Chapter 180 - Good Night, My Love.

Late at night, Matthew Xi slowly opened his eyes and settled his pair of russet orbs at the ceiling. This was his third night staring at the same ceiling while hearing his heart beat thump in its own rhythm. 

Her soft yet deep breaths resonated across the silent room. 'How can she sleep with a man beside her...?' He wondered for the nth time. 

Slowly, Matthew Xi supported himself to sit. Moving his gaze, he stared at Zoey's side profile as she slept on her side, hugging the pillow between them. 

'This woman...' He clicked his tongue faintly, a little restless at her sleeping position. 

This was one of his problems; Zoey wasn't just sleeping soundly but also always facing him! If not for the pillow, Matthew Xi was certain she would torture him by squeezing herself to him. 

Biting his lower lip, Matthew Xi carefully tucked a few strands of her hair which were falling on her cheek behind her ear. He sighed closing his eyes as he threw whatever silly thoughts that crossed his mind. 

'I'm not a pervert.' He argued against his subconscious mind as it kept whispering to him to kiss her goodnight. 

Now, this reminded him that this was also the nth time he argued with himself. Thinking that it was still Monday night, Matthew Xi was getting impatient for the weekend to arrive. 

After all, his plate at the moment was overflowing. Aside from the XI Corporations projects he needed to review, he also needed to concern himself with Z Image Group's affairs. 

Working as the CEO of a giant company while being an assistant… this double life was exhausting. If not for the fact that he was so used to working through these years, he might just evaporate from all the workload. 

'I've been going to extra lengths for you...' Gazing down at the cause of this hectic schedule of his, Matthew Xi sighed as he raised his hand and slowly reached for her cheek. 

To his surprise, it only took a gentle stroke on her jaw before Zoey's hand suddenly gripped his wrist. Her eyes slowly opened, piercing as if she had been awake all these time. 

"I..." Thinking of an excuse, Matthew Xi gulped. However, Zoey smiled the moment she set her weary eyes on him and her piercing gaze softened. 

"Darling, it's just you..." She murmured, loosening her grip as she blinked her heavy eyelids until they closed and she went back to sleep. 

Still, Matthew Xi's racing heart didn't stabilize immediately. His breaths grew heavier as if he ran a marathon by the sudden surprise. 

'What was that...?' He wondered, as the look in Zoey's eyes a few moments ago was completely different than usual. 

It was his first time seeing her with her guards up. Though it was brief, Matthew Xi reckoned her defenses were firmer than the great wall of China. 

Still, her eyes were laced with a different emotion akin to a wounded beast trying to protect itself. They were intimidating, but at the same time, desperate and frightened. 

"Till now, I can't safely say I figured you out." He whispered, trailing her hand that held on him earlier. 

"Good night, my love." He kissed the back of her hand, satisfied by this less inciting action than what his subconscious mind was whispering. 

Matthew Xi then slowly laid on his side of the bed, his hand intertwined with her above the pillow. Staring at her for a minute, the corner of his lips curled up because tomorrow would be another day with her. 

With that in mind, Matthew Xi didn't realize when he fell asleep with a content heart. 

*****

March 29, 2019, Friday, 14:27

[Z Image Group: CEO's Office]

Four days later, it marked Matthew Xi's first week since he moved into Zoey's place. 

"Like I said, I'm having suspicions about my Browny!" Zoey repeated to Cora Ma from the other end of the line. 

"Z... don't just accuse people — gosh!" Rolling her eyes, Cora Ma snorted as she didn't mean Zoey should repeat herself when she said 'what did you say?'. 

"Tell me, you lost interest in him, didn't you? But, you chose to be a little extra this time and let him move in with you! Gosh... I knew this would happen." Cora Ma instigated, concluding the reason why Zoey was spouting nonsense to have reasons to break up with Matthew Xi. 

"What? No!" Denying without batting an eye, Zoey's face distorted. 

Was her image to her best friend this broken? How could she come to such absurd conclusions? Well, Zoey needn't ask herself as she had herself built her reputation like that. 

"I mean, I know Browny likes me, alright? But, we've been literally living under the same roof, yet he doesn't even bat an eye even if I try to seduce him!" Explaining herself aggressively, Zoey recalled all her attempts at teasing him during this past week. 

However, the only time Matthew Xi initiated something was when she tried to salvage his poor dish. After that, nothing happened. 

They wake up, spend their morning coffees in silence, work professionally the whole day, and have dinner with little random talks and then sleep! Zoey sometimes shows-off her shoulder, seducing him by teasing him, and even asking favors while she's inside the shower but to no avail. 

"Gosh... I know he's doing this on purpose, but it's actually effective? Or maybe..." Zoey added in disbelief, gasping at how her heart and mind clashed with this knowledge in mind. 

"So you think he's gay? Really, Z?" Rolling her eyes at the nonsensical accusations, Cora Ma sighed as she shook her head. 

"Well, anything is possible. What if he's just using me to conceal his gender preference? What if he's not a darling, but a sissy?! OH.MY.GHAD!" As Zoey reasoned out, her eyes widened as she spouted her last remarks. 

"Z... you're being paranoid." Hearing how Zoey panic, Cora Ma let out another helpless sigh as she could imagine Zoey's mortified face right now. 

Just then, Zoey heard a light knock from outside her office before it opened and revealed Matthew Xi. As soon as she set her eyes on him, Zoey gasped, "No way..." on the verge of having a mental breakdown, Zoey whispered which caused Cora Ma to roll her eyes again while Matthew Xi knitted his brows. 

"I have —"

"No way!" Interrupting him midway, Zoey jolted from her seat as her wild imagination ran wild. 

Matthew Xi: "???"