Chapter 121 - I’m Not Just Infatuated

Zoey watched him sip away his glass of wine grumpily. The giddiness of drinking to her heart's content for her fortunate life slowly vanished. 

Yet, it also fueled her to drink more out of frustration. With one mouthful chug, Zoey consumed half of the wine in her glass. "Meanie," she mumbled. 

By the looks of it, there was nothing that could make him stay for the night. Not that she would feel sad being left alone or anything of that sort. 

Zoey just thought of knowing him better — knowing the real him. She believed that getting to know each other over drinks would give her some insights of the real Matthew Xi. 

Although she wasn't sober, Zoey rarely forgot her actions while drunk. Also, she might be a little out of control with her words and behavior, but her mind was still conscious. 

Matthew Xi cast her a side eye, but seeing her grumpy yet adorable face with a little sensual, alluring expression, he immediately retracted his gaze. This was what he was talking about, admiring her with bits of wanton thoughts about her. 

For a good five minutes or so, Zoey and Matthew Xi spent their time in silence. A terrible and awkward silence until...

"I don't want this dress anymore!" Zoey roared, grumpily tossing her feet out of the couch. 

Matthew Xi watched the annoyed drunkard throw a fit without a word. Shifting his gaze onto her empty glass, he shook his head. 

That was her fifth glass of wine while Matthew Xi had barely finished his first glass.

'Ignore it... ignore her...' He chanted inside his mind, giving her space to vent her frustration towards the exquisite dress. 

It was still unbelievable that Zoey who had already reached this age was still acting like an attention seeking child. Sure, Zoey looked and acted mature whenever she was working or dealing with people. 

It was also terrifying to know that her knowledge about certain public figures was vast — too vast that makes her akin to a double-edge sword. 

It amused him, but at the same time, widened his horizon upon learning what kind of woman she was. Zoey, though often acted goofy and crazy around him yet she was the type of person he would hate to deal with, if they were strangers. Worse, competitor.

If Zoey had her own method of observing him, Matthew Xi also had his own way. Letting things happen just as it should be often gave him some new light to have a glimpse of her. 

"It's so ugly." She spat out, tugging at the hem of her dress aggressively. "I'm taking it off." She mumbled, reaching to the zipper on her back. 

"It's not... ugly." Despite his endless chanting, Matthew Xi could not ignore her any longer. This might be one of her antics to get his attention, but he didn't want her to just go into full cray-cray mode and carpe diem. 

Still bearing a frown, Zoey looked up at him as if she was expecting something more. She said nothing, just stared at him, causing his eyebrows to furrow in confusion. 

"What?"

"I just realized that I really like you..." Zoey frowned, blinking her eyes slowly as disappointment flashed across her eyes. 

He gulped, speechless at the sudden statement being uttered at this moment. It stirred the calm lake, sending ripples with the vibration of her soft voice. 

"But sometimes I wonder who you really are, what are the things I haven't figured out, and what are you thinking." Keeping her eye contact, it made his shoulder stiffen upon hearing her curiosity. 

"Why wonder if you can ask me." Arching his right brow, Matthew Xi somehow prepared himself from questions such as the ones she mentioned. 

"Am I pretty?" Without further ado, Zoey asked. 

Glancing at her exquisite facial features, Matthew Xi nodded his head before he sipped some wine. 

"That's the reason I don't ask." Zoey sighed, shaking her head as she poured the remaining wine from the bottle to her glass. "You're too honest for your own good. You're a weirdo." She added, in a matter-of-fact tone as if it was a bad trait. 

"No, I am not."

"Yes, you are. You don't say things, but once asked, you'd give an honest answer. I mean, where's the fun in that?" Shrugging her shoulders, Zoey leaned her back against the soft couch as she stared at the wine before she gulped it down in one go. 

Matthew Xi stared at his reflection through the still darker hue of red wine. He hadn't realized it, but what Zoey said was accurate and he somehow disliked it. 

Zoey made him feel like she could see through him and know what lied within him. It was as if she knew him more than he knew himself, yet it amused him at the same time. 

"And because of that, it makes it harder for me not to think about it... not to think about you." Slowly, Zoey leaned the side of her head on his shoulder with her hand holding the empty glass on her lap. 

Once again, they shared a peaceful moment of nothing but silence. Her words rang inside his mind repeatedly. Matthew Xi had always thought that Zoey was too smart, but now, he wondered if he was wrong all along. 

Zoey was neither too smart nor foolish. Perhaps, she stood on the thin border between the two — simple, too simple that it's complicated. 

Drinking the remaining wine in his glass, Matthew Xi let out a deep exhale. "That fat, shorty you mentioned... that's not me." He uttered, his deep baritone harmonized the air around.

"That's not Matthew Xi." 

However, just as he confessed, her soft snore followed. He raised his brows as he glanced at her sleeping body. 

"Even without knowing it, you always play your cards right, huh?" The corner of his lips curled into a gentle smile as he shook his head sideways lightly.

Shortly, Matthew Xi picked up the empty glass on her lap and placed it together with his glass on the free space beside him. He then rested the side of his head on her head, which was leaning on him. 

"I also realized… I'm not just infatuated.." He whispered before a peaceful silence enveloped the air.