It was indeed unexpected. From boarding the plane to getting off first, Su Banxia and Pei Shaoze hadn't exchanged a single word. Although they sat together, since they didn't speak at all, several flight attendants assumed they didn't know each other.
Who would have thought...
"...Alright!"
The flight attendant forced a smile and quickly turned to leave.
Su Banxia let out a breath, finally able to enjoy some peace and quiet.
Her peripheral vision caught Pei Shaoze, and seeing his dark eyes fixed on her without moving, Su Banxia was momentarily startled. She gave an awkward smile and said, "They were too noisy, so I said that. Mr. Pei, you don't mind, do you?"
Pei Shaoze furrowed his brows and uttered two words, "I do."
After a pause, he added, "My wife would mind."
Su Banxia: "..."
He has a wife?
The flight attendant brought over red wine and juice, and Su Banxia didn't continue the conversation.
Four hours later, the plane landed in Bangkok.
Pei Shaoze had come here because Dingsheng's branch office was having some troublesome issues. Su Banxia had originally thought he would take her along to handle things, but unexpectedly, after arriving at the hotel, he left her there and went to the branch office himself.
With nothing to do and unable to sleep in the hotel, she decided to go to a nearby bookstore to read.
There weren't many people in the bookstore. Su Banxia picked out a book, ordered a glass of juice, and found a quiet spot to sit down.
She stayed there for a long time.
Someone sat down next to her, but she didn't notice until she sensed something off. She looked up, shifting her gaze from the book.
In front of her sat a man—a foreigner with blond hair and blue eyes, very handsome.
He was looking at her. Su Banxia smiled politely and greeted him, "Hello."
The man smiled back and said, "Miss, you are truly beautiful."
In a foreign country, this was a compliment. Su Banxia nodded and smiled, "Thank you."
She intended to go back to reading, but the man seemed eager to chat. Pointing at the French book in her hands, he asked, "You understand French?"
Su Banxia nodded, "Yes, a little."
The man switched to French and asked, "Have you lived in France before?"
Su Banxia nodded, "For a while."
After a pause, she looked at him and asked, "Are you French?"
The man nodded and smiled, "Yes."
Su Banxia hadn't planned to talk much with him, but as they chatted, he kept the conversation flowing, and she found it hard to stop.
She had to admit, he was a very charming man. Even though Su Banxia didn't say much, he managed to keep the atmosphere lively.
Noticing it was getting late, Su Banxia said apologetically, "Sorry, it's late. I need to go."
"Can I have your contact information?"
The man asked, looking at her sincerely.
Su Banxia hesitated for a moment, then gave him her phone number.
A chance encounter—just someone she met along the way.
Back at the hotel, Su Banxia was startled as soon as she entered. Pei Shaoze was in her room, his tall frame leaning against the sofa.
When she came in, his dark, deep eyes fixed on her face, and he asked in a low voice, "Where did you go?"
"To a bookstore next to the hotel to read."
"Why didn't you answer your phone?"
Su Banxia quickly looked down at her phone. Several missed calls, all from Pei Shaoze. When she had entered the bookstore, she had set her phone to silent, so she hadn't heard his calls.
"I didn't hear it."
Pei Shaoze looked at her for a long moment, then gestured for her to come over. "Come here."
Su Banxia walked over to him and asked politely, "Mr. Pei, have the issues here been resolved?"
He had brought her along early in the morning but didn't take her to handle the work, leaving her at the hotel instead. Su Banxia really didn't know what he was up to.
Pei Shaoze patted the spot beside him and said, "Sit down."
Su Banxia sat down, trying to keep some distance between them.
But Pei Shaoze frowned at her. "Do you dislike me?"
Su Banxia shook her head. "No."
"Then why are you sitting so far away?"
Su Banxia: "..."
Isn't it normal to keep some distance when two people are talking?
"Mr. Pei..."
"Come closer."
He said, signaling for her to move nearer to him.
Seeing the tiredness in his eyes, Su Banxia nodded slightly and moved closer. "Mr. Pei..."
"Su Banxia."
"Yes."
Looking at him, she felt a bit nervous as he stared at her.
After a moment, Pei Shaoze raised his hand, pulled her close, and held her in his arms.
Su Banxia instinctively tried to pull away, but he seemed to anticipate it, holding her tightly so she couldn't escape.
What did he want to do?
"Mr. Pei..."
"Do you know why I brought you to Thailand?"
Su Banxia shook her head. "No."
Her body stiffened, unsure how to react.
Pei Shaoze pressed her head against his shoulder and said, "Su Banxia, stay by my side. Be my lover. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."
Su Banxia: "..."
What was wrong with him?
She didn't speak, and his voice continued in her ear, "Don't use your marriage as an excuse to brush me off. It won't affect your marriage."
How could it not?
Su Banxia was stunned. If she were truly married, how could she be someone's lover while being a wife?
"Mr. Pei! There are plenty of women who would fight to be your lover. I... I'm not suitable."
She didn't understand his intentions now. Was it another way to test her, or was it purely a physical need that led him to make such a request?
Pei Shaoze didn't continue the topic. Instead, he hooked her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Their eyes locked. Su Banxia felt a mix of panic and a faint ache—an ache she couldn't explain herself.
"Do you love your husband?"
He asked, looking at her.
Su Banxia frowned, wanting to avoid the question, but Pei Shaoze held her chin firmly, forcing her to answer.
"Yes..."
She uttered a single word.
Pei Shaoze smiled at that. He looked at her and said, "Su Banxia, you probably haven't noticed, but your ears turn red when you lie."
Su Banxia's heart raced, and she tried to defend herself, "I..."
"You don't have a husband, and you're not married. Su Banxia, those two children by your side—are they adopted, or were they born out of wedlock?"
He said it all in one breath.
Su Banxia's body went stiff. She looked at him and said, "Mr. Pei, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Do you want me to investigate myself?"
He knew she had lied, so he had someone look into it. Su Banxia wasn't married and had no husband.
"You investigated me?"
Su Banxia's face darkened, and her smile faltered.
Pei Shaoze nodded without denying it. "Su Banxia, this is the information age. If you want to find something out, nothing is impossible."
Su Banxia didn't know how much he had uncovered, but at least from his demeanor, it seemed he hadn't yet focused on Guoguo and Xiaohao.
She forced herself to stay calm and said, "It seems Mr. Pei has taken an interest in me."
Pei Shaoze smiled. "I wouldn't say interest, but at least I'm curious."
He leaned in, his lips brushing against her cheek in a light kiss. Su Banxia tried to pull away, but his hand firmly pressed against the back of her head.
Unable to escape, she had no choice but to let him kiss her.