Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

The Porsche 356A was driving steadily on the road. Sonoko and Mao Lilan held hands, lowered their heads and remained silent. They had recovered from the killing just now and now felt very complicated.

Sonoko clenched the Glock 19 in her hand, her heart filled with mixed emotions: "Just now... I really killed someone." Her voice was low, revealing a hint of uneasiness.

Mao Lilan turned her head to look at her, and an indescribable tangle of emotions welled up in her heart. Although she had participated in the battle, she dared not look directly at the scene. She tried to calm down and forget the scene just now, but her mind kept surfacing the moment when she slashed the enemy's throat with the eagle claw knife. "I... I thought I could handle it, but I really didn't expect it to be like this."

"We're trying to protect ourselves." Yuanzi tried to comfort herself, but found that these words seemed pale and powerless in her heart. She bit her lip, and a trace of guilt flashed through her heart. "But, they are also human beings."

"But if we don't do this, they will do this to us..." Mao Lilan's voice trembled and her eyes kept flickering: "We have no choice." The figure of Chen Shuo appeared in her mind. She wanted to stand by Chen Shuo instead of hiding behind him.

Sonoko raised her head, tears glistening in her eyes: "Xiaolan... killing people is really scary..."

Ran Mouri hugged Sonoko, hoping to give her best friend some comfort. Sonoko lay in Ran Mouri's arms, crying silently. Tears also flashed in Ran Mouri's eyes. Neither of them knew what was waiting for them next.

---

The car slowly stopped at the entrance of Chen Shuo's villa. Vodka got out and opened the door for the two girls. Sonoko and Mao Lilan got out of the car, but their eyes were dull, as if they had become zombies.

Sonoko was a bit better off. After all, as someone from a wealthy family, even if she didn't like it, she had been exposed to some darkness that ordinary people couldn't imagine since she was a child. After venting her anger in the car, her mood calmed down a bit, and at least she could still walk independently.

But Mao Lilan's situation was completely different. She was an ordinary girl, full of dreams for the future and a passion for life until today. Her upbringing had taught her the importance of kindness and cherishing life, but today, she broke her own rules.

The constant stream of thoughts in her mind nearly brought her to a state of collapse, her heart swirling like waves, nearly suffocating her. She could only be supported by Yuanzi as she walked mechanically.

When they saw Chen Shuo sitting on the sofa, the depression in their hearts instantly found an outlet. The two women threw themselves into his arms at the same time, as if they could pour out all their pain and fear.

"Brother Shuo..." Mao Lilan's voice trembled, tears welled up, mixed with endless grievances and uneasiness. Yuanzi also hugged Chen Shuo tightly, buried her face in his shoulder, and cried silently, as if she wanted to put everything of today aside.

Chen Shuo hugged them tightly, feeling their trembling. He whispered, "It's okay, don't be afraid, it's all over." Although he knew in his heart that all this was far from simple, at least at this moment, they could release their emotions, which was the most important thing.

Seeing the two women crying, Chen Shuo felt a sense of relief. It was good that they could cry. If they just kept silent, enduring it, that would be the most terrifying thing. He gently stroked their backs, silently comforting them.

"I... I'm really scared." Mao Lilan whispered in Chen Shuo's arms, her tears soaking his clothes. Yuanzi also raised her head slightly, her eyes full of innocence and confusion, as if she was seeking a sense of security.

"I know." Chen Shuo wasn't good at comforting people, so he could only hold their hands tightly. Chen Shuo's warmth enveloped them. Although the haze in their hearts had not yet dissipated, at least at this moment, the two women who had vented their anger felt a great comfort. At least there was someone who could stand in front of them.

Chen Shuo gently embraced the two sobbing women, feeling their trembling bodies and a pang of pity in his heart. His hands gently stroked their backs, trying to dispel their fear with warmth and comfort. After a moment, he slowly spoke in a low voice.

"I remember the first time I killed someone, I was filled with immense fear and despair." Chen Shuo's voice was low and gentle, as if recounting a distant memory. "It was a battle for survival. I had no choice. With every kill, guilt welled up in my heart until I felt numb."

He paused, his brow furrowed slightly as he recalled that past event. "I'm not a psychopathic killer. Everything I did was to survive. So... that fear and guilt are still unforgettable to me."

Mao Lilan raised her head, confusion and fear flickering in her eyes. Sonoko listened quietly. Chen Shuo smiled slightly and continued, "But at least you still have many choices now. You are not professional killers, and you don't need to bear such a burden."

"I'm not teaching you these skills to make you a killer, but to give you the power to protect yourself when needed." His tone became firm. "Whether it's Sonoko or Xiaolan, as the daughters of a wealthy family, or my lover, you may face major crises in the future. In order to protect yourselves and those around you, you need to master these skills."

"You don't need to use these skills normally, but you must learn them. Remember, there are many beautiful things in your life worth pursuing, instead of immersing yourself in these darkness." Chen Shuo's eyes were gentle and firm, and he tried his best to make them feel hope.

Sonoko and Mao Lilan listened silently, their hearts gradually calming down. Although their inner entanglements still existed, Chen Shuo's words seemed to give them a glimmer of hope. At least, they understood that they still had the right to choose and the support of their loved ones.

Chen Shuo watched the two women gradually let go of their worries under his comfort, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Although a hint of anxiety still flickered in their eyes, the atmosphere had become much more relaxed. He knew that time would dilute everything, so he decided to change the topic and bring them some peace of mind.

"You guys performed very well today, much better than I did back then!" He said with a smile, trying to divert their attention: "So I decided to give you a reward. Let's go to the beach in Izu together in a few days!"

Hearing Chen Shuo's suggestion, Yuanzi and Mao Lilan were stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help laughing. Yuanzi half-jokingly complained: "Brother Shuo, you really don't know how to comfort people! This method is so awkward!"

"Yeah, it's too awkward." Mao Lilan agreed. Although there were tears in the corners of her eyes, she smiled brightly: "It's nice to go to the beach. I haven't seen the sea for a long time!"

Seeing the two women's smiles, Chen Shuo also smiled. It was a good thing that he didn't get stuck in a dead end.

---

In the evening, Chen Shuo invited Huihara Huimei and Huihara Ai to dinner and explained what had happened today, hoping they could comfort Mao Lilan and Sonoko. He felt that as women, they might be able to better empathize with Mao Lilan and Sonoko, who were experiencing emotional fluctuations.

As soon as she entered the room, Huiyuan Huimei saw that the two girls looked a little depressed. She walked over with a distressed look on her face, gently hugged the two little sisters in her eyes, and said gently, "It's okay, silly girls, everything will pass."

In Huiyuan Huimei's warm embrace, Mao Lilan and Sonoko gradually felt a sense of comfort, and their mood began to warm up slowly. Mao Lilan raised her head, with a glint of gratitude in her eyes: "Thank you, Huimei."

Meanwhile, Haibara Ai quietly observed from the sidelines. Her mood softened unnoticed. She had always considered people like Ran Mouri and Sonoko to be pure dolphins in the ocean, while she herself was a shark in the shadows, unworthy of their friendship. However, after learning about their experiences today, she unexpectedly felt a sense of kinship, as if she, too, was qualified to communicate with them.

She also began to talk about her experience a little awkwardly, and talked about the guilt and panic she felt after learning that the drugs she developed were used to kill people.

"You guys were amazing today," Haibara Ai said softly, a rare tenderness in her eyes. "Relax, this is a rare experience in life. You are so far ahead of your peers."

"Oh, Ai-chan, you're too gloomy!" Sonoko smiled mischievously and raised an eyebrow at Huihara Ai. She didn't care about her poison research at all. Instead, she became curious about Huihara Ai's legendary life: "I never thought you were actually a year older than me, but now you look so cute!"

Haibara Ai was so choked by Sonoko that she didn't know how to respond. She could only frown slightly and retort in a cold tone: "Humph! Even after experiencing life and death, you are still just a frivolous young lady."

Such a shallow attack power couldn't even break Sonoko's defense. She smiled and pulled Haibara Ai into her arms and kneaded her in various ways, causing Haibara Ai to struggle constantly. She looked at her sister for help, but found that her sister had already walked into the kitchen with Mao Li Ran.

"Perverted uncle! Keep an eye on your apprentice, she's sick!" Seeing that her sister was unreliable, Huihara Ai placed her hope on Chen Shuo, but despairingly discovered that Chen Shuo was sitting on the sofa, reading a novel seriously, as if he couldn't hear her cry for help at all.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh!" Sonoko laughed like a villain and hugged Haibara Ai in her arms: "No one will pay attention to you even if you scream at the top of your lungs!"

"Fukuoda~~~~"

Glancing at the girls from the corner of his eyes, Chen Shuo raised the corner of his mouth slightly. It turned out that his decision was wise. Girls can easily resonate with each other, and the comforting effect is much stronger than his own.

---

During dinner, Mao Lilan excitedly mentioned the trip to Izu in a few days, her eyes sparkling with anticipation: "We are planning to go to the beach, do you want to go together, Sister Huimei, Xiao Ai?"

Huiyuan Huimei was slightly startled after hearing this, and a look of regret appeared on her face: "Ah~~ I want to go too, but the cafe has been doing so well recently, I really can't leave. Otherwise, Xiao Ai, why don't you go?"

Upon hearing her sister's suggestion, Haibara Ai was about to refuse without a second thought. She didn't really like socializing, let alone going to a lively place like the beach. However, her words were interrupted by Sonoko.

"Oh, Ai, don't be like this! You should go out and play more often. The beach is so nice!" Yuanzi's eyes were shining, and she was obviously full of curiosity and love for this cold "little sister".

Huihara Huimei nodded slightly and said softly: "Xiao Ai, you are usually too boring. It is actually good to go outside and get some fresh air, especially with your friends."

Ai Huihara was somewhat displeased, her face showing a hint of impatience, but under the strong "suppression" of the two, her resistance seemed to become insignificant. She lowered her head, hesitated for a moment, and finally said softly, "Then... I can think about it."

"Great!" Huihara Emi, Mao Lilan and Sonoko cheered in unison, and the atmosphere instantly became more relaxed and cheerful. Sonoko's cheerfulness infected everyone present, and even Huihara Ai couldn't help but smile.

Amidst laughter and joy, the atmosphere at dinner became increasingly harmonious, as if all the unpleasantness had vanished with the plans for this trip.