"Heh, is it because something happened to the Lin family and they can't help you anymore, so you've set your sights on me again?"
Su Sinian was startled, not expecting him to see through her so thoroughly. She quickly shook her head, "No! Dingsheng has always been a top-tier group; cooperating with Dingsheng is our honor."
"Heh, go back. I won't agree to this cooperation."
He started the car again, ready to leave.
Su Sinian stepped aside—this man might really do anything.
"President Pei, what about for Banxia's sake?"
Her casual remark made Pei Shaoze, who was about to drive off, stop the car.
He leaned out again, looking at her, "What does Banxia have to do with you? Do you think that with her around, I'll help you? Are you overestimating her, or overestimating yourself?"
To put it bluntly, Su Banxia was just his secretary, and Su Sinian was merely taking advantage of Su Banxia's easygoing nature. Could she even be sure that Su Banxia would definitely help her?
"I... President Pei!"
Su Sinian hadn't expected that mentioning Su Banxia in front of Pei Shaoze would make him so angry. She tried to call him back, but his car had already sped off into the distance.
At the Su residence, Su's mother was also troubled by this matter. Though it wasn't really her place to worry, there was still a hefty profit at stake, and she couldn't bear to let the profits that could have been hers slip away.
"How did the cooperation go?"
Seeing Su Sinian return, Su's mother quickly asked. She knew Su Sinian had been busy negotiating with Pei Shaoze these past few days and had been eagerly waiting.
Su Sinian sighed, feeling helpless. "Pei Shaoze has made up his mind not to cooperate with us."
At the root of it all, Su's mother had been too hasty in going to the Pei family to propose a marriage, unaware that Pei Shaoze already had someone else in his heart.
Su's mother was very surprised. They had been cooperating well before, so why now...
"What do we do!"
She was frantic. If it were up to Su's father, the Su family would have collapsed long ago. Luckily, Su Sinian had returned.
Su Sinian was also racking her brains for a solution. The Su family's business affected the entire household, and faced with the mighty Dingsheng, who wouldn't want a piece of the pie?
"There's only one way."
A dangerous glint suddenly flashed in her eyes, making her seem a bit frightening. For the sake of the Su family, she had to give it a try.
"What?"
Su's mother didn't understand, looking at her suspiciously.
"Su Banxia! I think her relationship with Pei Shaoze is anything but ordinary!"
Her eyes exuded a chilling coldness. Last time, because of Su Banxia, Pei Shaoze had changed his mind and agreed to cooperate with the Su family—that had already surprised her. A secretary with that much influence?
Su's mother immediately grew anxious. To her, Su Banxia was just a picked-up wild girl, while Pei Shaoze was the son-in-law she had set her sights on. How could she tolerate her chosen son-in-law being involved with that wild girl?
"That wild girl dares to set her sights on the man you want! I won't let her off easily!"
Dealing with that wild girl, she had plenty of ways!
Su Sinian worried that her mother might do something foolish again for her sake, which would not only be useless but might also alert Su's father, making things worse.
She quickly advised, "Mom, this was bound to happen sooner or later. Don't act rashly and don't alert Dad. I have my own plan."
Su's mother was curious, "What plan?"
What method could both make Pei Shaoze cooperate with them and teach that wild girl Su Banxia a lesson!
Su Sinian's eyes darted as she pondered, "If Pei Shaoze really cares about her, then Su Banxia is a pawn we can use."
Though she didn't want Pei Shaoze to truly care about that woman, given how resistant he was toward her now, Su Banxia was her only card.
Su's mother exclaimed, "Will that girl listen to you?"
She didn't believe that girl would willingly obey Su Sinian.
Su Sinian shook her head, a smile curling at her lips, "She'll listen to Dad."
Su's father had always been Su Banxia's weak spot.
Su's mother's smile grew even brighter. She also knew that Su Banxia owed Su's father a great debt of gratitude, one she wouldn't fail to repay.
"Yes! Sinian, you're getting smarter and smarter."
At the Pei family villa, Su Banxia was lying listlessly on the sofa, not even moving when Pei Shaoze returned.
Only when Pei Shaoze stood in front of her did she suddenly sit up, looking serious, "Can I go to work tomorrow? If you keep me home to rest like this, won't my salary be completely deducted!"
She was bored out of her mind at home. During the day, Guoguo and Haohao went to school, and at night, they had homework to do. She spent her days facing the servants, feeling like she was rotting from idleness.
Pei Shaoze didn't seem bothered. He calmly sat down beside her, "Don't worry, it won't be deducted. Paid leave."
The mention of paid leave startled Su Banxia. Was there any job easier than being President Pei's secretary? None!
"Pei Shaoze, you're really something!"
Looking at his devilishly handsome face, Su Banxia muttered under her breath.
When Pei Shaoze didn't respond, she moved closer, "I'm serious. Guoguo and Haohao are in school, and I have nothing to do at home. Just let me work, and you can let me off early."
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him, hoping to change his mind.
Pei Shaoze glanced at her a few times, unable to bear her intense stare, and relented, "Fine, as you wish. There's a project I need you to handle anyway."
Last time, out of spite, he had given the contract to Yan Xin. Now, bringing it back for Su Banxia wasn't a bad idea.
Hearing about a contract, Su Banxia raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you afraid I'll steal it and give it to Lin Tongze?"
"You wouldn't dare!"
Su Banxia pouted. She was just teasing him, and he got angry. "No fun. Do you still think I deliberately gave the contract to Lin Tongze?"
He suddenly put down what he was holding and spoke seriously, "No, I never suspected you. Do you believe me?"
When she made a mistake, his first thought was how to help her fix it, not to doubt her. As for his anger, it was really just jealousy.
In the meeting room, he had been harsh with her because all the shareholders were there. If they found out the contract was missing, in their eyes, it wouldn't be suspicion—it would be conviction.
"I don't believe you."
Su Banxia clearly didn't believe him. He had chewed her out that day, and now he was saying he never doubted her!
Not even a ghost would believe that!
"I lost my temper with you because when you made a mistake, the first person you thought of wasn't me, but Yan Xin. I was jealous."
He said it calmly, his voice soft and completely devoid of the President Pei persona, making Su Banxia feel a bit closer to him.
Just as she was thinking about it, Pei Shaoze leaned over and pressed her down onto the sofa.
"Pres... President Pei..."
"Call me Shaoze."
His voice was so gentle that Su Banxia almost got lost in that tender moment.
Out of the corner of her eye, Su Banxia caught sight of the two children on the stairs, and her face instantly flushed bright red. "Stop it, the kids are here!"
Pei Shaoze turned to look and met Haohao's eyes. "Damn it! Once they're off to school, I'll make sure to show you some proper affection! Consider it rent!"
"You pervert!"