"President Pei, I know how you feel about Banxia, so you're the only one who can help her with this matter now."
Fang Shiqing looked at the tall man before her and spoke seriously.
"What's the matter?"
Pei Shaoze had no idea what was happening at the company; he glanced at Fang Shiqing indifferently.
Fang Shiqing cleared her throat and briefly recounted the situation, causing Pei Shaoze's face to darken with displeasure.
"President Pei, I'm not joking with you. Banxia really only has you to protect her now."
Fang Shiqing bowed to him at a perfect 90-degree angle.
"Manager Fang, I think you're mistaken. I treat Secretary Su well, but not to the point of taking the blame for her."
"President Pei, you genuinely like those two children, don't you?"
Fang Shiqing bit her lower lip and asked nervously.
Pei Shaoze sneered, "I've always loved children by nature. I treat everyone's kids kindly. As for being good to Secretary Su, it's only because she's my secretary and we work closely together every day."
"President Pei, please, for the sake of all Banxia has done for you, help her out, okay? She really can't bear these rumors. If you won't lend a hand, then please let her go early to minimize the harm from the gossip."
"Your five minutes are up, Manager Fang. If you don't return to your post, I'll have to enforce company policy."
Pei Shaoze's expression was blank as he brushed past her.
Fang Shiqing clenched her fists tightly, the words she held back almost bursting out, but fortunately, she managed to restrain herself.
Back in her office, Fang Shiqing was distracted, her mind full of the gossip circulating around her.
Zhang Shanshan came over under the pretext of asking for a staff roster and, seeing her state, didn't need to guess the reason.
"Still worried about Secretary Su's situation?"
Zhang Shanshan looked at her and asked calmly.
"Shanshan, what do we do? If the rumors spread further, they'll only hurt Banxia more. Those two children are her whole life!"
Fang Shiqing slumped over her desk, her mind about to explode.
Those two—one unwilling to let her suffer, the other willing to sacrifice himself—there was no way to intervene!
"Don't panic. Secretary Su has President Pei protecting her no matter what; she won't face any real danger. But I'm curious—where's Secretary Su's husband? Why isn't he stepping up to clear things up?"
Zhang Shanshan hinted meaningfully.
"Her husband has a special identity and isn't convenient to show up."
Fang Shiqing gave an awkward smile.
If Pei Shaoze found out that he was the father of those two kids, it would cause an even bigger uproar.
Seeing her clam up, Zhang Shanshan knew she wouldn't get anything out of her and smiled faintly, "Don't worry too much. Things will work out in the end. Secretary Su has faced plenty of difficulties before, and didn't she always come through smoothly?"
"But this time is different."
Fang Shiqing remained troubled. This involved children—how could it compare to before?
"Actually, if you look at it from another angle, there's not much difference."
Zhang Shanshan smiled.
Fang Shiqing sighed inwardly and said no more.
Zhang Shanshan poured her a cup of tea. "Here, have some water to cool down. At our age, we can't afford to get angry—it ages you fast."
"You always know how to sweet-talk and cheer people up. Shanshan, help me think of a way to shut down these rumors!"
Fang Shiqing tugged at Zhang Shanshan's sleeve earnestly.
Zhang Shanshan sighed. "I'll ask President Yan for help."
"That's right! There's President Yan in the company too! Shanshan, you're amazing!"
Fang Shiqing's gaze was resolute, as if she'd made up her mind.
Back in his office, Pei Shaoze recalled Fang Shiqing's words and shook his head with a faint smile.
Using his authority to suppress the rumors wasn't his style; he'd rather find another way.
The next day, when Su Banxia arrived at the company again, she was shocked to find everyone's attitude toward her had shifted dramatically.
Unlike the previous mockery, their looks now carried a hint of envy.
"Secretary Su, you're riding on your children's coattails now. If you hit the big time, don't forget about me."
Manager Liu from the sales department, patting his potbelly, said cheerfully.
Su Banxia was baffled but nodded politely without saying anything else.
Back in the office, Su Banxia watched Pei Shaoze, who was bent over documents, and cleared her throat. "Did you handle the company rumors?"
"What do you think?"
Pei Shaoze didn't look up; the scratch of his pen on paper was oddly pleasant.
Seeing his reaction, Su Banxia didn't press further. She sat down, turned on her computer, and continued with her work.
A pop-up email in the corner of her screen caught her eye, and she instinctively clicked it open. The contents stunned her.
Pei Shaoze's other way of dealing with the gossip was to publicly acknowledge that Guoguo and Haohao were his children!
Su Banxia felt as if she'd been struck by lightning, completely floored.
Her heart raced—had Pei Shaoze already figured everything out?
"You, you..."
"Anyway, you're going to marry me sooner or later. What's wrong with me admitting the kids are mine?"
Pei Shaoze glanced at her sideways, clearly knowing what she wanted to ask.
"President Pei, I appreciate your kindness, but these children aren't yours. I don't want to ruin your lifelong happiness out of my own selfishness!"
Su Banxia said coldly.
Pei Shaoze lowered his head and replied calmly, "That's my business. You have no say in it!"
"The children are mine, and President Pei has no right to use them to get closer to me."
Su Banxia dared to talk back to him.
"Bang!"
Pei Shaoze slammed his pen on the desk. "Then who do you want to claim as their father? Lin Tongze? Or Yan Xin?"
"What do they have to do with this? My children, I'll take the blame myself. As for who their father is, I don't think President Pei needs to step in."
Su Banxia straightened her back and met his gaze.
Pei Shaoze's face turned grim as he pressed hard on the desk corner. "Are you trying to make me admit to being an irresponsible father? The words are already out there. If I take them back, it won't just be you looking bad!"
"I..."
"Su Banxia, I've told you before—you're mine for life, and that includes the children. I don't think I said anything wrong!"
Pei Shaoze was unusually firm.