Yan Xin listened to Su Banxia's words and couldn't help but smile softly. "You're probably the first person who dares to say that about him."
Su Banxia shrugged helplessly, pointing at the pile of documents in front of her. "I don't dare to resist to his face, so I can only grumble behind his back. I guess that's what they call the 'Ah Q spirit.'"
"Don't overthink it. Shaoze might be punishing you openly, but he'll feel sorry for you in private."
Yan Xin knew Pei Shaoze well—he was the type to suffer for the sake of saving face.
"Aren't you supposed to be on a business trip? Why aren't you leaving yet? You'll miss your flight soon."
Su Banxia glanced at the time and urged him.
Yan Xin nodded and said goodbye. This trip would only last a week, but even though it wasn't long, he wasn't used to being away from Su Banxia for so long.
Even though Yan Xin knew there was no chance between him and Su Banxia, just being able to catch a glimpse of her from afar every day was enough to satisfy him. Sometimes, even just her silhouette gave him all the motivation he needed for the day.
But she had never known about this.
Walking out of the company, Yan Xin felt an inexplicable melancholy. He had been on countless business trips before, but he had never felt this way.
"President Yan, what's wrong?"
Zhang Shanshan, sensitive to his change in mood, asked with concern.
"Thinking about the jet lag from the trip back and forth—it's annoying."
Yan Xin made up a random excuse.
Zhang Shanshan took it to heart and comforted him considerately. "It's fine. We only need to adjust on the first and last days; the rest is manageable."
"You're always so easygoing."
Yan Xin gave a faint smile.
Watching his handsome profile, Zhang Shanshan found herself swooning again, but she kept her feelings for him buried deep in her heart.
Su Banxia stayed late at the office working overtime. Before she knew it, it was dark. Looking at the small mountain of documents beside her, she steadied herself and continued reviewing them.
"Mommy!"
The office door swung open, and two little kids bounced in.
"Guoguo, Haohao?"
Su Banxia was surprised. "How did you two get here?"
"Uncle Pei brought us. He said Mommy messed up the reports today, so she has to work overtime to redo them. Mommy, how could you be so careless?"
Su Guoguo scolded in her childish, milky voice.
Hearing this, Su Banxia looked up at the man who had just walked in from outside.
He was holding a boxed lunch!
Su Banxia pursed her lips, feeling a bit more balanced. It seemed this man wasn't as heartless as she had imagined.
Su Hao's focus was different from Su Guoguo's. He looked at the documents piled high on Su Banxia's desk and frowned. "Do you have to finish all of these?"
"Yes—"
"No!"
Su Banxia and Pei Shaoze spoke almost at the same time. After the words fell, Pei Shaoze cut in first. "These are your mom's workload for the month, but today she only has to finish the ones she messed up."
Hearing Pei Shaoze's words, she couldn't help but roll her eyes.
This man really lied without batting an eye.
Wasn't this pile of documents on her desk all his doing?
"How much longer does Mommy need?"
Su Guoguo rested her chin on her hands, looking at her. "Uncle Pei said he's taking us out to eat together. Mommy, you need to hurry up."
"You little foodie."
Su Banxia didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This kid lost all reason the moment food was mentioned.
But when she looked at the documents in front of her, she couldn't help but frown. "Guoguo, you and your brother go eat with Uncle Pei. Mommy still has a long way to go."
"Is it really that complicated?"
Su Guoguo couldn't hide her disappointment. That restaurant was so delicious.
"Yeah."
Su Banxia's head ached.
Pei Shaoze watched her coldly, as if waiting for her to beg for mercy. But clearly, Su Banxia wasn't buying it. She remained calm from start to finish.
This completely deflated his sense of superiority. Pei Shaoze placed the boxed lunch in front of her. "I got you luosifen. I know you like it. Eat this to tide you over, then finish these documents, and we'll all go out to eat together. The kids and I had a little something earlier, so we're not too hungry. We can wait for you."
Su Banxia raised an eyebrow slightly and gave him a faint glance.
Sometimes, she really didn't know what kind of person Pei Shaoze was. He always tortured her on one hand while surprising her endlessly on the other.
After finishing up, they finally set off together.
Su Guoguo and Su Hao had a great time that night, both left wanting more.
The next day was the weekend. Pei Shaoze left early because he had a contract to sign. After thinking it over, Su Banxia decided to move out.
While he wasn't home, it was the perfect time to make her move.
Su Guoguo came downstairs and saw Su Banxia packing things. She was startled. "Mommy, are we moving again?"
"This place isn't our home. We're just borrowing it. I feel bad for imposing on Uncle Pei for so long."
Su Banxia coaxed gently.
She knew the kids didn't want to leave, but given the current situation, their preferences didn't matter.
"But my brother and I don't want to go."
Su Guoguo's little face scrunched up. She really liked it here—not because the house was big, but because of the people.
Pei Shaoze had seemed distant at first, but as time passed, they realized he was really kind. So kind that even Su Hao couldn't stop praising him.
"Don't be difficult. Mommy promises to work hard and earn money to support you and get you a big house."
Su Banxia pretended to be angry, speaking with a hint of irritation.
"Mommy, my brother doesn't want to leave either."
Su Guoguo said weakly, her head lowered.
Just then, Su Hao came downstairs. Seeing the scene, he didn't need to guess what was going on. The little boy frowned. "Mommy, I really don't want to leave."
"Mommy knows you like it here, but this isn't our home..."
"Uncle Pei said he doesn't mind us staying here. Why can't you agree?"
Su Hao asked steadily.
"That's just him being polite. We have to move out today."
Su Banxia was firm.
Su Hao shot Su Guoguo a look, and she immediately understood. She threw herself onto the luggage, refusing to let go.
"What are you two doing?"
Su Banxia was annoyed but couldn't bring herself to scold them.
"If we move, Mommy won't have as much time for us, and my brother and I will be bored again. Staying here makes Mommy happy, and it makes us happy too. We don't want to see you cry. We want you to be happy."
Su Guoguo said earnestly. She genuinely felt that Su Banxia liked it here too, and she was afraid that leaving would make her unhappy.
The children's words were innocent, and they made Su Banxia pause in her actions.
"Mommy, can we please not leave?"
Su Guoguo pleaded.
"Is this place really that good?"
Su Banxia asked calmly.
Su Hao looked at her. "At least Mommy seems happy here, doesn't she?"
His gaze was sharp, as if trying to see right through her.
Su Banxia fell silent. She couldn't argue against her children's request.