“Every mystery begins with an ordinary day. The tragedy lies in never noticing when that day quietly ends.”
— The Silent Witness, by Shadow Raven
The first rays of dawn filtered through the cream-colored curtains, painting golden patterns across the polished wooden floor of a modest two-story bookstore nestled on the corner of Maple Street.
A small brass sign hanging above the entrance gently swayed in the morning breeze.
Moonlight Pages.
Although the bookstore appeared ordinary from the outside, anyone who stepped inside would immediately be greeted by rows upon rows of neatly arranged bookshelves stretching toward the ceiling. The scent of old paper mixed pleasantly with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, creating a warmth that welcomed every visitor.
Unlike the noisy cafés scattered throughout the city, Moonlight Pages offered something much rarer.
Peace.
The owner valued silence more than anything else.
Soft instrumental music floated quietly through the shop while sunlight streamed through large windows, illuminating countless books that had accompanied their readers through joy, sorrow, hope, and heartbreak.
At precisely seven o’clock every morning, the bookstore opened its doors.
Its owner never failed to arrive before sunrise.
Mu Yinju unlocked the entrance and quietly flipped the wooden sign.
OPEN.
He adjusted his round glasses before rolling up the sleeves of his light gray sweater.
Without wasting another second, he began his usual routine.
Dusting every bookshelf.
Straightening misplaced novels.
Brewing a fresh pot of coffee.
Watering the tiny flowerpots sitting beside each window.
Everything was done carefully, almost ritualistically.
It wasn’t because anyone demanded perfection from him.
It was because silence and order had become his way of calming the chaos that still lingered inside his heart.
Outside, the city slowly awakened.
Cars began passing by.
Children laughed on their way to school.
Office workers hurried toward the train station.
Inside Moonlight Pages…
Time seemed to move differently.
Peacefully.
As if the bookstore itself existed outside the rush of the world.
“…Done.”
Yinju placed the watering can beside the counter before letting out a quiet sigh of satisfaction.
He glanced toward the framed photograph resting beside the cash register.
It was the only picture he owned of his late mother.
The edges had faded with age.
Even so…
Her gentle smile remained just as warm.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“Good morning, Mother.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“I hope you’re doing well… wherever you are.”
He gently dusted the frame before returning it to its place.
The familiar ringing of the entrance bell interrupted the silence.
Ding…
An elderly woman entered with a cheerful smile.
“Good morning, Young Master Mu.”
Yinju offered a polite nod.
“Good morning, Mrs. Chen.”
Mrs. Chen had been one of Moonlight Pages’ very first customers.
She visited nearly every Wednesday to borrow detective novels before returning them exactly one week later.
“I’ve finished the mystery series you recommended.”
She smiled brightly.
“It was wonderful. I stayed awake until midnight just to finish the ending.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
His voice remained calm and gentle.
Mrs. Chen looked around before lowering her voice.
“You know…”
“I still think you’re the famous author Shadow Raven.”
Yinju froze for the briefest moment.
Then he chuckled softly.
“I think you give me too much credit.”
Mrs. Chen laughed.
“Maybe.”
“But whoever that author is…”
“They understand lonely people.”
Her words lingered long after she left the bookstore.
Yinju quietly stared toward the bookshelf where every novel written under the mysterious pen name Shadow Raven was displayed.
No photographs.
No interviews.
No public appearances.
The mysterious author had become one of the country’s best-selling mystery novelists in only five years.
Readers everywhere speculated endlessly.
Some believed Shadow Raven was an elderly professor.
Others insisted the writer was an experienced detective.
A few even claimed several authors secretly shared the same pen name.
No one guessed the truth.
The famous novelist was simply the quiet young man standing behind the counter of a cozy little bookstore.
Yinju had no intention of revealing himself.
Fame attracted attention.
Attention brought questions.
Questions reopened wounds.
He preferred anonymity.
Stories should be remembered.
Not their author.
A soft vibration interrupted his thoughts.
His mobile phone lit up.
Editor Lin
Yinju hesitated before answering.
“…Hello.”
A cheerful voice immediately exploded through the speaker.
“Master Shadow Raven!”
Yinju instinctively pulled the phone farther from his ear.
“I’ve told you many times not to call me that.”
Editor Lin laughed.
“I can’t help it! Do you know your newest novel has already sold over two million copies?”
“…That’s good.”
“‘That’s good?’”
The editor sounded as though he might faint.
“Every publisher in the country wants to meet you! Television stations are begging for interviews! They even want to nominate you for the National Mystery Literature Award!”
“I’ll decline.”
A painful silence followed.
“You… you haven’t even thought about it, have you?”
“No.”
“But why?”
Yinju gazed through the bookstore window.
Outside, people laughed together as they walked along the sidewalk.
“…I’m more comfortable this way.”
Editor Lin sighed.
“I had a feeling you’d say that.”
“Your royalties have already been transferred.”
“Thank you.”
“And…”
The editor hesitated.
“Please don’t disappear while writing your next novel again.”
“I’ll try.”
“You said that last time.”
Before the conversation could continue, Yinju quietly ended the call.
The bookstore returned to its familiar silence.
He picked up his notebook and fountain pen before sitting beside the window.
Words flowed naturally across the pages.
Fear does not always wear the face of monsters.
Sometimes…
It wears the face of the people we once called family.
His pen stopped.
His expression softened.
“…Still thinking about them…”
He closed the notebook.
Some memories refused to disappear.
Even after all these years.
By late afternoon, the bookstore gradually emptied.
The golden sunlight outside slowly faded into the warm orange hues of evening.
This was Yinju’s favorite time of day.
He carried a watering can into the small garden behind the bookstore.
Although not particularly large, it was filled with roses, lavender, jasmine, hydrangeas, and countless potted flowers that he had cared for over the years.
Unlike people…
Flowers never lied.
If they were loved, they bloomed.
If they were neglected, they withered.
Simple.
Honest.
Yinju smiled faintly as he watered a blooming white camellia.
“You’ve grown well.”
A cool breeze brushed past him.
Leaves rustled gently overhead.
Everything felt peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Then—
A desperate cry echoed from somewhere beyond the stone wall.
“Meow!”
Yinju looked up.
Another frightened cry followed.
Loud barking erupted from the alley behind the bookstore.
“Woof!”
“Woof! Woof!”
His brows knitted together.
“…A cat?”
The terrified meowing grew closer.
Faster.
Branches shook violently.
Something small and white shot through the air.
Before Yinju could react—
A fluffy white cat leaped over the garden wall and crashed directly into his chest.
The unexpected impact knocked both of them onto the soft grass.
The watering can rolled away, spilling water across the flowerbeds.
The little white cat buried its trembling body against his chest, its tiny paws clutching his sweater as though he were its only lifeline.
Its entire body shook uncontrollably.
Large sapphire-blue eyes brimmed with fear.
Yinju instinctively wrapped his arms around the frightened creature.
“It’s alright…”
His voice was gentle.
“You’re safe now.”
The white cat slowly looked up at him.
For a single heartbeat…
Their eyes met.
Neither of them realized it.
But from that fleeting moment…
The lonely mystery author and the runaway white cat had unknowingly stepped onto a path that would change both of their lives forever…
ns216.73.216.67da2
and then Add to home screen.