Upon hearing this, Fang Shiqing couldn't help but curl her lips into a faint smile. "I'm fine. The one with issues is the person next to me."
As she spoke, she couldn't resist raising an eyebrow at Su Banxia.
Su Banxia didn't react immediately, a hint of awkwardness flickering across her smile.
"Are you sick?"
Yan Xin looked at her with some concern.
"No."
Su Banxia's face flushed as she quickly shook her head. "I just didn't rest well last night and woke up late today. Shiqing accompanied me to get some fresh air and wander around for a bit."
Hearing this, Yan Xin finally relaxed. After a pause, he continued slowly, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself at work. Learn to separate work from personal matters, or you'll easily drive yourself crazy."
He knew that Pei Shaoze had been assigning her a heavy workload lately, so he felt a bit worried.
Su Banxia found it heartwarming and couldn't help but smile softly. "I'll be more careful next time."
"Are you skipping work to go shopping too, President Yan?"
Fang Shiqing shifted the topic, asking with a smile.
"Not exactly. I had a client nearby, and I just finished meeting with him, so I thought I'd grab something quick to eat for lunch."
Yan Xin said frankly.
Fang Shiqing couldn't help but gasp. "I always feel like your lifestyle is so irregular, President Yan."
She had run into him several times now, and he always handled his meals this casually.
No matter how busy work gets, you have to take care of your body!
"We haven't had lunch yet either, and it's about that time. Why don't we just eat together?"
Fang Shiqing suggested without hesitation.
"Well..."
Yan Xin hesitated, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward Su Banxia.
Feeling the intensity of his stare, Su Banxia gave a slight smile. "I don't mind. I can eat anywhere."
Fang Shiqing didn't hold back her teasing. "I think you've put on some weight lately. Don't just think about eating—you need to exercise too."
"Really?"
Su Banxia immediately looked down at herself and suddenly felt like she had gained weight everywhere.
Seeing how close the two of them were, Yan Xin's lips unconsciously curved into a handsome smile.
The three of them chose a restaurant and sat down. Their striking looks instantly caused quite a stir in the place.
"Today's on me. Order whatever you want."
Fang Shiqing slid the menu over to Yan Xin, her tone polite.
She was genuinely grateful to Yan Xin. If not for his repeated rescues, she wouldn't be sitting here so leisurely, eating and chatting.
Yan Xin didn't stand on ceremony. He took the menu and ordered a few simple dishes, then looked across at Fang Shiqing. "Have you moved recently?"
"Me?"
Fang Shiqing was momentarily taken aback, then shook her head with a smile. "It's President Pei. He was worried I might be threatened again, so he temporarily moved me to his place."
"I see."
Yan Xin nodded in understanding. No wonder when he passed by her building last night, he didn't see any lights on.
Su Banxia, sitting nearby, listened to their exchange. "Did President Yan go looking for Shiqing again last night?"
Yan Xin chuckled lightly. "After finishing the deal, I happened to pass by her building on the way back. I didn't see the lights on, so I found it a bit odd."
"I see."
Su Banxia deliberately drew out the last word, looking at them with keen interest.
Yan Xin had saved Fang Shiqing twice in a row. If she called it a coincidence, she wouldn't believe it!
Catching the meaningful look in Su Banxia's eyes, Fang Shiqing couldn't help but blush and gave her a subtle kick under the table.
Su Banxia let out a muffled groan of pain, looked up to glance at Fang Shiqing, and seeing her acting as if nothing had happened, she smiled awkwardly at Yan Xin.
Yan Xin didn't notice the little exchange between them.
The atmosphere at the table grew a bit awkward, with none of them speaking first.
Su Banxia occasionally stole a glance at Fang Shiqing, but seeing her composed demeanor, she swallowed back the words she wanted to say.
After eating, they all headed back together.
Meanwhile, Zhang Shanshan had originally come to HR to chat with Fang Shiqing, but instead caught sight of the three of them entering the company together. Her expression instantly stiffened.
After politely exchanging greetings with Fang Shiqing, Yan Xin went upstairs with Su Banxia.
Their offices were close by, so it was convenient to walk together.
"President Yan, I'm really grateful for what you've done for Shiqing."
Su Banxia looked at the person beside her with sincere gratitude.
Fang Shiqing was her best friend. If anything happened to her because of that bastard Lin Haoran, she would never let him off!
Yan Xin smiled calmly. "It was just a small favor. No need to be so polite."
They walked side by side in silence until they reached the office door. Su Banxia said goodbye to him and pushed the door open to go inside.
But before she could even steady herself, someone pulled her into an embrace. "Where have you been?"
Pei Shaoze's face was dark and menacing, clearly a sign of an impending storm.
Sensing the chill radiating from him, Su Banxia's heart sank. She quickly cleared her throat and said slowly, "I went to eat with Shiqing and the others."
"Who are 'the others'?"
Pei Shaoze frowned in displeasure, his tone carrying an unreadable emotion.
"President Yan..."
Su Banxia swallowed hard and quickly told the truth.
A shadow of malice flickered in Pei Shaoze's eyes. "It seems there really isn't enough work at the company lately."
Catching his implication, Su Banxia quickly looked up and said hurriedly, "We just ran into President Yan at the mall by chance. We didn't—"
"Since it's such a coincidence, why haven't I ever run into you?"
Pei Shaoze's face was cold, clearly unsatisfied with the explanation.
Su Banxia gave an awkward smile. As her eyes dropped, a thought seemed to strike her, and she lifted her head calmly. "President Yan coincidentally saved Shiqing twice. Having a meal together by chance shouldn't be a problem, should it?"
Hearing this, a hint of meaning flickered in Pei Shaoze's eyes as he looked at Su Banxia with deep intent.
Knowing her words had sunk in, Su Banxia raised an eyebrow slightly. "Honestly, I don't think there are that many coincidences in the world. It's just a game played by people with feelings."
"Don't let it happen again!"
Pei Shaoze stared at her intently, the warning in his eyes unmistakable.
He knew exactly what Yan Xin thought of Su Banxia, and though he understood she had no interest in him, Pei Shaoze couldn't help but seethe with anger.
But now, with Fang Shiqing in the picture, Pei Shaoze felt much less worried.