The Wonderful Convenience Store: Payment in Fragments of the Soul

At the Goodlife Convenience Store, you won't find snacks or drinks for sale. The only currency it accepts is fragments of the soul.

Here, you can trade your most precious “soul traits” for the life you desire most.

There is only one rule: fair and voluntary, pay the price later, and no take-backs.

Store manager Lin Qian munches on spicy strips every day, watching customers trade soul fragments for happy lives, only to turn around and leave bad reviews...

Lin Qian smiles. The more bad reviews she gets, the closer she comes to being free to shut the store down.

Until President Cui warns her, “One more bad review, and your punishment doubles!”

The BUG cat on her shoulder licks its paw. “Meow, did you take things too far this time?”

Lin Qian just smiles at the surveillance camera.

“Threats? Sorry, but I was born contrary. I'm going to break this rule!”

[A story about human nature and its conflicts, for readers who reflect on life and ponder what it means to live.]