Chapter 173 - What Is That Creepy Smile?

While Zoey criticized how fast Matthew Xi's mood changed, she heard a very familiar voice from behind. 

"Miss Zhou!" Clara Wei called out, approaching Zoey and Matthew Xi while Zoey rolled her eyes. "Mister Xi," Shifting her gaze to Matthew Xi, Clara Wei slightly bowed her head. 

"Miss Wei!" Turning to face her, Zoey brought up her big, welcoming smile as she darted her gaze from Ezekiel Tang to Clara Wei. 

"It's nice seeing you around, Miss Zhou. How are you?" Striking up a conversation, the ever 'friendly' Clara Wei inquired, hooking the side of her lips into a smile. 

"As you can tell, prettier than ever." Confident, Zoey shrugged her shoulders as she turned her attention to Ezekiel Tang. "How about you, Miss Wei? Mister Tang?" Returning the question, Zoey cast Clara Wei a knowing look; a look that screamed that Zoey knew how bad their relationship was. 

"Good, Z." Clearing his throat, Ezekiel Tang stood straight as his gaze slowly traveled from Zoey to Matthew Xi. "How about Mister Xi? I see he treated you to lunch at a good place." Ezekiel Tang glanced up at the restaurant front behind Zoey and Matthew Xi. 

"I didn't." Just before Zoey could spout her arrogant reply, Matthew Xi denied as if it was something he was proud of. 

"Huh?"

"She was in a meeting with a client. The company shoulders the expenses." Matthew Xi clarified without a pause which made Zoey's under eye twitch. 

'God damn it! Is he asking for these people's hypocritical criticism?! What a masochist...' Grinding her teeth, Zoey reminded herself of the good old days to calm herself down. 

Who wouldn't be irked by his honesty?! Well, she liked his honesty but not at times like these! 

"Huh, I see..." Nodding his head in understanding, Ezekiel Tang scoffed in mockery. "I'm sorry, I just remembered something funny." Using the old excuse people often use, Ezekiel Tang waved his hand as he resisted laughing out loud. 

"It's fine, Mister Xi. We won't judge." Sounding kind, Clara Wei smiled magnanimously. 

"Why would you? Is it illegal?" Knitting his brows together, Matthew Xi glanced at Zoey who just closed her eyes in distress. 

"I — Uhm..." Whether he was pretending to be clueless or a real bumpkin, it still rendered the two speechless. 

"Anyway, it's nice seeing you two. I'll see you around!" Unwilling to listen to any nonsense crap from the two of them, Zoey smiled brightly as she tugged Matthew Xi's sleeve. 

However, just as Zoey dragged Matthew Xi away from these trashs, Clara Wei smiled. "Miss Zhou, if you have time today, why don't you join us? We're planning on purchasing stuff for our matrimonial home." Clara Wei suggested with that kind voice of hers. 

Yet, no matter how kind and pure she sounded, it came as the opposite to Zoey and Matthew Xi. In other words, Clara Wei was planning to drag the two, maybe to brag about their wealth and act unconcerned about their price while buying. 

"Sure." With almost zero interest, Matthew Xi nodded his head. 

'Oh god...' Inside Zoey's mind, a deep heavy sigh slipped past her lips. She hated the idea. 

Meanwhile, Ezekiel Tang peered at Matthew Xi in ridicule. He didn't know if Matthew Xi was just a thick faced lad or just couldn't read the situation. 'Such a shame, indeed.' 

Just like that, Zoey and Matthew Xi found themselves tagging along with Clara Wei and Ezekiel Tang's shopping. 

****

"What do you think about this?" 

"It's good." Clara Wei smiled as she nodded her head to one of the clerks assisting her. 

"Great, Xi Matthew. Great." Leaning to her side, Zoey rolled her eyes at Matthew Xi who was looking at some plates. 

"They would insist, won't they?"

"And I will decline, My Darling." In a matter-of-fact tone, Zoey glanced at Matthew Xi whose mind she couldn't properly read. 

Just what was he thinking when he accepted this invitation? Also, since when did he start taking charge of her orders? Just who's the real boss here, eh?

"Didn't you say you need to buy household stuff? I've just broadened your choices." Shrugging his shoulder, Matthew Xi answered nonchalantly as he slowly turned around to face her. 

"Whatever, Xi Matthew. I really don't..." Just then, Zoey heard Matthew Xi's ringtone — her singing — which assailed her ears. 

Checking who it was, Matthew Xi glanced at Zoey. "I need to pick this up." Cold and honest, Matthew Xi raised his phone after Zoey nodded her head. 

"If not for the fact that I heard his ringtone, I would officially think two days ago were all part of a dream." Watching his retreating back, Zoey murmured as she shook her head. 

Not shortly after, Zoey arched her right brow as she heard Clara Wei's meek voice talking to someone. Turning to see who it was, Zoey scoffed upon seeing Olivia Tang and an elegant woman. 

"Such class and elegance... I wonder how that arrogant old lady played around with words." Zoey murmured, studying the beautiful woman next to Olivia Tang. 

The longer she stared at the woman, the longer Zoey felt that she appeared familiar. She just couldn't point it out where he had seen the lady, but her instincts told her to remember clearly. 

"So, how was your shopping?" Olivia Tang giddily asked her future daughter-in-law, then casting Ezekiel Tang a knowing look. 

"It was great, mother. Miss Zhou there is helping us." Watching her manners and tone, Clara Wei beamed Vivian Xi a smile as she tried to leave her the best impressions. She pointed at Zoey's direction not far away, who was staring back with a 'what-the-heck-is-it-now' expression drawn on her face. 

Obviously, this meeting was planned to look like a coincidence. Olivia Tang would invite Vivian Xi to checkout some tea cups and then bump into Ezekiel Tang and Clara Wei. 

By doing this, Ezekiel Tang and Clara Wei would leave a great impression in front of Vivian Xi. Hence, they must succeed or they would have bothered for nothing. 

"Miss Zhou... she must be a great help then." Upon setting her eyes on Zoey, Vivian Xi offered a gentle smile which made Zoey suspicious. 

'What is that creepy smile for?' Zoey muttered internally.