After just a few steps, Pei Shaoze called out to him. "Yan Xin."
"Huh?"
Yan Xin tensed up, stopping abruptly and turning to look back. "Is there something else?"
Pei Shaoze watched him, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. "Go look into Su Banxia for me. That woman likely entered the company with ulterior motives."
How could that be?
Yan Xin wanted to retort outright but merely nodded slightly, conceding.
Pei Shaoze noted his reaction, suspicion taking root. Normally, if he asked about an unremarkable woman, Yan Xin would just say he hadn't paid much attention. But this time, his response felt forced.
...
Over the weekend, after being squeezed dry by Pei Shaoze all week, Su Banxia thought she could finally rest at home for a day. But around noon, her phone started ringing incessantly again.
The caller was none other than the persistent Pei Shaoze.
Suppressing her irritation, she answered. "Hello, President Pei!"
Her voice was sweet, but it was clearly fake. She didn't want to take his call. Pei Shaoze frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure in his cold tone. "Miss Su, come to Café Seine Rive Gauche."
"What for?"
Su Banxia asked instinctively, then paused. "President Pei, it's the weekend."
The implication was clear: I'm not working today, so don't bother me.
"Su Banxia, you're my personal assistant. There are no weekends."
His words were unbearably domineering, leaving no room for argument.
Su Banxia: "..."
Dealing with such a neurotic CEO, she could only think, "What a curse!"
"Fine."
She replied, wishing she could tear this jerk to shreds without hesitation if violence were an option.
Even through the phone, Pei Shaoze seemed to sense her gritting her teeth.
After hanging up, Pei Shaoze called Yan Xin.
Furious as she was, Su Banxia had to wash her face quickly and head out—she ate his bread, so she followed his orders.
Guoguo trailed behind Su Banxia, clutching her little dolphin plush, her big, watery eyes following Su Banxia's every move. She just watched silently, offering no opinion.
Su Banxia knew the child had overheard her phone call and realized she was leaving, hence the pitiful look.
Since returning to the country, she hadn't spent much time with her two little ones. Now, even on the weekend, she was being squeezed dry by Pei Shaoze.
With a sigh, Su Banxia finished washing her face, crouched down beside Guoguo, and gently hugged her. "Guoguo, Mommy has to go out for a bit. You and your brother stay home and be good, okay?"
Guoguo blinked her big eyes at her, her voice soft and childish. "Mommy, can you take me and my brother along?"
"Mommy's going to work. It would be inconvenient if you came along."
With that, Su Banxia carried Guoguo to the living room.
Xiao Hao was reading a book, his handsome, stern little face full of seriousness.
Sitting Guoguo down next to Xiao Hao, Su Banxia whispered, "Xiao Hao, Mommy has to go to work. Take good care of your sister, okay?"
The little boy kept his head down, reading, showing no reaction. After a moment, he said, "When will you have time?"
His non-answer was exactly like Pei Shaoze's icy demeanor.
Su Banxia was taken aback and answered honestly, "Mommy's not sure when she'll have time to be with you. I just got back, and there's a lot going on at the company, so..."
"Only if I hack the company's system will you have time?"
Closing his book, Xiao Hao looked up at Su Banxia, his handsome dark eyes exceptionally cold.
Indeed, like father, like son.
Su Banxia feigned anger. "Xiao Hao, Mommy's told you, that's illegal. If you get caught, you could go to jail. Mommy promises to find time for you and Guoguo, but you have to promise me not to do anything reckless, okay?"
Xiao Hao mumbled a reply, barely audible, clearly unconvinced.
Seeing the time was getting late, Su Banxia gave Xiao Hao and Guoguo a few more instructions before rushing out the door.