Stalemate!

With Lu Yiliang’s arrival, the situation among the three men became even more tense. Shang Yao’s anger was reaching the boiling point, and it seemed like he was on the verge of losing control.

Lu Yiliang withdrew his gaze and stopped looking at Ning Chen. Instead, he turned to Shang Yao and said, “You don’t deserve her.”

Shang Yao’s forehead was throbbing with anger. “Get out!” he said in a harsh tone.

Neither Ning Chen nor Lu Yiliang moved. “We can leave, but you need to explain why Ruan Yuexi suddenly disappeared,” Ning Chen insisted.

Lu Yiliang echoed this sentiment. “Ruan Yuexi loves you so much. She wouldn’t just leave suddenly. You are the main culprit here,” he added.

Shang Yao, faced with their accusations and questions, commanded, “Call security and have them throw them out.” He showed no mercy in his intent to remove them.

Lu Yiliang and Ning Chen were forcibly dragged out. Secretary Fang, watching the scene unfold, was relieved that the situation was being resolved but worried about the aftermath. Shang Yao’s intense gaze followed them as they left.

“Don’t call Ruan Yuexi by such intimate names again!” Shang Yao warned, clearly enraged.

Lu Yiliang, who had a relatively calm temper, didn’t react much. However, Ning Chen was different. “Shang Yao, just wait. If I hadn’t rejected Ruan Yuexi back then, she wouldn’t have been yours!”

Shang Yao’s rage flared up again. “If he says one more word, throw him out!”

Ning Chen’s anger was further provoked by Shang Yao’s cold words. “I will come to your doorstep, Shang Yao. Ruan Yuexi belongs to me. Don’t think you can touch a single hair on her!”

Shang Yao’s face darkened, his anger nearly reaching a murderous intensity.

The office door closed, and Ning Chen’s voice gradually faded away.

Secretary Fang observed the chaos with a mix of relief and concern. The situation seemed like a dramatic play, but whether it posed any real danger depended on the president’s decisions. Where could the madam be?

Shang Yao’s face remained stormy with frustration. His mind replayed the scenes of them getting close to Ruan Yuexi, realizing they had exploited the situation.

Unable to contain his anger, Shang Yao slammed his fist onto the office desk, causing a loud crash that startled Secretary Fang. The president had finally lost his temper.

Meanwhile, in Lanting City, Ruan Yuexi was completely unaware of the commotion she had caused. She was thoroughly enjoying her newfound freedom, indulging in whatever she wanted, and living right by the beach in a blissful state.

She could not be more content with her life, and she had no idea that outside, people were desperately searching for her. Her escape was so successful that no one had been able to track her down. She had managed to pick the perfect time to leave, and without it, she might have been found in a few days.

Ning Residence

“Grandpa!” Ning Chen rushed to his grandfather, old Master Ning. Seeing Ning Chen’s injuries, Ning Laozu was deeply distressed and repeatedly expressed his concern.

“Who did this to you?” Old Master Ning demanded angrily, ready to take action against the culprit.

Ning Chen acted like a spoiled child while sitting next to Grandpa Ning. “Grandpa, it was Shang Yao who beat me. Look how badly he beat me. I’m bleeding.”

Old Master Ning was taken aback when he heard Shang Yao’s name. After a moment of shock, he sighed, “Why did you have to provoke Shang Yao of all people? I can’t help you with this.”

Ning Chen: “…” You didn’t say that a few seconds ago…

“Just consider it your bad luck.” Old Master Ning refused his request for help. Shang Yao was not someone to be trifled with. Although he was young, his methods were ruthless and sophisticated.

He could go to Shang Yao for this matter, and Shang Yao might give him some face, but he would inevitably suppress Ning Chen again.

Ning Chen was left speechless. “Grandpa, how can you say that? Your own grandson was beaten, and instead of seeking justice, you tell me to just accept my bad luck?”

Old Master Ning, not willing to engage further, dismissed Ning Chen’s complaint. “I know Shang Yao’s character. Even though he is ruthless, he wouldn’t just hit someone without a reason. You must have provoked him.”

“How could I have provoked him?” Ning Chen countered. “Don’t you know how Shang Yao has treated Ruan Yuexi? Now she’s missing, and I was so angry that I lost my temper.”

Old Master Ning was taken aback. “What? Ruan Yuexi is missing?” He was shocked and immediately got up.

Ning Chen nodded. “She’s been missing for several days now. Shang Yao has used all his resources, and I’ve been searching tirelessly for over a day, but there’s still no trace of her. It’s as if she vanished into thin air.”

Old Master Ning was alarmed. He had always liked Ruan Yuexi. “This is serious,” he said, hurrying to stand up.

Ning Chen asked, “Grandpa, where are you going?”

“To Shang’s residence!” Old Master Ning responds urgently.

Ning Chen followed closely. “I’m coming with you.”

They arrived at the Shang residence in a rush. Luo Yuqin and Shang Lie were having dinner when they were unexpectedly visited by the two men. Luo Yuqin was confused. “Old Master Ning? What’s going on?”

Old Master Ning, looking anxious, said, “Shang Lie’s wife, there’s been a major incident!” He could see that the couple was unaware of the gravity of the situation.

Luo Yuqin quickly stood up, “What happened?” She approached them with concern.

Old Master Ning realized that Shang Yao had likely kept this from them. Shang Lie remained indifferent but curious.

As Old Master Ning took a seat on the sofa with Luo Yuqin and Shang Lie following, he explained, “Don’t you know that the Ruan family’s daughter is missing?”

Luo Yuqin and Shang Lie exchanged confused glances, clearly unaware of this news.

“Ruan Yuexi is missing? Are you sure, old Master Ning?” Luo Yuqin asked, unable to believe it. Wasn’t everything fine before?

Ning Chen added, “Ruan Yuexi has been missing for several days. Shang Yao probably didn’t want you to know.”

Luo Yuqin was shocked. “How could this happen?” She picked up the phone and dialed a number.

“Ruan Yuexi is missing?” Luo Yuqin’s voice was filled with anxiety as she waited for an answer.

Shang Yao, on the other end of the line, paused for a moment before confirming with a curt “Hmm,” without offering any details.

Luo Yuqin sank into the sofa, feeling helpless. “What’s going on? How could she just disappear?” She was distraught, unable to imagine the dangers a young woman might face alone.

Ning Chen, seeing Luo Yuqin’s anger directed at Shang Yao, smirked. “Shang Yao, you’ve got yourself into quite a situation. Just wait—Ruan Yuexi’s grievances won’t go unaddressed.”

Despite Shang Yao’s explanations over the phone, Luo Yuqin was not convinced.

“Get back here immediately!” Luo Yuqin ended the call with a furious expression.

Ning Chen seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. “Actually, Ruan Yuexi left because she saw something she couldn’t accept, which led to her disappearance.” He hesitated as he spoke to Luo Yuqin and Shang Lie.

Luo Yuqin was already extremely agitated. “What exactly happened?” Her anxiety was palpable.

“It’s because she saw Shang Yao with another woman, which drove her to leave home and go missing,” Ning Chen reluctantly revealed.

Luo Yuqin was appalled by such behavior, especially coming from her own son. The news was so shocking that she nearly collapsed from the emotional strain.