diff --git a/components/studio2/Bench.vue b/components/studio2/Bench.vue
index 1a068bb..069a6a4 100644
--- a/components/studio2/Bench.vue
+++ b/components/studio2/Bench.vue
@@ -280,11 +280,11 @@
        aria-label="Previous"
        @click="stepFamily(-1)"
       >‹</button>
-      <div class="viewer-frame" :class="{ 'viewer-frame--veiled': selected && isHidden(selected) }">
+      <div class="viewer-frame">
        <p
-        v-if="selected && isHidden(selected)"
+        v-show="selected && isHidden(selected)"
         class="placeholder-still viewer-veil-label"
-       >{{ selected.kind==='track' ? 'Track loaded · preview hidden' : 'Output hidden' }}</p>
+       >{{ selected?.kind==='track' ? 'Track loaded · preview hidden' : 'Output hidden' }}</p>
        <template v-if="selected?.kind==='track'">
         <div v-show="!isHidden(selected)" class="w-full max-w-xl px-6 py-4">
          <AudioPlayer :key="selected.id" :src="`/api/library/tracks/${selected.id}/audio`" :download-name="`${selected.name || 'track'}.${selected.ext || 'wav'}`" :label="selected.name || 'Track'" />
@@ -303,9 +303,9 @@
        </template>
        <template v-else-if="selected">
         <img
+         v-show="!isHidden(selected)"
          :key="selected.id"
          class="viewer-still"
-         :class="{ 'viewer-still--veiled': isHidden(selected) }"
          :src="stillThumbUrl(selected.id)"
          alt="Selected still"
          decoding="async"
@@ -681,7 +681,19 @@ watch(()=>[form.mode,form.engine],([mode,engine])=>{
  syncPhotosBindings()
  saveBenchDraft(true)
 })
-watch(()=>form.folderId,id=>{selected.value=null;form.imageAId='';form.imageBId='';form.photos=[];form.startClipId='';loadRevealed(id);if(import.meta.client && form.engine!=='qwen21')form.identityStillId=localStorage.getItem(`studio2-hero:${id}`)||''},{flush:'sync'})
+watch(()=>form.folderId,(id,prev)=>{
+ selected.value=null
+ // Wipe Photos only when leaving an existing folder — first restore from '' must keep the draft
+ if(prev){
+  form.imageAId=''
+  form.imageBId=''
+  form.photos=[]
+  form.startClipId=''
+ }
+ loadRevealed(id)
+ if(import.meta.client && form.engine!=='qwen21')form.identityStillId=localStorage.getItem(`studio2-hero:${id}`)||''
+ void loadLibraryOnce().catch(()=>null)
+},{flush:'sync'})
 watch(()=>form.identityStillId,id=>{if(import.meta.client&&form.folderId&&form.engine!=='qwen21')localStorage.setItem(`studio2-hero:${form.folderId}`,id)})
 const stills=computed(()=>library.value.stills.filter((s:any)=>s.folderId===form.folderId))
 const clips=computed(()=>library.value.clips.filter((s:any)=>s.folderId===form.folderId))
@@ -695,10 +707,11 @@ const musicJobs=computed(()=>studioQueue.value
  .map((j:any)=>({...j,live:j.liveJobId?liveMusic.value[j.liveJobId]:null})))
 const gpu=computed(()=>gpuStatus(jobs.value,healthState.value,upscales.value,musicJobs.value))
 const gpuChipLabel=computed(()=>{
+ if(!healthState.value) return 'GPU ?'
  const raw=String(healthState.value?.comfy?.gpu || healthState.value?.gpuName || healthState.value?.comfy?.device || '').trim()
  const short=raw.match(/(\d{3,4})\b/)?.[1]
  if(gpu.value.tone==='ready') return short ? `${short} Ready` : 'Ready'
- return gpu.value.label
+ return gpu.value.label || 'GPU ?'
 })
 const sourceSlot=computed(()=>{const clip=clips.value.find((a:any)=>a.id===form.startClipId);return form.mode==='extend'?(clip?{...clip,kind:'clip'}:null):inputStill.value})
 const pickerAssets=computed(()=>picker.value==='startClipId'?clips.value.map((a:any)=>({...a,kind:'clip'})):stills.value.map((a:any)=>({...a,kind:'still'})))
@@ -1457,7 +1470,31 @@ async function queue(){
 async function cancel(job:any){await $fetch('/api/studio-2/cancel',{method:'POST',body:{id:job.id}});await refreshJobs()}
 
 async function loadLibraryOnce(){
- library.value=await $fetch('/api/studio-2/library')
+ // Current folder page only — never the yearly Inbox JSON on /
+ const qs=new URLSearchParams({limit:'50'})
+ if(form.folderId) qs.set('folderId',form.folderId)
+ const page=await $fetch<any>(`/api/library?${qs.toString()}`)
+ library.value={
+  folders:page.folders||library.value.folders||[],
+  stills:page.stills||[],
+  clips:page.clips||[],
+  tracks:page.tracks||[],
+  drafts:page.drafts||library.value.drafts||[],
+  loraAliases:page.loraAliases||library.value.loraAliases||{},
+  loraTriggers:page.loraTriggers||library.value.loraTriggers||{},
+  keepPrompts:page.keepPrompts||library.value.keepPrompts
+ }
+}
+
+async function fetchHealth(){
+ try{
+  return await Promise.race([
+   $fetch<any>('/api/health'),
+   new Promise<never>((_,rej)=>setTimeout(()=>rej(new Error('health_timeout')),800))
+  ])
+ }catch{
+  return null
+ }
 }
 
 watch(()=>[
@@ -1470,37 +1507,32 @@ let timer:ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>,clock:ReturnType<typeof setInterval>,dis
 onMounted(()=>{
  let storage;try{storage=localStorage}catch{}
  loraMemory=createLoraMemory(xaigen,storage);loraMemory.sync(form);form.settings.seed=randomSeed()
- // First paint: chrome + empty stage + draft from localStorage — do not await library / object_info
+ // First paint in ~2s: chrome + draft. Do not await library before the prompt works.
  restoreBenchDraft()
  if(!form.folderId && library.value.folders?.[0]?.id) form.folderId=library.value.folders[0].id
  loadRevealed(form.folderId)
  clock=setInterval(()=>{now.value=Date.now()},1000)
- // Deferred heavy work after shell is interactive
- void (async()=>{
-  void loadLoras(false)
+ void loadLoras(false)
+ // Folder page in background — never blocks Generate / prompt
+ void loadLibraryOnce().then(()=>{
+  restoreBenchDraft()
+  if(!form.folderId)form.folderId=library.value.folders[0]?.id||''
+  loadRevealed(form.folderId)
+  void applyIncomingGenerationLoad()
+  const id=String(route.query.still||route.query.clip||route.query.track||'')
+  const asset=[...library.value.stills,...library.value.clips,...(library.value.tracks||[])].find((a:any)=>a.id===id)
+  if(asset){selected.value={...asset,kind:route.query.clip?'clip':route.query.track?'track':'still'};if(route.query.use==='1'&&selected.value.kind!=='track')restore(selected.value);if(xaigen)toggleReveal(asset.id)}
+  if(route.query.task==='music')form.mode='music'
+ }).catch((e:any)=>{error.value=e.data?.statusMessage||e.message})
+ // Idle poll: jobs + health only — 800ms health budget, chip GPU ? on miss
+ const poll=async()=>{
   try{
-   await loadLibraryOnce()
-   restoreBenchDraft()
-   if(!form.folderId)form.folderId=library.value.folders[0]?.id||''
-   restoreBenchDraft()
-   loadRevealed(form.folderId)
-   await applyIncomingGenerationLoad()
-   const id=String(route.query.still||route.query.clip||route.query.track||'')
-   const asset=[...library.value.stills,...library.value.clips,...(library.value.tracks||[])].find((a:any)=>a.id===id)
-   if(asset){selected.value={...asset,kind:route.query.clip?'clip':route.query.track?'track':'still'};if(route.query.use==='1'&&selected.value.kind!=='track')restore(selected.value);if(xaigen)toggleReveal(asset.id)}
-   if(route.query.task==='music')form.mode='music'
-  }catch(e:any){error.value=e.data?.statusMessage||e.message}
-  // Idle poll: jobs + health only — never /api/studio-2/library
-  const poll=async()=>{
-   try{
-    await refreshJobs()
-    const health=await $fetch<any>('/api/health')
-    healthState.value=health
-   }catch(e:any){healthState.value=null;error.value=e.data?.statusMessage||e.message}
-   if(!disposed)timer=setTimeout(poll,3000)
-  }
-  void poll()
- })()
+   await refreshJobs()
+   healthState.value=await fetchHealth()
+  }catch(e:any){healthState.value=null;error.value=e.data?.statusMessage||e.message}
+  if(!disposed)timer=setTimeout(poll,3000)
+ }
+ void poll()
  if(import.meta.client){
   window.addEventListener('keydown',onStageHotkey)
   window.addEventListener('pointerdown',onStagePointerDown,true)
diff --git a/components/studio2/Mobile.vue b/components/studio2/Mobile.vue
index 7b403a2..418488a 100644
--- a/components/studio2/Mobile.vue
+++ b/components/studio2/Mobile.vue
@@ -104,9 +104,9 @@
     @click.stop="ctx.stepFamily(1)"
    >›</button>
    <p
-    v-if="ctx.selected && ctx.isHidden(ctx.selected)"
+    v-show="ctx.selected && ctx.isHidden(ctx.selected)"
     class="m-hidden-note"
-   >{{ ctx.selected.kind==='track' ? 'Track hidden' : 'Output hidden' }}</p>
+   >{{ ctx.selected?.kind==='track' ? 'Track hidden' : 'Output hidden' }}</p>
    <template v-if="ctx.selected?.kind==='track'">
     <div v-show="!ctx.isHidden(ctx.selected)" class="m-audio">
      <AudioPlayer :src="`/api/library/tracks/${ctx.selected.id}/audio`" :download-name="`${ctx.selected.name || 'track'}.${ctx.selected.ext || 'wav'}`" :label="ctx.selected.name || 'Track'" />
@@ -122,9 +122,9 @@
    />
    <img
     v-else-if="ctx.selected"
+    v-show="!ctx.isHidden(ctx.selected)"
     :key="ctx.selected.id"
     class="m-stage-still"
-    :class="{ 'm-stage-still--veiled': ctx.isHidden(ctx.selected) }"
     :src="ctx.stillThumbUrl(ctx.selected.id)"
     alt="Selected still"
     decoding="async"
diff --git a/server/api/library/stills/[id].get.ts b/server/api/library/stills/[id].get.ts
index 75615f6..1adca8f 100644
--- a/server/api/library/stills/[id].get.ts
+++ b/server/api/library/stills/[id].get.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { existsSync, createReadStream } from 'node:fs'
-import { fileEtag, stillPath, stillThumbPath, sniffImageType } from '~/server/utils/library'
+import { fileEtag, stillPath, existingStillThumbPath, stillThumbPath, sniffImageType } from '~/server/utils/library'
 
-export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
+export default defineEventHandler((event) => {
   const { owner } = assertLibraryOwner(event)
   const id = String(getRouterParam(event, 'id') || '')
   const still = getStill(owner, id)
@@ -9,28 +9,36 @@ export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   const wantThumb = String(getQuery(event).thumb || '') === '1'
   const original = stillPath(owner, still.id)
 
-  let path = original
   if (wantThumb) {
-    path = await stillThumbPath(owner, id)
-    // Never fall back to the archive PNG/JPEG for ?thumb=1
-    if (!path || path === original || !existsSync(path)) {
-      throw createError({ statusCode: 404, statusMessage: 'Thumbnail not found' })
+    const path = existingStillThumbPath(owner, id)
+    if (path && path !== original && existsSync(path)) {
+      const etag = fileEtag(path)
+      setHeader(event, 'ETag', etag)
+      setHeader(event, 'Cache-Control', 'public, max-age=86400')
+      if (getHeader(event, 'if-none-match') === etag) {
+        setResponseStatus(event, 304)
+        return null
+      }
+      setHeader(event, 'Content-Type', 'image/jpeg')
+      return sendStream(event, createReadStream(path))
     }
-  } else if (!existsSync(path)) {
+    void stillThumbPath(owner, id).catch(() => null)
+    setHeader(event, 'Cache-Control', 'no-store')
+    setResponseStatus(event, 204)
+    return null
+  }
+
+  if (!existsSync(original)) {
     throw createError({ statusCode: 404, statusMessage: 'Image file is missing' })
   }
 
-  const etag = fileEtag(path)
+  const etag = fileEtag(original)
   setHeader(event, 'ETag', etag)
-  setHeader(
-    event,
-    'Cache-Control',
-    wantThumb ? 'public, max-age=86400' : 'private, max-age=3600'
-  )
+  setHeader(event, 'Cache-Control', 'private, max-age=3600')
   if (getHeader(event, 'if-none-match') === etag) {
     setResponseStatus(event, 304)
     return null
   }
-  setHeader(event, 'Content-Type', wantThumb ? 'image/jpeg' : sniffImageType(path))
-  return sendStream(event, createReadStream(path))
+  setHeader(event, 'Content-Type', sniffImageType(original))
+  return sendStream(event, createReadStream(original))
 })
diff --git a/server/api/library/stills/[id]/thumb.get.ts b/server/api/library/stills/[id]/thumb.get.ts
index 6008930..96411be 100644
--- a/server/api/library/stills/[id]/thumb.get.ts
+++ b/server/api/library/stills/[id]/thumb.get.ts
@@ -1,26 +1,30 @@
 import { existsSync, createReadStream } from 'node:fs'
-import { fileEtag, stillPath, stillThumbPath } from '~/server/utils/library'
+import { fileEtag, stillPath, stillThumbPath, existingStillThumbPath } from '~/server/utils/library'
 
-export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
+export default defineEventHandler((event) => {
   const { owner } = assertLibraryOwner(event)
   const id = String(getRouterParam(event, 'id') || '')
   const still = getStill(owner, id)
   assertFolderAccess(event, still.folderId)
 
-  const path = await stillThumbPath(owner, id)
+  const path = existingStillThumbPath(owner, id)
   const original = stillPath(owner, still.id)
-  // Never stream the archive master as a "thumb"
-  if (!path || !existsSync(path) || path === original) {
-    throw createError({ statusCode: 404, statusMessage: 'Thumbnail not found' })
+  // Ready thumb → stream. Never await ffmpeg on the request path.
+  if (path && existsSync(path) && path !== original) {
+    const etag = fileEtag(path)
+    setHeader(event, 'ETag', etag)
+    setHeader(event, 'Cache-Control', 'public, max-age=86400')
+    if (getHeader(event, 'if-none-match') === etag) {
+      setResponseStatus(event, 304)
+      return null
+    }
+    setHeader(event, 'Content-Type', 'image/jpeg')
+    return sendStream(event, createReadStream(path))
   }
 
-  const etag = fileEtag(path)
-  setHeader(event, 'ETag', etag)
-  setHeader(event, 'Cache-Control', 'public, max-age=86400')
-  if (getHeader(event, 'if-none-match') === etag) {
-    setResponseStatus(event, 304)
-    return null
-  }
-  setHeader(event, 'Content-Type', 'image/jpeg')
-  return sendStream(event, createReadStream(path))
+  // Missing → answer now; build .thumb.jpg in the background (job save / upload also kick this)
+  void stillThumbPath(owner, id).catch(() => null)
+  setHeader(event, 'Cache-Control', 'no-store')
+  setResponseStatus(event, 204)
+  return null
 })
diff --git a/server/utils/library.ts b/server/utils/library.ts
index d4de9c6..7801a38 100644
--- a/server/utils/library.ts
+++ b/server/utils/library.ts
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ interface Catalog {
 }
 
 const writeChains = new Map<string, Promise<unknown>>()
+const catalogCache = new Map<string, { catalog: Catalog; mtimeMs: number }>()
 
 export function libraryRoot() {
   const config = useRuntimeConfig()
@@ -355,6 +356,13 @@ function ensureOwner(owner: string) {
 function readCatalog(owner: string): Catalog {
   ensureOwner(owner)
   const path = catalogPath(owner)
+  let mtimeMs = 0
+  try {
+    mtimeMs = existsSync(path) ? statSync(path).mtimeMs : 0
+  } catch { mtimeMs = 0 }
+  const hit = catalogCache.get(owner)
+  if (hit && hit.mtimeMs === mtimeMs && mtimeMs > 0) return hit.catalog
+
   let catalog: Catalog
   try {
     catalog = normalizeCatalog(JSON.parse(readFileSync(path, 'utf8')))
@@ -364,8 +372,11 @@ function readCatalog(owner: string): Catalog {
     }
     catalog = emptyCatalog()
     writeFileSync(path, JSON.stringify(catalog, null, 2))
+    try { mtimeMs = statSync(path).mtimeMs } catch { mtimeMs = Date.now() }
+    catalogCache.set(owner, { catalog, mtimeMs })
     return catalog
   }
+  catalogCache.set(owner, { catalog, mtimeMs })
   return catalog
 }
 
@@ -374,6 +385,14 @@ function writeCatalog(owner: string, catalog: Catalog) {
   const tmp = catalogPath(owner) + '.tmp'
   writeFileSync(tmp, JSON.stringify(catalog, null, 2))
   renameSync(tmp, catalogPath(owner))
+  let mtimeMs = Date.now()
+  try { mtimeMs = statSync(catalogPath(owner)).mtimeMs } catch { /* ignore */ }
+  catalogCache.set(owner, { catalog, mtimeMs })
+}
+
+function invalidateCatalogCache(owner?: string) {
+  if (owner) catalogCache.delete(owner)
+  else catalogCache.clear()
 }
 
 function mutate<T>(owner: string, fn: (catalog: Catalog) => T): Promise<T> {
@@ -1252,6 +1271,17 @@ export function stillThumbFile(owner: string, id: string) {
   return join(ownerRoot(owner), 'stills', `${id}.thumb.jpg`)
 }
 
+/** Sync check — never kicks ffmpeg. Empty string when thumb is missing or stale. */
+export function existingStillThumbPath(owner: string, id: string) {
+  const source = stillPath(owner, id)
+  const dest = stillThumbFile(owner, id)
+  if (!existsSync(source) || !existsSync(dest)) return ''
+  try {
+    if (statSync(dest).mtimeMs >= statSync(source).mtimeMs) return dest
+  } catch { return '' }
+  return ''
+}
+
 function removeStillFiles(owner: string, id: string) {
   rmSync(stillPath(owner, id), { force: true })
   rmSync(stillThumbFile(owner, id), { force: true })