The next day, Su Banxia arrived at the company as usual. The moment she pushed open the office door, she was stunned. Her desk was piled high with all sorts of items, mostly limited-edition luxury goods.
"Are these company perks?"
Su Banxia shook her head, dismissing the thought. She then drew in a sharp breath and looked up at the culprit sitting in the main seat.
"Like them?"
Pei Shaoze raised an eyebrow, an air of arrogance impossible to miss.
Su Banxia furrowed her delicate brows. "Did you send all these?"
"I heard women like expensive luxury items. I had my assistant specially buy these—they're the hot products everyone's chasing."
Pei Shaoze's voice was cool.
"They're... nice."
Su Banxia's lips twitched involuntarily as she forced a faint smile.
Pei Shaoze seemed quite satisfied. "I didn't give you anything for your birthday, so I'm making up for it now."
"Mr. Pei, you're very thoughtful."
It's just that these things are way too much like a straight guy's taste!
Su Banxia grumbled inwardly but kept a delighted expression on her face.
"I heard Chanel is releasing a new perfume soon. I'll have them reserve a bottle for you."
Pei Shaoze was in a rare good mood, his tone even carrying a hint of smugness.
Su Banxia smiled faintly and shook her head. "No need to trouble yourself. I don't usually use these things."
"Hmm?"
Pei Shaoze's eyes instantly darkened.
Realizing what she'd just said, Su Banxia quickly added cheerfully, "Of course, I'll make good use of everything you've given me."
Hearing this, Pei Shaoze nodded with slight satisfaction.
Seeing this, Su Banxia breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She then put the pile of cosmetics into a storage box and retrieved the documents that had been pushed aside, looking rather pitiful.
The company had been swamped with projects lately, and the tasks assigned to her were double what they used to be.
Pei Shaoze, busy with a contract at hand, only stayed in the office briefly before getting up to leave.
With the departure of this intimidating figure, Su Banxia's tense nerves finally relaxed. She glanced at the cosmetics she'd carefully set aside, and a beautiful smile curled at the corners of her lips.
It was rare for Pei Shaoze to be so thoughtful. Even if she couldn't use these things, she'd keep them well.
At lunch, Su Banxia happened to meet up with Fang Shiqing. After their long cold war, they had so much to say to each other.
Listening to Fang Shiqing's experience from the night before, Su Banxia couldn't help but frown. "Lin Haoran is such a jerk. We let him off too easy!"
"Luckily, President Yan passed by yesterday, or I'd have been in serious trouble."
Thinking about what could have happened last night, Fang Shiqing couldn't help but shiver.
"Shiqing."
Su Banxia looked at her calmly, cleared her throat, and asked slowly, "How are things between you and Assistant Zhang now?"
At this topic, Fang Shiqing paused, a hint of awkwardness flashing across her face. "Banxia, I..."
"Zhang Shanshan isn't as innocent as she seems. I'm afraid you'll end up getting hurt. So while you can still distance yourself from her, try to stay away."
Su Banxia urged again.
If it weren't for Zhang Shanshan, she wouldn't have moved out of Fang Shiqing's place!
They'd been sisters for years, never once arguing over anything—until Zhang Shanshan came along!
"You need to give me some time on this. Shanshan hasn't done anything too bad to me yet, and besides, I owe her my life."
Fang Shiqing looked troubled.
Seeing her like this, Su Banxia couldn't help but sigh, then said calmly, "I'm just afraid you'll get hurt. But if you insist, I won't force you."
Fang Shiqing smiled. "I'm not that fragile. I got through the Lin Haoran thing, so why should I be afraid of a Zhang Shanshan?"
"Maybe Zhang Shanshan is much harder to deal with than Lin Haoran."
Su Banxia said meaningfully.
Lin Haoran was obviously bad on the surface—anyone could see his malicious intent. But Zhang Shanshan was different; that woman was too good at pretending. She had to be cautious.
"Alright, let's not talk about unpleasant things. Let's change the subject."
Fang Shiqing smiled lightly. "How are things between you and Mr. Pei lately?"
"Him?"
At the thought of that man, Su Banxia's face couldn't help but flush.
Sensing the shift in her friend's mood, Fang Shiqing clicked her tongue. "What did I say? Lovers will eventually be together. Can you still tell me with a straight face that you're not falling for him?"
"Shiqing!"
Su Banxia blushed and scolded her with a hint of reproach.
Fang Shiqing raised an eyebrow, looking gossipy. "Come on, tell me. How are things developing between you two?"
Su Banxia lowered her head with a bitter smile and recounted everything that had happened recently, big and small. Thinking back to that time, her heart ached.
"The Su family are ingrates. Only you were foolish enough to listen to them."
Fang Shiqing was at a loss for words. Sometimes she wanted to crack open Su Banxia's head to see what was inside.
"Su Jin took me in. I can't forget that."
Su Banxia turned away, speaking weakly.
Fang Shiqing snorted coldly. "Don't tell me you still haven't figured out why he adopted you? Remember why you went to France with Lin Tongze in the first place!"
What kind of father sends his daughter off to someone else's doorstep just to secure his business?
"Going to France was partly my own choice."
Su Banxia said softly, head down.
At the time, to avoid being discovered as pregnant out of wedlock, she agreed to Su Jin's request.
"But without Su Jin pushing from behind, would you have stayed away for so many years?"
Fang Shiqing said coldly.
"I owe him that."
Su Banxia turned away, her expression somewhat unnatural. She understood all these truths, but deep down, she just didn't want to admit it.
Fang Shiqing shook her head helplessly. "If you give in for them again this time, what's the point of living your life?"
"This is actually the first time I've ever refused."
Su Banxia smiled faintly.
She could still remember how ugly Su Jin's face looked when she said no.
"That's right. Keep that proud attitude from now on. Don't let the Su family think you're an easy target. Why should you give up what's rightfully yours?"
Fang Shiqing was fiercely protective of her.