When her identity was brought up, the anger in Su Banxia's eyes dimmed. "I know I'm just your secretary." It was precisely because she was only his secretary that she let him assume whatever he wanted, let him slander her.
A mocking smile still lingered on his face. "Hah, you're still my woman. Did I allow you to be this close to someone else?" Su Banxia couldn't help but shudder, taking it as a joke. "President Pei, don't joke around." Pei Shaoze had indeed said she was his woman, but Su Banxia had never agreed to it, so how could she be considered his woman?
"Hah, joking?" Pei Shaoze stood up and approached her, his eyes radiating coldness. Su Banxia was backed step by step into a corner, frozen by the fury on his face. Just as Pei Shaoze was about to lean in, she mustered all her strength to push him away.
"President Pei, I'll head out now. President Yan has something to discuss with me." She quickly made up an excuse to leave.
A cold voice came from behind her: "Off to seduce Yan Xin again? Su Banxia, you really are disgusting!" Su Banxia stopped in her tracks. She never expected Pei Shaoze to see her this way!
"Pei Shaoze! Don't project your own thoughts onto everyone else!" With that, she slammed the door shut, leaving Pei Shaoze, his face dark, snorting coldly in place.
He knew exactly why Yan Xin was looking for Su Banxia and quickly dialed a number. "Yan Xin, hand over that contract to you first. Don't announce it." His intention was crystal clear—he didn't want Su Banxia to know the deal had still gone through, that it hadn't been harmed by her losing the contract. He wanted her to keep feeling guilty!
Yan Xin was clearly stunned. Just yesterday, he was happy that Pei Shaoze had given Su Banxia responsibility for the contract. Why the sudden change? "This... wasn't Banxia handling it? I was just about to give it to her." "No need. She's not worthy." Pei Shaoze hung up angrily, leaving Yan Xin at a loss.
"President Yan, what did you need me for earlier?" Still puzzled by Pei Shaoze's behavior, Yan Xin looked up to see Su Banxia approaching, her face still carrying traces of anger. He understood.
He smiled at her, his expression gentle. "Nothing. Did you and Shaoze argue again?" Su Banxia shook her head. If it were an argument, Pei Shaoze would be furious enough to kill her! "No, just a few heated words."
Yan Xin couldn't help but admire her. In all of Dingsheng, only Su Banxia could provoke Pei Shaoze to such anger without facing punishment. "You're the first secretary brave enough to argue with Shaoze," he teased.
Su Banxia pouted. She didn't want to argue with Pei Shaoze either, but he was so unreasonable! Embarrassed by Yan Xin's teasing, she said, "President Yan, you didn't call me over just to say this, did you?" She knew Yan Xin wasn't that dull and was curious about what he wanted.
Yan Xin was momentarily at a loss. He had indeed had something to discuss with her, but now that Pei Shaoze had given an order, he couldn't disobey it. He awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth, pulled a few files from a stack beside him, and handed them to her. "Of course not. Here, take these and help me process them."
Su Banxia was delighted and quickly took them. "Thanks, I was just worried about having nothing to do. Mind if I borrow this prime spot of yours to sit?" She had no desire to go back in and face that cold-faced devil; it was better to stay out here in peace.
Inside the office, Pei Shaoze kept glancing at the door every few minutes. Su Banxia had been with Yan Xin for a while now—why wasn't she coming back? He had explicitly told Yan Xin to hold off on giving her that contract! Growing restless, he stood up and walked out. The moment he opened the door, he saw Su Banxia sitting beside Yan Xin, head down, intently reviewing documents.
"Su Banxia, get in here." He growled, his tone brooking no argument. Everyone's gaze immediately turned toward them.
Su Banxia froze, not expecting Pei Shaoze to come out and summon her. Realizing Pei Shaoze was genuinely angry, Yan Xin didn't dare let Su Banxia stay in this precarious situation. "Go on, Banxia. Shaoze is just upset for now. He'll calm down." If Su Banxia defied him again, Dingsheng might as well be blown up by Pei Shaoze because of her.
"Mm." Su Banxia nodded helplessly and headed toward the office, not wanting to be killed by someone.
"What is it, President Pei?" She stood before him, rolling her eyes.
Seeing her in front of him, Pei Shaoze's earlier anger seemed to subside. "Does the company pay you to freeload? You haven't finished your own work, yet you're meddling in others' affairs. Su Banxia, have I underestimated you?" He leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed, though his expression didn't match his casual posture.
"President Pei, is it because of that contract that you're targeting me?" Su Banxia didn't want to drag things out and asked directly. Aside from that contract, she hadn't done anything wrong to warrant such nitpicking from Pei Shaoze. It only made her think along those lines.
Pei Shaoze sneered. "Targeting you? Hah, you think you're worthy of my attention?" She frowned slightly. "I honestly can't think of anything else I've done wrong besides that contract to make you so resentful." She knew full well that Pei Shaoze was just being stubborn.
"Hah, Secretary Su, just do your job. Don't leave until these files are sorted." Without answering her, Pei Shaoze tossed all the documents from his desk at her and walked out himself.
Watching his retreating figure, Su Banxia couldn't help but sigh. Being a CEO was great—work when you wanted, how capricious! Staring at the mountain of files before her, she could already picture herself working late into the night.
By the time it was quitting time, employees had gradually left. Fang Shiqing, having gotten off early for once, thought she'd check if Su Banxia was done so they could pick up the kids together. Since that day, they hadn't spoken a word, and Su Banxia hadn't asked her to pick up the kids anymore.
"Shiqing? What are you doing here?" As soon as she reached Su Banxia's department, she ran into Zhang Shanshan, who was packing up to leave. Zhang Shanshan greeted her warmly.
Fang Shiqing smiled back and walked forward. "I'm here to see if Banxia is off work yet." A flicker of displeasure crossed Zhang Shanshan's mind. Fang Shiqing was still thinking about that woman! She quickly gathered her things and affectionately linked arms with Fang Shiqing. "She's definitely already gone. Even though she's just a secretary, her treatment seems way better than yours." She said it with certainty, subtly blocking Fang Shiqing's path. Of course, she knew Su Banxia hadn't left yet—she just didn't want Fang Shiqing to know.
Disappointment flashed in Fang Shiqing's eyes. It seemed she wouldn't be going home with Su Banxia again, nor would she find a chance to talk. "As long as she's treated well, I'm glad. I was worried she might be bullied." She smiled faintly, letting Zhang Shanshan lead her away.
Seeing Fang Shiqing follow her, Zhang Shanshan felt a surge of triumph. She had already seen President Pei leave the office, but Su Banxia hadn't stepped out once. It was clear Pei Shaoze had dumped all the work on her.