64. "Wingman" Is Written All Over His Face / 65. Aren't You Going to Thank Director Hua?...

"There was a mosquito over there just now. I wanted to swat it."

Caelus explained with a straight face. Robin did not pursue the matter either. Besides, how could there be mosquitoes in the dream world? If the Family really created things like mosquitoes in dreams, they would be cursed to death all over the cosmic internet.

"Let's go. I'm an expert on everything in dreams. I can easily find any shop you want."

After waiting for Robin to finish her ice cream, Caelus stood up and spoke. Robin had no attachment to this shop either, so she put on her mask and sunglasses, ready to leave with Caelus.

"What are you doing?"

Robin suddenly saw Caelus reach out and take away her empty ice cream cup, and she asked in confusion.

"This was used by a superstar. I can auction it off for at least a hundred million Credits."

Caelus said happily. Robin's cheeks immediately reddened. She wanted to slap him with her wings. There was still a lip print on that cup; it had been fine when Caelus had not mentioned it, but now that he had, she was unhappy.

"Don't do something so unnecessary!"

Robin reached out to snatch the cup from Caelus, but he was faster and stored it in the Dream Manual. The Dream Manual had a special trait: it created stickers for visitors out of items with special meaning. At that moment, a sticker printed with an ice cream cup fell out of the Dream Manual.

"?"

Robin looked at the fallen sticker in confusion and picked it up for a glance. On the back was a message—an ice cream cup used by Robin, the only one of its kind in the entire dream world. Carrying it might earn you the time for one song from the songstress.

"Why is your Dream Manual so improper too?"

Robin was thoroughly speechless. She returned the sticker to Caelus, effectively giving up resistance. This was the first time she had seen a Dream Manual make a sticker over something like this, though Caelus was probably also the first person to do such a thing.

"Like owner, like possession."

Caelus put his hands on his hips and said proudly. Robin's lips twitched as if she were laughing. To avoid embarrassing herself any further in this shop, she pushed Caelus from behind and hurried him outside. She could not stay another second.

After Robin left, Sunday emerged from his hiding place. Before the waiter came to clear the table, he searched for the glass his sister had used, but found nothing.

"Bastard, he predicted my move!"

Sunday gritted his teeth in hatred. He had also come to collect something Robin had used, but Caelus had beaten him to the ice cream cup. Only the glass that had held SoulGlad remained on the table. Robin had drunk the SoulGlad through a straw, but it was better than nothing.

Caelus led Robin through the streets of Golden Hour, stopping from time to time as he introduced the surrounding shops. Robin listened attentively. Although she knew this place well, she had never slipped out to have fun while concealing her identity. Sunday had usually been the one to bring her out.

"We're here. This is the famous dream shop."

Caelus brought Robin to a plaza. A unique giant eyeball was embedded in the wall, and Caelus gave it a grand introduction as their guide.

"I know this place, but do they sell Clock Boy merchandise here?"

Robin asked somewhat blankly. She remembered this place sold dreams. Since when did it also sell merchandise?

Doctor Edward had been dormant, but upon hearing Caelus's voice, he nearly jolted awake and opened his eyes wide. When he saw Robin, the center of his eye went completely dark. He was probably thinking that he was finished.

"I don't know, but this is a shady shop. Who knows what weird things it might sell?"

Caelus answered honestly. He did not know where Clock Boy's merchandise shop was, but he could not say so directly. What if Robin ran off? Naturally, he had to take her around for a while.

"You're saying that one of the best-reviewed shops in the dream world is a shady shop?"

Robin looked at Caelus skeptically. Though she had never come here to buy dreams, she knew of Doctor Edward's reputation. Who would leave this giant eyeball a bad review?

"Of course it is. As a customer, I made a request, yet it only let me experience three seconds of a dream before driving me away. Isn't that bullying an honest man?"

Caelus bitterly accused Doctor Edward to Robin. When he reached the sad part, he beat his chest and stamped his feet, as though he had suffered an enormous injustice.

His Entire Face Screamed Wingman

Doctor Edward's eyeball immediately filled with bloodshot veins. If Caelus was an honest man, then what was he? Having lived this long only to meet Caelus, Doctor Edward truly had seen it all.

"I see."

Robin looked at Doctor Edward strangely. What Caelus said did not sound fake, and it seemed unnecessary for him to invent a lie just to slander Doctor Edward. Then perhaps there really was something wrong with this giant eyeball.

"Miss Robin, I can explain. It's not what you think, it's just..."

Doctor Edward stammered. He was suffering in silence. Who knew what devilish trick Caelus had used to lure Robin out? Yet Doctor Edward could not reveal what he had done. The person involved was right here; if he confessed, he could forget about keeping this job.

"Doctor Edward, don't panic. Take your time."

Seeing Doctor Edward hesitate, Robin also realized that he and Caelus had likely made some unspeakable deal. To turn the usually calm Doctor Edward into this, Robin had to admit that Caelus was truly talented. He could cause trouble wherever he went.

Drip, drip.

The sound of flowing water suddenly appeared. Robin looked on in astonishment and discovered that Doctor Edward was actually crying. Tears continuously overflowed from the giant eyeball, turning into drops of liquid that fell to the ground.

"Hey, Old Edward, why are you crying? A real man has to toughen up. Look at me, I get bullied every day, and you don't see me making a fuss."

Caelus looked at Doctor Edward strangely. After he said that, the giant eyeball cried even harder.

"Alright, alright, stop crying. People will think I bullied you. Just tell me where the nearby shops selling Clock Boy merchandise are, and we'll leave."

Caelus said helplessly. Hearing that he was finally leaving, Doctor Edward hurriedly tossed out a map from within his eye as though sending off a plague god. Every merchandise specialty shop was marked on it, and he practically begged Caelus to get lost.

"Old Edward, you're a capable eyeball, I know it. I'll come experience that dream again next time."

Caelus patted the giant eyeball earnestly. Upon hearing that he would come again, the eyeball shed tears of joy.

"See? We found the specialty shops."

Caelus waved the map in his hand at Robin. Robin's expression was difficult to describe. She did not know whether to praise Caelus for being impressive or call Doctor Edward unlucky.

Caelus led Robin to the first shop selling merchandise. This one sold figurines. Caelus looked at the various Clock Boy figures and fell into thought. These things did not seem as good-looking as the real one.

"How many do you want?"

Caelus pulled out his credit card, ready to start swiping it. Robin shook her head, not because she did not want Caelus to pay, but for another reason.

"There should be a purchase limit."

"Oh, right. Then how many do you want?"

Caelus remembered that he had encountered this annoying purchase limit when buying souvenirs before. The difference between dream shops and ordinary shops was that they were not afraid of lacking customers or being unable to sell their goods, so they imposed limits to attract more buyers.

"I want to fill my entire room."

Robin said with a smile. Seeing the anticipation on her face, Caelus smiled as well.

"Alright. I'll figure something out."

Caelus acted immediately. He and Robin first bought every limited item in the store, then left. Caelus found an advertising sign by the roadside that was soliciting customers, tore off its two black mustaches, pasted them over his lips, and entered the shop again.

The cashier recognized Caelus at once as the customer who had come in earlier. But he had two fake mustaches on his face, plainly telling the cashier that he was now someone else. Turning a blind eye to this would be good for everyone. If the cashier insisted on making an issue of it, that would just be asking for trouble.

The employees of dream shops were ordinary people too. At most, they earned a higher salary than elsewhere. They had basic social awareness. Anyone understood that they could not offend a guest invited by the Family like this. Even if things truly became a big deal, no one knew which side the Family would support. Losing this high-paying job would only hurt them.

Thus, Caelus successfully bought a second set of merchandise. After leaving, he handed it to Robin. Robin stared at him with her bright eyes. She had never imagined such a simple and crude method could bypass a purchase limit. She had thought Caelus's personality would lead him to threaten or bribe someone.

The roadside advertising signs suffered terribly. They usually had all sorts of parts decorating them. Under Caelus's control, even a passing mechanical dog would have something plucked off it. After going back and forth more than ten times, Caelus finally emptied the shop of its merchandise.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Looking at the growing pile of Clock Boy merchandise, Robin sincerely thanked Caelus. She had wanted to help, but there was not much on her that she could use to disguise herself. More importantly, she did not have Caelus's thick skin. After going in more than ten times, he could still pretend it was his first visit and ask the clerk to recommend merchandise. Robin could not help but laugh at the thought.

"It's nothing. If you want to thank me, sing for me. A private Robin concert with only one listener—just thinking about it makes me want to wake up laughing from a dream."

Caelus gave Robin a thumbs-up. Robin looked at him calmly and nodded. It was only the time of one song; of course she had that much time. Compared to everything Caelus had done for her, it was nothing.

Caelus's smile bloomed like a flower. But before he could be happy for more than a few seconds, a commotion erupted around them. Men and women with fierce expressions came running from afar, shouting Robin's name.

Robin and Caelus both froze for a moment, but they reacted quickly. Caelus grabbed Robin's hand and pulled her forward in a hurry. He still remembered the way they had come. After jogging for a while, they turned and hid in a secluded alley. Just after they entered, a massive crowd arrived behind them. Some chased onward, while others searched nearby for Robin's traces. They did not seem to be from the Family.

Caelus raised a finger to Robin in a gesture for silence, then stepped out of the alley and stood firmly, blocking part of Robin from view. He casually grabbed a man wearing a Robin merchandise headband.

"Buddy, where's Robin around here? Who told you guys she was here?"

Caelus did not ask questions for free. He directly pulled out a handful of dream currency and stuffed it into the man's hand. Seeing so many clover coins, the man's displeased face immediately broke into a grin.

"I don't know. Someone suddenly entered our Robin fan group and posted one message saying Robin went out in casual clothes and was nearby. Look, there's even a photo."

The fanatical male fan took out his phone and showed Caelus. There was a chat record in Robin's fan group, containing a photo of Robin's casual outfit from today and the surrounding streets. One look made it clear where she was.

Caelus rubbed his chin in thought. First of all, this wingman definitely had not been sent by Uncle. Then it was most likely the Masked Fool who had been angered to death. She had the ability to infiltrate chat groups, so it seemed he would have to thank her for the assist again.

—

PS: Please bookmark, recommend, and vote monthly.

Why Don't You Thank Director Huo?

After asking his questions, Caelus returned to the alley and explained the current situation to Robin. Robin was also helpless. She felt as though the Masked Fool was somehow Caelus's accomplice. Was she hurting him or helping him?

"If I'm exposed, today's outing will end here."

Robin spoke. Her meaning was clear: if her fans found her, they would have to rely on the Family to maintain order, and she would be escorted home.

"Even if I die, I'll personally take you home."

Caelus immediately patted his chest. How could he bear to end his date with Robin now? Penacony's dream world was a sleepless night. As long as Robin was willing, the two of them could play until the end of time.

"This alley looks suspicious. Let's check it out."

The voices of fans came from outside the alley. Robin and Caelus both looked grave. The fans were not idiots; naturally, they knew to search suspicious corners like this for Robin.

Caelus raised his arms beside Robin's shoulders and pressed his hands against the wall, using his body to block most of her. That way, anyone entering would not be able to clearly see Robin's outfit or appearance.

"Hold me."

Caelus whispered into Robin's ear. Robin's heartbeat quickened slightly, but to avoid being discovered by her fans, she could only slowly raise her arms and place them on Caelus's back. Yet there was still some distance between them. Rather than hugging, it was more like they were merely holding each other in place.

At this point, Robin's fans had already entered the alley. Seeing a couple standing by the wall, they looked over curiously.

"What are you looking at? Never seen a couple show affection?"

Caelus turned back and shouted at the people beside him, his expression exactly like that of someone whose fun had been interrupted. The fans looked around and found no one else, so they left while muttering curses.

"Let's go, let's go. How could Miss Robin possibly be hugging a man like that?"

The fans had come to find Robin, but their thinking remained stuck in an assumption: Robin could not possibly be dating someone, nor could she be meeting someone secretly in a place like this. She must have gone somewhere else.

"Whew. Take off your clothes."

Caelus sighed in relief after seeing them leave, then spoke to Robin. The little bird's emerald eyes widened at him, as though warning him not to push his luck.

"You misunderstood, little bird. They know what you're wearing. I mean we need to exchange clothes to get away."

Caelus said with a smile. He raised a hand, wanting to touch Robin's cheek, but she turned her head and avoided it.

"Don't call me little bird."

Robin's tone carried a trace of displeasure, but that was all. The nickname did not sound bad; it was simply a little too intimate.

Robin took off her coat and hat. These were important features for identifying her. After she removed her hat, the halo above her head floated up. Caelus had never understood what kind of strange structure that was, but if he wanted to learn, he would have to wait until after he married Robin.

Caelus also took off his outerwear. His clothes had long tails, making them just right for Robin to wear. Together with the hood, they could completely conceal the halo above her head.

After changing clothes, the two of them emerged from the alley. After the disguise, Robin attracted far less attention. Almost all of her hair was hidden, and without her hair color and wings to identify her, the fans could not recognize her even when they passed right by.

"I'm wearing a superstar's clothes too. Smells amazing."

Caelus tightened the flax-colored clothes around himself. Robin had not worn them for long, but her faint scent still lingered on them. Caelus was smiling so widely that the corners of his mouth nearly reached his ears.

"Don't say that out loud."

Robin raised her hand to hit Caelus. She truly could not endure it anymore. He could have kept these things to himself. For example, she could smell his masculine scent on the clothes too, but she did not say it. Caelus, however, could not keep anything to himself and blurted it out, making her angry again.

"Alright, alright. I'll do as you say."

Caelus hurriedly covered his head in a defensive pose. Robin burst into laughter at the sight, lowering her raised hand as she walked slowly alongside him through the streets, avoiding wave after wave of fans searching for her.

"Robin, it looks like your Family members are searching for you too."

Caelus pointed at the men in black who had appeared on the street. These people dressed differently from the fans and clearly looked professional. Most of Robin's fans were people who worked in the dream world. A small number were distinguished guests who had received invitations, while some were ordinary people who had spent all their savings to buy a ticket into the dream. Important people would not chase Robin down the street; that would be far too rude.

"My brother must be worried something happened to me and wants to take me home."

Robin understood at once. Leaving earlier had been forced by circumstances, but now that fans were frantically searching for her, her brother had likely found an excuse to bring her home. Yet Robin did not want to leave just yet.

"That won't do. You're mine for now. I'll give you back to Brother Sunday later. Come this way."

Caelus took Robin's hand and led her toward the side of the street. Several Family members noticed them and gave chase, but quickly passed them by, because Caelus had already brought Robin into a telephone booth.

A roadside telephone booth appearing in the dream world looked strange no matter how one saw it. Yet this was no ordinary telephone; it was a dream-connected phone. Its function was roughly to let callers see what dreams people they knew had recently had, though all of it was random.

Robin and Caelus squeezed into the cramped telephone booth. Since they needed to wait for a while before leaving, they naturally picked up the receiver and held it to their ears, randomly dialing a few numbers to see whose dream they might find.

When the call connected, the scene around Robin became blurry. She had entered someone's dream. After observing carefully, she realized that this dream seemed to belong to Caelus. She had only met him today, yet she was already seeing his dreams. It was the perfect chance to see what bad things this guy had been thinking about. Perhaps because he had done too many outrageous things, Robin felt no moral guilt whatsoever about peeking into Caelus's dream.

Robin soon saw another Robin—herself—standing before Caelus. Then this guy rushed forward with lightning speed, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her.

Robin's mind completely shut down. Watching herself kiss Caelus in the dream, her wings spread wide in shock. It was exactly how she habitually reacted. She even blushed from the kiss. This dream did not look like something Caelus had imagined at all; it looked as though it had truly happened.

I Did It Too