Chapter 38: Yang Mengke Has Been Kidnapped

Su Bai, having rushed outside, anxiously scanned his surroundings. Yet, all around him was a sea of people—he couldn’t see the car from the photo anywhere. Just as he was worrying, unsure what to do, he suddenly remembered the system.

“System, can you help me locate Yang Mengke?”

[Ding! Host’s current system points: 984,032.]
[Available skill exchange: Lock—50,000 points!][Basic: Lock range, radius 500 meters.]
[Available skill exchange: Track—50,000 points!][Basic: Tracking range, radius 500 meters.]
[Available skill exchange: Explore—50,000 points!][Basic: Exploration range, radius 500 meters.]

He was surprised to see his points had accumulated so much, but now was no time to ponder that!

“All of them—exchange!”

In the blink of an eye, 150,000 points vanished! Damn, when he exchanged medicines for Yang Mengke before, it was never this expensive; now these basic skills cost so much!

[System explanation: When exchanging medicine, host hadn’t broken the fan threshold, so points grew slowly. Now host has broken that threshold and is in a period of rapid growth!]

Reading the explanation, Su Bai was dumbfounded. Raising prices so blatantly, yet the system phrased it so elegantly?

[Host is using the Explore function. Please enter the name of the person to explore.]
[Person to explore: Yang Mengke. Input successful. Exploration function initiated.]

Instantly, a radar-like map appeared in Su Bai’s mind. Yet, he couldn’t find Yang Mengke’s silhouette.

[Ding! Exploration failed! Person is outside the exploration area. Suggest expanding search range or moving the search center.]

“Upgrade all three functions to intermediate!”

[Exploration, Lock, Track—upgrade to intermediate requires 300,000 points. Confirm?]

“Confirm, confirm, upgrade now!”

[Ding! Upgrade successful!]
[Search radius for all three functions expanded to 1,000 meters.]
[Current point balance: 534,032.]

Su Bai once again entered Yang Mengke’s name as before. With the search activated, he discovered that Yang Mengke and Liu Ruotong were being held inside a black business van. That van was just clearing the obstacles around it, preparing to drive away.

“Lock! Lock immediately!”

[Ding! Lock successful.]
[Ding! Locked vehicle is about to leave the lock range. Suggest expanding lock distance!]

Su Bai sprinted forward, shouting inwardly, “Expand, expand immediately!”

[Ding! Lock function upgraded to advanced level. Lock range expanded to 3,000 meters. 200,000 points consumed. Current balance: 334,032.]

He watched as the black business van was about to merge onto the highway. Su Bai knew that once it got onto the highway, he would lose the lock entirely. Glancing at the line of taxis waiting by the roadside, he picked the nearest one and jumped in, shouting, “Follow that black van! Hurry!”

“Hey, what’s your problem? Couldn’t you be gentler closing the door?” the driver complained. “And who are you anyway? Why are you chasing someone’s car?”

Ignoring the driver’s rambling, Su Bai pulled out a wad of cash—ten thousand yuan—and yelled, “I said follow that van! Didn’t you hear me? The money’s yours! Just shut up and drive!”

Upon seeing the thick stack of bills, the taxi driver’s attitude changed instantly. “Alright, alright, sir, sit tight! There’s never been a car I couldn’t catch, haha!”

With that, the taxi took a sharp turn and shot off. The black van was speeding away, threatening to leave the lock range again.

“Faster! Don’t lose them!” Su Bai urged anxiously.

“Relax, handsome. I used to do this professionally—I won’t lose them. Just watch!”

Su Bai paid no further attention to the driver. He clasped his hands tightly, anxiety knotting his heart.

Meanwhile, Ji Jingxian received a call from her subordinate.

“Madam, I’m sorry. Miss has been taken! We’re following the car that took her, but I fear the enemy had planned this. We don’t have enough people—please send reinforcements!”

What?

Hearing that Ruotong had been abducted, Ji Jingxian’s mind went blank, nearly fainting. Kidnapped? Damn it, are they all useless? Four people following and still let her get kidnapped! Who could have done this? Several faces flashed through Ji Jingxian’s mind, then she shook her head. Forcing herself to stay calm, she said, “Stay on them. Don’t lose sight! A’Fu will contact you soon.”

After calling A’Fu, Ji Jingxian collapsed helplessly onto the sofa. Was this aimed at her? Or at Ruihua? Suddenly, she sat up abruptly. Could it be aimed at the mysterious, “astonishingly beautiful” girl mentioned by Ruotong—the one she herself had never met?

Ji Jingxian knew that Ruotong and Yang Mengke had gone today to watch the much-discussed Su Bai’s talent competition. And from Ruotong’s words, she’d learned that Yang Mengke, the beautiful girl, was Su Bai’s sister. Even Yu Lan, when she first arrived in the city, joked that she’d come personally to support Su Bai for Ji Jingxian’s sake.

When the time comes, she ought to teach that girl a lesson!

Could it be that those people who stirred up trouble for Su Bai online were now resorting to tricks to make him lose? Was Ruotong simply caught in the crossfire?

If that was the case, Ji Jingxian was less worried. As long as it wasn’t aimed at her or Ruihua, Ruotong shouldn’t be in too much danger. Her four bodyguards could handle ordinary threats.

The real fear was if this was aimed at Liu Ruihua, who was at a critical moment in his career. Then things would get complicated.

It had to be said—once calm, Ji Jingxian was sharp-minded. She quickly grasped the key point.

She hesitated whether to inform her husband, Ruotong’s father, Ruihua. Ruihua was at a pivotal stage, and Ji Jingxian didn’t want these trivial matters to distract him. After thinking it over, she decided not to tell Liu Ruihua.

Just then, Yu Lan called.

“Jingxian, what’s up with this Su Bai you introduced? Do you know how much pressure I’m under to support him here? If it weren’t for your sake, I wouldn’t have come to this so-called press conference—it’s not even a proper variety show! And what does he do? In the middle of the talent contest, he just ups and leaves without a word! Vanished without a trace! Left me to deal with this mess! Do you know what this will do to my reputation?”

Hearing Yu Lan’s rant, Ji Jingxian’s anxious heart finally eased. Now it was certain—the kidnapping was aimed at Su Bai, not her daughter. Ruotong should be safe.

Her mood brightened a little. “Lan! Ruotong’s been kidnapped! She was taken together with Su Bai’s sister. How could Su Bai not run? Should he stay and patiently explain everything to you all?”

Yu Lan, who had been complaining into the phone, was shocked. Liu Ruotong had been kidnapped?

“Jingxian, don’t panic. I’m coming right now. Wait for me!”

Hanging up, Yu Lan hurried out. The staff responsible for the recording watched Yu Lan leave without so much as a word, puzzled: What’s going on? Why is everyone so frantic?