The Shao family was in disarray. Shao Chen had fled, and Old Master Shao had been so enraged he’d fainted. The birthday banquet was abruptly concluded.
The reporters, who had been anticipating a grand engagement announcement for the Shao family's heir, were initially disappointed. However, they soon unearthed an even bigger scoop: the Shao heir had eloped!
This news was far more explosive than any engagement, and it instantly went viral, topping the trending charts online. The public was abuzz with curiosity, wondering which woman possessed such allure to entice the heir into eloping with her.
In stark contrast to the lively online chatter, the atmosphere within the Shao household was one of profound silence. Old Master Shao sat rigidly in the main seat of the living room, his face a mask of fury. Facing him were the few individuals who had last seen Shao Chen, their expressions a mixture of awe and trepidation.
"Who did he run off with?" Old Master Shao's voice was a low growl as he surveyed them.
Madam Shao remained silent. In her eyes, her son's actions were incredibly bold! As long as it wasn't an arranged marriage, she supported her son's pursuit of true love. She even quite liked Ruan Tianxin and wondered how her father-in-law would complicate matters for them.
Seeing Madam Shao's reticence, the stylist and the servants also dared not speak, their heads bowed.
With no one responding, Old Master Shao turned to Steward Shao. "Steward Shao, have the surveillance cameras not yielded any results yet?"
Steward Shao knew Madam Shao was aware of the situation. He also knew she sided with the young master, and having watched Shao Chen grow up, he felt a degree of paternal affection for him. However, he was also indebted to Old Master Shao. Being the shrewd individual he was, he maintained a neutral stance, choosing to turn a blind eye.
"Replying to the Old Master, the household's surveillance cameras encountered some issues today, and it just so happened that the young master's departure was not captured," he replied.
"The household cameras are malfunctioning, and all the external cameras are down too?!" Old Master Shao's voice was sharp.
Steward Shao paused for three seconds. The Old Master was aging, but his mind was still sharp. "I will dispatch someone to investigate immediately," he said.
"Don't just investigate, bring him back to me!" Old Master Shao commanded sternly. Then he addressed Shao Wenyan, "Wenyan, you handle this!"
Shao Wenyan, Shao Chen's father, had long harbored reservations about his son's extravagant lifestyle. Madam Shao, seeing her father-in-law task her husband with this duty, grew worried. She knew her husband might not be any gentler with Shao Chen than his own father.
"Father, please don't be angry. You can't solely blame A-Chen for this," she quickly interjected, attempting to placate him. "An engagement requires mutual affection between two people. The mindset of today's youth is different from ours. We cannot force him." She continued, "Besides, Xuebing did not come today. Even if A-Chen hadn't run off, this engagement would not have gone through."
The mention of Yan Xuebing reminded Old Master Shao. He turned to Steward Shao, "Where is Xuebing? What is their explanation?"
"Miss Yan's unit had a sudden emergency, so she couldn't make it. She likely doesn't even know about this yet," Steward Shao replied.
Old Master Shao nodded. "It's good that she doesn't know."
His leniency struck Steward Shao as odd. He tentatively added, "However, Miss Yan did not inform us in advance that she wouldn't be coming."
"Emergencies in military units are usually urgent matters. It's understandable if she couldn't notify us," Old Master Shao stated.
Steward Shao: "..."
Madam Shao: "..."
Was the Old Master being too biased? Who was his actual grandson! She glanced at Shao Wenyan, hoping he would intercede on their son's behalf, but she soon realized her optimism was misplaced. Shao Wenyan was already on the phone, issuing instructions. "Freeze all his financial accounts. Deploy personnel to all airports, high-speed rail stations, train stations, bus terminals, and highway checkpoints in and around the capital. Once he's spotted, bring him back immediately." He refused to believe his son could sprout wings and fly away.
Madam Shao: "…………"
It seemed neither of them was his biological grandchild!
---
Three days later.
Ruan Tianxin and Shao Chen had been holed up in a small guesthouse for three days. After being separated for five years, their reunion was passionate, and they naturally focused on rekindling their affection. Once their initial fervor subsided, they began poring over a world map, planning their elopement destination.
"Let's go here, to the North Cape in Norway, known as the 'End of the World'," Ruan Tianxin marked a spot at the northernmost tip of Europe. She then showed Shao Chen photos of the North Cape she found online.
Shao Chen, with his arm around her waist, glanced at the pictures. "Alright, I'll go wherever you choose." All he wanted was to be with her; their destination was inconsequential.
Seeing his agreement, Ruan Tianxin enthusiastically began researching travel routes online. "You don't have your identification, so we'll have to drive to Tianjin first. I'll have someone arrange two cruise tickets for us, and we'll sail to Country R." Ruan Tianxin adjusted the plan she'd found online to their current circumstances and explained it to Shao Chen. "Once we reach Country R, it'll be easier. I can have someone arrange a new passport for you. From Country R, we'll fly to Tromsø, then take a train, leisurely traveling north and enjoying the scenery along the way."
The hurried departure that day, without his documents or phone, had turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Shao Chen. His family couldn't reach him, so he didn't have to worry about his grandfather's men capturing him. He checked the ferry schedules from Tianjin to Country R and chose the most suitable departure time. "I think this will work. We depart at midnight tonight. I'll drive, and you can sleep in the car. By the time we arrive at dawn, we can board."
"Okay! I'll sleep first. You drive the first half of the night, and I'll take the second half," Ruan Tianxin said. She understood his concerns about being recaptured by the Shao family, but she felt no fear. In fact, she found this kind of fugitive journey thrilling.
"We'll do it as soon as possible." With time to spare, they went to a nearby restaurant for dinner, then to a mall to buy some change of clothes and stock up on non-perishable food and water for the journey. For easier communication, Ruan Tianxin also used her ID to get an extra SIM card and bought a new phone for Shao Chen.
With everything prepared, at 11:30 PM, they drove to a gas station to fill up the car before setting off.
"Don't move!"
As Shao Chen stepped out of the car to refuel, eight heavily armed bodyguards suddenly emerged from all directions, surrounding him and the car. Each of them held a gun, startling the refueling attendant, who immediately shut off the pump. Firing a gun at a gas station would have severe consequences.
Shao Chen immediately recognized the bodyguards as his father's men. His expression grew grim. He hadn't expected them to find him so quickly! He quickly moved to the driver's side. As he opened the car door and before he could get in, a bodyguard grabbed him from behind. Soon, he found himself outnumbered.
Seeing this, Ruan Tianxin's heart leaped into her throat. She was about to unbuckle her seatbelt to help when Shao Chen urgently called out, "Don't come down! You go on ahead! I'll meet you at the pier!"