Chapter 21: Feng Bin was lazy and would not go to construction sites even for a job. But his sister said he had gone to a construction site and asked her to bring him food. Why would she need to bring food when takeout was so convenient? Why meet his daughter at night? Especially now that the phone wasn’t answering. Something must have happened. Jiang Boyuan grew more and more anxious, unable to sleep, waiting the whole night. The next day, after dropping his daughter off at kindergarten, he went to several construction sites in Shenzhen to ask if anyone had seen a woman and a child. There were no useful leads. By the afternoon, with still no answer to his calls, he went to report to the police. Since there was a child involved, they didn’t need to wait the standard 24 hours to file a missing persons report. Just as he reported it, he received a call from his sister, but the voice on the phone wasn’t hers; it was a rough, unfamiliar man’s voice: “Jiang Boyuan, your sister and niece are in our hands. You have until 6 PM to put 5 million in cash into the trash can under the XX overpass. Otherwise, wait to collect their bodies!” Something had indeed happened. Jiang Boyuan remained calm: “I want to hear their voices.” After some rustling, Jiang Qiuyue’s voice came through the phone: “Boyuan—” Jiang Boyuan’s heart tightened: “Are you okay?” “I’m sorry. Boo hoo. Boyuan, he’s not human, he’s even attacking his own daughter. Boo hoo hoo. Boyuan, what should I do? Mingzhu, my poor child…” It turned out that beast Feng Bin had conspired with outsiders to kidnap his wife and daughter. Jiang Boyuan clenched his fist: “They haven’t hurt you, have they?” “No, they just won’t give us food or water, Boyuan, I can endure it, but Mingzhu is just a child!” As she spoke, a child’s cry could be heard: “Uncle, I want my uncle, I’m scared, uncle protect me, boo hoo—” Then came a heart-wrenching cry. “Slap!” The kidnapper slapped her: “Shut up, you’re so annoying!” Jiang Qiuyue panicked seeing her daughter hit: “Don’t hit my child! She’s only 4 years old, she knows nothing, don’t hurt her, Boyuan, save us—” “Hang in there, don’t be afraid, I know. I will save you.” “Don’t call the police, they’re beasts, our Mingzhu is still so young—” He pinched his temples, not responding, he had already called the police, should he contact them now? While he was pondering, the man’s angry roar came through the phone: “Stop crying, it’s bad luck! Get out of the way!” Jiang Boyuan was gripping his heart: “What kind of man bullies women and children? Is Feng Bin there? I want to speak with him.” “Feng Bin? Who? I don’t know him! Be smart, hurry up and get the money!” “5 million, not 500 yuan, how can I possibly gather that so easily?” “That’s your problem! I only care about money! Don’t pretend to be poor with me! I know your woman has money!” He knew Xu Xiangying had money? He only found out recently that his wife was wealthy, how could this man know? Unless he knew Xu Xiangying! “Who are you? Is my wife in your hands?” “I don’t know. Stop wasting time! Go get the money! Or else, I’ll kill them!” After a few threats, the call was cut off. Jiang Boyuan furrowed his brows deeply, after thinking, he called Zhou Linchuan for help: “My sister and her daughter have been kidnapped, do you have anyone you can use?” Zhou Linchuan wasn’t very surprised upon hearing this, even a bit relieved: “It’s a good thing I picked up Ruyi. I feel their real target was Ruyi.” Since it was a kidnapping for ransom, naturally, his biological daughter would be more valuable. Feng Bin chose a moment when he couldn’t pick up his daughter and tricked Jiang Qiuyue into meeting him instead of picking up their daughter… Now, thinking back, Jiang Baiyuan finds it chilling: “They knew Xiangying had money, I suspect her disappearance is related to them.” “It must be related.” Zhou Linchuan was very concerned about this matter, his voice cold and stern: “Where are you now? What did the kidnappers say?” “They want 5 million.” “Do you have it?” “I… should have, right?” Last time, when he paid off his sister’s debt, he had to ask Ye Xueqing for money. Now, he would have to ask her again, not knowing how much she had. Zhou Linchuan frowned upon hearing this: “What do you mean by ‘should have’?” “I don’t know how much money Xiangying has. She keeps her money with Ye Xueqing.” “Alright, don’t bother anymore, I’ll have someone deliver it to you. Give me the address.” “…I’ll borrow from you first.” “Sure.” Zhou Linchuan didn’t care about the money, drove back home, and then told Jiang Baiyuan to go home and get the money. Jiang Baiyuan now followed his instructions completely: “Okay.” He drove back home, and when he arrived at the apartment, he met Zhou Linchuan’s assistant, who was young and efficient. The assistant clearly recognized him and opened the trunk directly: “Mr. Jiang, it’s all here. But you need to meet with Mr. Zhou first.” “Hmm.” Jiang Baiyuan responded, walked briskly into the elevator, and rang the doorbell at Zhou Linchuan’s place. Zhou Linchuan opened the door quickly: “Come in.” Jiang Baiyuan entered to see many people gathered in the living room, several casually dressed young men typing on computers. He guessed they were tracking experts and waited silently for the kidnapper’s call. About half an hour later, the kidnapper indeed called: “How are the preparations going?” Just as Jiang Baiyuan was about to respond, he saw Zhou Linchuan mouthing “Delay time.” He quickly changed his words: “Wait, I can’t gather that much money in a short time. I’m just a university professor, doing some research, I really don’t have that kind of money.” “Your wife has money! Don’t play games!” “My wife? Where does she have money? She doesn’t even have a job. Now she’s missing too.” “I don’t care! If you don’t have money, sell your house!” “Selling a house takes time, right now—” “How much can you gather?” “2 million.” “Then, do you want the big one or the small one?” This was a clear threat. Jiang Baiyuan watched the computer experts tracking the information, with lines of incomprehensible characters flashing across the screen, pretending to be flustered: “Both. Please, give me some time, I’ll raise the money, raise more money!” “Be smart, your time is running out.” “Okay. Okay. Thank you.” He thanked them very submissively and then changed the topic: “Can I speak to my sister again?” “She’s still alive!” The kidnapper seemed to kick something, followed by Jiang Qiuyue’s cry of pain: “Stop hitting her! It hurts!” Jiang Baiyuan felt relieved, and seeing Zhou Linchuan’s OK sign, he returned to normal: “Don’t hurt them, I’ll go deliver the money now. It’s at XX overpass, right?” “Yes.” “Okay.” He hung up first. Zhou Linchuan gave serious instructions: “You go to the XX overpass to deliver the money, I’ll take people to the abandoned chemical plant in the suburbs.” Jiang Baiyuan nodded: “Alright.” “Stay safe.” “You too.” The group was ready to move out. Jiang Baiyuan drove to the XX overpass, calling Zhou Linchuan on the way: “How’s it going on your side? Have you arrived?” “Not yet. What about you?” “I’m almost there.” As he spoke, the overpass came into view. Jiang Baiyuan found a place to park, got out of the car, and surveyed the surroundings. Cars were speeding on and under the overpass. Few cars were stopped, and there were hardly any pedestrians. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He soon received a call: “Put the money in the trash can, then you can leave.” “Will you really release them?” “If you pay enough, they’ll live.” The voice was aggressive: “No more nonsense, leave!” Jiang Baiyuan frowned but complied, placing the briefcase into the trash can as instructed. The kidnapper was still on the line, likely watching from the shadows: “Don’t look back! Leave!” Jiang Baiyuan said nothing, slowly moving away from the trash can. “Get in the car, leave.” “Hmm.” The call ended after he started driving. Jiang Baiyuan drove slowly, through the rearview mirror, he saw a van passing under the overpass, and someone who looked like Feng Bin jumped out, grabbed the briefcase, and threw it into the van. Within moments, they drove off. The whole process took less than a minute. Jiang Baiyuan wanted to turn around and follow but then Zhou Linchuan called, his voice simple: “Success.” As his voice fell, there was a “bang,” the sound of a car collision.
Author’s Note: Thanks for the support. A very rough kidnapping case. Following the plot. (Regarding the female lead’s father, he is indeed somewhat weak and lacking in many ways, but precisely because of his weaknesses, he is easily controlled by the female lead’s mother, otherwise, the mother’s secrets wouldn’t stay hidden. Someone like Zhou Linchuan, too smart and dominant, the mother wouldn’t be able to manipulate.)
