Yu Xing's gaze swept quickly across the entire space.
The interior of the Lighthouse Bookstore was more spacious than it had appeared from the outside.
The high ceiling suggested a second story above. Dark wooden beams were exposed overhead, giving the place an old-fashioned, sturdy feel.
Floor-to-ceiling dark wooden bookshelves lined every wall, packed full of books like silent bastions of knowledge. Their labels were clear and orderly: history, literature, science, geography, folklore, and more.
Soft, slightly orange light spilled from elegant brass sconces and glass chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, casting warm pools across the polished wooden floor. Several heavy solid-wood desks for readers and comfortable leather armchairs were scattered throughout the space.
Everything looked orderly and peaceful, even elegant.
The only sound in the air was the steady ticking of an antique clock in the distance, making time here seem all the more tranquil.
Yet at a time like this, that very sense of excessive normalcy and peace was the most abnormal sign of all.
"Good evening, and welcome to the Lighthouse Bookstore."
A warm, slightly resonant male voice rang out, breaking the silence.
A young male clerk in a well-fitting vest and bow tie emerged from behind a bookshelf near the back of the store.
He looked to be in his twenties. His hair was neatly combed, and he wore a practiced smile that was neither overly enthusiastic nor dismissive.
His movements were smooth and natural as he stepped lightly toward them.
"You three look unfamiliar. Is this your first time at our bookstore? Is there anything I can help you with?" His gaze swept quickly over Yu Xing, Qu Xuanqing, and Lingren. His eyes were clear, and his expression politely inquisitive. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Yu Xing noticed that, even under the warm lights,