"I heard from Niannian that you brought two children back this time. Did you get married abroad?"
Su Jin's eyes darkened, clearly displeased with Su Banxia's attitude today.
Su Banxia instinctively looked up at Su Sinian, who wore an innocent expression, and explained softly, "Miss must have misunderstood. Those are my best friend's children. I was just helping her take care of them that day."
"Do you have any plans now that you're back?"
Su Jin didn't press further, seeing her response.
"For now, I'll stay with my current company. I haven't figured out any long-term plans yet."
Su Banxia said calmly.
Su Jin nodded, glancing at the clock on the wall. "It's rare for you to be back. Stay for lunch today. It'll be a good chance to spend some time with your mother and sister."
With that, Su Jin stood up and went into his study.
The living room was left with just the three women. Su Banxia's hand instinctively tightened around her bag.
"Someone who left can actually come back? I never thought I'd see the day. Niannian, let's go to our room for a while. It's less annoying than being here."
Su's mother said sarcastically, eyeing Su Banxia.
"Banxia's answer about the children was clever. But no matter—we'll have our chance."
Su Sinian paused in front of her, a hint of disdain in her tone.
Su Banxia bit her lower lip, sitting in the vast living room. Her heart felt like it was in her throat, and she couldn't help wondering how the two children were doing at home now.
After quickly wrapping up his work at the company, Pei Shaoze rushed home. Ever since he brought Su Banxia and her children to stay with him, his priorities had shifted dramatically.
"Where's Banxia?"
But when he got home, Pei Shaoze didn't see the person he was longing for, and his brow furrowed in frustration.
"Miss Su said she had something to take care of and went out. She didn't say where."
The servant answered nervously.
He had barely left, and she had gone out right after. What was so urgent?
Pei Shaoze felt uneasy, but with the two children at home, he held back his frustration.
Su Banxia stayed at the Su residence until very late. At the dinner table, she could brush off her mother's sarcasm, but what truly bothered her was Su Jin's attitude toward her.
Perhaps because they had been apart for so long, Su Banxia could clearly sense Su Jin's distance from her.
It was a distance that came from deep within.
Thinking about all these changes, Su Banxia felt a pang of bitterness. She asked the driver to stop in the city center and got out of the car.
The night wind blew against her, cold, but not as cold as the chill in her heart.
"Banxia?"
Lin Tongze saw her slender figure through the car window and frowned slightly.
"Stop the car!"
Lin Tongze said urgently, quickly walking over to Su Banxia. Seeing the flush on her face from the cold, he immediately draped his coat over her shoulders.
Su Banxia was absorbed in the scenery when the warmth on her shoulders made her turn around instinctively.
"Tongze, it's you?"
"It's late at night. Why aren't you home sleeping? What are you doing out here in the wind?"
Lin Tongze looked at her with clear reproach.
"I just wanted to enjoy the view for a bit. I'll head back soon."
Su Banxia smiled faintly. "Tongze, about your company last time..."
"Just a temporary financial hiccup. It's mostly resolved now, Banxia."
Lin Tongze paused, studying her for a moment. "Are you living with Pei Shaoze now?"
Since that day at the airport, he had tried to find Su Banxia, but she wasn't staying at Fang Shiqing's place. Judging by Pei Shaoze's attitude that day, he figured Su Banxia had been staying with him all this time.
"Ah? Yeah..."
Su Banxia's expression turned awkward. "I couldn't find a suitable place for now, so I'm staying with him. It's convenient, and I don't have to worry about Guoguo and Haohao being in danger."
"I have the means to take care of you and the kids now, Banxia. How about we go back to France?"
Lin Tongze suddenly spoke.
"I, I..."
Su Banxia's mind went blank. She was still stuck on the Su family visit and hadn't fully processed his words.
Lin Tongze saw her reaction and understood immediately. "It's okay. I'll wait until you've made up your mind."
"What brought you here tonight?"
Su Banxia turned away, quickly changing the subject.
"I was negotiating a deal nearby and happened to see you."
Lin Tongze explained calmly.
The two walked side by side on the bridge for a while. Seeing it was getting late, Su Banxia said goodbye and took a taxi back to the residence.
When she walked in, she saw Pei Shaoze patiently playing with building blocks with Su Guoguo on the sofa, while Su Hao was on the other side, playing a small game on his laptop.
"You're back."
Pei Shaoze looked up at her, his expression unreadable.
"Did you take care of the kids all day today?"
Su Banxia was a bit surprised.
She remembered that when she left work yesterday, his desk was still piled with unfinished documents. By her estimate, he wouldn't have been home before 11 p.m.
"Mom, you're not a good mom. You went out to play without me and my brother."
Su Guoguo pouted, voicing her complaint.
"Kids can't go out until their homework is done. Once you finish your assignments, I'll take you out."
Su Banxia said sternly.
She never compromised when it came to the children's studies.
Pei Shaoze looked at the two kids, then stood up and said with a faint smile, "Are you hungry? I had Aunt Li leave some food for you in the kitchen. You can have some."
"I... thank you."
Su Banxia looked at him, feeling an inexplicable flutter. His sudden gentleness was hard for her to get used to.
"Where did you go?"
But the next second, Pei Shaoze dropped his tender demeanor and asked coldly.
Su Banxia paused, then cleared her throat and said slowly, "I went to meet up with an old friend."
"Old friend?"
Pei Shaoze's gaze was sharp, as if trying to see through her.
"An old acquaintance."
Su Banxia took a few steps back. "I just got back and I'm a bit sweaty. I'll go take a shower first. Thanks for watching the kids today, President Pei."
With that, she quickly slipped away.
Pei Shaoze watched her nervous behavior, more convinced than ever that something was off.
"Brother, where do you think Mom went today?"
Su Guoguo leaned in and whispered.
"Nosy. Finish stacking those blocks first."
Su Hao replied in a mature tone.