If it were anyone else, she wouldn't be so certain, but Lin Tongze's feelings for Su Banxia were too obvious. If she asked, how could he possibly refuse?
The atmosphere in an office after an argument always feels particularly awkward. Fortunately, Fang Shiqing handed Su Banxia a stack of documents early in the morning.
"I know you're uncomfortable. Just take a look at these files!"
She leaned close to her ear and whispered softly.
Su Banxia felt as if she had found a lifeline and took them without hesitation. "No trouble at all! You really understand me!"
She had been worrying about how to deal with Pei Shaoze, but now, with these files, she could ignore him completely!
"What's that you're holding?"
As soon as she entered, Pei Shaoze's icy voice rang out.
"Naturally, I'm working for the company."
Without looking back at him, she walked straight to her seat.
Pei Shaoze had already furrowed his brows, glaring at her with a hint of anger. "Su Banxia, have you forgotten whose secretary you are? Or is Manager Fang incompetent, and I should consider replacing her?"
He had seen everything happening outside just moments ago.
Hearing him bring up Fang Shiqing again, Su Banxia grew anxious. "Pei Shaoze! If you have a problem, take it out on me, don't target Fang Shiqing!"
This man would do anything when impulsive!
"Hah! Fine. Besides what Manager Fang gave you, go to Yan Xin and compile all the employee entry records into the computer! You're not off until it's done!"
He let out a cold laugh, his face dark, and stopped looking at her.
"Yes."
Though she was furious, she gritted her teeth and agreed. This Pei Shaoze was born to torment her!
When lunchtime came, Pei Shaoze remained seated without moving. She glanced at the time and realized the appointment with Lin Tongze was almost upon her.
She looked at Pei Shaoze, who was still focused on his work, and carefully stood up.
Just as her hand touched the doorknob, a cold voice came from behind. "Where are you going?"
Su Banxia broke out in a cold sweat. She certainly couldn't tell Pei Shaoze she was meeting Lin Tongze.
"To eat."
She forced herself to stay calm.
Pei Shaoze snorted, full of sarcasm. "Secretary Su sure has a big heart, still finding time to eat."
"If I starve myself and get sick, it would be a loss. Then I wouldn't be able to handle your trivial tasks, President Pei."
She replied coldly.
Giving her extra work was one thing, but not letting her eat? She'd report him for such exploitation sooner or later!
"Hah, sharp-tongued."
Hearing that Pei Shaoze only mocked her without outright forbidding it, Su Banxia didn't respond and slipped out while she had the chance.
At the Western restaurant across from Dingsheng, Lin Tongze had already ordered and was waiting for Su Banxia. He knew she only had her lunch break to meet him; if he waited until she arrived to order, she'd have to rush through the meal and head back to the office.
Meanwhile, Su Banxia hurried over, occasionally glancing back to see if anyone was watching.
She couldn't deny she was afraid of Pei Shaoze finding out, especially since she was meeting Lin Tongze. The two companies were competitors, and if anyone from Dingsheng saw her, there would surely be gossip.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
She looked at Lin Tongze apologetically, almost having stood him up.
"It's fine, I just got here too."
Lin Tongze smiled warmly.
Seeing the table already full of dishes, Su Banxia knew he had been waiting for a while. She didn't call him out on it, but felt even more guilty.
Noticing her flushed face and heavy breathing, Lin Tongze quickly handed her the glass of water in front of him. "Aren't you afraid he'll see you here?"
This place was right across from Dingsheng. If anyone from Dingsheng spotted her, Su Banxia would have a hard time explaining.
Su Banxia knew who he meant. She had thought about it too, but with Pei Shaoze watching her closely and the workload, she could only squeeze in time during lunch.
"It should be fine. President Pei usually doesn't eat here, and Dingsheng staff generally go downstairs."
Pei Shaoze typically dined in his private restaurant, and since she worked under him, she had been there a few times too.
Lin Tongze nodded, reassured. He knew Pei Shaoze's temperament; if he found out Su Banxia was meeting him, he'd probably find ways to torment her again.
Su Banxia tried to speak several times but stopped. She didn't know how to bring it up or if Lin Tongze would help her. If he refused, it would be incredibly awkward.
Lin Tongze could tell she had something to say and smiled gently. "Banxia, just say it. Don't be formal with me."
"Tongze, I want to ask you for a favor."
His words gave her an opening, and she took it. Otherwise, with her personality, she didn't know when she'd ever get the words out.
As if he had expected her to ask for help, Lin Tongze remained warm. "Alright, go ahead."
Despite her lingering worry, thinking of her father, she spoke. "Cooperate with the Su family. Give them a hand."
Hearing the Su family—a name Su Banxia hadn't mentioned in years—Lin Tongze grew serious.
Having grown up next door to her, he knew something about the Su family's situation. But he had just returned and knew nothing about their current state.
"What's happened to the Su family now?"
He knew what Su Banxia's father meant to her and what she meant to him, so he wouldn't refuse.
Su Banxia shook her head. "I'm not sure. Su Sinian came to me, asking me to talk to Pei Shaoze about a partnership. But you know Pei Shaoze won't listen to me. If it were just Su Sinian, I wouldn't be so troubled, but her father was kind to me."
Now, as long as she could help the Su family, even if Lin Tongze didn't help, she would find a way.
"Alright, don't worry too much. Your problem is mine. I'll go back and have someone draft a contract for the Su family."
Lin Tongze nodded. A partnership was a small matter, and helping Su Banxia made him happy.
Su Banxia was deeply grateful. She had thought such a decision would take days of deliberation, since cooperating with the Su family wasn't particularly advantageous—it was merely a lifeline.
"Tongze, thank you."
"It's nothing. Let's eat. Take your time; you still have a bit before work."
Lin Tongze ladled a bowl of soup and handed it to her. With the serious talk over, they ate in peaceful silence, the scene quite pleasant.
Back in the office, Yan Xin sat in his chair, legs crossed, waiting for Pei Shaoze to finish his last bit of work so they could go eat.
"President Pei, let's go to that place across the street today. I'm sick of your private restaurant."
Thinking about going there again, Yan Xin's head ached.
After eating there for years, he was tired of it.
It was just a casual complaint, but Pei Shaoze took it seriously. "If even President Yan is tired of it, it seems the chef needs replacing."
It wasn't that the chef was bad—he was a five-star chef. Yan Xin just wanted a change. Hearing Pei Shaoze's grand plan to replace a five-star chef on a whim, he quickly shook his head. "No, no, no! I just wanted something different. I'm still quite satisfied with the chef."