[Serious / Irritable / Reliable / Starer]

A serious, hardworking and utmost reliable individual, Song Zhen treats every task with equal value and does not appreciate any sort of slacking in his presence. If one wants to slack off, it’s best to get out of his sight, or be subject to a rather intense glare and cutting words.

Song Zhen may be cold, rough and harsh at times, still, he cares deeply about those close to him. Even when he complains and grip shoulders rather painfully, he still always tries to help. Unless they’re being stupid, then they’re on their own.

No doubt intimidating in nature, his resting bitch face doesn’t help either (which he doesn’t even bother toning down). Golden eyes that seem to stare into your soul and appraise your every movement, Song Zhen is very convenient to have around when someone is making a scene. A simple annoyed look and the common low-life will usually scurry off. However, his rbf does incite...difficult customers. His difficulty in hiding his irritation and has definitely set off more than a few customers. But then his extremely annoyed stare (or is it a glare) comes out and they usually quiet back down.

Despite his seriously lacking sense of humour, Song Zhen does enjoy...some dad jokes, just some. Even then, there hadn’t really been any that made him laugh, simply made him smile/chuckle.

If one couldn’t tell, Song Zhen is pretty uptight, though not as bad when compared to his younger self. A stickler for cleanliness and order, he can’t stand when people don’t clean up after themselves, and most importantly, don’t clean up after themselves right. He often takes it upon himself to make things right, grumbling and judging the entire way.

One could say he’s also stoic, able to endure hardship without a complaint, if not for how easily he is annoyed. There are things he can look past, even if he doesn’t think it’s right. He’s willing to listen, if it’s not stupid. If it’s not stupid. If he has to tell you twice, annoyed. If you’re loud, annoyed. If you’re—annoyed.

Of course, when it concerns children, he is completely different. Patient and understanding, Song Zhen doesn’t mind answering the same question twice, five or even ten times, though, his smile may get just a tad (very) strained. A common sight at the local orphanage. Song Zhen often spends his weekends volunteering with anything they might need help with. He may not be the most fun of uncles, but Song Zhen tries his best.

Song Zhen had been a mercenary for many years until deaths in his family changed the course of his life. He eventually opened up a tea-shop which is what he currently busies himself with. Trying new teas, developing small menus and making sure his remaining family is doing well. Life is slowly becoming life again. And that, he can work with.

Song Zhen had been raised in a small pocket dimension. Part of the En universe, yet still slightly disconnected, a tiny dimension that had been secretly linked during En’s slumber after cultivating its core. As En’s energy had not created them, their family’s ability—though limited—were able to bypass Creator laws regarding reach across different universes.

He knew their world bypassed the natural order of the universes, but he hadn’t known it would cause their world to be wiped out. And he hadn’t known his family had known. How naive of him, to be so happy when his great-grandmother had begun teaching him little tricks here and there. That soon dove into survival, combat, the magic of the En universe, but none to do with their innate abilities. Song Zhen remembered asking her then, and he vividly remembered her smile, soft, yet full of sorrow. A sorrow that spoke of an aged acceptance that Song Zhen could not comprehend as she brushed his cheek.

Song Zhen hadn’t understood that answer, because it hadn’t been an answer to him at the time. Even when he had been forced to leave, he still didn’t understand—couldn’t understand their last exchange.

Looking back, he finally understood.

Their existence had been an anomaly. One that had existed for so long, but would inevitably be corrected, because they were not supposed to be.

Without knowledge of his own power, everything would end with him. It didn’t matter if his abilities sporadically activated or not, he had no knowledge and therefore, no power. He could not diverge.

The origin of his existence would hide his soul, until he simply became another quirk in the universe among countless others and ultimately, forgotten.

With a kiss to his forehead, the knowledge had been sealed. Unable to be uttered. Unable to be seen. Unable to be found. And he was gone.

Song Zhen wandered aimlessly. He didn’t know what to do, armed with all this…useless knowledge. They told him to live, but there was nothing to live for.

Years crawled by and Song Zhen passed his existence by honing his skills. Made money as mercenary when needed. Lost in this life he had been unwillingly thrust upon, he came upon a strange girl. Hua Ying. Full of fire and cheer. Unwelcomed. That had been his only thought, and he made sure she knew it too. And got annoyed when all it elicited from her was a patronizing pat on the arm. But as time passed, even he had to admit company was nice.

Then, Liu Wen dropped into his life. Followed by Shi Fang, Shi Yue, Lian and finally, Yena.

Somewhere along the way, Hua Ying became Ying Ying and he…he fell in love.

Was this the so-called “living” they wanted for him?

When Song Zhen gazed upon the small bundle that was Song Li Ling in Ying Ying’s arms, he thought, perhaps it was.

For a long time, life was beautiful. But it seemed things could never last for him.

Ying Ying. Shi Fang, Shi Yue. Lian.

And then, what finally pushed him over the edge.

Li Ling.

All…gone.

He had tried his best, tried to stay hopeful. But Li Ling, his Xiao Ling. His precious daughter, once so full of life, withered away. Nothing had been able to save her. He couldn’t accept this. He couldn’t. Couldn’t. Could—until there was nothing left to accept anymore. She was gone.

And so was he.

Song Zhen’s world shattered and stayed shattered for a long long time.

Until a man with razor sharp teal eyes had shown up at his door and Song Zhen threw every inch of his rage, pain, guilt and anguish at him. Every blow returned with equal force, mirroring him until there was nothing left for Song Zhen to throw.

A tentative continuation. A slow mend.

Time is said to heal all wounds, and that was true. But Song Zhen would never forget. The scars were a part of him, following him into this new…living.

Starting up a tea shop with the remainder of his family’s help, Song Zhen busied himself with this beginning. A gradual return of his smile as he watched Yunfei with Yena and Liu Wen. Life would never be the same, but he still had his family. Incomplete, but still here.