In the middle of the night.
The company's system being hacked inevitably affected the workflow, and Su Banxia was naturally stuck at the office. If the boss didn't leave, how could she, a lowly secretary, dare to go?
She delivered the compiled documents to Pei Shaoze. Knocking and entering the office, she didn't see Pei Shaoze but instead found Yan Xin.
Since their chance encounter on the street, Yan Xin's attitude toward Su Banxia had subtly changed.
His gaze fell on her heavy-rimmed glasses, and he smiled at her, saying, "Secretary Su is more charming without her glasses."
Su Banxia gave a faint smile, taking his words as a joke. Placing the stack of documents on Pei Shaoze's desk, she said, "These are the files Mr. Pei requested. I've organized them all. When Mr. Pei arrives, please let him know, Mr. Yan."
Her rigid, formal demeanor made Yan Xin chuckle. "You don't have to keep calling me 'Mr. Yan' so seriously. You can just call me Yan Xin."
Su Banxia nodded with a faint smile, but there was still a hint of distance.
As she turned to leave the office, he called out before she could exit, "Banxia!"
Startled, Su Banxia looked back at him, momentarily frozen.
Seeing her surprise, Yan Xin looked a bit embarrassed. "Can I call you Banxia?"
When she remained stunned, he quickly added, "When no one's around."
He knew she was deliberately hiding her appearance, so he wouldn't expose her or make her feel awkward. He just wanted to be closer to her, even though he knew she had a child and a husband.
Su Banxia nodded and smiled. "Sure."
Seeing her agreement, Yan Xin grinned widely.
It was strange—just a change in how he addressed her made him inexplicably happy.
When Pei Shaoze entered, Yan Xin was still looking down with a smile, looking utterly foolish. Frowning, Pei Shaoze walked over and sat in his office chair.
Glancing at the stack of documents on the desk, he asked, "Did Su Banxia bring these?"
Yan Xin snapped back to reality and nodded, the smile still lingering on his face.
Pei Shaoze furrowed his brow and casually asked, "How much do you know about Su Banxia?"
The sudden question caught Yan Xin off guard. Why would Pei Shaoze ask that?
His surprise and subtle tension didn't escape Pei Shaoze's notice, who seemed thoughtful.
After a moment, Yan Xin said, "Not much. Why are you suddenly curious about a secretary?"
Studying his expression, Pei Shaoze slightly narrowed his eyes and said flatly, "Oh..."
His voice trailed off, his dark eyes tinged with suspicion.
When you've been around someone for years, you can tell when they're lying or hiding something.
And Pei Shaoze was an exceptionally sharp man.
Realizing Pei Shaoze doubted his words, Yan Xin grew flustered. Scrambling for a response, he tried to sound nonchalant. "Su Banxia isn't particularly striking, dresses old-fashioned, and she's a mother. I haven't paid much attention to her..."
Pei Shaoze narrowed his dark eyes at him. "A mother?"
Yan Xin had only meant to downplay his connection to Su Banxia, but in his nervousness, he'd let slip that she was a mother. He was in trouble now.
Sure enough, lying never worked out.
Since the words were already out, he couldn't exactly take them back. He simply nodded and added, "Yeah, I saw her with two kids on the street once. They seemed close, so they're probably hers."
Pei Shaoze had only been making small talk, but now he seemed to have stumbled onto something unexpected.
Su Banxia had two children... a mother of two...
He wasn't pleased with this revelation.
For no particular reason.
Seeing Pei Shaoze lost in thought, Yan Xin coughed and said, "I have something to take care of. I'll head out now."
If he stayed any longer, Pei Shaoze might ask more questions. He could keep a secret, but lying was definitely not his forte.