Chapter 108 - Unmarried Man

"Oh! I think I've heard something like that before: Miss Zhou having an affair with married men."

"So it's true?"

"Gosh! How shameless!"

"Tsk tsk! I knew she's not clean with all the rumors about her, but to think they weren't just rumors..."

"I don't know if I should feel bad for Mr. Xi. Even if he's not married, being with someone like her is embarrassing!" One after the other, murmurs from the crowd resonated across the hall. 

Of course, even though Madam Olivia Tang had already mentioned that Zoey was tricked, they still perceived it as her fault. Just like in some traumatic cases, when a woman gets violated, some still point out her faults mentioning her clothing or any other crap reasoning. 

Professor Meng's frown deepened even more. Although he could hear the whispers, what displeased him was Zoey being tricked. He didn't have time for such rumors because they wouldn't benefit him. Therefore, he was clueless that Zoey had experienced such situations in the past. 

On the other hand, the oblivious Director Long was rendered speechless. How did this conversation escalate to something so serious. Turning his gaze to the interesting Zoey, a sigh escaped his mouth. 

Being such a beauty with an eye-candy figure, it was no surprise that even married elite men would get mesmerized with her. Women were vulnerable too so it would be no surprise if Zoey got tricked at least once. 

Meanwhile, Clara Wei smirked inwardly. 'Serves you right,' She sneered. Although she wasn't certain herself if Zoey had any adulterous affair with others, Clara Wei despised her for 'seducing' Ezekiel Tang. 

'A bumpkin like you deserves nothing.' Clara Wei spat internally, enjoying how her future mother-in-law humiliated Zoey until she could no longer lift her head high. 

"Mother..." Ezekiel Tang called out, sighing heavily. He glanced at Zoey's seemingly unfazed front with his apologetic eyes. 

"Mrs. Tang, isn't this a great day to celebrate your son's engagement party? Miss Zhou is mature enough to distinguish the right from the wrong." Calming the sudden tension brought by Olivia Tang, Richard Sun spoke. 

He constantly glanced at Matthew Xi who displayed no emotion as he kept staring at Olivia Tang. Richard Sun was unsure what Matthew Xi had in mind, but this couldn't escalate further. 

"Right. I apologize, Miss Zhou. You know I'm just concer—"

"Concerned…?" Just as Olivia Tang spoke her insincere apology, Matthew Xi interrupted even before Zoey could utter anything. 

His voice was like a blizzard, dropping the room's temperature to the negative degrees. He stood firmly, locking his gaze with the woman's eye as if it could penetrate her rotten soul. 

"Brownie..." Surprised by Matthew Xi's sudden interruption, Zoey slowly raised her gaze to him. 

Not that she didn't anticipate this situation. Actually, Zoey had cooked up her own plans to deal with this woman. However, Matthew Xi just happened to join in. 

"Oh? Isn't this the man named Matthew Xi? I heard what happened earlier, but... I don't think a man without any weight in his name should interrupt our conversation." Displeased at how Matthew Xi acted, as if he was some big shot, Olivia Tang arched her brow. "I am sincerely concerned with Miss Zhou. Well, I'm not surprised for Mr. Xi to have some tact to understand." She added, causing nothing but silence. 

Olivia Tang was known to have a sharp tongue. Her status just inflated her ego and thought everyone was below her. She was a queen... at least, that's what she believed. 

Upon hearing Olivia Tang's remarks, Richard Sun gasped. He would have a heart attack, he could feel his heart clenched as blood clogged his veins. 'We are finished…!' he mumbled inwardly as he anticipated their impending doom. 

"I..." Blinking once, Matthew Xi opened his mouth. Alas, his one word trailed off as the corner of his lips curled upward in amusement. 

"Madam Tang is right, a 'nobody' like me shouldn't interfere— my apologies. However, I am an unmarried man. So, Madam Tang can rest assured that Zoey is in safe hands." Despite the vicious remarks from Olivia Tang, Matthew Xi was rather polite which mortified Richard Sun. 

Zoey watched the brief transition of Matthew Xi curiously. For a second, she was certain that Olivia Tang had ticked him off. However, his sudden politeness took her by surprise. 

"Hehe! Right? I know Mr. Xi is not the type of guy who would con someone!" Weeping inwardly, Richard Sun backed him up, not at all doubting Matthew Xi's words.

Olivia Tang arched her brows, sizing Matthew Xi's demeanor before a faint 'hmph!' slipped from her nose. "That's good, then." Since Matthew Xi responded to her taunts with humbleness, Olivia Tang could not possibly continue her harassment. Especially, not in front of their distinguished guests.

If she continued, Professor Meng, Richard Sun, and Director Long would certainly see her actions and words as petty for picking on Zoey and Matthew Xi for no reason. 

"Anyway, why don't you join us for dinner?" As the tension slightly subsided, Ezekiel Tang forced a smile as he invited Matthew Xi and Zoey to their table. 

"Yes, Auntie would love it if you could join us." Nodding her head, Clara Wei agreed with a delicate smile. 

Professor Meng glanced at Olivia Tang then shifted his gaze to the humble couple. Although he was displeased earlier, the way the discussion had come to an end convinced him that he just misunderstood. Therefore, he shrugged it off. 

Also, his previous terrible impression of Matthew Xi somehow lightened. Even after hearing such hurtful words, he had remained collected and humble. 

"How can we refuse? Right, my love?" Returning their smile, Zoey grinned as she turned to Matthew Xi and winked as she hooked her arm around his. 

Matthew Xi just nodded his head as a response. Behind his stoic surface, Matthew Xi finally remembered where he saw Olivia Tang. Therefore, he decided to let a certain someone deal with her in the future. 

"Alright, shall we?" Ezekiel Tang proposed with a smile.. However, he could not help but glare at Zoey's hands, which were clinging on to Matthew Xi.