Chapter 228: Two can play this game
Tian Han nodded and looked happy as any other teenager proud of his work. “It can detect listening devices as well as hidden cameras.”
Nana asked, “How does it work?”
Tian Han thought for a second and said, “Well, there are many apps that can detect such devices. But the problem is that you have to sweep your phone in all directions so that your app catches the signal of the hidden recorder. It will alert you for sure, but if there is a hidden camera, then obviously the perpetrator can see you. Your sweeping action will let him know that you are suspicious of the presence of any camera.”
Nana nodded.
“It isn’t a problem with purely listening devices. They can’t see you. So you can quietly check for any devices. I have created a spy device detector and tweaked it a bit. My girlfriend won’t have to remove her phone and sweep the area. She can keep it in her purse, and if there is a spy camera, then it will vibrate, telling her of its presence.”
Nana was in deep thought.
When she talked to the maid today morning, she was shocked to know how she knew that she didn’t patch up with Jinhai. Naturally, she couldn’t have been standing outside the room, listening to their conversation when many maids and butlers keep on going around for work.
Then it struck her that she must have installed some sort of listening device in their room.
‘I have my ears everywhere.’
She remembered the maid’s sentence, and she was sure of it by then.
Nana wanted to know whether she had put only a listening device or a hidden camera as well. That is why she told the maid to change the sheets.
If there had been any camera, then the maid must have surely given a doubtful reaction because the porridge never fell, so there was no stain. But, she went away in anger, feeling belittled.
That made Nana sure that the maid can only listen to them, not see them. So, now Nana wanted something that could detect that device.
If somehow I can damage it, then perhaps I can finally tell Jinhai about this blackmailer. Once he knows, he will tighten the security. We have Liu family guards and also the underworld. Trying to harm him will become impossible.
And…if she can plant a device then so can I. Maybe I will get to know some clue about the blackmailer if he calls the maid. What does he want? Why is he doing this?
Tian Han interrupted her train of thought. “Is somebody harassing you too?”
Nana snapped out of her stupor. “I…I suspect somebody has planted a listening device in my room.”
The teenagers gave her a sympathetic look. They thought since she is so beautiful, it must be a stalker trying to harass her.
Tian Han nodded. “Don’t worry, sister! I will help you.”
—
After Tian Han and his left, Serena came by.
Nana tightly hugged her feeling emotional. So many things were happening but had to bear everything by herself. She had this sudden urge to cry and let out her fear and anxiety.
Serena patted her head and worriedly said, “What happened? You seem distressed. Is everything alright?”
Nana pursed her lips.
Should I tell Serena? No. What if she gets in danger because of me? She is pregnant too.
No! I can never forgive myself if something happens to her.
Nana shook her head. “It’s nothing. I just feel tired.”
“Don’t lie! I can tell by looking at your face that something serious has happened. Now spit it out.”
“Serena, you are overthinking-“
Serena put her hands on her waist and gave her a stern look. “Are you telling me, or should I call your husband?”
“No!” Nana raised her voice. “Don’t call Jinhai!”
Serena was startled. “Relax. Why did you get so hyper?”
“I…I…” Nana was in a dilemma.
Serena said, “Now I’m sure that something has happened. Come on, tell me. I won’t let you go otherwise. I’m your best friend. Won’t you tell me?”
Nana held her hand and took her upstairs.
“Hey-“
Nana closed the door of her room and looked at Serena.
“Promise me you won’t tell this to anybody.”
Serena saw how serious she was and paused. “Okay.”
A while later, when Serena got to know everything, she stayed silent for a few seconds and said, “I think you should listen to that blackmailer. That person knows that you are Liu Jinhai’s wife, yet trying to force you into this. I think it’s not so simple. You shouldn’t take the risk.”
Nana nodded. “Yes, I understand, but I think I have got a way out of this.”
Serena squinted her eyes. “Way?”
“En.”
“…What is it?”
Nana told her about this morning and the talk she had with those teenagers.
Serena faintly smiled. “I think you should give up on this idea. It’s too risky. What if you are caught? That person will not harm you, but will surely take revenge by hurting Liu Jinhai.”
Nana’s heartbeat quickened in fear.
She had realized this, but today, she finally got the confidence to fight this enemy hiding behind shadows. She didn’t want just to sit around and act like a puppet.
Just like Jinhai, Nana had also promised him that she would never leave his side. So how can she give up without even trying? She wanted to fight to save her marriage.
Nana closed her eyes, took deep breaths, and calmed down. She thought about all those times when Jinhai stubbornly stood up for her and protected her.
Nana opened her eyes, and now there was a determined look in them. Serena was surprised to see this change in her.
“I know. I know it can go wrong. But, now, I cannot stand around and do nothing. I want to grow strong, Serena. So strong that I can protect Jinhai too just as he protects me.”
Silence.
“I want to fight for my love and my marriage. Why should I give up on Jinhai just because of some unknown person who doesn’t even dare to come forward and face me is telling me to leave him?”
Nana walked towards the bedside table and opened a drawer. She took out a small button.
It was Jinhai’s shirt’s button that tore off when she took a ride with him for the first time after she joined Liu Corps.
She closed the button tightly in her fist as if giving a promise to herself.
“I want to become a capable wife to Jinhai. Protecting our love shouldn’t be only Jinhai’s responsibility. I will do whatever I can to the best of my abilities.”
Serena said, “…Be careful.”
Nana smiled and nodded.
—
Nana returned a little early from Natsukashi. She first went into the maids quarters. Everybody was busy with dinner preparations, so she didn’t worry about being caught.
She took out a listening device she bought and quickly planted it in the maid’s room, as Tian Han told her. She had already connected it to her phone.
Then she went into her room and took out the detector Tian Han gave her. He had explained it to Nana how the sensor is used. And he also told in detail how a listening device is set up without the other person getting suspicious.
She switched on the detector, and as soon as it came to life, it vibrated. Nana was thrilled. It instantly detected the device’s signal.
That boy is a genius, she thought.
It also had a pointer that pointed to the direction in which the device was planted. This avoided walking around the room to find it’s location.
The direction it gave was towards a vase on a table. It was a decorative piece having artificial flowers.
Nana looked at it carefully and found a tiny black transmitter hidden among the flowers.
I have to destroy it without being seen as intentional.
—
The maids were preparing for dinner when they heard a thud sound and the sound of glass breaking.
Liu Chunhua was startled. “What happened? What was that noise?”
One maid said, “Madam Liu, it came from Lady Liu’s room.”
Liu Chunhua got worried. “Oh, no. Has she hurt herself?” She quickly got up and headed towards the room.
The traitor maid followed her behind.
Liu Chunhua quickly opened the door. She found a vase fell and glass broken into pieces. The floor was wet with spilled water, and it was spread over the vase.
She hurriedly came to Nana’s side and asked, “Dear, are you alright? What happened?”
The maid saw the whole mess and was stunned. She cursed Nana in her mind.
The vase! I had planted the listening device in it. Damn it. What happened?
Nana awkwardly smiled and said, “Sorry, Mom. I poured some water in the glass to drink, but I accidentally knocked out the vase with the glass. So, they both fell.”
The maid saw the fallen artificial flowers and found the listening device in a corner.
It was completely soaked in water.