Lian paced around her dorm room, frustration etched across her face. Ever since she had seen Liang Wei and Mei Lan disappear into the mysterious pawnshop the night before, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were hiding something—something big. The curiosity gnawed at her, intertwining with her jealousy. They had grown closer, whispering in corners, sharing secrets, and now this strange place? She wasn't going to be left out.
"Where do they go?" she muttered to herself. "I have to know."
The following morning, Lian skipped her usual classes and instead slipped out of the university grounds. Her mind was fixated on one thing: finding the Midnight Pawnshop. After all, she had seen them enter it last night, and it wasn't far from campus. If she could find it and expose whatever they were hiding, she could reclaim her power in their dynamic.
As she navigated the narrow, winding streets leading away from the university, Lian kept her eyes sharp for any signs of the pawnshop. She replayed the events from the previous night in her head—how they had disappeared down an alley, how the sign had creaked in the wind. It had to be here somewhere.
After a few hours of fruitless searching, she found herself standing in the exact alleyway she had seen them enter. Her heart beat faster as she scanned the walls, looking for the familiar, weathered sign.
But it wasn't there.
Confusion swept over her. She knew she was in the right place, but there was no sign of the pawnshop. The alley looked like any other—nondescript, a few dumpsters, some graffiti, but no shopfront. She walked up and down the narrow path, her frustration growing with every step.
"I know I saw them come here," she muttered under her breath. "It has to be here."
Determined not to give up, Lian began asking around. She stopped a few locals, describing the pawnshop, the old sign, and its mysterious aura. Each person she asked gave her the same blank look.
"Never heard of it," said an elderly man, shaking his head.
"No pawnshop around here," a woman added, walking briskly past her.
The more she asked, the more disoriented she became. How could no one know about this place? It had to exist. She had seen it with her own eyes.
By mid-afternoon, Lian was fuming. She stormed back to the alley and stood at the spot where she had seen Wei and Mei disappear. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Her jealousy, already a constant burn, now mixed with anger and impatience.
"It has to be here," she said again, louder this time, as if the universe might bend to her will.
As the sun began to set, something strange started to happen. The alley, which had seemed so mundane earlier, began to shift. The shadows deepened, the walls appeared to twist slightly, and Lian noticed a faint shimmer in the air, as though the very space around her was warping.
Her eyes widened. Could it be…?
Then, as the last light of day faded and twilight took over, Lian saw it. The old, weathered sign appeared as if out of nowhere. It was faint at first, almost like a mirage, but then it solidified. The words "Midnight Pawnshop" swayed ever so slightly, the same eerie glow from last night flickering behind the windows.
Lian's heart leapt into her throat. It had been hidden all day, right in front of her. The pawnshop only revealed itself after dark.
"So, that's the secret," she whispered, both awed and irritated at the revelation. "It only opens at night."
As the realization hit her, she felt a mix of triumph and trepidation. If she wanted to get in, she would have to come back after nightfall. Her pulse quickened at the thought. What kind of shop only opened at night? What were Wei and Mei doing inside, and why was it so well hidden?
She took a step closer, her hands trembling with anticipation, but she quickly stopped herself. It wasn't time yet. She had to be smart about this. She couldn't just rush in unprepared. If Wei and Mei found out she was onto them, they might stop her from uncovering whatever secret they were hiding.
Lian turned away, her mind buzzing with possibilities. She would come back tonight, this time ready to enter and discover the truth. Whatever they were hiding, she would find it, and she would make sure they regretted keeping her in the dark.
As she walked back to campus, the darkening sky behind her, Lian couldn't help but smirk. Tonight, everything would change. The pawnshop's secrets, and theirs, would finally be hers.