Chapter 188 - Boost My Mood?

"If you're not going to help, sleep." As Matthew Xi laid out some old newspapers under the cans of paint, he muttered towards Zoey who was leaning on the jamb. 

She had been there, watching him while she sipped her coffee. Her eyes were constantly twitching, full of criticism as he cleaned the room and seemed to renovate it to his liking. 

"Darling, I'm just thinking whether you asked permission from your landlord slash employer slash girlfriend. No matter how much I rack my brain, I can't remember agreeing to this." Darting her gaze from the thin cans of paints, materials, and then to Matthew Xi, Zoey raised her brows in disbelief. 

This was her house, wasn't it? However, by the looks of it, Matthew Xi had already decided to squat in her place forever! Not that she was against it, but what if they break up tomorrow or the next day after that? 

"I did." Casting her a side eye, Matthew Xi's words came out from his nose. "Two days ago." He added, recalling that he asked Zoey's permission while she was busy working. 

"And I agreed?" In disbelief, Zoey wasn't fully convinced. 

"Mhmm... you were talking to one of your clients on the phone." Humming a tune, Matthew Xi shrugged his shoulders as he continued to open the paint can's lid. 

Going through her memory, Zoey remembered Matthew Xi mentioning something about something 'important'. However, she was a little busy at that time and told him to do whatever he wants. 

Yet, she didn't talk about this! She thought it was office related! 

"Oh, god..." Zoey pinched the bridge of her nose in distress. "Why do you want to change it, eh? The room only needs some cleaning and it's good to use!" She argued, traveling her gaze around the pink room. 

Well, one of her favorite colors was pink. Hence, all rooms were customized to give a girly vibe; even the master bedroom was pink! Hence, why would he hate the color if it was so lovely?!

"I don't like the color." Unlike her reason to like the room, Matthew Xi has a similar reason to dislike it. 

"And you're choosing a gloomy gray and a plain white over pink?" Peering at him from head to toe, Zoey's eyes glinted in dismay. 

"If you're not going to help, sleep." Again, Matthew Xi repeated his initial advice as she glanced at the pink walls. 

Although Matthew Xi hadn't done it before, he used to have paint classes. Hence, he decided to do it himself. 

Moreover, he didn't want many people inside Zoey's house. After all, Zoey would want some peace in her home and would be displeased if he invited professionals to do this for him. 

"No, I'm not sleeping." Shaking her head, Zoey refused as she retracted her side from the jamb. "I want to paint!" She exclaimed, raising her brows shortly as she intruded inside. 

"If you plan to sabotage me..." Matthew Xi trailed off when he saw Zoey slowly take off her top. "What are you doing?" He asked, looking away as he didn't foresee this sort of sabotage plan. 

"I'm changing my clothes — I have some in this room. I can't just use this delicate outfit while painting, duh?" Rolling her eyes, she continued to take off her blouse as she glanced at him. "Also, did you forget that I'm trying to seduce you?" In a matter-of-fact tone, Zoey trudged towards the closet with only her bra on. 

Well, Zoey was just taking Vivian Xi's advice; bend the rules. If Matthew Xi was indeed confused with his gender, then she would iron him by her charms. 

Also, she thought that doing a different activity on the weekend was a nice idea for a change. After all, she needed diversion to clear her mind as it seemed she was easily distracted despite drowning herself with workloads. 

"You think I'd get seduced with how you look right now?" Clearing his throat, Matthew Xi didn't plan on mentioning how horrendous she looked at the moment. 

However, he just had to mention it as Zoey was almost topless. He was tempted to look but was afraid he'd paint her body with his marks instead. 

"Huh?" Arching her brows, Zoey grabbed the plain, loose black shirt from the closet and immediately put it on. She then headed to the room's bathroom since Matthew Xi covered the vanity mirror inside the guest room with newspapers. 

Matthew Xi counted down from five to one before he heard Zoey's scream from the bathroom. "How silly," he slowly chuckled, shaking his head and sighed. 

At the very least, her reaction diverted his focus from her exposed tummy earlier. Matthew Xi then gulped a mouthful of saliva as he poured some paint on the tray. 

Ten minutes later, Zoey finally headed out from the bathroom, her face was now clear and bare while her hair was tied into a high bun. 

Upon returning to the room, she saw Matthew Xi already painting but seemed to stop and ponder about something. "Darling, how can you put the paint without scrubbing it with sandpaper first?" She asked, glancing at the box of sandpaper that was left untouched. 

As soon as Matthew Xi heard that, he snapped his fingers and turned to Zoey in enlightenment. "Right..." He said, placing down the tray of painting materials as he reached for the sandpaper. 

"Jeez... I see someone didn't do his research." Zoey snorted, teasing him as if he truly lacked in experience. "Let me help." She offered magnanimously as she strode towards him. 

"You know, I used to decorate my room back then and get scolded by my landlord." As Zoey pulled a piece of sandpaper, she chuckled as she was reminded of the good old days. "Good thing, though, because I got trained and helped the construction of the old office." 

Matthew Xi glanced at her, his eyes glinted in amusement as he didn't expect that. It seemed like Zoey was not only hands-on in the paperworks of her company, but also helped in making her office look decent. 

No wonder she was successful as she was humble and hardworking. She's the mix of working hard and smart at the same time. 

"Then, I should thank you in advance." Unlike what kind of response she expected from him, Matthew Xi acknowledged her help as having her do this with him was a better idea. 

"You better treat me better after this!" Smiling like a fool, her lips stretched even wider as an idea flashed across her mind. "Darling, how about you work without any shirt on to boost my mood?" She suggested, giggling as she imagined his sweaty bare back while she drooled over it. 

"Sure." Indifferently Matthew Xi shrugged his shoulders as he held onto the hem of his shirt, taking it off slowly. 

As he did so, Zoey bit her thumb as she locked her gaze on the exposed and toned lower abs. Alas, just as she blinked, Matthew Xi stopped. 

"What? Why are you stopping?" Disappointed at his sudden halt, Zoey widened her eyes. 

"I felt molested just now.." Staring at her in dismay, Matthew Xi could not believe how Zoey anticipated to ogle on his body.