Pei Shaoze silently retreated to the study and didn’t come out until it was time for dinner. Because of the minor incident that afternoon, there had been a small misunderstanding between Su Banxia and Fang Shiqing, but after this, their relationship inexplicably grew closer.
That night, Su Banxia curled up in bed, unable to suppress a hint of secret joy. She knew this happiness came from Pei Shaoze. Thinking of the man in the study, she couldn’t help but clear her throat, then mustered her courage, picked up a glass of milk, and walked over. She knocked lightly on the door, and only after receiving a response from inside did she push it open and enter.
Pei Shaoze was bent over, seriously reviewing the documents in his hands, barely lifting his head. “Something on your mind?” Hearing his cold, detached voice, Su Banxia couldn’t help but pout slightly, then set the glass down in front of him. “It’s already late. Aren’t you going to rest?”
At this, Pei Shaoze’s movements paused briefly. His cool eyes met hers, their gaze blurring. “What, thinking about it?” As he spoke, he reached out with one hand and firmly pulled her into his embrace.
Catching his double entendre, Su Banxia’s face instantly flushed. “President Pei, I just came to bring you milk. If there’s nothing else, I think I should—” “Seeing me makes you want to run away that badly?” Pei Shaoze’s gaze sharpened, a trace of coldness flickering through it.
Su Banxia’s heart sank abruptly, and she quickly shook her head. “I’m worried I might disturb your work.” “Is that so?” Pei Shaoze raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Pei… Shaoze.” Su Banxia gritted her teeth, her heart pounding with anxiety.
Looking at the lovely woman in his arms, Pei Shaoze felt his thoughts wander. He closed the file in front of him, scooped Su Banxia up, and carried her out of the study. Feeling herself lifted into the air, Su Banxia let out a startled gasp, then instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
The warm breath Pei Shaoze exhaled landed softly on her face, making her heart leap into her throat. Kicking open the bedroom door, he gently laid her on the bed, then leaned over her. His gaze fell on her alluring collarbone, and without hesitation, he pressed a kiss there.
Su Banxia couldn’t handle such intense stimulation. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her hands unconsciously gripped the bedsheets. Her toes curled, and a shiver ran through her body. It turned out Su Banxia’s sensitive spots were behind her ears. Discovering this new territory, Pei Shaoze felt like he’d found a new continent, a sly glint flashing in his eyes. He lowered his head and gently bit her collarbone, savoring her soft gasps and pleas.
“Stop, it tickles…” Su Banxia’s face crumpled as she tried to push him away.
But the difference in strength between a man and a woman was too great. Her feeble resistance didn’t seem like refusal in Pei Shaoze’s eyes—instead, it came across as a different kind of longing. “Banxia.” Pei Shaoze’s voice was hoarse, murmuring by her ear, sounding especially alluring.
Hearing his voice, Su Banxia felt a surge of emotion and instinctively wrapped her arms around him. A night of passion left Su Banxia so exhausted she could barely straighten her back. When she woke up the next morning, Pei Shaoze had already left for the office.
Seeing the new clothes placed by her pillow, Su Banxia’s face flushed completely red. She got out of bed, quickly tidied herself up, and endured the ache all over her body as she went downstairs.
Fang Shiqing was in the living room looking after the two children. When she saw the person coming down the stairs, she couldn’t help but click her tongue. “After such a strenuous night, aren’t you going to sleep in a little longer?” “Shiqing…” Su Banxia glanced at her awkwardly.
“Breakfast has been waiting for you and is almost cold. If you hadn’t come down, I was about to bring the food to your bedside with Guoguo and the others.” Fang Shiqing teased with a smile.
Blushing, Su Banxia slowly walked to the dining table. Seeing the rich, nutritious breakfast laid out, her appetite suddenly kicked in. “Seriously, do you and Pei Shaoze always have this much energy together?” Fang Shiqing leaned in, a gossipy look on her face.
“Aren’t you going to the office today?” Su Banxia didn’t want to entertain her and quickly changed the subject.
Fang Shiqing sat up straight, a faint smile on her face. “President Pei was generous and let me take half a day off. I’ll go with you once you’ve rested enough—no rush.” Hearing this, Su Banxia smiled. “So you do have a conscience after all.” “If it weren’t for President Pei’s orders, do you think I’d bother with you?” Fang Shiqing looked at her with a hint of disdain.
“You’ve single-handedly destroyed our friendship. Our little boat has capsized!” Su Banxia said, half-joking and half-serious.
The two teased each other for a while, finished breakfast, and when the time was right, they took the children to school together. With a rare day off, Su Banxia drove to a mall near the office and strolled around with Fang Shiqing.
“Banxia, be honest with me. What kind of feelings do you have for President Pei now?” Fang Shiqing glanced at the new arrivals in the store while turning back to look at Su Banxia.
At this topic, Su Banxia paused involuntarily, then sighed softly. “Honestly, I can’t really say. Every time I see him, I both want to stay away and get closer.” Fang Shiqing paused in her movements, turned around, and gave her a gentle smile. “If you’ve really fallen for him, don’t let go easily. A diamond in the rough like President Pei is hard to come by.”
“I don’t even know where our future lies. How can I dare to think that far?” Su Banxia gave a bitter smile.
For her now, just being able to stay by his side was already a great happiness. As if reading her thoughts, Fang Shiqing sighed involuntarily. “Still worrying about the Su family?” “That place raised me, after all.” Su Banxia smiled, a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
Fang Shiqing understood that feeling and swallowed the words she was about to say. The two wandered around casually, and before long, their hands were full of shopping bags.
They say shopping makes women happy, and that couldn’t be more true! Su Banxia looked at her full haul, a bright smile spreading across her face.
“President Yan?” Fang Shiqing was strolling along when she suddenly looked up and spotted Yan Xin not far away. She immediately waved at him.
Hearing his name, Yan Xin turned around and looked over, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth as he calmly walked over to them. “I didn’t see you at work today. I thought something had happened.” Yan Xin said with a faint smile.