Chapter 42

"Mom, tell me, what exactly is up with that damn wooden man, Kudo?"

"He clearly promised yesterday to go to the amusement park with Ran, but the moment he ran into a case, he charged right ahead. After solving it, even though Ran was obviously scared, he still said, 'I have an emergency; you and Sonoko go home together.'"

"Is there something wrong with Kudo's brain?"

"Shouldn't he have personally escorted Ran home at a time like this?"

The more she spoke about it, the more she felt her anger surging.

He just dumped Ran on her in that situation.

Even if Ran didn't say anything at the time, she saw that Ran's eyes looked as dead as a corpse.

"Uh..."

Sonoko's mother, Tomoko Suzuki, truly hadn't expected yesterday's date to end like this.

This left her at a loss for words.

As for that boy, Shinichi Kudo, how to put it... it's a real pity.

He's clearly a child with a sharp mind; how did he develop such a personality?

If he could just shift some of his deductive ability toward emotional intelligence, she feels that child Ran would have already given herself to him long ago.

Alas, Shinichi Kudo never developed in that direction.

"Sonoko, for this period, you should keep Ran company more."

"No one would feel good having something like this happen to them."

She also felt that child Ran had truly suffered eight lifetimes of bad luck to fall in love with such a troublesome child as Shinichi Kudo.

"That is exactly my plan."

"I just hope that when Kudo comes to school tomorrow, he talks properly with Ran; otherwise, I estimate even Ran can't withstand Kudo's situation many more times."

"Didn't you two go find Kudo today?"

"No one was there."

Sonoko Suzuki just felt exhausted.

"I accompanied Ran to find Kudo, but Kudo simply didn't go home yesterday."

"That guy definitely ran into some trouble, then got all fired up at once; he's probably been out all night solving some case somewhere."

"That child's personality does indeed have major problems."

Tomoko Suzuki shook her head slightly, though she couldn't help but feel a bit relieved.

"Fortunately, Sonoko doesn't like boys who come with their own trouble; otherwise, Shi Lang and I would have a headache."

Since long ago, she had taught Sonoko that one must distinguish depth in social interactions.

Just like not making a decision about dating a boyfriend in a moment of heat.

Dating might be okay, but between the two, one should try to maintain a certain purity.

Dating is fine; getting deep requires caution.

Dating is fine; cohabitation is not.

Cohabitation is equivalent to recognizing the other person; once this decision is made, there can be no going back.

Because Sonoko is the heir to the Suzuki family.

Her future husband will be the future helmsman of the Suzuki Zaibatsu.

This is not something to play around with.

However, Tomoko Suzuki was actually quite reassured.

She knew Sonoko was a severe face-pleaser, but she also knew Sonoko actually maintained rationality most of the time.

Amidst her sighs, she couldn't help but remind Sonoko.

"Sonoko, if it really doesn't work out, just persuade Ran from the sidelines."

"Fixating on one Kudo, she won't have any good outcome in the future."

From the perspective of an elder, she knew she wasn't suited to say this.

But as an elder, letting a child she watched grow up, whose character and conduct were both good, fall into a deep pit was also something she was unwilling to see.

"Actually, I say this often, but Ran still shifts her attention back to Kudo."

"I truly hope a handsome guy appears who can shift Ran's attention away from Kudo."

Sonoko Suzuki bluntly voiced her inner thoughts.

Regarding breaking up her best friend's relationship, she was serious.

And the person mentioned at that moment was sneezing non-stop in the hospital.

"Achoo!"

"Achoo!"

"Achoo!"

Three earth-shattering sneezes in a row made Shinichi Kudo, lying on the hospital bed at that moment, feel as if the world before his eyes was spinning with golden flowers.

Like a child, Shinichi Kudo rubbed his nose, his face still showing resistance.

"Let's get one thing straight first; I have no intention of leaving with you."

"..."

Facing their son's resistance, Yusaku Kudo and Yukiko Kudo were also quite troubled.

This stubborn personality really hasn't changed since long ago.

"Shinichi, the problem you are facing is very troublesome."

"The two people you saw should be officers of a very dangerous organization; they won't be so reasonable when facing their targets."

"I know."

Kudo Shinichi knew his father's words were true.

He subconsciously touched the wound at the back of his head; if that blow had been any harder, it would have killed him on the spot.

Fortunately, the area around Teitan Amusement Park was swarming with police at the time; the attacker feared getting blood splattered on him if he struck too hard, so he held back, otherwise he wouldn't have needed poison at all.

"But Father, do you think I would be safe just by running away?"

PS: New book, seeking data.