Lin Tongze gave a faint smile. "I'm fine. I just wanted to wish you well."
Su Banxia felt completely baffled but didn't dare to ask further. After hanging up, as she was about to head downstairs, a newly refreshed news headline caught her eye.
The person on the front page—who else could it be but her?
"What's this?"
Frowning in confusion, Su Banxia casually tapped on the article and began reading it carefully. There, she saw photos of her and Pei Shaoze enjoying a candlelit dinner the night before, plastered all over the headlines.
Connecting this to what Lin Tongze had just said to her, Su Banxia suddenly understood.
No wonder Lin Tongze had reacted that way—there was a hidden reason behind it all!
Without even guessing, Su Banxia knew who was behind this. In this world, besides Pei Shaoze, who else could manipulate his own scandals?
Instantly, she hurried downstairs. Seeing someone sitting in the living room as if nothing had happened, her heart tightened with an inexplicable nervousness.
"Awake?"
Pei Shaoze raised an eyebrow, casting a casual glance at her, his eyes carrying a deep, lingering meaning.
Meeting his gaze, Su Banxia felt her heartbeat skip a beat. She cleared her throat and spoke slowly, "Was the news your doing?"
"Hmm?"
Pei Shaoze shot her a sidelong look, his expression unreadable.
"I mean, we..."
"I thought my intentions were already quite clear to Secretary Su."
Pei Shaoze said coldly, cutting her off without hesitation.
Su Banxia's nerves were on edge. "Well, I, I..."
"Secretary Su isn't thinking of going to France with Lin Tongze after making headlines with me, is she?"
Pei Shaoze's voice carried a hint of mockery.
"That's not what I meant. I'm worried that the Pei family seeing this news might have a negative impact on you."
Su Banxia fidgeted, voicing her concern.
Old Master Pei had never liked her, and with this news blowing up, who knew what he'd think of her now!
Besides, Su Banxia genuinely didn't want Pei Shaoze to get into any arguments with the Pei family because of her.
"Oh?"
Pei Shaoze's lips curled into a faint smile. "I'll handle this. You don't need to worry, dear wife."
The word "wife" made Su Banxia's face flush bright red. "Mr. Pei, you're joking."
"What did you call me?"
Pei Shaoze's gaze sharpened, his face showing clear displeasure.
"Shaoze..."
Su Banxia clenched her teeth, calling his name weakly.
Why did this man seem so awkward? After knowing him for so long, she always felt Pei Shaoze had two faces.
"What are you brooding about over there?"
Seeing her lost in thought for too long, Pei Shaoze frowned slightly and asked coldly.
"N-nothing."
Su Banxia quickly shook her head and swiftly moved away from him. She didn't dare get too close to Pei Shaoze—she was afraid she'd completely fall for him!
But now, it seemed she already had...
Thinking this, Su Banxia's expression turned complicated, leaving her restless even during breakfast.
Su Guoguo and Su Hao watched her closely. The two kids exchanged glances, silently signaling each other.
After breakfast, as Pei Shaoze went to get the car, Su Guoguo suddenly grabbed Su Banxia's hand and asked seriously, "Mom, in your heart, do you want to stay here or go to France with Uncle Lin?"
"Huh?"
Su Banxia was taken aback, looking at Su Guoguo in confusion.
"Yesterday, my brother and I saw the packed luggage and knew you were planning to take us away. Uncle Pei saw it too, so he took us out to buy a cake together."
Su Guoguo paused, carefully watching Su Banxia's reaction.
Su Banxia furrowed her brows slightly, her smile faint. "So you went with him without hesitation?"
"Uncle Pei told me and my brother that even if you married him, he'd still treat us well. Mom, we like Uncle Pei. Can you stay and not leave?"
Su Guoguo tugged at Su Banxia's hand in a childish, pleading tone.
"Guoguo?"
Su Banxia froze, not quite processing it.
Su Hao stood to the side and said calmly, "We both know you like Uncle Pei, so me and Guoguo support you."
"You two little rascals, what do you know about liking someone?"
Su Banxia couldn't help but laugh.
"Like how you and Uncle Pei are—isn't that mutual liking?"
Su Guoguo looked up, speaking with utter seriousness.
"Is... is it?"
For no reason, Su Banxia felt a tingle on her scalp under the kids' stares. She shook her head with a helpless smile.
As the three chatted, Pei Shaoze had already pulled the car up in front of her without her noticing.
After successfully dropping the kids off at school, Pei Shaoze calmly drove to the company.
Throughout the ride, Su Banxia kept stealing glances at Pei Shaoze from the corner of her eye. She had a thousand things she wanted to ask him but didn't know where to start.
Sensing her unease, Pei Shaoze frowned almost imperceptibly. "Just say what's on your mind."
Su Banxia's heart sank, and she quickly shook her head. "Thank you for giving me a special birthday yesterday."
"What, Lin Tongze never did that for you back in France?"
Pei Shaoze glanced at her, his tone dripping with teasing.
"It's different."
Su Banxia lowered her head, speaking softly.
To her, Lin Tongze was a friend and a brother. Being with him felt completely different from being with Pei Shaoze.
"So you're this moved just because I did something small for you?"
Pei Shaoze chuckled. "Then Secretary Su's emotions come too easily!"
"I..."
Su Banxia's lips moved, but she swallowed the words she was about to say.
They drove in silence until they reached the company entrance.
Getting out of the car, Su Banxia looked up and saw Su Jin standing at the main gate. She paused mid-step, a strange feeling rising in her chest.
"Go ahead and talk to him face to face. Don't worry, I've got your back."
Pei Shaoze said softly to her.
Taking a deep breath, Su Banxia mustered her courage and walked over slowly.
"Mr. Su."
Su Banxia greeted him calmly, polite but with clear distance.
"You didn't keep your promise to me."
Su Jin's eyes were filled with disappointment. When today's headline broke, his emotions had been a tangled mess.
Su Banxia lowered her gaze, silent for a long moment, before finally speaking slowly, "I'm sorry, but on this matter, I may not be able to follow your instructions."