Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

In the early morning, sunlight shines through the windows into the "Jingxin" cafe, and the warm atmosphere makes people feel happy.

"Brother Shuo! How about we have dinner together at 7 o'clock tonight?" Mao Lilan said to Chen Shuo excitedly, her tone full of anticipation.

Chen Shuo placed a sandwich he had made himself and a cup of steaming hot coffee in front of Mao Lilan, raised his eyebrows slightly, and looked at her with some confusion. "Tonight? You suddenly invited me, is there something special? Don't we usually eat in the cafe?"

Mao Lilan nodded, a smile twinkling in her eyes, and said happily: "Yes, my mother finally has some free time, so today I decided to have a big meal for our family together!"

"Oh, so that's how it is." Chen Shuo suddenly realized and smiled. Then he stared at Mao Lilan mischievously and said in a deliberately frivolous tone: "So... I have officially become a member of your family, right?"

Mao Lilan blushed at the sudden teasing, and her eyes avoided Chen Shuo's gaze in panic, hesitating: "That... I..."

Looking at the cute appearance of Mao Li Ran, Chen Shuo's eyes were full of pampering. He touched her hair contentedly and said softly, "You are so cute." After that, he leaned down slightly and gently kissed Mao Li Ran on the forehead.

"I want a sandwich too!" Conan, who was standing by, couldn't stand it any longer and interrupted the sweet interaction between Chen Shuo and Mao Lilan. He glared at Chen Shuo with gritted teeth. Although he was a little afraid of Chen Shuo in his heart, he really couldn't stand the two of them being so annoying.

The charming atmosphere was interrupted. Chen Shuo looked at Conan's indignant face and couldn't help but chuckle. He didn't get angry either. He kissed Xiaolan on the forehead again, looked at Conan with a hint of provocation, and then leisurely returned to the bar.

Leaving behind was Ran Mouri with a blushing face and Conan who was so angry that he almost bit the handkerchief.

Mao Lilan gently covered her forehead, feeling even more shy because of Chen Shuo's behavior. She felt sweet and uncontrollable shyness in her heart. Conan snorted in his heart and thought depressedly: "Really, this couple! They are so sweet every day!"

Inside the cafe, warm sunlight shines into every corner, accompanied by teasing and pleasant whispers, making people feel the beauty and tranquility of this moment.

---

At seven o'clock in the evening, Chen Shuo, Conan and the Maori family walked into a French restaurant called "Flowers". The air was filled with tempting aroma.

Upon entering, Kogoro Mouri ran into his old friend, Hiroki Tsuji, a burly, smiling professional baseball player. Embracing his friends, he looked like a winner. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he excitedly said, "Mr. Mouri! You can bring your family to my house on Sunday. I have a helicopter and we can take you to the Tianshan Mountains to see the scenery! You'll love it!"

Maori Kogoro was embarrassed when he heard this, and he shook his head politely: "Thank you for your invitation, but I... am still a little... "

"Oh, it's such a pity you say that!" Tsuji Hiroki was a little disappointed, while the others all showed their excitement. Mao Lilan and Kisaki Eri looked at each other, and they couldn't help feeling a little regretful.

After saying goodbye to Hiroki Tsuji, Maori Kogoro looked at his wife and daughter's disappointed faces and felt a little ashamed: "Oh... this... I'm sorry..."

Just when the atmosphere was getting awkward, Chen Shuo interrupted and said, "Actually, I can get a helicopter! If I have time, I can take you for a ride in the sky. But... I won't be taking Kogoro, that useless detective, with me."

Everyone couldn't help but laugh out loud. They hadn't expected Chen Shuo to actually be so capable as to even get a helicopter. Hibiki Eri quipped, "Haha, you're just like me! No problem, let's leave this clueless detective alone to have some fun!"

Maori Kogoro was unhappy and rolled his eyes slightly: "Humph! Who cares..."

Mao Lilan happily took Chen Shuo's arm, her face full of pride, as if showing off her "proud boyfriend". Conan, standing aside, thought helplessly: "Sure enough, the gap between us is getting bigger and bigger..."

After they sat down, the atmosphere became more harmonious. Although Maori Kogoro and Kisaki Eri had already broken the ice, the interaction between the two couples was still like a pair of bickering lovers. The two began to bicker with each other, and Kisaki Eri teased Maori Kogoro: "Can't you stop being so afraid of heights? You're such a coward!"

"I refused for your safety!" Kogoro Mouri was not to be outdone and fought back with a flushed face.

To others, the couple's quarrel seems more like playful fun, full of the warmth of life.

Afterwards, the Maori couple introduced their old friend, the sommelier Zemu Kohei, to Chen Shuo. Zemu Kohei smiled and held the bottle of wine with skillful hands, appearing very professional.

The family dinner was joyful, with Chen Shuo and the Maori family chatting and laughing. Finally, Kisaki Eri decided to stay the night at the detective agency, leaving a heartwarming ending. It was a night like this, as if time had stood still, filled with laughter and warm memories.

---

A week later.

"What? Eri is poisoned? Don't worry, Xiaolan, I'll be there soon!"

Chen Shuo, who was busy at the bar, suddenly received a tearful call from Mao Lilan. Upon hearing this shocking news, he immediately dropped his work, jumped into his car without hesitation, and rushed to the hospital.

Arriving at the hospital, Chen Shuo immediately spotted Ran Maori standing in the hallway, her eyes red with tears. Her presence made his heart tighten, and he felt an immense pang of heartache. Beside her, Maori Kogoro frowned, staring intently at the operating room, his brows filled with anxiety and heaviness. Standing beside them was a man in a blue suit with a ramen-like hairstyle—Chen Shuo recognized him; it was Shiratori Renzaburo from the Metropolitan Police Department.

Chen Shuo walked over quickly, hugged Mao Lilan in his arms, patted her back gently, and whispered softly to comfort her: "Don't be afraid, Xiaolan, I'm here, everything will be fine." Mao Lilan buried herself in Chen Shuo's arms and sobbed, tears sliding down her cheeks, making Chen Shuo's heart ache.

"What's going on?" Chen Shuo frowned and asked Maori Kogoro in a low and anxious voice.

Maori Kogoro frowned, sighed deeply, and said in a hoarse voice, "This morning, Megure Jusan was attacked by a crossbow while jogging. Fortunately, he had a lot of fat on his body, and the arrow missed his vital parts. Fortunately, he is not in danger of death."

At this point, he clenched his fists, his voice filled with suppressed anger: "Then, when Xiaolan, Conan, and I went to the hospital to visit Officer Megure, we suddenly received a notice from Eri's assistant. Eri ate a chocolate in the office and then fainted. She is now being rescued."

Anger instantly ignited in Chen Shuo's eyes, and his gaze became fierce.

"What's even stranger," Maori Kogoro continued, "is that the two incidents seem to be connected in some way. At the scene of Inspector Megure's attack, the murderer left a paper dagger. And at the scene of Kisaki Eri's incident, it was a paper flower. Moreover, the chocolate sent to Kisaki Eri was sent in my name, and it was her favorite Chicoba chocolate. This... not many people know."

Maori Kogoro frowned even deeper. "Two attacks happened around me in such a short period of time. This definitely doesn't seem like a coincidence. The murderer must have some understanding of us - if it's not a coincidence, then he must be someone who knows our habits well."

Chen Shuo's expression darkened as he hugged Mao Lilan tightly, a wave of unease and anger swirling within him. He had few friends before, living a lonely and apathetic life, isolated from society and devoid of emotional connection. But after entering this world, the Mao Li family became his few remaining sources of support and friends.

He never imagined that one day he would care so much about certain people and certain relationships. These people have become a part of his life, and he can't tolerate these important people being hurt. The Maori family is more than just ordinary friends to him. They are a group of people who help him find meaning in this strange world.

"I will never allow this to happen again." Chen Shuo's eyes gleamed coldly, his tone firm. He would never let these precious people come to harm again.

Maori Kogoro looked at Chen Shuo silently. Although his face remained serious, a hint of trust and determination flashed through his eyes. "You're right. We must find this person. No matter who he is, we will never let him escape."

Mao Lilan was in Chen Shuo's arms, holding his clothes tightly. Although she was afraid, she also felt the reliability of her boyfriend.

The lights in the operating room were still on, and the corridor was so quiet that only the sound of a few people breathing could be heard.

Finally, the green light in the operating room came on, the door slowly opened, and the doctor pushed Kisaki Eri out. Chen Shuo, Maori Kogoro, and Maori Ran almost immediately surrounded her, anxiously wanting to hear the result from the doctor.

"The operation went smoothly, and she's out of danger." The doctor pushed his glasses up, wiped the sweat off his face, and said, "Based on her symptoms, Attorney Fei likely suffered from pesticide poisoning. Although she's out of danger, she'll need to remain in the hospital for a few days for observation."

Hearing the doctor's words, Mao Lilan's eyes reddened and she breathed a sigh of relief, tears unconsciously filling her eyes. Chen Shuo stood nearby, squinting his eyes, feeling dissatisfied and puzzled by the attacker's methods, and some vague thoughts began to gather in his mind.

Accompanied by Mao Lilan and her assistant Kuriyama Midori, Kisaki Eri was taken to the ward. Chen Shuo watched them leave and turned to look at Conan who was standing aside in deep thought. He squatted down and whispered, "Conan, do you have any clues?"

Conan frowned, his expression serious. "There are too few clues... But those things left behind always seem familiar to me, as if I've seen them somewhere."

Chen Shuo nodded, patted Conan's shoulder gently, and said seriously: "Deducing who the murderer is as soon as possible, tell me as soon as you have any clues, and I will find the person according to my own methods."

Conan raised his head and looked at Chen Shuo's determined eyes: "Well, I will do it as soon as possible. I will never let this guy go!"

Chen Shuo waved and greeted Kogoro Mouri who was communicating with the police, and then followed the nurse's instructions to find Eri Kisaki.

Inside the ward, Kisaki Eri was leaning on the bed. Although she still looked a little weak, she was obviously in much better spirits. Mao Lilan sat beside the bed, holding her mother's hand tightly, looking at her worriedly, her face full of concern.

Chen Shuo walked into the ward and first asked about Hibari Eri's health with concern. After learning that she was no longer seriously ill, Chen Shuo breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, "Eri, do you have any clues to share with me? For example, did you encounter anything strange before receiving the chocolate?"

Kisaki Eri shook her head, confusion in her eyes. "I really don't know... Even my former competitors wouldn't know I like Chicoba chocolate. Apart from those who know me very well, almost no one knows such a small detail. Besides, I've always been cautious. I wouldn't eat anything without my absolute trust."

Chen Shuo then instructed Mao Lilan to take good care of her mother, his tone full of tenderness and concern: "Xiao Lan, your mother still needs a few days of rest. You must be by her side and don't let her get too tired. Of course, you don't need to work too hard either."

"Well, Brother Shuo, don't worry, I will take good care of my mother." Mao Lilan raised her head and gave Chen Shuo a firm smile.

Chen Shuo nodded at her, then turned and left the ward. As the door gently closed, his expression gradually grew grim. Anger was simmering in his heart. Someone had hurt someone he cherished, and he had to settle this account.

The murderer had better pray that the police find the murderer before him, otherwise...