Chapter 235: The Kidnappers Appear! I’m Coming to Rui City

"Let me guess... A boyfriend from Beijing City, and you know I’ve offended someone. You’re dating a guy from the He Family, aren’t you?" Though Gu Shengsheng framed it as a question, she was already certain.

Gu Rongrong’s voice turned shrill. "What’s it to you?"

"Since you’ve never been to Beijing City, you wouldn’t have had a chance to meet any of those wealthy heirs. It must be that He Chen fellow."

"He Chen... Let me think. He’s on a business trip in Africa right now, isn’t he?" Gu Shengsheng said teasingly.

"How do you know?" Gu Rongrong was stunned. How could Gu Shengsheng know so much? A powerful figure like He Chen should be completely out of reach for a minor internet celebrity like her.

After a moment’s thought, Gu Rongrong laughed. "Oh, I get it now."

"A little internet celebrity like you must have attended a dinner with some sponsor and overheard some industry gossip, right? I get it. There are plenty of stars and influencers flocking around my boyfriend, all hoping to get a connection." She sounded incredibly smug. "But my boyfriend only loves me."

Hearing this, Gu Shengsheng almost laughed herself sick.

’What kind of scumbag was this guy, and she was treating him like a treasure?’

"As long as he loves you, that’s what matters. You two should be chained together. Don’t ever let him out to harm other girls. That He Chen is definitely more than a match for you."

"Do you know why He Chen ended up in Africa? Because he’s an idiot. Just as idiotic as you." With that, Gu Shengsheng hung up.

She was now certain that Gu Rongrong only knew a few details about her grandma and had sold that information.

’Relying on her was clearly a dead end.’

But she could confirm one thing: her grandma hadn’t left Rui City or gotten on a plane. In that case, she would head to Rui City first.

Gu Shengsheng quickly bought a ticket for the next available flight and headed to the gate to wait.

Just then, Lu Shijing called several times, but Gu Shengsheng didn’t notice. She simply boarded the plane, turned off her phone, and went to sleep.

’Since they want something,’ she thought, ’since they’re trying to get something from me, they won’t dare harm Grandma.’

Anyone in the kidnapping business wouldn’t be that stupid.

Now that she was sure the Gu family wasn’t behind this, Gu Shengsheng felt a little relieved. Song Shuhua and Gu Rongrong weren’t very bright. If her grandma were in their hands, there was no telling if she’d be harmed.

As for Grandma Lu and Linnin, they were being protected at the police station, so Gu Shengsheng had nothing to worry about on that front.

As long as she was alone and there were no other complications, she felt she had nothing to fear.

Gu Shengsheng rested on the plane for two or three hours, sleeping peacefully the entire flight.

She was woken by a flight attendant upon arriving in Rui City.

She gazed at the familiar surroundings. It had been so long since she’d last been back...

She had thought that once she left for Beijing City, she would never return. Yet here she was.

Gu Shengsheng stretched, disembarked from the plane, and turned on her phone at the airport exit. A flood of messages popped up.

There were well-wishes from Lu Shijing, messages from Grandma Lu, and inquiries from Zhang Lianqing.

Just as Gu Shengsheng was about to reply to them one by one, she received a text from an unknown number: Congratulations. Welcome to Rui City, Miss Gu. The game has just begun.

Gu Shengsheng: "..."

She scanned her surroundings. Most of the people were just travelers rushing to their destinations; she didn’t notice anyone out of the ordinary.

She did a slow turn, but there was no one suspicious behind her.

She didn’t reply. Instead, she blocked the number.

’If they want to contact me and make a deal, they won’t expose themselves this easily.’

Gu Shengsheng’s goal was to make them reveal more information. As she blocked the number, she took a screen recording and sent it to Zhang Lianqing.

A moment later, the other party contacted Gu Shengsheng from a new number. "Miss Gu, are you saying you don’t want to save your grandma anymore?"

Gu Shengsheng immediately called the number.

"Where are you?"

"Miss Gu." The voice on the other end was crisp and clear. Gu Shengsheng was certain it was someone she didn’t know. But she couldn’t be sure if they were from the He Family.

She asked, "Do you work for Chairman He?"

A soft chuckle came from the other end. "Miss Gu, do you really think Chairman He is the only one targeting you?"

She ignored their question and pressed on, "You went to great lengths to get me to Rui City. Is it because it’s on the border?"

"Easier for you to operate?"

"Miss Gu, don’t be nervous. We called you here because we need your help, naturally. With your renowned reputation, it’s only right that we’d seek you out."

Gu Shengsheng didn’t respond. She simply recorded the call and sent it to Zhang Lianqing.

"Is that long enough to trace their location?" Gu Shengsheng asked.

Zhang Lianqing replied instantly: "Stand by."

Gu Shengsheng then tried to draw out the conversation, but the person on the other end said bluntly, "Miss Gu, stop contacting the police. We have our own counter-surveillance capabilities. The police won’t be able to find us."

"If you continue to be this uncooperative, we won’t hesitate to... send your grandmother away."

"I imagine you wouldn’t want that."

Then, they sent a picture. It was the heavily worn old silver ring her grandma always wore, with its faint green, Qing Dynasty-era patterns.

Gu Shengsheng knew for certain it was her grandmother’s ring.

She texted back, "I won’t contact the police. What do you want me to do?"

"Miss Gu, don’t pull any tricks. We’re watching you. We know everything you’re doing. Your phone is being monitored."

Gu Shengsheng: "..."

The messages continued: "Next, check into the Motian Guesthouse, next to the Jie Gao Market. Stay there. Someone will contact you with further instructions."

Gu Shengsheng pondered this. ’The Jie Gao Market area is mostly known for stone gambling and various trades from the markets in Myanmar.’

’Are they bringing me here to use me to make money? Could this be unrelated to the case of nearly five hundred artifacts in Beijing City? Are these two different groups?’

’If so, that would be even worse.’

She had considered before that if her reputation grew too big, she would inevitably attract unwanted attention from creeps or criminals.

But Gu Shengsheng hadn’t expected it to happen so soon...

She continued to text: "You have to guarantee my grandma’s safety. First, let me have a video call with her."

"Otherwise, I’m not going there," Gu Shengsheng texted back.

The reply came: "Miss Gu, you’ll get to see her if you cooperate."

But Gu Shengsheng wasn’t one to be easily persuaded.

She replied bluntly, "Then forget the video call. I’m heading back to Beijing City right now. Forget about seeing my grandma. I’ll go die in front of the Imperial Palace Museum and tell everyone you threatened me."

"I’m not afraid to die, and I’m sure you know that from your research on me." ’At times like this, it’s all about who’s more ruthless, who’s willing to risk it all, isn’t it?’

"I know you brought me here for something only I can do. But I need to see some good faith from you. If I can’t even see my grandma, then there’s no reason for me to help. If it comes to it, we can all go down in flames together."

Then, Gu Shengsheng immediately bought a plane ticket back to Beijing City. ’They’re monitoring me, aren’t they? Well then, let’s give them something more to watch.’

’Let’s see who’s more worried now!’

The other party’s status just showed that they were typing.