stood quietly to the side, letting Hayashi Shuichi hold her hand, a warmth she had never felt before welling up in her heart.

Lin Xiuyi carefully rinsed the girl's wound, and only after confirming that all the bloodstains on the wound had been washed away did he turn off the tap, take out a pack of clean tissues from his pocket, and carefully wipe the water droplets off the girl's fingers.

Then, on the table in the living room, they found iodine and band-aids.

This is something Matsuda Jotaro usually keeps on hand to treat minor injuries he gets during boxing training. "It might hurt a little, just bear with it."

Lin Xiuyi picked up a cotton swab, dipped it in a little iodine, and carefully applied it to the girl's wound.

Ogiwara Chisato nodded, biting her lip tightly, preparing herself to endure the pain.

Applying iodine to the wound doesn't hurt as much as you might imagine; there's only a slight stinging sensation that disappears quickly.

As she watched Lin Xiuyi's focused expression, the warmth in her heart grew stronger, and the blush on her cheeks deepened.

The two continued preparing lunch. While washing the rice, Lin Xiuyi made small talk, asking questions as if trying to start a conversation.

"Is Qiansu very good at repairing machinery?"

"Ah...it's alright." Ogiwara Chisato explained softly, "I often hang out at the repair shop, and I've learned some things without even realizing it."

"That's impressive." Lin Xiu smiled at the girl. "It's rare to see a girl so knowledgeable about mechanics."

His smile was genuine, without the usual surprise or doubt, just pure appreciation.

Ogiwara Chisato felt her cheeks start to burn again.

She hurriedly lowered her head, pretending to be focused on chopping vegetables.

"No, it's nothing special... I just like it." The girl said softly, "When I ride a bicycle, I feel so free, like all my worries can be blown away by the wind. When I'm a little older, I can ride a motorcycle."

After saying that, she felt somewhat annoyed.

She rarely said these things to anyone, not even to her second-year graduate students.

What's wrong with her today?
How come she opens up to Lin Xiuyi so easily?

"I can understand."

Lin Xiuyi placed the washed vegetables on the cutting board and began to cut potato chunks. His knife skills were excellent; each piece was cut to a uniform size.

“When I’m stressed in Tokyo, I’ll ride my bike along the riverbank until I’m completely exhausted. At that point, I don’t have to think about anything.”

Ogiwara Chisato looked up at him in surprise.

She never expected that Lin Xiuyi, who always seemed so composed, would also have moments when she needed to escape pressure.

"Is life in Tokyo... also tough?" the girl asked softly.

"It's the same everywhere."

Lin Xiuyi made no attempt to hide anything, nor did she complain; she simply stated her position calmly.
"The izakaya business, schoolwork, and..."

He paused, didn't continue, but just smiled.

"But there are also many happy things. For example, meeting new friends, and making dishes that satisfy customers."

His knife made a rhythmic sound on the cutting board, and the potato chunks were neatly arranged.

As Ogiwara Chisato watched Hayashi Hideichi's practiced movements, she suddenly realized that Hayashi Hideichi wasn't actually that much older than her.

But the other person, who was only sixteen or seventeen years old, acted much more mature than her, and even more rational than many adults.

He must have gone through many things she couldn't even imagine, yet he could still smile so peacefully.

A strange emotion welled up in the girl's heart.

Is it admiration? Curiosity? Or something else entirely?
Ogiwara Chisato couldn't tell either; she only knew that her heart was beating faster again. (End of Chapter)