Chapter 36 — The Infuriating License Plate
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
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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?"