The old-fashioned tape recorder that suddenly appeared in the nursing home was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, stirring up ripples of doubt in Lu Tingchen's heart. In this digital age, this long-obsolete medium itself exudes an air of strangeness and artificiality.
He immediately ordered that the tape recorder be remotely scanned and monitored without alerting Lin Wanru, and additional personnel be dispatched to closely monitor her reactions after receiving the recorder.
In the surveillance footage, Lin Wanru was holding that slightly bulky tape recorder, examining it repeatedly, with obvious confusion and a hint of... Subtle tension? She tried pressing a few keys, seemingly unsure of how to proceed. Finally, she placed it on the bedside table and didn't use it immediately. Instead, as usual, she picked up a book and began to read, but her eyes kept glancing at the machine from time to time.
This abnormal calmness lasted for most of the day.
Until late at night.
The surveillance footage shows that Lin Wanru dismissed the night shift caregiver and sat alone in her room, facing the tape recorder, remaining silent for a very long time. Finally, as if she had made up her mind, she trembled and put in a tape without any label, pressing the play button.
Due to distance and equipment limitations, the content of the tape cannot be clearly recorded remotely. All that could be seen was Lin Wanru sitting by the bedside, her back stiff, listening motionless.
As she listened, her shoulders began to tremble slightly.
Then, the trembling became intense.
She suddenly covered her mouth with her hand, as if trying her best to suppress some emotion. The surveillance couldn't capture her expression, but the shock, sadness and... that seeped from the very core of her being Fear, however, was conveyed through the screen.
The tape has finished playing.
She still maintained that posture, like a frozen statue.
After a long time, she slowly got up and walked to the window, gazing out at the deep night sky. Her figure was desolate and desperate. Then, she went back to the bedside, took out the tape, held it tightly in her palm, and her knuckles turned white from the force.
The next day, she was as usual, even more silent than usual. She put that tape recorder deep in the drawer as if it had never appeared.
Check the content of that tape. Lu Tingchen gave the order, his brows furrowed. Mother's reaction was too unusual. There must have been something extremely crucial, even enough to shock her mind, hidden in that tape.
However, the investigation encountered difficulties. The tape is a special material that plays only once. After listening to it, the content seems to be erased automatically and cannot be restored by remote technical means. To know the content, unless you get that physical tape, or... Lin Wanru said it herself.
Meanwhile, Su Wanwan's wrist injury gradually improved under meticulous care. Although that realistic "graduation exam" still haunted her, it also greatly boosted her confidence. She began to take a more proactive part in the security review of the manor and could even offer some detailed suggestions from a female perspective that were overlooked by the bodyguards.
Lu Tingchen told her the new situation of the nursing home without any concealment.
"Tape?" "Automatically erase?" " Su Wanwan also found it hard to believe. "This seems like..." Some kind of one-way information transmission, only targeting the recipient and leaving no evidence.
She pondered for a moment and suddenly looked up at Lu Tingchen: "Tingchen, what do you think..." "Damn it, are we enemies now?" "
Lu Tingchen fell silent for a moment, shook his head, and his eyes were complicated: "I don't know." But her reaction didn't seem like joy; rather, it was more like... Forced to hear some unbearable truth or threat."
He paused for a moment and looked at Su Wanwan, saying, "I want to go and see her."
A direct showdown? Su Wanwan's heart gave a jolt. This is undoubtedly risky. If Lin Wanru is really one of the masterminds behind the scenes, it would be like alerting the snake. If she isn't, this might bring her even greater danger.
"I'll go with you." " Su Wanwan hardly hesitated and held his hand. "No matter what position she takes, we are family." Some words might only be made clear face to face. And..." She paused for a moment, her eyes determined. "Perhaps I can be of a little help now."
She is no longer the Su Wanwan who would only tremble in fear when in danger.
Lu Tingchen looked at the unshakable determination in her eyes and finally nodded: "OK." "
This time, instead of sneaking in secretly or pressing him forcefully, he made an appointment for a visit in advance.
The next afternoon, the sun was shining brightly. Lu Tingchen and Su Wanwan, carrying some tonics and a newly shot video of their child, arrived at the nursing home just like an ordinary couple visiting their elders.
Lin Wanru seemed somewhat surprised by their arrival, but soon returned to her usual gentle demeanor. However, deep in her eyes, there was a hint of fatigue and tension that was hard to hide.
Looking at the bruise on Su Wanwan's wrist that had not yet completely faded, she asked a few concerned questions. Su Wanwan smiled and brushed it off, saying that she had fallen by accident.
After chatting about daily life for a while and playing a video of the child, Lin Wanru's face was filled with a genuine smile, and the atmosphere seemed very harmonious.
Lu Tingchen casually glanced around the room, his gaze sweeping over the tightly closed drawer of the bedside table. Suddenly, he spoke, his tone flat yet carrying an inescapable force:
"Mom, I heard that you received an old-fashioned tape recorder two days ago?"
The air in the room froze instantly.
Lin Wanru's smile froze on her face, her eyes flickering suddenly, and her hand consciously clenched the corner of her dress. She avoided Lu Tingchen's gaze, her voice a little dry: "..." Oh, one... An old thing sent by an old friend. It's just nostalgia, nothing much."
"Really?" " Lu Tingchen leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp as he stared straight at her. "What kind of old friend?" What did you listen to that made you lose your composure like that last night?
Lin Wanru's face turned deathly pale in an instant! She looked at Lu Tingchen in disbelief, her lips trembling: "You..." Are you spying on me? "!"
"I'm protecting you!" " Lu Tingchen's voice turned cold, "Especially after someone approached you in such a strange way!" What on earth is in that tape? Who sent it to you?"
Lin Wanru suddenly stood up, her emotions getting agitated: "This is my personal matter!" You don't need to worry about it! Get out! Get out!"
Her reaction was unusually intense, more like an outburst of some kind of fear.
Su Wanwan hurriedly got up, gently held her trembling arm, and her voice was soft yet powerful: "Mom, don't get excited." Tingchen doesn't mean to interfere with your privacy. We are just worried about you. Your appearance last night really scared us. Is there anyone... "Threatening you?"
Lin Wanru looked into Su Wanwan's clear and worried eyes, then at her son in front of her who had a cold expression but equally worried looks. Her agitated emotions were like a burst balloon, instantly releasing. She slumped back into the chair, covered her face with both hands, and her shoulders began to tremble violently, letting out an uncontrollable, desperate SOB.
I can't say... I said I would die... We'll all die..." She repeated incoherently, and fear almost overwhelmed her.
Lu Tingchen and Su Wanwan exchanged glances, their hearts sinking. Sure enough, I was threatened!
"Mom," Lu Tingchen squatted down, held her cold and trembling hand, his voice slowing down but with a reassuring firmness. "Look into my eyes." Tell me, who is it? No matter how powerful the other party is, I have the ability to protect you now. Trust me."
Lin Wanru looked at her son's resolute face with blurred tears in her eyes, then at Su Wanwan beside her who also had a determined gaze. It seemed as if she was going through a inner struggle. The terrifying content and warnings on that tape were engaged in a fierce battle with the protection promise offered by the son in front of them.
For a long time, it seemed as if she had exhausted all her strength, and her voice was as faint as a murmur:
"... It is... It's "Sir"...
"He..." He has always known... Everyone knows that back then... What did you do..."
In that tape... It is... It's Jiang Yue... Before Jiang Yuelin's death... Another recording..."
She said... She told everything... And he also said... If I dare to reveal even a single word... Just take another piece of evidence... Make it public..."
"I will be disgraced..." The Lu family is done for..."
Another recording of Jiang Yuelin before her death? ! Another piece of evidence? !
Lu Tingchen and Su Wanwan were both shaken in their hearts!
It turns out that Jiang Yue still has a backup plan! More than one backup! And this piece of evidence that could threaten Lin Wanru clearly involves a deeper and more fatal secret! That mysterious "Sir" has been using this to control Lin Wanru all along? !
"Mom!" What is that piece of evidence? Who exactly is "Sir"? "!" Lu Tingchen pressed anxiously.
Lin Wanru, however, seemed to have been touched by the most terrifying switch. She suddenly covered her ears and shook her head frantically, "Stop asking!" I don't know! I know nothing! You guys go! Please! Stop checking! I'll lose my life!"
Her emotions broke down again, and it was obvious that fear had run deep into her bones.
Lu Tingchen knew that asking any further would be of no avail and might even provoke her. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the tempestuous waves in his heart, and stood up.
"Ok, let's not talk about this anymore." He gave Su Wanwan a wink.
Su Wanru felt relieved and went up to soothe Lin Wanru gently, wiping her tears and giving her some water. She no longer brought up sensitive topics.
When leaving the nursing home, both the husband and wife were in an extremely heavy mood.
The clues seem clear, yet they also seem to have plunged into a deeper fog.
"Sir," Jiang Yue's other last words, a fatal piece of evidence that could threaten Lin Wanru...
The enemy was more cunning and calculating than they had imagined. They had actually set up such a far-reaching trap so many years ago.
Getting into the car, Lu Tingchen remained silent for a long time, his eyes gloomy as he gazed at the fleeting scenery outside the window.
Su Wanwan gently held his clenched fist and said, "At least for now we know that Mom might have been coerced as well." Moreover, the other party might be holding even more crucial evidence in their hands.
Lu Tingchen held her with his back hand, his voice deep and cold: "Mm." "Sir"... No matter who he is, this time, I must catch him out!"
He took out his mobile phone and dialed Qin Hao's number.
Adjust the direction and focus on investigating two individuals: one is the person in charge of the investigation into the "accident" in Jiangyue back then; Another one is all those who might have come into contact with Jiang Yue's relics, especially the recording equipment. The time point revolves around one month before and after her death. Even if the ashes from over twenty years ago were to be turned over again, clues would still be found for me!"
From the other end of the phone came Qin Hao's composed response: "Yes!" "
Hunting has entered a deeper stage.
Looking at the cold and stern profile of the man beside her, Su Wanwan knew that a final storm sweeping away all the gloom of the past was about to come.
She held his hand tightly, silently conveying her support.
No matter how fierce the storm is, she will stand by his side.
(To be continued...)"