Volume 37: Don’t Get Close To Strangers

On the small holiday of October 1st, Chen Shi took Tao Yueyue to play in a newly opened surfing hall in the city. He felt that Lin Dongxue's suggestion last time was very constructive. If he didn’t spend time with Yueyue, it would put a distance between the two of them.

It was early in the morning today and there weren’t many people in the venue. For her first time being in this kind of place, Tao Yueyue seemed a little embarrassed. She sat by the pool the whole time kicking her feet on the water.

Chen Shi sat down next to her. "Yueyue, should I teach you how to swim?"

The people passing by pointed at Chen Shi. "Look at that person!", "He’s not a gangster, is he?!"

There were some scars on Chen Shi’s back. In fact, it was deliberately made when he had plastic surgery. Chen Shi’s design was that of a hooligan and his body couldn’t be too clean. He also considered whether to tattoo himself, but he felt it would be too ugly as well as easy to investigate.

Tao Yueyue said, "Uncle Chen, if you want to exchange feelings with me, we don't have to come to this kind of place. You know I hate places with lots of people."

"I don't like busy places either, but it's rare to have a holiday. It’s good to come out and increase my experience."

"Increase experience? Why not read at home?!"

"Let’s make a plan. Today, I will teach you how to swim freestyle, okay?"

Chen Shi jumped into the water and splashed Tao Yueyue all over with water, forcing her to get into the water. He held her hands and taught her how to swim and breathe. Tao Yueyue, who was clever in all aspects, only lacked motor skills. She couldn’t get a feel for it in the water.

Tired of playing, the two went to a deck chair on the shore to rest. Tao Yueyue bought a pair of sunglasses. Wearing sunglasses, she looked very mature as she drank a coconut through a straw. She said, "Uncle Chen, you haven’t spent much time driving a taxi recently and only solve cases. You’re really not planning to go back to being a policeman?”

"The past is just like a previous life for me. In this life, I still prefer to live freely. I think it’s good right now. I can contribute to society without being constrained... What are your plans for the future?"

"What plan can a student have? To study hard!"

"And then?"

"I also hope to live a free life. I found out that this society is very indulgent to talented people. I should enrich myself before talking about this further!” These words were so mature that it didn’t seem like a little girl would say them.

"Haha, that's not necessarily the case. Sometimes, you have to be more slick. Otherwise, your talents will be treated as heresy."

"I hate some people in my class. They’re obviously very naive but arrogant. Do I need to act slick with these kinds of people? Just thinking about it makes me annoyed." Tao Yueyue said in contempt.

"Are you ‘teaching’ classmates again?"

"No!"

"Lying in front of me?"

"Well, okay. I did once or twice. Mainly because they were too annoying!"

Chen Shi rubbed his head. "The mistakes that smart people easily make are to feel that they can control others casually. You should retract your thorns a bit. The more you look like you shouldn’t be provoked, the more troublesome people will come to your door. Be more low-key. If you really meet someone who’s a nuisance, you can play the pig and eat the tiger[1]. The other party will lose out without knowing who did it."

Tao Yueyue snorted. "Uncle Chen is also an adult!"

"The ‘adult’ in your words doesn't seem to be a good thing."

"Adults just feel that they have rich experience and can educate children at will. In fact, many adults don’t understand. For example, our Teacher Cao. Teacher Cao is very childish. Ever since they fell in love, they got even more childish, and their emotions are written all over their face."

"Okay, okay, why don’t you educate me? What do I have to improve on in life?"

"Um..." Tao Yueyue considered. "I think you’ve been a little lax towards Elder Sister Lin recently. Do you think you don't need to maintain it anymore after she’s in your hands? Look. Today, you only brought me out to play, but not her."

"Firstly, I'm afraid you’d think that we’re having fun together and neglecting you. Secondly, she needs to go to work today."

"Okay, I’ll accept your reason!"

"Yueyue, let me tell you some words of honesty!"

"Go ahead!"

"I'm thinking that you’re growing bigger and bigger, and it's not convenient to live with me. Do you want me to transfer you to a boarding school? I'm asking for your opinion."

Tao Yueyue pouted and considered. "No need. I don't like a collective lifestyle. I think it's good not disturbing each other like this!"

"Okay, that's it then."

"I also want to say some words of honesty."

"Go ahead!"

Tao Yueyue pushed her sunglasses to cover her emotions. "Uncle Chen, can you hug me more regularly?"

"What?"

Tao Yueyue had a little blush on her cheeks. "If you want to exchange feelings, you don't need to come to this sort of place deliberately. Usually, you’re too busy. When you’re free, you take the child here and there to play, feeling like you’ve done your duty. This is nothing but the wishful thinking of adults. In fact, for children, more praises and hugs are enough... I’ve had no father ever since I was a child. You’re the first person that seems like a father to me. I hope you can praise me more often and touch my head, instead of stuffing money or a Pizza Hut to me every time. I can’t spend all the pocket money you’ve given me. This part is what Elder Sister Lin does well. Maybe it’s just something trivial, but it’s very important for children... Of course!" Tao Yueyue coughed once and raised her voice. "These are not things I wanted to say. I read your psychology books and learned to analyze myself. To be precise, this is Tao Yueyue’s subconscious desire and has nothing to do with my opinions!"

Chen Shi smiled. He knew that when saying these words, Yueyue had to muster up a lot of courage. This was indeed his own negligence. He always considered Tao Yueyue as a friend with a vast age difference, but he ignored the fact that she was still a child. Children required various nutrients to grow up.

Chen Shi touched her head. "I'm sorry. It was my negligence. Let's start today!"

"Mmh!" Tao Yueyue nodded blushing, before looking around at the crowd. "There won’t be a homicide today, right?"

"It sounds like we’re both disaster stars where people will die wherever we go. I’m not surnamed Ke."

"Conan's surname is Edogawa, okay[2]?"

"It's impossible for a case to happen..."

As soon as he said so, a scream could be heard somewhere. Tao Yueyue looked at Chen Shi with a smile that implied "What was I just saying?" Chen Shi helplessly got up to check. A lot of people had gathered there.

Then, he came back and said, "It's not a big deal. An aunt's swimsuit was washed away by the water and they just caused a fuss."

"Aiya... Did you like what you saw?"

"Am I that kind of person?"

"Yes!"

"You’re actually slandering me!" Chen Shi picked up Tao Yueyue and threw her into the swimming pool. She screamed and giggled. After she stood firm, she splashed water on Chen Shi. At this moment, she had put down her constraints and played with all her heart.

Suddenly, a scream came from somewhere, "Ah! Murder!"

Tao Yueyue said, "Okay, this time it’s real. Go check it out!"

Chen Shi said helplessly, "Is my surname really Ke?"

"They’re surnamed Edogawa, okay?"

1. To play dumb to gain the advantage.

2. Ke is how you pronounce the “Co” part of “Conan” in Chinese.