Su Banxia didn't like to talk much while eating. Yan Xin, being sharp, naturally kept quiet too.
In the company cafeteria, most of the people coming in were employees. When Zhang Shanshan walked in with her colleagues, she immediately spotted the two conspicuous figures sitting in the dining area. Yan Xin was the company's boss—young, handsome, usually easygoing, and fairly gentle with the staff.
That's why many of the women in the company had a soft spot for him. Knowing he was eating in the cafeteria, quite a few women kept stealing glances his way. So, it wasn't hard for Zhang Shanshan to notice them.
She saw Yan Xin first, but before she could feel happy, she spotted Su Banxia. The faint smile on her face instantly turned cold.
She had no idea whether Su Banxia would tell Yan Xin about what happened that morning. If she did, knowing Yan Xin's temperament, he probably wouldn't say or do much. But Zhang Shanshan couldn't be sure Su Banxia wouldn't embellish the story to ruin her reputation with Yan Xin.
The thought of Yan Xin finding out about her nasty behavior made Zhang Shanshan's resentment toward Su Banxia deepen. Yet, given her current situation, she couldn't do anything. After all, if Su Banxia said even a single bad word about her to Pei Shaoze, he'd fire her on the spot.
After a moment's thought, she plastered a smile on her face and walked straight toward Su Banxia and Yan Xin. With a light smile, she approached their table and greeted them, "President Yan, Secretary Su, you're eating here too?"
Yan Xin responded with his usual polite but distant smile. "Mm-hmm."
Su Banxia was a bit surprised. She thought after this morning's incident, Zhang Shanshan would avoid her, or at least not actively provoke her. But she didn't expect her to act as if nothing had happened and greet her so casually.
Looking at Zhang Shanshan, Su Banxia gave a faint, unenthusiastic smile. "Mm."
Zhang Shanshan didn't mind Su Banxia's coldness. With a warm smile, she walked over to Su Banxia, linked arms with her, and said, "Secretary Su, I'm eating alone. Mind if I join you?"
Su Banxia found this woman even more troublesome than someone like Ye Lan, a spoiled rich girl. She didn't ask Yan Xin; she asked Su Banxia because she knew Yan Xin didn't like sharing a table with others. If Su Banxia didn't refuse, Yan Xin wouldn't object.
But for Su Banxia, it was a dilemma. If she didn't refuse, Yan Xin might be unhappy. If she did, Zhang Shanshan would be upset, and Yan Xin might think she was antisocial.
Seeing Zhang Shanshan still smiling expectantly at her, Su Banxia forced a smile. "Suit yourself."
The reply was somewhat dismissive. Zhang Shanshan caught it, and so did Yan Xin.
Zhang Shanshan was a bit awkward—unsure whether to sit down or not. Yan Xin, being a good boss, wouldn't let anyone feel embarrassed, even if he disliked sharing a table. In short, it came down to good upbringing.
So, he smiled at Zhang Shanshan. "Sit down and eat with us. Don't worry about it."
This caught Zhang Shanshan off guard. Having worked for Yan Xin for years, she knew his habits better than anyone. Sitting down next to Su Banxia, she showed a hint of unease.
Su Banxia couldn't tell if it was an act or genuine, but she didn't bother to dig deeper. She didn't like Zhang Shanshan, so she had no intention of engaging much.
The three of them ate together—not exactly awkward, but far from pleasant. Though Yan Xin was somewhat suspicious and guarded toward Su Banxia, his initial impression of her was still good, so he often subconsciously looked out for her.
Zhang Shanshan noticed these small gestures but said nothing. She just had more thoughts brewing. Becoming friends with Su Banxia was now impossible, given that her impression of her was likely already beyond the circle of friendship.
After they finished eating, Su Banxia headed straight back to the office. The office was empty. Pei Shaoze was nowhere to be seen, though his phone was on the desk, suggesting he'd been back. But he wasn't around, and she had no idea where he'd gone.
Since it wasn't time to start work yet, Su Banxia wasn't in a hurry. She walked out to the balcony to enjoy the breeze, savoring a rare moment of leisure as she leaned on the railing.
"Buzz, buzz..." Pei Shaoze's phone on the desk rang.
Su Banxia glanced back. Not seeing him, she walked over and looked at the screen. The caller ID read "Old Man." It was probably Pei Shaoze's father.
Su Banxia wasn't in the habit of answering other people's calls, so she just glanced at it and let it ring. But it kept ringing, as if something urgent had come up.
After hesitating, she picked up the phone. "Hello, I'm President Pei's secretary."
The old man's hearing wasn't great; he only caught the first two words and heard a woman's voice. He checked the phone to make sure he hadn't dialed the wrong number, then asked, "Who are you?"
Before Su Banxia could answer, the old man remembered that last time he'd pressured Pei Shaoze to get married soon, and Pei Shaoze had said he'd find someone himself. Thinking this girl might be the one Pei Shaoze had his eye on, his tone softened. "Miss, what's your surname?"
Su Banxia replied, "My surname is Su. President Pei isn't here right now. I'll let him know you called later, is that okay?"
Hearing the surname Su, the old man thought carefully. Among the prominent families in Yanshi, there was a Su family in the western part of the city—a scholarly household. Instinctively assuming Pei Shaoze's chosen girl came from a wealthy family, and liking the sound of her voice, he automatically linked her to the western Su family.
He quickly said into the phone, "Miss Su, when you have time, come visit with Shaoze more often and see this old man."
Su Banxia was a bit confused, not following the old man's train of thought. She nodded slightly and murmured, "Mm."
The old man chatted a bit more before hanging up. Still puzzled, Su Banxia noticed it had suddenly started pouring rain outside. She hung up and rushed to close the windows.
It was the rainy season, with heavy downpours every few days. When Pei Shaoze returned, he was soaked. Seeing him drenched, Su Banxia couldn't help asking, "President Pei, are you okay?"
Pei Shaoze had gone out for some business. Getting caught in the rain was an accident—the other company was nearby, and in a bad mood, he'd decided to walk. But he hadn't expected it to rain on his way back, leaving him soaked.
Hearing her concern, he paused briefly. "I'm fine."
His clothes were drenched, and he said he was fine. Su Banxia didn't want to bother with him, but she worried he'd get sick and make things difficult for her. She'd never seen him ill, but she'd seen him drunk, and that was unforgettable.
Without a word, she went into the bathroom and turned on the hot water. Pei Shaoze was taken aback when she walked in without saying anything. When she came out, she looked at him with her clear, dark eyes and said, "Go take a shower."
Pausing, she held out her hand. "Give me the car keys."
Pei Shaoze frowned slightly. "What for?"
"To get you a change of clothes." Su Banxia explained. After working with him for so long, she knew better than anyone about his cleanliness obsession. His current clothes were soaked through, and he definitely wouldn't wear them again. If he had nothing to change into, she'd still have to run the errand.
Pei Shaoze hadn't thought that far ahead and was surprised she'd considered it. He paused, then spoke, his voice a bit hoarse. "They're on the desk."