? Su Banxia hung up with Fang Shiqing and immediately called Su Hao, but no one answered.
With no other option, she called Fang Shiqing again, asking her to check on the kids at school. Fang Shiqing happened to be off work and was heading to pick up the children anyway.
Back at the hotel, Su Banxia couldn’t shake her unease. She turned to Pei Shaoze and said, “Mr. Pei, it seems like everything’s fine here. Could I leave early?”
Pei Shaoze had overheard her phone call. Seeing her flustered and at a loss, he furrowed his brow slightly and booked return tickets.
After boarding, Su Banxia’s mind was entirely on her two children. Pei Shaoze watched her intently, his deep gaze unreadable. After a long pause, he asked, “Who’s the father of your children?”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Su Banxia froze for a moment before murmuring, “He’s dead.”
As she spoke, she clasped her hands tightly, biting her lip and lowering her head. She looked sorrowful, but something felt off.
Pei Shaoze studied her, his dark eyes revealing little emotion. “When did he die?”
His gaze dropped to her hands resting on her knees.
Su Banxia kept her head down, her lips pressed together. “A few years ago.”
After saying this, she grew even more tense, unsure of what to do next. She silently prayed he wouldn’t ask further—if he did, she didn’t know what else she could fabricate.
Pei Shaoze just watched her. He could tell she was lying.
“Su Banxia, you must be the first woman to curse her own husband to an early death,” he said flatly, his tone light.
Then he leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.
Su Banxia opened her mouth, but no words came.
The plane landed at the airport at ten that night. As soon as she got off, Su Banxia rushed out to hail a taxi, but Pei Shaoze pulled her toward the parking lot. It dawned on her belatedly that they had driven to the airport.
Once in the car, she looked at him and said, “Mr. Pei, thank you.”
Pei Shaoze didn’t respond, just glanced at her with a raised brow. “For what?”
“For…”
She trailed off, unable to finish. Lowering her head, she fell silent.
“Call home and check,” he prompted when she didn’t speak.
Startled, Su Banxia grabbed her phone and called Fang Shiqing. The line connected, and Fang Shiqing said, “Guoguo’s fine.”
Relieved, Su Banxia asked, “Where are you now?”
“At home.”
Su Banxia was taken aback. “Wasn’t Guoguo unconscious at the hospital?”
Fang Shiqing hesitated, unsure how to explain. “Sweetie, are you back in the country already?”
Su Banxia nodded. “Yeah, how did you know?”
“I didn’t, but your son did.” Fang Shiqing sighed. “Just come home first.”
Confused, Su Banxia wanted to ask more, but the call had already ended.
In the car, Pei Shaoze looked at her. “How is it?”
“Nothing serious,” she replied.
From Fang Shiqing’s tone, Su Banxia could guess most of it. It was Su Hao again—that kid must have been up to his tricks.
Pei Shaoze drove to the apartment building where Su Banxia lived. In the car, she turned to him. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Mm,” he acknowledged, offering nothing more.
Preoccupied with her children, Su Banxia didn’t linger. She reached for the door handle to get out, but the lock was still engaged.
She froze, turning back to Pei Shaoze, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
He looked at her, his gaze deep. “When are you going to tell me about the children?”
Her heart nearly stopped. She stiffened, staring at him nervously, feigning ignorance. “What do you mean?”
He hadn’t even met the kids—how could he know?
Steadying herself, she relaxed her expression slightly.
Seeing her reaction, Pei Shaoze didn’t press further. “Go on, then,” he said.
Su Banxia got out and headed into the building.
In the car, Pei Shaoze watched her disappear before calling Yan Xin after a long silence.
Yan Xin hated late-night calls from him. Picking up, he grumbled, “Can’t shoot? Or can’t get it up?”
“Come out for a drink,” Pei Shaoze said, his voice cold.
Yan Xin was confused. “Aren’t you in Thailand?”
He’d been annoyed when he found out Pei Shaoze had taken Su Banxia there without a word.
“I’m back,” Pei Shaoze replied, his tone flat, betraying a hint of unease.
Yan Xin couldn’t figure out why he was upset. “Alright, where?”
Pei Shaoze gave an address and hung up, driving off.
Back home, Su Banxia found Su Hao and Guoguo sitting obediently on the couch. When they saw her, Guoguo blinked a few times but didn’t run over as usual—just stared.
Su Banxia glanced at Fang Shiqing, who shrugged, signaling her to handle the kids herself.
She looked at Su Hao. The little boy’s face was dark, clearly upset.
Setting down her things, Su Banxia sat beside him without speaking at first. Then she turned to Guoguo. “Sweetie, your teacher called and said you fainted. Tell Mommy, why did that happen?”
Guoguo peeked at her brother, lowering her head. “Mommy, I’m sorry. I didn’t faint today. The call was fake.”
Su Banxia was stunned. “Fake?”
Guoguo nodded honestly. “I missed you so much, so I asked an auntie at school to call you. I lied.”
Frowning, Su Banxia sensed the girl wasn’t telling the whole truth. She turned to Su Hao. “Sweetie, you explain. What happened with your sister today? And why wasn’t your phone on?”
Su Hao met her gaze. “I told her to do it. You were fine in Thailand, so I wanted you to come back for me and Guoguo.”
This wasn’t the first time Su Hao had pulled something like this. Last time, when Su Banxia was too busy, he’d hacked into Dingsheng’s system. Now, another lie.
Annoyed, Su Banxia said to Fang Shiqing, “Shiqing, can you take Guoguo to her room and put her to bed?”
Fang Shiqing nodded and carried Guoguo to the bedroom. Before leaving, she whispered, “Kids make mistakes sometimes. Don’t be too hard on him.”
Su Banxia nodded, signaling her to go.
Once they were alone, Su Hao looked at his mother, his handsome face serious. “Mom, are you going to scold me now?”
Su Banxia’s expression was stern. “Su Hao, have you heard the story of the boy who cried wolf?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“This is the second time. Last time, when you hacked Dingsheng’s system, I told you that was illegal. If you miss Mommy, you can call me. I know I’ve been busy lately and neglecting you and Guoguo, but you know I’ve been trying hard to make time for you both.”
She paused, taking his small hand. “Xiao Hao, whatever it is, I want you to tell me directly. Don’t use extreme ways to force me, okay?”