The midnight streets were colder than usual, the chill biting into Wei and Mei as they walked back toward the university dorms. They carried the weight of the journal's revelations like an invisible burden. Every step felt heavier, every shadow along the way seemed alive with hidden intent.
"Do you think Mr. Shen knows more than he's letting on?" Mei finally broke the silence, pulling her coat tighter around her.
Wei's breath came out in visible puffs, his face thoughtful. "He always does. But I don't think he's the enemy here. If he wanted us to fail, he wouldn't have given us the journal or let us explore the shop's archives."
"Maybe," Mei said, her voice hesitant. "But he's still hiding something. There's always a bigger picture with him, and we're just... pieces on his board."
