Chapter 40: My Mother-in-Law Told Me to Stay Away from Her Daughter

Chen Fan looked down at the red string bracelet on his wrist.

Then, he looked back up at Su Ruochu standing right in front of him.

A mixture of tears and laughter played across his face.

He felt both emotional and deeply amused.

His amusement naturally stemmed from Su Ruochu’s words just moments ago.

He had never imagined that Su Ruochu could be so sentimental, letting a movie carry her emotions away to such an extent.

She had even mustered the courage to confess her most heartfelt and genuine thoughts to him.

His surging emotions, on the other hand, were entirely because of the bracelet on his wrist.

In his past life, Chen Fan had soared to the pinnacle of success, his wealth rivaling nations.

Countless beauties had surrounded him, and money had come and gone like fleeting smoke.

Yet none of it interested him; he had lived like a walking corpse.

Even at the very end of his life,

Chen Fan had donated every penny of his fortune, holding onto only one thing as he drew his final breath.

It was this exact red string bracelet.

Simply because Su Ruochu had given it to him.

It was the token of their mutual affection.

Chen Fan had cherished it above all else.

Reborn into his youth, Chen Fan had found Su Ruochu once again.

Gradually, he had even pushed the matter of the red string bracelet to the back of his mind.

Yet, he never expected that history would repeat itself down to the smallest detail.

Su Ruochu had once again given him the exact same red string bracelet as a token of love.

The only difference was that this time, it had happened at least two years earlier than in his previous life.

Gently stroking the red thread on his wrist, Chen Fan suddenly reached out and pulled Su Ruochu straight into his embrace.

"Don't worry, I will never break up with you in this lifetime."

Su Ruochu’s pretty face flushed slightly, and she scolded playfully, "Stop messing around. I'm still holding snacks, you'll get them all over my clothes..."

Refusing to let go, Chen Fan gently buried his forehead into her soft hair.

"Let me hold you just a little longer."

"Ruochu."

Buried in his arms, Su Ruochu answered softly, "Hmm."

"I missed you so much."

"I know."

"I..."

Before Chen Fan could finish, a cold voice suddenly interrupted them.

"Ruochu!"

The sudden voice made Su Ruochu shudder, and she hurriedly pushed Chen Fan away.

With a look of sheer astonishment, she stared at the private car parked by the roadside and the woman standing beside it.

"Mom..."

Panic washed over Su Ruochu's face, and she cast a nervous glance at Chen Fan.

Chen Fan, meanwhile, cast an unexpected look at Lin Wanxiu, who had appeared out of nowhere.

In his past life, he had known of Lin Wanxiu, but the two of them had never officially met.

Lin Wanxiu was dressed in a grey business suit, her long hair pinned up in a neat bun, giving her a sharp and capable air.

Her makeup was exquisitely applied, concealing any trace that she was a woman in her forties.

At this moment, Lin Wanxiu was glaring furiously at Chen Fan and Su Ruochu, her gaze sharp enough to devour them alive.

"Mom..."

Su Ruochu hurried over, hoping to smooth things over and prevent her mother from blowing a fuse by acting cute.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

Lin Wanxiu glanced at her daughter and let out a cold snort.

"Didn't you tell me you were going to your classmate's house to hang out?"

"Hmph, if I hadn't happened to pass by, I suppose you would have kept me in the dark indefinitely."

"You've grown bold, haven't you? Learning how to lie and deceive your mother..."

Su Ruochu’s face turned beet red, panic creeping into her voice. "Mom, let me explain..."

"Shut your mouth!"

"Get in the car right now and wait for me there."

"Mom, you..."

Lin Wanxiu suddenly glared at her.

"I told you to go wait in the car! Did you not hear me?"

"Or have you stopped listening to me altogether?"

Stubbornly standing her ground, Su Ruochu felt her eyes prick with tears.

At that moment, Chen Fan stepped forward.

"Auntie, please don't be angry..."

Lin Wanxiu suddenly locked her gaze on Chen Fan.

"Is there any room for you to speak here? Stand aside."

Chen Fan glanced at Su Ruochu, offered a helpless, bitter shrug, and stepped to the side.

Su Ruochu grew indignant. "Mom, why are you doing this? Why are you losing your temper at him without even knowing the facts?"

"Without knowing the facts?" Lin Wanxiu let out a cold laugh.

"I have eyes of my own. Didn't I just see it with my own eyes?"

Seeing her daughter choked with embarrassment and at a loss for words, Lin Wanxiu pointed a finger at the nearby car.

"Get in the car right now, before you push me to lose my temper."

Chen Fan quietly exchanged a look with Su Ruochu, signaling her to obey.

Only then did Su Ruochu stamp her foot in frustration, turn around, and get into the car.

This interaction only served to make Lin Wanxiu even angrier.

Her own daughter wouldn't listen to a word she said, yet she obeyed this brat's every gesture unconditionally.

How could any mother be happy seeing that?

"You, come with me."

Furious, Lin Wanxiu walked a few paces away.

Chen Fan followed and asked proactively, "Auntie, is there something you want to say to me?"

"You're in the same class as my daughter?"

"Yes."

Chen Fan nodded, "Not only the same class, we're seatmates too."

"Which one of you chased the other?"

"I chased her."

Lin Wanxiu stared down at Chen Fan from her height, adopting the exact posture of an interrogator questioning a criminal.

"How long have you two been hooking up?"

Chen Fan frowned, a flicker of displeasure crossing his features.

"Auntie, you can say whatever you like to me, but talking about your own daughter that way isn't very nice, is it?"

"I don't need you to lecture me," Lin Wanxiu sneered.

"Answer my question."

Chen Fan sighed.

"Not long. Ruochu only agreed during the final three days before the national college entrance exams."

Lin Wanxiu stared at him fixedly, as if trying to pierce through any potential lies.

"Have you... crossed any lines with my daughter?"

Glancing at the woman, Chen Fan hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.

"No."

Lin Wanxiu visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Stay away from her!"

"From now on, keep your distance from my daughter."

Chen Fan raised his head to meet her gaze.

"Why?"

"Why?" Lin Wanxiu gave a cold, derisive smile.

"Do you think you are worthy of being with my daughter?"

"She is young and naive, easily deceived, but I won't let my daughter be fooled."

"Things end between you two right here, and don't harbor any unrealistic thoughts for the future."

"There is no way I will ever let my daughter be with you."

Chen Fan smiled as well.

"I'm sorry. I can't do that."

Lin Wanxiu stared at Chen Fan for several long seconds before speaking abruptly.

"I've looked into your background."

"Your academic performance has always been mid-tier in your class. While you had a sudden burst of abnormal performance on the college entrance exam and scored well,"

"In my eyes, that amounts to nothing."

"I also know your parents are country folk, living in a self-built one-story house, and your financial conditions are far from ideal."

"Do you really think, given your background, that you are a suitable match for my daughter?"

Chen Fan countered, "Does love really have to be tethered to material wealth?"

Lin Wanxiu let out a sharp, mocking laugh.

"Saying something like that just proves how young and naive you truly are."

"I won't waste any more breath on you."

"One word: leave my daughter, and I can offer you financial compensation."

"I can cover your tuition fees for all four years of university."

Hearing this, Chen Fan couldn't help but smile.

"You are an elder, and I respect you for that, so I will repeat my stance to you one last time."

"I will not break up with Su Ruochu."

"In this lifetime, she is the only woman I will ever marry."

"Auntie, you might not know much about who I am yet, but that's fine—we will have plenty of time to get along in the future."

"In a few years, after we graduate from college and get married, you will be my mother-in-law. When that day comes, I will personally prove to you that I am worthy of your daughter."

With those words, Chen Fan gave a slight, polite bow.

Then he turned and walked away.

Watching his retreating figure, Lin Wanxiu narrowed her eyes, her expression dark and gloomy.

Finally, she let out a cold snort and turned away herself.

"He may not be old, but he certainly has an oversized ego."