Chapter 289 - My Friend

June 10, 2012. 20:05 

A motorcycle stopped in front of a high-end night club. Stepping down the vehicle stand, the rider pushed the helmet's visor up revealing the mole on the outer corner of her left eye. 

"It still looks the same..." Zoey muttered, removing her helmet. Her long hair flowed down and followed her head whichever direction she shook it. 

Running her fingers through her hair, Zoey glanced at the fancy cars across the road and in front of the high-end night club. Good thing Zoey woke up on this date and not before this date. 

If she had returned in 2011, Zoey would have gone crazy by now thinking of ways to see her Darling. Technically, she hadn't seen Matthew Xi for a year and God knows how much she longed for him. 

It's just that rushing things wouldn't make things better this time. Hence, Zoey needed a careful plan because she knew she was always being watched.

Yet, that wouldn't stop her from seeing Matthew Xi. She would let them watch her, make them believe she's still naive thinking she's free. Until then, Zoey would cautiously make her plan and broaden her resources because brute force wasn't always enough. 

Zoey slid her black leather jacket up to check her wristwatch. It was just eight in the evening, which means to say, she was here ahead of time. 

After all, in her previous lifetime, during this time, she should be getting humiliated by Clara Wei's friends. And if she remembered correctly, Zoey would be in this same night club at around ten. 

She would drink her sorrow away, crying her heart out and then meet the most handsome man she had ever laid her eyes on. This night... it was supposed to be the night that Matthew Xi and Zoey wouldn't forget: their one night stand. 

However, Zoey didn't plan on drinking tonight. She didn't want to drink and see Matthew Xi under the influence of alcohol. She wanted to see him with a clear vision and mind. 

"Well..." Shrugging her shoulder, Zoey decided to head inside leaving her motorbike across the street. 

*****

21:15

One hour later, Zoey sighed as she kept observing the place from the bar counter. However, from where she was sitting, she didn't see any familiar figure yet. Everyone inside were just wild young masters and young misses — no sight of Matthew Xi. 

"Sir, is there another party going on right now?" Gesturing the bartender to come, Zoey inquired while leaning closer to his ear. 

"Yes, but that's for VIP clients." Nodding his head, the bartender answered truthfully as he was confident that crashing that private party was harder than chugging down a whole bottle of vodka.

"Has the party started?" Tilting her head to the side, Zoey batted her eyelashes innocently. 

For a second, the bartender glanced at Zoey suspiciously. However, since she appeared that she was just curious and harmless, he answered. "It's been an hour, young miss."

"Ahh..." Nodding her head in understanding, Zoey sat properly as her forefinger traced the rim of her drink she didn't touch since earlier. 

"One hour..." Zoey murmured, only audible for herself to hear as the loud music echoed across the whole night club. 

"Freaking one hour..." Through her gritted teeth, Zoey suddenly jolted from the bar stool as she trudged towards the private party place inside this nightclub. 

Knowing Matthew Xi, he would be on time. Hence, Zoey was afraid she didn't get the accurate time. After all, if Matthew Xi's drink was drugged, it would take about an hour at max to begin its effect. 

Since Zoey arrived there a little ahead of time, she first checked the room that she was supposed to do the deed with him. Alas, the room was empty. 

Turning her head to her left, she saw a few people exiting the room. With that, Zoey immediately headed to where they exited and immediately opened the door. 

To her dismay, it was just a group of people partying! The room was large enough that one could hold a private party without feeling too crowded. 

Zoey scanned the room, searching for a familiar ice sculpture of a man. She only sighed upon making sure he wasn't here. 

"Right... he wouldn't stay in this kind of party." Zoey whispered, patting her chest as she leaned on the wall outside the party room. 

Based on his character, Matthew Xi would be accommodating a few important people. He would scare these young masters and misses away if he was in the same room. Perhaps, they wouldn't be partying and the room could be mistaken as a Bible study group. 

"This place is like a maze, indeed." Zoey murmured, slowly retracting her back as she needed to find Matthew Xi. 

Without any other plans than meeting Matthew Xi, Zoey kept roaming around until she bumped into someone. Slowly, Zoey raised her head as the person she collided into, looked down at her. 

As soon as their eyes met, the corner of her lips curled into a gentle smile. "Uh, I'm sorry, Miss." Paul Qian politely stepped back as he bowed his head and placed his phone down that was initially on his ear. 

Zoey just stared at him, relieved seeing him well in this lifetime. In her previous life, Zoey couldn't even mourn about Paul Qian's death because he died the same day with Matthew Xi as they were in the same car. 

Matthew Xi's driver, Matthew Xi, and Paul Qian lost their lives on June 10, 2019. Hence, now that she was staring at Paul Qian once again, Zoey could not help but feel relieved. 

"Uhm, Miss? Are you alright?" Worried a little at the unexpected reaction from her, Paul Qian knitted his brows. 

"Yes." Zoey nodded her head, stretching her lips up. "I just thought I had seen an old friend — you look like him." She explained, patting his shoulder as if they were close friends. 

���Uhm... okay?" Awkward at the sudden touch, Paul Qian offered an awkward smile. "Well then, I'll be on my way." He informed, glancing at Zoey who was still staring at him emotionally. 

"Sure. See you around, my friend!" Zoey waved her hand which was returned with a reluctant nod. With that being said, Paul Qian went on his way while Zoey strode ahead.... towards a certain room that was guarded by two unmoving guards in suits.