Chapter 191 - Perfect

After her mischievous act, Zoey excused herself to get something to drink for themselves. Meanwhile, Matthew Xi returned to sketching on the wall as if nothing happened. 

In the kitchen, Zoey fanned herself aggressively. "Oh, god..." She murmured under her breath. 

The heat coursing through her veins seemed to flare up more. Touching her cheeks, Zoey patted it lightly to calm herself. 

"Gosh..." She whispered as she deeply exhaled. What was she thinking about? 

Her kiss earlier was rather aggressive, initiating a deep, much more adult kiss rather than the usual peck. "No, no. You can't be turned on so easily — no!" Apprehending herself, Zoey shook herself as she collapsed on the floor. 

To her, this was caused by Matthew Xi's looks; they were a sin! He's just too irresistible that she could not help but take advantage of him! 

"And yet, he's acting as if he wasn't affected. Damn it!" Grinding her teeth, Matthew Xi's nonchalant side profile while he continued working on the wall hovered in her mind. 

"I'm pretty sure he should be as flustered as me!" She muttered, gliding towards the mirror near the dining room. 

Checking her face, from her left angle to her right, Zoey knitted her brows. Others might call it vanity, but for her, it's a fact that despite being a little sweaty and barefaced, she's not ugly! 

She might even fall in love with herself if she stared more at herself! Yet, how could he not bat even an eyelid after kissing her? 

If anything she could recall was his displeasure after that, as if he was silently frustrated at her! 

Now that she thought about it, Zoey gasped. "Is he really..." Zoey paused, biting her lips as her face distorted. 

Does the look on his face mean just she thinks it does? Was it because... he truly didn't like being kissed by a woman? 

Not because he finds her ugly or anything of the sort? Just that he prefers the other gender? 

"Auntie Xi... I don't think I'm stronger than his will and inner desire." She nearly wept, her determination waned as it seemed that her power to bewitch men wouldn't work on a person like Matthew Xi. 

*****

Meanwhile...

When Zoey departed the room, Matthew Xi sighed as he closed his eyes. He couldn't concentrate and continue his art after her mischievous act. 

"She just doesn't know the limits of her teasing." He mumbled, trying to shrug the memory from moments ago. 

Alas, he couldn't. After all, this was the first time Zoey initiated that kind of hot kiss. Momentarily, Matthew Xi sensed her needs; her desire for him that took him aback and made his heart leap to his throat. 

Glancing at the red stroke she made on the wall, Matthew Xi let another sigh. "Good thing it's just small." He mumbled, moving his gaze to the materials they prepared as they planned to start painting in the colors. 

Matthew Xi strode towards where the red paint and the brush she used were kept. As he picked up the brush, Matthew Xi returned and stopped in front of the wall. 

Staring at it, he slowly used the brush and continued painting over the little stroke she had made on his side of the wall. Since it was small, it was easily covered with the same paint color. 

Slowly, Matthew Xi drew a small heart. After the heart was done, he drew back and his lips curled into a smile. 'That's the heart we've drawn together.' He whispered internally, ignoring how cheesy his thoughts could be. 

Suddenly, Matthew Xi had an idea as he returned his gaze to his side of the wall. Initially, he planned to paint a beautiful scenery. 

However,now, he has an entirely different concept. Instead of painting a scenery, his heart found his motivation that brought forth his true passion: Zoey. 

He wanted to paint Zoey; fill the wall with a huge portrait of her. He would use this wall as his canvas. 

Having that thought in mind, Matthew Xi closed his eyes as he envisioned Zoey. What came to his mind was Zoey, sitting on the floor working solemnly on the right side of the wall. 

Although her work was merely stick figures, her expression would tell others who would see her that she had created a masterpiece.

'Perfect.' He thought internally, having a grasp of the new concept of beauty: a painting of a woman painting the beautiful scenery while in her loose shirt and tied up messy bun. 

*****

[Old Xi Residence: Vivian Xi's mansion]

"Achoo!" Vivian Xi sneezed which made Butler Yi immediately offer her a tissue. "I think my son is speaking ill of me behind my back." As she accepted the tissue, Vivian Xi muttered as she could only think of one person who might be remembering her. 

"I highly doubt that, Madam." The ever composed Butler Yi voiced out as he stood to the side. 

"Then, is it possible that my future daughter-in-law is missing me?" Nodding her head, Vivian Xi glanced at Butler Yi; her eyes sought for a positive answer. 

However, Butler Yi just pursed his lips into a thin line which made Vivian Xi narrow her eyes. "What is it, Butler Yi?"

"Madam, I'm just concerned about what would be Miss Zhou's feelings if she knew about this..." Butler Yi paused, glancing at Vivian Xi before he bowed his head as if apologizing in advance. "...this deception." He continued, didn't sugarcoat his words as that was what he saw it as. 

For a minute, Vivian Xi didn't speak a word. She wasn't insulted by Butler Yi's honesty as she knew deep down it was true. 

After all, if Vivian Xi put herself in Zoey's shoes, she definitely wouldn't feel pleased. Especially if everyone kept it a secret; she'll totally flip and see everyone as traitors. 

"Right..." Since this subject was opened up, Vivian Xi could not help but sigh. She likes Zoey — no doubt. 

However, she feared the consequences of when Zoey would know that her son Matthew Xi, her nephew Enzo Li, and herself kept this fact a secret. "Oh god... I haven't thought about it that far yet." Vivian Xi sighed once again in distress. 

Now that she thought about it, Vivian Xi realized how troublesome this dilemma was. What was her son thinking while dragging everyone in deceiving Zoey?

"Should I tell her, Butler Yi? I mean, I can just blame it all on my son! I'll tell my daughter-in-law that Matty threatened me! That he'll rebel and neglect the company if I did!" Vivian Xi's tone was laced with selfishness as she planned to use her own son to avoid Zoey's dissatisfaction. After all, she liked Zoey and wanted to be her mother! 

As Butler Yi listened to this nonsense, he could not help but let his brows twitch. "Madam, calm down. It's best to let Young Master tell Miss Zhou the truth and use this excuse afterwards." Still, since Vivian Xi was in distress, Butler Yi gave his master the best option when to blame his young master. 

In his heart, Butler Yi apologized to Matthew Xi as it was his fault in the first place.. Moreover, with Vivian Xi's fondness for Zoey, Butler Yi was certain she could talk through Zoey if worse comes to worst.