Su Banxia was puzzled but didn't ask further. She stood up and, together with Yan Xin, barely managed to finish presiding over the shareholders' meeting. After organizing the meeting materials, they walked shoulder to shoulder toward the office.
"Where did Pei Shaoze go? Why did he leave even the shareholders' meeting to us?"
Yan Xin sounded utterly frustrated. He had a mountain of tasks piled up and had been following Pei Shaoze's orders all these days.
Su Banxia shook her head in confusion. "After he answered that call, his expression changed. It seemed like he went back to the Pei family's old mansion."
"The old mansion?"
Yan Xin's voice involuntarily rose a notch, his face showing clear surprise.
"Yes, I didn't catch what was said on the call, but I'm sure he went back to the old mansion."
Su Banxia nodded seriously.
"That can't be..."
Yan Xin clicked his tongue, a vague sense of foreboding creeping into his heart. When it came to major matters recently, the only big one was acquiring the Su family. Surely Old Master Pei wouldn't be so serious over just the Su family, would he?
Hearing this, Su Banxia couldn't help but glance at him. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's nothing."
Yan Xin shook his head and forced a slight smile. "I think he'll be fine. You don't need to worry too much."
"Okay."
Su Banxia nodded, casting a suspicious look at Yan Xin, but ultimately swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.
Meanwhile, at the Pei residence—
Pei Shaoze returned home with a cold face. Seeing the Su family seated in the living room, his already displeased expression grew even icier.
"You called me back in such a hurry—are you here to interrogate me?"
Pei Shaoze said coldly.
Old Master Pei was clearly displeased with his attitude. "How dare you speak like that?"
"Wasn't the lesson from the last failed forced marriage enough?"
Pei Shaoze's gaze sharpened, exuding a chilling edge.
Clearly, this remark was aimed at the Su family.
Su's mother couldn't help but shiver. Pei Shaoze's stare made her feel uneasy.
"President Pei, you've misunderstood. We came today to ask for your leniency."
Su Jin's tone was gentle, offering an olive branch.
"Hah!"
Pei Shaoze sneered. "Asking for my leniency—was it necessary to drag this to the old mansion?"
The implication was obvious without him spelling it out.
"Well..."
Su Jin looked embarrassed. If they hadn't come to the old mansion, they wouldn't have been able to persuade Pei Shaoze to show mercy!
Old Master Pei frowned deeply at Pei Shaoze's attitude. "I called them here. I heard you're planning to acquire the Su family?"
"Dad, haven't you always told me to take good care of the Su family? Merging the two companies would make that even easier, wouldn't it?"
Pei Shaoze said dismissively, his tone cold.
"If you truly want to merge the two families, what you should do is marry the eldest Miss Su!"
Old Master Pei's voice was icy, carrying an unspoken authority.
Hearing this, Su Sinian shuddered, her eyes sparkling with hope as if filled with stars.
Pei Shaoze raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing at her sideways. "I think you're mistaken. I have no interest in such a beautiful young lady."
"Is it only Su Banxia who occupies your heart?"
Old Master Pei was deeply dissatisfied. With the Pei family's power and status, they could have any woman in the entire Yan City. Why did he have to be entangled with someone like her?
"Who I marry is my private matter. I doubt you can interfere with that, can you?"
Pei Shaoze was firm. Even if Su Banxia weren't in his heart, he wouldn't marry a scheming woman like her.
Old Master Pei's face turned livid with rage, and he slammed his cane hard on the ground. "Say that again!"
"I don't see anything wrong with what I said. A young lady like Miss Su is beyond my capacity to handle. Whoever wants to marry her can go ahead—what does it have to do with me?"
Pei Shaoze showed no mercy, casting a sidelong glance at Su Sinian.
Su Sinian lowered her eyes, gripping the hem of her clothes tightly. Pei Shaoze's words shattered all her convictions.
"This matter is not up for discussion. I'll pick an auspicious day to finalize your engagement to Sinian."
Old Master Pei declared coldly.
Pei Shaoze stood up, straightened his collar, and smiled faintly. "Then I'll say it again: whoever wants to marry her can do so, but I won't be showing up."
With that, Pei Shaoze didn't give Old Master Pei a chance to respond. He turned and strode away.
"This rebellious son—he's gone too far! Does he have any respect left for me, his father?"
Old Master Pei's chest heaved with anger.
Su Sinian quickly stepped forward to soothe him, comforting the old man while a glint of malice flashed in her eyes.
Su Banxia was truly her nemesis!
The atmosphere at the Pei family's old mansion was tense, while Su Banxia's situation was equally grim.
At the company, Su Banxia buried herself in work, finishing all the tasks without seeing Pei Shaoze return. Staring at the empty CEO's seat, she felt a heavy ache in her heart.
A wave of inexplicable loss washed over her.
She didn't know what her feelings for Pei Shaoze were. Every time she saw him, she felt both comfort and a desire to escape—two conflicting emotions that nearly overwhelmed her.
Shaking her head, Su Banxia glanced at her watch. Deciding it was time, she picked up her handbag and headed out to pick up the two children from school.
Su Guoguo, seeing Su Banxia arrive, joyfully threw herself into her arms, chattering about everything that had happened that day.
"Mommy, I got praised by the teacher so many times today! Look, I have a little star on my forehead."
Su Guoguo pointed her chubby little finger at her forehead.
Su Banxia smiled at her affectionately. "Guoguo is always Mommy's little treasure. You shine no matter where you are."
"Brother has one too. I admire Brother the most, so I want to be like him."
Su Guoguo's smile was especially sweet.
Children's world is pure and simple, with simple desires.
Hearing Su Guoguo's words, Su Hao couldn't help but chuckle. "If you want to surpass me, hard work alone won't cut it. You need this."
As he spoke, Su Hao tapped his forehead.
Through the rearview mirror, Su Banxia saw Su Hao's serious, grown-up expression, and another figure instantly flashed through her mind, leaving her unsettled.
Su Hao was practically a replica of Pei Shaoze. The cold, stern aura they shared made it impossible to sever the bond between father and son!