Chapter 36 — The Infuriating License Plate

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"But our sniper is already in position — there's a ninety percent chance we can take the robber down," Qiu Lingshan pressed.

"You said it yourself: ninety percent. So what about the other ten? What if something happens to Miss Gu? Then you and I will both have hell to pay," the chief rebuked. "I told you not to act rashly. Satisfy the robbers' demands first, then decide what comes next."

"Understood." Qiu Lingshan felt thoroughly vexed. She had wanted her people to take a gamble and use the sniper to kill the criminals, but now she no longer dared issue any risky orders. With the chief refusing to back her, what else could she do?

The bald man, delighted by the police's passivity, swiftly herded his men into the black Hyundai van waiting by the roadside, started it up, and roared away in triumph.

With two hostages in the criminals' hands, Qiu Lingshan dared not act rashly either. All she could do was watch helplessly as the robbers boarded a black Hyundai van and made off in triumph.

"Miss..." Watching the Hyundai's receding silhouette, Uncle Qing grew frantic. Just now he had tried calling Mr. Gu, but the line had never gone through. Now that the kidnappers had taken Gu Mengyao hostage, Uncle Qing was truly panic-stricken.

"Mr. Li, the police will handle this matter properly. Please rest assured." With that, Qiu Lingshan took out her walkie-talkie. "Attention, all units. Attention, all units. The kidnappers' vehicle is a black Hyundai commercial van, license plate Song A 74110. It has left the bank and is heading away. If you spot it, get ready to tail it."

"74110?" After issuing the order, Qiu Lingshan muttered the plate number again. That robber really thought nothing of the police — going out of his way to use a plate like 74110. At that thought, she picked up the walkie-talkie, keyed in a call number, and said, "Traffic police? This is Qiu Lingshan of the criminal investigation unit. Run a plate for me: Song A 74110... Huh? What? It's a Buick sedan? Not a Hyundai van?... Are you sure? Fine, never mind then."

A goddamn fake-plate car, and with a number that arrogant to boot! This was plainly meant to rub her nose in it — a naked provocation. At that moment, Qiu Lingshan was about to explode. Still, the robbers' plate number had certainly proved all too fitting...

The moment he was in the car, the bald man had his men bind both Gu Mengyao's and Wei Zhao's hands. Then he looked at Wei Zhao with a smug grin. "Tell me, what did this have to do with you? Why stick your nose in? The one we were after was Miss Chu. But you had to put on airs and play the hero, so don't blame us for taking you along."

On hearing these words, Wei Zhao's heart stirred. The man actually knew Gu Mengyao! Neither of them could have imagined that. They had assumed the hostage had been chosen at random, and that the bald man had singled out Gu Mengyao only because she was pretty and he wanted to cop a feel. They would never have guessed these men were acting on a plan — that Gu Mengyao was the intended target all along.

"You... you know me?" Gu Mengyao's heart jolted as well. She had never expected these criminals to know who she was. Bewildered, she blurted out the question before she could stop herself.

"Know you? Of course I do. The exalted daughter of the Gu Group's chairman — that's who." The bald man relished his lofty perch. "If I didn't know you, why would I have taken you at all?"

"Why... why are you taking me?" Gu Mengyao sensed that something was wrong. These people seemed to have come for her on purpose, following a plan.

"Taking you? Heh — what do you think?" The bald man split his wide mouth into a grin, baring a mouthful of yellow teeth. "Come on, what do you think you've got that I'd want you for?"

"I..." Gu Mengyao panicked. Was this man insane? Had he taken her so he could have his way with her? The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. She was so beautiful, so sexy — eyes so big, skin so fair, breasts so firm. Any man would be tempted...

No... Gu Mengyao wanted nothing more than to cry. If she were ruined by an ugly brute like this, she wouldn't want to live another day. Given the choice, she would sooner give herself to Wei Zhao than to him!

Why Wei Zhao, though? Right now, Wei Zhao was the only man she could think of. That pest Zhong Yongliang she loathed to the very depths of her being, and of the men around her who could even be considered — aside from Uncle Qing — Wei Zhao seemed to be the only one left, wasn't he?

Just thinking about it made her feel like a failure. Her social circle was so narrow she didn't know a single other man.

Why was she cursed with such rotten luck? Gu Mengyao lamented her hard lot even as she desperately racked her brains for a way out.

Seeing Gu Mengyao's face flush and pale by turns, the bald man guessed she had let her thoughts run off in the wrong direction. He sneered. "Fuck, if I wanted a pretty girl, I've got plenty at hand. A little tender thing like you is hardly worth my while. I took you because somebody paid me to — that's all."

Gu Mengyao relaxed at once at his words. So he had no designs on her that way. What a relief.

"Boss, you might not fancy her, but I do. How about letting me have a bit of fun with her?" The one called Ma Liu wore a lecherous grin and reached out to paw at Gu Mengyao.

"Ma Liu, goddamn it, sit still and behave yourself! This girl can't be touched. The higher-ups said she's to be delivered intact." The bald man glowered at Ma Liu and barked.

"Aw, what a waste. Hah." Ma Liu seemed truly afraid of the bald man. Scolded, he shrank back into his seat, not daring to move. "She's so fresh and tender. If I could have just one taste of her, this life of mine wouldn't have been lived in vain."

"Quit your damn useless talk. When this is done, with the money you'll get, you can go find yourself a few schoolgirls and do whatever you like." The bald man waved his hand in impatience, thoroughly disgusted by Ma Liu's lewd eagerness.

Gu Mengyao breathed easy. At least these men weren't after her body; otherwise her virtue would have been ruined for good. What galled her, though, was that the bald man had bound her small, delicate hand together with that bastard Wei Zhao's big one — letting him take a free liberty with her.

Yet at the thought of Wei Zhao's hand, an inexplicable warmth welled up in Gu Mengyao's heart. When she remembered how he had pressed her down with that very hand just moments ago, a nameless feeling stirred inside her, beyond the reach of words.

What was the matter with her? Could such a small kindness really have changed her impression of him? Hmph — no, it couldn't be that easy. And yet, if anyone else had stood in his place, would they have stepped forward for her at such a moment? What, exactly, was Wei Zhao thinking? Gu Mengyao found she could not read him at all anymore...

"Fuck, you silly girl — at a time like this you're still grinning like a fool." When the bald man saw Gu Mengyao blush one moment and secretly smile the next, he grew most displeased. This was an insult! He was a kidnapper, after all, and this girl was smiling right in front of him — was she looking down on him?

"Ah!" Gu Mengyao blurted, coming to herself with a start. Without her even noticing, she had drifted off into a daze again...

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