By the time Pei Shaoze returned, it was already very late. Su Banxia thoughtfully cooked him a simple meal in the kitchen.
What was just ordinary home cooking in Su Banxia's eyes became an unattainable delicacy in Pei Shaoze's view.
"It's all just simple stuff. Just make do with it for now. The kids messed up all the vegetables in the fridge today, so I'll have Aunt Li buy some more tomorrow."
Su Banxia set out the dishes, muttering incessantly.
"Kids?"
Pei Shaoze raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled by her words.
"Guoguo and Haohao came home today and cooked a meal for me. It's a pity they're still too young, so a lot of the ingredients went to waste."
Su Banxia deliberately glossed over her own bad mood, explaining with a faint smile.
Pei Shaoze lowered his head to eat, not responding to her follow-up.
"Is it good?"
Su Banxia interlaced her fingers, propped her chin on her hands, and asked with a light smile.
"Yeah."
Pei Shaoze nodded coldly, showing no other reaction.
This ambiguous answer left Su Banxia completely at a loss for how to continue the conversation.
As the atmosphere in the living room gradually cooled, Su Banxia had to clear her throat again.
"President Pei, I have something I want to talk to you about."
Pei Shaoze looked up and glanced at her sideways. Seeing her hesitant demeanor, he said coldly, "Speak."
"I—can we stop pretending? This child isn't yours. Acknowledging it like this would put you at a disadvantage, and I don't want to cause trouble between you and your father."
Su Banxia lowered her head, speaking weakly.
"What do you think?"
Pei Shaoze seemed somewhat displeased.
Su Banxia looked at him: "President Pei, I've thought about it a lot. I feel I can't be so selfish. This child isn't yours. Acknowledging it would be unfair to you. So I'll go explain everything to your father and leave with the child."
"You can try. I'm telling you, even if you run to the ends of the earth, I still have the power to drag you back!"
Pei Shaoze's voice was icy cold.
Su Banxia shuddered, forcing an awkward smile, her heart tangled with conflict.
Even if she didn't want to obey Su Jin's words, he was still the one who raised her. He had shown her kindness, and she wasn't so ungrateful as to ignore it.
But giving up Pei Shaoze now seemed equally impossible.
Thinking back to Fang Shiqing teasing her about falling for Pei Shaoze, she couldn't help but blush. Could it be that she had truly developed feelings?
"I'll handle my father. If you dare have such thoughts again, I won't let you off easily."
Pei Shaoze set down his chopsticks and walked coldly into the study.
Hearing the door slam shut, Su Banxia couldn't help but pout. What kind of person was this? She was just offering an opinion—did he have to get so angry?
The next day, Su Banxia was still in a state of turmoil. Su Sinian's appearance only made her more indecisive.
"What are you doing here?"
Su Banxia was about to enter the company when someone blocked her way, and her expression turned sour.
"I want to talk to you."
Su Sinian said with a faint smile.
Su Banxia frowned slightly. "I recall there's never been anything worth discussing between us."
With that, Su Banxia stepped forward to bypass her.
But Su Sinian's words made her stop in her tracks.
"Dad went to see Old Master Pei. What do you think they'll talk about?"
"Boom!"
Su Banxia felt as if a thunderbolt had struck her head, leaving her utterly stunned.
"Su Banxia, I really admire you. When you were little, you could make Dad happy and keep him as your shield. Now that you're grown up, you can charm Pei Shaoze, climb into his bed, and even give birth to twins."
Su Sinian sneered: "But no matter how good your tricks are, what does it matter? A bastard is still a bastard. The illegitimate child of a foundling will never be respectable!"
"Su Sinian!"
Su Banxia turned sideways, her eyes blazing with suppressed anger.
"Am I wrong? You were picked up by my dad. He gave you an identity. Without him, who knows if you'd be dead or alive! But what have you done?"
"What do you mean? Haven't I done enough for the Su family all these years?"
Su Banxia was furious.
She had always put the Su family first, following Su Jin's orders to get close to Lin Tongze and help them secure countless business deals. Had they all forgotten?
"If you truly cared about the Su family, you wouldn't have dreamed of climbing into Pei Shaoze's bed!"
Su Sinian's voice rose, drawing attention from passersby.
Su Banxia didn't argue with her. She felt it was pointless.
"Su Banxia, you're nothing but an ingrate. The children you bore are nothing but bastards. I feel sick for you and your two kids!"
Su Sinian circled around her, her contempt evident.
"Are you done?"
Su Banxia calmly turned back to look at her.
Su Sinian said coldly: "Just wait. Your good days are over. Neither Old Master Pei nor the Su family will let you off. Pregnant out of wedlock—you're a disgrace to the Su family!"
"I recall I've long since severed ties with the Su family. The only reason I'm still talking to you is out of respect for Old Master Su. Otherwise, who do you think you are?"
Su Banxia let out a cold laugh, then shoved her aside and brushed past her.
Fortunately, there weren't many people at the company entrance at this hour, and few had overheard their exchange. Still, Su Banxia felt deeply unsettled.
Su Sinian's words were like a knife stabbing into her chest, leaving her unable to escape.
Old Master Pei arrived at the company in the afternoon. Whether by coincidence or design, Pei Shaoze happened to be out at the time.
Seeing Su Banxia sitting in the office, Old Master Pei's expression was clearly displeased.
"Uncle..."
"Miss Su, don't call me that. I can't bear such a title."
Old Master Pei sat in the president's chair and said coldly.
Su Banxia stood by the desk, head bowed, silent.
"You're Shaoze's personal secretary?"
"Yes."
Su Banxia nodded.
Old Master Pei sneered: "With a face like that, it's no wonder you're good at seduction. Add the convenience of your position, and it's even easier."
"Chairman, you misunderstand. President Pei and I..."
"I don't care about what's between you and Shaoze. I came to the company today specifically to see you."
Old Master Pei's voice was icy.
Su Banxia lowered her eyes, lost in thought.
"Are the two children Shaoze's?"
A sharp glint flashed in Old Master Pei's eyes.
Su Banxia kept her head down, biting her lower lip. Just as she was about to speak, Old Master Pei cut her off.
"Your father told me you spent six years in France with Lin Tongze."
Old Master Pei's voice was low, but each word struck her heart like a hammer.