Seeing Kogoro Mouri, a dignified Showa man, actually crying over something like this.
Even Lin Yi was surprised.
Isn't it just an affair? To be this sad, it's like his wife died... Is it really necessary?
Lin Yi patted Kogoro Mouri on the shoulder seriously and said, "Since it's a misunderstanding, it's easy to handle... Just explain it clearly. I believe Ran will understand."
"Sigh."
After Kogoro Mouri wiped away his tears, he took a cigarette out of his pocket, lit it, took a deep breath, and exhaled a long trail of white smoke. "If only I had realized sooner... Unfortunately... it's too late."
"Too late?"
Lin Yi was stunned for a moment and asked, "How is it too late?"
"Actually..."
Kogoro Mouri held the cigarette in his mouth and looked at his glass, the expression on his face slowly becoming complicated. "She's been looking for me all these days."
Well, it seems Horie Yumi's movements were quite fast.
Lin Yi thought to himself.
"With those things having happened, I couldn't just ignore it."
Kogoro Mouri said in a low voice, "So... while you were at school, I went out to meet her."
"I apologized to her... and then I wanted to settle this matter privately. From then on, we'd go our separate ways and never bother each other again. We'd just treat it as an accident..."
Speaking to this point, Kogoro Mouri opened his mouth but couldn't continue. He picked up his glass to take a few gulps for liquid courage, only to find it was empty.
He unceremoniously took Lin Yi's glass, took a sip, and frowned, saying, "Except... there were some accidents."
Lin Yi raised his hand to have the Bartender serve two glasses of whiskey and asked curiously, "What accidents happened?"
Horie Yumi's actions were all decided by her own will; she hadn't reported them to Lin Yi, so he didn't know what she had actually done.
Kogoro Mouri opened his mouth but still couldn't say it. He could only down two more glasses of wine before he could speak: "We... we... again... again... again..."
Hearing Kogoro Mouri say "again" so many times without being able to finish.
Lin Yi finished it for him: "So... you did it a few more times?"
"Yeah... yeah."
Kogoro Mouri lowered his head in shame, not even daring to look Lin Yi in the eye.
"It's been like this... for the past few days?" Lin Yi asked with a strange expression.
"Yes..." Kogoro Mouri suddenly looked up at Lin Yi and said, "I really wanted to talk to her about how to solve this matter!!"
"But..." Kogoro Mouri's tone dropped again as he said, "But... she wanted that, so what could I do? Right?"
"..."
So... those tears just now... were crocodile tears?
Doing it in the morning, then going back at night and thinking you did something wrong, so you constantly numb yourself with cigarettes and alcohol?
Waking up the next day and doing it again, then feeling you did wrong again at night.
It has been repeating like this during this period.
Or is it because Ran went to school in the morning and you couldn't see her, so you did these things without any psychological pressure?
But once night falls and you see Ran's face, you feel guilty? Putting on such a sorrowful look?
Clap, clap, clap.
You motherfucker, you really are a talent!
Lin Yi couldn't help but applaud Kogoro Mouri in his heart.
This behavior of his perfectly illustrated what is meant by a man's true nature.
Lin Yi took a sip of whiskey to calm his shock.
Originally, he felt a bit guilty, but as it turns out.
Heh, men.
"I know what I'm doing is wrong... but I just can't control myself."
Kogoro Mouri downed a mouthful of alcohol; the bitter wine entered his throat, and his heart ached.
Having drunk too much, he spoke with less restraint, saying, "But... I have my difficulties too!"
"Difficulties?" Lin Yi said what a listener should say.
Kogoro Mouri smoked, clearly thinking about how to explain.
After half a cigarette, he spoke: "I saw a very interesting question on the internet."
"Someone said he had been separated from his wife for ten years... He asked other netizens what he should do. There were many comments and answers below."
"Some said to get a divorce. After ten years of separation, the feelings are long gone."
"Some said they shouldn't divorce. To be able to persist for ten years of separation without divorcing, it must be true love."
"Kid, what do you think?"
"Even on the internet, people are asking, and some are saying..."
Lin Yi scoffed inwardly: It's clearly just your own mind at work.
If it weren't for Ran listening on the other end of the phone, Lin Yi would have definitely advised Kogoro Mouri to just break up.
There are plenty of fish in the sea; you won't die without her.
After the divorce, you could even find a girl around your daughter's age to be your wife.
At that time, you might even be able to have a passionate love story with your new wife's mother.
If you don't divorce, you can only rely on beer and cigarettes to drown your sorrows. Occasionally visiting a Hostess Club would require you to be cautious, like a thief.
Lin Yi could provide an endless stream of examples to Kogoro Mouri, telling him the benefits of divorce.
Finally, he'd conclude: You're not a man if you don't divorce!
Unfortunately.
Ran was listening.
Lin Yi had no choice but to keep these thoughts buried deep inside, letting them rot in his gut.
He didn't answer immediately but thought for a moment before saying, "Separated for ten years... that depends on the specific circumstances."
"Specific circumstances?" Kogoro glanced at Lin Yi, somewhat confused.
Lin Yi said, "This couple has been separated for ten years without a divorce. Either they still have feelings for each other, or there's some reason forcing them not to divorce..."
Kogoro Mouri silently took a sip of alcohol, knowing Lin Yi had guessed right again. It was indeed because of Ran that they hadn't divorced yet, so they just kept putting it off.
"What if there are still feelings?" Kogoro couldn't help but ask.
"This..."
Lin Yi was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly. "Separated for ten years... I think only familial affection remains. Because love needs time to be nurtured."
Kogoro paused, then nodded and said, "That makes sense."
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