What Corin hadn't expected was that if Wise didn't properly send her home, it would only deepen Lycaon's dissatisfaction with him. Even Rina would likely feel the same.
However, this couldn't really be blamed on Corin. She was simple-minded and hadn't thought things through, only wanting to avoid conflict.
Wise, on the other hand, was someone who couldn't ignore a beautiful girl in need. Naturally, there was no way he would agree to let her go back alone.
"That won't do. If you're worried Lycaon will be angry, why don't we spend the day outside and head back after he calms down?"
The suggestion was tempting. Many kids did the same when their parents were upset, and it often worked.
Corin hesitated for a moment before nodding, though a problem still lingered.
"I want to go, but my dress..."
"Ah, that's no problem. I can lend you one. I bought a dress recently that felt a bit small, so I never returned it. It should fit you perfectly," Rain said as she walked into the bedroom and came back with a light pink dress.
The fabric looked delicate and expensive.
Soon, with Rain's help, Corin went to change. Wise stayed outside, already used to being kept away in moments like this.
Even though he had seen everything before, girls always seemed to dislike being watched while changing, unless they specifically asked for help.
Not long after, the door opened again. Just as Rain had said, the dress was slightly too small for her, but it fit Corin perfectly.
The soft pink color, paired with her shy expression, made her look especially youthful and adorable.
"So cute. It suits you really well."
Wise couldn't help staring for a moment before praising her sincerely. Corin smiled shyly, clearly happy.
Then she noticed Rain beside her, still in her pajamas.
"Sister Rain, aren't you joining us?"
Though she really wanted it to be just her and Wise, her gentle personality made her go against what she actually wanted. Plus, Rain had lent her a dress.
"I'll pass. Thank you for inviting me, little Corin. I still want to sleep a bit more, so I won't disturb you. You two go ahead."
Rain spoke before heading back to the bedroom, giving Corin a small wink before closing the door. Corin immediately understood.
Grateful, she quietly reached out and held Wise's arm.
Wise said nothing, only smiling as he took her hand and left with her.
They took the subway from Sixth Street and arrived at Lumina Station mall in New Eridu. They had planned to go shopping, but something near the entrance caught their attention.
Seeing Corin's curious gaze, Wise led her closer.
"Oh, hello! Are you two here to try the Spooky House Challenge?" a blonde woman in a professional suit greeted them warmly.
"Spooky House? What's that?"
Wise assumed it was just another promotional event.
The host explained the rules: participants would wear a blindfold and feel their way through a dark space.
Wise immediately lost interest. He had never liked such things, and judging by the setup nearby, it was clearly a haunted house attraction.
"W-wear a blindfold? H-horror?!"
Corin immediately shrank back in fear, but the host quickly added, "Don't worry, miss. With your boyfriend here, he'll protect you. And if you make it through, there's a prize."
"B-boyfriend...? Wise, let's do it together! I want to be braver."
At her insistence, Wise reluctantly agreed, though he felt uneasy.
At first, Corin clung tightly to him, trembling. But soon, her fear overwhelmed her, and she began swinging her arms wildly.
"Bam! Bam!"
She struck the surrounding walls, and the fragile structure of the Spooky House collapsed instantly. Fortunately, none of the staff were hurt.
The host at the side stared at the scene in stunned silence, clearly never expecting such a result.
In the end, out of professional courtesy, she awkwardly congratulated the two for making it out.
The moment her words fell, Corin was overwhelmed with guilt.
"I'm so sorry! I was just too scared, that's why... I'm really sorry! I'll definitely help clean everything and restore it to its original state."
After that, the two stayed behind to clean up the scene. Once the Spooky House was restored to its former condition, the host brought out the prize.
"This, this is... It's Amethyst Special Precision Machine Lubricant!"
Wise had no idea what it was, but judging from Corin's reaction, she absolutely loved it, and that was enough for him.
Without saying a word, he handed the lubricant to her. Corin accepted it with a surprised look, her expression almost as if she had just received something tied to a lifelong promise.
After the incident, they continued their date at the mall, bought some clothes suitable for Corin, and ended things before 3 PM.
He had an appointment with Belle at 4:30 PM to help the elderly lady from earlier get her citizen ID. Before that, he needed to take Corin home. So ending the date at that time worked perfectly.
Although Corin looked a little reluctant, she still nodded obediently.
The two then headed to Rain's house to retrieve Corin's work uniform and return the dress, since she now had new clothes to change into.
However, Rain didn't ask for it back. Instead, she generously gave the dress to Corin, explaining that it no longer suited her but fit Corin perfectly.
With gratitude, Corin accepted and soon left for Victoria Housekeeping with her belongings.
As they arrived, just as expected, Lycaon stood at the entrance, his expression slightly grim as he greeted them.
Ellen stood beside him with an odd look, while Rina remained the same, smiling softly with narrowed eyes.
After seeing Corin off, Wise couldn't help but notice Ellen. He wasn't worried about Lycaon. As long as both Ellen and Corin had no objections, he wouldn't interfere.
Still, he couldn't deny it; he had tricked Ellen into agreeing earlier that morning while she was barely awake.
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