Forgotten Photo Studio

Chapter 76 Don't Just Be Your Senior Brother

The deathly silence of the darkroom was left behind.

Xu Yan protected Chen Zhiwei as they walked up the narrow wooden stairs leading to the second floor.

The old wooden planks groaned underfoot, becoming the only rhythm in the silence.

The atmosphere was tense. The fear of being on the verge of death and the emotions that had almost burst forth under the red light had settled down, turning into a faint tension that lingered between the two.

“Slow down,” he said in a low, husky voice, his hand lightly supporting her from behind, maintaining a restrained distance. “Some parts of this staircase are loose.”

Chen Zhiwei responded softly, but her heartbeat was far less steady than her response.

She could feel his gaze on her back, like a warm fire burning in winter.

Just as her mind was in turmoil and she was about to step onto the last few steps, her foot slipped, and an old wooden plank sank slightly, causing her to lose her balance and fall backward.

"what!"

She let out a short gasp.

If he hadn't caught her in that instant, she might never have woken up again... This thought almost tore Xu Yan's heart apart.

Almost at the same instant, a strong arm suddenly wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her back steadily and powerfully.

The force was so great that her back slammed heavily into a warm and broad chest.

Time seemed to be stretched at this moment.

She was held tightly in his arms, her back pressed against his chest, and she could clearly feel the equally disordered and violent heartbeat emanating from his chest.

bang-bang-bang-

Each sound struck her back and her heart.

His arms, wrapped tightly around her waist, were as hard as iron, carrying an undeniable possessiveness and... a barely perceptible tremor.

The air was filled with the scent of old wood, dust, and a faint smell of medicine and gunpowder emanating from him.

Both of them froze, neither of them moving.

Xu Yan lowered his head, his chin almost touching the top of her head.

Her loose hair, carrying a faint fragrance, tickled the tip of his nose and...the tip of his heart.

The warmth and softness of the body in his arms, as well as the slender waist that could be grasped with one hand, were completely different from the image of his "junior sister" in his memory, who only argued with him, fought over equipment, and bickered with him in the darkroom.

A strange, intense protective instinct and a deeper emotion, like a burst dam, instantly overwhelmed the dikes he had always used to draw boundaries.

Chen Zhiwei leaned against him, her mind blank.

The expected fall did not happen; instead, she was met with a nearly suffocating, masculine embrace.

She could feel the tension in his arm muscles and hear his slightly disordered breathing so close to her ear.

This embrace transcended all previous playful physical contact, carrying an unmistakable sense of life and death and possession.

She instinctively struggled slightly, her voice barely audible: "Senior...Senior Brother..."

This sound, however, seemed to ignite some kind of fuse.

The self that he had imprisoned for too long with the identity of "senior brother" crumbled at this moment.

Xu Yan did not loosen his grip; instead, he tightened his arms, pulling her even deeper into his embrace.

His voice rang close to her ear, carrying a husky and scorching quality she had never heard before, suppressed to the extreme:

"Don't move..." he almost gritted his teeth, squeezing out the words from deep in his throat, "...Let me hold you for a while."

He paused for a moment, as if he had finally made up his mind, and each word was heavy and clear:
"Just a little while... I'm about to... not be able to hold on any longer."

This almost collapsing confession is more powerful than any sweet words.

It shattered all his calm and composed facade, revealing the soul within him that was terrified, fearful, and vulnerable because of her.

Chen Zhiwei felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly, and a mixture of bitterness and excitement welled up in her eyes.

She stopped struggling, her body went completely limp, and she obediently leaned against him, as if this was the only safe haven she could find.

She could even feel his burning lips brush against her earlobe, seemingly unintentionally and very lightly. That small patch of skin instantly felt like it was on fire, the burning sensation spreading throughout her entire body.

Time slipped away with each breath.

Xu Yan's arms finally loosened their grip a little, but he still kept her wrapped around him, as if that was the only certainty he had of reality.

He held her shoulders and helped her slowly turn around to face him.

In the dim light, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling. Those eyes, which always held a hint of cunning or stubbornness, were now shimmering with tears, reflecting his figure with a sense of complete trust and... a feeling he dared not delve into.

He raised his hand, his long, slender fingers gently brushing aside a stray strand of hair from her cheek with a careful and precious touch, as if he were caressing a fragile dream.

His gaze was fixed on her, his deep eyes churning with a complex mix of emotions.

The joy of finding what was lost, the lingering fear that seeped into my bones, and the overwhelming love that could no longer be concealed.

Xu Yan cupped her face in his hands, his fingertips gently wiping the corners of her moist eyes, his voice low and resolute: "Chen Zhiwei, I'm tired of just being your senior brother."

It was not an inquiry, but a declaration.

A declaration that completely overturned all the vague and unspoken relationships between them.

Chen Zhiwei held her breath.

She looked at him, at the man she thought would always use bickering to mask his concern. Now, there was no trace of mockery in his eyes, only a deep and sincere sincerity like the sea.

She stared blankly at Xu Yan, tears welling in her eyes, unable to believe that he had finally said those words.

She didn't answer, but instead tiptoed slightly and gave a shy yet firm, gentle hug as her entire answer.

Her cheek was buried in his shoulder, and a muffled sound came through, tinged with a sob, yet full of determination:
"Okay... I'll do as you say."

Xu Yan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and completely embraced her petite body.

This time, the embrace was no longer due to surprise or lingering fear, but rather stemmed from confirmation, belonging, and the perfect union of two hearts finally breaking through all the fog and tightly embracing each other.

On a staircase corner filled with dust and the scent of ancient wood, on a night when life and death had just passed, a relationship that began with playful bickering quietly blossomed and sublimated into an unwavering vow for life.

As the night deepened, the wind outside the window swirled with ashes from paper, gently tapping against the windowpane.

Xu Yan sat by the bed, while Chen Zhiwei sat beside him wrapped in a thin blanket.

Her face was still pale, but she insisted on not falling asleep, and just quietly watched him.

The old, encrypted terminal lit up, and as the screen flickered, he dialed into a special communication link.

After the noise subsided, Ah Zhe's voice came through, tinged with urgency and a cautious hushed tone: "...Hello? Xu Yan? You're contacting me at this hour, has something serious happened?"

Xu Yan calmly said, "I've obtained level two access. I need you to help me verify some information."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, followed by an almost suppressed gasp: "Level 2 access? What exactly are you doing... Never mind, I won't ask." His voice suddenly lowered, "I'm also very busy here, preparing for the contractor promotion assessment."

"Contractor promotion assessment?" Chen Zhiwei was slightly taken aback and turned to look at Xu Yan.

Ah Zhe continued, "You know, level determines everything—resources, permissions, the level of events you can access. Level is everything," Ah Zhe said, speeding up his speech, "Bronze deals with wandering souls, Silver deals with vengeful spirits, and only Gold can access the truth of the 'Gate.' As for Platinum... that's for monsters that can fight against regional anomalies."

He lowered his voice even further, as if afraid of being overheard: "And the Platinum level... they are legendary figures who can confront regional anomalies head-on."

Xu Yan's brow twitched, but he remained silent.

"I heard that this promotion assessment will be linked to a certain 'special event'," A Zhe muttered to himself. "It's probably related to the 'Abyss' you possess."

As soon as he finished speaking, a sudden electrical noise broke out in the line, and the call was briefly interrupted.

Under the lamplight, Xu Yan slowly raised his head and met Chen Zhiwei's gaze.

There was no fear in her clear eyes, only determination, as if she had already made the choice for him.

“You have to go,” she said softly, without the slightest hesitation.

Xu Yan was silent for a moment, then spoke in a low and resolute voice: "Even if I lose some of my memories, I must enter their system. Otherwise, when danger comes again, I won't even be able to protect you."

Chen Zhiwei reached out and placed her hand on his palm, their fingers intertwined, her eyes burning with unwavering determination: "Then let's be together. You're not alone. Even if I'm weak, I'll stand by your side."

(End of this chapter)