"The process has taken long enough. If it were any faster, we might have a child by now."
Su Banxia spoke half-jokingly, half-seriously. She hadn't interacted much with Lin Haoran, but on the surface, she felt this man's heart wasn't entirely set on Fang Shiqing. Still, she wasn't the one involved and couldn't make decisions for Fang Shiqing—matters of the heart could only be understood through personal experience.
"Haoran isn't the type to mess around," Fang Shiqing said softly, her voice gentle.
"I'll say it again: think it through before continuing with him. I don't want you to get hurt." Su Banxia's eyes held a genuine sincerity.
Fang Shiqing nodded silently, though the flicker of longing in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. Knowing her persuasion was futile, Su Banxia had no choice but to let it be, resolving to keep a closer eye on things to prevent Fang Shiqing from suffering too much harm.
"It's getting late. Make sure you rest well."
Fang Shiqing glanced at the watch on her wrist and said with a faint smile.
The night passed without dreams. When Su Banxia woke up, the sky was just barely light. To make up for her neglect of the children, she personally cooked a hearty breakfast. By the time she finished, the other three gradually stirred awake.
"You've got quite the sense of responsibility!" Fang Shiqing remarked with a light laugh, catching the aroma wafting from the kitchen.
"Here, all your favorites." Su Banxia proudly presented the breakfast spread on the table.
Su Guoguo bounced over, her voice childish and sweet: "A kid with a mom is a treasure!"
Su Banxia couldn't help but laugh at her words, reaching out to gently tap her nose. "Go wash up. I'll take you and your brother to school later."
"Got it!" Su Guoguo made a funny face.
The family enjoyed a warm breakfast together. On the way to school, Su Banxia drove while Su Guoguo's dark eyes kept studying her. "Mom, will you pick me and my brother up from school tonight?"
"Well..." Su Banxia paused briefly, then smiled softly. "I can't promise you that for sure, but I'll do my best to make it back."
She only hoped Pei Shaoze wouldn't be too harsh today, but recalling how he'd come looking for her the other day, she feared the worst.
Su Guoguo pouted pitifully, then turned to look at Su Hao beside her.
"How long will this busy spell last this time?" Su Hao's small eyes flashed with a hint of displeasure.
"Mom has some debts to deal with, so... it might be a while." Su Banxia instinctively lowered her gaze, too guilty to meet her children's eyes.
"Mom, don't worry about owing that mean uncle money. Me and my brother decided we'll take time to work and pay it off for you, so you can spend more time with us, okay?" Su Guoguo said with a serious expression.
Hearing her daughter's words, even if Su Banxia's heart were made of stone, it would melt. "Silly girl, you're still young. Focusing on school is what matters."
"But we need you too, Mom. Other kids have their parents picking them up, but me and my brother don't." Su Guoguo's voice wavered, tears threatening to fall.
Su Banxia's nose stung with emotion, guilt weighing heavier on her. Because of her selfishness, her children had grown up without a father's love, and now, struggling to make ends meet, she feared she might fail to provide even a mother's care.
The mood among the three was somber throughout the ride. When they finally arrived at the school gate, Su Guoguo and Su Hao turned back to look at her—their small faces carrying an indescribable complexity.
Composing herself, Su Banxia returned to Ding Sheng Group. Dressed in her work attire, her presence exuded undeniable elegance.
"Secretary Su, you're late." Pei Shaoze's face darkened as he watched her walk in.
Su Banxia had anticipated being challenged. Taking a deep breath, she said calmly, "There are still 17 minutes until work starts. I'm not sure what kind of lateness you're referring to, President Pei?"
"As my personal secretary, this is the attitude you give me? It really makes me question your competence." Pei Shaoze's voice was icy.
"President Pei, I'll pay back the money I owe." Su Banxia clenched her fists, her expression resolute.
Seeing her like this, Pei Shaoze let out a faint laugh. "Your monthly salary as secretary doesn't even cover a fraction of that debt. How long do you plan to drag this out?"
Su Banxia's lips curled into a smile. "Then give me a deadline, President Pei. I'll find a way to gather the money within that time."
"Two years." Pei Shaoze held up two fingers, a sly glint in his eyes.
Su Banxia took another deep breath, forcing a slight smile. "Fine, two years it is. I'll pay it off—I won't default on you!"
"Words are empty."
"If you don't trust me, President Pei, let's put it in writing."
As she finished, Pei Shaoze slid a contract toward her. "Sign this."
Su Banxia picked it up suspiciously, flipping through a few pages. "Indenture contract"—those three words blazed into her sight, glaringly harsh.
"I'm just a secretary!"
"From the moment you owed me money, you've been more than just my secretary." Pei Shaoze leaned in, looking at her. "Or do you think, Secretary Su, that your salary alone can clear all my debts in two years?"
"I'll find a way to scrape together the money, but signing this indenture... sorry, I can't do it!" Su Banxia's fists tightened—this was her bottom line.
Pei Shaoze eyed her with interest. "Secretary Su, having backbone is a good thing, but being too stubborn without reading the room is just showing off."
Su Banxia turned her face away, refusing to engage. This man was utterly cunning!
"I'll wait for you to come begging me to sign this contract yourself." Pei Shaoze flashed a sinister smile, his eyes unreadable.
"Pei—"
"Make me a coffee, less sugar." Pei Shaoze cut her off without hesitation, pushing his cup toward her.
Su Banxia gritted her teeth and nodded. "I'll make sure to take good care of you, President Pei, during this time!"
Snatching the cup from the table, she stormed off to the break room, fuming. As she brewed the coffee, she cursed Pei Shaoze under her breath, running through his ancestors for generations, yet still feeling unsatisfied.