Chapter 26: Xiao Ran's Malicious Taste! Yoko Okino Panics!

"Uncle Sakaki, still the same as always."

Yoko Okino said to Sakaki after she sat down.

After greeting Yoko Okino, the customers in the shop continued chatting among themselves and did not focus all their attention on the idol star who had arrived.

"Miss Yoko, I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

Xiao Ran looked at Yoko Okino, who happened to be sitting in the seat next to him.

"Huh~! It's you, the detective' daughter's classmate."

Yoko Okino looked at Xiao Ran in surprise, apparently not expecting them to meet here.

She had been a frequent patron of this izakaya since she first entered society, and even after she became famous, she would occasionally come here to eat something.

As a nationally renowned idol star, what kind of delicious food hadn't Yoko Okino eaten?

But for her, what she ate at this izakaya wasn't about the taste, but a feeling of nostalgia.

Coming here, she felt like she was back in those years.

Moreover, most of the customers in this shop were regulars, and they were all familiar with Yoko Okino, the big star, so there was basically no situation where she would be harassed while dining.

After all, they were no longer young, and after years of struggling in society, they had long since shed their youthful impulsiveness.

Even with a big star like Yoko Okino sitting next to them, at most they were just a little curious.

But after seeing her many times, even that little bit of curiosity was gone.

"Miss Yoko, did you just come back from the police station?"

Xiao Ran asked.

Yoko Okino nodded and said, "Yes, I just came back after giving a statement. I haven't had dinner yet, so I thought I'd come here to eat something."

The real-life Yoko Okino was not as glamorous as she appeared on screen, nor did she always have a smile on her face.

At this moment, she also looked tired, clearly showing signs of mental exhaustion due to Fujie Akiyoshi's matter.

"Is the case closed?"

Xiao Ran asked.

"Yes, it's closed. It's finally over!"

Yoko Okino said with a sigh of relief.

She looked like she was relieved to be free from the suspicion of murder, but Xiao Ran knew that Yoko Okino was also relieved to be rid of the big trouble that was Fujie Akiyoshi.

"Then congratulations, Miss Yoko. You no longer have to worry about that kind of guy in the future."

Xiao Ran said with a smile.

"You, what do you mean?"

Yoko Okino looked at him with a hint of guilt in her eyes and asked.

Xiao Ran smiled, leaned closer, and whispered, "Didn't Fujie Akiyoshi keep pestering you, Miss Yoko, before? And he repeatedly asked you for money. Now that he's dead, and you've also been cleared of suspicion as the murderer, isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"

"You--"

Yoko Okino looked at him in shock. She didn't expect Xiao Ran to even know that she had given Fujie Akiyoshi money.

"Shh~! Don't be so loud. Don't worry, I won't spread it around. I'm not Fujie Akiyoshi."

After Xiao Ran finished speaking, he sat up straight again, pretending as if nothing had happened.

The other customers in the shop were all chatting about their own lives and work, so no one noticed their strange behavior.

Yoko Okino's mind was in turmoil now.

She didn't expect her secret to be known by Xiao Ran.

Although this person was a student and not old, there was no guarantee that he wouldn't become like Fujie Akiyoshi in the future, greedily asking her for money.

But to put it bluntly, had Yoko Okino really earned a lot of money after being in the entertainment industry for so many years?

You know;

Those management companies were notoriously vampires.

Furthermore, the contract Yoko Okino signed back then was a ten-year vampire contract. For a 5 million commercial performance, she wouldn't even get 1 million herself!

Over the years, the money she earned, apart from buying a house and two cars, was either given to Fujie Akiyoshi to keep him quiet, or used to maintain her glamorous lifestyle.

As for her bank savings, let alone 100 million.

She couldn't even take out 50 million yen!

Now that she had finally gotten rid of Fujie Akiyoshi, that bloodsucking parasite, she had just breathed a sigh of relief, and then another one came along?

How could she bear that!

As for Xiao Ran just saying that he wouldn't be like Fujie Akiyoshi?

That kind of talk was just for listening. Yoko Okino was no longer a little girl who didn't understand anything, so how could she believe such nonsense!

Here;

Yoko Okino sat on her seat, restless, thinking about how to solve this problem.

Xiao Ran, on the other hand, had no particular thoughts.

He had no intention of extorting Yoko Okino. As a dignified Superman, did he need to earn money through extortion?

The technological knowledge from Krypton in his mind, just taking out one of them, could earn him enough money to last several lifetimes!

Therefore;

All of Yoko Okino's worries were completely self-inflicted. In fact, Xiao Ran, just as he said, truly wouldn't spread this matter around.

The reason he told Yoko Okino was simply out of malicious taste.

He wanted to see her shocked expression, thinking it would be very interesting.

In fact, Xiao Ran did see Yoko Okino's shocked expression, and it was indeed quite amusing.

But that was all.

Soon;

Yoko Okino's food was also served.

But she only ate a few bites and lost her appetite.

Instead, she finished the pot of sake in two or three gulps.

Because she drank too quickly, her cheeks instantly turned red, feeling a bit tipsy.

"Uncle Sakaki, another pot of sake."

Yoko Okino ordered another pot of sake.

Sakaki, who brought the sake, glanced at her and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Miss Yoko, are you troubled by something?"

"Yes, it's work-related."

Yoko Okino nodded and said, without giving too much explanation.

Soon, the second pot of sake was also finished.

Yoko Okino actually had a good alcohol tolerance. If she drank slowly, three or four pots of sake might not even make her feel tipsy.

But today she drank too fast, so after two pots of sake, she was already feeling a little light-headed.

Chapter 27: Yoko Okino's Request! Taking an Idol Star Home!

"Boss, check, please!"

Xiao Ran had finished eating by now. He looked at the time on his watch; it was already 9 PM, time to go home, wash up, and sleep.

His daily routine was very regular. He usually went to bed before 10 PM and then woke up promptly at 6 AM the next day.

Although it didn't matter if he didn't sleep now, Xiao Ran also wanted to achieve the 'Man of Steel' world completion as soon as possible, so he could see the next new Marvel Universe.

In the seat next to him, Yoko Okino, hearing that Xiao Ran was about to pay and leave, also felt her small hand tremble slightly a few times.

"That'll be 3500 yen!"

Sakaki walked over, looked at what Xiao Ran had ordered, and then said.

3500 yen wasn't expensive, mainly because the taste was indeed good, much better than what Xiao Ran had eaten before, and it was worth the price.

After paying 3500 yen, Xiao Ran got up and left.

This izakaya was good, a little far from where he lived, but Xiao Ran was planning to buy a motorcycle later, so the distance would be fine when he rode over.

He could come often in the future.

Mainly, the atmosphere in the shop was good, and listening to those uncles brag and complain about the trivialities of life was quite interesting.

As Xiao Ran came out of the izakaya and was about to head home, the door of the izakaya behind him opened again, and then Yoko Okino chased after him from behind.

"Sir, please wait a moment!"

Yoko Okino caught up and called out to Xiao Ran.

"Is there something, Miss Yoko?"

Xiao Ran looked at Yoko Okino and asked.

Yoko Okino, who had chased out, first calmed her breathing, then looked at Xiao Ran in front of her and said, "Sir, can I ask you a favor?"

"What is it?"

Xiao Ran looked at Yoko Okino and asked.

They weren't close, and Yoko Okino suddenly ran over out of nowhere saying she had a favor to ask him. Xiao Ran was curious about what she wanted.

"As you know, someone just died at my house."

Yoko Okino said somewhat awkwardly, "So I'm a bit scared to go back to that house now, and I'm afraid to go to a hotel alone."

Xiao Ran nodded, so what?

"So... can I stay at your place for a few days?"

Yoko Okino looked up, gazed at Xiao Ran with her sparkling big eyes, clasped her hands together tightly, and had a pleading expression.

???

When I type question marks, it's not that I have a problem, but that you have a problem!

No, is Yoko Okino's brain fried?

Randomly running to a strange man's... well, boy's house to stay.

Am I particularly trustworthy or something?

"Miss Yoko, are you sure?"

Xiao Ran looked at Yoko Okino and asked her.

"Yes, please help me! Please!"

Yoko Okino reached out and grabbed Xiao Ran's arm, acting like she was pouting.

This confused Xiao Ran a bit.

However, with the mindset of taking advantage of a good deal, and also wanting to see what Yoko Okino was up to, Xiao Ran didn't think too much and nodded in agreement.

"Alright, then follow me."

Xiao Ran said.

"Thank you!"

Yoko Okino looked happy.

"I drove here, but I've been drinking, so I can't drive now. Sir, can you drive?"

Yoko Okino shook a car key from her bag and asked Xiao Ran.