"Mommy! When are you coming back?"
Guoguo's pitiful voice came through the phone. It was rare for school to be on break, yet Su Banxia couldn't join them at the amusement park.
Didn't Su Banxia want to go back just as badly?
Despite her reluctance, she still needed to discuss serious matters with Fang Shiqing. "Guoguo, be good and listen to your godmother. I'll be back soon. Can you pass the phone to godmother?"
Guoguo was very obedient. Holding the phone, she handed it to Fang Shiqing. "Godmother! Here!"
"What's wrong, Banxia? Still worried?"
Fang Shiqing's cheerful voice came through, which annoyed Su Banxia a little. Even Fang Shiqing was joining in on this nonsense!
"How could you go along with President Pei's antics? Is it more important for the kids to study or to play?"
She still believed the children should study when it was time to study. She really couldn't agree with Pei Shaozhe's approach this time.
Admittedly, as a mother, Su Banxia thought far too much about her children. Fang Shiqing didn't see it that way. "Banxia, you're too serious, aren't you? You don't need to worry about Haohao's grades, right? And Guoguo has inherited your fine traits. You haven't spent time with them in ages. What's wrong with letting them play for a day?"
The two kids really had inherited excellent genes. Ordinary exams were no problem for them at all. Yet even so, Su Banxia still couldn't relax.
Su Banxia thought it over. It seemed true—their grades really weren't something she needed to worry about. She realized she was overthinking. If Fang Shiqing hadn't pointed it out, she might have scolded them over this.
She suddenly smiled. "I'm just worried, that's all. Shiqing, take good care of the kids. Thank you for your hard work."
"Don't worry! I'll take them to play now!"
With that, Fang Shiqing hung up and led the two little ones by the hand toward the various rides.
Over at Pei Shaozhe's place, when the phone rang, he frowned. The last time the old man had contacted him was during the birthday banquet. He wondered what it was about this time.
After hesitating for a moment, he still pressed the answer button. "Shaozhe, make time to come back today. Family dinner."
The sudden family dinner surprised him. "Why is the family dinner set for today?"
Usually, family dinners were on the eighth of every month. Today wasn't anything special, so why the sudden change?
The old man was in an unusually good mood, his eyes crinkling with a smile. "Just come back as soon as you can."
Though Pei Shaozhe didn't know what Pei老爷子 was up to, he agreed. "Got it."
Going back to the Pei family would take a while. What about Su Banxia at home?
As he thought this, his feet had already stepped into her room.
"Su Banxia."
He called out softly.
Su Banxia startled, flinching. Being called by her full name was unpleasant. "What?"
Pei Shaozhe didn't mind her rudeness and instead softened his tone.
"I need to go back to the Pei family today. Can you manage on your own?"
He usually didn't like having others around, so there wasn't even a maid or cook at home. With Su Banxia limping around, he found it hard to believe she could take care of herself.
Hearing that Pei Shaozhe was leaving, Su Banxia was overjoyed and quickly nodded. "Yes, yes, yes! Of course I can manage on my own!"
Seeing how eager she was for him to leave, Pei Shaozhe couldn't help frowning. "Su Banxia! Be serious!"
With her flippant attitude, he was far from reassured.
"Don't worry, President Pei. I'm not so frail that I can't take care of myself."
His skeptical look was nothing short of an insult, but Su Banxia was used to it.
"Good. If something happens to you, who's going to pay back the money you owe me?"
To make her take things seriously, he joked.
At the mention of the money, Su Banxia's face fell. "I know, President Pei. I'll pay it back."
She hadn't expected Pei Shaozhe to be so petty!
Seeing that she was still lively and capable of getting angry, Pei Shaozhe felt reassured. He packed up and left.
At the Pei residence.
Pei老爷子 had been waiting for a while. When he noticed Pei Shaozhe's arrival, he quickly had someone invite him to the balcony.
"Shaozhe, you're back."
Pei老爷子 was all smiles.
He nodded, his gaze fixed on the woman beside Pei老爷子. Seeing this, Pei老爷子 quickly introduced her. "This is Miss Su's mother. She's here to discuss the engagement. I found out last time that you and Miss Su are deeply in love. I won't make things difficult for you. I'll grant your wish."
He had wanted to get involved in this matter last time, but Su's father never replied, so it was put on hold. Now that the Su family had come to visit, he was naturally welcoming.
Su's mother stood up and greeted Pei Shaozhe. "Shaozhe, hello. I'm Sinian's mother."
The way she called him "Shaozhe" was more intimate than anyone else's. Pei Shaozhe underestimated her.
He looked displeased at the man beside him. "Dad, what do you mean?"
It was clear he was trying to decide on his marriage to Su Sinian of the Su family on his own, but Pei Shaozhe had no feelings for that woman—she wasn't even a passing thought.
Pei老爷子 was a bit unhappy and slammed the table. "Didn't you say you had your eye on the Su family's daughter? Now that we're discussing your marriage, you're confused? Look at you!"
"Master Pei, Shaozhe is just shy. We adults can settle the children's matters."
Pei老爷子's frustration at his failure didn't change Pei Shaozhe one bit, but Su's mother grew anxious.
"That's right. Shaozhe, you can go down now. I'll discuss this thoroughly with your future mother-in-law and make sure you have a satisfactory wedding."
Pei老爷子 was beaming with joy. The Pei family hadn't had a happy occasion in a long time. This wedding would surely be lively.
But Pei Shaozhe's face darkened. "Who said I'm getting married?"
Hearing that Pei Shaozhe had no intention of marrying, Pei老爷子 was furious and nearly raised his hand. "You child! How old are you!"
Su's mother quickly stepped in to mediate. "Master Pei, don't be angry. Maybe the young couple had a quarrel. Which young couple doesn't argue? It'll be fine in a few days. Perhaps if we settle the marriage for them today, they'll make up by tonight."
"Yes, yes, yes. You're right, in-laws."
Pei老爷子 now fully agreed with Su's mother and nodded repeatedly.
Pei Shaozhe found Su's mother utterly disgusting. Her talk of a lovers' quarrel was just a ploy to rush the engagement with Pei老爷子.
But this Su was not that Su. The one he was truly interested in wasn't Su Sinian, the eldest daughter of the Su family!
"Dad, I think you're confused. You keep saying the marriage is up to me, so why are you making decisions on your own?"
Pei老爷子 didn't understand why he was so angry and straightened his face. "Isn't this all for you?"
He let out a cold laugh. "If it's for me, then you should have her thrown out! Guards!"
With Pei Shaozhe's command, several bodyguards appeared at the door. "Throw this woman out."
As the bodyguards moved toward Su's mother, Pei老爷子 slammed the table to stop the chaos.
"Pei Shaozhe! What are you doing! Have you no manners!"
He gave Su's mother a meaningful look. "My manners probably pale in comparison to someone else's intentions."
With that, he turned and left, ignoring Pei老爷子's reaction.
"Pei Shaozhe!"
Pei老爷子 tried to call him back, but he was determined and didn't look back.
"Well... I'm sorry about this."
Pei老爷子 was helpless and could only see the guest out.
He knew Pei Shaozhe's temperament. Forcing the issue wouldn't work, so it was better to let him decide on his own.