A Chance Encounter

When Lin Maoxian and Kisaki Eri arrived at the crime scene, they saw someone already there, studying the scene and working through the case. Taking a closer look, they realized it was Kudo Shinichi, back in his own body.

Watching the young man energetically investigate, Kisaki Eri smiled and said, "Lin, this young man is impressive. I feel like he's almost as good as you."

Lin Maoxian thought, He's more than almost as good. When it comes to solving cases, he could probably do the work of ten men like me. "Eri, I'm afraid you don't know who this young man is, do you?"

Kisaki Eri asked in confusion, "Oh? Who is he? From the way you put it, I should know him, but I really don't."

"He's the high school detective known as the Sherlock Holmes of the Heisei era: Kudo Shinichi. You must know of him, right?" Lin Maoxian said with a smile, revealing Kudo Shinichi's identity.

"Oh? Him. I've heard of him. They say he's very good at solving cases, and seeing him today, he really is extraordinary. But it's been so many years since I last saw him. That mischievous little boy has grown up into a famous detective. I never would have imagined it." Kisaki Eri was clearly surprised to hear Kudo Shinichi's name. Back then, he'd seemed like nothing more than a naughty little boy to her. She hadn't expected him to change so much over the years.

Lin Maoxian sighed. "Yes, life is full of twists and turns. Who could have predicted it? But if Kudo Shinichi is here, Ran should be nearby too. Let's go look for her. With him on the case, everything should be fine. We don't need to get involved."

That was what Lin Maoxian said, but he was thinking, Why didn't I get a mission this time? Is something wrong somewhere? What rules govern the side missions given by the space? I can't figure it out. I'd hoped to earn some Source Points. There's no danger, either, but it looks like things aren't that simple.

"What? You're saying Ran is here too? No way. Didn't I tell her not to get too close to that boy? She doesn't even listen to me anymore." Hearing that her daughter was here, on a date with her childhood friend, made Kisaki Eri angry.

Lin Maoxian and Kisaki Eri first looked through the crowd, but Ran was nowhere to be seen. Then they searched the dining area. Before long, they spotted Ran sitting alone at a table, lost in thought.

"Hi, Ran. There you are. Looks like I was right—she came with Kudo Shinichi." Lin Maoxian greeted Ran, then turned to Kisaki Eri.

Mouri Ran's train of thought was interrupted. Seeing Lin Maoxian and Kisaki Eri, she asked in surprise, "Mom, what are you doing here? And...?"

"Why shouldn't I be here? Only you and your childhood friend are allowed to come? Didn't I tell you not to get too close to him? Why won't you listen to your mother?" Kisaki Eri angrily cut her daughter off.

Looking at her mother's furious expression, Mouri Ran said quietly, "Mom, I didn't say you couldn't come. I was just wondering why you came with Mr. Lin. Also, have you seen Shinichi?"

At the mention of the man beside her, Kisaki Eri's eyes flickered. She took a moment to calm down before replying, "You don't need to worry about me. You should worry about yourself. We already saw him at the crime scene. He left his date alone to solve a case. I can't believe he thought that was a good idea." Her tone grew sharp again at the end.

"Mom, I'm your daughter, you know! How can I not worry about you? And Shinichi isn't as bad as you say. I was the one who told him to go investigate the case. It wasn't his fault." Mouri Ran was unhappy with her mother's criticism of the man she loved. In her eyes, Shinichi hadn't done anything wrong. Her mother shouldn't have spoken about him that way.

"You..."

"All right, all right. Let's drop it. Eri, Ran should decide for herself what she thinks of Kudo Shinichi. All we can do is guide her. Besides, Ran is right: Kudo Shinichi isn't as bad as you say. He's handsome and smart, good at solving cases, and devoted to Ran. Apart from being so engrossed in cases that he sometimes neglects her, he doesn't have any real flaws. Just let them see where things go." Seeing Kisaki Eri's angry expression, Lin Maoxian wisely interrupted her before the two could start arguing.

Besides, he thought Kudo Shinichi was a pretty good guy. He was handsome, didn't chase after other women, and was devoted to Ran. He seemed like a fine man. At the very least, Lin Maoxian knew he couldn't be as devoted as Kudo Shinichi, so it was only natural that he spoke up for him.

"You certainly know how to talk." Her tone still wasn't very pleasant, but Kisaki Eri's expression had softened considerably. She didn't want to quarrel with her daughter, so she took the opportunity to back down.

Seeing that Kisaki Eri had calmed down, Lin Maoxian turned to Mouri Ran and said, "Ran, even if your mom was a little unfair, she was only thinking of you. If you weren't her daughter, but just a stranger, she wouldn't have interfered or said those things. Apologize to your mom and help her calm down. Don't let her get so worked up." As he spoke, he winked at Ran, urging her to act quickly.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I was a little rude just now. I won't do it again. Please forgive me." Taking Lin Maoxian's advice, Mouri Ran immediately began to plead sweetly with Kisaki Eri.

"You'd better remember that. I've said what I needed to say. If something happens later, don't blame me." Kisaki Eri spoke to her daughter, then turned to Lin Maoxian. "Lin, when was I worked up just now? Do I really have such a bad temper?"

Looking at Kisaki Eri's expression, Lin Maoxian answered with great care, "Of course not, Eri. I think you're the gentlest person there is."

"Hmph." Kisaki Eri was very pleased by his answer. She gave a dainty snort and said no more.

Seeing that, Lin Maoxian quickly changed the subject and addressed Mouri Ran. "Ran, I didn't lie to you, did I? I said you'd see him again. I always keep my promises."

"Was Mr. Lin the one who brought Shinichi back? Thank you so much. You made it possible for me to see him again." Mouri Ran immediately expressed her gratitude when she heard Lin Maoxian say that he had brought Kudo Shinichi back.

"Ha, it was nothing. I was going to find him anyway. Helping you was just an added bonus." Lin Maoxian smiled as he claimed the credit. He didn't think he was lying. Without him, Kudo Shinichi would still be Conan, and Ran wouldn't have been able to see him. It was only right for her to thank him.

"Lin, I want to talk to Ran about something. Could you go see how things are going with Kudo Shinichi?" Kisaki Eri interrupted his thoughts.

Lin Maoxian was taken aback, but he still smiled and said, "All right. I'll go see how that famous detective is doing with the case. You two have a chat." He stood up and went to the crime scene. He was curious about what the mother and daughter wanted to discuss in private, but he still left to give them some space, lest he become a nuisance.

Watching Lin Maoxian walk away, Mouri Ran asked her mother, "Mom, what did you want to tell me that you had to send Mr. Lin away?"

Kisaki Eri gently brushed aside a few strands of hair in front of her face before replying, "Ran, I'm not against you dating Kudo Shinichi. I just hope you'll keep your eyes open and not decide too soon that he's the one. Take the time to observe him, so you won't regret it later. Understand?"

Seeing that her mother looked calm and wasn't angry, Mouri Ran replied softly, "Mom, I understand. You don't have to bring it up again. I'm not a child anymore, and I can make up my own mind. That can't be the only reason you sent Mr. Lin away, can it?" Seeing her mother raise the same old subject again, Mouri Ran answered her, then quickly changed the topic. She knew her mother meant well, but she could make her own decisions.

"You little rascal." Seeing that her daughter wasn't taking her words to heart, Kisaki Eri sighed and let the matter drop.

"Lin confessed to me just now. He wants us to spend our lives together." Kisaki Eri told her daughter about Lin Maoxian's confession.

Hearing that, Mouri Ran immediately grew anxious. "Mom, did you say yes? What about Dad? Are you planning to divorce him?"

"Ran, don't panic. I haven't agreed to Lin's proposal. I feel like I haven't known him long enough, and the whole thing doesn't feel real yet. I told him I like him very much, but that I'd like us to spend more time together. Then, if things work out, we can be together naturally. But he's going back to China, and I don't know when he'll come to Japan again."

As she spoke, Kisaki Eri glanced at her daughter with a sorrowful expression. "As for your father, I lost faith in him a long time ago. I don't have feelings for him anymore. Even if I don't end up with Lin, divorcing your father is inevitable. Ran, I'm telling you this because I want you to be prepared. I don't want to hurt you. I hope you can understand."

"But... but, Mom, Dad's still a good person. He still misses you so much. I want our family to stay together forever." Hearing that her parents were sure to divorce, Mouri Ran couldn't hold back her tears. She had always hoped her mother would reconcile with her father, so their family could be happy together. She never imagined she'd hear her mother say she planned to divorce him. It broke her heart.