How did they know about our relationship?
"The city is only so big, it's not difficult to investigate something."
Mr. Yu walked to his desk, opened a drawer, and took out a cassette tape.
“I had my secretary record it, listen to it.”
He pressed play on the tape recorder, and his hoarse voice immediately echoed throughout the office.
“Mr. Yu is a sensible man. Three million in cash, have it ready by noon tomorrow. Tell Dr. Lin not to try anything funny, we’re keeping an eye on ‘Nanhai Pavilion’.”
The tape reached its end, making a hissing sound.
"I've already told Lin Laosan to go to the bank now and mortgage the villa to raise the three million..."
Mr. Yu silently watched the rain outside the window, the spire of Government House appearing and disappearing in the rain and mist.
"Go to the bank to mortgage the property, and then process the withdrawal. It won't take long."
Lin Li: ...
"Then I'll think of another way to transfer all the cash from Nanhai Pavilion in Shenzhen..."
Mr. Yu pondered for a moment, then walked to his desk and picked up the internal phone.
"Notify the finance department to prepare two million in cash and deliver it to my office first thing tomorrow morning."
After hanging up the phone, he looked at Lin Li.
“I’ll figure out how to get the remaining million, but the kidnappers will definitely try to find out if we’ve called the police.”
What do you want to do?
Lin Li tapped the outside of the cup with her finger, producing a crisp tapping sound.
“I had Inspector Li investigate Wang Jianguo’s whereabouts, and he was last seen at the Yau Ma Tei dried goods market.”
Mr. Yu took out a map of the port city from the filing cabinet and circled several points with a red pen.
"The kidnappers said they knew about the restaurant construction and that they likely had informants nearby. We had to do as they asked, while simultaneously having the police make arrangements in secret."
Just then, the phone on the desk rang.
Mr. Yu gestured for Lin Li to be quiet and pressed the speakerphone button.
The kidnapper's voice came again, tinged with a sinister laugh.
"Mr. Yu is quite quick; it seems he cares a lot about Dr. Lin's restaurant. Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, have Dr. Lin bring one million to Tianxing Wharf and find the man in the red raincoat. Remember, don't bring a tail, or Chef Wang will end up as a steamed fish."
After the call ended, the office was deathly silent.
Lin Li clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.
"They even know about the restaurant; someone must be up to something!"
Mr. Yu shook his head and replayed the tape.
“Notice how he called him ‘Master Wang,’ a very familiar way of addressing him, as if he knew Jianguo himself.”
He pointed to the dry goods market on the map.
"This place is a melting pot of all sorts of people, from all walks of life. Could Wang Jianguo have stumbled upon something?"
Lin Li shook her head.
She had just arrived in Gangcheng and hadn't had a chance to meet Wang Jianguo yet.
"Fortunately, they want a ransom, which means there's still room for negotiation."
He circled the dock area on the map.
"I will have plainclothes officers around during the transaction tomorrow, but they can't get too close. The kidnappers said they knew the location of the restaurant, so they must have planted people nearby."
Lin Li looked at the map and pointed to the dock area.
“I have another idea. What do you think? I’ll deliver the money and then act as a hostage for Wang Jianguo.”
Mr. Yu's eyes widened upon hearing this.
He stared at her in disbelief.
"Nonsense!"
His gaze suddenly sharpened, and his knuckles slammed heavily on the table.
“Kidnappers are all desperate criminals; it’s too dangerous for you to go alone. Inspector Li has already arranged for plainclothes officers; we can proceed with the transaction as planned.”
"no."
Lin Li's voice was not loud, but it was unusually firm.
“The kidnappers might not release the hostage after getting the money, and I can’t take that risk.”
"But you can't do it alone!"
Decisive and resolute.
The old-fashioned wall clock in the office ticked away, and the air was filled with the mixed aroma of cigars and coffee.
Mr. Yu sat down again, took out a cigar from the cigarette case, but did not light it.
"I've already asked the finance department to urgently allocate funds, and we should be able to raise two million by tomorrow. I'll borrow the rest from my friends in the Chamber of Commerce; I'll always find a way."
"Will paying the ransom guarantee Wang Jianguo's safety?"
Mr. Yu: ...
He pressed his lips together and remained silent.
“I can’t let anything happen to Wang Jianguo. He came here alone to help me expand the market in Gangcheng. And…”
Lin Li paused, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, her voice sharp as a knife.
“If we let them get away with it the first time, they’ll dare to try again next time. This time we have to teach them a lesson they won’t forget.”
Mr. Yu: ...
So this is what Dr. Lin is like.
Lin Li circled the transaction location on the map with her fingertip.
“The kidnappers chose Tianxing Wharf because of the large crowds there, making it easier to escape. They will definitely verify my identity before making the transaction, so it would be better if I showed up directly and asked them to release Wang Jianguo first.”
She looked up at Mr. Yu, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.
"I'll be fine."
Mr. Yu frowned and put the cigar back in the cigarette case.
"Dr. Lin, this is not the time to be reckless. The kidnappers are armed; if you go alone, it will be like a lamb entering a tiger's den. I can't let you take the risk."
Lin Li was silent for a moment, then suddenly reached out and picked up the glass on the table. There was still a little less than half a glass of cold water in it.
Under Mr. Yu's surprised gaze, she clenched her fingers.
With a soft "crack," the thick glass was crushed!
The fine powder slipped from her palm and fell into the ashtray, without leaving a single scratch on her palm.
"Mr. Yu, please take a look."
Lin Li opened her palm, showing off her perfectly intact skin.
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