Mingyue_1

Liang Wei , a struggling college student burdened by debt and family obligations, stumbles upon a pawnshop that only opens at midnight. The shop, hidden away in a forgotten alley, is owned by a mysterious man known as Mr. Shen, The items in this shop aren't your ordinary goods—each one holds strange, magical powers or dark histories, and every trade comes with an unpredictable cost. 

Liang Wei, desperate for money, takes a job as Mr. Shen’s assistant, but quickly discovers that the Midnight Pawnshop deals in more than just items—it trades in people's fates. Each customer who enters the shop exchanges something intangible, like time, memories, or talents, and often leaves altered, for better or worse. 

While learning the ropes, Liang Wei begins to notice a pattern in the customers: many are linked by fate, their lives intertwined in ways that seem too coincidental. Soon, Liang Wei uncovers that Mr. Shen himself has a hidden agenda—he’s collecting these trades for an unknown, larger purpose that may have cosmic consequences.

THE MIDNIGHT BROKER.

The air inside the pawnshop grew tense as Mr. Shen paced around the shop that evening. His unease was palpable, though he said nothing to Mei Lan and Wei, who were quietly observing him from their usual spots. They had seen Mr. Shen in many moods, but this was different. Something was wrong.

Suddenly, the soft chime of the doorbell rang out, breaking the tension as a customer stepped inside. The man who entered looked ordinary at first glance—middle-aged, wearing simple clothes—but the moment he laid an object on the counter, the room seemed to darken.

In his hand, he held a small, black box. It was sealed shut with intricate symbols that glowed faintly, giving off a menacing energy. The moment it touched the countertop, Wei felt a strange pull, like the air had thickened with a heavy, malevolent presence.

"I want to make a trade," the man said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. There was something in his tone that made Wei's hair stand on end.

Chapter 56: Shadows Closing In