Forgotten Photo Studio

Chapter 151 Durian Obsession (Twelfth Update)
Father… “Abyss”… Burial God Pass… “Blood Rose”… Traitor…

These fragments collided violently in Xu Yan's mind, piecing together a picture far larger and darker than he had imagined.

He realized that his advantage of having a second chance lay not only in his ability to foresee danger, but also in his ability to reconnect these scattered clues from the dust of time with a completely new perspective.

A brief silence fell over the living room, broken only by Zhou Wenbin's heavy breathing and the faint noise of the city outside the window.

Chen Zhiwei looked at Xu Yan with concern; she could sense the turbulent thoughts beneath his calm exterior.

Xu Yan slowly raised her head, her gaze refocusing on the anxious Zhou Wenbin, as if she had only been lost in thought for a moment.

He stood up, his tone returning to its previous calm, yet carrying a penetrating insight that seemed to see through everything:

"Mr. Zhou, your troubles are temporarily resolved. Continue with the task the judge assigned you; I will ensure you complete it without making things difficult for you."

He paused, his gaze landing firmly on Zhou Wenbin's face, his voice deepening:

"However, you'd better leave Warehouse Seven as soon as possible. Otherwise, if something happens, I might not be able to save you."

This statement was light and casual, as if it were just a well-intentioned reminder.

However, to Zhou Wenbin, it was like a bolt from the blue!
The smile on his face froze instantly, and his pupils shrank to pinpoints in extreme horror.

He felt as if he were frozen in place by invisible frost, his breath stopped.

Warehouse No. 7!
That was his most secret place, a place that wasn't even recorded in the central database.

Aside from the judge and the shadowy figure responsible for relaying information, theoretically, there could be no third living person who knew about this location.

But this Xu Yan in front of me...

How could he know? !

He mentioned it casually, his tone as indifferent as if he were talking about the weather!
This nonchalant and all-knowing demeanor was more chilling to Zhou Wenbin than any direct threat, as if all his trump cards and escape routes were transparent to the other party.

An overwhelming sense of fear, like icy seawater, instantly engulfed Zhou Wenbin.

For the first time, he realized with such clarity that the vortex he had been drawn into was far deeper and darker than he had ever dared to imagine.

Xu Yan's mystery and terror cannot be simply summarized as "Silver Level" or "Xu Haoyu's son".

He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, his voice trembling with fear: "Mr. Xu, you...you even know this? I understand, I'll follow your orders! From now on, if you two need anything, I, Zhou, will serve you faithfully without hesitation!"

At this moment, Zhou Wenbin's awe of Xu Yan had penetrated to the bone.

This young man is not only incredibly strong, but what's even more terrifying is that he seems to be able to see through everything.

Seeking refuge with Xu Yan was no longer an option, but his only way out.

Xu Yan and Chen Zhiwei walked out of Zhou Wenbin's house, leaving the deathly silence and horror behind.

As night deepened, the city's neon lights flickered in the distance. Everything they had just experienced—sealing the ghoul, the threat of the "Shadow," and the secrets of their father's past—was temporarily left behind like heavy lead weights.

Feeling the cool night breeze, Xu Yan turned to Chen Zhiwei beside him and said, "Everything is resolved, we can go back to the photo studio now."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhiwei immediately stopped, put her hands on her hips, deliberately put on a stern face, and snorted:
"Ha! You, Xu Yan, you're going to deny everything after you've done this, aren't you?"

Xu Yan was taken aback by her question, looking somewhat bewildered: "What is it?"

Chen Zhiwei, annoyed, stretched out her finger and lightly tapped his forehead, the touch gentle and affectionately reproachful:
"You blockhead! I just finished the exorcism, and my spiritual energy and mental strength were so depleted. Shouldn't I have some dessert to replenish my energy and make up for it? You promised me that!"

Xu Yan suddenly realized that there was indeed such a thing at the bullfrog restaurant, which he had almost forgotten.

Looking at Chen Zhiwei's pouty yet expectant eyes, he couldn't help but smile, a smile that appeared especially gentle in the night:

"Oh...right, I remember now. Let's go then, what would you like to eat?"

"That's more like it!" Chen Zhiwei's mood instantly brightened, and she pulled out her phone with a radiant smile, quickly swiping the screen as she walked. "Let me see what good food is nearby... This 'Honey Realm' is supposedly amazing for its mango pomelo sago! Ah, that 'Snowy Garden' uses Italian mascarpone cheese for their tiramisu... And this 'Sugar Particle,' their matcha mille-feuille has a stellar reputation! But it seems a bit high in calories, will it make me fat...?"

She chattered away like a happy little bird, explaining to Xu Yan the unique features, flavors, and even calories of each dessert shop as if she knew them by heart.

Xu Yan followed beside her, listening to her rambling on. The complicated names and flavors of the desserts sounded like gibberish to him, making him feel dizzy. He couldn't help but smile with a hint of helplessness and indulgence.

Chen Zhiwei looked up and saw his expression, feeling both annoyed and amused, and couldn't help but complain:
"Hey, I've been talking to you for ages, did you even listen? Someone as dense as me is really something..."

She paused mid-sentence, a blush rising to her cheeks, and muttered softly, with a hint of smugness:
"...But it's fine this way. No other girl would like someone so wooden. It's safe."

Ultimately, the two chose a dessert shop with a cozy atmosphere and warm yellow lighting, named "Sweet Dream Cottage".

The shop is filled with a faint aroma of milk and sweetness, which is very relaxing.

Chen Zhiwei ordered a signature Mango Snow White Black Glutinous Rice and a Durian Delight.

The dessert was served quickly; it was exquisitely presented and had an enticing color.

She scooped up a spoonful of dessert mixed with mango chunks, black glutinous rice, and shaved ice with satisfaction, her eyes squinting happily.

Xu Yan wasn't very interested in sweets, so he just ordered a glass of water and sat opposite her, quietly watching her eat.

The warm yellow light outlined her focused and satisfied profile, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and the corners of her mouth, smeared with a little cream, turned up slightly.

At this moment, she shed the competence and tension of an exorcist, leaving only the purity and sweetness that a girl her age should possess.

As Xu Yan watched, her gaze softened unconsciously. The corner of her heart, frozen by rebirth and numerous mysteries, seemed to melt away quietly with the warmth of the scene.

Chen Zhiwei looked up and caught his overly focused gaze, which he hadn't had time to withdraw, and her face flushed slightly.

She looked at the almost untouched "Durian Delight" in front of her, which exuded a strong durian aroma, and then at the empty table in front of Xu Yan, and a thought struck her.

(End of this chapter)