Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

The afternoon sun shone through the window.

Zheng Yi sprawled undignifiedly on the leather sofa, holding a piece of apple that Ai had just cut, but instead of eating it, he sighed deeply while staring at the ceiling.

After sighing for a while, I finally couldn't help but laugh.

Masakazu rolled over, stuffed an apple into his mouth, and mumbled, "Ai, tell me, how can I act like... someone who's been bullied and is angry, but helpless and can only pretend not to care?"

Gin actually told me not to deal with Subaru Okiya?
Putting aside whether I dealt with him or not, what do you want to do with this person?
Gin is very confident this time.

Because he persuaded the boss and also hinted to Zheng Yi that if Zheng Yi didn't cooperate this time, the organization would also not cooperate with him.

Ai Haibara, sitting on the single sofa next to her, didn't even lift her head.

"do not know."

Ai's voice was indifferent: "Also, your saliva dripped onto my book."

"Ok?"

Masayu looked at Ai, then at himself.

There's a red leaf between them; how could my drool possibly drip onto your book?
That's just being unreasonable!
Shoichi pouted in dissatisfaction, then stretched out his devilish claws and grabbed Ai's head.

"Ah! What are you doing!" Xiao Ai was caught off guard and almost dropped the book in her hand.

Zheng Yi's large hands roughly rubbed her soft brown hair, turning her carefully styled hair into a bird's nest.

“Your reaction is wrong! You should show a sense of grievance, like ‘I’m very angry, but I can’t beat you, so I can only swallow my anger’! Do you understand?”

"Let go! What's wrong with you now?" Ai struggled angrily.

"Call me brother!" Zheng Yi not only didn't let go, but instead intensified his actions.

He pinched Ai's fair cheeks with two fingers and gently pulled them apart.

"Ugh... let... go..." Ai's face was stretched into a bun shape, and she could barely speak.

She raised her little foot and kicked Zheng Yi hard in the stomach.

But Zheng Yi didn't move an inch, not even his expression changed.

"You're too weak. Didn't you eat dinner?" Zheng Yi commented with a look of disdain, then with a burst of strength, he picked up Ai and lifted her above his head.

"Put me down!" Ai cried out, waving her arms and legs in mid-air.

Ai struggled in the air for a few moments, but found it was all in vain.

When Ai had exhausted her struggles, Masakazu put her down.

Ai straightened her wrinkled collar, picked up the book from the floor with a blank expression, and sat back down on the sofa as if nothing had happened.

But Shoichi annoyingly moved up to Ai, even pushing her hand away, wanting Ai to see him.

Hongye held a cup of freshly brewed black tea in her hand, a polite smile on her face.

The expression that Masakazu wanted to learn from was already appearing on Ai's face.

What Momiji could think of, Ai could think of too.

Her chest heaved violently.

That despicable bastard, just to learn how to endure humiliation, he bullied me again!
Then, taking advantage of Shoichi's smugness, Ai slammed the book onto his face and then pushed him hard.

"Oh!"

The book fell to the ground. Just as he was about to grab Ai, he saw that Ai had already run away barefoot.

Zheng Yi said with a smirk, "So, even if I feel really frustrated, given my fierce nature, I still have to put up a fight, right?"

He looked at Ai and said sincerely, "Thank you, Ai-sensei."

Ai glared at Masakazu, wanting to scratch him to death.

She didn't know why there was such a person in the world who was so hateful.

Zheng Yi pinched Ai's cheek again: "But I feel like I can't do what you do, or people will suspect me."

He leaned close to Ai and said, "Why don't you play along and bully me a little, let me see if I can make that kind of expression?"

Ai instantly perked up.

I didn't expect you to have this kind of request.

“You asked for this yourself,” Ai said.

Zheng Yi nodded.

Since Shoichi had said so, Ai didn't hold back and reached out to forcefully pull Shoichi's face.

Ai felt that this was too mild, and wanted to stuff the socks into her mouth.

Just as she was about to give Zheng Yi a good beating and was preparing to enjoy his expression of impotent rage, he picked her up again.

"What are you doing?" Ai asked, slightly bewildered, looking at Masakazu.

Zheng Yi said with a stern face, "Of course it's to get revenge on you."

"But didn't you say you were going to learn to act like you're being bullied, that you're just being patient, helpless, and can only pretend you don't care, to fool Gin?" Ai asked.

Zheng Yi said, "Yes, but I can't do it. I'm far inferior to you in terms of enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens."

"You bastard!"

Even if Ai swears, it can't stop Masakazu from bullying her back fiercely.

Ai's facial expressions became even more vivid.

"Alright, stop bullying Ai," Hongye said.

She now knew what kind of life Ai had been living with Masakazu.

From Ai's restrained expression and actions, it was clear that she had been bullied by Shoichi quite a bit, but she always swallowed her anger.

When Ai was being bullied like this, Koyo couldn't stand it anymore. She reached out to Ai and said, "Ai, come here to Koyo-neechan."

But Ai didn't appreciate her kindness at all, and said coldly, "Kurenai, I'm a year older than you."

Zheng Yi is not a good person, and Hong Ye doesn't have many good intentions either. She treats her like a child and wants to be her older sister.

Hongye's outstretched hand froze.

She hadn't expected to be rejected.

But after being rejected, Momiji didn't get angry. Instead, she imitated Masakazu, quietly approached Ai, and then suddenly attacked.

He also patted Ai's head, pinched her cheeks, and lifted her up high.

Due to her physical disadvantage, Ai could only endure and restrain herself towards Momiji, just as she had done with Masakazu earlier, and then pretend that nothing had happened.

Don't take Hongye's actions to heart, lest she become smug.

……

Inside a bar.

Gin sat on the black sofa, a lit cigarette between his long, slender fingers. Amidst the swirling smoke, he looked indifferently at the chaebol scion before him.

“Subaru Okiya is a talented individual, and talented people should receive the attention and protection they deserve,” Gin said.

Shoichi stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his back to Gin, his shoulders heaving violently.

He couldn't let Gin see him smiling.

“I have always valued him and protected him.”

“That car accident was a clear indication of your inadequate protection,” Gin said. “We should have paid more attention to him.”

As soon as he turned around, his expression was exactly the same as Ai's that he had shown today.

Anger, humiliation, and resentment, yet they had to force themselves to suppress them.

They're so cute, they instantly put you in a good mood.

But the reason Gin was in a good mood wasn't because Shoichi was cute.

Gin exhaled a smoke ring, his tone unusually relaxed: "The organization has decided to protect him temporarily until we confirm his value."

"Protect?"

Zheng Yi's expression suddenly twisted.
He burst out laughing.

He immediately composed himself, but Gin had clearly seen his smile just now.

But Gin only thought that Masakazu was just laughing in anger.

It's normal for a pampered young master like Zheng Yi, who has had a smooth life since childhood, to lose control of his emotions after such a major setback. Zheng Yi is trying hard to restrain himself.

So Zhengyi clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He glared at Gin, gritting his teeth as he said, "Do you know what that bastard did?"

“It’s just disrespectful to you. You should be more magnanimous.” Gin said coldly, “Subaru Okiya is an asset to the organization.”

Everyone knew that Shirley wasn't a docile person, but they still made her the director of the research institute.

Shoichi's magnanimity is not as great as Gin's.

"Resources my ass!"

Zheng Yi pointed at Gin's nose and said, "That's an employee I hired to work in my lab. When did he become a resource of the organization?"

Gin didn't say anything, but silently took out the Beretta pistol from his pocket and gently placed it on the coffee table.

A soft "bang" sounded.

Zheng Yi's cursing stopped abruptly.

“You didn’t skimp on the organization’s resources,” Gin said coldly. “Back then, you weren’t so clear about the distinctions.”

Zheng Yi gritted his teeth and fell silent.

That frustrated expression of "I really want to kill you, but I can't beat you, so I can only swallow my anger" is something I learned three-tenths of from Ai Haibara.

“I understand.” Zheng Yi turned his head away, avoiding Gin’s eyes. “I’ll give you face this time. Fudo Okiya Subaru will be the one to transmit the research data the organization needs in the future.”

"A wise choice."

Gin put away his gun.

“But there’s no need to rush,” Gin said. “Whether he can be trusted still needs some testing.”

Zheng Yi just nodded haphazardly, it was unclear whether he had heard Gin's words.

“Remember, Subaru Okiya is part of the organization. Don’t use that cheap car accident tactic again.” Gin flicked his cigarette ash.

Zheng Yi bit his lip hard, his chest heaving violently.

On the surface, they pretend to have suffered a great injustice.

"Yes, yes, I understand." Zheng Yi nodded perfunctorily.

"very good."

Gin nodded in satisfaction, stood up, and straightened his trench coat.

"Vodka is waiting for me downstairs. Remember your promise."

Just as Gin turned to leave, Shoichi suddenly attacked.

He swung his right fist and smashed it into the back of Gin's head.

This punch was completely unpredictable, but Gin simply turned his body slightly and effortlessly caught Shoichi's fist in mid-air.

"boom!"

His fist was clenched firmly in mid-air, only centimeters away from Gin's temple.

“Young Master Zhengyi.” Gin’s voice remained cold, tinged with mockery, “Your magnanimity seems to last only three seconds.”

The standoff lasted for three seconds.

Suddenly, Zheng Yi loosened his fist.

He casually straightened his suit cuffs, as if the person who had just thrown the punch was not him at all.

"It was a slip of the hand," he said expressionlessly.

Gin slowly turned around.

Gin stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly sneered and didn't take it to heart.

After saying that, Gin turned and strode away.

The door clicked shut.

Zheng Yi's expression changed instantly, and he finally couldn't help but laugh.

"I never expected Gin to protect Shuichi Akai," Masakazu muttered to himself.

There's a reason why there are so many undercover agents within the organization.

Gin, that guy who can't judge people, will destroy the organization!

"Tsk tsk, I can actually see that kind of expression on your face?" Ai pushed open the door and walked in.

She just witnessed the conversation between Shoichi and Gin through the surveillance camera.

Ai Haibara could see the frustration on Shoichi's face, and even if it was fake, she felt a little pleased from the bottom of her heart.

Especially seeing Gin being fooled, the double pleasure made Ai unable to hide the joy on her face.

Ai asked Shoichi, "Is that Subaru Okiya really Shuichi Akai?"

Zheng Yi nodded.

Then Ai laughed again.

Gin, oh Gin, you actually brought Shuichi Akai into the organization.

Zheng Yi said, "Akai Shuichi is still destined to be with the organization. He has joined the organization under both identities."

Ai nodded, already able to foresee the chaos that would ensue in the organization. She was especially looking forward to seeing Gin's expression and reaction after Shuichi Akai's identity was exposed.

Ai asked Shoichi, "He disguised himself as Subaru Okiya and joined your company's lab. His target must be you, right?"

"Who knows?" Zheng Yi said nonchalantly, "But now that he's been noticed by the organization, his only goal can be the organization."

……

Late at night, Shuichi Akai stood in front of the sink, looking at himself in the mirror.

For some reason, he suddenly felt like laughing.

"Zhengyi won't cause you any trouble."

The sound of vodka still seemed to echo in my ears.

At the time, Vodka even patted him on the shoulder affectionately, acting like he was trying to win him over.

He also spoke ill of Zheng Yi with Vodka.

Shuichi Akai's lips slowly curled into a smile.

He pulled out a tissue and slowly wiped the water droplets from his face.

That's absurd.

Once upon a time, he was the silver bullet that everyone in the organization wanted to kill, and a traitor that Gin wished he could tear to pieces.

But now, he's actually being protected by the organization?
"Ah……"

This is so interesting.

Shuichi Akai pulled the encrypted USB drive out of his pocket; it was the one Vodka had given him before he left.

The organization needs all the research data in Zheng Yi's laboratory and wants him to produce it.

That's what vodka said at the time.

Shuichi Akai held the USB drive between his fingers and gently turned it.

too weird.

If the organization can easily get Zheng Yi to let him go, and even intervene to mediate, it means there is some kind of connection between the two.

On the other hand, the organization is also eager to steal the core data of Zheng Yi Laboratory.

This attitude of wanting to both utilize and guard against, being both an ally and a mortal enemy, reveals an indescribable twist and distortion.

It's like a couple who are sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams, maintaining a respectable facade while secretly stabbing each other in the back.

"never mind."

He put the USB drive into his inner pocket and patted his chest.

There is too little information available now, so all the inferences are inappropriate.

Once I rejoin the organization in the future, I should be able to learn more and gain a deeper understanding of Zheng Yi's relationship with the organization. (End of Chapter)