CHAPTER 293: CHAPTER 293: CAN YOU FORGIVE?

"Well, do you want to eat or not?" Ruan Pianran asked sharply.

"I do, but I have something to do this afternoon." Chu Chen paused, raising an eyebrow, "How about you feed me?"

He has something to do but still insists on wasting time to send her home?

Hearing the first half of the sentence, Ruan Pianran found Chu Chen boring but felt a bit grateful. However, after hearing the second half, any goodwill vanished instantly, and she coldly said, "Eat if you want!"

With that, Ruan Pianran placed the small bread in the box between the driver’s seat and the passenger seat, then turned her head to look out of the window, seeing the car heading towards the school. Her expression turned colder.

"Did you investigate me?" Ruan Pianran asked coldly.

"Just inquired where you live, does that count as an investigation?" Chu Chen replied nonchalantly.

"..." Ruan Pianran didn’t rebut because she believed Chu Chen was telling the truth. However, it’s not because Chu Chen left a good impression on her; rather, she thought that someone as frivolous as Chu Chen, a rich young playboy, would disdain lying.

The car continued in silence for another five minutes, then took a turn, heading straight to the school gate five hundred meters away.

"Stop here." It would be school dismissal time soon, and Ruan Pianran didn’t want anyone to see Chu Chen dropping her off. Although she had done nothing to be ashamed of, as a teacher, she naturally had to be mindful of her influence.

This time, without assuming on his own, Chu Chen immediately stepped on the brake, pulling over to the roadside after Ruan Pianran spoke. Then he got out of the car, thoughtfully taking the suitcase out of the trunk and handing it to Ruan Pianran.

"Thank you." Taking the suitcase, Ruan Pianran thanked him lightly.

"I’m leaving. See you next time." Chu Chen gave a roguish smile. With his babyface yet an alluring bad boy charm, he waved his hand dashingly, turned around, circled the car, and got back in.

Knock, knock—

Chu Chen was putting on his seat belt when suddenly the car window was tapped. Through the glass, he saw Ruan Pianran’s beautiful face.

He reached out and pressed a button, lowering the window. In the next moment, Ruan Pianran’s face was unimpededly visible to him.

"Can’t bear to see me leave?" Chu Chen teased, looking at Ruan Pianran.

"Do you think that’s possible?" Ruan Pianran responded coolly, raising her hand to pass a few red yuan bills through the window.

Seeing the money in Ruan Pianran’s hand, Chu Chen’s smile instantly vanished. "Do you think I lack money?" It was the first time Chu Chen ever wanted to be nice to a woman, yet not only did she not appreciate it, but also tried to brush him off with money!

Chu Chen was arrogant by nature, used to spending money on others, never the other way around.

"I know you don’t lack money. If you don’t have time to eat now, then eat when you do. Thanks for dropping me off. Take care on the road." With that, Ruan Pianran placed the money on the passenger seat and stepped back a few steps, glancing at Chu Chen’s expressionless face. She paid no mind to his mood and dragged her suitcase, heading straight for the school gate.

The tree-lined avenue in March was full of pink blossoms. As the wind blew, colorful petals slowly fell, with some landing on Ruan Pianran, more tracing arcs in the air and falling onto the sidewalk, covering the ground in pink.

The car remained idle for quite a while. Chu Chen sat inside, staring at Ruan Pianran’s retreating figure. The falling petals created a beautiful scene, yet Ruan Pianran’s aura was cold as ice. Beautiful and unapproachable, she completely shut him out of her world.

Knock, knock—

So engrossed in watching, it took several taps on the window before Chu Chen snapped back to reality. Turning his head, he saw a uniformed traffic cop signaling for him to roll down the window.

Whoosh—

The window lowered in response, and the traffic cop stared inside at Chu Chen, frowning, "You cannot park here."

"I know." Chu Chen replied indifferently.

Hearing this, the traffic cop’s face darkened, and he scolded, "Then why park here if you know?"

"Because I want to!" Chu Chen lifted his eyebrows and replied flippantly. With that, he quickly stepped on the gas, and the car shot forward like an arrow, speeding several meters instantaneously!

"Hey! Stop!" The cop wasn’t slow to react, but the situation was so sudden that all he could do was watch the car speed away.

Hearing the loud shout, Ruan Pianran, who hadn’t gone far, turned around in time to see a familiar car zoom past. Then came the ear-piercing siren as a traffic cop’s car chased after Chu Chen’s vehicle!

What just happened?

Ruan Pianran frowned, her eyes following the cop’s motorcycle until it disappeared around a bend ahead, leaving no trace.

After a moment of confusion, Ruan Pianran calmed down. She wasn’t worried about Chu Chen; with his car’s specs, it was impossible for the cop to catch up. Even if he were unlucky and got stopped, she figured he would find a way out.

"Ruanruan."

Still lost in thought, Ruan Pianran walked to the school gate, only to be stopped by a familiar call.

Following the voice, she saw a petite middle-aged woman. The woman was neatly dressed and looked well, but her eyes flickered as if she had done something wrong and was guilty.

"Auntie." Ruan Pianran pulled her suitcase and greeted the woman as usual.

"Ruanruan, Mingyuan, he..."

"Auntie, if there’s something to discuss, let’s talk inside." Glancing at the students pouring towards the school gate, Ruan Pianran interrupted Mrs. An with a smile and led her inside the school.

This was a prestigious junior high school in Cili, with a beautiful environment and comprehensive facilities, including teacher dorms. Ruan Pianran rarely went home. Since returning to Cili for work after graduating from university, she stayed in the dorm even during winter and summer breaks.

Ruan Pianran’s dorm was on the third floor. Since she lived alone, she had few things and kept the place clean and well-organized, making the space look spacious and comfortable.

"Auntie, have some water." Having been away for two days, there was no cold water in the dorm, so Ruan Pianran took a bottle of mineral water from the fridge and handed it to Mrs. An.

"Thank you." Feeling guilty about her son’s irresponsible actions, Li Ling was slightly embarrassed in front of Ruan Pianran.

After being with An Mingyuan for over ten years, Ruan Pianran was naturally familiar with his parents. Li Ling was a full-time housewife, entirely focused on An Mingyuan and Mr. An. Like most mothers, she fervently hoped her only son would achieve success and bring honor to the family. Thus, when she found out about their relationship, Li Ling strongly opposed it, adamantly declaring that students must not date! Presumptuously, she assumed that a girl like Ruan Pianran, having average grades and dating early, couldn’t be good and would lead her son astray. She even had private talks with Ruan Pianran, repeatedly warning her to stay away from her son, her manner very forceful and uncompromising!