In the afternoon, under the bright sun, just outside Rhine Avenue.
Since the performance Vill-V was participating in wouldn't start until the evening, the time from noon to afternoon was designated for the girls to go shopping, led by Fu Li.
The group stepped out of the sports car Irene had just purchased and, as expected, they immediately became the most dazzling sight on the street. Men and women alike couldn't help but turn their gazes toward them.
After all, the visual appeal of this group was simply off the charts.
Whether it was Irene's elegance, Charlotte's flippancy, or Watson's steady demeanor, each was remarkably attractive in her own right.
As for Fu Li and Vill-V, the adorable pair of "children" won the favor of many older women the moment they appeared.
However, even in England, where the culture of approaching strangers was prevalent, the passersby could only shrink back in intimidation when they saw the obviously expensive sports car.
Charlotte, on the other hand, habitually struck a cool pose whenever she saw a few pretty young ladies, earning a series of squeals from them and a disapproving glare from Watson.
Ignoring the little interlude between the detective duo, Vill-V looked up at the towering department store before them, a little surprised.
"This is actually my first time in a London shopping mall. It seems pretty high-class?"
"Yes, Miss Vill-V. Your eye for quality is as good as ever."
Irene chimed in from the side. As both chief agent and bodyguard, she had already done her homework on this place as soon as Fu Li had decided on the itinerary.
Therefore, whenever Vill-V asked a question, she could always provide a slow, elegant explanation, which even surprised Charlotte a little.
The group chatted idly as they casually stepped into the mall.
For any man, shopping with women is an exceptionally troublesome affair.
However, Fu Li was no longer human, so he naturally wouldn't feel tired from such trivial matters.
And because they had plenty of time, almost every girl had enough time to pick out her favorite items.
Furthermore, from the things they liked, one could get a glimpse of their underlying personalities.
Take Watson, for example. The usually serious woman couldn't help but stop in her tracks whenever she saw stuffed animals. Under the strange gazes of the others, she would examine them carefully, only to suddenly blush, wave her hands, and deny her little hobby.
Then, after Watson shyly put down the toy and left, Charlotte would always find an excuse to slip away, only to return a short while later holding the very plushie Watson had liked.
As for Irene, aside from picking out a few nice outfits, there was nothing she was particularly fond of.
After the three of them had all purchased things to their liking, it was finally time for one of the most important events of the day: buying a gift for little Vill-V.
As for the location, out of his understanding of Vill-V, Fu Li didn't take her to the clothing section or similar places. Instead, he led the group towards an inconspicuous corner.
Along the way, they passed by many display cases of modern watches, but aside from a few curious glances, Vill-V quickly averted her gaze with disinterest.
Those watches, which looked exquisite to outsiders, were rather boring in Vill-V's eyes.
Soon enough, however, when the group reached the corner, the shop before them successfully made Vill-V's eyes light up.
The shop in her line of sight was not high-end. From the outside, its style was somewhat old-fashioned. A few cabinets were neatly arranged inside the small space, and on the cabinets were various old-style decorations from the medieval period.
The most numerous among them were all sorts of old-fashioned clocks and timepieces.
Behind a reception desk made of solid wood sat an old man who looked to be in good spirits. He was currently wearing a monocle, slowly repairing something on the counter.
Fu Li's group pushed open the small shop's old wooden door.
With the movement, a brass bell on the doorframe chimed crisply, causing the old man to raise his head slightly. After seeing the group's young faces, he spoke faintly:
"Feel free to look around. The things in here are quite old. I'm not sure myself if they're genuine or fake, but it's best to be careful not to break anything."
After his casual warning, the old man buried his head again, continuing with the work in his hands.
Clearly, the old man didn't think that in this new era, these young people would actually be willing to pay for such old-fashioned items.
After all, the prices of his goods were not cheap; even for a hobby, it was far too expensive.
To his surprise, however, these young people didn't flee after seeing the prices. With the exception of the golden-haired girl, the rest of them began to admire the items with considerable interest.
They looked very focused. The old man could sense that they were genuinely appreciating the items, not just browsing casually.
However...
A sharp glint flashed imperceptibly in the old man's eyes. He looked at Vill-V, who was examining a pocket watch in the corner, and a mysterious smile touched his lips.
The most valuable merchandise in his shop was not what was on display, but was hidden among a pile of seemingly junk pocket watches, waiting for a fated person to discover it.
This little girl, does she have that kind of eye?
Author's PS:
My condition has been really bad these past few days, sorry meow.