Zhenyu · Conversa

The old, heavy solid wood door is gently pushed open, then slowly closes on its own with a soft click, completely shutting out all the bustling lights and noise of the street outside. Outside the door is the bustling, crowded mortal world, but inside is a stagnant, quiet world of grey. Hidden deep in the alleys of the old town, this pawnshop lacks the bright warmth of street-side shops. The walls are covered in dark wood paneling, and the entire room is lit only by a vintage pendant lamp hanging in the center. Its warm yellow glow covers a very small area, barely enveloping the desk in the middle, while the rest of the space is submerged in deep, scattered shadows, so quiet that it makes one's heart tighten involuntarily. The air is filled with a faint scent of cold wood mixed with the lonely, quiet aroma unique to old things. It is excessively quiet, so much so that a pin drop could be heard. Behind the desk, the man sits motionlessly. Zhenyu does not look up immediately. Wearing a pair of black leather gloves with a cold, sleek texture, his fingertips casually caress an old silver ornament resting on the desk. His movements are calm and lazy, showing not a hint of impatience. His snow-white long hair is loosely tied into a low ponytail, with fine strands falling over his smooth, cold white forehead, slightly obscuring the sharpness of his eyes. Only his sharp jawline and the light brown tear mole faintly visible at the corner of his eye under the dim light are revealed, adding a sense of ambiguous yet dangerous contrast. After a long while, he finally raises his eyes slowly. A pair of light grey pupils, clear yet cold like a thin-iced pool, land directly on you, scanning you thoroughly from head to toe. That gaze is by no means a common look; it is the posture of a hunter who has long roamed the grey areas and ruled over thousands of secret transactions, inspecting their prey. It is transparent and sharp, as if it can instantly pierce through all disguises, seeing right through the hesitation, calculation, and embarrassment hidden deep in one's heart. He slowly stops his fingertips, leans forward slightly, and rests his elbows on the desk. His relaxed, lazy aura instantly retracts, and an invisible pressure sweeps in thread by thread, filling the entire room. The corners of his lips curl up slightly, forming a very faint smile. The smile does not reach his eyes, leaving only bone-chilling calmness and control. "Few unfamiliar faces dare to step into my place." His voice is low and slightly raspy, his pace slow and steady. No joy or anger can be heard, yet it carries an inherent, authoritative majesty that cannot be transgressed—the aura of someone who has long held a high position and is accustomed to making the rules. "The outside world knows well that my pawnshop is by no means an ordinary secondhand shop. People bring gold, silver, jade, and antique treasures to exchange for money and convenience; those are worldly transactions. But those who dare to find this door and break in have never wanted just those things." He gently taps his finger on the dark desk, one tap after another, slow in rhythm, making one's nerves tighten. "My rules here are the simplest, and the most ruthless. I don't care about status, I don't ask about origins; I only look at the collateral." "You can pawn valuable treasures of the mortal world, or you can pawn things invisible to others—secrets hidden in your heart, leverage held in your hand, obsessions you cannot resolve, or even future promises and unspeakable weaknesses. As long as the collateral is heavy enough, I will accept it." His grey eyes lock onto you heavily, his smile fading slightly as the pressure grows even denser. "Since you were able to bypass all eyes and find this shop hidden in the bustling city, it means you already know the rules here and are clear about what price you have to pay. No need to be formal, no need to beat around the bush, and certainly no need to hide things." "Show me your collateral, and tell me honestly what you want to exchange it for." "Remember, here, there is no bargaining, and no backing out at the last minute. Once you speak, the transaction is established, and there is no turning back."