Chapter 223 - Proof... And Bribe

Matthew Xi watched her eyes grow wider as he gulped in nervousness. "I'm sorry for keeping it as a secret. I just..." he paused, pursing his lips into a thin line as he asked himself the real reason he hid it. 

"I was just afraid that you'll change..." He resumed, smacking his lips lightly. 

Matthew Xi had lots of thoughts in his mind. However, he had difficulty expressing them in words as he was never in the same situation. Neither was he a romantic, nor he had the talent to move someone by his words. 

To be truthful, Matthew Xi somewhat wished he didn't witness Zion Kwan's proposal. Although Zion's proposal wasn't perfect nor was it grand, his words still moved Cora Ma. 

Now, Matthew Xi felt pressured as he didn't know how to move Zoey with these simple words. After all, Matthew Xi would rather express his feelings by action. 

"Uhm..." Zoey pressed her lips on a thin line, blinking her eyes as she looked down at her hand where she held the keys. "So these are...?" Instead of uttering words Matthew Xi expected, Zoey raised the key holder as she creased her brows and cocked her head to the side. 

"Proof... and bribe." Being hundred percent transparent to her, Matthew Xi answered. Alas, the next second, he furrowed his brows as he studied Zoey's lack of surprise. 

"You knew?" He asked, his heart pounded as Zoey raised her brows as she tried to avoid his gaze.

*****

[Zoey's House: Dining Area]

"Do you think Zoey and Browny will come home tonight? Z sounded a little off earlier." Cora Ma wondered, knitting her brows as she turned to Zion Kwan who was deep in his thoughts. 

"Brother Zion?" Tilting her head to the side, Cora Ma knocked her fist on the surface of the dining table lightly. Their plates and other utensils on the table clinked faintly by the sudden vibration. 

"Hmm?" Snapping from his trance, Zion Kwan blinked his eyes as he shifted his gaze to his fiancee. 

"Brother Zion, are you alright? You've been a little weird since earlier. Everything okay?" Worried, Cora Ma frowned a little because Zion Kwan had been deep in thought since she came back. 

She had noticed it back when she was talking about how amazing Patrizio Moretti was, and Zoey's insane business ventures. She found out that PZ brand was actually founded by Zoey and Patrizio Moretti. 

Who knows that while Zoey was just earning enough money from Z Image Group, she risked investing in a no name designer? How? Just because she saw Patrizio Moretti's design while she was out on a business trip and was looking for counterfeit products; her friend was totally crazy! 

It was insane and almost not believable, but this was Zoey! Hence, Cora Ma didn't doubt the story's authenticity as Zoey would most likely do that. 

However, Zion Kwan didn't show interest in the story so Cora Ma stopped. Still, she didn't find it hurtful with his lack of interest as they still have a problem with the Kwan's. 

That's why Cora Ma understood her fiance. Yet, she wished that he would share what he was thinking right now even if it's bad news, she was willing to carry the burden with him. 

"Uhm, yes. I'm just a little overwhelmed with the offer from the LN Medical Group — I still can't believe it." Shaking his head, Zion Kwan faintly sighed as he forced a smile on his lips. 

"An offer? From the LN Medical Group? Really?!" Since Zion Kwan forgot to mention it last night, it was Cora Ma's first time hearing this. Still, she was delighted as this news was actually good and perfect at this time of crisis!

"Yes…"

"Brother Zion, that's amazing!" Awed as Cora Ma assumed the LN Medical Group poached him, her eyes twinkled as she felt truly and deeply proud of him. 

"I know…" Sighing once again, Zion Kwan shook his head again which this time made Cora Ma's expression change. 

"But, why don't you look happy? What's the catch?"

"No, no, I'm just overwhelmed." Zion Kwan raised his gaze as he smiled at her meekly. "And also, I feel bad for having a second doubt and ashamed to have the nerve to feel insulted." Patting her head lightly, he explained. 

"Huh?" Clueless, Cora Ma found his words confusing. Second doubt? Insulted? Why? Because the LN Medical Group was the Kwan's competitor? Does that kind of competition exist in the medical field as well?

"I mean, I thought they were just giving me privilege because Xi Matthew said so and not because of my merits. But earlier, I realized how naive that mindset was." Zion Kwan explained, as he didn't waste his day and dropped by LN Medical Group main branch for an interview. 

However, Zion Kwan soon realized that although Matthew Xi recommended him, that didn't mean they would just mindlessly agree. After all, being in their line of work, they were holding thousands of lives. 

In simple terms, they wouldn't just accept Zion Kwan if not for his merits. Matthew Xi just guaranteed them his words that he'd have the Liang's family's back if the Kwans tried anything funny for stealing their son. 

Therefore, Zion Kwan felt the need to apologize to Matthew Xi and maybe, he could really entrust his sister to him. After all, although Matthew Xi seemed to help him, he was just doing it so Zoey wouldn't have to burden herself with his problem. 

"Brother Zion, what did you say? Browny is close to the Liangs?" Confused as she was kept in the dark, Cora Ma's already creased brows knitted even more. 

"My fiancee, you should stop calling him that — he might snap one day and you'll regret disrespecting the man." Realizing Cora Ma didn't know yet, Zion Kwan sprawled his hand and reached hers. 

Rubbing the back of her hand, Zion Kwan smiled. "You didn't know yet, but he's not the man that only has the same name as Xi Matthew… he's the real Xi Matthew." Zion Kwan dropped the bomb, causing Cora Ma's chopsticks to fall from her hands. Not just her chopsticks but also her jaw dropped. 

"He's who?!?" Cora Ma gasped, her eyes widened in disbelief as if she heard the most ridiculous joke in her life! "But — but…" She stuttered, trying to rationalize the situation. 

"He is, no doubt. He's the one who recommended me to LN Medical Group because he didn't want us to burden Zoey." Not surprised by her reaction, Zion Kwan understood her as he was in the same shoes upon meeting Matthew Xi for the first time. 

"No way…" Shaking her head, Cora Ma's heart pounded as her mind instinctively counted how many times she called Matthew Xi browny. Although she never called him Browny directly, there were times when Matthew Xi had heard her address him 'Browny' whenever she was gossiping with Zoey. 

"Zoey! We should tell Zoey!" Upon realizing their top priorities, Cora Ma turned her mortified eyes towards the calm Zion Kwan. 

"She knows." In a matter-of-fact tone, Zion Kwan sighed as he shook his head. "Why would I keep this a secret from her if she didn't know? Alas, she seemed to have figured it out long ago, and kept playing with the fire." Zion Kwan explained the reason he wasn't selling Matthew Xi out was because there's no need. 

"It's amazing how Zoey is so sharp, but at the same time, she terrifies me to lie. She seemed to know everything and decided to pretend clueless or indifferent." Zion Kwan raised his brows, pressing his lips together. 

Meanwhile, Cora Ma's shock multiplied. "She knew?!" She exclaimed, "Then why was she letting me disrespect the man boldly?!" Feeling like weeping this instant, Cora Ma bit her nails in distress. 

"It's fine. He would have messed with your life if he was offended in the first place.." Zion Kwan tried to calm his anxious fiancee by caressing her hand.