Chapter 369 The Second Plan

• Akio Zeruo’s eyes lit up. “You mean those kidnappers also have the Jadeheart Fruit? Damn it! Was it really Tan Mingjun who kidnapped my granddaughter?” Rage burned through him. Earlier, when Tan Mingjun came by, he’d actually tried to talk him down, saying that as long as he paid up, they could surely get the girl back. He even offered to chip in part of the ransom. Akio had been grateful then. But the more he thought about it now, the more wrong it felt. “You’ll know soon whether he did it.” Finneas spoke coolly. He flicked his sleeve and sat down beside him. Lin Shuainan and the others followed Finneas and sat, not bothering with pleasantries. The way these kids acted so casual in front of him made Akio bristle. But remembering that Finneas held the fruit that could save his life, he forced his temper down. “Heh. Leave that aside for now. Finneas, right? Let’s set my granddaughter’s matter aside. Let’s talk price for the Jadeheart Fruit in your hand.” Akio stared at Finneas’s hand, eyes gleaming. The fruit was gone, but he knew if they settled on a price, Finneas would take it out. He didn’t expect Finneas to toss back, “Your granddaughter already has a Jadeheart Fruit. Why waste mine?” “That… Forget her for now!” Akio was desperate to get his hands on it. He didn’t even have the patience to spar with Finneas. Right then, he figured sending people to snatch it might be faster. But that carried risk. If Finneas swallowed it or destroyed it, it’d be worthless. Finneas’s little gang wasn’t worth a dime, but that fruit was priceless—his very life. Seeing Finneas ignore him and even close his eyes like he was waiting for something, Akio raised a hand to stop his restless men and waited in silence. Meanwhile, Tan Mingjun had already sped into downtown after leaving the Qiu residence. He had no idea a car trailed him the whole way. The driver was Frederick. Smack, smack! Thinking about Akio’s attitude, Tan seethed, pounding the steering wheel. “Damn it! That old coot Akio! I planned to squeeze him for cash with Akio Yunyans’s life, then bleed him again with the Jadeheart Fruit!” “Who knew, to that bastard, Akio Yunyan’s life isn’t worth a penny!” He felt played. He was injured lately, sure, but not so much that he couldn’t do whatever he wanted to Akio Yunyan. After a few days, he was already sick of her. Better to trade her for a pile of cash. But Akio’s attitude had pissed him off. To get the money, Tan had to show up himself and sweet-talk Akio. Even if he couldn’t get ten billion, at least five. Then figure out the rest. He never imagined Akio didn’t care whether Akio Yunyan lived or died—he only cared about the Jadeheart Fruit, about saving his own skin. Worse, Finneas and his crew showed up at the worst time and tore his scheme open on the spot. He was kicked out. Humiliated. “Finneas. And that Lin Shuainan. And that woman Xiu Xiu. Since you dared to step into Huayan, don’t even think about walking out.” Tan let out a cold laugh, pulled out his phone, and dialed. He called Akio Yunyan’s number. Of course his contact name showed up on her phone. The man on the other end picked up fast and turned respectful. “Mr. Tan, what do you need?” “Hmph. How’s that little tramp Akio Yunyan?” Tan’s snort made his foul mood clear. The man faltered, then chuckled nastily. “Heh. The boys just ‘took care’ of Miss Akio. Mr. Tan, you really look after us. A woman like that? Damn.” Tan grinned at that. Akio Yunyan was a fine ride. But he’d gotten bored fast—especially with the way she looked at him every time they met, like she wanted to rip him apart. It made him go soft. If she wasn’t worth money, he’d have killed her already. “Use her while you can. In a while, clean her up.” His voice turned icy, dripping murder. “Yes, yes. Whatever you say, we’ll do,” the man said, groveling. “Cut the crap. Tell me—did someone leak it? Did anyone find out you grabbed Akio Yunyan?” Tan’s face went deadly serious. He couldn’t forget the way Finneas had stared at him—like he already knew Tan was the kidnapper. He had to nail this down. One slip and he’d pay the price. “Uh… no. But, Mr. Tan, someone did call today, kept asking where Akio Yunyan was.” The man sounded uneasy. “Who? Did you figure it out?” Tan tensed up. “No. The kid sounded cold as ice and barked questions like he owned us. I was worried they’d use some fancy tech to trace us, so I hung up and moved locations.” Cold as ice? Tan immediately thought of Finneas—the guy whose face never softened, whose eyes were like frost. “Knew it—him. He even has Akio Yunyan’s number. Looks like that bitch was in bed with him all along. No wonder she wasn’t a virgin.” Hatred for Finneas burned white-hot. Then he ordered, voice like a blade, “Call Akio Zeruo. Cancel Plan A. Move to Plan B.” “Plan B? Uh…” The man sounded thrown, not quite getting it, and asked carefully, “Mr. Tan, how much are we asking for, then? Still ten billion?”