Chapter 297: I’m Not Bald!

BONUS CHAPTER#5

After everything was set in motion, Sawai smirked—an icy smirk of confidence—and turned to leave the villa.

It had to be said, people's past judgments of him were painfully accurate. He was a sleazy playboy with a good track record at seduction.

Unfortunately for him, Endo Mami was a rare species—completely immune.

Even after failing multiple times, Sawai refused to give up. Instead, he concocted a "brilliant plan": start a fire with a rock-solid alibi, then dash in to save Mami at the last second. She'd fall into his arms sobbing, and boom—he's the romantic hero.

…

Meanwhile, Jiangxia Tongzhi was once again betrayed by his yinbi boss from afar. He couldn't even complain—he just quietly vowed to double the ghost harassment on Gin next time.

Eventually, after what felt like a cursed pilgrimage, he made it back to Tokyo.

By the time he reached Beika Town, it was already deep into the night.

Jiangxia got off at the station, stretched to shake off the full-day travel fatigue, and flagged a taxi to go home and hibernate.

As the car paused at a red light, Jiangxia glanced out the window and caught a glimpse of something odd—just a few blocks away, the sky was glowing an unnatural, angry red.

"…Fire?" The word immediately popped into his head.

Then something clicked: Endo Mami's birthday party.

Earlier, when he mentally searched for "Endo Mami + live-action mystery game," nothing turned up.

But now, throwing in the new combo "Mami + fire," a faint memory surfaced—a case. A minor one. No deaths. Possibly even no ghosts.

…But just because the original version had no murder didn't mean this one wouldn't.

After all, anyone who thinks "arson for romance" is a good plan probably doesn't score high on the empathy scale. And if a detective uncovered the truth? There's every chance that human fire hazard might decide it's more efficient to turn that detective into barbecue.

Jiangxia pointed at the distant fire and casually told the driver, "Go over there. Let's take a look."

…

Turned out, the taxi driver was also a gossip-loving cadre.

He glanced at the flaming skyline, eyes lighting up with dramatic enthusiasm. Without another word, he turned the car and floored it, ignoring the speed limit and racing straight for the scene.

Jiangxia hopped out and saw a two-story villa, complete with a charming sloped roof… completely engulfed in flames.

The birthday party gang had just gotten back from KTV. Sawai stood near the gate, grimacing. He hadn't expected the fire to get this bad and now didn't dare to actually go in for his heroic stunt.

Mouri Ran was also there. She'd already shouted herself hoarse calling for Endo Mami, but with no response, she could only assume Mami was still unconscious inside.

Ran remembered how kindly Mami had taught her to make lemon pie earlier, and her fists clenched. She was ready to charge inside and drag her out.

At that moment, Conan tugged at her and handed over a helmet.

A proper one. Head protection. Because Conan, being Conan, knew there was no stopping her. So he decided: fine, we die together—but at least with protective gear.

Ran stared at the helmet, stunned, then understood—and reached out to take it.

Only for a hand to dart in and snatch it away mid-air.

Both she and Conan turned in synchronized disbelief. "Jiangxia?!"

Why are you here again? Why are you always here?!

Jiangxia, now holding the helmet, caught a glimpse of Ran's determined expression and quickly slapped on a matching serious face.

Then, before either of them could react, he jammed the helmet onto his own head and sprinted into the flaming house like it was just another Tuesday.

Scorching heat slammed into him instantly. The flames, stirred by the wind of his sudden dash, licked toward him like eager shikigami. A few seconds later, they were all shoved back by an invisible aura, simmering down into a warm breeze.

Jiangxia casually fanned himself, then gave a sidelong glance at the ghost floating beside him.

His loyal parent ghost.

See, when a ghost fetus is signed by a spirit medium, it can awaken special skills. In this case? Fire resistance.

This parent ghost could project a barrier that repelled heat—like a spiritual air conditioner.

Feed it a little more murderous intent, and the effect would grow. Enough to shield not just him, but his clothes, his hair, and even any unlucky bystanders who got dragged along.

When Jiangxia first ran in, he hadn't activated the ability yet—just wanted to test how fireproof his own body was in a "Conan-style fire."

Result? His skin was holding up… but the hem of his shirt got scorched.

He quickly slapped it out, then instinctively touched his head. It felt… smooth and round.

Jiangxia froze—Did I get bald?!

Then he remembered: Right, helmet. That's the helmet, not my scalp.

Relieved, he exhaled. Still, lesson learned—he promptly activated the fire barrier. Better safe than streaking. Clothes aren't flame-retardant, and only one helmet existed.

…

With the barrier on, the fire became a sauna. Jiangxia strolled down the corridor and kicked open a nearby door.

There lay Endo Mami, sprawled on the floor.

Some time had passed since she accidentally drank the sleeping pill Sawai slipped into her drink, and she had begun to regain her senses.

She tried to lift herself from the sizzling floor, but her limbs refused to cooperate. For a brief moment, she even considered crawling to her phone to draft a will.

Then, the door burst open.

Backlit by leaping flames stood a figure in a helmet—Jiangxia.

Endo Mami's eyes lit up. The despair melted away in an instant.

Images floated through her head: A dramatic fire rescue. Romantic. A princess carry. Wedding bells. A sunset garden. A family of four on a swing. One boy, one girl. They could be named after her favorite characters from her novel…

Still lying there, she teared up from the beauty of it all. She weakly reached toward him, fully committing to the damsel script.

"You've come to save me," she whispered, the picture of fragile nobility.

Jiangxia knelt down and grasped her hand like a true knight.

And then—without hesitation—hoisted her up by the arm and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of rice.

*Goal #1: Top 200 fanfics published within the last 31 - 90 days by POWER STONES.

Progress: 6/60(approx) for 10 BONUS CHAPTERS

Goal #2: One BONUS CHAPTER per review for the first 10 REVIEWS.

Progress:2/10*