He's in Detective Conan, and he's the mastermind behind everything.

It's not that we can't be together at all; at most, it's like many ordinary families these days. I'm busy outside during the day, and she stays at home.

In our daily conversations, I try to avoid making inferences and focus on what she cares about.

Gossip, cooking skills...

To be honest, I almost thought this was my future with her. Although I hadn't thought about it clearly, some images flashed through my mind, and I felt that I could accept it. After all, Xiaolan had waited for me for so many years, and I had to give her a result.

only……

Some unexpected things have happened recently.

The words fell softly, not even a fraction as loud as the deafening cheers from the stadium, but no matter how the ripples of the crowd swept over it like a tide, they instantly vanished upon touching this spot, transforming into a barrier around the reef.

Some unexpected things happened.

Ying Sheng suddenly realized that this was actually a very frequently used word.

He was talking, Ran was talking, and now Kudo is talking too.

One unexpected event after another led to the way things are now. Life is unpredictable, and that's generally true.

He turned his head to look at Xiaolan.

Xiao Lan also turned her head to look at him.

Leaning back in the empty front seat, a gentle smile bloomed on her face amidst the noisy backdrop.

Isn't this the best possible outcome?

Just as she herself had thought about it carefully, just as Shinichi is saying now.

They are both very good people, but they are just not a good match.

They were both too immature before and didn't seriously think about these issues, but now, after experiencing some things, she and Shinichi have both grown up.

Some people are destined not to stay together for a lifetime.

That's it, it's over.

Ying Sheng smiled, took Ran's hand, and asked Shinichi Kudo, "After spending time with Yukatsu, did you suddenly realize a different direction in your life?"

"Correct."

Shinichi Kudo sighed softly: "In the past, I had never really thought about these kinds of questions. Until this morning, I was tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep, looking at the dim sky outside the window, and thinking about many, many things."

The most crucial element is actually the comparison.

I don't mean to say that Xiaolan is bad, but some of her good qualities are not particularly attractive to me.

Compared to Kiyoko...

Actually, I haven't known her for very long, but we've inexplicably gone through a lot, especially the case. In just a few days, we've experienced more than I have in the past few months or even a year with Xiaolan.

Well, after all, I often run away on my own.

Even though Xiaolan was at the scene, she didn't feel involved at all, except for calling the police.

that's it.

It's unrealistic to say that I suddenly fell deeply in love with Kiyoko, but with her as a contrast, my feelings for Ran immediately became clear.

The occasional flutter of attraction I felt when I was a child and during our time together was mostly due to Ran's appearance.

What I gained from their long-term companionship was less affection and more a sense of being moved.

If Xiaolan is still waiting for me, I might…

"All right."

Ying Sheng interrupted, "Let's leave it at that. Afterwards, you and Xiao Lan can have a private talk, okay?"

Shinichi Kudo was silent for a few moments: "Thank you. You really are the most suitable person for her."

"Now, let's get back to the main topic. Judging from what you've said, it seems like something has happened to Cedar?"

"Yes, she's missing."

Chapter 250 ALL: True partings are always silent.

Vermouth has disappeared?

"What exactly happened?" Ying Sheng asked.

“Mr. Uozuka said that Kiyoko was hiding a secret, colluding with other forces to cause widespread destruction within the research institute, and finally escaped in the chaos.” Shinichi Kudo sighed. “I’m not entirely clear on the specifics, but around 2:30 a.m., she sent me an email.”

He told me to get along well with Xiaolan, that she would never come back, and not to worry about her.

They'll never come back...

Ying Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly. Regardless of whether the brewery had confirmed Vermouth's death, Vermouth had temporarily broken ties with the brewery.

What will happen to Qingzi's identity in the future?

Are there any ways to bridge the gap?

However, even if Kiyoko could replace Vermouth, the identity of "Cedar Kiyoko" couldn't have lasted long after the fire at the Ishida Mori family's house.

The brewery could not allow a codename member to continue posing as a high school student and dating a young boy.

From this perspective, it seems necessary to eliminate all those who know the truth.

A few thoughts flashed through Ying Sheng's mind, and he asked, "You can't contact her anymore?"

“I can’t get through to her on her old phone, and she hasn’t replied to my emails either.” Shinichi Kudo hesitated for a moment. “Actually, I wanted to ask you if you know anything about her secrets, or where she might have gone.”

Ying Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly: "Why do you think I know?"

Is this definitely not a test?

Could Shinichi Kudo have actually joined the brewery?

As for Vermouth's original phone being unreachable, that's to be expected; the phone is with Hotaru. If everything had gone smoothly, he planned to switch the phone back later, but that's clearly not an option now.

"Weren't you neighbors before? You must know something, right? And..."

Shinichi Kudo gritted his teeth: "Mizuki, you said before that the research institute sent people to find you because your parents were experimenting on you with a new drug they were developing. Did they find anything on you afterwards?"

"I'm perfectly fine, I understand. You think the person who experimented with that new drug was Xuesong?" Yingsheng asked curiously. "Why do you think that?"

"Given her physical condition and her previous unusual coma, Kiyoko showed a stronger resistance to the medication than I did when Ms. Shiho was administering it to us. However, she usually pretends to be very weak. I wondered if this involved some kind of secret."

Shinichi Kudo hesitated for two seconds: "Um, do you know what kind of medicine Shiho-san gave us?"

"I can roughly guess."

"Don't tell Xiaolan."

"This kind of thing doesn't matter now, anyway, your guess is quite reasonable, that's probably it, but I really don't know the specifics. You know, I have a bad memory and I also have delusions."

"...So are you sure you don't want to see a therapist?"

“With Miss Aida here, I can ask her for advice. As for Yukumatsu… well, didn’t you think she murdered her father in the past? Now that her mother is still alive, why don’t you investigate in that direction? Maybe, given her current state of mind of abandoning her identity and living in anonymity, she will do it again.”

"!!!"

Shinichi Kudo was startled; how could he have forgotten about this? He quickly asked, "Do you know where Nami Yukimatsu is?"

"You're a detective, why are you asking me this kind of thing?"

Although Ying Sheng knew, he naturally wouldn't say it. This kind of thing could go on for a long time. He thought for a moment and then asked, "And have you thought about what to do after you find her? Confess to her? Tell her that no matter what secrets she has, you will face them together and spend the rest of your life with her?"

"This……"

Shinichi Kudo was taken aback again. He hadn't actually thought about this before, but after a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "Right now, I just want to find her and hope that nothing happens to her. We can talk about everything else later."

"But didn't she tell you not to worry about her? Maybe if you go looking for her, you'll only hurt her."

"How could this be? She...I..."

Shinichi Kudo was in a state of confusion and was starting to ramble. Hotaru interrupted him, saying:

"Didn't you say that everyone at the research institute is a villain? And then Cedar caused some damage there, to the point that the place caught fire unexpectedly. Could they be trying to use your keen detective instincts to find her and take revenge?"

Shinichi Kudo remained silent.

He had to admit that Shuiyue had considered things more thoroughly than he had. The research institute looked so menacing, yet it let him leave so easily, most likely because they were secretly monitoring him and using him to find Qingzi.

But does that mean he can't do anything at all?

Shinichi Kudo raised an eyebrow: "Mizuki, what you said makes a lot of sense, but as long as the research institute doesn't find out about my search for Kiyoko, that's fine, isn't it? As for whether what Kiyoko is doing is right or wrong, and whether I should help her, let's leave that for later."

"Heh..." Hotaru laughed too. "Kudo, are you that confident?"

“I can’t just stand by and watch.” Shinichi Kudo smiled confidently. “Besides, I’ve never lost a case when it comes to deduction…” He paused, thinking of Moriarty, whose identity remains unknown to this day.

But then he mustered his courage again: "Well, I'll do my best anyway."

Ying Sheng smiled and said, "Then I wish you success. I won't disturb your recovery any longer. Goodbye."

"Okay, goodbye...wait a minute!"

Shinichi Kudo paused for two seconds, then smiled nonchalantly: "Give my best wishes to Ran and hope she wins the championship."

"It will definitely happen, let's wait for the good news."

Ying Sheng hung up the phone and looked at Xiao Lan.

Xiaolan took off her earphones and handed them back to him. She smiled slightly, took a deep breath, raised and lowered her hands in front of her chest, stretched her neck, and her eyes shone brightly.

"For my own sake, I will definitely win!"

“Talk is cheap,” Ying Sheng said with a smile, leaning back in his chair and gesturing towards the end of the aisle. “It’s your turn, Xiao Lan.”

Ran looked up and saw that the Teitan High School contestants had just lined up.

She nodded and strode over there. Behind her, the contestants from Beika High School were returning to the stands from the other side, and immediately cheered loudly upon seeing her.

"Xiao Lan! FIGHTING!!!"

Xiao Lan didn't turn around. She raised her right hand over her shoulder, clenched her fist tightly, and the cheering crowd fell silent for a moment, followed by an even more fervent uproar.

"Xiao Lan, you're so cool!"

"I want to marry you!"