Chapter 179: Losing Contact
Fu Yansheng frowned. Turned off?
He put down the phone and calmed down for about ten minutes. From time to time, he glanced at Qi Yu’s location. He watched as Qi Yu left the old town. He stayed still for a few minutes and then he went from the gate of the old town to the top of Huanhe Road, heading northeast.
Given this moving speed, he was definitely not on foot, but in a car.
Fu Yansheng went back to take a look at his conversation with Qi Yu at about 6 o’clock that evening. At that time, Qi Yu made it clear that he had no free time to go out and he also promised video call with him tonight. It was already so late; if something unexpected had cropped up, Qi Yu would have definitely said something…
Moreover, Qi Yu was always escorted by Wang Meng whenever he traveled. He hardly ever took any other private transportation. Leaving by car without a word at ten in the evening; could that be possible?
An ominous premonition surged in Fu Yansheng’s heart. At this moment, Ye Qinru called him back. The other party seemed to finally realize that something wasn’t right and hurriedly said to Fu Yansheng, “President Qi’s phone had been turned off and he’s not in his room. I already asked Chief Xu, but Chief Xu said that he and Qi Yu separated an hour ago!”
Fu Yansheng: “Chief Xu? You mean Xu Jing?”
Ye Qinru: “Yes, they had arranged to meet up and have a chat at the bar on the top floor of the hotel after dinner. Chief Xu said that the entire thing took a little more than 30 minutes at most. I’ve been talking with the people from New Bird and I hadn’t been with them.”
Fu Yansheng’s grip on his phone tightened. “So what about Qi Yu?”
Ye Qinru’s voice was also a little flustered. “I don’t know…”
Fu Yansheng suddenly stood up from his seat. He raised his voice and said, “You don’t know? His phone is turned off and he doesn’t have his bodyguard with him. He has already left the old town. I f*cking ask you where he went and you don’t know? Why are you guys even with him!”
Ye Qinru was shocked. “How do you know he’s already left the old town?”
Fu Yansheng: “I have access to his locator!”
Ye Qinru said anxiously, “Wait a minute, I’ll quickly find the staff to check the monitoring of the hotel…”
Fu Yansheng reminded, “He left the hotel around 10:03 in the evening. Check the surveillance for 10 minutes before and after that and start checking from where he and Xu Jing separated!”
The ominous premonition was getting stronger and stronger. Fu Yansheng intertwined his fingers and prayed that Qi Yu was safe and sound. He waited for half an hour but Ye Qinru still hadn’t replied to him. In the meantime he tried calling Qi Yu several times but every time, he got the notice that the phone had been turned off.
Looking at Qi Yu’s location, in just an hour, the red dot was already approaching Tongxing Town in the southwest corner of Haicheng.
While he was monitoring Qi Yu’s location, Ye Qinru called and Fu Yansheng picked it up immediately.
Ye Qinru said hurriedly, “We just checked the surveillance at the hotel. President Qi came out of the bar at about 9:38 in the evening and answered a phone call. I don’t know who called him. He turned from the elevator at the last minute and walked to the stairwell. Just now the security personnel discovered that the surveillance cameras in the stairwell had been tampered with and destroyed. They weren’t able to get any footage of the situation inside nor were they able to get any footage of when he went out. By this point we can reasonably suspect that President Qi might be in danger…”
After his hunch was confirmed, Fu Yansheng felt his vision go dark. He said, fury clouding his heart, “Can a person just blink out of the hotel and reappear outside of the old town? What about surveillance outside the hotel? New Bird is holding such a huge conference with so many business elites. Are all their security personnel dead!?”
“We’re still investigating, I’ve just called Wu Shuang to call the police.” Ye Qinru’s tone changed because of the urgency he felt. He endured Fu Yansheng’s furious interrogation. “President Qi has on him that locator pendant Su Jing gave, right? Can you tell me the code to his pendant?”
Fu Yansheng took a deep breath. “I’ll send it to you.”
After hanging up the phone, Fu Yansheng immediately forwarded that string of code he had just obtained a few hours ago to Ye Qinru. He then urged, “Tell me immediately if you have any news.”
At 11:47 that evening, the police confirmed that Qi Yu, while unconscious, had been taken away by an unknown group of people. But he wasn’t the only one who had been taken away. Zhang Chengxuan, Zhang Aifa’s adopted son had been taken too. At around 22:00, the surveillance outside the hotel captured the two men being taken away from the hotel by three men in black. They took an electric shuttle bus to the gates of the town and then transferred to a black Buick, leaving the old town at 22:16…
Fu Yansheng pondered as he listened to Ye Qinru’s report. Why had Zhang Chengxuan and Qi Yu been kidnapped together?
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
If the kidnappers wanted to kidnap two people, the possibility of tying them up separately was very small. Capturing the two when they were together was most efficient but the probability of the two appearing together in an unguarded location was even smaller.
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Someone must have called him over and this person must be someone he knows and subconsciously trusts.
…It was Zhang Chengxuan.
Yes, Zhang Chengxuan probably wasn’t kidnapped. Rather, he was the bait released by the mastermind to lure Qi Yu into the trap. He was probably in on it.
That being the case, the mastermind behind this kidnapping case was obvious. From the lawsuit caused by the Mei Wei imitation store to the open strife and veiled struggles between the two Group’s technology companies, the Zhang Family has a clear motive for committing the crime.
If his conjecture was correct then their purpose wasn’t to kill, but to make money — malicious competition between businessmen is mostly for profit.
…
No, don’t.
Fu Yansheng shook his head. After all, this was a kidnapping. Although the Zhang Family was the instigator behind the scenes, most of the people who carried out these kidnappings were social hooligans with some sort of criminal record; desperadoes who took dangerous risks for little reward. Given Qi Yu’s identity, it was difficult to guarantee that those people wouldn’t entertain evil thoughts at the sight of money and take the opportunity to hold him ransom. He couldn’t use the logic of normal people to infer the outcome of this event, nor could he depend on luck and think that Qi Yu would emerge more scared than hurt from this like he had last time.
It had been two hours since they lost contact with Qi Yu and Zhang Chengxuan.
After the kidnappers took the two away, instead of taking the highway, they stuck to small side streets. Due to the unstable signal, the tracker would appear on and off, greatly increasing the difficulty of the police’s investigation and attempts at interception.
After Ye Qinru relayed the information to Fu Yansheng, he added, “The police are continuing to track their whereabouts according to the tracker but we aren’t sure of the identity and purpose of the kidnappers. I’m afraid we will have to wait and see…”
“Understood.” Fu Yansheng’s hand holding the phone kept shaking. He didn’t know if it was because he was angry or because he was afraid.
He was angry that they hadn’t been able to protect Qi Yu. He was angry that he hadn’t been vigilant. The moment he couldn’t contact Qi Yu, he should have reacted. If he could have reacted faster…
Fu Yansheng opened flight booking site. All domestic civil planes had already left for the day.
In his mind, that scene of the car window slowly covering Qi Yu’s side profile when they separated that afternoon kept appearing over and over again…
Thinking that Qi Yu might be injured, in danger or even killed tonight, Fu Yansheng felt as if he had been doused with ice water, and his blood froze in his veins.
At a moment like this, he was thousands of miles away and couldn’t do anything to help, save for keeping an eye on the tracker and making a few phone calls…
Fu Yansheng clenched his hands into fists and cursed, “F*ck”.
…
Hold on……
He suddenly thought of something. He opened his phone’s address book and found a number to dial.
“Chief Chen, this is Fu Yansheng… Yes, I remember you told me before that Chairman Ma of the Dali Group takes a private jet from Shencheng to Haicheng every night for meetings. Is this true?…Yes, this is an emergency. Please help me to ask if it would be possible for Chairman Ma to let me catch a ride tonight…Okay, I’ll wait for your reply…”
After waiting for ten minutes, there was a call back. Fu Yansheng hurriedly picked it up. When he heard the other’s reply, a glimmer of hope ignited in his dark eyes. “Great! …No need to mention it. That was just a simple matter…Okay, I’ll go over right now…”
After hanging up the phone, Fu Yansheng grabbed his coat and put it on haphazardly and dashed out the door, rushing to Chairman Ma’s private airport.
On the way there, Fu Yansheng took out a different mobile phone from his pocket, unlocked it and flipped through the address book. He dialed another number, “Xiao Qian, are you on an assignment in Haicheng?”
Xiao Qian: “Yeah, what’s up?”
Fu Yansheng: “Are you busy now?”
Xiao Qian: “It’s already so late. I’m getting ready for bed. Don’t tell me there’s another assignment right now?”
Fu Yansheng: “Qi Yu, the son of the Chairman of the Si Yuan Group, was kidnapped.”
Xiao Qian: “Isn’t the Si mission over already?…Wait a minute, that Qi Yu…You mean your Qi Yu? F*ck! Kidnapped? Right now?”
Fu Yansheng: “En, just two hours ago. There were two people kidnapped. He was one of them. The last known location was at the west part of Shengjia Village of Tongxing Town. He’s still heading northeast, approaching the border of Haicheng. There’s a large area there with an abandoned plastic factory. The Jiangzhen police department is responsible for tracking and investigating this matter but because of the unknown identity of the kidnappers, there might be a danger to Qi Yu’s safety. I am worried the police won’t treat it with the greatest of urgency so I’m hoping you can intervene and provide support. ”
Xiao Qian: “The police are already in charge and it’s only been two hours. Nothing’s clear yet. In what capacity do you want me to provide support?”
Fu Yansheng: “I want you to help me understand the detailed situation. If we’re able to confirm that there is no danger, then do this for me as a personal favor but if the safety of the kidnapped person is involved, then it’s only justifiable that you intervene.”
Xiao Qian: “Tsk, your promotion to deputy team leader hasn’t even been announced yet and you’re already ordering me about… Tell me the details, I’ll get dressed and set off.”
Fu Yansheng: “I’ll send you a text message later. Make your arrangements first. I’ll meet you in about three hours.”
Xiao Qian: “What would a civil service investigator like you do here? Going into dangerous situations isn’t you job… By the way, aren’t you in Shencheng? How are you gonna get here in the middle of the night?”
Fu Yansheng: “I’ll find a way to get there. I’ll call later.”
Xiao Qian: “???”
***
Qi Yu woke up somewhere cold and gloomy. His nose filled with the irritating smell of rubber and accumulated dust. His brows furrowed, feeling a little nauseous.
The memories before he was knocked unconscious was coming back and Qi Yu quickly realized what had happened to him.
He tried his best to open his eyes. By the weak light coming from outside the window, he vaguely discerned that he was in an empty factory building. He was tied to an old chair on the second floor platform, surrounded by discarded equipment and some plastic vats. The pitch-black darkness was like a monster hibernating deep into the night.
This sight and these smells, so similar to when he was kidnapped at the age of eight, made him shudder violently.
Qi Yu thought that after so many years, he had forgotten. It was only now, finding himself in this place, that he realized how deeply buried the fear was in his body.
His body spasm-ed involuntarily. He wanted to curl up into himself but his hands and feet were tied and he couldn’t move.
Qi Yu took a couple of deep breaths and desperately told himself to be strong; he is no longer the kid he was fourteen years ago. Don’t be afraid…
You have to figure out your current situation first.
He remembered that Zhang Chengxuan had called him at that time. The other party said anxiously on the phone that the Zhang Family already knew that the Tianbao Group wanted to become a shareholder in Si Yuan. But the Tianbao Group didn’t really want to invest, it was a trap. Zhang Chengxuan didn’t dare tell him the specifics over the phone, saying that he would let him listen to the recording in person. Because he was afraid of being discovered by the people around him, he was going to wait for him in the third floor stairwell.
The stairwell was right next to the elevator. Qi Yu only heard yesterday from his father that he was going to set up a bureau. Today, he learned of this information from Zhang Chengxuan. He was stunned and worried that his dad had been schemed against, he went over carried by impulse.
Truth be told, before he went there, he had hesitated for a moment. But thinking that there were surveillance cameras inside and outside the hotel and thinking too about how Zhang Chengxuan had never done anything to set him up despite knowing him for so long, add to that the worry he’d been feeling, he lowered his guard for a moment.
When he opened the door and went in, he saw Zhang Chengxuan standing there, looking a little nervous. Just as he was about to speak, the lights suddenly went out.
Qi Yu sensed that something was wrong and wanted to leave. But before he could react, someone came from behind and covered his nose and mouth with a wet handkerchief…
At this moment, he was slowly, little by little, coming back to full consciousness.
Obviously, he had been kidnapped again. He had no idea what time it was. His phone must have been taken away. But suddenly, he remembered that he had put the locator that Su Jing had given him in his left pants pocket.
He agreed to have a video call with Fu Yansheng before going to bed. Before the day ends, if Fu Yansheng can’t get in touch with him, he would definitely go looking for him. They must know that something has happened to him by now and they would be following his locator to find this place…
It’s okay, I’ll be okay. Don’t be afraid.
Just as he was comforting himself, there was the sudden sound of hurried footsteps coming from outside.
Qi Yu’s body froze. The fear embedded in his bones towards this situation made him very sensitive to any sound around him.
He just heard a man walk into the factory building with a flashlights and cursing, “Did you check everywhere? I heard these luxury watches and jewelry all have their own trackers…”
Another man said, “I searched them. I tossed everything that had to be tossed. That rich second generation upstairs even had a Patek Philippe watch. It was a waste throwing that away. That could have sold for a fortune……”
“Then why are there still people on our tail!? Feng Er sent me a message. He said that only half an hour after we made off with these two, those dogs at the hotel already noticed they were missing and quickly called the police. The police are even headed in our direction!”
One person warned, “Hey, this kid is awake!”
Qi Yu’s breathing grew short. Can they see him from downstairs?
However, in the following second, he heard a familiar voice – “Who, who are you? Why am I here…?”
Qi Yu was startled. It was Zhang Chengxuan!?
“Tell us the truth! I’m asking you, have you got a tracker on you?”
There was the sound of kicks from below. He heard Zhang Chengxuan snorting in pain and shouting hastily: “I don’t, I don’t…”
Qi Yu frowned, a little surprised. He thought he’d been tricked by Zhang Chengxuan into going to that stairwell.
Why had Zhang Chengxuan been kidnapped along with him?
There was another round of punching and kicking from below, Zhang Chengxuan screamed again and again, frightening Qi Yu as he heard it.
“Go and ask that kid upstairs!” one person said.
——————
【Little Theater】
Fu Yansheng: Something has happened to my wife! Help me! QAQ
Xiao Qian: You are bending the law to help your friend! Executing first and reporting to the Emperor afterwards! Bypassing your superiors to handle matters!
Fu Yansheng: Help me! QAQ
Xiao Qian: Fine, being asked by Investigator Complex Number, this man who legend says has deep schemes and whose intelligence goes against the natural order, to save his wife; this sounds like something I could brag about. I’m gonna go and join in on the fun~
Little fish all will be good. You will be saved by the jade bracelet once again and your hubby will punish the fools who dared touch you. Jiayou!
thanks for the chapter!
Ahh our poor Little Fish is scared 😭 wondering what’s actually happening since Zhang Chengxuan doesn’t seem to be in on it 😟 Thank you for the chapter!!
Don’t worry QY, you will be okay…