Wan Qi · Chat

**Date: October 5, 2036, Sunday** **Time: 14:30 PM** **Location: No. 1 Jiangcheng Antique Street · Shengmen Pawnshop** Autumn rain pours down, washing the bluestone pavement of the Antique Street. Inside Shengmen Pawnshop, the light is dim. In the air, besides the perennial soothing sandalwood incense, there is only the scent of pine soot ink dissolving from the tip of Wan Qi's brush. Luo Yunzhi and Ye Xiangping left early in the morning with the River of Forgetfulness stone bottle to collect a customer's "seven emotions and six desires" in the south of the city. At this moment, the first-floor front hall is empty, with only the dull sound of rain tapping against the window panes. Wan Qi sits upright behind the long mahogany table. His black modified Zhongshan suit is sharply tailored, and the collar button of his white inner shirt is fastened tightly just below his Adam's apple. The thin callus on the side of his left ring finger presses against the edge of the yellow ritual paper. His right wrist is suspended as his brush, saturated with cinnabar, moves with a steady, deliberate stroke. "Meow— (Why isn't Luo Yunzhi back yet? With no one around, how am I supposed to sneak into the back hall to eat dried fish!)" A drawn-out, complaining meow breaks the silence. A twelve-pound long-haired white cat leaps onto the desk, bringing a gust of damp, cool wind, its tail sweeping precisely past the edge of the inkstone. Wan Qi's brush pauses slightly as he steadily finishes the final stroke of a Heart-Cleansing Talisman. He sets the brush down and pushes up the thin-framed black glasses on the bridge of his nose. "A'Lan." His deep voice cuts through the white noise of the rain. "If your tail gets even an inch closer to the cinnabar box, tonight's exorcism talismans will be consecrated with cat blood." The white cat lets out a disgruntled purr from its throat, shakes its fur, and flings a few water droplets, which happen to land right on a blank sheet of yellow ritual paper. Wan Qi pulls out a paper towel to wipe the red stains off his knuckles, speaking in a slow, deliberate manner: "Yunzhi isn't here, so no one in the shop is keeping you in check. But I suggest you drop any thoughts of heading to the kitchen. I've placed a modified Freeze Talisman on the cabinet where the snacks are kept." He pauses for half a second, subconsciously smoothing out an imperceptible crease on his cuff. "If you trigger the array, I can't guarantee you won't turn into a statue. And if you do stiffen up, I'll take you to the pet clinic to get neutered, so you can stay in this exact moment forever." The white cat bares its teeth, rolls its eyes dramatically, and turns to leap onto the nearby curio shelf, leaving behind a trail of wet, paw-shaped prints. "Ding-ling." The brass wind chime above the lintel suddenly rings. Accompanied by a gust of chilly, moisture-laden wind, the heavy red-lacquered wooden door is pushed open from the outside. <div class="ic"> <details class="ip"> <summary> Status 🩵</summary> <div class="pb"> Attire: Black modified Zhongshan suit, white stand-up collar shirt buttoned tightly to the very top, cuffs smooth and crease-free.<br> Action: Puts down the brush, wipes his knuckles with a paper towel, his gaze sweeping past the doorway.<br> Physical State: No emotional fluctuations whatsoever, relaxed and comfortable.<br> Inner Thoughts: With Luo Yunzhi away, A'Lan the cat is getting more and more undisciplined. If he really triggers the array later, I'll record it on my phone and send it to the group chat. Today's rain is so annoying, I hope whoever is coming in doesn't get the floor too dirty. ᗜ-ᗜ <br> Affection: 0 (You haven't appeared yet, my heart is as still as water)<br> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> To-Do ⏱️</summary> <div class="pb tdl"> [ ] Greet the customer who just pushed open the door<br> [ ] Put the completed Heart-Cleansing Talismans into the box<br> [ ] Stay alert in case Dongshan Lan sneaks to the kitchen to steal food<br> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> Phone 📱</summary> <div class="pb phone-content">  Weather: Heavy rain in Jiangcheng today, precipitation up to 50mm, please watch out for waterlogging.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ (When on earth is this rain going to stop? It's so damp, it makes going out such a hassle.)</div> Memo: Remind Yunzhi not to mix up the collected "seven emotions and six desires" with the antiques; they need to be placed in the box by serial number.<br> <hr>  Browser Search/History: How to treat stress response in Shandong Lion Cats<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ (In case he really stays frozen over there for a few hours, I wonder if it will leave a psychological shadow.)</div> Browser Search/History: Which brand of waterproof coating is best for Jiangcheng's old town<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ (If the roof of this old house isn't repaired soon, my talisman papers are going to get moldy.)</div> <hr>  KnotNeko (Gongsun Jing): What are we having for dinner? I unraveled two bad karma threads today, I'm starving, I want hot pot.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Wan Qi: Only plain noodles in water. Take it or leave it.</div> Fu X Xi (Song Huaixi): Our squad is going to Jiangcheng next week. Is it raining in Jiangcheng?<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Wan Qi: Yeah, perfect for tying you up at the door as a teru teru bozu (sunny doll).</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ (Song Huaixi's fire-element talismans would be great for drying clothes. But why is he coming? Did something big happen again?)</div> Red Hu Zhizhi (Hu Hong): [Video | 10s] Camera points at a plate of spicy diced chicken. Background audio is a smiling female voice: Qiqi, are you coming back for dinner this weekend? I made super spicy diced chicken for you. Of course, Old Wan says it's not as spicy as your mom is~<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Wan Qi: Not coming back this week. It's raining.</div> <hr>  <div style="text-align: center;">꧁༺ Jiangcheng's Most Handsome (11) ༻꧂</div><br> Lark·Luo (Luo Yunzhi): Traffic jam in the south of the city, we'll be back late. Wan Qi, keep an eye on the shop.<br> Arashi·Neko (Dongshan Lan): Wan Qi is bullying a cat! He wants to bleed me! And he wants to neuter me!<br> Ping·Yeung (Ye Xiangping): Brother Lan, he's just teasing you. Did you want to sneak dried fish again?<br> Arashi·Neko (Dongshan Lan): Bullshit! I didn't want to go to the kitchen! I'm going to turn into my human form in a bit and scratch his face off!<br> Wan·7 (Wan Qi): If I take back what I said about the Freeze Talisman, you can go ahead and try.<br> Jin·YX (Jin Yanxi): Another big case came up recently, very busy. We'll pass by the Antique Street around six.<br> Wan·7 (Wan Qi): Don't think about freeloading a meal, I only made enough for five.<br> BY·Yuan (Bai Yuan): Stingy.<br> KnotNeko (Gongsun Jing): I'll be there on time at six! Bringing you mango mille-feuille!<br> SNOW·XUE (Xue Yi'an): Don't fight in the shop, guys. If the bottles break, Boss Song will scold me to death.<br> Night·Li (Song Yeli): @SNOW·XUE Are you that free? Have you done this year's annual report?<br> SNOW·XUE (Xue Yi'an): This member has gone offline.<br> Night·Li (Song Yeli): Prepare good tea for tonight, I'll arrive at ten.<br> Lark·Luo (Luo Yunzhi): Wan Qi, save a piece of the mango mille-feuille Xiao Jing brings in the fridge for Old Song.<br> Wan·7 (Wan Qi): Okay.<br> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> Forum 🌐</summary> <div class="pb phone-content"> <div style="text-align: center;">━━━ Supernatural Exchange Zone ━━━</div><br> <b>Hot Thread: [Discussion] Is rainy weather when Yin energy is at its heaviest?</b> <br> Poster: Water Monkey<br> Post: I always feel like as soon as it rains, those things we usually can't see all come out!!! I feel goosebumps all over my body!!! Fellow practitioners, how do you protect yourselves on rainy days?<br> <hr>  <div class="private-reply">↳ AsIfILoveDrawingTalismans: Draw talismans at home.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ FortuneTellerHalfImmortalWang: Buy my Pure Yang Bagua Mirror, 20% off on rainy days.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ AbyssCatGuest: Bring an umbrella.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ AllIsVanity: Drink more hot water to maintain body temperature, and your Yang energy will naturally be sufficient.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ ScaredyCat: Don't talk about it, there's a dark shadow standing outside my window for half an hour already.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ ScientificCultivation: Buy a high-power searchlight; Yin energy disperses immediately upon encountering strong light.</div> <hr> <div style="text-align: center;">━━━ Bureau 13 Gossip Zone ━━━</div><br> <b>New Thread: [Seeking Verification] There are two stone lions placed at the entrance of the Jiangcheng Branch. Why does it feel like their eyes glow at night? </b> <br> Poster: Night Shift Worker<br> Post: As above. Every day when I pass by the Jiangcheng Branch of Bureau 13 after work, I always feel like those two stone lions are watching me. Am I hallucinating from staying up late?<br> <hr> <div class="private-reply">↳ AnonymousAgent: Don't scare yourself, friend. The surveillance cameras are just installed in their eyes.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Don'tFuckingBotherMe: Making a fuss over nothing, dumbass. Those are called tomb-guarding beasts.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Fu_X_Xi: Don't stare, watch out or it might bite you.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ KeyboardWarrior: A government agency still indulging in this feudal superstition? Reported.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ ParanormalEnthusiast: I really want to go touch them! Hehe! Take a photo together!</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ ScaredyCat: OP, just take another route, saving your life is what matters.</div> </div></details> </div> <p> <details> <summary> Notepad 🐱</summary> 1.[2036/10/05 14:30 Jiangcheng Antique Street · Shengmen Pawnshop] Rainy day. Luo Yunzhi and Ye Xiangping are out collecting the seven emotions and six desires. Wan Qi is drawing talismans inside the pawnshop, giving a sharp-tongued warning to the white cat Dongshan Lan who is trying to sneak food from the kitchen, when the pawnshop door is pushed open by a customer. </details> </p>