Robin had no intention of releasing another song.
Reluctantly, she threw back her blanket, shivered, and quickly got out of bed. She hurried to the bathroom, picked up the clothes she'd taken off the day before, and put them back on—her only outfit. She needed to buy some new clothes, at the very least.
Now that she had identification, Robin could technically shop online and wait for delivery. But there was a major problem: she didn't know her clothing size.
With no other option, she had to venture out again, this time to a brick-and-mortar clothing store.
Robin went into the bathroom to wash up. When she looked up, she saw her tangled hair in the mirror—a mass of stray strands pointing in every direction, with a stubborn cowlick standing straight up on her crown.
After brushing her teeth and washing her face, Robin reluctantly picked up a comb and began meticulously taming her hair. Her unfamiliarity with styling caused frequent snags despite her soft hair, making her scalp sting.
Even after straightening her hair, another dilemma arose: what hairstyle should she choose?
Recreating yesterday's hairstyle on her own was utterly hopeless. Robin fiddled with a hair tie for ages, utterly stumped, before finally giving up in exasperation.
"Forget it, this'll have to do," she sighed softly. "Long, straight hair is fine, it's not a big deal. Being a girl is so exhausting."
She'd even briefly considered cutting her hair short, but quickly dismissed the thought. Not for any practical reason—even for the sake of her own aesthetic preferences, she couldn't bring herself to do it!
It might be a little more effort, but at least in this world, there were no brothers constantly nagging her to play games online, no parents urging her to tidy up or go outside. Time was abundant.
Once she was ready, Robin smoothly slipped into her high heels, pushed open the door, and stepped outside.
After descending the stairs, she spotted a roadside breakfast stall and bought a sizzling plate of grilled pork tenderloin. As she walked and ate, she diligently observed her surroundings.
Lü Heng, the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations agent tasked with monitoring Robin, was the same man who had driven Robin home yesterday and delivered the message. He naturally spotted her the moment she emerged.
He quickly left the house to follow her, typing notes into his phone:
[Target left her residence at 7:20 AM and purchased breakfast nearby.]
[She seemed to be searching for something as she walked.]
[She's heading towards me...]
Lü Heng froze mid-sentence. A cheerful voice rang out beside him, "Hi~ We meet again."
"Huh?" Lü Heng stared blankly at the girl before glancing around. Finding no one else nearby, he pointed at himself. "Me?"
"Yep," Robin nodded. "You're the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations officer assigned to monitor me, right?"
Lü Heng's mind reeled with confusion. Since the surveillance was semi-official, he hadn't bothered with subtlety, openly tailing her. Even so, the monitor and monitored were supposed to maintain distance and act as if they didn't know each other. Why was she approaching him directly?
Was she trying to bribe him? Or lure him to some secluded spot to kill him? Was this mysterious "outsider" finally revealing her true, sinister intentions?
Robin spoke up, "So... do you have a car? Could you give me a ride? Think about it—if I go somewhere, I'd have to take a taxi, and you'd have to follow me in your car. Wouldn't that be a hassle? Plus, it would waste my taxi fare. I thought it would be easier if you just drove me directly."
"It's convenient for both of us. I save money on the taxi, and you can complete your mission more efficiently. It's a win-win, right?"
Lü Heng was speechless.
Though her logic seemed sound, Lü Heng couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Yet, gazing into the girl's bright, emerald-green eyes, he found himself unable to refuse. He finally nodded. "Okay..."
And so, Robin once again found herself riding in a police car, with free door-to-door service—and in a way, it was far more glamorous than riding in a luxury car.
Settling into the back seat, Robin cheerfully directed, "Officer, take me to the nearest clothing store first, then to the computer store."
Lü Heng sighed inwardly but silently started the engine and drove toward the largest shopping center in the area.
About ten minutes later, Robin's lips twitched slightly as she stared at the impossibly luxurious storefront before her.
The pristine tiles, polished to a mirror-like shine, the massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and the impeccably suited staff standing ramrod straight on either side of the entrance all screamed "exclusive."
Finally, she glanced at the signboard: "Ningke Apparel." Though Robin wasn't familiar with this world's designer brands, she knew this place was definitely one of the high-end ones.
"Seriously?" she said to Lü Heng beside her. "You really think someone who didn't want to waste money on a taxi and had to bum a ride in a police car can afford clothes here?"
"Uh..." Lü Heng had indeed overlooked that detail. But anyone seeing the girl's refined features and elegant attire would instinctively assume she belonged in such an upscale establishment. That's why he had instinctively driven here.
Just then, a shop assistant seemed to notice the pair at the entrance and started to approach them. Startled, Robin whirled around and dove back into the car.
"Hurry to the next place!" she urged. "Find somewhere more... normal, okay?"
Back in the driver's seat, Lü Heng started the car and said, "If you're short on cash, you can always get it reimbursed by the Captain. The Bureau of Anomalous Investigations is usually pretty lenient with expenses in cases like this."
Robin remembered Zhong Wanhong saying something similar. She understood that if money could prevent potential superpowered crimes, it would be a worthwhile investment.
However, she had no intention of abusing this privilege. Robin shook her head. "It's alright. It's just some clothes—nothing essential."
After a while, they finally arrived at an unremarkable women's clothing store. Robin turned to Lü Heng and said, "Wait here for me. I'll be back in a flash."
Lü Heng, who had no particular interest in browsing through women's clothing, simply nodded.
He took her words with a grain of salt. Back in a flash? he thought. As if. Girls take hours to shop for clothes.