Isn't it very scientific to use the Death Note to kill people?

"I will naturally do what I promised you."

Lin Jiashu smiled, his gaze falling on her profile, which seemed a little softer than before. "Especially since you should like it here."

Upon hearing this, Curaçao's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Hayashi Yoshiki gave her a false identity and false hobbies, but tragically, the sense of belonging she felt to that identity far exceeded her identification with "Curaçao".

"……Um."

She ultimately just gave a soft reply.

She couldn't deny that deep down, she truly liked this place and longed for everything it represented.

A brief silence fell between the two, broken only by faint sounds coming from the front hall and the occasional chirping of birds outside the window.

This tranquility didn't embarrass Curaçao; instead, it gave her a strange sense of peace. She didn't need to be constantly vigilant, didn't need to think about missions or betrayals, she could simply sit here, drink a cup of herbal tea, and watch the sunlight and jasmine outside the window.

"Next time you come, you can try to help take care of these flowers."

Lin Jiashu suddenly suggested, his voice very soft, with a subtle hint of guidance, "Pruning branches and leaves, watering... it's simple and stress-relieving."

Curaçao looked up and met his smiling eyes. Those eyes clearly reflected her image, as if she really was just the florist girl named "Shimizu Rei".

A strong, almost irrational desire surged within her—to make it all a reality.

She remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded gently under his warm gaze.

"...I will."

It was just a simple answer, but it represented yet another softening of her inner defenses.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on her lowered eyelashes and quietly warming her long-frozen heart.

At that moment, she suddenly felt that life in Curaçao wasn't so unbearable after all. At least, at the end of the darkness, there was a flower shop filled with sunshine and the fragrance of flowers, waiting for her.

Therefore, she dared not continue to be so carefree.

To truly embrace the sunlight, she quickly put down her teacup, the ceramic making a soft "click" as it touched the wooden tabletop.

"Cointreau."

Lin Jiashu looked up at her, not surprised by the change in her demeanor, and simply waited quietly.

"Rum has already begun his operation."

Curaçao spoke calmly, “He doesn’t believe Binga’s betrayal, and he probably has doubts about the practicality of the cross-age tracking system. He’s secretly accessing all the childhood photos of Shirley that he can find, preparing to compare them himself.”

She paused here, observing Lin Jiashu's reaction, but he simply nodded slightly, signaling her to continue.

"He also gave me a task—to find Naomi Algent's exact whereabouts. He seemed to suspect that Vermouth's motives for taking the developer away were not pure."

After listening, Lin Jiashu's face did not show the seriousness or urgency that Curaçao had expected.

He even chuckled softly and reached out to gently fiddle with the delicate leaves of a potted asparagus fern next to him.

"I couldn't resist after all..."

He whispered as if he had expected it, "After all, it involves APTX-4869, like a shark smelling blood."

"Let him investigate the photos. Some things become more suspicious the more they are concealed. Once he confirms Sherry's existence, it will actually be an opportunity. As for Naomi Algent..."

At this point, Lin Jiashu's lips curled into a smile: "Since Mr. Rum is so concerned about her whereabouts, then you should do your best to investigate. When the time is right, I will give you some clues that he hopes to see."

Although Curaçao didn't understand his confidence, she was certain that Hayashi Yoshiki was not afraid of the investigation and even planned to use it to set a trap for Rum.

"I understand."

Curaçao nodded, gaining a deeper understanding of the man's abilities and feeling slightly more at ease as she clarified the next steps.

After finishing her business, Curaçao's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and her gaze unconsciously drifted towards the jasmine outside the window.

Lin Jiashu took in her subtle changes. He stood up, walked to the jasmine bush, carefully cut off a few that were in full bloom, wrapped them in simple kraft paper, and handed them to her.

"Take it back and put it in your room; it can help you sleep."

His tone returned to its previous gentleness, "Next time you come, perhaps you can ask the staff to teach you flower arranging."

Curaçao looked at the bouquet of pure white, fragrant jasmine, then at Lin Jiashu's smiling face, and silently accepted it.

The fragrance of flowers is intoxicating, carrying an almost luxurious warmth.

"I am looking forward."

She responded softly again, her fingers tightening slightly as she held the bouquet.

Chapter 91: Winning the Lottery

The shopping mall was busier than usual after school today.

Ran Mouri and Sonoko Suzuki strolled among the dazzling array of shops, already carrying several shopping bags filled with new clothes.

"I was wondering why there were so many people ahead of me, turns out there's a lucky draw event."

As they passed through the mall's atrium, Sonoko looked surprised to see the long queue ahead, and then she became interested: "It looks really lively, Ran, let's try our luck!"

"Okay, sure."

Xiao Lan's interest was also piqued.

The two happily joined the queue.

As the group moved slowly forward, the two saw what the prizes for the raffle were... In addition to some small appliances, the first prize was a two-night, three-day Hakone Onsen package for two people.

When it was finally their turn, Sonoko was the first to step forward, eager to try her luck. She vigorously shook the lever of the lottery box, spinning it several times before a small blue ball rolled out.

"what is this?"

"Congratulations! Here is the tissue you drew. Please accept it."

"What the heck... tissues again."

Sonoko pouted, somewhat reluctantly giving her seat to Ran. "Ran, it's your turn! Show them the hot spring tickets!"

"It's not that easy to win."

The third prize, however, includes a coupon for a nearby cake shop…

Xiao Lan, who was quite interested in this, smiled and gently shook the lever, turning the lottery box several times. With a "click," a dazzling golden bead rolled out along the track, bounced lightly at the retrieval slot, and then came to a stop.

The surroundings fell silent for a moment.

Immediately, the staff burst into excited congratulations: "Congratulations, young lady! You've won first prize! A two-night, three-day Hakone onsen package for two!"

"Huh? Really?"

Xiao Lan looked at the golden bead with some surprise.

The gardener next to him stared wide-eyed.

"No way... You really won the jackpot again? How come you always win so easily? Xiaolan, what's wrong with your luck?"

"I was just really lucky."

Xiaolan herself felt a little guilty.

It seems that she always manages to win prizes easily in any kind of lottery or giveaway. After this happens a lot, she always gets a strange sense of getting the better deal.

Sonoko was still quite envious.

After completing the prize redemption procedures, Xiaolan held the beautifully printed hot spring voucher and stared at the words "Double Set Meal" on it, lost in thought.

A set meal for two...

Sonoko leaned closer and looked at it curiously: "It's a two-person set meal. If Ran and you guys want to go, you'll have to add the kid who's staying at your house, right?"

"Ah, um..."

Xiaolan's response was somewhat ambiguous.

When she saw the two-person set meal, the first thing that came to her mind was Lin Jiashu's gentle, smiling face.

She subconsciously looked forward to it for a moment.

Is Jia Shu not too busy lately?

Should we ask him tonight?

Unexpectedly, Xiaolan at home also became increasingly conflicted as she indulged in this daydream.

If I go out alone with Yoshiki for three days and two nights... what reason can I give to my father and Conan?

So you're saying you're going out with Sonoko?

No, Sonoko, that big mouth, will definitely let it slip.

Saying you're joining a karate club training camp? The timing doesn't seem to match up, and it would be very easy to give yourself away.

All the way there, Xiaolan was troubled by the lottery ticket she had won.

Back home, she was like a squirrel cautiously hiding its food, not immediately telling Kogoro Mouri and Conan about winning the lottery. It wasn't until later that evening, when everyone was resting, that she secretly took out her phone, crawled into bed, and, with a mix of nervousness and anticipation, dialed Yoshiki Hayashi's number.

The call was answered quickly.

"Hey, Xiaolan? Why are you still up so late? What's up?"

"Yoshiki-nii..." Ran lowered her voice, as if afraid her father and Conan next door would hear, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of the blanket, her heart pounding, "Um, today, I won a two-person hot spring trip voucher in a lottery..."

On the other end of the phone, Lin Jiashu heard Xiaolan's voice, which was filled with a mix of nervousness and anticipation, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved into a smile.

"You got selected? Xiaolan is really lucky." His voice, coming through the receiver, carried a reassuring warmth. "I should be able to arrange the time; I'd be happy to go with you."

"Really? That's great—"

Ran's tone was filled with barely suppressed excitement, but then it turned to worry. "But... how should I tell Dad and Conan? They'll definitely ask me all sorts of questions if I go out alone with Yoshiki for three days and two nights."

Especially that kid Conan, he's frighteningly perceptive.

"Yes, that is indeed a problem."

Lin Jiashu pondered for a moment after hearing Xiaoran's words, and then said, "If we can't find a suitable reason, how about... we all go together this time? Let's invite Uncle Mori, Conan, or even Sonoko. It would be nice to have a lively time."

Shall we all go together?

Xiaolan hesitated for a moment.

While it's fun to go with everyone, even if it's only occasionally, she also has more times when she wants to be alone with Yoshiki without being disturbed.

After all, that's how the honeymoon phase should be...

Being able to briefly escape the busyness of taking care of the family and spend three days and two nights with Yoshiki-san without any burden would probably be very relaxing.

However, Ran also knew that if they insisted on going out together without a reasonable excuse, it would only arouse more suspicion, especially Conan. If he knew that she was going to a hot spring vacation with Yoshiki, he might actually sneak over... and then their hard-earned vacation together would be ruined.

Sensing her hesitation, Lin Jiashu's voice came again, reassuring: "It's okay, Xiaolan. It's good to go with everyone; the important thing is that we'll have more time to see each other, right?"

He could always easily soothe her emotions.

His words gradually melted away the girl's slight disappointment.

That's true...

Whether I'm alone or with others, being with Yoshiki-san is always a happy experience.

But then she suddenly thought of something.

Her eyes lit up, and she blurted out, "Ah! That's right! Jia Shu, then... then how about we just ask Mom if she wants to come along!"

"Are you only asking Aunt Eri?" Hayashi Yoshiki was a little surprised.

"Well, I'll just tell Dad and the others that Mom is working too hard, and I won a lottery ticket. I'd like to invite Mom to relax a bit... That should be fine."

"So I'll hide near Uncle Mori and the others first, right?"

"Um... um."

Xiao Lan blushed slightly.

To be honest, she's not a girl who's good at lying, but if she does it this way, then it doesn't count as lying, right?

After all, she only won a ticket for two and invited her mother, but she kept it a secret that Yoshiki would also be coming along.

Because her mother has always been very supportive of her and Yoshiki-san... so even though their vacation went from two people to three, they could be more open about it if it were her.

"Okay, let's decide on that then. Aunt Eri seems to be very busy with work lately, so going to a hot spring to relax will be good for both her body and mind."