Chapter 153 - Can You Hear The Wedding Bells Too?

"Darling, when do you plan on molesting me?" While having their late lunch at the nearest fast-food restaurant, Zoey cupped her cheeks as she perked up to him. 

Glancing at her innocent front as if she didn't know the meaning behind the word 'molest', Matthew Xi shoved a piece of fries in his mouth with elegance. "I don't know." He answered, not returning the same humor. 

"Ehh..." Frowning, Zoey sighed as her gaze altered from her almost empty plate to his light meal. "Browny, aren't you hungry after that long walk?" She asked, comparing their respective orders which made it seem as if Matthew Xi was on a diet!

He often made her feel like a glutton. Although Zoey doesn't eat that much, she still eats a heavy breakfast to keep her energy the whole day. 

"I..." Matthew Xi paused, narrowing his eyes before retracting his gaze from Zoey. "No," he answered, taking the bottle of water and chugging it down. 

Indeed, he was used to his diet, hence, his stomach could take more than it was used to. However, Matthew Xi knew what he was hungry and thirsty for couldn't be satiated with just food and water. 

"This shouldn't be our second date... I don't have any plans ready." Zoey murmured, pouting her lips as she could not think of activities to do for the day. 

On the not so brighter note, Zoey couldn't see anything where she could have time for a second date. After all, those three dates were out of impulse. She only considered the time, efforts, a bit of expenses, and a bit of amusement she could get in this deal.

Hence, with those in mind, three random days was sufficient to pay for his debts. So far, Zoey wasn't disappointed. 

However, since she was satisfied with her time with Matthew Xi, Zoey felt that the three dates were insufficient. After all, although Matthew Xi sometimes responded to her aggressiveness, Zoey could not tell if she had charmed him enough. 

Although she sensed a brief attraction from him, it was too brief to decipher her impact on him. Thus, Zoey, who wasn't showing her worries on the surface, was in a secret dilemma. 

"This is the last time you'll contact that person." Unaware of her troubled thoughts, Matthew Xi finished his meal and spoke. His gaze slowly raised and locked eyes with her. 

"You mean Milo?" Knitting her brows, Zoey frowned as Milo was a good informant around the area. "Why? You got your proof that I'm clean." She argued, giving him reasons that it was safe. 

It would be such a waste for Zoey not to keep in touch. After all, if not for Milo, how would Zoey know some of the dirty secrets she tattled back in Ezekiel Tang's engagement party?

Indeed, some information came from Milo as Zoey paid him to sniff around. Although Milo could use those information for his own gain, his position wouldn't allow him too. 

Therefore, with a buyer like Zoey, it was a win-win situation for the two of them. Milo receives money, and Zoey gains information against potential enemies and business partners. 

"It's dangerous." Matthew Xi, with his ever monotonous voice answered. 

"Baby, like I said —"

"Hmm?" Just before Zoey could construct her argument, Matthew Xi shoved the last piece of pizza inside her mouth before he hummed a tune. 

"How old are you?" He asked, causing Zoey's face to distort while chewing the soft flavorful pizza. 

"Darling, you don't ask women their age." After chewing down the food, Zoey replied as she stared at him in disbelief. 

"That's not what I meant." Staring at her as if she was an inferior commoner, he shook his head lightly. "You're not in your teens anymore that you would get involved in some trouble due to their ignorance." Matthew Xi explained, his tone was akin to speaking the obvious point. 

Staring at him, Zoey forced a deep exhale. "Browny, let me tell you; in business, knowledge wise, it'll be less dangerous knowing a few bad people. Not that I intend to scheme crimes, but it's a guarantee for someone's safety. Also, although I am clean of illegal transactions, I sometimes forget to hold back so... I offend a few people." Zoey lectured, sugarcoating the truth as she sprayed perfume on her main ugly reason.

In other words, Zoey offended too many people along the way and knowing bits of everyone was her weapon for escape. Not a bad tactic, if Matthew Xi was asked. 

However, it was a double-edged sword. Knowing nothing and nothing too much was dangerous in some situations. He knew; Matthew Xi was well aware of it. 

After all, the XI Corporation wouldn't have their own intelligence gathering if not for the same reason. Being at the top, many looked up and curry favored him. But his competitors were thrice as hard to deal with, compared to Zoey's problems. 

"Promise me." Standing adamant on his ground, Matthew Xi's gaze never left her and watched her make different expressions. 

"Jeez..." Clicking her tongue, Zoey reluctantly offered her pinky finger. Alas, her small action made him raise his right brow. 

"What?"

"Never heard of pinky promise?" Casting him a disbelief look, Zoey faintly scoffed and hooked her pinky finger with his. "I promise to be true to you in good times, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life..." she said. But Matthew Xi was not a bit humored by the marriage vow as he kept his poker face. 

"I promise I'll behave... alright, alright! Gosh...! I promise I'll try not to contact — I mean, I'll definitely cut all communication with Milo! I, Zhou Zoey, swear before my Browny, before these empty plates and half consumed drinks, and all the people eating in this fast food." Rolling her eyes, Zoey took her oath as the surrounding temperature kept on dropping to the coldest degree. It might actually beat the winter season. 

"Happy now?" Not a bit pleased that he made her promise, Zoey frowned and glanced back at him. 

That second, she witnessed the brief relief that flashed across his russet eyes and to his lips. "Darling, were you smiling?" She asked, blinking her eyes as it was quite rare to see an innocent smile on his exquisite and unchanging front. 

"Let me see it again!" Zoey exclaimed, pinching both his cheeks as she grinned. With only that, Zoey's dissatisfaction regarding cutting her communication with Milo instantly vanished. 

To her, it was worth it. At the very least, she got to see that kind of smile on him. 

"Tsk, stop." Gently, Matthew Xi patted her hand away from his lean cheeks that were pinching them. 

"Hehe. Please? I promise not to contact Milo again — now, smile!" Grinning from ear to ear, Zoey teased as she wanted to see that smile again. 

Unbeknownst to them, a black sedan, which was parked not far away from the establishment, was watching them. 

"So, that's Miss Zhou Zoey..." Vivian Xi whispered, nodding her head in satisfaction as she watched her son get along with Zoey. "I guess my son is really into her." She added, chuckling as she never saw Matthew Xi act so carefree in all his life. 

"Madam, you're late with your appointment with Mrs. Tang." From the driver's seat, Butler Yi reminded Vivian Xi, who was late by an hour to her shopping date with Olivia Tang. 

"Butler Yi, you have a good eye on people. What can you say about that lady with the Young Master? Can you hear the wedding bells too?" Ignoring the reminder, Vivian Xi's eyes softened as she noticed the peacefulness plastered across Matthew Xi's side profile. 

Butler Yi shifted his gaze to the direction Vivian Xi was looking. His eyes first landed on Matthew Xi's fresh expression, then to Zoey's. For a minute, he studied her from afar before he spoke. "Kind but cunning, playful but smart — I think the Young Miss can handle the position of being the wife of the Young Master." He commented, giving his honest thoughts about his brief examination of Zoey. 

"I think so too..." Letting out a brief chuckle, Vivian Xi's lips stretched into a smile. "Butler Yi, let's go. I think making that woman wait for me can make her understand what a 'nobody' should do. I have to give justice for the humiliation she caused to my son and my future daughter-in-law.." As Vivian Xi averted her gaze from the establishment, Vivian Xi ordered which Butler Yi immediately executed after a bow.