The next evening, the bell above the door chimed, echoing through the dimly lit pawnshop. Liang Wei was behind the counter, dusting off a set of ancient coins that had been sitting there for what felt like weeks. When he looked up, he saw Mei Lan stepping into the shop, her expression unreadable, as if she were carrying the weight of something unseen.
"Wei," Mei said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, "I need to talk to you."
The tone of her voice caught his attention, and he immediately put down the rag, focusing entirely on her. "What's going on? Is something wrong?"
Mei glanced around the shop, her eyes lingering on the rows of strange, enchanted objects that surrounded them. She took a deep breath before speaking. "I need to make a trade."
Wei's heart sank. He knew Mei had lost something precious in a previous trade at the pawnshop, and the thought of her going through another one made him uneasy. "What are you talking about? You already made a trade here once. You shouldn't—"
"I don't have a choice," Mei interrupted, her voice sharper than usual. "I thought I could live with it. I thought I could move on, but… I can't."
Wei frowned, concern gnawing at him. "Mei, what exactly do you want to trade this time?"
Mei hesitated for a long moment before meeting his gaze. "I want to get back my memories of my brother."
Wei's breath caught. He knew Mei had lost something significant in her first trade, but she had never told him the details. "Your brother?"
She nodded, her hands clenching into fists. "I don't remember much about him, just fragments. But I know we were close. I know he was important to me. And I want that back."
Wei's mind raced as he considered the implications of such a trade. Memories were one of the most valuable things someone could lose or gain in the Midnight Pawnshop, and he knew from experience that the cost would be steep.
"Mei, you don't know what you'll have to give up for that," Wei said carefully. "It's not worth the risk. You could lose something even more important."
"I've already lost the most important thing," she replied, her eyes hardening with determination. "I can't keep living like this, with pieces of my life missing. I have to know who he was, what he meant to me. I need to feel whole again."
Wei felt torn. He understood her desperation—he had seen it in countless customers who walked through the doors—but he also knew how dangerous it was. Trading memories, time, or pieces of one's soul always came with consequences.
Before he could respond, Mr. Shen emerged from the back of the shop, his gaze immediately settling on Mei Lan. He seemed to know why she was there without asking.
"Ah, Miss Mei," Mr. Shen said smoothly, his voice as calm as ever. "You've returned."
Mei's eyes narrowed slightly, and Wei could sense the tension between her and Mr. Shen. "I want my memories of my brother back."
Mr. Shen gave a slow, deliberate nod, as if he had been expecting this all along. "A trade, then. As always, there is a cost."
Mei didn't flinch. "I'm willing to pay it."
"Are you?" Mr. Shen's voice took on a darker tone. "You lost those memories for a reason. Are you prepared to give up something of equal value?"
Wei felt a knot form in his stomach. He wanted to speak up, to stop her, but something held him back. Mei was determined, and he knew from his time in the pawnshop that those who were set on making a trade would not be easily swayed.
"What will it cost me?" Mei asked, her voice steady but her eyes betraying the fear she was trying to suppress.
Mr. Shen stepped closer, his dark eyes glinting in the low light of the shop. "The price for lost memories is always something of equal value—perhaps a cherished talent, a portion of your future, or something else dear to you. The choice, as always, is yours."
Mei hesitated for the briefest moment, her gaze flickering to Wei, then back to Mr. Shen. "What if I offer my voice?"
Wei's heart skipped a beat. "Mei, no! You love singing! You can't give that up."
But Mei ignored him, her focus solely on Mr. Shen. "I'll trade my voice for the memories of my brother. It's a fair trade, It's the only thing I have of equal value."
Mr. Shen smiled—a small, knowing smile that made Wei's skin crawl. "Very well. Your voice for your lost memories. Do we have a deal?"
Mei took a deep breath, her eyes filled with determination. "Yes."
Before Wei could protest further, Mr. Shen moved swiftly, pulling a small, ornate vial from behind the counter. He uncorked it with a soft pop and handed it to Mei. "Drink this, and the trade will be complete."
Mei stared at the vial for a long moment, her hand trembling slightly as she took it from him. Wei wanted to stop her, to grab the vial and throw it away, but he knew it was too late. Mei had made her decision.
Without another word, Mei raised the vial to her lips and drank.
The effect was immediate. Mei's eyes fluttered closed, and for a moment, she seemed to waver on her feet. Wei rushed to her side, steadying her as the memories flooded back into her mind. He could see the change in her expression—the realization, the pain, and the joy all mixed together.
When Mei opened her eyes, tears streamed down her cheeks. "I remember him," she whispered. "I remember everything."
But when she tried to speak again, no sound came out.
Wei's heart sank as he realized what she had lost. Mei had her memories back, but her voice—her beautiful, cherished voice—was gone.
"Mei," Wei said softly, his heart aching for her. "I'm so sorry."
But Mei simply smiled, her eyes shining with both sorrow and gratitude. She had paid the price, and now, she would live with the consequences, after all she had the memories of the person who loved her the most in the world. Tears streamed down her eyes as she realized she would never be able to see her brother again.
Mr. Shen, as always, watched in silence, his expression unreadable.