Chapter 98: Before Me, or After Me?
Pei Shaoze saw she had no reaction, not even struggling anymore.
No resistance, no struggle—just silent defiance.
Her behavior made Pei Shaoze feel intensely suffocated and沉闷. He released her and looked at her.
Reaching out, he pinched her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Su Banxia, what do you mean by this?"
Their eyes locked. Su Banxia looked at him, her face devoid of any normal human expression. She gave a faint smile. "Are you done, President Pei?"
The power of words can sometimes truly push someone toward death.
Pei Shaoze's face suddenly darkened. His black eyes stared at her, cold and violent. "Su Banxia, in your heart, what exactly am I to you?"
Was she just reluctantly accepting him as a casual guest? Or a CEO she could profit from?
Or perhaps not even that—to her, he was nothing more than an irrelevant person.
Su Banxia looked at him coldly, a faint ache in her heart.
"And what do you take me for, President Pei?"
A woman anyone could have? Or someone he could sleep with whenever he felt like it, without so much as a word?
Both were hurting each other—who could say who was right or wrong?
Pei Shaoze watched her. Her eyes were clear, black and white, her delicate body lying beneath him,晶莹剔透.
What was she to him?
He had never thought about these questions.
Nor did he need to.
But at this moment, the answer seemed to matter.
Their eyes met. Su Banxia thought he would answer her, but to her surprise, he silently lifted her horizontally.
Then he got into the car and drove straight to One City, One Landscape.
Su Banxia was stunned. What was he doing?
One City, One Landscape.
Outside the villa.
Su Banxia looked at him. "Pei Shaoze, what are you doing?"
Without a word, he carried her horizontally into the villa.
Recently, Pei Shaoyin had been staying here. Woken in the dead of night by the sound of the living room door opening, she got up to check.
Leaving her bedroom, she saw Pei Shaoze carrying Su Banxia into the living room.
"Brother, Banxia, you two..."
What were they doing in the middle of the night?
At Pei Shaoyin's appearance, Pei Shaoze frowned slightly. "Why are you here?"
Pei Shaoyin stammered, not answering, but looked at Su Banxia instead. "What are you two up to?"
Pei Shaoze didn't ask further. He carried Su Banxia straight into the bedroom and closed the door behind them.
Pei Shaoyin stared wide-eyed, momentarily unable to snap out of it.
Inside the bedroom.
Pei Shaoze tossed Su Banxia into the bathroom and gave her a few words. "Wash up. We'll talk."
Su Banxia was taken aback. She watched him turn and leave, slamming the bathroom door shut behind him.
Talk about what?
Frustrated, Su Banxia muttered under her breath, "Crazy."
Pei Shaoze left the bedroom and saw Pei Shaoyin standing by the side room. His handsome brows furrowed. "When did you sneak over?"
Pei Shaoyin pouted. "I came after you left for France."
"Who brought you here?"
Pei Shaoyin lowered her eyes, her clear gaze darting around as she stammered, "I... myself..."
Seeing her like this, Pei Shaoze already knew. He squinted at her. "Su Banxia brought you?"
Pei Shaoyin wasn't good at lying, but she didn't want to implicate Su Banxia, so she kept her head down. "No."
He knew his sister well. He glanced at her, noticing her tired, dark-rimmed eyes. If she was awake at this hour, she probably hadn't slept enough.
Frowning slightly, he said, "Alright, go to sleep."
Pei Shaoyin looked up at his bedroom, curious. "Brother, you and Banxia tonight..."
"Go to sleep!"
Pei Shaoze spoke again, his dark eyes carrying a hint of chill.
Seeing this, Pei Shaoyin decided not to provoke him.
She pouted and turned back to her bedroom.
Pei Shaoze stood in the living room for a while.
After a long time, he went upstairs and entered the bedroom.
Su Banxia was still in the bathroom, the sound of water still running.
Finally, she finished washing and came out wrapped in a towel.
She didn't see Pei Shaoze when she came out. She glanced around, not intentionally looking for him, just out of habit.
This was his bedroom; he should be here.
Sure enough, after scanning the room, she noticed a flicker of light on the balcony. She looked closely and saw Pei Shaoze standing there, smoking.
The man was tall and slender like jade, his back straight. Just standing there, he formed a picture by himself.
Su Banxia watched him without speaking, her mind in turmoil.
Between men and women, some things can be felt, but sometimes what you feel isn't necessarily right. There's a word for it: illusion.
So she would rather remain indifferent than suffer the consequences of being delusional.
Pei Shaoze suddenly turned around. Su Banxia couldn't look away in time, and their eyes met.
The man still held a cigarette butt. Seeing her, he wasn't surprised.
He stubbed out the cigarette and his thin lips moved. "When did you meet Lin Tongze?"
Su Banxia was startled and frowned. "That's none of your business."
Pei Shaoze's face showed impatience. "Su Banxia, I have many ways to deal with women. You'd better answer honestly."
Su Banxia lowered her eyes, unsure why he was asking, but after a pause, she spoke. "Six years ago."
"After me? Or before?"
Pei Shaoze continued, his handsome brows slightly furrowed.
"After you."
"What was your purpose for joining Dingsheng?"
"A few months ago, Lin's company was manipulated behind the scenes and nearly went bankrupt. I planned to return to China, settle down, and help him investigate the matter."
That Pei Shaoze would listen to her say all this was unexpected for Su Banxia, so she told him everything she knew.
The room fell silent.
Neither of them spoke.
Su Banxia initially thought Pei Shaoze was plotting something again, and she felt a vague unease.
But to her surprise, after a moment, he said nothing and simply went into the bathroom.
Then came the sound of water from inside.
He was taking a shower?
Su Banxia was dumbfounded.
Then she went to Pei Shaoze's wardrobe and found a suitable outfit to put on.
Pei Shaoze showered quickly. Su Banxia had barely changed when he came out. She had planned to dress and leave.
But she hadn't expected Pei Shaoze to lock the bedroom door.
"Pei Shaoze, why did you lock the bedroom door?"
She was a bit angry. This man had brought her here, said he wanted to talk, and then talked about nothing.
Now he locked her in the bedroom. Was this fun?
Pei Shaoze was wrapped in a white towel, his upper body bare, hair still dripping water—sexy and provocative.
Su Banxia, thinking she might go blind from looking, averted her eyes slightly.
Noticing her avoidance, Pei Shaoze didn't say much.
He simply walked to the bed and sat down, looking at Su Banxia. "Come here."
Su Banxia looked at him, ignoring him, and asked again, "Why did you lock the bedroom door?"
"What do you want?"
Pei Shaoze squinted at her.
"To go home."
"Do you think you can go home at this hour?"
Su Banxia glanced at the time. It was three in the morning.
Going home wasn't possible.
She paused for a moment, then said, "I... I want to sleep."
"Can't you sleep here?"
"I want to sleep with Miss Pei."
Pei Shaoze lost patience. He walked toward her, his tall, slender frame closing in.
He cornered her against the door, looking down at her. "Su Banxia, if you keep being this disobedient, I can't guarantee I won't take you to court for leaking company secrets... and fire your friend."