Chapter 139: A Woman Will Only Hinder My Shutter Speed - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

**Chapter 139: A Woman Will Only Hinder My Shutter Speed** He Yuxia had just woken up and seemed a bit dazed as she looked around her surroundings. The temporary base of "The Forgotten" was undeniably less comfortable than her original residence. The area consisted of simple structures—one could even call them rudimentary. After all, nobody intended to live here forever. With Night Sin City not far away, the priority was to mine more minerals and upgrade facilities for a better future. However, she did not focus on these things. Her attention turned when she saw Shen He sitting nearby, keeping watch. "Who... who are you?" He Yuxia became immediately alert. Her mind cleared considerably as she recoiled slightly. "You're awake?" Shen He, hearing her voice, snapped out of his thoughts and quickly attempted to calm her down. "Don't worry, miss. I'm not a bad person." "That's what they all say." He Yuxia remained vigilant. "…" Shen He found himself at a loss for words. How was he supposed to respond to that? Fortunately, Miss He seemed to be having a knee-jerk reaction. After sitting dumbfounded for a while, she fully regained her senses and understood her situation. "Is this 'The Forgotten's base?'" She asked tentatively, "I recall I might have encountered some sort of attack before losing consciousness... Did you save me?" "When I found you, you were unconscious near the mines outside the base," Shen He nodded, then shook his head. "As for the attack, that seems unlikely. The doctor said you fainted from inhaling too much 'rust fog' in a short time. Your body couldn't handle it, leading to hallucinations." That was true. Even outside the city, there wasn't much chance of an attack. Unless there were wild beasts? But no, most animals couldn't survive in the 'rust fog,' and mutations were unheard of. The ones left were either kept as pets or livestock in Night Sin City and by 'The Forgotten.' Besides, 'The Forgotten' wouldn't be foolish enough to do anything drastic. Although Zhao Yuan was known for being reckless, he and the other leaders were too cautious to make trouble. Despite some audacious individuals, it seemed the lady in front of him hadn't met them. "I see..." He Yuxia blinked and then let out a sigh of relief. "I truly owe you my thanks. Otherwise, I might have died here without knowing why." "You're welcome, miss," Shen He smiled, finding her endearingly naive. "May I ask for your name? So I can escort you back later." "He Yuxia." Miss He didn't hide her identity. "And yours?" "...Luo Tian." Of course, Shen He didn't use his real name, offering a pseudonym instead. In fact, since arriving here, he'd been using a false identity known only to a select few. Yet, he was surprised to realize she was Miss He, from "Shark Tooth." Although he had collaborated with He Yuqiang, he knew very little about his elder sister. Past partners never seemed to take her seriously at all... His first impression of her was simple—pure. He was highly attuned to people's emotions and could tell that He Yuxia was guileless. No wonder she wasn't involved in any internal strife within "Shark Tooth." With her naivete, it was a wonder she hadn't been completely taken advantage of. Haha. "Young Master Luo," He Yuxia smiled at him, like a delicate white flower blooming in the dirt. What an odd title... Shen He mused but brushed it off and asked another question. "You're part of a wealthy family; what brought you out here on your own?" "...I didn't come entirely alone,” she admitted with some embarrassment. “But I ditched my guards after leaving the city…and then got lost." Ah, this... Shen He's brows furrowed, thinking she's quite capable in her own way. "But why leave, Miss He?" "For photography and inspiration," He Yuxia searched briefly and pointed to a backpack on a nearby chair. "I've never been outside the city, so I thought I'd come see if there’s anything picturesque for a photograph or painting… You can take a look, I did capture quite a few." "..." Hearing this, an average person might think He Yuxia was insane. Life outside the city wasn't some utopia—who ventures out for landscape photography? Especially when you're someone well-off who can easily create artificial scenery. But Shen He understood. He once belonged to a large conglomerate and knew people like He Yuxia existed, particularly those who were oblivious to worldly matters—sentimental, artistic types. There were quite a few in the upper echelons of Night Sin City. He had numerous relatives with similar inclinations, though Xia Wuyou's aunt was a bit different... And then there was Xu Shi's mother, Wen Rujin, who was also known for her artistic nature, cultured in the 'Quill Feather' family, and once famous in Night Sin City. Thus, he didn't find He Yuxia's peculiar behavior problematic. But still… "Why ditch the bodyguards just for inspiration? You're lucky I found you; otherwise, it could have been dire." "I didn't think it through," He Yuxia felt a bit wronged. "They just annoyed me, so I lost them. I didn't expect things outside to be so different..." "…Never mind, as long as you're safe." Shen He was utterly speechless. Should he label her as naïve or just thoughtless? Used to constant scheming, he found himself at a loss when encountering this sort of person. "Why don't you rest for now? I'll arrange for someone to take you back later. How long have you been out? They're probably worried sick back in the city." "Thank you, Young Master Luo," He Yuxia smiled radiantly, "I don't know how to repay you... You’re with 'The Forgotten,' right? Should I speak to someone and arrange for you to live in the city? I can do that much." In her view, this seemed like the best repayment to 'The Forgotten.' Hearing this, Shen He’s eyes brightened. He hadn’t seriously considered leveraging He Yuxia’s influence, given her lack of standing—she's merely a wealthy young lady… It's not like he’d keep her hostage; only a fool would do that. But her suggestion was a valuable reminder. If he could discreetly return to the city, his operations could expand vastly. However, not immediately. "There's no need. Saving you wasn't for any reward," Shen He gently declined, sighing with false regret. "I'm also not alone here. I'm something of a... minor leader, with people and responsibilities. I can't simply abandon it all for the city just yet—not until I complete my assignments." This was true. Before Shen Qin entered the city, the siblings agreed that Shen He would remain at the base to avoid exposure and organize the remnants of "The Forgotten." This made future actions less risky. "Really? Then I have nothing else to offer…" He Yuxia felt a bit crestfallen. "But if you ever need anything, just let me know?" She was earnest in her gratitude, genuinely concerned about unpaid debts. "…Alright," Shen He pondered briefly before nodding, half-joking, "Perhaps if I ever get too tired of mining, I'll turn to you for help." "Alright." Hearing this, He Yuxia eagerly agreed, "Shall we exchange contact details? If you need anything, just contact me." "But it can't be too many people, they might not listen to me…" She conscientiously added. "Rest assured, I’ll never put Miss He in a difficult spot," Shen He assured her. "By the way, is life tough for 'The Forgotten'?" After discussing more serious topics, He Yuxia asked again. "Mining and living conditions here don’t seem ideal… Can you tell me more? I’d like to learn." "…What aspect interests you, Miss He?" Shen He did not refuse. "Just the truth. I’ll take notes for future use, perhaps in my writings?" He Yuxia requested her backpack, prepared to jot down notes. "I might even share it in the media to help improve your reputation?" "You’re considerate, Miss He," Shen He responded with a soft smile. "Is that not okay?" He Yuxia furrowed her brows slightly. "All those reports by 'Virtual Number' seem so exaggerated to me—mutant creatures, demons, and ghosts... It's one thing to have never seen them before; now that I've witnessed the truth, it's only right to set the record straight." "Regardless, I don't believe the person who saved me can be bad. I don't know why they're reported that way, but slander is never good." "Thank you, Miss He," Shen He nodded, fully agreeing. He wasn't truly one of 'The Forgotten,' but his sister was. Hence, seeing those reports had always irked him, knowing they were simply the schemes of the six major conglomerates. "It's just returning the favor," He Yuxia chuckled. "Actually, you could express your side too, clarify whatever you can. From what I see, nobody among 'The Forgotten' even tries, despite being here for so long." Shen He mused that perhaps someone had spoken, but she simply hadn’t come across it. He acknowledged her good intentions and shared some of the base's real conditions with her. Of course, he also slipped in a few criticisms of the six conglomerates, particularly Xu Shi as the spearhead. Whether or not this information ever went public seemed unlikely, but just having someone to confide in felt somewhat satisfying. He couldn't deny that being with someone like He Yuxia brought a rare sense of calm. People like her were truly a rarity in his life—if not nonexistent. He once saw Xia Wuyou as idealized affection, though now he'd be relieved not to hate her. Lin Yue was consumed by vengeance and had become estranged. His sister had long since shed childhood innocence; her demeanor with him was reserved only for him. If Shen He knew Xu Shi had felt a similar simplicity upon first meeting He Yuxia, his thoughts might have taken a different turn. Back and forth, the two engaged in lengthy conversation, with Miss He recording a wealth of information. "Thank you, Young Master Luo. I've learned so much." "If anyone should be thanking someone, it's me," Shen He chuckled. "It's getting late. Shall I escort you back?" He Yuxia’s injuries were not severe, mostly cured with treatment. What remained could be better managed in the city, but it was imperative to return her promptly to prevent any leverage against them. "Alright. Can we… still stay in touch?" Miss He bashfully offered a page torn from her notebook. "Consider this a memento—a quick sketch." A simple sketch it was, depicting Shen He himself, albeit with his slight disguise. "...I'll treasure it," Shen He paused, caught off guard by her gesture. Once he regained composure, he shook his head slightly, bidding her farewell as he arranged for others to escort her back—exposing himself wouldn’t be wise. Though he wouldn't admit it, her gesture did tug at his heartstrings. The conversation left him with a spark of inspiration—could utilizing media be a viable option? ... "Miss He, are you alright?" The people sent to escort He Yuxia quickly located Tang Shuang, who was searching outside the city. Seeing He Yuxia unharmed, she let out a sigh of relief. "I suffered a minor injury, but I'm mostly fine now," He Yuxia shook her head with a smile. "I’m truly sorry for making everyone worry." The same relief washed over her bodyguards—thank goodness she was alright, or they'd certainly be in deep trouble... Fortunately, it ended without incident. Still, the blame couldn't be entirely dodged. Having found her, a word of thanks was due to those who assisted, including those from "Shark Tooth." "You little thing, what am I to say to you?" Wen Sheng Kui, who had also arrived, pretended to scold her. "Running off without a word—what if something had happened to you." As he spoke, his gaze was sharply directed at He Lao Da and He Lao San, making clear his displeasure at their lack of responsibility. The two brothers were irked—it's not like they lost her, so what's with the attitude? Yet, they held their tongues, unwilling to make things difficult for themselves… "Alright, alright, finding her safe is what matters," Xu Shi mediated. "Let's smile, Qiang Zi and Yu Zhao Da Ge." "Yes, come on and face the camera," Qi Mao Yang, who had arrived with intentions of reporting on the event, insisted on taking photos himself. This pleased Xu Shi—it was a great opportunity to shape public perception positively and elevate his standing, so why not? So, the group photograph they took was quite the sight—Xu Shi, Tang Shuang, and Wen Sheng Kui genuinely looked joyful, while the He siblings appeared somewhat stiff. He Lao Da and He Lao San seemed forced into the picture, and He Yuxia looked rather downcast. As expected. And as for the old director, He Jia Yuan? Don't ask; he couldn't attend due to health reasons. "That's good enough. I'll write the piece myself—surely a great favor to you, Xu Dong?" Qi Mao Yang nudged post-event. "Don't forget me for future opportunities." "Of course," Xu Shi politely reciprocated. "In fact, isn't there an opportunity right now?" "Oh?" Qi Mao Yang was curious. "I noticed Miss He also enjoys photography. Have you thought about collaborating?" Xu Shi suggested with a grin. "Isn't that a good thing?" "No, thanks," Qi Mao Yang waved it off, "Not really interested." "Why not?" "A woman would only hinder my shutter speed." (End of the chapter)