In the Shao family's study.
"Where are they?" Shao Wenyan asked his subordinate who had returned to report.
"They got away," the leading bodyguard said.
"Eight men, and you couldn't catch two people!" Shao Wenyan said coldly.
"The young master was injured. He forced us by harming himself. I saw his injuries were quite serious, so we didn't dare to push too hard, and they escaped," the leading bodyguard explained.
Shao Wenyan's expression was grave. He hadn't expected this outcome, but he didn't mince words: "Doesn't he get beaten up often enough? When did you become so soft-hearted?!"
The leading bodyguard fell silent.
"Are you not satisfied until you've driven Achen to his death?!" Mrs. Shao, who had been eavesdropping at the study door, couldn't help but push the door open upon hearing her son was injured.
Shao Wenyan frowned, "Why did you come in?"
"If I don't come in, you're going to drive your son to his death!" Mrs. Shao said.
Shao Wenyan: "When did I say I was going to drive him to his death! Is his current attitude right? Is there any integrity left? He agreed to a deal and then went back on his word!"
"Achen doesn't like Xue Bing at all, but you insisted on arranging it for him! Don't you know the state of our marriage yourself? And you still want to force your son into such a political marriage! Do you not care about your child, as if he didn't fall from your flesh and blood!" Mrs. Shao said.
Shao Wenyan was speechless. They had been married for so many years, maintaining a respectful distance. He actually thought it was fine and didn't understand why she felt it wasn't.
Moreover, he was quite concerned about his son's well-being, but his methods were learned from his own father.
After scolding her husband, Mrs. Shao completely ignored his displeasure and anxiously asked the leading bodyguard, "Where is Achen injured? Is it serious? Did they go to the hospital?"
Seeing Shao Wenyan's stern face, the leading bodyguard didn't know how to answer.
He was in a difficult position, fearing that if he said the injury wasn't to a vital area, his boss would continue to blame him for being soft-hearted and failing to capture them; yet, he also feared saying the injury was too severe and causing Mrs. Shao to worry.
"Say something!" Mrs. Shao, seeing his silence, her eyes reddened with anxiety, "If you won't talk, at least tell me where Achen was injured? I'll investigate the rest myself!"
The leading bodyguard looked at Shao Wenyan, waiting for his permission.
Shao Wenyan's frown deepened. He naturally didn't want his son to be in trouble.
But he also disliked his wife's excessive favoritism towards their son, spoiling him too much, making him irresponsible, always indulging in pleasure-seeking, and creating scandals, showing no qualities of a soldier.
If it weren't for his wife's indulgence, why would he have let their son leave the army back then and go into business, only to elope with a woman now!
"Madam, the young master is on the news!" At this moment, Hong Sao, Mrs. Shao's confidante, said from the study door.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Shao immediately went out.
Hong Sao handed her a tablet, showing a video of Shao Chen fighting with bodyguards at the gas station that night, which was filmed by passersby and posted online.
The heat surrounding the Shao family's prodigal son's elopement had not yet died down online. The melon-eating crowd was still waiting for an outcome, and now this had surfaced.
Several clips were taken, and Ruan Tianxin was also captured. Now, not only the onlookers but also Ruan Tianxin and Shao Chen's fans were in an uproar.
The two who had broken up for five years were actually back together!
And they eloped like this, wasn't this like an idol drama?!
The fans' discussions quickly pushed this matter to the trending news.
"Hong Sao, quickly! Send people to find the young master! Be discreet, don't alert them," Mrs. Shao said, putting down the tablet and immediately instructing Hong Sao.
Hong Sao, her confidante, understood her intention. If the master had already sent people to alert them and the young master was injured, any further loud search might alert them and affect the young master's recovery.
In the study, Shao Wenyan had also seen the news, his face darkening further, "Continue the investigation! No matter what, bring them back to me!"
"Yes!" the leading bodyguard replied.
Just as he was about to leave, Shao Wenyan called him back, "Also, find someone to take down this trending topic! Especially the news about Achen's injury."
The leading bodyguard instantly understood his meaning. Not only did they need to bring him back alive, but they also couldn't let enemies know that Shao Chen was injured, to prevent them from retaliating.
So, Master, you are also all bark and no bite, and you called him soft-hearted.
The next morning.
Mrs. Shao waited for news all night, unable to sleep, tossing and turning in bed. She finally got up early and discovered that Shao Wenyan had been sitting in the study all night and hadn't slept either.
Old Master Shao also got up exceptionally early, sitting at the dining table, reading the newspaper while waiting for breakfast.
When breakfast was ready, Shao Wenyan emerged from the study. Old Master Shao put down his newspaper and asked, "Still no news?"
He didn't name anyone, but Shao Wenyan and Mrs. Shao both knew he was asking about Shao Chen.
Before Shao Wenyan could speak, Hong Sao hurried in. Mrs. Shao knew she had found some information and said, "Just say it directly."
Hong Sao responded, "Madam, we've found out. The young master and Miss Ruan were injured in Haishi. After the young master was injured, he didn't go to the hospital. He went directly from Haishi to the port in Jinshi and boarded the Caribbean Ocean liner to R country at five this morning. The ship has been sailing for three hours, and it will be difficult to catch up now."
Upon hearing this, Old Master Shao's face immediately sank. Shao Wenyan's expression remained unchanged; he likely already knew this news.
"Then send a plane to chase them!" Mrs. Shao said anxiously.
He was injured and didn't go to the hospital, rushing to a cruise ship, and she didn't know if there was a doctor on board.
Hong Sao: "Okay, I'll arrange it."
Before she could leave, Shao Wenyan's assistant entered, looking flustered:
"Boss, there's some bad news just released online. Many netizens are spreading rumors that the Caribbean Ocean liner has sunk due to an incident!"
Mrs. Shao: "What?!"
"This is news just released online, and its authenticity is not yet confirmed. But I saw it has already become a trending topic," the assistant said, opening the Weibo trending topics.
Mrs. Shao immediately snatched the tablet, her fingers trembling as she swiped the screen. Netizens' messages were often faster than news. There were no photos of the shipwreck, but many netizens posted messages from friends on the ship, which made her heart sink considerably.
Before she could speak, Old Master Shao, sitting in the head seat, spoke first, "Quickly find someone to verify it!"
"Yes," Steward Shao replied and immediately went to make arrangements.
Soon, not only were there online rumors of the shipwreck, but the media also began reporting on it. At first, Mrs. Shao prayed it was just a rumor. Finally, even the cruise company issued a notice of the ship's sinking due to an incident, and Mrs. Shao's heart turned completely cold.
"Are you happy now? You've forced Achen to his death!" She couldn't help but cry, accusingly.
Old Master Shao stood up abruptly with a blank expression, making a phone call and returning to the study to arrange for rescue.
"Immediately send a navy to rescue the Caribbean Ocean liner!" Shao Wenyan also called his subordinates, arranging for immediate deployment to support, and he himself had already stood up and left.
Three days later, the Caribbean Ocean liner sank due to an incident, with no survivors, making headlines.