?
Feeling the chill in his words, Su Banxia couldn't help but shiver. Staring at his back, she didn't hesitate to roll her eyes.
Fang Shiqing approached from a distance, letting out a faint laugh. "You're really the big shot in the company now. Even Manager Liu is rushing to suck up to you."
"Like I want this? There's no room left on my desk every day—half of it's files, the other half is all their gifts."
Su Banxia felt utterly helpless.
Ever since Pei Shaoze publicly acknowledged the child was his, she'd been receiving all sorts of surprises daily.
"You're being smug about a good deal. I'd love to have that kind of treatment but can't get it."
Fang Shiqing smiled softly. "Just now I saw you and President Pei. What, another quarrel?"
Su Banxia shrugged. "You know his temper well enough. No one can ever guess what mood he'll be in the next second."
"Isn't that the classic love-hate relationship?"
Fang Shiqing pursed her lips with a light smile.
Su Banxia had nothing to say. Being around a boss like that would shorten your lifespan. If she could, she'd really like to return him like a defective product.
Back in the office, Pei Shaoze was buried in paperwork. Seeing this, Su Banxia had no choice but to carefully take her seat.
"Is the New City project done?"
Pei Shaoze's voice rang out abruptly, startling Su Banxia.
"It's... done."
"Then work on the South City proposal. That project needs to be officially signed the day after tomorrow."
Pei Shaoze tossed the file over to her as he spoke.
Su Banxia froze for a moment but still gritted her teeth and agreed.
Pei Shaoze glanced sideways at the stuff on her desk and said coldly, "Are you planning to run a supermarket in the office?"
"No, this is—"
"Clean it up. I don't want to see it tomorrow."
Pei Shaoze straightened his collar and then strode out of the office with an air of authority.
Su Banxia let out a wail. How could anyone be so unreasonable? Did he really not know why these people were giving her gifts?!
As she silently dealt with the mess, she'd already cursed Pei Shaoze's ancestors countless times in her mind.
At lunchtime, Su Banxia originally wanted to eat with Fang Shiqing, but seeing Zhang Shanshan beside her, she dropped the idea.
Their relationship had only just been mended, and she didn't want to stir up trouble again because of Zhang Shanshan.
After thinking it over, Su Banxia decided to grab a quick bite at a restaurant near the company.
But just as she reached the main entrance, she caught sight of Su Sinian's back. Instinctively, she turned to head back, but it was clearly too late.
"Banxia!"
Su Sinian called out to her retreating figure.
Su Banxia paused mid-step, wanting to pretend she hadn't heard, but Su Sinian hurried forward and blocked her path.
"I've been waiting here for you for a long time. I thought I wouldn't see you until you got off work tonight."
Su Sinian said with a faint smile.
"What does the young lady want from me?"
Su Banxia looked at her coldly.
Su Sinian smiled. "Can we talk over a meal?"
"Do you think there's any need for that between us?"
Su Banxia's blunt reply left Su Sinian at a loss for words.
The two stood stiffly at the company entrance. Not wanting to become the talk of the office, Su Banxia relented. "I'll give you some time. Let's sit over there for a bit, and I'll listen."
Su Sinian nodded. "That works."
At the corner of the company, it was quiet and not crowded—perfect for a conversation.
Pei Shaoze stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, coffee in hand. From his angle, he had a clear view of the two women downstairs.
The aroma of coffee gradually filled the office, but Pei Shaoze kept his eyes fixed on the scene below.
Yan Xin pushed the door open, intending to hand over a business trip report, but found that calling him several times got no response. Following his gaze, he saw Su Banxia and Su Sinian talking about something.
Connecting this to Pei Shaoze's earlier request to investigate Su Banxia's background, Yan Xin seemed to understand.
Both were surnamed Su, and with Pei Shaoze first refusing, then agreeing, and finally breaking his promise to the Su family, he was even more certain.
Pei Shaoze turned around, placed his coffee cup on the desk, and walked straight out of the office without sparing Yan Xin a glance.
"What kind of person is this? I spent a whole night on that work report!"
Yan Xin grumbled in protest, but his gaze drifted back downstairs.
Su Banxia's attitude toward Su Sinian wasn't particularly warm—in fact, it was quite aloof.
"Banxia, I thought we had a decent relationship. Can you do me a favor?"
Su Sinian spoke slowly.
Hearing this, Su Banxia's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly before she replied coldly, "Go on."
"Leave Pei Shaoze. I'm begging you. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you, as long as you leave."
Su Sinian lowered her pride for the first time.
She knew how Pei Shaoze felt about Su Banxia. Even Old Master Pei had pressured him, but he remained unmoved, even going out of his way to protect Su Banxia.
She was terrified that, given how things were going, Su Banxia would eventually rise above her. She was the Su family's legitimate daughter—how could she let some wild girl turn the tables!
"Young lady, that offer is really hard for me to refuse."
Su Banxia let out a bitter laugh. For the first time in her life, she saw Su Sinian being so humble with her.
Su Sinian smiled. "You know, all I've ever wanted is to marry Pei Shaoze. That's my hope, my reason for living."
"I think 'reason for living' is just an excuse. Greed for wealth is the real deal, isn't it? Before, you targeted me for getting close to Lin Tongze, and now it's the same with Pei Shaoze. I really wonder if the young lady changes her heart too fast or if she's never loved at all."
Su Banxia sneered.
She despised Su Sinian's attitude. If she could use feelings as a bargaining chip, then what was off-limits in her mind?
Stung by the truth, Su Sinian's face paled. She said coldly, "If you leave Pei Shaoze, I'll give you a hefty alimony—enough to support your child."
"Money?"
Su Banxia scoffed. Old Master Pei had tried to bribe her to leave Pei Shaoze with money, and now Su Sinian was using the same tactic.
"What are you laughing at?"
Su Sinian was irritated.
"I'm laughing at your ignorance. If I were with Pei Shaoze just for the money, all I'd need to do is please him. I couldn't care less about your little favors. You should know, Pei Shaoze himself is a much better cash machine."
For the first time, Su Banxia confronted Su Sinian head-on.
"You!"
Su Sinian gritted her teeth in anger. "Are you in love with Pei Shaoze?"