?
Yan Xin was a bit stunned. He propped his chin up and looked at her, asking, "If they're not a married couple, then what about those two children?"
Su Banxia paused, then spoke, "Those two children are mine alone. They have nothing to do with anyone else."
"Children must have a father, right?"
Yan Xin said, "Honestly, at first I thought those two kids looked a lot like Shaoze when he was little, but they also have traces of Lin Tongze. Su Banxia, I think if the children were Lin Tongze's, you wouldn't be able to hide it, because there's no loss for you. If the children were Shaoze's, then..."
"They're not his!"
Su Banxia cut in, "The children are mine alone. President Yan, if you're interested in my private life, please take your interest elsewhere. I still have work to do and no time to discuss this with you!"
Yan Xin didn't move. He remained seated in his original spot.
Su Banxia lowered her head and continued entering data.
After a moment of silence, Yan Xin spoke, "Shaoze never planned to fight Lin Tongze. His trip to France this time is just to understand some things. If you really want what's best for Lin Tongze, advise him to stay in France and not come back to cause trouble in the country!"
Su Banxia frowned. "Cause trouble?"
She couldn't help but laugh, looking at Yan Xin and saying, "Although I don't understand the Pei family's affairs, I am Lin Tongze's friend, and I have to say something: Lin Tongze is a member of the Pei family, isn't he?"
Yan Xin nodded.
Su Banxia continued, "Since he's a member of the Pei family, why does everyone in the Pei family feel entitled to force him to France? Since he's a member of the Pei family, why can't he have what Pei Shaoze has? The Ding Sheng stocks—everyone in the Pei family has them except him. He carries Pei family blood, so why should he be driven far away by the Pei family?"
Yan Xin was momentarily at a loss for words.
In his view, once Lin Tongze left the Pei family, he was no longer part of it. He had repeatedly opposed the Pei family, and gradually, he had become their enemy.
So, naturally, he saw Lin Tongze as a threat.
Seeing that he wasn't speaking, Su Banxia looked at him and said, "You want to protect Pei Shaoze because he grew up with you, he's your closest friend. And it's the same for me—I protect Lin Tongze simply because he's my friend."
She paused, then continued, "You probably don't know this, but Lin Tongze didn't initially intend to provoke the Pei family. It was only because the Pei family went too far. A few months ago, the Lin family's financial crisis was aimed at Lin Tongze. He stayed in France, but the Pei family still secretly targeted him."
Yan Xin frowned. "So your initial reason for joining Ding Sheng was to investigate this?"
Su Banxia nodded.
Yan Xin looked displeased. "Even if the Pei family was behind the Lin family's troubles, it couldn't have been Shaoze. He wouldn't do something like that!"
Su Banxia shrugged. "I didn't say it was him!"
She had initially thought it was Pei Shaoze, but the more she investigated, the more she realized it wasn't.
The two were so engrossed in their conversation that neither noticed Pei Shaoyin standing at the door.
A long while later, after Su Banxia and Yan Xin had finished talking and Yan Xin had left, Pei Shaoyin finally entered the office.
Seeing the girl who had suddenly appeared, Su Banxia was startled. "Miss Pei, why are you here?"
Pei Shaoyin sat down beside her, leaning sideways to look at her. "Are you working overtime today?"
Su Banxia nodded, thinking, *Isn't it obvious?*
Pei Shaoyin pursed her lips slightly and asked, "What's your relationship with Brother Lin?"
"Brother Lin?"
Su Banxia was a bit taken aback.
Pei Shaoyin clarified, "Lin Tongze!"
Oh, right. Pei Shaoyin was also a member of the Pei family.
Su Banxia wasn't sure what was going on, so she simply said, "The Mr. Lin from last night's Pei family banquet."
Seeing that she was being evasive, Pei Shaoyin said directly, "You don't have to play games with me. I heard your conversation with Brother Yan outside. The Pei family may not acknowledge Brother Lin, but that doesn't mean everyone feels the same way."
She paused, then added, "I'm asking you this because I want to understand Brother Lin."
Su Banxia was taken aback, looking at the girl before her. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "We're friends. When I was in France, he took good care of me."
"Does he like you?"
Pei Shaoyin quickly asked.
Su Banxia was startled and shook her head. "No!"
"That's good!"
Hearing this, Pei Shaoyin let out a sigh of relief, smiled warmly at her, and said, "Su Banxia, we agreed last night to be friends. Since we're friends, can you do me a favor?"
"What is it?"
Su Banxia asked.
"Help me arrange a meeting with Brother Lin. I want to see him! I don't know how to contact him. Since I was little, he's always avoided me. After he left the Pei family, he completely cut off contact with me. I know he's not part of the Pei family anymore, but we're still family. Besides us, he has no other relatives. Others may not acknowledge him, but I will always be his little sister!"
Pei Shaoyin said it all in one breath.
Su Banxia was surprised, then nodded slightly. "Alright, I'll do my best to help you."
There was something charming about this innocent, carefree girl. Even as a woman, she found it hard to refuse her.
With the serious matter settled, it was time to get back to work.
Su Banxia felt she might not finish even if she worked through the night, but to her surprise, Pei Shaoyin stayed and helped her, keeping her company all night.
Somehow, she genuinely liked this girl—simple, straightforward, and free from the arrogance and unreasonableness typical of noble ladies.
By the time they finished all the documents, it was already four in the morning.
Pei Shaoyin was exhausted, slumped over the desk, half-dead. "Su Banxia, let me tell you, this is the first time I've stayed up this late working overtime. Seriously!"
Su Banxia smiled and organized the files.
She looked at her and said, "Come on, let me show you the quietest moment of this city."
The two tidied up and headed to the busiest area of Yanshi, where during the day it was bustling with people and traffic.
At this hour, it was the quietest.
Dim streetlights, a faint breeze, and the occasional echo of a car horn.
Pei Shaoyin followed behind Su Banxia, sighing, "I've seen the city in its daytime hustle and its vibrant nightlife, but I've never seen Yanshi like this—so quiet and so beautiful."
Su Banxia smiled faintly. "Yanshi is a first-tier city. People live at a fast pace. Everyone on the street seems to be in a hurry, and no one stops to appreciate the city's beauty. The city spins too fast, and a lot of things get overlooked."
In truth, she hadn't seen the city this quiet in a long time either.
They found a 24-hour convenience store, bought two cups of hot coffee, and sat down at a street corner to chat.
Pei Shaoyin said, "Su Banxia, is your relationship with my brother just an act?"
She had heard everything Su Banxia said to Yan Xin in the office. Su Banxia seemed to be on Lin Tongze's side.
Su Banxia propped her chin on her hand, staring at the lights on the zebra crossing, and said, "If it were an act, I wouldn't have made him angry. To put it plainly, your brother and I have nothing to do with each other."
Of course, except for that one night six years ago and the unexpected blessings of Guoguo and Su Hao.
Thinking of this, Su Banxia smiled wryly and looked seriously at Pei Shaoyin. "But I should thank him."
"For what?"
Pei Shaoyin was puzzled.
Su Banxia smiled but didn't answer.
*Thank him for giving me two adorable babies.*
Su Banxia turned to look at Pei Shaoyin beside her and was a bit surprised. "Miss Pei, I'm curious—why did you suddenly want to be friends with me?"
She didn't seem to have any standout qualities, did she?