"You saw clearly this time—I didn't touch her. She just couldn't stand steady on her own." Su Banxia said coldly.
As soon as she finished speaking, Pei Shaoze's car pulled up in front of them. Without waiting for the other two to react, Su Banxia took Guo Guo and Hao Hao and got into the car.
"You—!" Gu Feifei wanted to rush over and curse Su Banxia out, but with Pei Shaoze around, she had to swallow all her grievances.
"Alright, Feifei, stop provoking her. She's..." Before Ren Yuan could finish, Gu Feifei cut him off: "You think I don't know what's on your mind? You still have feelings for her, don't you?"
"What are you talking about? Don't you know who I really care about?" Ren Yuan felt she was being unreasonable.
"I don't know! Ren Yuan, let me warn you: as long as I, Gu Feifei, am alive, I won't allow any outcome between you and Su Banxia. Don't forget, you were the one who betrayed her." Gu Feifei sneered coldly. "Do you think someone like Su Banxia would ever accept a man who betrayed her?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? There's nothing as dirty between me and Banxia as you imagine." Ren Yuan, his thoughts exposed, was filled with regret.
Su Banxia was someone he had pursued with great effort, but before he could even warm her up, he had to watch her slip away. Ren Yuan couldn't help but feel bitter.
"Banxia? You say her name so affectionately!" Gu Feifei screamed hoarsely. "I'm telling you, if you dare have any contact with Su Banxia, I won't let anyone off—especially you!"
"Ridiculous!" Feeling the stares from people around them, Ren Yuan found it humiliating. Ignoring Gu Feifei, he turned and walked away.
Watching Ren Yuan's attitude, Gu Feifei stomped her feet in anger, her eyes venomous as she glared in the direction where Su Banxia had disappeared.
One day, she would personally take care of Su Banxia!
Inside the car, Su Banxia felt a bit down.
"Did Ren Yuan and Gu Feifei bully you again?" Pei Shaoze turned his head and asked with concern.
"They don't have that kind of skill." Su Banxia lowered her eyes and spoke weakly.
"Then why do you look so glum?" Pei Shaoze's lips curled into a smile.
Su Banxia sighed quietly: "I'm afraid Shi Qing might get hurt."
"You two really are close sisters." Pei Shaoze said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.
"How would someone as heartless as you understand our bond?" Su Banxia shot him a glare.
Pei Shaoze chuckled happily: "Alright, alright, you're always right. But about Lin Haoran, I'll look into it."
Su Banxia's eyes lit up: "Really?" If Pei Shaoze got involved, the truth would likely come out soon.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Pei Shaoze glanced over at her.
"Then I'll thank you on Shi Qing's behalf." A smile spread across Su Banxia's face, like a child who had just gotten candy.
Pei Shaoze dropped Su Banxia off at her apartment building, waiting until she was safely inside before driving away.
Fang Shiqing was sitting on the sofa when she heard the door open. She clicked her tongue: "Taking your two kids on a date—nice move! Did those little wingmen give you enough chances?"
"Why are you back so early today?" Su Banxia was a bit surprised.
"I was supposed to go on a date with Haoran, but something came up at his company, so it was canceled. I went to the hospital to visit Shan Shan instead." Fang Shiqing smiled.
At the mention of Lin Haoran's name, Su Banxia's hand instinctively froze: "Shi Qing, I feel like your relationship with Lin Haoran is moving too fast. Are you sure you don't want to think it over?"
"I've been single for 28 years. Now that I've finally found someone I like, you won't let me go for it?" Fang Shiqing winked playfully.
"No, I just mean you haven't fully understood Lin Haoran's character yet. It's like how I was with Ren Yuan back then." Su Banxia said seriously, genuinely not wanting her to get hurt.
"I get what you're saying. Even though we're dating now, I won't give him everything until the very end." Fang Shiqing nodded and smiled at Su Banxia.
"Actually, I..." Su Banxia was about to tell Fang Shiqing everything she had overheard in the grove earlier, but Fang Shiqing's phone rang at the wrong time, cutting her off.
"Haoran." Fang Shiqing answered the call, gave Su Banxia a reassuring gesture, and then retreated into her room.
Su Banxia was torn inside. She knew Fang Shiqing's stubborn nature—she wouldn't give up easily without seeing the truth for herself.
But where could she find that truth? She doubted Lin Haoran would be foolish enough to leave everything out in the open.
The more Su Banxia thought about it, the more frustrated she became, and she couldn't help but sigh.
The next day
When Su Banxia got up, Fang Shiqing was already gone. Since falling in love, that girl had become incredibly diligent, delivering a loving breakfast every day without fail.
Looking at the empty kitchen, Su Banxia sighed. She made breakfast for the kids, waited for them to finish, and quickly dropped them off at school.
By the time she got to the company, it was already late. Su Banxia organized her files, but the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. She finally decided to go to HR to find Fang Shiqing herself.
Fang Shiqing had several interviews in the afternoon. When she saw Su Banxia, she handed her files to her assistant, gave some instructions, and after confirming the assistant understood, she smiled at Su Banxia.
"Why are you here at this hour?" Fang Shiqing chuckled, then glanced at her watch: "It's almost lunchtime. Are you sure you don't need to take care of your man?"
"Shi Qing, can we talk privately?" Su Banxia's face was serious.
"What's wrong? Why so mysterious?" Fang Shiqing was confused, but she still followed Su Banxia out of the office.
Su Banxia stopped in a secluded corner and turned to face Fang Shiqing: "You really can't keep seeing Lin Haoran."
"What do you mean?" Fang Shiqing was a bit surprised.
"That man is a player. He's involved with Gu Feifei, and the child she's carrying is his. I heard it with my own ears!" Su Banxia was anxious, her eyes full of hope that Fang Shiqing would listen to her.