Forgotten Photo Studio

Chapter 141 Fiancée (Second Update)
He wore his usual lazy smile, as if he had no interest in anything, but his eyes, hidden behind his glasses, were like two high-precision scanners, quickly and accurately scanning Xu Yan and Chen Zhiwei beside him the moment they entered the elevator.

His gaze lingered subtly for a fraction of a second on the antique camera on Xu Yan's chest and the old compass that Chen Zhiwei was instinctively clutching in her arms, and a deeper smile, like that of someone who had discovered an interesting toy, curved his lips.

"Hey, better to be lucky than early." He said with a grin, his voice carrying a hint of nonchalance. He leaned lazily against the cold elevator wall, but a sharp glint flashed in the depths of his eyes, as if he had seen a kindred spirit. "This is the legendary... the new big shot who cleared the fast assessment channel with two people and caused quite a stir?"

His gaze finally settled on Xu Yan's face, and his lazy smile held a touch of genuine, undisguised appreciation.

Xu Yan looked at the face that, in his past memories, was ultimately intertwined with countless life-and-death adventures. His cold gaze softened slightly, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

It wasn't the scrutiny of a stranger, but rather a silent greeting filled with complex emotions after a long separation.

He didn't speak, but that subtle change in expression spoke volumes.

Ah Zhe's smile widened, as if he had confirmed something.

The elevator doors finally closed slowly, temporarily isolating the three of them from the outside world in this small space.

Ah Zhe was busy fiddling with a small drone in his hand that kept emitting a low buzz and hovered like a mechanical octopus, his fingertips nimbly sliding across the touchpad.

"Don't be so cool, you two silver medalists." He made an exaggerated, helpless expression. "Let's get acquainted. I'm Zhe, barely an 'environmental energy planner.' I mainly do aura mapping, energy flow guidance, and occasionally help people with feng shui layouts. I'm just scraping by with a Bronze I medal." He shrugged, his tone self-deprecating. "Compared to someone like you who can solo... uh, double-pass the fast lane, I really can't compare."

His gaze seemed unintentional, yet it swept over Chen Zhiwei's delicate profile once more with remarkable clarity.

Xu Yan's perception was incredibly sharp; he immediately caught this subtle detail and understood—in the original timeline, A Zhe's unspoken affection for Zhi Wei might have already begun to blossom.

He absolutely would not allow his important future partner to be troubled again because of emotional entanglements, or even to affect the overall situation.

In the instant that Ah Zhe's gaze shifted, Xu Yan tightened his grip on Chen Zhiwei, pulling her closer to his side. His gaze was calm yet carried an undeniable solemnity as he looked at Ah Zhe and clearly stated:

"Let me formally introduce you, Zhe. This is Chen Zhiwei," he paused, his voice steady and strong, "my fiancée."

These words were like a small thunderclap, exploding in the cramped elevator space.

Chen Zhiwei suddenly looked up, her eyes fixed on Xu Yan's profile. Her pupils dilated slightly in shock, and a blush instantly spread across her cheeks.

Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but she was stopped by the firm strength coming from Xu Yan's arm.

She never imagined he would announce it in this way, in this setting…

"fiancée"?
This happened too fast, too suddenly, yet... it doesn't seem like a joke at all.

Ah Zhe was clearly taken aback by the sudden official statement. His nonchalant smile froze instantly, replaced by a hint of embarrassment and realization.

He touched his nose, quickly reverting to his lazy demeanor, and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Alright, alright, boss, I got it, I understand! Don't worry, even though I, A Zhe, am unreliable, I still have basic boundaries. I would never have any improper thoughts about someone else's fiancée, I guarantee it with my Bronze I badge!"

His tone was exaggerated, but the pure admiration and interest in Chen Zhiwei that had just risen in his eyes quickly disappeared.

Looking at him like this, Xu Yan finally revealed a very subtle but satisfied smile.

The purpose was achieved.

The elevator smoothly arrived at the first floor, making a soft "ding" sound.

The door slowly opened.

Xu Yan, arm in arm with the still somewhat bewildered Chen Zhiwei, stepped out of the elevator first.

As he passed Ah Zhe, he stopped, turned his head, and said again in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Remember, if you encounter any problems you can't solve, you can come to 'Forgotten Photo Studio' to find me."

Just as Ah Zhe's lips moved slightly, about to reply, "Sizzle!"

A sharp sound, not reaching the eardrums, but piercing directly into the soul.

The lights in the hall dimmed instantly, as if all their vitality had been drained away.

A silver arc of lightning suddenly appeared out of nowhere, as dazzling as an inverted galaxy, as violent as the wrath of the heavens, piercing straight for Xu Yan's brow.

The oppressive aura was like iron, instantly freezing the air and filling the air with a scorching atmosphere.

Chen Zhiwei's legs went weak, and A Zhe's carefree smile froze completely. His fingers, hovering over the button on the temple of his glasses, became stiff as stone.

The power of gold, the speed of thunder.

The visitor was Jiang Yu, the "Ghost-Faced Judge".

Xu Yan felt a chill run down her spine.

Of all the imagined reunion scenarios, there was none like this one—one that so directly and rudely interrupted his entire rhythm right at the "center."

The flapping of a butterfly's wings may unleash a monstrous tsunami in the long river of destiny.

He clearly sensed that the world's trajectory was being distorted because of him.

But rational considerations must give way to the instinct for survival.

The lightning arc had reached his brow! Xu Yan moved.

Lean back, turn to the side, push.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Zhiwei was safely moved to a corner by a clever force.

At the same time, he raised his arm, and the dark silver camera was already positioned in front of him like a shield.

The cold lens, like the eye of an abyss, precisely locked onto that destructive arc of lightning.

His index finger lightly pressed the shutter button, his posture resolute, as if he were holding not a camera, but the trigger of fate.

Fragments from the depths of memory warn: the judge recognizes it.

They knew even more deeply that touching it would trigger consequences that even a gold-level being could not bear, which would be the funeral dirge for the entire "center".

"Om-!"

The raging lightning arc suddenly froze three inches in front of the camera, as if it had crashed into a wall of fate.

Countless bolts of lightning howled and struggled like trapped beasts, yet they could not break through even an inch.

The energy surged, causing Xu Yanyi's hair to dance wildly.

He stood firm as a pine tree, his eyes cold and piercing, staring straight into the depths of the shadows.

The shadows rippled like water, and a figure emerged from the thunder.

Dark purple lightning patterns meandered across the tight-fitting clothes, and half of a ghost face concealed his expression, revealing only his cold and hard jawline.

The electric snakes around him scorched the air with crackling sounds, and every step he took left scorch marks on the ground.

(End of this chapter)