Conan: Ran turns into an elementary school student and calls me dad.

Chapter 70 Sick Miwako Sato

"Yumi, I already explained it to you. What happened that day was just a misunderstanding."

Sato sighed helplessly, his tone tinged with embarrassment.

"He reminded me of some sad things from the past, and I couldn't control my emotions, so I couldn't help but hug him and cry. It's not what you think at all."

"Doesn't that just prove you have feelings for him?"

Yumi laughed smugly, her tone tinged with a hint of teasing.

"I used to think you'd like someone like Takagi, the harmless, honest type. I never imagined you'd be into someone like Uncle Hayashi, a mature, handsome, and charismatic man!"

"Mr. Lin Xiuyi is only about ten years older than us. Don't keep calling him 'uncle,' it's too strange." Sato couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm only in my early twenties, what's wrong with calling him 'uncle'? It's perfectly normal!"

Yumi started acting like a rogue, then quickly switched to a sincere tone and said...

"But seriously, even if you're not going, you have to give me a reason. I already promised Uncle Lin you would go, you can't expect me to break my promise, can you?"

Sato raised his hand and touched his forehead; it was still warm to the touch.

"I've had a slight cold these past couple of days and I don't feel very energetic. After get off work tomorrow, I want to go straight home and rest; I really don't have the energy to go to the social event."

"So that's how it is."

Upon hearing that her friend was sick, Yumi immediately dropped her joking tone, told her to rest well and take her medicine on time, chatted for a few more minutes about precautions, and then hung up the phone.

Sato put down his phone and glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost ten o'clock.

She stood up, leaning on the sofa, ready to go back to her room to rest, but just then, the doorbell suddenly rang.

The policewoman frowned slightly, a hint of doubt rising in her mind. Who could be looking for her at this time?

Thinking this, she got up and walked towards the door.

……

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Eri Kisaki got ready and went to the law firm.

Last night, she and Xiaolan packed their clothes, skincare products, and other personal items into several suitcases.

The follow-up matters of the move will be handled entirely by Li Long and others, so they don't need to worry about it.

Lin Xiuyi took Xiaolan to Teitan Elementary School and watched her walk into the school gate before heading to Teitan High School to work in the counseling office.

He had just sat down behind his desk and taken a sip of water when Judy pushed open the door and walked in.

"Boss, Naoko Takei is here, accompanied by an older, beautiful woman, who should be her father's secretary, Akiko Hanai."

As soon as she finished speaking, Naoko Takei led in a woman with a gentle demeanor and beautiful appearance.

The woman wore a well-fitting beige business suit and had short hair that went past her ears, making her look both capable and gentle.

"Ms. Lin, this is Ms. Hanai!"

Naoko Takei whispered a brief introduction, then hurriedly turned and ran out, as if something was chasing her.

"Naoko, slow down, be careful not to fall!"

Hanai Akiko gave a helpless remark, then turned to Hayashi Shuichi with a polite smile and got straight to the point.

"Dr. Lin, I don't think Naoko asked me to come to school today because of academic matters, right? She's never been good at lying; her eyes can't hide anything."

"That's right, I had Naoko invite you here so you could have a chat with Ms. Hanai." Lin Xiu nodded, readily admitting her guess.

Akiko Hanai couldn't help but shake her head, her tone tinged with helplessness, but not anger.

"I never expected this child to have learned to lie. She used to never dare to tell a lie."

"There are many kinds of lies, some malicious and some well-intentioned," Lin Xiuyi said calmly. "Ms. Hanai doesn't need to worry too much about this. Compared to the lies, Naoko Takei's psychological problems are more worthy of our attention."

"Psychological problems?"

Akiko Hanai's smile froze instantly, then her expression tensed, and she leaned forward slightly.

"Dr. Lin, what exactly happened? Naoko...is something bothering her? Or was she bullied at school?"

"Here's what happened..."

Lin Xiuyi recounted everything that Takei Naoko had said in the counseling room the day before to Hanai Akiko, including her dependence on and affection for Hanai Akiko, as well as the inferiority complex and unease she felt due to Hanai Akiko's occasional cold gaze.

"Because of her family background, Naoko is somewhat withdrawn and has almost no friends at school. She sees you as her only source of emotional support."

"I know that."

Akiko Hanai sighed helplessly, her eyes filled with heartache.

"In recent years, President Takei has been focused on his work and has neglected Naoko. Her mother has been hospitalized for many years, and I have been taking care of her daily life."

"I know Naoko's personality very well. She is sensitive and fragile, and she is very afraid of being abandoned."

"In that case, I'll just say it directly."

Lin Xiuyi stopped beating around the bush, looked directly at Hanai Akiko, and asked in a serious tone,

"Naoko Takei really wants to know, why do you sometimes look at her with a hint of disgust and distance?"

"this……"

Akiko Hanai avoided eye contact, clearly not wanting to answer the question.

Just as she took a deep breath, preparing to refuse, Lin Xiuyi spoke first: "It's because of her father, Takei Katsuhiko, isn't it?"

Akiko Hanai suddenly stood up, her gentle demeanor vanishing instantly, replaced by icy anger.

With a stern face and a stiff tone, she replied, "I'm sorry, Dr. Lin, I don't understand what you're saying!"

"Miss Hanai, there are many things in this world that cannot be hidden."

Lin Xiuyi's tone was meaningful, as if she could see through all of her pretenses.

"For example, Ms. Hanai, even if you change your name and live in anonymity, your past experiences can still be found out."

Before he could finish speaking, Hanai Akiko slammed her hand on the table and stood up angrily.

"Dr. Lin, I've already said it! I don't understand what you're saying! I have work to do and I need to leave now!"

"Okay, you can go now."

Lin Xiuyi sat calmly, her tone composed yet threatening.

"After you leave, I will tell Naoko everything, including the fact that your parents committed suicide because of Katsuhiko Takei."

Hanai Akiko stopped abruptly, her back to Hayashi Shuichi, her body trembling slightly.

"Naoko is withdrawn and sensitive, and she considers you her only family," Lin Xiuyi said slowly. "What do you think she would do if she knew that the only person she trusts and loves deeply actually has a deep-seated hatred for her family?"

"Given her personality, wouldn't she do something foolish in a moment of impulsiveness?"