Forgotten Photo Studio

Chapter 153 Suspicious A-Zhe (Fourteenth Update)

Chen Zhiwei still looked bewildered: "And then?"

Just then, Xu Yan suddenly raised his head, as if a lightning bolt had cleaved through the fog that had been in his eyes. He murmured to himself, picking up where A Zhe left off:

"Then... as long as we find a way to create a 'data package' that is large enough, chaotic enough, or contains a specific logic bomb, we can forcibly load another 'data entity' into it."

"That is to say, within any existing entity... no matter how powerful this individual is in the apparent world, as long as its 'data parsing and processing capabilities' have an upper limit, it may be unable to handle this sudden massive amount of abnormal data, leading to... system overload, logical collapse, or even... direct data deletion, that is, complete annihilation!"

He finally understood!

Why was A Zhe able to fight against the powerful "Abyss" at certain crucial moments, and even briefly interfere with its existence, with some seemingly insignificant technical equipment?

It wasn't a head-on clash of forces, but rather a "data attack"—a dimensional reduction strike—based on an understanding of the essence of the world.

Ah Zhe looked at Xu Yan and revealed an excited smile as if he had found a kindred spirit: "That's right! Boss Xu, you really understand! This is the 'Tower of Babel' that Xiao Zhou and I dreamed of—not to reach the realm of gods, but... to touch and master the 'source code' of this world!"

The dessert shop was still filled with a sweet aroma, and the customers chatted and laughed in hushed tones.

However, in the small corner where Xu Yan and his two companions were, a crazy blueprint about the truth of the world, capable of overturning all perceptions, was slowly unfolding. Beneath the calm of daily life, a huge undercurrent swelled, enough to reconstruct reality.

Ah Zhe's revelation of the true nature of the "data world" was like a beam of light, instantly piercing through the layers of fog that had enveloped Xu Yan's heart due to the judge, the "abyss," and his father's past.

He seemed to see a new path of hope in the endless darkness, a path that could not be reached by brute force.

If everything is data, then the so-called power becomes potentially "deconstructed".

“Ah Zhe,” Xu Yan’s voice carried a barely perceptible urgency, “based on this theory, could you create… the kind of ‘data bomb’ you mentioned? Even a small data packet with limited power?”

Upon hearing this, A Zhe, while excited, also revealed a hint of technical meticulousness and distress:

"The theoretical model and basic framework are readily available. It is technically possible to create some small data packets containing specific interference logic."

"However, Mr. Xu, the most crucial and difficult step right now is—how to accurately 'deliver' or 'load' these data packets into the designated target entity?"

He scratched his head hard: "It's like having the nuclear code to destroy a city, but not knowing how to press the button or how to break through the enemy's missile defense system. We need a way to bypass the target's own 'firewall' and inject our 'data stream' directly into its core. Without solving this 'delivery mechanism,' no matter how perfect the data packet is, it's meaningless."

Xu Yan nodded in understanding; this was indeed a core technological bottleneck.

He calmly replied, "I understand. This is a direction, an unprecedented direction. Ah Zhe, you continue your research. If you need any resources or encounter any non-technical difficulties, you can contact me anytime."

This is not just polite talk; it is a necessary investment made by Xu Yan based on a clear understanding of A Zhe's future potential and the value of his disruptive theory.

Ah Zhe solemnly put away his tablet, his face radiant with the joy of finding a like-minded person: "Great! With your words, Boss Xu, I feel much more confident! I'll let you know as soon as I make a breakthrough!"

Xu Yan waved his hand, his tone casual yet authoritative: "Don't call me 'big boss,' it sounds too formal. Just call me Xu Yan from now on."

Chen Zhiwei chimed in with a smile, "Yes, just call me Chen Zhiwei, or Zhiwei if you find that troublesome." A Zhe readily complied, nodding with a smile, "Alright! Xu Yan, Zhiwei, then I won't stand on ceremony..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Yan seemed to suddenly remember something and added somewhat awkwardly, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Chen Zhiwei: "Well, it's better to call her by her full name, it's more formal."

This subtle, almost subconscious correction startled A-Zhe slightly, but he seemed to understand something, and a "I understand" expression appeared on his face. He nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, I understand!"

The trust Xu Yan had in A Zhe, which stemmed from their past camaraderie and which made him almost completely unguarded, was now subtly pulled back to a more realistic and cautious line.

He nipped any potential signs of an overly intimate relationship, especially those that might point to Chen Zhiwei, in advance without leaving a trace.

After a brief exchange, A-Zhe hurriedly left, clearly his mind already brimming with new research inspiration.

After Ah Zhe left, the dessert shop returned to its late-night tranquility.

Chen Zhiwei was still immersed in the huge shock of "the world is data", her eyes were a little unfocused, and she unconsciously stirred the melting dessert in the bowl with a small spoon.

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she raised her head, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, and looked at Xu Yan with a hint of pure confusion:

"Senior brother, you're telling me about this Zhe... We only really met him today, we're not related at all, and just because we helped him once, he's willing to tell us such a groundbreaking secret as 'the world is data' without any reservations? Isn't that... a bit too easy?"

Her unintentional question was like a cold lightning bolt, instantly shattering the barrier of trust that Xu Yan had unknowingly built up due to his memories of his past life.

boom!
Xu Yan's back was instantly soaked with a fine layer of cold sweat!

Yes! Why?!

How could I have trusted him so readily?

Just because he is "A Zhe"?
That comrade-in-arms who once shared life and death with me?

But the current A Zhe is clearly just a stranger who has just been contacted, whose behavior is erratic, and whose background is a mystery.

He was so captivated by his astonishing theory that he completely neglected the most basic sense of vigilance.

If he has ulterior motives, if his "data world" theory is itself a trap or misleading concept... the consequences would be unimaginable!

The immense fear that followed was like ice water poured over his head, making his heart skip a beat.

He relied too much on past experience and almost made a fatal mistake.

“…You’re right.” Xu Yan’s voice was slightly hoarse. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. “I didn’t think it through enough. We need to treat A Zhe and his theories with more caution.”

(End of this chapter)