Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

Zheng Yi was comfortably leaning back on the sofa, still holding half a sandwich in his hand.

Those were the spoils of the recent debt collection operation.

Although I didn't get any money from Ai, I did get a sandwich, so it wasn't a complete loss.

Consider this sandwich as the interest Ai paid to herself.

Sure enough, the way we tried to collect the debt before was too mild. Ai acted like the one who owed the money was the boss and was very arrogant in refusing to pay it back.

They started using aggressive debt collection tactics, even bringing back Ai's favorite sandwiches.

Next, we can collect even more.

In the future, we must urge Xiao Ai to pay back the debt more often. We've given up hope of getting the principal back; we'll be lucky to get any interest.

Zheng Yi scratched his head.

How much principal did he borrow from Ai?

There's no need to worry about the small amounts of money from before; Akemi's salary can cover it all. And most of the money for the lab comes from Conan and the organization.

Yes, the principal is quite a lot.

It seems I'll never get my principal back in my lifetime.

Ai, on the other hand, sat sprawled on the carpet like a cat that had been stripped of its fur, her brown hair a mess, her face still flushed with shame and indignation.

What are you doing?

Hongye, dressed in a kimono, walked in.

Her gaze first fell on Ai, who was slumped on the ground and disheveled, and then moved to the satisfied Shoichi.

"...What are you doing?"

Hongye's voice became unconsciously sharp, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor at the end.

Her eyes were filled with shock, confusion, and a sense of bewilderment at the shock to her worldview.

What did she see?
Ai's clothes were disheveled, and her eyes were glazed over.

He was completely satisfied and full of pride.

All of this gave Hongye a chilling feeling.

"Zhengyi!"

Hongye's face paled slightly, and she subconsciously took half a step back.

"Are you bullying Ai?"

"It's not the kind of bullying you're thinking of?"

"How did you know what kind of bullying I was thinking of?" Hongye asked back.

Zheng Yi curled his lip and said, "Of course it's because your thinking isn't healthy enough."

Even Ai knows how unhealthy Koyo's thoughts are.

Xiao Ai shrank her feet, looking at Hongye with great discomfort. She wanted to explain, but was too shy to speak.

Never mind, let the red leaves have their wild thoughts.

Zheng Yi simply failed to collect the debt; Hong Ye's thoughts became impure, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"You guys actually..."

"Alright, alright, stop thinking like that," Zhengyi interrupted Hongye.

What are you pretending for?

Do you really have no idea what Ai and I are doing?

You've done Ai-chan like this more times than I have, and you're still acting all shocked.

Seeing that the two of them had similar expressions, Hongye pouted.

She sat on the sofa and said:
"Zhengyi, I might need your help with something I'm about to tell you."

Hongye's voice was gentle and melodious.

Zheng Yi was sprawled on the other end of the sofa, holding a game controller in his hand, while the words "Game Over" kept flashing on the screen.

He couldn't resist poking Ai's head, then casually glanced at Momiji:
"Oh? So Miss Momiji needs help sometimes? Is it because she's encountered a formidable opponent in the karuta tournament?"

"of course not."

Hongye gave a soft hum.

What do you need me for when I encounter a formidable opponent in a karuta tournament? Do you want me to beat their hand until it swells up, or kill them?
Zheng Yi continued, "If it's something really troublesome, don't bother me. I definitely won't help."

"If it's something trivial, don't come to me, because there's absolutely no need for me to get involved in such trivial matters."

Hongye's face was twitching.

You bastard, you don't want to help with anything!
It's time you forgot that you asked me for help before and even used your charm to seduce me!

I should have punched you in the face back then and then ignored you for life.

"It was Sonoko Suzuki who invited me to Hachijojima to see whales," Momiji said calmly, suppressing her anger.

"The garden?"

Zheng Yi raised an eyebrow. "When did you meet her, and why did she invite you to see whales?"

"Yes, it's her."

Hongye nodded slightly and said, "When she heard that I was in Tokyo recently, she warmly invited me to her hotel for a vacation and to watch whales."

"Then go ahead."

Zheng Yi found it a bit strange.

Is there anything I can help you with?
It can't be that all the whales are on maternity leave, so I have to play the whale, right?
Zheng Yi didn't want to go.

When Momiji and Sonoko, two heiresses from wealthy families, were to meet, it would surely be a spectacular encounter.

On the surface, they speak gently and laugh warmly, as if they were old friends, but in reality, they are full of hidden daggers and subtle probing and gamesmanship.

It was filled with feigned hypocrisy and pervasive deceit and treachery.

This kind of circle is so dirty it's disgusting, it exposes the dark side of human nature to the fullest extent.

Zheng Yi, a straightforward and righteous person, is completely out of place with those guys.

Zheng Yi glanced at the red leaves and then curled his lip.

I have nothing in common with you chaebol heiresses.

Hongye had no idea what Zhengyi was thinking about her, but if she did, she would be speechless.

Because Zheng Yi is indeed straightforward, he kills anyone he doesn't like without hesitation, so there's no room for deceit or pretense.

In all of Japan, there is no one more straightforward than Shoichi.

Hongye continued:

"because……"

Hongye paused, a troubled look on her face.

"As you know, the Ooka family and the Suzuki family don't have a deep connection. The Suzuki family, being a new conglomerate, operates in a style that's... too flamboyant. And Miss Sonoko, although straightforward, but..."

She carefully considered her words, "...it's a bit too 'down-to-earth'."

"I'm worried that we won't get along."

Hongye sighed.

You can tell from Sonoko's uncle that the Suzuki Group is still quite flamboyant.

Furthermore, Sonoko's mother plays games with Kaito Kid, which is quite different from traditional conglomerates like theirs.

Actually, she didn't want to associate with these people.

Moreover, Sonoko has a rather unique personality among the daughters of wealthy families, and Kouyou is worried that they won't have anything in common.

"So, I want you and Ai to come with me."

"what?"

Zheng Yi looked completely uninterested.

"What would I do there? Be a third wheel? She didn't invite me."

"It's not a light bulb."

Koyo looked at Masakazu earnestly, "It would be too awkward for me to go alone, and Miss Sonoko would probably be very embarrassed too. You and Ai both know Sonoko, right? It would be better if you went."

Her gaze shifted to Ai, who was reading a book to the side.

"Aren't Ai and Sonoko still classmates?"

Upon hearing this, Ai looked up at Kureha.

When you used the "face-customization coupon" when I woke up, you treated me like a child, but now you know I'm Sonoko?
"I'm not going." Ai refused decisively.

snort!
We cannot let the red leaves go as we wish.

Now that Hongye has gone out, she can have some peace and quiet at home.

Now at home, both Hongye and Zhengyi like to tease her.

After Hongye left, only Zhengyi was left to cause trouble, which made her feel much more comfortable.

"Go ahead!"

Hongye ran to Ai's side and shook her arm.

Xiao Ai had a stern face.

"Red leaves..."

Ai said, "Are you sure you want Shoichi to come with you? He's a troublemaker, he kills wherever he goes, and he might just take down a few of your rivals while you're having fun."

Ok?
Masaichi glanced at Ai.

You're slandering me!

I didn't kill wherever I went.
That's utter nonsense. Zheng Yi will never admit it, so don't make things up without evidence.

"It's ok."

Hongye smiled and looked at Zhengyi: "With me here, Zhengyi won't do anything reckless."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yi couldn't help but roll his eyes.

who do you think You Are?

Why should I think I'll stop messing around just because of you?

No, I would never kill anyone.

Ai nodded: "If he doesn't do anything reckless, he can go."

Go on a trip.

It's pretty good.

If they go on a trip, Hongye and Zhengyi will get tired of playing and won't have the energy to bother her anymore.

"Hey, hey, hey, you two..."

He said with dissatisfaction, "I never agreed to go. How could you make a decision for me so easily?"

"And what's so fun about Hachijojima? What's so interesting about the whales?"

"Zhengyi".

Hongye suddenly moved closer.

"This trip to Hachijojima isn't just about seeing whales."

"The Suzuki family's hotel recently introduced a brand-new security system, which is said to be imported from Europe and worth billions of yen."

"Oh?"

Zheng Yi's eyes flickered, and he said, "Security system?"

"Yes."

Hongye nodded and said, "I think you would be very interested in that system, right? After all, your 'Justice Group' has also been developing a similar system recently."

That despicable Suzuki Group.

They live so close to me, yet they don't use my security system; instead, they use the European one.

Do you look down on me?
Zheng Yi rubbed his fists together in anticipation.

He's going to check out your security system to see if it's up to par.

“You seem to really not want to be alone with Sonoko,” Masakazu said.

"As you know, the Ooka family is a prestigious family with a history spanning over a century, emphasizing heritage and style. The Suzuki family, on the other hand..."

"It's like those newly rich people who suddenly become rich. Although they have money, they always feel like something is missing."

"I'm worried that I won't be able to get along with people from these conglomerates."

“When I was in Kyoto, I also spent time with many daughters of wealthy families like that. I felt they were very flamboyant, and I didn’t like them.”

Hongye sighed.

Traditional conglomerates and emerging conglomerates have different philosophies and traditions, which may indeed lead to problems in their interactions.

but……

Ai looked at Momiji's elegant demeanor and secretly thought to herself, "Wow!"

Koyo complained that the Suzuki Group was "ostentatious," "nouveau riche," and "lacking in heritage"...

But what she said... it sounded...

Is it more like referring to the Zhengyi Justice Group?
"His style of doing things is too flamboyant"

In Japan, no one's style of doing things is more flamboyant than Shoichi's.

"Newly rich who suddenly become wealthy"

There is no conglomerate that is newer than the Justice Group.

"Although I have money, I always feel like something is missing."

They lacked the elegance and reserve of established chaebols, and instead displayed the arrogance of nouveau riche.

Zheng Yi is so inelegant and lacks self-restraint.

Zheng Yi is too arrogant.

Hongye is subtly criticizing Hongye!

On the surface, he looks down on the Suzuki family, but in reality, he's subtly criticizing Shoichi's righteous group!
Ai glanced at Masakazu and realized that he didn't seem to notice that Koyo was scolding him.

That makes sense, though the Justice Group is new, Sumitomo is old, so Shoichi might not necessarily identify with it.

When someone criticizes Shoichi, Ai Haibara feels very comfortable, thinking, "Well said!"

Why are you looking at me so strangely?

Zheng Yi looked at Ai and felt that Ai's eyes were very strange. What's with that 'feeling good' look on your face?

"nothing?"

Ai and Momiji exchanged a glance, as if nothing had happened.

Zheng Yi snorted coldly.

Do you really think I didn't realize that Hongye was subtly criticizing me?

I just don't want to take it too seriously.

Because taking it too seriously is pointless; you can't exactly ask Hongye to write some kind of 'character customization coupon' for him, can you?
Zheng Yi waved his hand and asked, "Hachijō Island, right? When do we depart?"

"tomorrow morning."

Hongye said, "The Suzuki family will arrange a private jet."

"understood."

Hongye shook her head. "I don't plan to go with the Suzuki family. We'll take our private jet instead."

"The Suzuki family's airplanes... are too noisy."

Zheng Yi: "..."

Ai: "..."

They exchanged a glance.

Is this the "reserve" of established chaebols?

They even dislike airplanes?
Ai pouted at Masakazu.

You also come from a long-established conglomerate, don't you have any strange ideas too?
Zheng Yi shook his head.

I didn't.

Ai nodded.

Yes, you definitely don't have that problem, and you probably don't have the problem of joining the new conglomerate either.

No other young master from a wealthy family could be as shameless, filthy, dirty, despicable, and vile as you...

"Ow~"

Sensing that Ai was internally criticizing herself, Zheng Yi stretched out her paw and smacked her on the head.

Ai glared at Masahiro.

Zheng Yi gave a soft hum.

I tried to teach you a lesson, but you didn't dare to fight back. You were clearly talking about me behind my back, so you're in the wrong.

"Ok."

Zheng Yi shrugged helplessly. "A private jet it is then."

"but……"

He suddenly leaned closer to Hongye and lowered his voice, "Miss Hongye, did you really drag me to Hachijojima just to 'make a show'?"

"Or perhaps..."

Do you have any other plans?

Hongye blinked: "What kind of plan could I possibly have?"

Shall we go on a date?
Even if I'm on a date with you, I'll leave Ai at home.

"By the way, Ai, if you're worried about disrupting the research and don't want to go, you don't necessarily have to come with me."

Hongye hugged Ai and rubbed against her, looking like she was thinking of her.

Ai blinked.

It seems like Hongye didn't have anything good in mind.

"I think I should go?" Ai said.

If you won't let me go, then I certainly won't go wrong if I go.

“Okay, let’s go together!” Hongye said decisively.

This made Ai suspicious again.

"Then I think I'd better not go?"

"Huh? You really aren't going?" Hongye looked at Xiao Ai pitifully.

"go with!"

Ai said with a determined look, "I will definitely go."

It seems Hongye doesn't want me to go, so I'll definitely go. (End of Chapter)