Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

Chen Shuo parked the car in front of Mao Li's house. After she got out, Mao Lilan looked up and found that the house was empty without any lights on. She was a little surprised for a moment, but soon smiled and said softly, "There's no one here... It seems my wish is finally coming true!" A relaxed smile slowly appeared on her face, as if a stone in her heart had been lifted.

"It seems that Kogoro and Eri communicate well." Chen Shuo stood behind her and said with a teasing tone.

Mao Lilan nodded, with a relaxed smile on her lips: "Well, maybe they finally figured it out."

"It's not too late yet, why don't we go get something to drink and relax?" Chen Shuo looked at the dark Maori Detective Agency. "Don't think I'm mainly a coffee maker. I'm also good at juice."

Mao Lilan looked up at Chen Shuo in surprise, blinked, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded in agreement: "Okay, there's nothing to do anyway, it's nice to have a drink."

---

As the night deepened, the warm light of the "Jingxin" coffee shop shone on the faces of Mao Lilan and Chen Shuo. The customers in the coffee shop had long since dispersed, and Amuro Toru had also returned from get off work, leaving only the two of them. Mao Lilan held the cup, her eyes a little blurry, and a hint of sadness appeared on her face. Her heart was still troubled by Shinichi's matter.

"I don't know..." She spoke softly, her tone filled with uneasiness and struggle, "Shinichi... he's always been in the world of reasoning, and after becoming smaller, he seems to be even further away from me. I don't know if he's avoiding me, or if he feels that I can't help him at all."

She lowered her head, her eyes a little dazed, and her fingers gently fiddled with the edge of the cup.

Chen Shuo leaned back in his chair, his eyes penetrating, his tone calm yet steady, "Kudo-kun has his own pride and persistence. As a detective, his sense of responsibility always makes him feel that he must solve problems personally. The distance between you two isn't because you're not good enough, but because he's preoccupied with those cases."

Mao Lilan looked up, confusion and helplessness on her face: "But, we grew up together, why do I feel that the distance between us is getting farther and farther? He never tells me when he is in danger, and always makes me the last to know." She bit her lip, the tangle in her heart made her feel uneasy, "I don't understand, he is still Shinichi, but now... it seems that everything has changed."

Her voice was soft, but filled with confusion. To her, Shinichi was not only her childhood sweetheart, but also someone she could rely on. But now, Shinichi had become Conan, a drastic change that made it difficult for her to adapt and exacerbated her inner confusion and conflict.

Chen Shuo listened quietly, his gaze deep. His background and experience gave him a more sober perspective on human nature. He knew that Mao Li Ran was kind and simple-minded, and that Kudo Shinichi had always been the center of her life. However, although he had no romantic experience of his own, as a man older than her, he understood that such dependence and affection could sometimes lead to difficulties.

"Xiaolan," Chen Shuo's voice was gentle, yet contained a certain power. "Shinichi is not avoiding you, he is protecting you in his own way. He doesn't want you to get involved in detective work, especially in a dangerous situation like this. This is his way, and it is also his responsibility. You have to understand that sometimes he has to make choices, and these choices may feel cruel to you."

Mao Lilan listened quietly, a flicker of confusion and pain in her eyes. She understood Chen Shuo's words made sense, but she still couldn't let it go. She whispered, "But I don't want to be excluded by him forever... We grew up together, and I always thought we could fight side by side, but now, I feel like I can't do anything."

A complex emotion flashed across Chen Shuo's eyes. As a killer, he knew very well that this "unspeakable secret" would cause people to suffer.

"You can't always base your happiness on Kudo-chan," Chen Shuo whispered firmly, "There are some things a man must face alone. You are kind and innocent, and these qualities are your best qualities, but they can also become a burden. Don't let Kudo-chan's decisions dictate your life. You have the right to choose your own path."

Mao Lilan was slightly shocked by his words. She had never expected Chen Shuo to be so blunt, but his tone didn't contain any accusation. Instead, it was filled with care and protection. She was silent for a moment, then whispered, "But I really don't know what to do... Shinichi has become Conan, and I... I don't know how to face him. Now our relationship seems even more complicated than before."

Chen Shuo looked at her, a glint of tenderness and pity in his eyes. He understood that Mao Lilan's heart had not changed; she was just confused by this sudden change. Anyone would feel at a loss when faced with a familiar person suddenly transformed into a child.

He spoke slowly, his voice low and firm: "You have to believe in yourself and believe in Kudo-chan. No matter what he becomes, he is still Kudo Shinichi. He will not change. Give yourself some time and don't let these things disrupt your life."

Mao Lilan took a deep breath. Although the tangle in her heart still existed, Chen Shuo's words made her feel a little more at ease. She nodded gently, and a wry smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "Brother Shuo, thank you. If it weren't for you, I really don't know what I would do."

Chen Shuo looked at her with a smile, his eyes full of deep concern: "Don't worry, I will always be here. No matter what happens, you can rely on me."

Mao Lilan looked up at him, gratitude and a hint of tenderness in her eyes. Chen Shuo's presence was like a solid support in her life, giving her a lot of comfort and support. Although she still had worries and entanglements about Kudo Shinichi in her heart, Chen Shuo's company made her feel a little relieved.

Mao Lilan suddenly realized that her feelings for Chen Shuo had transcended the boundaries of an elder and a friend. She was panicked and completely at a loss as to what to do. Chen Shuo was 30 years old, while she was only 17 years old in high school. The age difference between them made her feel that this relationship seemed like a hopeless dream. Furthermore, Chen Shuo's identity as a killer was even more difficult for her to accept; this danger was incompatible with her life.

But no matter how much she tried to calm herself, her emotions surged like a tide, unstoppable. She tried to convince herself that she should keep her distance, that she should keep these feelings buried deep in her heart. However, every time she saw Chen Shuo's gentle yet determined gaze, every time she remembered how he always stood silently by her side when she needed him, her heart began to beat violently, as if trying to break free from the constraints of reason.

She couldn't help but compare Kudo Shinichi with Chen Shuo in her mind. Kudo Shinichi was incredibly intelligent, his reasoning skills unmatched, but his world was always filled with cases and deductions, making him feel distant from her life. Although she tried hard to understand him and follow in his footsteps, she was always just a companion on his journey to the truth.

But Chen Shuo was different. He always stayed by her side quietly, never boasting about his abilities, but always able to give her wordless comfort when she needed it most. Whenever she was with him, she felt an unprecedented sense of peace of mind.

She felt lost and bewildered by this relationship. Chen Shuo was a killer, and his dangerous world made it difficult for her to approach him easily. Yet, the more she felt this way, the more she was drawn to him. She repeatedly reminded herself of the unbridgeable gap between them, but whenever she thought of Chen Shuo's gentleness, thoughtfulness, and unintentional protection, she could no longer convince herself to let go of this feeling.

"What on earth am I thinking..." Mao Lilan shook her head vigorously, trying to get rid of the tangled emotions. But the more she did so, the more she wanted to distance herself from Chen Shuo. The clearer her feelings for him became, Mao Lilan smiled bitterly: "I am such a bad woman..."

Chen Shuo looked at Mao Lilan's volatile expression. He thought she hadn't recovered from what had happened today. He knew that everything that had happened today was too sudden and too heavy for her. He checked his watch. It was already late. The night had deepened, and the lights in the cafe stretched their figures out. He sighed softly, interrupting Mao Lilan's thoughts.

"Xiao Lan, don't overthink it. Everything will be fine." Chen Shuo spoke gently, his voice as soft as the night breeze. "Today's events are indeed complicated, and you don't have to rush to process them. Just remember, no matter what happens, I will help you prevent those bad things. As for the underground world... leave it to me."

Mao Lilan raised her head and looked into Chen Shuo's eyes, which were filled with warmth and determination. Her heart trembled suddenly, and she felt the reassuring power in his words. But because of this concern, the entanglement and sense of powerlessness in her heart became even more intense. She shouldn't rely on him, but she couldn't help but be enveloped by his gentleness.

"Brother Shuo..." she said softly, wanting to say something but not knowing how to start.

Chen Shuo smiled slightly and patted her shoulder gently. "I know what you're worried about, but it's getting late now. You should get some rest. Your parents probably won't be back today. I'll take you upstairs. Stop overthinking, okay? You're just a high school student. You should enjoy your youth and happiness. Leave everything else to me."

Mao Lilan looked at Chen Shuo's smile, but a myriad of complex emotions surged in her heart. It was an inexplicable feeling, wanting to get closer, yet afraid to cross that invisible boundary. She lowered her head, bit her lip, and finally nodded: "Yeah... I understand."

Chen Shuo looked at her, his eyes filled with tenderness. He gently took her hand, walked out the door, and led her up the stairs step by step. The footsteps were particularly clear in the quiet night, and each step seemed to step on Mao Lilan's heart, making her thoughts more tangled.

Finally arriving at the door of Mao Lilan's house, Chen Shuo stopped, lowered his head slightly, and looked at her with gentle but firm eyes: "Go to bed early and don't think too much. I promise that I won't let anyone hurt you."

"Brother Shuo..." Mao Lilan subconsciously raised her head and wanted to say something else, but when she met Chen Shuo's eyes, the overflowing concern made her speechless for a moment.

Chen Shuo smiled and gently touched her head. "Have a sweet dream, Xiaolan."

Watching Chen Shuo walk away, Mao Lilan's emotions grew increasingly complex. She felt the gentle, considerate protection he offered her, yet she knew she shouldn't become addicted. The gap between them, their age, their status—everything—seemed like an unbridgeable chasm. Yet, with Chen Shuo around, she couldn't help but feel a sense of security and dependence. As she watched him walk away, his words, "Leave the rest to me," echoed in her mind, a mixture of warmth and pain.

"Why, it has to be Brother Shuo..." Mao Lilan leaned against the door, closed her eyes, and let the entanglement and confusion in her heart spread in the dark night.