C22 Return

The disappearance of Lin Yun'er sent shockwaves through the Lin Residence, akin to a bomb detonation, particularly when a ransom call was made to the residence using Yun'er's phone, demanding a staggering hundred million in cash. This plunged the entire household into disarray. While some urged for immediate police involvement, others were hesitant, fearing retaliation from the kidnappers and thus refrained from any hasty actions. Ultimately, the patriarch made the executive decision to return the call to ensure Yun'er's safety.

At first, the kidnapper answered but was evasive when asked to let Lin Yun'er speak on the phone. Instead, he sent a photo of Yun'er bound and lying on the ground, coupled with threats to quickly assemble the cash or face dire consequences.

Following the confirmation of Yun'er's car accident and her subsequent disappearance, the old man overruled the dissenting voices and opted to involve the authorities.

The police were swift to respond, but the kidnappers had cleverly evaded the city's surveillance by heading into the secluded mountains, leaving no trail for the cameras to follow. The search expanded significantly, with insufficient police forces in Ylauginia calling for reinforcement from Klidiff. Despite the vast area encompassing numerous towns, villages, and undeveloped mountainous regions, the search continued with slim hopes of success.

The investigation then honed in on Yun'er's phone signal, which led them to a long-haul truck en route to J Province. This sole lead fizzled out, leaving Huang Bo, the seasoned and slightly portly police captain from Ylauginia's H District, with a challenging case. With over three decades of experience and having weathered many storms, Huang Bo found the kidnapper's shrewdness particularly vexing. The case's similarities to two previous kidnappings in J Province, which he had learned about through internal channels, were striking. Both involved the abduction of wealthy individuals' relatives by the same criminal gang, known for their efficient and evasive tactics. In both instances, the outcomes were tragic, with one family paying a ransom privately and the other contacting the police, but neither hostage survived. With the kidnappers' identities still unknown and no warrants issued, the police could only wait for their next move. A year had passed without a trace, but now it seemed likely that the same group had resurfaced, unexpectedly targeting Ylauginia this time.

Huang Bo lit a cigarette as his team members, dressed in plain clothes, entered the Lin Residence. They had taken secret control of the premises. Despite waiting an entire day, there was no callback from the kidnappers. Huang Bo felt a growing unease. Judging by the kidnappers' usual tactics, the odds were not in favor of the Lin family's daughter. Yet, he couldn't disclose a single piece of information to the Lin family.

In the hall, Yun'er's mother, tears streaming down her face, was determined to go out and search for her daughter herself, but Yun'er's father held her back. Various uncles and aunts were on their phones, tapping into their networks to aid in the search. Plainclothes officers offered words of comfort while intermittently glancing at the surveillance monitors.

Lin Yijing sat in the hall, eyes closed, turning walnuts in his hand as if asleep. As the family's pillar of strength, he was deeply worried but knew he must remain calm and collected. What puzzled him was Zhou Pu's disappearance. While everyone was focused on Lin Yun'er's safety, the old man was concerned for both of them. He had tried to contact Zhou Pu the day before, but the call was cut short, and all subsequent attempts to reach him failed. Had Zhou Pu been kidnapped too?

While the police scoured Ylauginia for Lin Yun'er, the very person they were looking for boldly appeared at the entrance of the Lin Residence.

Zhou Pu was startled to see a line of police cars in the courtyard. In no time, both Zhou Pu and Lin Yun'er found themselves encircled by onlookers, as if they were monkeys on display at a zoo. Officer Huang, leading the crowd, was baffled. Had the kidnappers had a change of heart, or was this all a big misunderstanding?

Before they could step foot inside, Zhou Pu and Lin Yun'er were escorted to the police station.

...

After downing a cup of coffee to perk up, Huang Bo reviewed the statements of the two with a sense of helplessness. The examination of their wounds suggested a real kidnapping; the knots were tied by someone with expertise, though the wounds were superficial. Aside from a bite mark on the neck, there were no other injuries. Lin Yun'er had been unconscious throughout the ordeal and couldn't provide any useful information—she hadn't even caught a glimpse of her captors.

The young man piqued his curiosity. He claimed to have been knocked unconscious and upon waking, found himself with Lin Yun'er. As the heiress of the Asluck Group, a leading conglomerate in Ylauginia, Lin Yun'er was a legal representative for three public companies and the CEO of a renowned entertainment firm. Her significant net worth made her a logical target for kidnapping and extortion. But why would kidnappers be interested in a young man who looked like a recent college graduate with no apparent career? The investigation revealed that this seemingly average man was, in fact, Lin Yun'er's husband, a member of the Lin family, which made the situation somewhat more understandable. However, the peculiar part was the kidnappers' inexplicable departure.

Despite the lack of leads from their testimonies, the safe return of the two was a relief. The search for the kidnappers continued, and a few officers were assigned to protect them for some time.

Returning home late at night, the Lin Residence was still brightly lit. Everyone greeted Lin Yun'er with warm concern, but Zhou Pu, intending to retire to his room, was called aside by Lin Yijing.

Zhou Pu carefully avoided disclosing anything related to the system and instead relayed the police's version of events to Lin Yijing. Worried about arousing suspicion, he was relieved to find that Lin Yijing simply patted his shoulder, as if a weight had been lifted, and said, "It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back."

The incident prompted the Lin Residence to prioritize their security like never before. Although they had security in place at the company and home, the kidnappers had seized the opportunity when Yun'er was unprotected during her commute. The need for a personal bodyguard became pressing.

Lin Yun'er was not fond of the idea of constant surveillance. Her mother had previously suggested a bodyguard who could double as a driver, but she had declined, preferring to maintain control over her life. However, the recent scare, coupled with her parents' insistence, led her to reluctantly accept the arrangement.

Subsequently, a divergence of opinions arose regarding whether to hire a male or female bodyguard.

"Let's opt for a woman. It's more practical. She can always be there and tends to be more detail-oriented," Lin Yijing expressed a preference for a female bodyguard.

"But how can a woman match a man in strength? There's a significant difference. Can she really be effective when it matters most? Ensuring Yun'er's safety is paramount. That's the top priority," Zhen Qing argued for a robust male bodyguard.

"That's not suitable. There are differences between men and women, after all. Yun'er is married; it's not proper to have another man shadowing her every day. Zhou Pu would never agree," Lin Yijing said, somewhat displeased as he glanced towards Zhou Pu.

"What's his opinion worth? When Yun'er suffers, what good is he? He's just an extra burden," Zhen Qing grumbled under her breath, giving Zhou Pu a disdainful look.

"Dad, this incident has made it clear to all of us that family safety is the most crucial. A friend's security firm has recommended several top-notch bodyguards, retired from the special forces. They're not the kind of talent money can usually buy. I think it's time we move past these outdated ways of thinking," Lin Yuqian chimed in.

"Zhou Pu, what's your take?" Lin Yijing asked, turning the floor over to Zhou Pu without commenting himself.

"Ah... I..." Zhou Pu was taken aback, having never expected the Lin family to seek his opinion. Except for Lin Yijing, the rest of the family typically ignored him, and the abrupt question left him flustered and stuttering.

Naturally, as a husband, he wasn't keen on other men being close to his wife. Yet, he knew that if Yun'er truly despised him, no matter how attractive she was, he wouldn't degrade himself by pining after her. Lin Yun'er had married him for her grandfather's sake, just as he had remained for the old man's sake.

"Let's go with what Yun'er prefers. I have no objections," Zhou Pu finally said, looking at Yun'er. She had discarded her bunny cotton slippers and slipped into unfamiliar white leather boots, reclaiming her typically proud demeanor.