Time flew by. When Robin first entered the room, it was the middle of the day, but now the sky was gradually darkening. Her phone flashed a low battery warning, urging her to charge it. She had been researching this world for the entire afternoon.
Having gained a basic understanding of her new reality, it was time to consider more practical matters. She touched her smooth lower abdomen.
What should I eat tonight?
She probably needed to buy some personal essentials, like toothpaste, a toothbrush, and a towel.
While the outfit she was wearing was pretty, she couldn't wear it every day. She'd need to buy some other clothes, and definitely some flat shoes.
And a laptop.
And...
The more she thought about it, the longer the list of mundane tasks grew. Overwhelmed, Robin decided to stop dwelling on it for now and focus on finding something to eat.
Barefoot, she walked to the door and glanced at the empty shoe rack. With a sigh, she reluctantly retrieved the pair of purple high heels she had carelessly tossed aside upon entering.
"Sigh..." She couldn't possibly go out barefoot, could she? Reluctantly, Robin put on her shoes, grabbed her keys and bank card, and left the house.
Her first stop was the bank to withdraw cash. Without an identity card or phone number, she couldn't use convenient mobile payment methods like WeChat or Alipay. Cash was her only option. That's why, after memorizing the nearest bank's location, she had left her phone at home to charge.
Besides, she couldn't use mobile data anyway. What was the point of carrying a phone with no internet access?
Click-clack! Her high heels made crisp sounds on the pavement. It was dinnertime, and the streets were crowded with pedestrians. Naturally, most eyes turned toward Robin.
"What is that? Some kind of cosplay?"
"She's so beautiful..."
While she might not have achieved a hundred percent attention, she certainly drew the gazes of at least seventy or eighty percent of the people who saw her. Almost everyone who passed couldn't help but murmur to themselves or whisper to their companions.
The attention she was receiving might have been due to her beauty, a gaze of admiration and wonder. But for Robin herself, it was incredibly awkward, even mortifying.
She couldn't help but lower her head slightly and quicken her pace.
Robin reached the nearest bank, went to the ATM, and inserted her card. The screen showed a balance of 20,000 yuan. After a moment's hesitation, she withdrew 1,000 yuan.
Without a second glance, she walked straight into the closest ramen shop, found an empty seat, and called out, "Boss, a large bowl of ramen with an egg!"
Robin felt utterly out of place in this setting. Surrounded by rough-looking workers with stubbled faces and unfashionable clothes, she stood out like a princess who had just stepped out of a palace, or a glamorous star basking in the spotlight.
It felt as if she and the others were from entirely different worlds.
Truth be told, if she had any other clothes, she would have changed out of this extravagant dress long ago.
When Robin first walked into the ramen shop, even the owner was momentarily stunned. He stared at her in bewildered amazement, rubbing his eyes as if questioning whether he was seeing a mirage. It wasn't until she ordered, "A large bowl of ramen with an egg," that he snapped back to reality, shattering the aloof aura of a "big star" she had carried with her.
"Right away!" the owner replied cheerfully.
In less than two minutes, a steaming bowl of ramen was placed before Robin. She murmured a quiet "thank you" before unwrapping a pair of disposable chopsticks. Adding a dollop of the mysterious yellow seasoning she'd been eating with her ramen for years without ever quite figuring out what it was, she began to eat.
Of course, mindful of her expensive dress, she ate with ladylike caution. After all, this outfit looked incredibly pricey, and if she stained it, she'd undoubtedly have to wash it herself. It was best to be careful.
As she ate, strands of hair kept falling across her face. She repeatedly tucked them behind her ears—or rather, behind the wings that adorned them.
About ten minutes later, Robin rubbed her stomach and glanced at the bowl, which still held about a third of the noodles and half an egg. She couldn't help but ponder.
Is my appetite really this small? I was starving earlier, my stomach completely empty, yet I couldn't even finish a large bowl of ramen?
She pursed her lips, stuffed the remaining half-egg into her mouth, and stood up to approach the counter. "Boss, how much?"
"Eighteen yuan total."
"Hmm..." That was significantly more expensive than in her previous life. But then again, this was 2045, and currency devaluation and inflation were to be expected.
She pulled out a hundred-yuan note and handed it over. The boss paused momentarily at the sight of the paper money before accepting it and opening the cash register to make change.
As he did so, he casually asked, "How was the food?"
"It was good, thank you," Robin replied.
What's the point of being picky? As long as it fills me up, right? Aside from truly bizarre dishes, she wasn't picky at all.
After collecting her change, Robin left the noodle shop and headed to the nearest large supermarket.
Pushing a shopping cart through the dazzling aisles of the supermarket, Robin gazed at the array of products before her and muttered to herself, "Alright, time for a major shopping spree!"
"Toothpaste, toothbrush, toothbrush holder, towel."
"Hand soap, facial cleanser, shampoo, slippers."
"Blanket, bedsheets."
"Hmm... might as well grab some instant noodles too."
Robin could cook, but only the simplest things—like boiling water for instant noodles. Anything more complicated was beyond her skills.
As she wandered through the aisles, her attention was suddenly drawn to a particular item. Her fingers trembled slightly as she debated whether to buy it. Finally, she grabbed a pack and tossed it into her cart.
Sanitary pads.
She wasn't sure if she'd ever need them, but since this was a major shopping trip, she figured she might as well stock up on anything potentially useful. It would save her from having to make another trip later if the situation ever arose.
Nearly half an hour later, feeling she had enough, Robin pushed her overflowing cart to the checkout counter.
"That's 857 yuan. Thank you for your purchase."
"Okay," Robin nodded lightly, inwardly sweating. Phew, almost went over my budget!
Looking at the overflowing shopping bag, Robin felt a surge of frustration. How was she supposed to carry all this home?
Oh well, what choice do I have? I'll just have to go for it! she thought, taking a deep breath. Gripping the bag tightly with both hands, she trudged step by step toward the supermarket exit.