"Brother usually spends his time on the computer studying all kinds of programs."
Su Guoguo said in her childish voice, feeling very proud of Su Hao's skill.
When it came to her son's hobby, Su Banxia couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. She still hadn't confronted him about the time he hacked into the Dingcheng Group.
Thinking of this, she cleared her throat and said slowly, "He just likes to play around with the computer occasionally."
"Oh?"
Pei Shaoze suddenly became interested.
"Brother's computer skills are amazing. There's basically nothing he can't do."
Su Guoguo sat there narrating, completely unaware that she had already sold her brother out.
Su Hao shot her a glance, then lowered his head and continued eating. Su Banxia also quickly ducked her head, not daring to look over.
Pei Shaoze keenly sensed the change in the two of them, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Guoguo, tell Uncle properly—just how impressive is your brother's skill?"
"Ah, well, Guoguo, is this hotpot enough for you? These fish balls are your favorite, have a taste."
Su Banxia hurriedly added a few dishes to Guoguo's bowl.
"But Mom, I can't eat anymore."
Su Guoguo looked at the fish balls in her bowl, rubbing her belly in frustration.
Su Banxia smiled gently. "It's okay. Get up and walk around a bit, and you'll be able to eat more. How about Mom takes you out for a stroll?"
With that, Su Banxia turned back and winked at Su Hao.
Su Hao was smart enough to stall Pei Shaoze.
Catching the instruction in Su Banxia's eyes, Su Hao stood up with a bit of a headache, smiled at Pei Shaoze, and said, "Uncle Pei, will you stay here and eat with me?"
Seeing the strange atmosphere among the three, Pei Shaoze naturally understood the reason behind it. He didn't say much, just raised an eyebrow and nodded in agreement.
Su Banxia immediately pulled Guoguo out the door. Pei Shaoze was sharp; if he kept coaxing Guoguo to talk, he might pry out other things he shouldn't know.
Once outside the private room, Su Guoguo belatedly looked up at Su Banxia. "Mom, did I say something wrong just now?"
"Oh, you!"
Su Banxia sighed helplessly. "Luckily, Uncle Pei isn't a bad person. If it were a bad guy today, offering you food and asking these questions, would you tell him everything?"
"Guoguo wouldn't! Because Uncle Pei isn't a bad person, that's why I told him."
Su Guoguo lowered her head, speaking with some difficulty.
"Next time, you can't just blurt everything out. You need to know that your brother once hacked into Mom's company. If Uncle Pei finds out, your brother will be punished!"
Su Banxia said sternly. Of course, another reason she didn't want Guoguo to continue was her fear that Pei Shaoze might start guessing.
Pei Shaoze himself was a computer genius. If he found out that Su Hao, at such a young age, had such high-level skills, he would undoubtedly start suspecting things.
"Mom, Guoguo knows she was wrong. I won't say anything casually anymore."
Su Guoguo lowered her head, showing a good attitude in admitting her mistake.
"Silly child. Come on, Mom will take you for a walk around here."
Su Banxia affectionately tapped Su Guoguo's nose, and the two of them, one big and one small, strolled through the restaurant's backyard.
Meanwhile, inside the private room, the two of them ate with their heads down, neither speaking.
Su Hao occasionally looked up, sneaking a glance at Pei Shaoze.
Feeling the sharp gaze coming his way from time to time, Pei Shaoze finally put down his chopsticks and said calmly, "From the look of it, you don't like me?"
"Yeah."
Su Hao didn't beat around the bush and nodded directly.
Pei Shaoze licked his lips and asked with a faint smile, "Can I ask why?"
Su Hao looked up, shot him a sidelong glance, then lowered his head again without saying a word.
"It's okay if you don't say. I can guess."
Pei Shaoze looked at him with interest. "You're upset that I usually take up too much of your mom's time and don't let her spend it with you, right?"
"Yeah!"
Su Hao nodded again. If it weren't for Pei Shaoze monopolizing Su Banxia, he wouldn't have hacked into Dingcheng Group.
Pei Shaoze's lips curled slightly. "Then I'll make sure to give your mom plenty of time in the future, so she can find time to be with you."
Su Hao looked up at him, a clear note of disbelief in his eyes. "Really?"
"Didn't I let her come eat with you today?"
Pei Shaoze pointed at the table and smiled calmly.
"Do you like my mom?"
Su Hao looked at him and asked very seriously.
Pei Shaoze was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting Su Hao to throw that question at him.
Seeing no answer, Su Hao put down his chopsticks and said earnestly, "If you don't like Mom, then please don't get too close to her."
"Why?"
Pei Shaoze raised an eyebrow.
"Because Mom is very naive and kind. I don't want anyone to hurt her again."
Su Hao spoke slowly and deliberately.
"Oh? From the way you say that, has someone deceived your mom before?"
A hint of coldness flashed in Pei Shaoze's eyes.
Su Hao turned his face away, his expression darkening. "Guoguo and I have never had a dad since we were little. Mom raised us all by herself."
"No dad?"
Pei Shaoze seemed to catch something from those words. Su Banxia had insisted that Lin Tongze was the children's father, but it seemed there was a lot of water in that story.
"Back abroad, I saw with my own eyes how Mom worked while taking care of my little sister. She might be clumsy and mess up a lot of things, but there's no denying she's the best mom in the world!"
After a pause, Su Hao added, "So I don't want anyone to hurt her, including you."
"Don't worry, I have no intention of hurting your mom."
Pei Shaoze smiled and assured him.
"Then what's your purpose in getting close to my mom?"
Despite his young age, Su Hao's presence was no less imposing.
Pei Shaoze looked at the child and chuckled. "You'll find out later, but I can promise you, I don't mean to hurt your mom. On the contrary, I want to protect her more than anyone."
"So do you like Mom?"
Su Hao looked up and asked seriously again.
"If I say yes, would you support me being with your mom?"
Pei Shaoze asked very earnestly.
Su Hao frowned slightly and shook his head calmly. "I don't know."
"Then let me tell you clearly—I do like your mom. Your mom and I actually knew each other a long time ago. I don't know why she's been avoiding me for so long."
As Pei Shaoze said this, a bitter smile crossed his lips.