Forgotten Photo Studio

Chapter 126 Assistive Device Maintenance
Chen Zhiwei was still in shock, the warmth of that kiss still lingering on her lips, but her heart was filled with a bittersweet mix of emotions, like a jar of honey had been overturned.

Xu Yan gazed at her, his mind clear.

Starting over, with all his memories, he no longer wanted to repeat those ambiguous tests and regrets from the past.

This time, he will openly show favoritism, protect without hesitation, and turn all his unspoken feelings into concrete actions.

He knew the road ahead was fraught with danger, and that the path to gold was fraught with thorns.

But that's precisely why he cherishes this warmth even more.

Some things, if not said now, may never have another chance to be said; some people, if not held firmly in your hands now, may be lost forever.

"You," Chen Zhiwei finally found her voice, but didn't know what to say.

She wanted to be angry, to question, but the sweetness welling up inside her was so honest that she couldn't deny it.

Xu Yan took her hand and placed her palm against his heart.

Through the thin fabric of his clothes, she could feel his steady and powerful heartbeat.

Xu Yan's words echoed in the silent air, carrying an undeniable weight.

Looking into the undeniable seriousness in his eyes, Chen Zhiwei suddenly felt that this unexpected kiss and this domineering declaration had appeared in her dreams a thousand times before.

A subtle silence spread between the two, with only their intertwined breaths clearly audible.

Chen Zhiwei's cheeks flushed, her heart pounded like a drum, and the sensation of that kiss was still vividly lingering on her lips.

She subconsciously pursed her lips, wanting to say something, but not knowing where to begin. In the end, she simply lowered her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings, revealing her inner turmoil and helplessness.

Looking at her unusually shy expression, Xu Yan felt a faint tenderness, which even he himself did not notice, flash deep in his eyes.

He didn't approach her again, but simply raised his hand and gently rubbed her still-burning cheek with the back of his fingers.

This gesture carried a silent reassurance and affirmation, conveying a greater sense of cherishment than the previous declaration.

Chen Zhiwei trembled slightly at his sudden gentle touch, but did not flinch.

She looked up and met his deep gaze, which, besides the domineering presence from before, now reflected her image even more clearly.

An indescribable sense of security quietly replaced some of the shyness.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, and her gaze shifted somewhat erratically to the camphor wood chest that was still open beside her.

"Let's see... let's see what Grandpa left behind," she said softly, her voice slightly hoarse, trying to bring her attention back to the matter at hand and also to hide her still chaotic thoughts.

Xu Yan followed her gaze, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

He didn't call out her little attempt to change the subject, and readily agreed, "Okay."

His gaze swept past the dark gold lens and finally settled on the one next to it, a thin, deep purple sheet lying quietly on a velvet cushion.

Its texture is warm and smooth, resembling jade but not quite. The surface is engraved with fine cloud patterns, and there is a micro-hole in the center that is almost imperceptible, the size of which matches the auxiliary card slot on the top of the camera.

He picked it up instinctively.

The moment my fingertips touched it, there was no torrent of information as I had expected, nor any illusions.

A cool, refreshing sensation flowed slowly up his fingertips, gently caressing his temples, which ached from carrying too many memories.

The feeling was extremely subtle, yet it involuntarily relaxed his tense nerves.

“A calming pill…” he murmured to himself, his fingertips stroking the cool purple jade.

This thin piece of film had shattered into dust countless times after he overused the camera, leaving only a handful of residue in his palm.

At that time, he only regarded it as a consumable and never truly understood its meaning.

Chen Zhiwei noticed his focus and explained softly, "Grandpa said that this film and the camera are essentially one. It's just a matter of how to use them..."

Xu Yan did not respond; he had already picked up the book "The Mirror of the Netherworld".

This time, he no longer focused solely on sealing techniques and combat skills as before, but instead carefully perused the appendix chapters that he had previously overlooked.

Sure enough, he found a record about calming pills in the interleaved pages of "The Care of Assistive Devices".

On the yellowed paper, a meticulously drawn pattern, identical to the thin tablet in my hand, was displayed, along with several lines of fine handwriting: "The Mind-Stabilizing Tablet is not a consumable, but a living instrument. Nourished by the mind, it can gradually revive its nature. If tempered with 'Heart-Cleansing Dew,' its resilience can be increased; if soaked in 'Moonlight,' its spirit can be nurtured..."

Xu Yan's heart skipped a beat.

It turns out that this calming tablet is not a disposable cushion, but a living thing that needs careful care.

He used to be so wasteful; no wonder he always failed at the most crucial moment.

He gently pushed open the protective cover on the top of the camera, revealing the hidden card slot.

Under Chen Zhiwei's surprised gaze, he precisely embedded the calming pill into it.

"Click."

With a soft click, it fit perfectly.

The camera body vibrated almost imperceptibly, and a faint purple halo flowed across the edge of the viewfinder, disappearing in an instant.

Xu Yan felt the weight of the camera in his hand change; it was no longer a cold tool, but a living thing connected to his blood.

He looked up at Chen Zhiwei, his eyes shining with an unprecedented light: "I seem to have... been using the wrong approach all along."

Outside the window, the sun is just right.

Xu Yan ran his fingers over the camera's cold body, feeling the continuous calming vibrations emanating from the lens.

This time, he will not let this piece of purple jade shatter so easily.

The "Mirror of the Netherworld" unfolded silently in his palm, and the words that had been ignored were now shining with the light of wisdom.

The afternoon light and shadows shifted slowly. Xu Yan rubbed his temples, speaking with just the right amount of weariness, "I was busy all night last night, and I didn't even have a hot meal when I got back this morning." He looked at Chen Zhiwei, who was tidying up the counter, "Are you trying to starve me to death?"

Chen Zhiwei suddenly came to her senses, a hint of guilt flashing across her face: "It's already this late... how about we go to our usual restaurant for fish?"

"I don't want to go out." Xu Yan's gaze fell gently on her. "I want to eat what you make."

"I did it?" Chen Zhiwei's eyes widened in surprise. "Didn't you always say..."

“That was before,” Xu Yan interrupted softly, his tone carrying a calmness born of experience. “I was immature.”

Chen Zhiwei stared at him blankly, feeling that Xu Yan was unusually different today.

She hesitated as she walked toward the kitchen: "But... we have no vegetables left. Maybe we have two eggs and a little bit of noodles."

“Perfect.” Xu Yan’s brows relaxed, and he replied immediately, “Egg noodles are just right.”

He sat at the dining table, watching Chen Zhiwei busy in the kitchen.

She was clearly not very skilled; when cracking the eggs, eggshells fell into the bowl, and she frantically picked them out; when boiling the eggs, water splashed onto her apron, leaving water stains of varying depths.

But Xu Yan watched intently, his gaze following her every movement.

The warmth of everyday life at this moment is the kind of comfort he has longed for most, yet can never touch again, at the end of countless reincarnations.

Only after losing something do we realize how precious it is.

Even with such clumsy cooking skills, he saw them as the most touching sight in the world.

When the noodles were served, they didn't look very appealing.

The noodles were a bit overcooked, the fried egg had burnt edges, and the soup was rather bland.

But Xu Yan ate with great relish, savoring each bite as if he were enjoying some rare delicacy.

"How did it go?" Chen Zhiwei asked nervously.

"Very good." Xu Yan looked up at her and smiled. "You'll make it for me often from now on, okay?"

Chen Zhiwei's face flushed again. She lowered her head and ate her noodles in small bites, but a smile quietly crept onto her lips.

After the meal, Xu Yan glanced at the old wall clock; the hands were about to point to two in the afternoon. He stood up, his expression gradually becoming serious: "Zhiwei, we should set off."

"The time for the handover of the relics is approaching." Xu Yan's voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable determination.

(End of this chapter)