Listening to Su Sinian's words, Su Banxia's brows furrowed involuntarily. She wanted to say something, but Su Sinian cut her off.
"Su Banxia, in your eyes, is the Su family's kindness in raising you really so insignificant?"
"I really don't understand what you're getting at with this early-morning call, Miss Su. If you're just looking to vent your anger on me, then let me tell you, you've succeeded."
Su Banxia said coldly, unwilling to argue with Su Sinian.
Su Sinian snorted. "What? Giving up so easily in front of me?"
"I don't understand what you mean."
Su Banxia frowned slightly, staring at the call in progress, feeling a bitter taste in her heart.
"Using your seductive tricks to stir up trouble in the Pei family—shouldn't I be impressed by that?"
Su Sinian clicked her tongue, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Hearing this, Su Banxia's heart sank. She still didn't know why Pei Shaoze had gone to the old mansion yesterday. Could it still be because of her?
"Whispering sweet nothings in Pei Shaoze's ear all day—now that the Su family is about to be acquired by the Pei family, are you satisfied?"
Su Sinian's voice was sharp, filled with intense resentment.
"What?"
Su Banxia was stunned. Pei Shaoze was going to acquire the Su family?
Su Sinian sneered. "I really underestimated you before. I didn't realize how skilled you are!"
"Su—"
Before Su Banxia could finish, the other party hung up decisively.
Listening to the mechanical beeping from the receiver, Su Banxia felt a heavy ache in her heart. Su Sinian's words were like a knife, stabbing deep into her soul.
Numbly returning to the office, Su Banxia looked at the figure sitting in the president's chair, diligently reviewing documents, and felt an inexplicable melancholy.
"At yesterday afternoon's shareholder meeting, I looked over the materials you organized. Besides the partial analysis, is there an overall summary?"
Pei Shaoze looked up at her with a sidelong glance, his tone strictly businesslike.
Su Banxia's heart seemed to skip a beat. She hurriedly shook her head. "That wasn't mentioned in the meeting, so I didn't compile it."
"As my secretary, don't you even know what conclusions I need?"
Pei Shaoze frowned, clearly displeased.
"I..."
Su Banxia stammered, lowering her gaze, unsure of what to say.
Seeing her like this, Pei Shaoze felt an inexplicable surge of anger. "When you make a mistake, you correct it promptly, not stand around doing nothing!"
"Yes, I'll take care of it."
Su Banxia looked up to meet his eyes, a strange emotion flickering in her own.
"I want to see a complete report by this afternoon!"
Pei Shaoze sat back down coldly, picking up a nearby document and flipping through it.
Su Banxia sighed inwardly, not daring to dwell on it, and quickly got to work.
The atmosphere in the office was tense. Neither spoke. Su Banxia occasionally stole a glance at Pei Shaoze, her mind full of questions she wanted to ask him but didn't know where to start.
Pei Shaoze stayed in the office for a long time before finally getting up to leave.
Watching his retreating figure, Su Banxia felt even more disheartened. She sighed quietly and lowered her head to continue with her documents.
The ringing of her phone interrupted her thoughts. It was Su Jin calling.
Seeing the name flashing on the screen, Su Banxia hesitated for a moment before finally answering.
"Mr. Su?"
Su Banxia's voice carried a hint of unease.
"Banxia."
Su Jin's voice was tinged with weariness. "Have you thought about what I told you?"
Su Banxia froze, biting her lower lip hard, unsure how to respond.
"I know it's hard for you, but I'm backed into a corner here. Pei Shaoze is about to acquire the Su family. If you leave, Niannian's marriage to him can be settled quickly, and the Su family can be saved!"
Su Jin pleaded. "Banxia, I'm begging you, can you do this?"
"I..."
"Whatever you want, I'll do my best to give it to you. Just, for the sake of the Su family, leave Pei Shaoze."
Su Jin's words drove another knife into Su Banxia's already shattered heart.
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Su Banxia's mouth. She gripped the phone tightly. "...Okay."
Hearing this answer, Su Jin was overjoyed. "Don't worry, I'll arrange everything for you."
"Mm."
Su Banxia nodded faintly, listlessly setting the phone aside. She looked down at the documents on her desk, suddenly finding it all bitterly ironic and laughable.
Standing up, she walked blankly to the floor-to-ceiling window. Watching the bustling traffic outside, she let out another rueful, bitter laugh.
So this was how unwanted she really was.
"Shaoze, I—"
Yan Xin burst through the door, stopping short when he saw Su Banxia by the window. His heart tightened, and he felt an inexplicable pang of sadness.
Hearing the noise, Su Banxia turned around and greeted him politely. "President Yan."
"Banxia, are you upset?"
Yan Xin asked with concern, noticing her red, swollen eyes—clear signs of crying.
"I'm fine. Are you looking for President Pei?"
Su Banxia glanced at the documents in his hand.
Yan Xin awkwardly tucked the papers away and gave an embarrassed smile. "I had some work summaries to report to him. I didn't expect him to be out at this hour."
"President Yan."
Su Banxia looked up at him, her eyes filled with deep sorrow. "Is President Pei really going to acquire the Su family?"
"Huh?"
Yan Xin was startled. Seeing the expression on Su Banxia's face, he quickly shook his head. "You've got it wrong. That's not true at all."
Catching the evasiveness in his tone, Su Banxia's smile grew even more bitter. "So what they said is true."
"Banxia?"
Yan Xin looked at her, confused.
"I have documents to deliver to the marketing department."
Su Banxia forced a faint smile, grabbed the papers from the desk, and rushed out the door.
Standing outside the office, she paused for a long time, trying to steady her emotions.
Lately, whether it was Old Master Pei's pressure or Su Jin's pleas, everything was chipping away at her mental defenses.
Feeling utterly broken inside, Su Banxia took a deep breath and finally called Lin Tongze.
"Banxia?"
Lin Tongze's lips curled into a handsome smile when he saw her name on the screen.
"Tongze, are you free? I'd like to invite you out for some tea."
Su Banxia asked calmly.
Lin Tongze paused for a moment, then nodded. "I'll be right there."