"Miss Su, what urgent matter brings you here to see me so abruptly?"
Pei Shaoze looked the woman up and down, his tone less than friendly.
Su Sinian had long heard of Pei Shaoze's eccentric temper. She cleared her throat and forced a smile. "President Pei, could you spare a moment to discuss some work matters with me?"
"Do you think the Ding Sheng Group has become so idle?"
"President Pei, I believe that after you hear me out, you'll have a different view of the Su family."
A hint of determination gleamed in Su Sinian's eyes.
Pei Shaoze glanced at his watch and said flatly, "I have half an hour for lunch."
"That's plenty of time."
A faint smile appeared on Su Sinian's face.
They chose a restaurant near the company. Pei Shaoze waited calmly for Su Sinian to get to the point.
"President Pei, I've heard a bit about what happened at today's meeting."
Su Sinian gripped the teacup in front of her, looking somewhat nervous.
"Miss Su is quite well-informed."
Pei Shaoze narrowed his handsome eyes, exuding a dangerous aura.
Su Sinian quickly waved her hands in explanation. "Don't misunderstand, President Pei. I just have a friend who works at the company, and I asked a few questions."
Pei Shaoze raised an eyebrow. "Miss Su went to all this trouble to invite me out, just to say such trivial nonsense?"
"President Pei... about that matter from back then, I just wanted to ask—does that old promise still hold?"
Su Sinian tightly clutched the cup in her hands.
"Back then?"
Pei Shaoze frowned, then smiled calmly. "So that's what Miss Su is after."
Unable to read the expression on Pei Shaoze's face, Su Sinian cleared her throat and said slowly, "President Pei, back when your wife was still around..."
"The Pei family doesn't go back on their word. We'll do our utmost to fulfill what we promised. I'll seriously consider the cooperation with the Su family."
A chill flickered in Pei Shaoze's eyes.
"Then I'll thank President Pei in advance."
Hearing this response, Su Sinian's tightly wound heart gradually relaxed.
Pei Shaoze glanced at his watch, felt the time was right, and without lingering, got up and left the restaurant.
Su Banxia sat in the office, casually ordering takeout, her mind completely absorbed in work.
All these documents were far from perfect; each proposal had some flaws here and there. Flipping through them one by one, Su Banxia still learned quite a bit.
Watching the pile on her right slowly grow taller, Su Banxia felt a strong sense of accomplishment.
"The Su family?"
Picking up the next file, Su Banxia saw the contract displayed on it, and her hand froze involuntarily.
Was the Su family also cooperating with Ding Sheng Group?
"Working so slowly? Is this all you've managed to get through in a whole morning?"
Pei Shaoze pushed the door open and saw the small head buried in a mountain of files, letting out a cold snort.
"I'm just a secretary, of course I can't handle these professional matters as fast as President Pei."
Su Banxia lowered her eyes, gritting her teeth in frustration.
Pei Shaoze said coldly, "As my personal secretary, everything must be flawless! If you can't finish these files today, don't even think about leaving this office!"
Su Banxia clenched her teeth in anger. "Rest assured, President Pei, I still have some professional integrity!"
Glancing at Su Banxia, Pei Shaoze said nothing and walked straight to the president's seat, casually picking up a file to pretend to read.
But secretly, his eyes couldn't help stealing glances at Su Banxia. The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a glow on her that added a touch of beauty.
Pei Shaoze reached for his water glass and found it empty.
"As my personal secretary, is this how you handle things? You can't even manage your boss's daily needs."
Su Banxia looked up at him in confusion, wondering what he was picking on now.
When she saw where he was pointing, she couldn't help gritting her teeth and said bitterly, "I'll get it right away."
"This time, I want coffee with less sugar—not too sweet, but not too bitter either."
"Got it."
Su Banxia clutched the cup tightly, cursing him under her breath.
So many demands just for a cup of coffee—did he think he was an emperor?
She quickly went to the break room, brewed the coffee swiftly, and handed the cup to Pei Shaoze.
"President Pei, your coffee, with a bit of sugar. I hope it meets your satisfaction?"
Su Banxia put on a standard smile.
"Just put it there."
Pei Shaoze said coldly without looking up.
Su Banxia carefully set the cup down and immediately returned to her desk.
With Pei Shaoze's interruption, who knew how much more time she'd waste.
Bending over her desk, Su Banxia continued flipping through files, but the growling of her stomach kept breaking her concentration.
It was already past one in the afternoon. She'd eaten breakfast early and hadn't had lunch yet—no wonder she was hungry!
Looking down at the takeout she'd just ordered on her phone, she was surprised to find it had already been signed for.
Startled, Su Banxia couldn't help looking up at the culprit sitting in his seat.
Damn it!
That wretched capitalist!
Su Banxia wished she could throw the files in her hands right at his face.
Feeling the intense gaze from across the room, Pei Shaoze looked up and glanced at her sideways. "Is there a problem, Secretary Su?"
"Did a delivery guy just come by?"
Su Banxia tried her best to suppress her emotions, asking with a forced smile.
"Yeah, he came."
Pei Shaoze's voice was flat.
"Then where is he?"
Su Banxia's emotions flared up.
Pei Shaoze shot her a sidelong glance. "He left."
"He must have left something, right? Don't tell me that in the time it took me to get your coffee, my lunch just vanished into thin air?"
"That kind of junk food, I already threw it away."
Pei Shaoze said slowly, watching her flushed face.
"Pei Shaoze!"
Su Banxia clenched her teeth, breathing heavily.
Not only did this guy use his authority to force her to work, but he wouldn't even let her eat!
Was this how he bullied people?
"Secretary Su, yelling at your boss during work hours—are you trying to start a rebellion?"
Pei Shaoze raised an eyebrow.
"You're ruthless!"
Su Banxia swallowed her grievances and sat back down to continue reading the files. So what if she went hungry? One missed meal wouldn't kill her!
Watching her stubborn persistence, Pei Shaoze's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Why did this woman have to be so stubborn with him? Would it kill her to soften up a little?