Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

Early morning, Saturday, May 3rd.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains into the "Jingxin" coffee shop. Ran Mao Li walked in excitedly early in the morning, followed by Conan who looked unhappy. Today was the day Chen Shuo and Ran Mao Li had agreed to celebrate Kudo Shinichi's birthday.

"Ran, is it really necessary to go out so early today?" Conan followed Mao Lilan, feeling unhappy. He always felt that Mao Lilan and Chen Shuo seemed to want to use his birthday to have fun outside.

Mao Lilan turned around, smiling: "Of course it is necessary! Today is your birthday, it's a special day!" She even made a face at Conan, "Just look forward to it!"

Conan felt even more upset after hearing this: "Since it's my birthday, why did you abandon me?"

"Don't worry, I will go buy gifts with Brother Shuo, and we will give you a surprise tonight." Mao Lilan waved her hand and said, with excitement flashing in her eyes.

Although Conan wanted to follow the two of them, he couldn't help but think of the fist mark he left at the detective agency. He sighed silently: "Okay, I get it. I'll look forward to it..."

"Don't worry, Conan!" Mao Lilan smiled and waved, turned around and took Chen Shuo's arm, her face full of anticipation, "Let's go, Brother Shuo, let's prepare a surprise for Shinichi!"

Looking at the sweet look on their faces, Conan's teeth were almost broken, and he secretly encouraged himself in his heart: "I must not let this feeling affect me! I must destroy that organization as soon as possible and become bigger as soon as possible so that I can have a good birthday with Ran."

As the cheerful laughter of Mao Li Ran and Chen Shuo gradually faded away, Conan gradually withdrew his gaze. Although he felt unhappy, there was nothing he could do. He decided to go to Dr. Agasa's house to play.

---

On the streets of Beika Town, Chen Shuo sped past in his long-lost Jaguar XK120. The car's lines were elegant, and the engine's deep roar carried a heart-racing power. In the passenger seat, Mao Lilan's face was filled with excitement, the morning sun shining through the car window onto her face, making her look radiant.

Conan's guess was not without basis - today, Xiaolan had indeed asked Chen Shuo out alone under the pretext of choosing a birthday present for Kudo Shinichi. Normally simple-minded, she blushed shyly and came up with this little idea, mustering up the courage to try to enjoy this special day.

Chen Shuo naturally saw through her intentions, but he didn't expose them. Instead, he smiled to himself. "Xiaolan, what a simple girl! Since she specially arranged this day, I will cooperate and let her enjoy the joy of anticipation."

He gently stepped on the accelerator, and the car speed increased again, driving Xiaolan through the streets in the early morning. Seeing Xiaolan's happy look, Chen Shuo smiled slightly and asked gently: "Xiaolan, where do you want to go today? As long as you want to go, I will accompany you."

Xiaolan's eyes sparkled with excitement, and she smiled and responded, "I want to go shopping first! I want to pick out a gift for Shinichi, and then go shopping. We can have fun!" After she finished speaking, she couldn't help but feel a little shy, and lowered her head slightly and added, "Thank you for accompanying me today, Brother Shuo."

Chen Shuo patted the back of her hand gently and said with a smile, "You're welcome. All arrangements for today are up to you."

The scenery outside the car window changed rapidly as the car sped along, seemingly sweeping away all worries and stress. Xiaolan immersed herself in this moment of relaxation and freedom, feeling more relaxed and happy than ever before. Chen Shuo, enjoying her laughter, decided to make this day spent together, under the pretext of choosing gifts, a most unforgettable memory for Xiaolan.

---

Chen Shuo and Mao Lilan came out of the mall. Chen Shuo put the gift he had just chosen into the back seat of the car. Then he looked at Xiaolan and smiled slightly: "The gift is ready. From now on, we can enjoy the whole day, how about it?"

Xiaolan smiled shyly and nodded gently. The two walked side by side onto the bustling streets of Beika Town. The shop signs on the street were diverse, the bustling crowds, the sweet aroma of candy, and the dazzling array of shop windows all created a relaxing atmosphere for them.

They casually strolled through the small shops along the street, occasionally stopping at a stall filled with cute accessories, laughing and discussing which accessory would suit Xiaolan best. As Xiaolan admired the items, she would occasionally glance at Chen Shuo beside her. She couldn't help but think that walking together so leisurely, it felt like they were a real couple, and the thought made her cheeks flush slightly.

After walking around for a while, the two were attracted by an ice cream shop on the street. Xiaolan opened her eyes wide and pulled Chen Shuo's arm: "Brother Shuo, let's go eat ice cream! It looks delicious!"

Chen Shuo smiled and nodded, and ordered a cup of strawberry ice cream for her. Xiaolan took the ice cream and couldn't wait to taste it, her face full of satisfaction. "So sweet!" She smiled happily, and then as if she suddenly remembered something, she took the spoon and handed it to Chen Shuo, "Brother Shuo, you have a taste too!"

Chen Shuo was slightly startled, then gently lowered his head and took a sip. The light aroma of strawberries melted in his mouth, with a hint of sweetness. He looked up and saw Xiaolan looking at him with a hint of expectation in her eyes. Chen Shuo couldn't help but smile: "It's really good."

As they continued strolling, Xiaolan suddenly spotted a couple playing basketball on the street. Her eyes lit up, "Brother Shuo, let's try it!" She dragged Chen Shuo over to the machine and excitedly threw herself into the game. She repeatedly attempted to sling the ball through the hoop. Although her skills weren't particularly good, she took each shot with utmost care. Chen Shuo stood nearby, observing her with a smile, occasionally lowering his head to guide her shooting form. Their hands occasionally touched, and an ambiguous atmosphere gradually spread.

After a perfect shot went through the hoop, Xiaolan jumped up excitedly and cheered, "I made it!" She turned and smiled at Chen Shuo, her eyes gleaming with immense joy. Chen Shuo also clapped and smiled, praising, "Not bad! It seems you're quite good!"

Xiaolan blushed slightly, feeling a little sweet in her heart. She whispered, "I'm really happy today. Thank you, Brother Shuo."

Chen Shuo smiled gently, his tone soft: "As long as I can make you happy, just relax today."

The two continued strolling through the streets of Beika Town, the afternoon sun casting its shadows on them, their shadows intertwining on the ground. Xiaolan felt more at ease and relaxed than ever before, as if all her worries had been melted away by Chen Shuo's gentleness. She stole a glance at him, and that deep, gentle gaze made her heart beat faster, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

In this moment of tranquility and warmth, they seemed to forget everything outside, focusing solely on each other's company. Mao Lilan felt a sweetness and peace she had never experienced before. She gently took Chen Shuo's arm and snuggled up to him. A gentle breeze blew past, bringing a touch of warmth. In this moment, she wanted nothing more than to immerse herself in this gentle afternoon, savoring every moment with the one beside her.

---

The two of them strolled beside the Mihua Green Park, snuggling up to each other, just like a loving couple, enjoying this warm time. At this moment, Xiaolan covered her mouth with her hands and laughed softly, pointing to the front: "Hey, look, isn't that Conan? He's still having fun with some other children!"

Chen Shuo followed her gaze and saw Conan and three other elementary school students playing on the grass, seemingly fighting over a remote control. Xiaolan looked at him and couldn't help but teasingly said, "Conan has completely integrated into the lives of elementary school students now. He's really becoming more and more like them."

Chen Shuo didn't respond. His eyes narrowed, catching a glimpse of something unusual in Conan's movements and expression. His eyesight was much sharper than Xiaolan's, and he easily noticed that Conan didn't seem to be having fun, but rather a hint of anxiety, his movements a bit hurried. His intuition told him that something was amiss.

Suddenly, the remote control fell to the ground as several children were scrambling for it. Conan hurriedly picked it up and fiddled with it for a few seconds before kicking it high into the air, where it precisely struck a remote-controlled airplane. Chen Shuo's gaze narrowed, noticing a flash of orange light from the plane that had been hit. The familiar color made his pupils shrink.

Subconsciously, he quickly hugged Xiaolan in his arms, quickly squatted down, and held her tightly in his arms. Before Xiaolan could ask a question, a deafening explosion suddenly sounded in the air - the remote-controlled plane that Conan had hit suddenly exploded, flames mixed with thick smoke, and the shock wave instantly spread in all directions.

Chen Shuo held Xiaolan tightly, holding her close to his chest. He felt the powerful shockwave sweep through, sending dust flying and gusts of wind rushing towards him. He whispered, "Xiaolan, don't move. You should be fine."

When the explosions gradually subsided, Xiaolan looked up in shock, still looking at Chen Shuo in disbelief, and asked softly, "What on earth just happened?"

Chen Shuo gently stroked her hair and smiled reassuringly: "Don't worry, it seems that Conan has accidentally gotten into danger again."

The two slowly recovered from the aftermath of the explosion. Chen Shuo, holding Xiaolan tightly, looked up at Conan, who was talking on his phone, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily. Chen Shuo frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on the top of a building under construction in the distance, where he vaguely saw a figure.

He quickly pulled the small telescope he carried from his pocket and peered closely. Standing on the rooftop was a man wearing sunglasses, a long beard, and obvious signs of disguise. Chen Shuo's eyes darkened, and a murderous intent surged within him—this man might be connected to the explosion. However, he didn't want Xiaolan, who was in his arms, to notice his emotions, so he slowly put away the telescope and returned to his normal expression.

Xiaolan gently patted Chen Shuo's dusty shoulder and asked nervously, "Brother Shuo, what happened with that explosion just now?"

Chen Shuo patted her hand soothingly: "I don't know either, but looking at Conan's serious expression, it's obvious that he knows something. Let's go and take a look."

The two walked over to Conan, who was talking to the person on the other end of the phone in a low voice with a serious expression. Although his tone was as innocent as that of an elementary school student, his words were clearly questioning. Chen Shuo listened carefully and vaguely caught the impression that Conan seemed to be trying to trick him into saying something.

At this moment, Conan also noticed the man on the rooftop in the distance. After hanging up the phone, he nodded at the two of them and said hurriedly, "I have something to do and have to go first!" Then he didn't bother to explain, stepped on the skateboard and ran away, leaving Chen Shuo and Xiaolan standing there, looking at each other.

Xiaolan blinked and looked at Chen Shuo in confusion: "Brother Shuo, what do you think...what was Conan doing just now? He seemed very anxious."

Chen Shuo sighed softly, gently put his arm around Xiaolan's shoulders, and led her away from the explosion area: "It seems that Conan really has something to deal with. That skateboard...how come it's so fast? I can't catch up with it...Let's get out of here first."

---

Sitting in the car, Chen Shuo and Mao Lilan lost their previous cheerful atmosphere. Mao Lilan looked out the window, frowning slightly, with worry in her eyes: "Brother Shuo, is Conan really okay? That explosion just now was so scary. Why does Conan always get involved in such dangerous things?"

Chen Shuo patted her hand gently as he drove the car, "Don't worry, Xiaolan. Kudo is smarter than we thought. He should be able to handle it."

Mao Lilan nodded slightly, but the uneasiness in her eyes did not completely disappear.

After Chen Shuo finished comforting Xiaolan, he adjusted his expression, a stern look appearing on his face. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number. Xiaolan listened curiously. Chen Shuo's voice was low and cold, with a hint of unquestionable authority in his tone: "Please help me check if there has been a large influx of plastic explosives in Tokyo recently."

Xiaolan was slightly stunned, and became even more confused: "Plastic bomb?"

After Chen Shuo hung up the phone, he turned around and gave a comforting smile: "Xiaolan, don't worry too much. I'm just confirming some things. Everything will be fine soon. Our schedule for today isn't over yet, so why don't we relax for a while? I'll tell you as soon as I have any news."

Mao Lilan forced a smile. Although she still felt a little uneasy, she trusted Chen Shuo. She nodded gently, looking forward, and tried to relax. Chen Shuo, on the other hand, gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent. He secretly made up his mind: "Whoever is behind this, you are dead!"