"If you have something to say, just say it. No need to beat around the bush."
Pei Shaoze lifted his head and glanced sideways at her.
"Huh?"
Su Banxia was startled, a faint blush creeping onto her face. She cleared her throat and then slowly said, "Well... about that matter before, how are you planning to deal with the Ye family and Li Yi?"
Pei Shaoze's hand holding the pen paused slightly, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "Why are you suddenly concerned about this?"
Perhaps because the look in Pei Shaoze's eyes was too intense, Su Banxia's heart trembled for no reason. After a long pause, she continued, "Since this involves me, I think I have a right to be concerned."
"Someone dares to mess with my employee right under my nose. What do you think their fate will be?"
Pei Shaoze gave her a cool glance.
"Your thoughts are so unpredictable, how am I supposed to guess?"
Su Banxia muttered under her breath, her voice too low for Pei Shaoze to catch.
Noticing her unease, he pressed further, "Secretary Su, what method do you plan to use to punish them?"
"Me?"
Su Banxia was taken aback, then smiled. "Let's be lenient where we can. I don't think they've committed any major offense, so..."
"Are you always this saintly in your dealings, Secretary Su?"
Pei Shaoze gave her a deep look, his intense gaze as if trying to see right through her.
Su Banxia instinctively turned her face away, looking flustered. "After all, I've known Ye Hengtian for a while. What he did pains me, but I don't want to see him destroyed."
A chill flashed in Pei Shaoze's eyes. "Defending him like this—how much did he pay you?"
"Do you have to assume everyone's heart is so dirty and vile?"
Su Banxia glared at him, clearly annoyed.
"Oh?"
Pei Shaoze looked at her with interest, waiting for her to continue.
Su Banxia unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes, stiffening her neck as if resigned to her fate. "Ye Hengtian did deceive and set me up, that's true. But he was kind to me in some ways before, so I don't want things to end badly between us."
She paused mid-sentence, sneaking a glance at Pei Shaoze's expression. Seeing no change, she gathered her courage and went on.
"I've only been back in the country for a short time. I don't have many friends, but plenty of enemies. I don't want to make more. As for Ye Hengtian, consider this my plea for leniency, to settle all past debts between us."
Listening to Su Banxia's "heartfelt words," Pei Shaoze's expression turned intriguing.
"If you're not willing, Mr. Pei, that's fine. I just wanted to speak my mind."
Su Banxia quickly lowered her head, pretending to organize the documents in front of her.
"Your saintly attitude really moves me, Secretary Su!"
Pei Shaoze snorted coldly.
The atmosphere in the office plummeted to freezing. Su Banxia dared not bring up the topic again.
Finally, when it was time to clock out, Su Banxia timidly looked toward the man in the CEO's seat.
"Finish processing these files before you leave!"
Pei Shaoze stood up, tossing a stack of documents in front of her. Without waiting for her reply, he turned and left the office.
Su Banxia stared at the mountain of paperwork before her, gritting her teeth and cursing Pei Shaoze from head to toe in her mind.
By the time she finished all the files, it was completely dark. Su Banxia grabbed her handbag and hurried out of the company.
Ye Hengtian seemed to have timed it perfectly, blocking her path just as she stepped out.
"What are you doing here?"
Su Banxia looked at him warily.
"I'm here to thank you, Secretary Su."
Ye Hengtian's lips curled into a sly smile.
Su Banxia frowned, stepping back to keep her distance. "What thanks are you talking about, Mr. Ye?"
Ye Hengtian smiled calmly. "Mr. Pei really listens to you. The Ye family was in deep trouble, but thanks to your kind words, he let us off the hook."
"What? What do you mean?"
Su Banxia felt her mind go blank, unable to keep up.
"I came specifically to thank you, Miss Su. I hope we can still be friends from now on."
Ye Hengtian extended his hand, looking earnest.
"Hah! Being friends with a hypocrite like you, I'm afraid it'll shorten my life."
Su Banxia shot him a cold glare and walked past him without another word.
Ye Hengtian watched her retreating figure, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes. This drama was more thrilling than he had imagined.
After shaking off Ye Hengtian, Su Banxia felt restless on her way home. According to what he said, had Pei Shaoze immediately acted on her words?
Somehow, the thought brought her an inexplicable sense of comfort.
Suddenly, Su Banxia felt that Pei Shaoze wasn't as detestable as he seemed on the surface.
Their relationship was subtly shifting. Su Banxia no longer felt the same aversion toward Pei Shaoze.
Pei Shaoze was quite satisfied with this change. Packing up his things, he glanced at Su Banxia, who was buried in her work, and said calmly, "We have a contract signing with the Qin family tonight. I hope you'll accompany me, Secretary Su."
"Contract signing?"
Su Banxia instinctively looked up and refused, "I don't think I'm suited for that kind of occasion. I know nothing about contracts."
"As my personal secretary, why wouldn't you be suitable?"
Pei Shaoze raised an eyebrow.
Su Banxia gave an awkward smile. "With you, Mr. Yan, and the sales team there, isn't that enough?"
For something she wasn't good at, going would just be a waste of time.
"Are you bargaining with me, Secretary Su? Don't forget, you still owe the company 1.3 million."
Pei Shaoze's cold words cut off her refusal before she could voice it.
Su Banxia cleared her throat, and under Pei Shaoze's oppressive presence, she finally nodded in agreement.
Who could blame her for being in such deep debt?
Seeing her nod, Pei Shaoze's expression softened slightly.
After organizing all the contracts, Su Banxia followed closely behind Pei Shaoze as they headed to the dinner meeting.