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

Chapter 94 Orikasa Midori

The woman wore a long, emerald-green dress, her long hair loosely tied back, revealing her slender, fair neck. Her voice was gentle and delicate, completely different from the harsh and rude girl Lin Xiuyi remembered.

"Rose symbolizes love. Red roses represent passionate love, white roses represent pure and flawless emotions, and pink roses represent romance with a touch of shyness, making them very suitable for expressing subtle affection."

"Then I'll take the red rose."

The guest was a middle-aged man with brown skin and a small tuft of beard on his chin.

He scratched his head somewhat sheepishly and asked in a slightly shy tone,

"I'm planning to use these to woo a beautiful lady, but I haven't confessed my feelings to her yet. I'm wondering how many roses to give her?"

"If you haven't confessed yet, I suggest you choose seven roses." The female boss in the green dress nodded slightly. "The meaning of seven roses is 'I've secretly liked you for a long time.' It can express your feelings subtly without being too direct, avoiding embarrassment for both of you if you are rejected."

She had barely finished speaking when she heard a slightly mocking voice behind her.

"If it were me, I would choose thirty-six roses. The meaning of thirty-six roses is 'My love is only for you,' which is straightforward and passionate. I think the recipient would be even more surprised and more clearly feel your feelings when they receive it."

"Huh, is that really a saying?"

The brown-skinned customer's eyes lit up, and a look of delight appeared on his face. "Then, boss, I'll take thirty-six red roses!"

The florist turned around, a hint of displeasure on her face, wanting to see who had interrupted her introduction.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she turned around, the person who had just spoken also quickly turned his back, pretending to admire the orchids on the shelf behind him, acting as if it were none of his business.

Helpless, the female boss had no choice but to suppress her displeasure and turn to get the trimmed red roses.

With practiced ease, she selected thirty-six vibrant red roses, paired them with a few emerald green eucalyptus leaves, carefully wrapped them in red wrapping paper, tied them with an elegant ribbon, and handed them to the guest.

After the customer paid and left, the female proprietress quickly walked over to the man whose back was to her and spoke with a hint of reproach in her voice.

"Although the meaning of thirty-six roses is indeed 'My love is only for you,' that customer hadn't even confessed yet. Making it so direct like that, what if they were rejected? Wouldn't that make things very awkward for both of them?"

"Confessing to someone you like requires boldness, thick skin, and the most passion you can muster."

Lin Xiuyi slowly examined the orchids on the shelf, then turned around with a smile.

Sending seven flowers is indeed subtle, but overly subtle sentiments are sometimes easily overlooked. Women sometimes don't like men who are too coy and reserved; straightforward expressions of love are more likely to touch their hearts.

"That's not necessarily true!" The female boss wrinkled her nose in protest. "You're not a woman, how would you know what we're really thinking?"

She had barely finished speaking when she saw the man in front of her suddenly take a step forward, casually pick up a bright red rose from the flowerpot beside him, and gently offer it to her.

"Little Green, this flower represents my feelings for you. You will always be the only one in my heart."

"you……"

The female boss, Midori Orikasa, widened her eyes in surprise, her body instantly stiffened, and the flower shears in her hand fell to the table with a "clatter".

Although it had been more than 20 years since they last met, the man in front of her had shed his youthful naiveté, his face had become more mature and handsome, and his temperament had become more composed. But his familiar features still made her recognize him instantly.

Orikasa Midori's voice trembled slightly, tinged with disbelief: "...Hayashi-senpai?"

"Long time no see, Little Green."

Lin Xiu waved the roses in her hand, her tone slightly teasing.

"If you don't take this soon, I'm going to be so embarrassed!"

Midori Orikasa subconsciously reached out and took the rose. The moment her fingertips touched the petals, she suddenly realized what Hideaki Lin had just said: "You will always be the only one in my heart."

These words were like a pebble, instantly stirring up ripples in her heart, making her fair cheeks turn bright red, the redness spreading from her cheeks to her ears, and even her neck blushing slightly.

Midori hurriedly raised her hand to touch her burning face, and said somewhat awkwardly, "Senior Lin still likes to joke around so much, he hasn't changed after all these years."

"How about it? My bold approach to pursuing you is much more effective than your subtle hints, isn't it?"

Lin Xiuyi looked at the beauty in front of him with a playful expression, his eyes filled with admiration.

Compared to that spirited, prickly delinquent girl from back then...

Today's Orikasa green has a more mature and feminine charm.

Her beautiful face and graceful figure are like a fully bloomed rose, delicate and alluring.

"...Senior Lin!"

Midori Orikasa glared at him reproachfully, her cheeks still flushed.

She then realized that Lin Xiuyi's words were actually a complaint about her previous rebuttal to him, and she was both amused and exasperated.

When her gaze fell on the rose in her hand, a barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed across her eyes.

"Oh right, I forgot to say hello properly."

Lin Xiu tilted her head, thought about it carefully for a moment, and a playful smile appeared on her face.

"I remember when you greeted me back then, you said something like... 'Yoru Shiku'?"

As he spoke, he imitated Orisaka Midori's posture from back then, slightly bending over, preparing to perform that ninety-degree bow.

"senior!"

Midori Orikasa quickly reached out to stop him, her voice full of embarrassment and annoyance.

What could be more humiliating than running into an old friend you haven't seen in years, only to have them dig up your embarrassing past and make fun of you?

Seeing that Midori Orikasa seemed genuinely angry, Hayashi Shuichi quickly dropped his joking expression and apologized sincerely.

"I'm sorry, Xiao Lü. I just haven't seen you for so many years, and I never imagined you would own a flower shop. I just thought I'd play a joke on you..."

Midori Orisaka gave a soft snort, said nothing more, and turned to walk into the flower shop.

"Hey, Little Green, you're not going to get a wooden sword, are you?" Lin Xiuyi couldn't help but make another sarcastic remark as he watched her retreating figure.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Midori Orikasa pulled open a sliding door inside the flower shop.

Behind that door was what appeared to be a storage room for gardening tools, filled with flowerpots, shovels, scissors, and other equipment.

But on the very center of the platform, there was a wooden knife bearing the marks of time.

The blade was somewhat worn, but it was still wiped clean, clearly indicating that it was regularly maintained.

Lin Xiuyi's smile froze instantly when she saw the wooden sword.

Thankfully, it was just a joke. This girl still has a wooden sword; it seems her temper from back then hasn't changed much...