Chapter 190 - That’s Low

[March 31, 2019. 

Sunday

2nd day of Matthew Xi's renovation]

In the mid afternoon, Zoey and Matthew Xi looked at the wall they were working on. Currently, they were still two percent lacking in finishing the wall as they still had tons to do aside from Zoey vandalizing the whole wall. 

"Ahh! That's perfect!" After chewing down the burger bite, Zoey pointed with her forefinger as the rest of her hand held onto the half consumed burger. Her hands had specks of paints up to her arms and loose clothes that she didn't mind getting ruined by paint while sitting on the floor. 

"You fill the left side with your art while I do mine on this side. One is mediocre and one is a masterpiece!" She exclaimed, stating that Matthew Xi's sketches were mediocre while hers was unparalleled. 

With his brows twitching, Matthew Xi just shrugged as he ate his burger in peace. Actually, Matthew Xi didn't plan on touching her side of the wall although he could see the ridiculous outcome. 

After all, Zoey's stick figures that were drawn like those ancient Egypt markings on the wall were akin to a sacrificial procedure. Although the rough sketches were barely evident; one could tell that the first three figures: two adults and one child being held up by the other figure. 

If Zoey didn't explain to him, Matthew Xi would think that the two figures were sacrificing the child. Alas, they were not. 

She said they were celebrating the baby's existence and the two stick figures were him and Zoey. Talk about a child's sweet doodle. 

"Aya! I feel like we're like soon-to-be parents and preparing for our child's room!" Zoey giggled, glancing at his stoic front who was staring at the wall. 

"The only missing part is tying the knot." She added, raising her brows as he turned to her. 

"Are you proposing?" He asked, arching his right brow as he warned her about marriage talk. 

"I said the only missing part, not 'will you marry me'." Zoey humored as she raised her shoulders a little and bit on her burger. "Why? Have you decided on the answer for that, like the serious answer?" Raising her brows, Zoey narrowed her eyes as she inquired. 

Although Matthew Xi had warned her about Zoey proposing so carelessly, she didn't think he was hundred percent serious. After all, there were tons of things to consider why he should and shouldn't marry her. 

Still, Zoey didn't recklessly propose after that because he might agree. After all, the possibility that Matthew Xi was just using her to conceal his real gender preference still hovered in her head. 

On a second thought, aside from Vivian Xi's challenging idea, Zoey also had a reason to keep him around. That was if she couldn't find any good man for her, she didn't mind marrying a bisexual. 

In that case, she'll have a lover, a best friend, and a sister! Not a bad deal, eh? Moreover, Matthew Xi's looks were perfect for display despite what was happening behind closed doors. 

Fortunately, Matthew Xi was not hearing or reading her thoughts. Or else, even God wouldn't know what he'll do to prove that he's certain of his wants and needs. 

"I should be the one asking that." Giving her suspicious giggle a side eye, Matthew Xi returned his gaze back to the wall. "Let me warn you, don't touch my side of the wall." With that being said, Matthew Xi shoved the last small piece of his burger into his mouth and dusted his hands off. At the very least, unlike those funny stick figures of hers, he could see a good art on his side. 

Perhaps, the fact that he was competing with Zoey — although there's really nothing to compete in the first place — brought forth his passion in painting. Also, it has been a while since he drew something and knowing they're working together, it brought joy to his heart. 

"Oh?" Arching her brows, a mischievous glint flashed across Zoey's eyes as the side of her lips curled into a bright grin. 

Shoving the last bite of her hamburger, Zoey snuck to get a small painting brush. Dipping it into the red paint she bought yesterday, Zoey giggled as she tiptoed behind him. 

As Matthew Xi started drawing his outline again, Zoey suddenly came from behind him and made a careless stroke on his side of the wall. 

"Oops! Hehehe~" Giggling at her first attempt of invasion, Zoey turned to him who was darting his gaze from the red paint on the side of his wall to the hand that held on the small brush. 

"You...!" Slowly, Matthew Xi blinked his eyes once as his gaze shifted upon witnessing Zoey's mischievous smile. 

"I'm adding beauty to it, thank me later~!" Shameless as always, Zoey nodded her head magnanimously as if she did a good thing. 

However, both of them knew it wasn't a good thing. It was Zoey, challenging him right after he warned her. 

"Is that so?" He scoffed, retracting his hands holding onto the pencil as he faced Zoey. "Alright, then." Nodding his head, Matthew Xi slowly trudged towards the other brushes and picked up one. 

"If that's the case..." Dipping the medium sized brush in the yellow paint used as a sample earlier, Matthew Xi slowly came to a stop beside her. "Then, I understand."Saying that, Matthew Xi extended his arm and made a stroke on the top of her side of the wall. 

"Oy!" Seeing him abruptly take his revenge, she shouted. "What are you doing to my masterpiece?!" She gasped, panicking as she stared at the yellow paint which was slowly dripping down. 

"An eye for an eye," In a matter-of-fact tone, Matthew Xi shrugged as he made another stroke on her side of the wall which made her gasp for the second time. 

"Hey, stop!" Stopping him, Zoey jumped as she attempted to snatch the brush away. However, Matthew Xi held it up to where she couldn't reach without effort. 

"I said—!" Panting as she just ate, Zoey glared at his arrogant front as he looked down on her while holding the brush up. 

"Tsk." Clicking her tongue, Zoey ground her teeth as she scoffed. "You don't want to give it to me, eh?" She humped, as Matthew Xi just shrugged his shoulders. 

"Well," Seeing his arrogance, instead of limping again, Zoey suddenly grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled it to her.

Within the next second, Zoey tiptoed as she closed her eyes while her lips settled on his. Matthew Xi's eyes widened, witnessing how she closed her eyes and felt the softness of her lips moved into a smirk. 

'This woman...' He knew this was her way of getting the brush from him. However, his hands still gave up as Zoey's lips parted his lips slowly. 

More than willing to return her kiss, Matthew Xi's hand slowly moved down as his other hand crawled around her waist. Just as his lips danced in the same rhythm with hers, Zoey suddenly snatched the brush on his hand and abruptly parted her lips away from his. 

"See?" She giggled, the redness on her cheeks were evident. She then used the brush he used and brushed it on his side of the wall. 

Unsatisfied with the short yet deep kiss, Matthew Xi muttered with a frown, "That's low.." Pertaining to her methods of doing things.