Chapter 12: Little Fu’s Favor

At first, the saleswoman thought Velph was just putting on airs.

She smiled as she took the bill.
It was the kind of smile that existed everywhere—creases within creases, ripples spreading like a stone tossed into still water.

But the instant her eyes landed on the credit note, her expression froze.
Then it shifted, subtly at first, like cream beginning to solidify.
Her gaze turned hazy before finally locking on the amount written there.

Seeing this, the manager hurried over to find out what was going on.

“This young lady, is there a problem? Do you need something?”

“Uh… me? No, nothing really. I’m just… waiting for my change…”

Velph stammered.

“Helena, give her the change. Hurry!” the manager urged.

“‘Give her the change’? Oh, sure, dear manager. Why don’t you take a look for yourself?” Helena shot back sarcastically.

The manager glanced at the credit note—then whistled.
He snatched the pink Lolita dress from Lingling Lan’s arms and tossed it straight into storage.
Spinning around, he dashed into the back room, opened a chest, and rummaged furiously.

“That dusty, second-hand dress—touched by who knows how many—sold to a lady of such standing? Helena, you’re an idiot. Born stupid. Ah-ha! Here it is!”

The manager carefully produced a sky-blue party dress wrapped in exquisite packaging and presented it reverently to Velph.

Velph’s face flushed bright red.
Her brain had completely crashed.
She just stood there like a block of wood, holding the dress dumbly.

“Please try this on—” the manager insisted.
“I assure you, finest material, worthy of your noble status. Saya, come here, take the young lady’s measurements…”

Under the crowd’s stares, Velph pitifully looked to Xinghui and Lingling Lan.
Her eyes carried only one desperate plea—

‘Save me!’

Lingling Lan reacted first.
She quickly took the dress from Velph’s hands and grasped her soft little fingers.

“Young Lady, you are far too noble. Leave such trivial dealings with servants to us.”

“N… Noble?!”

The saleswoman nearly dropped her jaw.
Only now did she realize how serious the situation truly was.

The manager shot Helena a vicious glare and muttered, “Forget about your salary this month,” before turning back with a beaming smile.

“Ah-ha! I knew it—such charm and grace! Truly born to be a lady of status! Why don’t we have our best designer craft an entire wardrobe just for you? A full custom set! What do you say?”

“???”

Xinghui was utterly lost at this point.

“Young Lady, come, let’s try the dress.”
Lingling Lan tugged Velph along and gave Xinghui a firm slap on the back.
“What are you spacing out for? Take Little Fu to the fitting room!”

“O-okay, okay!”

“Excellent, I’ll be waiting right here,” the manager said with an obsequious smile.

When Xinghui closed the changing room door, Velph stood inside, wearing a plain blue-and-white short-sleeved shirt and simple black trousers.
The outfit made her look silly—nothing of the cute, fresh little loli aura remained.

From Velph’s perspective, this style was practical and convenient.
Easy to move in, nothing that could snag.
And more importantly, it didn’t draw attention.
Truth be told, she knew next to nothing about clothing.
Her attitude toward dressing was as careless as some boys: at home she could be downright sloppy, hair unkempt, sometimes not even bothering with undergarments.
Pretty and cute? That had nothing to do with her.

“Skirt? I’ve never worn one before. Can I… not try it? Sword Immortal Senior?”

“Playing cute won’t work. This is to make you cuter. If you don’t put it on, I’ll dress you myself!”

“Senior, nooooo!!!!!!”

Once again, everyone outside heard a bloodcurdling scream.

The manager glanced suspiciously at Lingling Lan.
She quickly pulled out her phone, pretending she’d heard nothing.

What was Xinghui even doing in there? It was just changing clothes—was it that serious?

“All right, you can open your eyes now.”

Xinghui led Velph—who was too shy to look—out to the enormous mirror mounted on the wall.

“Uuu~ not cute at all… Eh? Eh!”

The girl in the mirror wore a pale blue dress trimmed with lace at the hem, swaying gently as she moved.
The design was elegant and dignified, the neckline adorned with a tiny bow that hinted at youthful charm.

She smoothed the fabric, tugging lightly at the skirt edge, clearly not yet accustomed to such clothes.
Her long blue hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, faintly curled at the tips.

Who was this charming, delicate girl?
Velph?
Velph, Velph!

No way…

She touched her face.
The shy girl in the mirror did the same.

“Well? Be confident, Little Fu. Cute or not cute?”

Xinghui threw her arms up excitedly.
But then she noticed the circle of people gathering around the mirror—designers armed with notepads and scissors, all staring at her with gleaming eyes.

“Xingling… who are these people?”

Lingling Lan smirked wickedly.
She poked Xinghui and said to the designers, “This is the Young Lady’s friend. She’d also love to purchase a full wardrobe here.”

“Dear Young Lady, what splendid taste!” the manager cried.
“Our boutique is famed across Xifa Star for complete ensembles. By the Palm King himself, look! Incredible—absolutely flawless! Your friend is a natural-born model!”

His eyes shone.

In a blink, Xinghui was swarmed by enthusiastic designers and pushed into another fitting room.
Clearly overwhelmed by the crowd, Xinghui floundered, utterly helpless.
The designers, meanwhile, were giddy at the chance to pour all their creative energy into such a cute model.

Clack.

Now, all that remained was to wait for the former Sword Immortal to emerge.

Velph, still standing before the mirror, looked at herself with dazed wonder.
It was as if she were a blind girl seeing for the first time, hardly able to recognize her own reflection.

“Young Lady, may I ask the address of your estate?” the manager inquired.
“Saya, hurry the designers—get these pieces made without delay! Ordinary customers can wait.”

“I… I’ll come pick them up in a few days,” Velph answered blankly.

“This won’t do! A Young Lady fetching her own clothes? Unthinkable!”
The manager was about to press further when he saw Lingling Lan about to intervene.
He quickly shifted tone.
“Ah, well, as you wish then.”

“As for the change…” Velph reached to offer the bill again.

But the manager immediately waved it off.
“No need, no need. Consider it a personal favor—our gift to you and your friends.”