Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

Time slipped by silently, and a full week had passed since that Manhattan night. The hustle and bustle of New York faded away, and Chen Shuo, Mao Lilan, and their group had already arrived in Japan. It seemed as if everything had returned to normal.

Tokyo's autumn was gentle and tranquil. The afternoon sun shone on the streets, and a gentle breeze ruffled the leaves, bringing a cool breeze. Chen Shuo sat in his corner cafe, his head down, sorting out the bills. Life seemed as peaceful as ever. Through the glass window, he saw Ran Mouri, dressed in her school uniform, walking into the cafe with Suzuki Sonoko, chatting and laughing.

"Xiaolan! Miss Suzuki!" Chen Shuo greeted with a smile, his tone normal, without a trace of unnecessary emotional fluctuation.

Mao Lilan raised her head and gave him a familiar smile: "Brother Shuo, are you busy today? Let's have a drink."

"Of course I'm not busy, just sit down." Chen Shuo responded with a smile, feeling a little complicated and relieved.

Suzuki Sonoko's noisy personality didn't change at all. She pretended to be angry and said to Chen Shuo, "Brother Shuo! You already call Xiaolan by her name, why are you still calling me Miss Suzuki? I want you to call me by my name too!"

Chen Shuo nodded in amusement. He couldn't dislike this lively, cheerful and innocent young lady. "As you wish, Yuanzi."

After hearing this, Suzuki Sonoko smiled happily again, and started talking and laughing with Chen Shuo and Mao Li Ran. The originally quiet coffee shop became lively under Suzuki Sonoko's rendering.

Mao Lilan regained her familiar sunshine and gentleness, as if nothing had happened. When she was chatting and laughing with her friends, there was no trace of forced expression, and her face was covered with that pure smile.

Chen Shuo was also completely relieved. It seemed that Xiaolan had not become estranged from him because of the incident in New York. Maybe she still had some thoughts in her heart, but Chen Shuo believed that these would calm down with the passage of time. After all, he never thought of letting Mao Lilan be infected with darkness.

---

Time in the café flowed slowly as usual. Mao Lilan would often come to sit with Chen Shuo, and the two would chat about trivial matters at school or discuss some insignificant topics. She was as kind and warm as usual, but in her eyes, Chen Shuo could always catch a hint of complex emotions - a mixture of curiosity and hesitation.

Whenever they looked at each other, the knot in their hearts that had never been completely unraveled would always float in the air, briefly breaking the apparent ease of the two.

One afternoon, Chen Shuo was busy at the counter when he heard Mao Lilan whisper, "Brother Shuo, are you okay?"

Chen Shuo was stunned for a moment, then looked up at her. She was sitting at the bar, holding a cup of coffee. She looked relaxed, but her clear eyes revealed a hint of inquiry.

"I'm fine, Xiaolan." He replied with a smile, trying to make his tone sound natural.

Mao Lilan was silent for a moment, then whispered, "I've been thinking about that night... the things you said, I... I'm no longer so hard to accept them." She paused, as if choosing the right words, "I know you have your own world, and I shouldn't interfere too much."

Chen Shuo's hand paused, a wave of emotion stirring in his heart. He knew Xiaolan was no longer avoiding the truth of that night, but her calmness now only made him more worried. He knew she had simply chosen to accept it in her heart, rather than fully understand it.

"Xiaolan..." Chen Shuo walked up to her and said softly, "You don't have to force yourself to accept this. If you feel uncomfortable, I can stay away from you."

Mao Lilan shook her head and smiled softly: "No, Brother Shuo, I didn't force myself. I just... need some time to get used to it." She looked up at Chen Shuo with a complex determination in her eyes, "You are very good to me, and I don't want to ruin our relationship because of these things."

Her voice was low and soft, as if she was comforting herself, or as if she was stating a decision she had made firmly.

Mao Lilan sat alone at the bar, the afternoon sun shining through the window onto her face. She suddenly asked, "Brother Shuo, will you live like this forever?"

Chen Shuo was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, your lifestyle... Will you always be like this, living two completely different lives?" Ran Mouri looked up at him with a probing look in her eyes.

Chen Shuo was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "Maybe. Who knows? But right now... I haven't found another way yet."

Mao Lilan nodded and didn't ask any more questions. She understood that the answer to this question was not something she could control. She could only choose to accept it or stay away. And she clearly didn't want to stay away.

The days passed by peacefully. The relationship between Mao Lilan and Chen Shuo had returned to the past, but Mao Lilan still chose to stay with Chen Shuo and maintain this relationship. She knew that Chen Shuo was not the perfect hero in her heart, but he was still the one who gave her warmth when she needed it.

---

A year passed like water, the seasons in Tokyo shifted imperceptibly, and Chen Shuo's café continued to operate peacefully as usual. This small corner shop had long become a popular haunt for both locals and regular customers, and Mao Lilan came there almost daily to chat and enjoy a cup of coffee with Chen Shuo. Their relationship grew stronger over the course of the year, developing a deeper, more ambiguous bond than just friendship.

Chen Shuo still occasionally took on assassination missions, but he never left Japan. After all, over the past year, he had been concerned with many other things—not only the rare tranquility and ordinary life, but also... Mao Lilan.

---

During this time, the Miyano sisters frequently visited the café. Their relationship with Chen Shuo grew stronger, especially Miyano Shiho, whose typically aloof personality seemed to soften in this small café. Whenever she sat in a corner drinking coffee with her sister, Miyano Akemi, she appeared relaxed and at ease.

Chen Shuo would sometimes chat with the two sisters about simple topics. Miyano Shiho was a calm, intelligent, and rigorous person, and her way of thinking always impressed Chen Shuo, and her respect and trust for Chen Shuo gradually deepened.

Miyano Akemi was a gentle and quiet person, enjoying the rare moments she spent with her sister. However, she found it strange that, despite the numerous members of the organization behind them monitoring them, every time the sisters visited the café, the men in black seemed to be exceptionally restrained, never once setting foot inside. Sometimes, even if the two sisters exceeded their time limit, the monitors wouldn't even come in to remind them. Chen Shuo had a clue about this; he suspected that perhaps Gin had issued some kind of directive, forbidding the organization's members from interfering with the place.

Miyano Shiho had obviously noticed this, and she often glanced at the vague observers outside the cafe, with a subtle flicker of doubt and speculation in her eyes.

---

"Brother Shuo! I made it to the karate finals!" One day, Mao Lilan ran into the coffee shop excitedly, her face filled with uncontrollable joy, her eyes sparkling. As she spoke, she ran over to Chen Shuo, her voice full of anticipation, "The finals are next Saturday! You must come and cheer me on!"

Chen Shuo was slightly stunned, then smiled: "So amazing, Xiaolan! The finals? Then I will definitely go to watch it. Don't let me down."

Mao Lilan blushed and said with a playful look: "Don't break your promise! You must come, I am practicing very seriously!"

"Don't worry, I'll definitely go!" Chen Shuo nodded solemnly in agreement. Seeing the expectation in her eyes, he felt a warmth in his heart. He saw Mao Lilan's progress and efforts, and every success and joy of hers made him proud of her.

However, Chen Shuo suddenly thought of something—if he went to the game, the café would have to close. Although the café was a small business, it still had many regular customers, and closing it for a day would be quite inconvenient. He suddenly thought about hiring a waiter to help.

---

In the evening, when Chen Shuo was taking care of things in the store, Mao Lilan also stood up and prepared to go home. Before leaving, she waved her arms again: "Brother Shuo! Remember the game next Saturday! Don't forget!"

Chen Shuo agreed with a smile, his eyes swept across the seats in the store, and the idea of ​​hiring a helper emerged in his mind again.

The next day, Chen Shuo posted a job ad. The content was concise and clear: The cafe is looking for a part-time waiter. Requirements: Basic service experience and a strong sense of responsibility. After posting the ad, he felt a little relieved.

---

As Mao Lilan's competition day approached, Chen Shuo's mood slowly changed. He rarely went to watch Mao Lilan's competitions, but this final seemed to mean something to her. She had invited Chen Shuo with great anticipation, and he didn't want to disappoint her.

During this time, Chen Shuo gradually realized that Mao Lilan's feelings for him seemed to be more than just friends. Her eyes often revealed a more complex emotion than before - a kind of care and attachment that went beyond friendship.

In this delicate atmosphere, Chen Shuo himself began to develop new feelings for Mao Lilan. He could not ignore her importance to him, and that warmth and trust had taken root deeply in his heart. He knew he shouldn't get too involved, as his life was destined to be incompatible with Mao Lilan's, but he couldn't resist the growing feelings.

---

The day of the competition finally arrived. Chen Shuo deliberately closed the cafe early that day. He still couldn't recruit any employees, but there was nothing he could do. Xiaolan was obviously more important. This competition meant a lot to her, and he didn't want to miss this moment.