"Dad! Yuusheng is my classmate, how can you be like this?"
Ran walked out of the kitchen, holding the carefully prepared food, and happened to witness this scene. She helplessly gave Hanyu Nan an awkward smile:
"I'm so sorry, Yuusheng, my father is sometimes so rash, please don't take it to heart."
Hanyu Nan's lips curved slightly upward: "It's fine, Ran, this gift was specifically prepared for Uncle Mouri. By the way, I can already smell the aroma, can we start eating?"
Hanyu Nan's gaze fell on Ran. Ran, wearing an apron, looked less lively and playful than usual, with a touch more gentleness and charm.
"Just a moment, Yuusheng, dinner will be ready soon. You and Dad can sit for a bit first."
Ran blushed and smiled shyly, gently placing the food in her hand on the table. As she turned, she caught sight of Kogoro Mouri already impatiently tearing open the gift.
"Dad! Please look after Yuusheng for me!"
"Alright, alright, I know, hahaha, such good wine, I usually wouldn't bear to drink it!"
Ran could only shake her head helplessly. After greeting Hanyu Nan, she continued to cook in the kitchen:
"Yuusheng, have a seat first."
"Hanyu Nan, right? I'll just call you Yuusheng, alright? Come, come, sit here, we have to have a good drink today!"
Kogoro Mouri enthusiastically pulled Hanyu Nan to sit at the table, then picked out two bottles of wine from a pile of gifts and placed them on the table.
"Yuusheng, are you trying to pursue Ran? I wholeheartedly approve of this! You are so much better than that stinky brat who only knows how to bury his head in deductions all day long!"
Kogoro Mouri took a big gulp of wine, his face full of admiration. Clearly, for Hanyu Nan, who was so polite and brought generous gifts on his first visit, Kogoro Mouri's impression of him was now overflowing with goodwill.
"Dad, stop talking nonsense, will you! Yuusheng is just here to visit you!"
Ran, busy cooking in the kitchen, heard her father spouting nonsense again and turned beet red with anger, unable to resist scolding him loudly.
Hanyu Nan secretly gave the uncle a thumbs up, but on the surface, he still smiled calmly and explained:
"Haha, Uncle, you really love to joke. Ran and I are just very good friends."
"Oh, alright, alright, since you're just friends... then Ran, are you really not going to reconsider? What's so great about that Detective kid anyway? All he does all day is ruin my business and mess up my cases!" Kogoro Mouri grumbled relentlessly.
"Dad!"
Kogoro Mouri smacked his lips, then took another small sip of wine and said nothing more. He had always been un-opposed to any decision Ran made.
Then, Kogoro Mouri turned his head, filled a glass of wine for Hanyu Nan, who was sitting beside him, and earnestly advised:
"A man, how can he not drink? When you're out and about, you never know when it might come in handy! So, the more you can drink, the better!"
Hanyu Nan wasn't particularly fond of drinking, but he certainly didn't dislike it either. And with his own alcohol tolerance, there was no need to worry about getting drunk... Ran came out of the kitchen with the freshly prepared dishes. She saw Kogoro Mouri was already slurring his words from drinking, while Hanyu Nan was merely sitting beside him, his face slightly flushed, keeping him company.
Ran shook her head helplessly, then placed the prepared dishes on the table one by one, and then casually picked up the wine glass in front of Hanyu Nan and put it aside.
"Dad, can you drink a little less! Yuusheng, don't learn from my dad!"
Although she knew her father wouldn't take her words seriously, Ran still couldn't help but advise him.
Noticing Ran's concern for him, Hanyu Nan smiled:
"It's alright, Ran. It's rare for Uncle Mouri to be so happy, it's fine to have a little drink with him."
"Haha, that's right! Hey, Yuusheng is right, Dad is very happy today! Ran, I still think Yuusheng is much better than that kid."
Kogoro Mouri said, raising his glass, preparing to drink it all, and at the same time, helping Hanyu Nan out.
Ran glared at her father helplessly a few times, then turned her head and smiled apologetically at Hanyu Nan, saying:
"I'm really sorry, Yuusheng. My dad tends to talk nonsense when he drinks. I hope he didn't cause you any trouble."
Hanyu Nan waved his hand and shook his head in response:
"No trouble at all, Uncle Mouri's drinking capacity is truly admirable! By the way, I can already smell dinner, may I start eating?"
Hanyu Nan first expressed his longing for the delicious food. Then, he turned his gaze to Ran and began to praise her.
Hearing Hanyu Nan's praise, Ran's face flushed with a hint of shyness, and she softly replied:
"Hehe, yes."
...After three rounds of drinks, Kogoro Mouri's face was flushed, and his tongue was a bit tied: "Ran... where did that Shinichi kid go? You still haven't... haven't contacted him?"
Hearing her father's question, Ran's eyes instantly dimmed. She sighed softly and replied: "Dad, Shinichi said he has a very important case to handle, and he might not be able to contact anyone for a while."
Whenever Shinichi Kudo was mentioned, Ran's mood would become somber, and her originally bright eyes would dim.
Kogoro Mouri, however, was furious. He slammed the table and cursed indignantly: "Good! That stinky brat who only knows deductions, you called him so many times, and he actually brushed you off like that! When he comes back, I'll teach him a good lesson and let him know that you are my daughter, Kogoro Mouri's daughter!"
Having said that, Kogoro Mouri angrily picked up his wine glass, tilted his head back, and drank it all. He waved his thick arms while continuing to curse.
Seeing this, Ran just shook her head and said nothing more.
Clang, clang, clang.
Just then, three crisp knocks suddenly came from outside the door.
Immediately after, a woman's voice entered the room: "Excuse me, is Detective Mouri home?"
"What is it? Didn't you see the sign on the door? The Mouri Detective Agency is closed today, if you have something, come early tomorrow!"
Although Kogoro Mouri grumbled like this, his body still swayed as he stood up from his seat and stumbled towards the door.
After opening the door, reeking of alcohol, Kogoro Mouri, who was originally groggy and about to say something, quickly recoiled after seeing who was standing outside the door, and hid back inside the house.
He stared wide-eyed at Ran and Hanyu Nan, stammering: "She... she... she... she seems to be..."
Before he could finish speaking, Kogoro Mouri shook his head vigorously, trying to sober up from his drunken state.
After steadying himself slightly, he cautiously peeked out again, his voice trembling as he asked: "You... you are Miss Yoko Okino!"
The woman outside the door frowned slightly at the strong smell of alcohol, but after remembering the purpose of her visit, she nodded slightly, indicating affirmation.
Then, Kogoro Mouri, as if his feet were greased, quickly turned and Ran back, rushing straight into his room and slamming the door shut. Immediately after, a series of clattering sounds came from the room.
"No way? How could my idol come to our house? Dad, what are you doing?"
Ran looked at her father's series of baffling actions with a face full of suspicion.
However, Kogoro Mouri had no time to attend to his daughter's questions at this moment.
Hanyu Nan looked up towards the door and saw a beautiful woman wearing a hat standing at the entrance. After seeing the person, he turned his head to look at the poster hanging on the right side of the room. The woman on the poster was precisely the one standing at the door—Yoko Okino.