Chapter 180: Pack Up, Leave
"Yes."
Su Banxia nodded without denying it.
Old Master Pei swept his gaze over her, his sharp eyes as if trying to see right through her.
"Between Lin Tongze and me—"
"I don't care what kind of relationship you two have. As for you, if you think you can use a child to latch onto the Pei family, don't even dream about it. I've heard about your background from your father. Do you really think someone like you is qualified to marry into our family?"
Old Master Pei's words showed no mercy.
Su Banxia lowered her eyes, a flicker of emotion passing through them. The last time she went to the Pei residence, the old master had been displeased with her, but not this hostile. She didn't know what Su Jin had told him, but she could imagine it wasn't anything good.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of using this child as leverage to get anything from your family."
Su Banxia lifted her head, her clear, bright eyes shimmering like stars, luminous and striking.
"Name your price. Tell me what it'll take for you to leave Shaozhe, and come to me when you've decided."
Old Master Pei said coldly.
Su Banxia gave a faint smile. "In your eyes, Chairman, can everything be settled with money?"
"At least I have the means."
Su Banxia had no retort to that. He was right—he had the means to buy her off with money.
"Don't think that having a child proves anything. As long as our Pei family doesn't acknowledge it, that child will never have a proper standing."
Old Master Pei leaned on his cane as he walked to the door, pausing to glance back at her.
"I'll raise my own children without begging anyone. Whether they have a proper standing or not isn't for you to decide—it depends on how they grow up."
Su Banxia suppressed the anger in her heart, turning around to speak slowly, each word deliberate.
"Come find me when you've made up your mind. My patience is limited. Don't make me use force to drive you away."
With that icy remark, Old Master Pei left the company.
Su Banxia sat in her seat as if her soul had been drained. The old master's words echoed in her ears, lingering and refusing to fade. She wanted to ignore them, but he was, after all, the biological grandfather of her two children. She could endure any humiliation herself, but her children could not. She already regretted not being able to give them a better environment and life—how could she bear to let them become a laughingstock?
Fang Shiqing watched Old Master Pei leave before turning and heading to the CEO's office. She knocked lightly and pushed the door open, finding Su Banxia sitting inside with a look of sorrow.
"What... did he say?"
Fang Shiqing walked over to her side and asked gently.
"My initial guess was right. With a background like mine, what right do I have to fight for my children's status? It would only bring them more harm."
Su Banxia gave a bitter smile.
She had never planned to tell Pei Shaoze the true paternity of her children. This whole mess of a misunderstanding had only made things clearer. The world of the wealthy was a deep abyss—someone like her should never have entertained such thoughts!
"Don't overthink it. The old master's words aren't reliable. You need to hear what Pei Shaoze has to say."
Fang Shiqing tried to comfort her.
She could see that Su Banxia genuinely liked Pei Shaoze. After everything they'd been through, how could they let something like this tear them apart?
"Are you asking him to go against the entire Pei family for me?"
Su Banxia shook her head with a wry smile.
She couldn't do that, and she never would.
Fang Shiqing sighed inwardly. "Don't jump to conclusions. Things haven't reached a point of no return. No one knows what the next step will bring."
"Honestly, letting Pei Shaoze acknowledge the children as his was a mistake from the start."
Su Banxia lifted her eyes slightly.
"What do you mean by that?"
Fang Shiqing was taken aback, knowing Su Banxia's temperament well. "Don't do anything rash. You have to think about the two children."
"Shiqing, I want to be alone for a while, to sort out my thoughts."
Su Banxia said weakly.
Fang Shiqing nodded and, as she reached the door, gave her one last look. "Make sure you think it through. Don't do anything reckless."
The office door closed, leaving Su Banxia alone in the vast room.
She got up to pour herself a glass of water, sitting numbly as she stared into space. Old Master Pei humiliating her with money had already wounded her pride. But leaving Dingsheng, leaving Pei Shaoze—part of her couldn't bear it.
For a moment, Su Banxia found herself ridiculous. She had once desperately wanted to escape this place, and now that she truly could leave, she was filled with countless regrets.
At the appointed time, Su Banxia picked up the two children and drove home in silence.
Back at the house, she quickly packed their belongings.
"Mom, are we leaving?"
Su Guoguo asked timidly.
"This place is big, but it's someone else's home. Staying here and imposing on Uncle Pei makes me feel bad."
Su Banxia smiled at Su Guoguo.
Su Guoguo looked around the room. Even though she was reluctant, she obeyed her mother and hurried back to her room to retrieve a small backpack.
"Mom, can I take these toys? Uncle Pei gave them to me."
Su Guoguo lifted her little face and asked earnestly.
"If Guoguo likes them, then take them along."
Su Banxia said gently.
There was nothing wrong with letting the children keep a memento.
Su Hao sat quietly to the side, watching his mother and sister pack with calm detachment. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at the time. Sure enough, within moments, Pei Shaoze appeared in the living room.
"What are you doing?"
Pei Shaoze looked at the packed bags on the floor, his heart sinking.
"I've imposed on you long enough. It's time for me to move out. Your rent here is too expensive—I probably can't afford it."
Su Banxia laughed as she bent over to tie up a bag.
Pei Shaoze stepped forward and grabbed her hand, his face dark with displeasure. "Dad came to the company today."
That simple sentence said it all.
Su Banxia's smile stiffened. She averted her gaze, avoiding Pei Shaoze's eyes.
Seeing this, Su Hao wisely pulled Su Guoguo away.
The two children sat in their room, both confused but with Su Hao far calmer than his sister.
"Brother, are Mom and Uncle going to fight? Uncle's face doesn't look good."
Su Guoguo asked worriedly.
"Do you want them to argue, or do you want to stay?"
Su Hao asked seriously, sounding like a little adult.