The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"You only booked one room?"
Heiji immediately felt a bad premonition.
"I was in too much of a hurry... I forgot."
Yoko Okino nodded, her face flushing.
Heiji was dumbfounded and at a loss for words. At this rate, the fake scandal was about to turn into real news.
"I'll go book another one right away."
Heiji agreed. Sharing a double room like this left far too much to the imagination.
"It looks like we can't escape this scandal."
He walked to the window and looked down at the highway, where cars streamed by. A tall, thin figure stepped out of the hotel, crossed the road, and disappeared into the darkness.
Soon Yoko returned. She took off her oversized sunglasses, cheeks still flushed.
"What number is my room?" Heiji asked, reaching for his bag.
"Heiji, you stay in this room. I'll drive back."
"No rooms left?"
Heiji was speechless; he'd actually run into this kind of clichéd melodrama.
"How far is your place from here?"
"It'll take about two hours."
Yoko put her sunglasses back on, preparing to leave.
Heiji checked the time—nine-thirty.
"By the time you get back it'll be eleven. That's too late. If you trust me, just stay one night."
If she left now, the paparazzi definitely wouldn't let her go. He would trail her all the way to the filming site, and that tail would be impossible to shake.
Yoko looked at Heiji for a moment, then silently nodded.
Shower, get in bed, sleep.
That night, of course, nothing happened.
-------------
Early the next morning.
Heiji opened his eyes. Yoko, in the bed next to his, had already gotten up and was washing her face in the bathroom.
"Heiji, good morning," she called.
Yoko emerged drying her hair with a towel. In a camisole and shorts, her pale arms and legs were exposed—she looked fresh and alluring.
"Yoko, you really trust me that much?" Heiji shook his head and went straight into the bathroom.
Yoko's face reddened. She hurriedly put on clothes, throwing a jacket over her top and sliding on thin black tights. With sneakers, she looked pure and charming.
"Heiji, let's go. We'll grab breakfast and head back."
After checking out, Yoko returned to the car and winked at Heiji, playful.
Heiji drove, glancing in the rearview mirror with a frown. There were no paparazzi. If they weren't following, there was no need to waste time trying to lose a tail.
Following Yoko's directions, they soon arrived at the filming location.
"Miss Yoko! You're finally back! Good work!" a voice called out before Heiji even got out of the car.
How could Kogoro Mouri be here?
Seeing Kogoro rushing over, Heiji frowned. If Uncle Mouri was here, then that reasoning maniac must be nearby too.
"Good morning, Mr. Mouri," Yoko said with a polite smile.
"As soon as I see Miss Yoko, I feel completely rejuvenated! Hahaha!" Kogoro laughed loudly.
Heiji stepped out of the car. "Uncle Mouri, what are you doing here?"
"Hmm?" Kogoro looked Heiji over. After a stunned pause, his eyes widened. "Heiji, you brat! What are you doing here?"
"Wait!" Kogoro suddenly realized something was off. His eyes scanned Yoko and Heiji. Yesterday Miss Yoko had been wearing a green shirt and black capris. Today she was in a jacket, camisole, shorts, and tights... She hadn't come back last night.
"Miss Yoko, where did you go last night?" Kogoro asked, hawk-eyed.
Yoko's face flushed and she lowered her head a little. "I went to pick up Heiji."
It was over. It was all over.
Kogoro clutched his head, face collapsing into comic despair. Miss Yoko had stayed the night with Heiji.
"Mr. Mouri, is something wrong?" Yoko asked, confused.
"Miss Yoko, just ignore my dad," Ran said as she walked over, smiling sweetly at Yoko and shooting her father an embarrassed look.
"You guys are actually all here."
"Heiji, you came too."
Ran brightened when she saw Heiji and gave a faint smile.
Heiji nodded. "Did a case happen here?"
"No, my dad was invited as a consultant for this suspense TV series," Ran explained.
"Heiji brat, you aren't thinking of coming over to steal my business, are you?" Kogoro eyed Heiji warily.
(Hehe, Uncle, can you pull yourself together?)
"Heiji was invited by me to hang out," Yoko added.
"Miss Yoko..." Kogoro made a show of weeping tears.
"Yo, Miss Yoko. You turned down a date with a handsome guy like me just to pick up this high school student?" a smug young man sneered as he approached. He wasn't bad-looking, but his expression reeked of vanity.
"Mr. Nachi, you must be joking," Yoko replied, keeping a polite distance and her professional smile.
"Perhaps there's something going on between them—who knows? Hahaha~" a sinister voice chimed in with mockery.
"That guy..." Kogoro glanced at the newcomer with displeasure.
"Miss Yoko, you're finally here. You're just in time for your scene," a woman wearing glasses said as she walked over, followed by an honest-looking man.
"Yoko, hurry and change! It's almost time for your scene!" a potbellied middle-aged man called from not far away.
"Okay, I'll be right there." Yoko smiled gently at Heiji. "Heiji, you have to watch my performance closely later."
"Of course I will. It's rare to see a big star filming," the sinister man said theatrically.
Heiji glanced at him once, then ignored him.
"Heiji, let me introduce everyone," Ran said. "This handsome guy is Nachi Shingo. The young woman with glasses is Taeko Mamegaki, and that's her boyfriend Yuji Shimazaki. That gentleman is Anzai Morio, and the director is Tondabayashi Muneo."
Heiji nodded politely and deliberately ignored Anzai Morio.
"As for him, you should've heard of him—Heiji Hattori." Ran added.
(Hey, Ran... you're getting a little too close to Heiji.) Conan lowered his eyes, jealousy flaring.
"Heiji Hattori? That genius detective everyone's been hyping lately?" Nachi said in surprise.
"So amazing! I've been following your cases. Didn't expect to see the real thing today," Taeko said.
"So that's the famous detective—more famous than Kogoro Mouri. No wonder some people will do anything. Hahaha~" Anzai Morio sneered, glancing at Yoko, who had finished changing and walked out, laughing arrogantly.
"What's wrong with Mr. Anzai today?" Ran asked, puzzled.
Heiji frowned and watched Anzai closely.
Could he be the one from last night?
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