Chapter 170 - Compromise

"This is your place," Looking around at the villa's lobby, Matthew Xi nodded his head as it didn't look bad. 

Actually, it looked nice and clean — very decent for an elite woman, just like her. 

"Yes, a service help cleans it every two-three days to avoid plague of rats and whatnot." Nodding her head, Zoey plopped down on the couch as she shrugged her shoulders. 

"But you're not staying here?"

"Nope,"

"Even on weekends?" He asked, arching his brows as he shoved his hands inside his pockets. 

"Even on weekends." Zoey stretched her lips into a thin line, traveling her gaze around this mini mansion of hers. "Thirty minutes drive from here to the office... I'm a practical person, so it's time and money efficient if I stay in my room in the office, don't you think?" Guessing the inquiries inside his mind, Zoey explained in a matter-of-fact tone. 

"I see..." Nodding his head in understanding, Matthew Xi walked towards the sofa opposite hers. "Make sense." He added, roaming his eyes around the place. 

He wasn't surprised at Zoey's explanation — he would be more surprised if she chose to live here instead in her own office. After all, Zoey always chose her improvised plans to make things efficient and a little easy. 

"But now, since I have an assistant, I don't have to worry about splitting my time between driving my way to the office and reviewing business. Yes, that'll be part of your job my darling." 

"I see," Matthew Xi nodded his head. No complaints were heard afterward which made Zoey arch her brows. 

"You're behaving?" She asked, narrowing her eyes as it seemed he hadn't thought of anything silly once they were alone. 

"You don't want me to?" Glancing at her, Matthew Xi knitted his brows slightly. "Did I disappoint you that I haven't pinned you down on that couch yet?" He added, briefly raising his brows as he rested his jaw on the back of his hand. 

"Yep. I am disappointed." 

For a brief second, Matthew Xi's eyes darkened upon hearing her reply. However, he stopped himself from going through with the ideas swimming in his mind. 

"My apologies then." Matthew Xi slightly raised his right brow as he patiently waited for a small outcome of this little experiment of his. 

After all, Matthew Xi's real agenda in pushing his luck on living under the same roof with her was to study her properly. People say that you'll only know a person once you've lived with them. Therefore, he wanted to know the real Zoey. 

During this, of course, he'll get to know her antics, moods, perhaps a little knowledge of her train of thoughts, and determine which words to say and how to capture her heart. 

"Ohh..." Upon hearing his reply, Zoey chuckled as she locked her eyes with him. "You're sorry?" She asked, sounding amused at the somewhat unexpected response. 

"Mhmm," he hummed a tune, nodding his head as the corner of his lips curled up. The glint of mischief that flickered across her eyes wasn't the same as the gloomy aura moments ago; they were the same as how they were gleaming before she told him about last night. 

"Do you know my darling? The person who cleans this house only tidies the master's bedroom? Other vacant rooms are, well, how do I put it...?" Zoey raised her chin, studying his nonchalant figure as she hinted him about something very tempting for adults like them. 

"I don't mind sharing the same bed with you or sleeping on the couch tonight." Without averting his gaze from her, Matthew Xi crossed his legs as he linked his hands together on his lap. "I can find the time to tidy my temporary room during one of my day offs." He stated nonchalantly. 

Zoey narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "You don't plan on seducing me tonight? Where's that wild Xi Matthew from earlier?" She cautiously sized his elegant figure which slowly rose up from his seat and walked towards her. 

"Huh," Matthew Xi scoffed, inching closer to her as he perched on her side. "I did... but things change faster than a blink of an eye, Miss Zhou." Through a whisper, Matthew Xi studied her delicate facial features as the corner of his lips curled up into a smirk. 

"Change?"

"I did plan on seducing you tonight, and recall the incident from seven years ago. However, I don't underestimate the little red riding hood and the traps she must have set in her home." Matthew Xi slowly drew away from her as a smirk formed on the side of his lips. 

Same as Zoey, she smirked as she nodded in satisfaction. "Wise." She muttered, shrugging her shoulders as he hit the bullseye. 

"Still, I must thank you for your honest cooperation." Smiling like a triumphant devil, Matthew Xi watched her knit her brows. 

���Darling, what do you mean by that?" Confused for a second, Zoey arched her right brow as she waited for the answer to her question. 

"Compromise." Shrugging his shoulder, Matthew Xi looked away yet the curl at the side of his lips remained. "Where should I stay tonight?" He asked, diverting the subject. 

"In my bedroom." Studying his side profile, Zoey scanned his reaction. Alas, he didn't even flinch but rather showed excitement. 

"Nice." Nodding his head in satisfaction, Matthew Xi turned to face her suspicious eyes. "Miss Zhou, you don't prefer men who like you back, right?" Matthew Xi bluntly asked which made her furrow her brows even more. 

"So?"

"So, I'll compromise. I'll restrain myself from doing the things I have planned." Slowly, Matthew Xi drew closer to her and whispered in her ears. "I won't touch you, even if you stand naked in front of me, I won't... albeit I'll enjoy the view. But if you beg me with a marriage proposal in hand, maybe I'll reconsider." Matthew Xi remarked, drawing closer to her and watched her expression and how she bit her lower lip. 

"Compromise." Again, Matthew Xi repeated as he came up with this idea just minutes ago. 

If Zoey didn't prefer men who liked her, then he would act as the indecisive and dense Matthew Xi. Indeed, it was a ridiculous and strange method to get the woman he wants. Alas, the woman he wants is a ridiculous mess herself. 

"Goodnight, Boss Zhou." Pleased at the reaction plastered across his face, Matthew Xi picked the things they packed from her office and looked upstairs. "I can find the master bedroom — I'll see you there."

As Zoey watched him go upstairs, she scoffed. "Compromise? Does he think it will be effective after telling me?"