CHAPTER 67: CHAPTER 63: IF I’M NOT COMFORTABLE, THEN NO ONE SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE

"Stop a moment!"

"What’s going on?"

Chu Tian, with a confused look on his face, watched as the entire scene suddenly plunged into chaos. All the cameras started malfunctioning, leaving him utterly stunned. He clutched the Camera Detector in his hand, stealthily turned it off, and slipped it into his pocket.

"Eh? It’s working again!"

"Mine’s working now too."

"What exactly is going on?"

The director had just hurried from backstage to the set, but before he even reached it, everything was working again. He ran to one of the cameras, looking puzzled, and asked.

"Mine is fine now too. It just suddenly turned off earlier. I don’t know why. Did the power go out just now?"

"That shouldn’t be the case. The lights were fine, and the monitors were too. How could there be a power outage?"

"Go check the wiring of the cameras, see if they’re grouped with others. Hurry! You guys start up the cameras here and check the footage. Continue if there’s no issue!"

The stage was in a messy flurry of activity as Chu Tian secretly wiped sweat from his brow.

Shit, what the hell, is this a Camera Detector or a jammer?

Such a tiny gadget, so powerful?

Skeptical, he took out the Camera Detector again, but this time he dared not mess around with it. What if I get caught? Wouldn’t I be beaten to death?

The egg-sized Camera Detector had no brand. It was sleek and spotless, with just a switch and nothing else discernible, not even a single letter.

After storing the Camera Detector in his system’s inventory, he checked the item description.

[Camera Detector]: Main functions: Detect/Block/Damage. Range of effect: unobstructed within two hundred meters.

Detect: Can detect all current models of camera equipment and mark them with a laser guide.

Block: Touch the switch again to activate Block mode, which remotely shuts down nearby camera devices.

Damage: Uses pulse waves to destroy marked camera devices nearby; selection is user-driven.

The above is a brief introduction to the functions. For more details, see the full description...

The item description wasn’t long, and Chu Tian read it quickly. However, when he got to the detailed specification, he didn’t want to read anymore. Such a tiny device, and its manual was sprawling with what seemed to be tens of thousands of words, as if they had included every minute detail of its working principles and operating instructions.

Just glancing at it gave him a headache.

He wasn’t a scientist. He didn’t need to understand it so thoroughly. As long as he could use it, that was enough.

Forcing himself to read the detailed operating instructions, he finally figured out how to use the device.

To put it simply, this thing was essentially a portable jammer. His initial reaction when he first got it was to use it in hotels to check for hidden cameras.

But after reviewing it, he realized he had been thinking too small.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t use it in hotels; he could, but it was a bit like using a cannon to shoot a mosquito.

The greatest utility of this device was to protect his privacy. If it could block hidden cameras in hotels, then it could also block all filming devices while walking on the street.

It was perfect for clandestine night-time activities, illicit dealings, home and travel, navigating the world...

That’s a twisted thought. It should be for preventing hidden photography, an essential item to deal with paparazzi!

In his previous life, he had been tormented by paparazzi. He was a naturally free and unrestrained man, but for the sake of his so-called image, he had to sneak around cautiously. He was terrified of being caught in inappropriate photos that would be plastered all over various gossip columns.

Even his walking posture and positioning had to be meticulously careful, lest a single misaligned photo turn into a scandalous report.

Public appearances were one thing, but in private, it was incredibly annoying.

With this device, he might not be able to use it in public, but at least he could have some peace in private.

Wait a second. Chu Tian suddenly realized that in this life, he wasn’t a celebrity, so it seemed he didn’t really need this device. It’d probably be useful for Xu Qingqiu, though. But what does that have to do with me?

After fiddling with it for a moment, he realized he had no use for it and put it away.

He glanced at the stage. Filming had already resumed, and it seemed the earlier incident hadn’t affected anyone. The episode was finally recorded, albeit with a few fits and starts.

As they left the office building, evening lights were beginning to glow. Exhausted, the group slumped into the car, none of them wanting to move.

"Let’s go, Yiyi. Find a place to eat first," Xu Qingqiu said.

"Okay, Sister Qiu. What shall we eat?"

Xu Qingqiu glanced at Chu Tian sitting next to her and blurted out without thinking, "Let’s go for barbecue. Some people are probably dreaming of the smell of barbecue by now."

Since Sister Hua wasn’t around, he didn’t bother sitting in the back. At over six feet tall, sitting in the rear was rather tiring. The front seats were a bit more spacious.

Just as he was comfortably reclining in his chair and relaxing, he heard Xu Qingqiu’s words from beside him and felt they were pointed.

"Are you talking about me? When did I ever dream of the smell of barbecue?"

"Oh, it wasn’t you? I must have misremembered. Yiyi, let’s go eat a salad. It’s perfect, I’m on a diet."

"Wait a minute! Don’t! Who in their right mind eats grass all day? Let’s still go for barbecue. Salad isn’t nearly as tasty as barbecue."

"Clarify what you mean. What does ’eat grass’ mean?"

"Isn’t salad just grass? A bunch of..."

Yiyi, driving, couldn’t help but chuckle at the bickering voices from the back throughout the ride.

Although their argument was intense, for some reason, she felt that Sister Qiu hadn’t been this relaxed in a long time. Her whole demeanor was different.

"Sister Qiu, we’ve arrived. Let’s get out," Yiyi said.

"Where are we?" Xu Qingqiu asked.

"Aren’t we having barbecue? We’ve been here before, and they have private rooms, which are more convenient."

"Who told you we’re having barbecue? Yiyi, who are you listening to? We’re going to eat salad!"

"We’re having barbecue, don’t listen to her..." Chu Tian interjected.

The two argued like elementary school kids, while Yiyi walked ahead, covering her ears and pretending she heard nothing.

Eat salad? Barbecue smells way better than salad. Yiyi isn’t stupid; she loves meat. Dieting can wait until tomorrow. She’s been hungry all day and definitely needs something substantial!

Regardless, they ended up eating barbecue, and all three of them, without exception, ate until they were stuffed.

Unsurprisingly, early the next morning, before Xu Qingqiu had even woken up, Sister Hua was already rousing her.

"Sister Hua~ I was so tired last night. Let me sleep a bit more~ just a little while longer!"

"No! Get up. We’re going to the gym."

"Why?"

"Why? Have you seen the photos you posted on your account? That’s why! While I’m out here eating plain food, you’re indulging in lavish meals, huh? Don’t you care about your figure anymore? Hurry up and get to the gym!"

"..."

Xu Qingqiu got up grudgingly to wash up, fuming the more she thought about it.

All three of them ate, so why am I the only one who has to get up early to hit the gym? No way, the others aren’t getting off scot-free!

Soon, Yiyi, rubbing her sleepy eyes and looking utterly dejected, got into the car.

"Hello, who is it?"

Chu Tian, groggy from sleep, heard his phone ring and answered it with a resigned sigh.

Who on earth would call him this early in the morning?

"Chu Tian, get to work. Hurry up."

"Who is this?"

"It’s Xu Qingqiu! Hurry up, I’m downstairs."

Xu Qingqiu? Wait, what time is it? Six o’clock? Is she nuts?

Squinting, he glanced at the time on his phone, still completely exasperated. He felt like he was going to lose it.

"It’s just past six, not even work time yet. What’s up?"

"If you don’t come down, I’ll cut your pay."

"Go ahead and cut it. This month’s is already gone anyway."

"Then I’ll cut next month’s."

"You win..."

Chu Tian, still exasperated, washed up and went downstairs, only to see Xu Qingqiu’s car parked there.