A particularly familiar figure from the back...

In the next breath, Qin's body seemed to get rid of the control of consciousness and started to act automatically——

She hurried forward... no, she stepped towards the direction of the back and shouted: "Tangerine..."

After just a few syllables, the owner of the back figure turned the corner and revealed his profile.

He has narrow eyes, a wide and flat nose, and a slightly dark complexion due to being in the sun for a long time.

A face full of Satsuma characteristics...

Not that man’s face…

"..." Qin took back her outstretched hand with a look of disappointment.

"Xiaoqin, what's wrong?" Zhongsuke asked, following his sister's gaze.

Then, he saw the Satsuma man whose back looked like someone.

Zhongsuke's expression was stunned.

He instantly understood what was going on with his sister's abnormal reaction just now...

For a while, no one spoke anymore.

The harmonious atmosphere that originally filled the relationship between the brother and sister disappeared.

Just as Zhongsuke was thinking hard about what to say and what to do to lift the heavy atmosphere... Qin took the initiative and said:

"Brother, still... you haven't found Mr. Tachibana?"

"Uh...this...this..."

Tadatsuki hesitated, thinking about how to give his sister a decent and concise answer.

But after a moment, he slumped his shoulders in a self-defeating manner and let out a long sigh.

"I, my grandson-kun, and Mizushima-kun have all used their magical powers...but they still haven't found Tachibana-kun..."

"Is that so..." Qin lowered her head and eyelids, her steps no longer as cheerful and relaxed as before.

When Zhongsuke saw this, he immediately shifted his gaze at a loss.

In order to restore his sister's good mood, he took a deep breath and added:

"But! Xiaoqin, you don't have to look like this!"

"Although we haven't found Tachibana-kun yet, what is certain at the moment is that Tachibana-kun is not dead! At least he did not die in the fire at Kodenma Town Prison Yashiki!"

"The officers from the administrative office, the town fire department and the prison police have searched all the ruins of Kodenma Town, but they have not found Tachibana-kun's body. This means that Tachibana-kun did not die in the fire that night!"

"The reason why Mr. Orange disappeared and has not shown up until now... According to my grandson's inference, the most likely reason is that Mr. Orange is lurking somewhere to recuperate!"

"Recuperate?" Qin tilted her head.

"Well, yes! This is what my grandson thought: On the night when the prison house in Kodenma Town was on fire, Tachibana-kun tried his best to escape, but fell to the ground due to lack of physical strength."

"Fortunately, at this critical moment, someone or a force who was close to Mr. Orange arrived, rescued Mr. Orange, and took him to a hidden place for treatment."

"Due to the severe injuries on his body, Mr. Tachibana is still in a coma or has difficulty moving, so he has not appeared in public until now."

"And the person or force that rescued Tachibana-kun also did not reveal Tachibana-kun's current location for some reasons."

Qin listened carefully to the end.

"Brother, is there any basis for my grandson's conclusion...?"

"Uh..." Zhongsuke smiled awkwardly, "Hahaha... To be honest - there is no solid basis, it is completely my Sun Tzu-kun's personal conjecture and intuition."

After hearing this, Qin immediately flattened her red lips in frustration.

"What... there is no defensible basis - isn't that just making it up?"

"That's true...but don't underestimate my grandson! My grandson has a very good mind and a lot of experience in business affairs, so what he said is still worthy of reference!"

Although what I just heard was just the hypothesis of my grandson Chutaro, and not an ironclad theory with actual evidence, the expression on Qin's face improved a lot after listening to it.

Mr. Orange is still alive - this sentence is the best comfort for Qin at the moment.

"Speaking of which... although I have met my grandson several times, I have never been very familiar with him... I only know that he is a master of breaking eucalyptus and is very smart..."

As if trying to hypnotize herself, "My grandson Chutaro is a well-known 'famous detective', so his words can be believed," Qin kept talking about all the great things about my grandson.

"Haha... my grandson..." Zhongsuke shrugged with a strange expression, "Actually, I don't know him very well either."

Qin suddenly opened her eyes in surprise.

"Brother, aren't you and my grandson very close friends?"

Zhongsuke raised his eyebrows:

"Do you have to know each other's ins and outs to be friends? You're not asking for a wife."

"Although my grandson always smiles and is very easy to get along with, I have never seen him interact with anyone, and he rarely discloses his private life to outsiders. So, let alone me, even if he has the same relationship with others,

Even Tachibana-kun and Mizushima-kun, whom he has a close relationship with, know very little about him.”

Qin nodded as if understanding, and then sighed softly:

"I originally thought that... as smart as my grandson, Mr. Tachibana would be able to deduce Mr. Tachibana's whereabouts based on the clues left at the fire scene..."

"Hahaha! My grandson is indeed very smart, but no matter how smart he is, he is still a human being, not a god!"

After laughing to his heart's content, Zhongsuke raised his big, thick palm and patted Qin's shoulder.

"Qin, don't worry, Mr. Tachibana is definitely still alive. Maybe tomorrow, he will appear in front of us alive and kicking."

"Brother..." Looking at Zhongsuke who had a confident smile on his face and tried his best to comfort her, a soft smile gradually appeared on Qin's face.

"so what--"

At this time, Zhongsuke put on a bad smile.

"When Tachibana comes back to us safely, stop hesitating and holding back. Go boldly pursue Tachibana!"

"Varied……?!"

In an instant, Qin's cheeks were stained with red clouds.

"Brother, brother, brother, brother, brother! You, you, you, you, you, what are you talking about! I, I am to Mr. Orange... I am to Mr. Orange..."

"Don't lie, don't quibble."

Zhongsuke made a serious face.

"Who do you think I am? I am the eldest brother who grew up with you! Don't I know about your little thoughts? In front of me, you don't have to be evasive or secretive! Tell me, you

You like Mr. Ju very much, right?"

"I...I...I..."

Qin hesitated, her head lowered to the extreme, and her chin almost touched her plump chest.

Looking from Tadashi's perspective, Qin's face can no longer be seen, only her delicate red ears can be seen.

"to be honest!"

Zhongsuke pressed forward step by step.

"I...I...I...Xi, Xifan..."

Because she was too nervous, Qin accidentally bit her tongue and ate the screw.

After such a big embarrassment, her ears, which were exposed to Zhongsuke's sight, immediately became even redder, as if they were about to bleed at any time.

Seeing that Qin finally told the truth and expressed his true feelings, Tadashi grinned and smiled happily.

"That's right! Since you like someone, you should say it openly and bravely! What's the matter with keeping it in your heart?"

"I've known for a long time that you like Mr. Orange."

"You obviously like him very much, why don't you pursue him boldly and proactively?"

"Every time I see you being gentle and never taking the initiative, I feel anxious in my heart!"

"I...what's the point of pursuing Mr. Orange..." Qin bit her lower lip, "Even if I don't hesitate and try my best to show my goodwill to Mr. Orange, Mr. Orange will not like me..."

"Brother, you have never practiced swordsmanship in the Little Chiba Sword Hall, so you probably don't know something. Tachibana-kun and the daughter of the Little Chiba Sword Hall...that is, the 'most beautiful woman in Edo' Chiba Sunako."

The relationship is very good."

"Most of the people in the Chiba Sword Hall, including me, can tell that Tachibana-kun likes Miss Saunako."

"As for Miss Zuo Nazi... I'm sure: Miss Zuo Nazi has a good impression of Mr. Tachibana."

"This man is a talented man and a beautiful woman, and we are in love with each other...how can I get involved..."

Having said this, Qin stretched out her hand to smooth her hair on her temples, and then let out a few self-deprecating laughs.

"No matter how hard I try... I am still just 'Little Zuo Nazi'... I cannot replace the real Zuo Nazi's position in Mr. Ju's heart..."

As soon as Qin finished speaking, Chutaro curled his lips in disdain.

"Bullshit 'Little Zuo Nazi'! You are you, and Miss Zuo Nazi is Miss Zuo Nazi! You are two completely different people!"
To be continued...