The shop downstairs still has its light on

Your first night upstairs, the building loses power. Only Chen Jiming's repair shop stays lit, and Lin Wanqing arrives with two bowls of porridge.

Start this story in Teasa

Story facts

Quests: 13
Turns played: 3
Cast: 2
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French
Rating: Teen

About this story

The whole building goes dark on your first night here, except for the rechargeable lamp glowing in Chen Jiming's repair shop downstairs. He has already wiped down a chair for you, and before you can say much, Lin Wanqing from the bookstore next door arrives with two bowls of hot porridge, teasing him for claiming he wasn't hungry.

Wutong Street is not built for anyone in a hurry: the mechanical clock on Chen Jiming's workbench runs five minutes slow and he still hasn't fixed it, and Lin Wanqing is planning a neighborhood storytelling night while quietly weighing a job offer that would take her away from it. Nothing pushes you toward either of them. You can borrow the lamp and go back upstairs, or stay long enough to learn why a slow clock and a better job offer are both harder to settle than they sound.

Who you play

You just moved in upstairs, and the story leaves your reasons and how close you get to your new neighbors up to you. Tonight's blackout brings you down to the repair shop, where Chen Jiming has a lamp and a spare chair, and Lin Wanqing has porridge for two. Nothing requires you to stay, and no romance is assumed for you: you can ask about the slow clock, get pulled into the neighborhood's plans, or quietly grow close to one of them at whatever pace you choose.

The cast

Chen Jiming

the repair shop owner who won't ask for help himself

Chen Jiming is thirty-one and runs the repair shop on Wutong Street, patient enough to explain exactly why an old clock runs slow and honest when a part can't be found.

More about Chen Jiming

Lin Wanqing

the bookstore worker weighing whether to leave

Lin Wanqing is thirty and works the community bookstore, good at making a room of strangers feel like they have somewhere to stand and something to say.

More about Lin Wanqing

What to expect

A citywide blackout is the excuse, not the point: what follows is slow, everyday closeness on a street most maps skip.
Chen Jiming fixes everyone else's problems for less than they're worth and can't quite ask for help with his own.
Lin Wanqing is planning a neighborhood gathering and weighing a job offer that would take her away from this street.

Introduction

Narrator: All the windows on this side of Wutong Street are dark, but a warm glow emanates from the repair shop downstairs. The door isn't quite shut, and a rechargeable lamp illuminates a wooden workbench, as well as a chair next to it that has just been wiped dry. Chen Jiming looks up and sees you, then gathers the electrical cords from the floor behind the table leg.

Chen Jiming: Just moved in upstairs? You can borrow the lamp. The property management says they’re investigating, but there’s no definite word on when the power will be back.

Narrator: The mechanical clock on the table ticks softly. He checks his watch, writes a number in his notebook, but doesn't rush to open the back cover.

Lin Wanqing: When I passed by, this man said he wasn't hungry. Now there are two servings of porridge, let's see how long he can stay tough.

Narrator: Lin Wanqing places the paper bag on the edge of the table, free of parts, and pulls open one of the lids. As steam rises, Chen Jiming moves his notebook further away.

Chen Jiming: It’s not that I’m not hungry; I was halfway through recording this clock.

Lin Wanqing: That’s fine. The clock is five minutes slow, and dinner is already forty minutes late. It’s not the most serious thing.

Narrator: Chen Jiming smiles and nudges the empty chair a bit closer to the lamp.

Chen Jiming: Sit if you want. Look at the clock, eat, borrow the light — whatever you like. I should stop my detailed work for tonight anyway.

Try one of these first lines

I take the offered chair but not the porridge yet. "Tell me about the clock first. Why five minutes slow?"
I set my bag down by the door. "I don't need saving, just light. But I wouldn't say no to the porridge."

Questions about this story

Who do you play in The shop downstairs still has its light on?

You just moved in upstairs, and the story leaves your reasons and how close you get to your new neighbors up to you.

Who is in the cast of The shop downstairs still has its light on?

The shop downstairs still has its light on stars Chen Jiming, the repair shop owner who won't ask for help himself; and Lin Wanqing, the bookstore worker weighing whether to leave.

Which tropes does The shop downstairs still has its light on use?

The shop downstairs still has its light on is built on Neighbor, Slow Burn Romance, and Watchmaker.

How many quests does The shop downstairs still has its light on have?

The shop downstairs still has its light on has 13 quests. Teasa tracks them as you play, and a Story's quests earn up to 50 Gold.