Ms. Moriarty wants to save Beika Town today too.

This endearing remark caused Akemi to tap her shoulder.

Although Mingmei had reason to believe that Winnet would prefer the food made by Xiaoai, she was still in a good mood and slipped into the kitchen to prepare. On weekdays, she would not spend too much effort. If she went to great lengths every time as if she was entertaining a guest, Winnet would scold her. She maintained a good middle value, making simple dishes look rich and increasing Winnet's portion; at first, she was worried whether Winnet would gain weight, but now she no longer has such worries. Winnet's figure is not plump, but graceful. She guessed that her flexibility is comparable to that of a yoga master.

While Mingmei was preparing food, Winette took over the cleaning work. Her movements were quite mechanical, wiping from one corner to another. What she was thinking about during the process was not cleaning, but Vermouth - she had already imprinted the environment of the room in her mind. She guessed the extent of Vermouth's knowledge and her attitude: Conan's identity could not be hidden for long, Vermouth would know it sooner or later. What was intriguing was her attitude. She showed enough friendliness when facing Xiaolan, and it was likely that she would do the same to Conan.

Although the mysterious Vermouth is often hard to figure out what she is thinking, she is not the kind of person who hides a knife behind a smile, and her emotional expression is relatively clear.

As she thought about this, she could already smell the aroma coming from the kitchen. Vermouth invited her to dinner, but she refused, as she was still quite hungry; the food served on the table included baked meat pies and stew, as well as pudding as dessert.

Winette followed after smelling the aroma. She preferred "local cuisine". Western restaurants here always tried to imitate French cuisine, but the portions were not enough, even at the previous gathering - the total amount was not as good as a portion of fish and chips sold in the countryside.

Although she had received education in dining, she hardly used that in her life and didn't care about manners. She cut the pie roughly with a knife and fork, and then used chopsticks to pick it up and put it on the plate impatiently, which made Mingmei laugh.

"It's just like what Ai said, like a little animal."

These words tickled Winnet's ears, making her ears feel hot, and she complained a little bit about Xiao Ai saying everything. This description gave her a sense of fun, it was an intimate topic, and it was strange for someone other than Xiao Ai to talk about it; because she also regarded Mingmei as a close person, she felt even more strange in her heart, so she could only blink her eyes and eat.

After dinner, she took a walk in the yard, and when the food was almost digested, she started her routine exercise; she was wearing a tight sportswear that made her look a bit strange. However, there was no need to worry about such things in the walled garden. She changed her sweaty clothes and went into the bathroom. Unexpectedly, she ran into Mingmei; Mingmei stayed in the bathroom, facing the mirror without any movement, and was so quiet that she didn't make any sound, like a girl trying to confirm where a pimple had grown on her face, looking hard without breathing.

She pulled a towel in front of her in a somewhat awkward manner, and caught a glimpse of part of the mirror. Mingmei, who had taken off her disguise, was using a facial mask for maintenance; wearing something like a mask all day long would indeed cause skin problems. Winette herself often ignored this point, following her habit when she couldn't see her appearance clearly in the mirror, and laughed off whatever others said about her appearance. Mingmei didn't care as much as she did. Both of them were women, and her eyes did not go beyond the normal boundaries, just like in the women's locker room and hot springs, but there were still some parts that she was curious about; although she had seen swimsuits, she had not seen anything more private. Although she was avoiding suspicion, an accidental event opened a hole in the old-fashioned dogma and allowed her to see it. Smooth and smooth, small and straight. If it was a close friend, she might joke about the size or something like that, but thinking that she was her sister's girlfriend, she avoided such thoughts.

Mingmei straightened her gaze, but she could still see Winnet in the mirror, and she seemed to be in a dilemma.

Winnett finally stayed and looked over the curtain. "I didn't hear any sound, so I thought no one was there."

"Ah, I was daydreaming."

Mingmei smiled and stuffed Winnet's clothes into the laundry basket. She felt Winnet was a little shy. It turned out that this reaction was not only seen when meeting someone she liked. Overall, it was still very cute, and people couldn't help but want to tease her: "Let me help you drain the water?"

Winnet shook her head like a rattle, indicating that it was totally fine for her to do it, but Mingmei pointed out that the vision would be blocked after the steam came out. It actually made no difference to Winnet with or without it, but Mingmei felt that since Winnet could see the words on the books clearly, it meant that her eyesight would not be a big problem for her to live a normal life. She still didn't know that Winnet was more accustomed to using hearing to judge the surroundings.

She told Winnet to take a bath first and filled the bathtub herself.

Winnet suddenly felt that the design of the bathroom was very strange. The shower area and the bathtub were not connected. It might be designed for families, and it was different from the design of hotels. But this made the situation even stranger. She was outside and Mingmei was inside.

If I start washing, won’t I be seen naked?

Well, that’s nothing, but it’s still a bit uncomfortable.

Winnet threw away the subtle feeling, raised her head and splashed towards the water, gradually relaxing, and opened her eyes the moment Mingmei opened the curtain.

"Miss Winnett, do you usually... um, clean your body hair regularly?"

"No, I can still feel it if I touch it..."

The direction of the topic was a bit strange. It was impossible for Mingmei to really touch it, even though areas like the armpits were indeed smooth.

“This is really enviable.”

"……Have it?"

Mingmei nodded. It was a rare experience to discuss such things with Winette. Since the mask on her face was getting wrinkled in the mist, she didn't stay for long and asked if there was any laundry to be done.

"I can just do it myself..."

Winnet felt as if she had no place to use her strength.

……

374 Yes, very similar

Winnett took a longer bath than usual. Her body seemed to be firmly absorbed by the foam, and the shiny floor tiles reflected her; her silver hair floated on the surface of the bathtub, like a water lily in a pond under the moon. Her fingers slid slowly on the round edge of the white porcelain bathtub, and then with a force, she dived into the water, the overflowing water splashed on the ground, and then she suddenly emerged and stepped on the ground barefoot.

The white bath towel brushed across her rosy skin and hastily wrapped her long hair. Winnet was always concise in this regard, just like her short career as a killer; she cleaned up the bathroom neatly and walked into the living room, catching a glimpse of Mingmei sitting on the sofa listening to a soothing music disc. She was holding a book in her hand, and when she saw Winnet coming, she pretended to read a passage from the book in a serious tone.

A little off-tune, Winnet thought.

However, Mingmei's voice is crisp and penetrating, and although she usually speaks in a gentle tone, this quality is not concealed - it is overplayed at this time. When reading a tragic story, it is really heartfelt; Winnet leaned on the sofa with her arms, listening, and smiled.

Mingmei put down the book and said with a smile: "In fact, for a while, I wanted to be a broadcaster, but I couldn't let go."

Winnet was surprised. This sounded good to her. She would have stuttered and mumbled and stopped when necessary. It was important to understand the content of the book, and pauses and emotions were indispensable.

She could still try to perform, but it would be difficult for her to put in the emotions.

"Well, it's a loss for the TV station," Winnett said. "You have so many talents, it's a waste of your talent to assign you the position of a servant."

Mingmei looked up and smiled at Winnett, and then said that she also had dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Teenage girls love to dream, but none of these dreams can compare to the most important dream, which has already been realized.

"With Shiho here, and you, Miss Winnet," Mingmei said, "and other people, it's the greatest happiness to be able to live like this."

Winette reached out and straightened Mingmei, who was looking up. "Stop, stop talking about sentimentality, and move forward!" As she said this, she changed the disc to the Egmont Overture, without any sentimental notes left.

However, Mingmei was actually happier.

Winnett didn't completely understand the complex psychology of women, but it was ultimately an extension of her habitual thinking, and she tended to interpret it in the direction of emotion. Friendship didn't seem right, and love was even more impossible; she regarded Mingmei as a relative, and this attitude finally became more natural. She saw needles and thread on the table, so she picked them up and made a knitted doll. Winnett, whose skills were a little rusty, made a Q version of Mingmei, round and plump. "This is for you," she said.

Mingmei picked a strawberry in her hand and put it to Winnet's mouth.

"You bring more surprises." Mingmei said while pinching the big-headed doll.

"I used to weave wreaths until my hands were sore, but now I kind of miss it."

"Who just said not to say anything sentimental?"

Winnet's eyes were fixed on Mingmei, and her eyes seemed to be burning in the slightly deeper purple. "Just a casual remark, but it's more precious to me now." Winnet held her cheek, stretched her hands forward, stood up, and stretched. She yawned slowly, "It's time to go to bed, there are good things waiting for tomorrow." She drank a glass of milk after that.

Mingmei tidied up the table a bit and followed Winette upstairs. The two said goodbye in the corridor.

Winette closed the door, opened the drawer of the desk, picked up the compartment inside, and took out a mobile phone.

The phone is vibrating.

The tenderness that lingered around Winnett disappeared in an instant. "Hello," she answered the phone. Gin's hoarse voice came from the other end, "I heard that you were with Vermouth these past two days. Oh, I have to remind you that that woman is not someone you can get along with. Moreover, it seems that she has been very close to Bourbon recently."

Winette came to the window, opened it, and walked to the balcony. "You called me to tell me about girls playing house? You are a grown man, why are you so suspicious?" She followed her usual attitude and didn't give Gin face. Gin didn't get angry after hearing her words. He threw away the cigarette and snorted: "Last time you made a fuss, the FBI sent more people here. They seem to be planning to investigate you. Be careful and don't do it again."

"I know." Winnet replied, and the call was immediately hung up. Gin didn't seem to know that Vermouth was pretending to be Shinchu, but only knew that she was still active in Japan, and even this matter should have been learned from Vermouth. Winnet lay on the bed, not worried about it. Not many members in Japan knew her true identity, and she didn't leave any evidence at the airport. Rather than saying that the FBI sent more people to cause trouble for her, it's better to say that they were afraid, so this result occurred.

The next morning, Winnet went to church. The focus of development was inexplicably diverted. Tian Qian used her funds to sponsor some well-known people in the industry to open training centers, and preaching was incidental. Now it is famous. Believers followed to experience the activity class, and they were all very satisfied. At her invitation, she was warmly received as if she were a leader inspecting. In the afternoon, she came into contact with the core matters, the cooperation program with the Pure Girls' School, and even invited a currently popular singer.

The teachers were particularly enthusiastic when they saw her, and even the school leaders accompanied her on the tour, which made Winnet feel very uncomfortable. She had to find ways to bite the bullet and find something to say. In order to meet their own imaginary "her expectations", they also arranged for her to meet the singer.

Winette didn't really want to see him, but she couldn't refuse the standard Japanese gentle words. She didn't know much about fashion, and she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to call out the other person's name if she saw him.

The principal of the Pure Girls' School is a mature female teacher. She does not feel servile towards Winnet, but she still does not treat her from the perspective of a young person, but always addresses her with respect.

"The one who is coaching our choir is the new talented female singer Miss Akiba Reiko." She said a little excitedly.

"I don't know much about singers," Winette said with a warm smile. "But seeing that you like this singer so much, I know she must be someone with a voice that can move people's hearts."

"Ah, her singing voice does have such power."

"Wouldn't it be a waste of talent for a singer like this to instruct high school students?"

"In fact, many of our students aim to enter the Domoto Music Academy. In addition to adding some topics, it also serves as a publicity tool. Ms. Akiba graduated from the Domoto Music Academy."

"So that's it."

Winnett is a nobody. She is here because she is a "sponsor" and has added some hymns to the repertoire.

Ms. Fantian is also a person who does big things. She even established connections with TV stations in advance, and planned to use the reputation to promote her once she won a place in the orchestral competition or choral competition. In this way, although the church is only an inconspicuous role, it will still become a check-in place for those who are interested, and even send their children to learn music.

Winnett felt that it was a waste of talent for Akane Fantian to work for her; she followed the dean into the auditorium, which was empty as the students had not finished their classes yet. In the center of the front row was a woman wearing a medium-collared off-white top. She was facing the stage, holding the sheet music in her hand, and she only raised her eyes slightly when they walked onto the red carpet in front of the stage. Winnett heard a faint sound coming from her headphones.

However, she had never heard of this song.

"Ms. Qiu Ting, this is——"

"A temporary foreign player?" Reiko Akiba took off her headphones while sitting on a chair. "Although the lead singer has a severe cold, it is not necessary to have a foreigner replace him. There are other excellent students."

The Dean had already begun to apologize to Winnet, but she was too polite to explain herself clearly.

She was a little confused. Normally, Miss Qiuting was extremely strict, but today, she spoke to the students for the first time.

"Well, just sing a few lines for me."

As she spoke, Reiko Akiba sat on the piano in front of the podium and prepared to play.

"that--"

The Dean was about to speak when he was interrupted by Winnet's gesture.

"Well, it's a rare opportunity."

“You speak Japanese well.”

"well enough."

“I hope you sing like that.”

She began to play one of the pieces in the program, which was familiar to Winnett because she had recruited musicians for the arrangement.

"The redeemed leaves will float out of the garden, one by one, to the shudder of love—"

She only played a short part, and Winnett sang along. The head teacher next to her saw that she was enjoying it, so he didn't say anything.

"That's amazing," she asked. "Are you a professional? Could it be that the rich man behind this wanted you to come here?"

Winnett did not reveal her identity directly. The singer's arrogant attitude did not disgust her. On the contrary, she gave her a sense of familiarity, some of which she had seen in others. Her carelessness and scrutiny reminded Winnett of Ai.

"It seems like you hate this rich man?" she walked up to her and asked.

"No. That's what professional singers do. They just sing for money."

"That's it."

"By the way, I haven't seen you before." Akita Reiko looked at her. "Are you a child star?" she asked.

Winnett heard the dean of studies next to her trying to hold back her laughter; there really was no point in hiding it any further.

"I am the rich person who pays you to sing and teach students." Winnet found surprise in the arrogant expression of the woman in front of her.

This feeling was indeed very interesting. She finally understood why Vermouth always liked to keep secrets on her lips and loved to play so-called surprises.

Reiko Akita frowned, and it was not until the dean explained that she believed what Winnett said, and then she said, "You are such a bad-taste girl."

"I'm already twenty-three." She lied about her age, and it wouldn't make a difference if she added three years.

She does look a little childish. From a European perspective, Akita Reiko's guess is not wrong. She may look like a high school student, but in fact she is just a junior high school student. Those who look like college students are probably high school students. Her words embarrassed Akita Reiko. Until now, she had not regarded Winnet as an adult like her. Her face flushed slightly, and she immediately straightened her face.

"Are you here for the inspection?" she asked.

Winnet shook her head, but she didn't use the dean as a shield. "I'm just here to listen to the music and songs. There's nothing like live performances," she said, holding the program in front of her.

Soon it was time for the students' club activities; then it was Reiko Akita's turn to instruct the students. She seemed absent-minded, but she was always finding the key issues. Because Winnet could hear it, she wondered if Reiko Akita had absolute pitch. She asked, and after getting a positive answer, she asked again. Winnet didn't care much and nodded in agreement.

“That’s a shame,” said Akita Reiko. “You look like a cantor in the Cathedral of Our Lady.”

It's a stereotype because her hair is silver-white and it's easy to associate her with religion, angels, and music.

Overall, it was a pleasant experience. Winnet greeted the students, and although they treated her more like a mascot, it didn't feel awkward at all.

"It's quite popular." said Reiko Akita.

"Your attitude is too cold."

Winnett didn't mean to preach when she said this. There were many people who didn't like this kind of troublesome etiquette, and she herself was one of them. However, she only knew Ai, who could calmly adopt this attitude.

Now there is one more.

Winnett didn't stay long. When the practice ended, Akita Reiko was also leaving. Winnett noticed that she was carrying a bunch of white flowers and said:

"Are you going to commemorate someone? How about I take you there?"

"No thanks," she replied. "I thought you couldn't see clearly."

“The smell and the sound were very noticeable,” she said.

Akita Reiko said that she was going to commemorate her fiancé, who had passed away three years ago. Winnet never delved into these matters and never asked about them, but on the way back she also bought a few flowers and placed them in a vase soaked in water.

A few days later, when the elementary school students also had a day off, Winnet dressed up a little and went to the door. But from the doctor, I learned that Xiao Ai had gone out early in the morning with several friends from school. Winnet regretted not communicating by email. I don’t know if it’s because she lacks the habit of communication or she is too accustomed to the development of the Internet in later generations. She is not too enthusiastic about online communication, and writing letters is too exaggerated - the two houses are only a hundred meters apart.

"Ai-chan said she was accompanying Ayumi to a beautician's house to get her hair cut, and she should be back around noon."

Dr. Agasa wiped the cream on the edge of his beard and said to Winnet.

……

375 Hold on tight

Mingmei had to go to class, so Winnet was alone at noon, so she simply prepared food at the doctor's house. But she waited for Ai to come back.

"Dr. Agasa," she removed the plastic wrap, "let's eat first."