Sparkle's Little Feet and Red High Heels

Inside a suite at the Reverie, Penacony's dreamlike colors filled the view beyond the curved floor-to-ceiling windows.

Brilliant lights intertwined with the stars, like a flowing painting.

Kafka stood quietly by the window. Only when she heard soft footsteps behind her did she turn around gracefully.

Firefly appeared beneath the warm light in the living room. Her face had more color than usual, no longer completely pale.

Kafka's gaze swept carefully over Firefly's face, full of concern.

"How are you feeling?" Kafka asked gently.

Firefly nodded slightly. "Better than before, but I can't maintain this state for long. In a little while, I'll have to return to Sam's operating system."

Her tone was calm, but a hint of helplessness showed through.

Kafka nodded gently in understanding, then shifted the subject. "I met the person disrupting causality."

Firefly's heart skipped a beat at those words.

Of course she knew whom Kafka meant.

The man who held the Lucky Star and could travel between worlds—Lin Hai.

Firefly had already met him in Penacony, but out of an indescribable urge to protect him, she had kept it hidden and reported nothing to Kafka or Elio.

She couldn't explain why she had done it herself. Deep down, she only felt that he was someone very important.

Someone she needed to protect with care.

"He's an interesting and clever man," Kafka continued. "So I've decided... to try a new future with him."

Firefly jerked her head up. "You mean... you're not going to eliminate him?"

"That's right. Not only are we not eliminating him." Kafka looked out the window. "We may need to protect him when necessary. His existence could guide us toward a path different from Elio's script."

An indescribable joy welled up in Firefly's heart.

She tried to maintain her outward composure, but the slight relaxation in her body betrayed the emotions stirring within her.

Kafka noticed Firefly's reaction and continued, "His movements are difficult to track by conventional means, and you've been stationed in Penacony for a long time... I want you to stay in close contact with him, observe him, and find out the source of his power."

"I understand." Firefly accepted the task solemnly. "I'll do my best!"

With business concluded, Kafka's expression softened again, and she returned to their original subject. "In any case, the first priority is to make sure you remain stable. If there's any change in your condition, you must tell me immediately."

"Thank you, Kafka," Firefly said softly. The concern was as constant as ever.

After their conversation, Firefly took her leave and returned to her room. She entered the medical pod that sustained her vital functions and once again immersed herself in Penacony's dreamscape.

Sparkle lounged on the living room sofa, her slender legs casually crossed and her bare feet tapping lightly against the smooth floor.

She watched Lin Hai's back as he busied himself, her lips curving into the hint of a smile.

"Remember," she said teasingly, "as long as you behave and do as you're told, even if Kafka really does come after you... I'll keep you alive."

The promise was like a feather, gently stirring the tense, intimate air.

Lin Hai didn't look back. He turned and walked into the bathroom.

A little while later, he emerged carrying a basin of steaming water and carefully set it on the carpet by Sparkle's feet.

The steam rose slowly, blurring their view of each other.

Lin Hai first took out his phone and quickly opened a delivery app.

His fingertip slid across the screen as he swiftly ordered several pairs of stockings in different styles, a striking pair of red high heels, and even several sets of women's clothes in various styles.

Only after he had done all that did he take a deep breath and gently lift Sparkle's ankles.

Her feet were exquisitely shaped, fair and small, with graceful arches and rounded, pearl-like toes that glowed softly in the light.

Lin Hai carefully immersed Sparkle's feet in the warm water, gently stroking their tops with his fingers and feeling her delicate skin.

Lin Hai carefully rubbed the soles of her feet and between her toes.

At first, Sparkle watched him with a somewhat playful smile. Gradually, the teasing in her eyes faded, replaced by a softness.

She narrowed her eyes slightly and leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead, where a fine sheen of sweat had appeared.

"Your reward..." Sparkle murmured, her voice full of tenderness.

Lin Hai paused and looked up.

As their eyes met, an intimate atmosphere rose between them.

He said nothing. He merely straightened up slightly and pressed an equally gentle kiss to her cheek.

Steam continued to rise from the basin, blurring their surroundings but making the glimmers in each other's eyes all the clearer.

Lin Hai's fingertips gently slipped between Sparkle's fingers, until their hands were tightly clasped.

The overly intimate gesture made Sparkle instinctively want to pull her hand away, but he held it firmly.

Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson, the color spreading to the tips of her ears.

A little flustered, Sparkle turned her face away, trying to hide her quickening heartbeat, but her wandering gaze laid her shy feelings bare.

At that moment, she was stunningly beautiful!

Stripped of all her cunning and disguise, the shyness that showed purely because her heart had been stirred made it impossible for Lin Hai to look away.

"In the shows you've acted in before," Lin Hai said in a low voice, "were there any scenes more... exciting than this?"

Sparkle immediately shook her head, her voice barely audible. "N-no, there weren't."

Most of her acting experience had been limited to exaggerated stage performances; she had never engaged in real interaction charged with this kind of tension.

"Then..." Lin Hai leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them. "Should we... try acting out something more exciting?"

The words turned even the tips of Sparkle's ears bright red.

She instinctively raised a hand and pressed it weakly against Lin Hai's waist.

"You... don't talk nonsense..."

Sparkle's protest lacked any force.

Yet she couldn't help imagining it.

Ring, ring!

The phone rang.

Then came the clear chime of the doorbell.

The delivery had arrived.

Lin Hai took a deep breath, let go of Sparkle for the moment, and got up to retrieve a huge paper bag.

Inside were the various stockings and dresses he had ordered for Sparkle earlier, along with the particularly eye-catching pair of red high heels.

He displayed the items before Sparkle one by one.

Sure enough, her attention was drawn to them. Her shyness faded, and an eager gleam appeared in her eyes.

"I want to try them on." She picked up the red high heels. "See if they look good."

Sparkle first changed into a pair of pure white knee-high socks, their delicate fabric fitting the slender curves of her legs. Then she slipped into the red high heels.

The pure white stockings and vivid red heels formed a strange clash of styles, even looking a little mismatched.

Yet on Sparkle, her personal charm somehow made the mismatch work.

A distinctive style, playful and bold!

Sparkle stood in place, a little uncertain, and looked up at Lin Hai.

"They look good." Lin Hai's gaze was sincere and focused. "Very... attractive."