Kidnapping-style Targeting

Sitting at the McDonald's pier, Lin Mo had a french fry dangling from his mouth.

Aside from Fang Jun and Lin Mo, there was no one else around.

Most people had already decided what to eat for lunch, so they didn’t tag along.

Not many knew about this matter. As long as Fang Jun—the loudmouth—didn’t spread the word, only the folks sitting in the front rows would be aware.

Lin Jiajun wasn’t short on cash. Even though he knew Fang Jun had just made over two grand in one go, he couldn’t care less.

As for Jiang Yunlu and Chu Miaomiao, they were even less concerned.

So in the end, only Fang Jun and Lin Mo went to the pier to eat fries.

Fang Jun held his phone, having already blocked the guy who tried to scam him but ended up losing out instead. Before blocking him, he’d even called the guy an idiot.

Fang Jun knew Lin Mo had a big appetite, so he bought two hundred yuan’s worth of combo meals without a second thought, completely unafraid that Lin Mo wouldn’t finish it.

"Every time I watch you eat so much, it terrifies me."

Lin Mo, however, ate at a leisurely pace.

"What’s so terrifying? Never seen a big eater before? You think I got this strong from nothing—it’s all thanks to eating."

Whatever Lin Mo said went.

"So how come you never gain weight? Not an ounce of fat on you. Unlike that Fat Zhu from the next class—he eats a lot and gets even fatter."

"People’s bodies are just different. Some are even prone to getting scammed, you know?"

"Damn!" Fang Jun raised his middle finger.

McDonald’s was quite a distance from Guangba.

After finishing their meal, Fang Jun couldn’t be bothered to go back to school for a nap. Instead, he dragged Lin Mo straight to Fang Zuodong’s unlicensed internet café.

—System: Borrow successful. As expected of my comrade. Treasure system, I’ll play with you again next time—

Fang Zuodong’s unlicensed internet café.

Fang Zuodong wasn’t there—he was at home, asleep.

Inside a private booth, a young man picked up his phone, frowning as he read the message he’d just received.

"Idiot!" he muttered under his breath.

"Can’t even scam a little money properly. A complete and utter moron."

Just then, the door opened.

"Hey, bro! Huh, he’s not here?"

Fang Jun looked at the young man in the booth.

"Where’s my brother?"

The young man’s pupils contracted slightly at the sight of Fang Jun, but he quickly regained his composure and waved a hand dismissively. "He went home to sleep. Need something? I can pass it on."

Fang Jun shrugged. "Nah, just checking in on him."

He’d seen this young man playing Dungeon & Fighter with Fang Zuodong a few times, grinding for in-game currency. Assuming he was just a friend, Fang Jun gave a casual nod before leaving the booth.

This guy occasionally acted as the café’s manager, so Fang Jun didn’t see any reason to be wary.

The young man watched the two leave, his expression darkening. He pulled out his phone and typed on the same screen.

"That kid’s here. Get some guys ready."

"Boss, what’s the plan?"

"Kidnapping! What else? We were just trying to scam some cash, but you idiots screwed it up. But I heard from his cousin—his family’s loaded. A ransom of a few million won’t be a problem."

"Whoa, boss, scamming people with fake orders is one thing, but kidnapping? That’s dangerous!"

"Do it or starve. Don’t forget, you’re still down over three grand!"

There was a long pause before the reply finally came through.

"Fine! Screw it, let’s do this! That little bastard called me an idiot—I’m not swallowing that. Grab him and slap him around first!"

Putting his phone away, the young man took a deep breath, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

True strategists always operate from the shadows.

He went back to grinding in Dungeon & Fighter, looking every bit the gaming addict.

What he didn’t know was that from the very beginning, a pair of eyes had been watching him.

"Come on, Lao Mo, let’s play a few rounds of League."

But Lin Mo suddenly grabbed Fang Jun’s arm.

"You’re being targeted."

"Huh?!"

Fang Jun looked up at Lin Mo, his stomach tightening. "What the hell?!"

The unlicensed internet café was mostly filled with guys. If he was being "targeted," did that mean his dignity was at risk?!

Lin Mo’s face darkened. "Not like that. I mean you’re being marked for kidnapping."

Fang Jun’s eyes widened.

"I—I’m about to get kidnapped?!"

"Technically, not yet. So we’ve got time to prepare."

Lin Mo smoothly logged into his gaming account.

His main account had already reached the highest rank, so he couldn’t duo with Fang Jun.

He was using a smurf instead.

Fang Jun, still processing the kidnapping threat, frowned. "What’s going on?! Does this have something to do with my cousin?"

Lin Mo shook his head.

"Not sure. But it’s definitely connected to that guy in the booth."

Originally, Lin Mo hadn’t paid much attention.

But his senses were now unnaturally sharp—no mind-reading detective could compare. He could instantly decipher even the subtlest micro-expressions.

So when the young man’s pupils dilated at the sight of Fang Jun, Lin Mo knew something was off.

A quick sweep with his spiritual sense revealed the kidnapping plot he’d been discussing.

"So what do I do? Call the cops? Or get my dad to send some people?"

Lin Mo thought for a moment. "You’ve got two options. Either rally our classmates for a counter-ambush, or get your village folks to set up a trap."

"Either way, it’s an ambush, huh? You just wanna watch the show, don’t you?"

Fang Jun couldn’t help rolling his eyes.

"Isn’t it the best when bad guys get what’s coming to them?" Lin Mo stroked his chin.

Their classmates were all hot-blooded—any excuse for a righteous fight was a good one.

As for calling the villagers…

These weren’t just any villagers. The Fang family had deep roots in the area.

Southern clans took their kinship seriously. The ancestral hall held real influence, and when trouble arose, everyone pitched in.

So it was a solid plan.

A kidnapping threat? Just drop a message in the family group chat and gather a few helpers.

With so many idle hands in the village, volunteers wouldn’t be an issue.

Even the local security team would join in.

It all came down to Fang Jun’s choice.

But Fang Jun opted for Plan A first—calling their classmates.

Otherwise, he’d have a hard time explaining why he was at an unlicensed internet café.

"If I drag my family into this, my dad’s gonna beat my ass when I get home."

"Relax. Just say you came with the top student in class. I can tutor you, help you get into a good university—they’ll overlook the internet café thing."

Hearing that, Fang Jun perked up a little.

But he wasn’t stupid. After some thought, he said, "I still think I should tell my family. This is my cousin’s place, after all."

If they just called the cops, his cousin’s illegal business would probably get shut down.

But if the villagers handled it, there was a chance the place could stay open.

Of course, his cousin would still face some consequences.

"Your cousin should’ve been more careful about who he associates with. A little suffering might do him good."

Fang Jun sighed.

"It’s not like that. He’s looked out for me before."