Chapter 117: The antique in the corner of the elegant apartment in England...
Logos Simulation, second floor, Fairhaven College, outside the bay window of Miyano Shiho's apartment, snowflakes fall gracefully and leisurely.
It's snowing again, and there's a bay window. I understand. It's a good time to doi (cross out) and talk about love.
This weathered brick building, once a textile mill in the 1890s... a testament to England's industrial history, has now been converted into stylish student accommodation for Fairhaven College's elite.
A textile factory converted into apartments? What kind of industrial heritage play? (No)
Inside the house, the old cast iron radiator under the windowsill emits a hissing bass and radiates warmth. This kind of physical buff is what we need in winter.
The heat continued to rise, and the lower layer of glass was covered with a layer of fog.
This fog makes it easy to do some unclear things (bushi).
The antique grandfather clock in the corner of the apartment ticked, its brass pendulum swinging with precision.
Tick-tick, is it the sound of a beating heart, or a countdown to death? (Kexue PTSD)
The clock, dating back to the Victorian era, was the first major item she bought when she entered Fairhaven College...a reminder that time was both her ally and her adversary.
The Victorian era was also the era when Sherlock Holmes was active.
Indeed, it is a portrayal of Shiho's life, fighting against time, but also trapped by time.
She stood motionless, watching her breath leave traces on the cold glass.
Get a static beauty picture, which comes with a sense of fragmentation.
Her slender fingers...precisely traced the outlines of the snowflakes falling on the outer layer of the glass.
This hand looks perfectly at home holding a scalpel or a wine glass.
Twenty years of cryogenic storage might have caused irreparable damage to the cell structure, she thought absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting to her biochemistry thesis.
As expected of Shiho Miyano, she is always thinking about her thesis even when she is in a daze. This is the world of academic masters.
However, in the freeze of time, some things have been preserved intact.
Like... feelings for someone? (Raises an eyebrow)
For example... appearance? (dog head)
For example...IQ and the ability to complain.
She thought back to the medieval dream she had last night.
Even in the dream, there is Vermouth, and she is an alchemist, but she feels that she can't find any clues about aptx. So, she would rather not be trapped in such a strange dream from hundreds of years ago.
As a person whose brain activities are very intense during the day, she actually hopes that she can have a dreamless night and have a good rest for her brain with an IQ of 200.
"Honey, you're thinking too much again." A charming voice came from behind, mellow and intoxicating, and a little dangerous.
Without even looking up, Shiho picked up her biochemistry notebook: "Vermouth, some of us have to prepare for the final exam."
Ai-chan: Please don’t disturb me, I’m doing scientific research (and trying to be cool at the same time).
"Some of us" implies "unlike some people who slack off all day long" (dog head).
Translation: Why did you come just now? I've been waiting for you for a long time. (Level 10 lip reading)
Vermouth...or rather, Chrissie Wynyard, moved gracefully across the room, like an actor on stage.
As expected of an Oscar-winning actress, she has a natural stage presence. Even the way she walks is like walking on a catwalk.
She wore a vintage silver silk blouse tucked into high-waisted black trousers, and her platinum-blonde hair was in perfect waves.
The lesbian circle's favorite dish.
High-waisted trousers, long legs warning. Silk shirt, hiss, hiss, hiss.
In one hand she held two glasses of ruby-red wine, and in the other, a leather-bound first edition of And Then There Were None, acquired at Christie's.
Even the props are so tasteful (and cryptic). The suggestiveness is so strong.
Question: What is the most likely implication of the first edition of “And Then There Were None” in Vermouth’s hands?
A. Purely showing off my wealth. I'm rich, so I can buy any first edition. (Beijie: Financial resources are part of my charm.)
B. It implies that the next plot will involve a locked-room murder case on an isolated island, and that the victims will die one by one, just like in the nursery rhyme. (This is a case of learning traditional science skills.)
C. The antonym of "no one survived" is "we all survived," implying that she and Shiho hope to escape the organization's control and embark on a new life together. (What a beautiful metaphor for love.)
D. The book was just a pickup line. His main purpose was to admire Shiho's beauty up close and show off his wine and lipstick. (The subtle tricks of the actress with a thousand faces, did you guess right?)
“All work and no play,” Vermouth muttered, placing a glass of wine on a coaster on the table next to Shiho.
"Surely Britain's smartest biochemist could spare twenty minutes to spend with her...companion?"
"Companions"? (Significantly) So flirtatious. What a clever word. Bulbasaur eating Cheetos and entering Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is just so cute.
Twenty minutes? I'm afraid in twenty minutes... (Turn on the light)
"The smartest in Britain", your flattery skills are MAX, you are worthy of being the queen of many faces.
Shiho finally raised her head, her blue-green eyes filled with wisdom and something else...something that made the corners of Vermouth's delicate and beautiful lips slightly rise.
Perhaps it is the pleasure (bushi) of "the prey finally revealing its flaws."
"Companion? Is that how we define it now?"
Ai-chan counterattacked. This rhetorical question, the queen's aura is fully on display. With just one sentence, the ball is kicked back. High-end game.
"What do you think?" Vermouth deliberately took a sip of wine, leaving a charming deep red lip print on the glass.
The old thief Qingshan comes out to get beaten. Why doesn't the main film include this shot?
"Lover? Confidant? Or accomplice in the fight against the vulgarity of academic life?"
Sister Bei: I'm laying my cards on the table. I'm giving you the choice. You can choose. (The overbearing president is online)
Shiho narrowed her eyes and smiled, "Ah, I haven't decided yet."
The scheming queen said: "I haven't decided yet", the subtext of which is "it depends on your performance".
Love is a big, "I haven't decided yet" tug-of-war, until one person says, "I'll decide for you." (And then gets kicked out of bed.)
In the room, there was an electric silence. They had been dancing together like this for these few short days...
When masters fight, every move is fatal (referring to teasing).
"My dear, were you lost in another intellectual experiment just now?" Vermouth's voice was smooth but with a dangerous texture.
Shiho smiled a little: "Vermouth, I was just calculating how long you would remain silent before I lost my patience."
As expected of Shiho, she remained calm even when faced with a huge crisis. She even had time to do a timing experiment.
Chinese translation: Miss, I have seen through your tricks a long time ago, but I just like watching you perform.
The interests of scientists are so plain and boring (bushi).
High-end game.
Vermouth leaned lazily on Shiho's leather sofa, her silver-gold hair cascading onto the burgundy leather sofa.
She wore a vintage platinum bracelet from the 1930s on her wrist, which sparkled brightly under the Renaissance-style lamp next to her.
Chinese translation: I just flirt with you casually, but it's all carefully planned, understand? The sofa is just one of my thrones.
"Five minutes and thirty-two seconds," Vermouth replied, glancing at the custom-made Swiss mechanical watch on her wrist. "That's a new record for me."
"Your self-control is improving. But your acting skills... still need improvement." Shiho continued. It was definitely the calm and slightly tsundere Shiho.
Shiho: That's it? The actress with a thousand faces? I thought you had some new tricks up your sleeve. (Tea)
Vermouth's laughter was like a melody that eased the atmosphere: "The woman who pretended not to see me when she thought I was distracted said this." She stood up gracefully from the sofa and walked across the hardwood floor that creaked in specific places... This was the moving route map that Shiho memorized a few days after moving in.
Bayley's smile and the deadly knife (bushi) are the background music to ease the atmosphere.
It feels like living together every day. You even know where the floor makes noises.
"I study everything interesting," Shiho retorted, remaining motionless as Vermouth approached. "From a scientific point of view."
"Is that the definition now?" Vermouth stopped just a few inches away from her, so close that Shiho could smell the scent of her custom-made perfume...rose, and some other special charm that was difficult to identify.
"Dr. Miyano, what conclusions did you reach from your research?"
Sister Bei's counter-flirting skills are maxed out. The subtext: You little brat, still pretending? If you like me, just say so. Come on, tell me, are you planning anything bad on me?
Shiho's gaze... seemed cold at first glance, but actually concealed a hint of carefully controlled heat.
She locked eyes with Vermouth: "Your words and actions are inconsistent, yet so consistent."
High emotional intelligence statement.
Low emotional intelligence: You are a woman who says one thing and means another, but you are indeed very good at flirting.
Vermouth's mystery, variability, and her unpredictable yet persistent attraction to Shiho were all summed up in Shiho's one sentence.
Her inconsistency is a disguise and a means of disguising herself, while her special feelings for Shiho (or rather, Shirley) are the underlying thread of "consistency" behind her actions. In this clash of masters, every word is a gem.
Philosophical crit: The contradiction between appearance and reality is also another kind of perfect harmony.
Today's results from the Science of Love Lab: When logic and temptation are in the same secret room, the second law of thermodynamics automatically becomes invalid, all restraints are converted into potential energy, and then - snap - they discharge instantly, becoming an unquantifiable singularity of intimacy.
After all, human ambiguity is like a quantum state, which collapses when observed.
The real attraction may come from the "uncertainty" at that moment.
Shiho's apartment is a carefully arranged space of contradictions, just like its owner... Cutting-edge laboratory equipment shares the same room with an early edition of a chemistry textbook from the 19th century; modern minimalist furniture contrasts sharply with antique scientific instruments displayed like works of art.
This isn't an apartment; it's Shiho-chan's inner world. Half is the fire beneath the iceberg, and half is the old days amidst future technology.
She looks like a cool scientist, but is actually a retro and artistic young woman.
In the corner, a 1920s gramophone stood, its speaker pointed toward the room, as if ready to announce something momentous.
Gramophone: I'm ready to play some orange music. Casablanca or La Vie en Rose?
Vermouth stretched out her hand slowly, her fingers hovering just beside Shiho's face but not touching it.
As expected of Bayonetta, her first move was a textbook flirting move. Shiho: Danger.
"You missed the little game between us."
Subtext: "You little heartless guy, how dare you ignore me for so long, just wait and see how I'm going to deal with you." (Doting face)
"I've been busy," Shiho replied, "researching how to avoid being distracted by...entertainment and putting off important work."
The Ice Queen’s self-cultivation: Even if her heart is in turmoil, she must appear calm on the surface.
"Entertainment distraction?" Vermouth laughed.
"Is that how you define me when you study the snow on my boots, wondering where I've been before I came here?"
With such insight, even Sherlock Holmes would have to offer her a cigarette. Little Shiho's mind was completely understood.
Is this the charm of a high-IQ relationship? Even jealousy is so roundabout and full of details.
Shiho's expression didn't change, she just curled her lips slightly.
Surprise, panic, shame at being seen through, and a little bit of joy at being cared about?
"Where you go is not a research priority for me at all."
Translation: Your action is very important, so important that it makes me unable to sleep or eat, but I just won’t say it, just a little bit.
He is a textbook example of stubbornness, and I seriously suspect that Shiho was an indestructible stone in her previous life.
"Liar." Vermouth whispered, and the feeling of pampering overflowed the screen.
Then, she finally leaned closer to Shiho and brushed a strand of brown hair away from her cute little face.
"You analyzed the chemical composition of my lipstick from the rim of that wine glass."
She tilted her head towards a single crystal glass on the antique desk. The rim of the glass was indeed a beautiful deep burgundy crescent.
The evidence is irrefutable.
Shiho: I'm just curious about the chemical composition, not you as a person. (This is a case of trying to cover up one's own guilt.)
She suddenly reached out and grabbed Vermouth's wrist, sending an electric current through both of them, but neither wanted to admit that the current was more powerful than Pikachu's 100,000 volts.
"Custom formula. Beeswax base, synthetic carmine. Trace amounts of vanilla extract, and some other ingredients I haven't identified yet."
The academic master is the master. Know a woman by her scent, no, know a woman by her lipstick. This professional skill is maxed out.
She released Vermouth's wrist but did not step back.
A stood up. This was a silent declaration of war: the game continues.
The duel between the queens was so tense and neither side gave in.
"This unknown compound... is fascinating."
A double entendre. Is it the compound that attracts people, or the people who use it?
What is the "unknown compound" that Shiho mentioned most likely?
A. Vermouth’s exclusive secret “true fragrance” catalyst.
B. Haibara Ai’s exclusive “duplicity” detector.
C. Love pheromones, no explanation needed.
D. All of the above, and in extremely high concentrations.
"Well, should I be honored by your attention to detail, or should I be worried about you being so persistent in classifying me?" Vermouth lowered her voice, sounding more intimate.
This tone, this question, is simply a fishing expedition. The subtext is: "Little thing, do you like me?"
A little closer. The air is filled with pink bubbles.
"It's just professional curiosity." Shiho retorted, but her eyes briefly drifted to Vermouth's lips.
Exposed. He claims professional curiosity, but where are his eyes? Little liar. The wife-staring maniac, Shirley-chan, is online.
“That’s all.” (Inner thought: No way, I didn’t even want to taste that unknown compound.)
"Of course." Vermouth narrowed her eyes and smiled knowingly.
Subtext: I don’t trust you.
Sister Bei's smile is like thousands of pear blossoms blooming, and it also carries a little bit of understanding and indulgence.
"Just like me, I come here just to return the books I borrowed before."
A thousand layers of routine. They're acting out the scene from "Empresses in the Palace" where "high-end hunters often appear as prey."
Bei Jie: I just came to return the book and see if you missed me. (evil smile)
She pointed to a leather-bound volume of Marie Curie's research notebooks on the coffee table... It was a rare first edition, and Shiho treasured it very much and had never volunteered to lend it out.
Who could refuse this? An intellectual's token of love.
Marie Curie: I was watching the fun at the fortress.
Multiple choice question time. Please vote:
Q: What will they do next?
A. Continue chemical analysis and take samples by mouth.
B. "La Vie en Rose" plays on the gramophone, and you do a wall-bang.
C. Kudo accidentally broke into the awkward triangle situation.
D. The two of them write a "Report on the Electrochemistry of Love Experiment" and submit it to Nature.
Every object in the room, from the phonograph to the first edition notebook, helps them say, "I choose you."
“How thoughtful.”
Shiho walked away and went to a dark walnut cabinet with an exquisite crystal decanter inside. "Whiskey?"
"Of course, thank you." Vermouth's eyes followed Shiho.
This look is so silky.
The wife-staring maniac is online.
Shiho poured two fingers of brown liquid into the glass, and the clinking sound of crystals broke the silence of the apartment in the snow in England.
This glass of peated whisky is a family treasure, aged for 23 years... It was given to him by someone Shiho never revealed his name, but Vermouth was a little skeptical about it.
Two fingers wide, professional. Shirley's pouring posture is obviously that of a seasoned expert (bushi), her hand is so steady.
Bei Jie: Hmm? Something's up. A woman's intuition radar is going off. Who sent it? Tell me more. (Gossip spirit blazes)
In fact, this was just a gift from Ayumi.
But Shiho felt that Vermouth was a little possessive and was a little covetous of everyone around her, whether men or women. So there was no need to let Vermouth know that she had a good friend and best friend named Ayumi, at least not directly.
As for Ayumi's taste, in the original Conan work, her family lives in a high-end apartment in a prime location in Japan. She belongs to the upper-middle class in Japan and has some knowledge of whiskey.
Especially when she knew that Shiho liked to drink peated Scotch whisky.
"Kudo, come over in thirty minutes. We are going to discuss a cross-school research project." Shiho said straight to the point and handed the wine glass to Vermouth.
Kudo? The tool man is online again.
Perpetual Elementary School Student: A-choo. Who's cueing me? That's not how I spend my appearance fee.
"Inter-school research project" sounds like a pie in the sky, but the actual content is: zero. (Workers weep.jpg)
Although the two are in different schools, the two schools have a tradition of taking each other's courses and communicating with each other for hundreds of years.
Firstly, they can complement each other's resources in curriculum setting, and secondly, it is also a tradition of friendship between boys' and girls' schools.
Especially here in Fairhaven, as an aristocratic girls' school, the sports facilities are very complete, including world-class ski resorts, horse farms and golf courses.
Therefore, students from Archer College and other surrounding colleges often come here to take physical education classes.
Although I occasionally attend boys' colleges, there are some strange boys who, even though they have classes at their own schools, will still drive 20 minutes twice a week to the girls' school in Fairhaven to take swimming lessons, diving lessons, and water polo lessons...
Of course, the result is often counterproductive. Not only will you fail to pick up girls, but you will also be avoided by girls.
If the behavior is excessive, it may even be posted on the internal BBS for protection.
As for Mr. Washing Machine, it is understandable that he came here to take the chemistry course, because the niche direction of the advanced course starting with 400 is only offered by Fairhaven College.
"Ah, our dear genius detective from Archer Academy." Vermouth said thoughtfully as she sat at the desk.
She pulled Shiho in, and a faint scent of roses and her unique aura drifted towards Shiho. The woman-killing incense confirmed it: "It's interesting that you deliberately chose to cooperate with him."
Sister Bei: "Interesting (jealous, hum)."
Oh my, this sitting posture, this tone, it definitely feels like "interrogation by the queen".
"He's one of the few people I don't find intellectually boring." Shiho reached for the wine glass, her fingers deliberately rubbing against Vermouth's glass: "Very similar to another person I know."
She rubbed her fingers against the cup deliberately. Shiho had learned bad habits. This was pure seduction.
Shirley OS: Kudo is just a reference, you are the "special" one.
"That's a generous compliment," Vermouth smiled. "I'm honored to be considered your intellectual equal."
"Opponent"? Masaka is a "teammate", especially in some indescribable aspects (bushi, nothing said).
Shiho stood up and brought their faces closer together: "I never said anything about equality."
"On the Development of the Queen's Overall Offensive Aura" - Speaker: Miyano Shiho.
The implication of "inequality" is that some people are at the top and some are at the bottom (sudden color change gif)
Vermouth narrowed her eyes. "No, you didn't say that. You're always so careful with your words, aren't you, Shiho?"
Sister Bei narrowed her eyes. Was she being flirted with or was she being s-ed? Is her masochistic nature about to awaken? (dog head)
Translation: Little goblin, you are quite good at talking. Keep going. I love listening.
Shirley OS: I am just controlling you, precisely controlling you.
"The choice of words is important," Shiho replied, taking a step closer. "Precision is also important. I've already witnessed this in your... performance."
Queen Sulli’s online teaching “The Art of Speaking”: “Precision”, a double entendre, is it referring to Sister Bayonetta’s acting skills or... ahem, some unspeakable skills?
B: Are you implying something? (But she likes it)
Shirley: My words are bullets, hitting your heart accurately.
In this extreme tug of war, Shirley is temporarily one body length ahead.
"Life is a performance." Vermouth raised her hand and traced the outline of Shiho's chin with one slender finger. Was this finger playing the piano or lighting a fire? Shirley's chin was in danger.
"But I find myself increasingly curious about what happens after the curtain falls."
Bayley's classic line has been adapted: "A secret makes a woman woman", now it's "Life is a performance, if you mess it up, just change your identity and start over."
"After the curtain falls"—that's, of course, reading the script with the lights on (the luminous version). A guaranteed role for a film queen is a career perk.
Shiho grabbed Vermouth's wrist, holding it tightly but not roughly. "And I'm also curious about what's hidden behind the character you play."
Shirley becomes the host. With this little hand grabbing, the top and bottom are reversed? (No, this is a game between queens)
Shiho: You have too many aliases, my CPU is burning out. Show me your true form. Stop pretending, you bad girl.
"What role would that be?" Vermouth asked, not trying to break free from Shiho's grip.
Bei Jie: Guess it, there’s a prize if you guess it right (the prize is something I’ll send you).
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