Writing Web Novels In America-Chapter 243 - 248: Secret

"Wang, there’s news about you."

On the flight from Silicon Valley to New York, Tom handed Wang Jian a newspaper.

Wang Jian took it and saw it was about Apple’s new product launch.

It discussed in detail Bill Gates’ support for Apple computers and mentioned, toward the end while introducing the iPod, their own collaboration with Apple.

So there he was, appearing in the newspaper alongside the world’s richest man, Bill Gates, and tech legend Steve Jobs?

Hmm... That was certainly better, by an unknown margin, than appearing half-naked in a report with Hillary and Diana.

At that moment, he remembered Mr. Wozniak’s advice: When you really start to get famous, a wave of explosive private matters will follow.

Like his friend, Jobs’ paternity scandal.

Even Wozniak himself had to hire security personnel to keep safe from potential accidents.

"Haha, Wozniak isn’t antisocial; he just can’t be bothered," Wang Jian chuckled and shook his head.

Unlike these people, he had fewer relatives and friends.

His villa on the Upper West Side should be secure enough.

Unless he was as unlucky as Polanski’s wife and got targeted by some brainless but meticulous criminals.

Yet in all these years in Beverly Hills, there had only been one such vile incident.

Wang Jian shook his head and cast the thought out of his mind.

"Ladies and gentlemen: The aircraft has come to a complete stop. Please disembark through the forward entry door. Thank you!" came the flight attendant’s voice.

"Wang," Tom asked while gathering his luggage, "are you going straight home, or to the office in Flushing first?"

"Let’s head to the office first." Wang Jian also stood up and turned on his phone.

The incessant "beep beep beep" of notifications came through, and his phone vibrated nonstop.

What’s going on?

Wang Jian glanced at the screen and saw messages from Lynn, Lily, Matthew, and an unknown number.

But when he opened the messages, he was startled.

Little Gene had been kidnapped?

At that moment, the iconic Nokia ringtone sounded.

Wang Jian immediately pressed the answer button and heard a voice that sounded like a rap by an African artist.

"Mr. Wang, the child called Gene is in our hands. Please do not panic."

"We’re not going to ask for much; just $500,000."

"I think for a billionaire like you, that’s a trivial sum, right?"

"Are you mistaken? Gene isn’t a relative of mine," Wang Jian stalled, while motioning to Tom with his lips to call 911.

"But you wrote his school recommendation letter, and you surely can’t deny your relationship with his mother?"

"We kidnapped him because of you. Otherwise, how much could Ms. Lily pay? $10,000?"

"And that Gene’s biological father, the lawyer, probably can only offer $70,000 or $80,000?"

"Who exactly are you, and why do you know so much about these things?" Wang Jian asked immediately, thinking of Lily.

"Hehe, we of course have a certain relationship with Mr. Wang," the caller replied with a laugh, "but more importantly, right now, Mr. Wang, you should prepare the $500,000 in bearer bonds."

"You’ve lived in the Bronx District before. You know that here, people can die and no one cares."

"By the way, I heard that Ms. Lily helped you a lot before you became famous."

"I wonder how she’d feel having that help paid back with her son’s kidnapping?"

"Moreover, it’s said that Mr. Wang and Ms. Lily became lovers when he was still under 18."

"An official having relations with an underage criminal, that’s a serious crime, isn’t it?"

"Of course, with Mr. Wang’s influence, we would be thrown into jail. But Ms. Lily would probably be arrested too?"

"So does Mr. Wang think $500,000 is more important, or is his lover more important?"

El!!!

Wang Jian immediately made a judgment in his heart, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down.

"How should I give you the bearer bonds?"

"Don’t worry, we will contact Mr. Wang again after some time."

With that, the other party hung up the phone.

"Hello, hello!" Wang Jian shouted into the phone.

"Sir, do you need any help?" a flight attendant came over.

"No need!" Wang Jian picked up his handbag and hurriedly squeezed through the cabin door.

Tom, who was traveling with him, could only apologize to the other first-class passengers and followed Wang Jian out.

"What happened, Wang?" he asked Wang Jian as he sat in the car.

However, Wang Jian did not answer; he tore off a check and handed it to Tom, "Go to New York Bank right now and buy $500,000 in bearer bonds."

"Right, after you get the bonds, come find me at Lily’s apartment."

Then he let Tom out of the car and headed for Lily’s apartment himself.

To be honest, the kidnapper had caught Wang Jian’s weak spot.

Although he was very greedy and had little sympathy for unrelated people, he cared a great deal about those who had helped him.

Like Sarah, and like Lily.

Half an hour later, Wang Jian opened the car door and ran quickly toward Lily’s apartment.

"It’s all my fault, Wang." Lily ran into Wang Jian’s arms, sobbing, "Gene is missing."

"What’s the situation now?" Wang Jian asked.

"We haven’t received a ransom call yet." A police officer came over to Wang Jian’s side, "We suspect this is a random kidnapping, not motivated by money."

"It’s harder to solve these kinds of cases, but we’re still confident we can rescue Gene," said the officer respectfully.

So, only I have received a ransom demand?

Wang Jian’s brows furrowed all at once.

"Please, please hurry!" Lily’s voice was near breaking.

Telling the police about the ransom call could naturally speed up the investigation.

Catching the criminal could naturally result in rescuing Gene.

But it also meant that past events could be exposed, and Lily might end up in jail.

Or should I use $500,000 to trade for Gene and that secret from their hands?

If that could really be achieved, everything would be fine.

But El, he’s never been a trustworthy person!

After thinking for a while, Wang Jian patted Matthew on the shoulder and brought him into the bedroom.

Inside the bedroom, he disclosed the call he’d received and his rough speculation about the incident to Matthew.

"Mr. Wang, do you think this was orchestrated by your former roommate as blackmail against you?"

After seeing Wang Jian nod, Matthew pondered for a moment and asked, "So, how do you want to resolve this?"

"If it can be resolved with money, that’s the best, but the secret must be kept!"

"Keeping a secret?" Matthew furrowed his brow and looked at Wang Jian, "An African’s promise can’t be trusted."

"Only a dead African can really keep a secret."

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