"Foundation, blush, eyeshadow, mascara... Let me think, how should I apply that innocent-style makeup again? Oh... done!"
Strolling to a full-length mirror, Sparkle, dressed in a JK outfit, spun gracefully before admiring her reflection.
Her once twin-tailed hair had now been straightened into sleek, jet-black tresses, resembling the classic "black-haired, long-haired underclassman" from romance manga.
For the upper half, she wore a black JK blazer with a white inner blouse and a blue tie tied into a bow.
As for the lower half, the somewhat risqué short skirt had vanished, replaced by a knee-length skirt matching the blazer.
Pulling out a pair of non-prescription glasses from her pocket, Sparkle gently hooked the frames over her ears. With that single motion, her entire demeanor shifted—
From a capricious Masked Fool roaming the world to a pure, literature-loving schoolgirl.
"Operation begins..."
————————————
Dream World, Golden Hour...
Upon receiving Yun Fan's invitation, Robin canceled all her plans for the day without hesitation. She then changed out of her usual blue-and-white dress, did some light makeup, and arrived early at Clockie Plaza to wait.
Seated quietly on a wooden bench beside the Clockie statue, Robin waited for her host to arrive.
Even after disguising herself and using the power of Harmony to conceal her Halovian halo, her ethereal aura remained impossible to fully hide.
The way passersby instinctively glanced toward the bench made that clear. Yet, despite this, not a single person dared approach her for conversation.
It was as if... this girl did not belong to the mortal world.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Only after Robin had been sitting for quite some time did Yun Fan finally arrive. Then, under the envious and jealous gazes of countless men, he led this transcendent girl away from Clockie Plaza.
"There's no need for apologies, Mr. Yun Fan. I only just arrived at the meeting spot myself." Robin shook her head, signaling that no apology was needed. Then, stealing a glance at his expression, she tentatively asked, "Mr. Yun Fan, where do you think we should go first?"
"Ah? Shouldn't that be the guide's responsibility?" Yun Fan was momentarily at a loss. As an outsider, he knew very little about Penacony. Shouldn't Robin, a native, be the one leading the tour?
"Um, I..."
Robin gave an awkward smile. She was well aware of what Yun Fan meant, but given his overwhelming power and status as an Emanator of Causality, she couldn't help but tread carefully.
"Sigh..." Seeing the Family's young lady acting so cautious, Yun Fan sighed helplessly. Some might not believe it, but at this moment, he truly harbored no ulterior motives toward Robin—well, at least not right now.
"Miss Robin, there's no need to be so nervous around me. Though I am an Emanator, I still wish to live a normal life like anyone else. This invitation was purely to have a local show me around, nothing more."
"Is that so? Then..."
Seeing that the girl still seemed doubtful, Yun Fan resorted to his last resort.
"I hereby swear upon the 'Aeon of Causality' that I bear no ill will toward Penacony. This trip, and all my actions thus far, are solely for the purpose of befriending Miss Robin, with no ulterior motives whatsoever. If this oath is false, may the Path abandon me!"
Thus, Yun Fan made an oath upon the Path.
An oath upon the Path is a vow bound and witnessed by the Path itself. To break it is to be forsaken by the Path, stripping the oath-taker of their power as a Pathstrider.
Hearing Yun Fan's oath, Robin's eyes widened in disbelief, her small hand covering her lips. After a moment, she finally snapped out of it, the fear and wariness in her eyes gradually fading.
"So everything you said earlier was true, Mr. Yun Fan... Whew~" Robin exhaled in relief, her tense nerves finally relaxing.
"Oh? Did my words sound that fake before?"
Yun Fan raised an eyebrow slightly, teasing the little songbird before him.
"No, no!" Robin quickly shook her head before changing the subject.
"I'll lead the way, then. Let's head to the Oti Mall first—it's the commercial district of the Golden Hour, a must-visit for anyone touring Penacony."
Some time later...
"Ahaha... Sorry, I ended up buying a bit too much. Thank you for carrying these for me, Mr. Yun Fan."
Walking through the leisure shopping area of Oti Mall, Robin apologized somewhat sheepishly.
Originally, she was supposed to accompany Yun Fan on his tour. Yet, before she knew it, she had purchased so many items—and Yun Fan had even footed the bill. It almost felt like the roles had been reversed.
"Don't worry about it. A little weight is nothing to me. Besides, we're friends now, aren't we? Friends help each other out—that's only natural." Yun Fan chuckled softly. Indeed, shopping seemed to be an innate instinct for girls, and even this world-famous superstar was no exception.
"Mhm, thank you, Mr. Yun Fan." Robin smiled. Unlike her previous polite but guarded expressions, this smile was genuine, unguarded, and straight from the heart.
"Where to next?"
After temporarily storing their purchases and freeing himself of the baggage, Yun Fan stretched slightly before turning back to the girl beside him.
"Let me think... Next, how about the Dreamscape Emporium? There, people can immerse themselves in memories. I think you might find it interesting, Mr. Yun Fan..."
"Darling, so this is where you are!"
Just as Robin was explaining the unique appeal of the Dreamscape Emporium, a sweet voice suddenly called out from nearby. At first, Yun Fan paid it no mind, his ears automatically filtering it out.
But upon closer thought, the voice sounded oddly familiar—almost like... that bratty Sparkle!!