Chapter 405 - Are You Crying?

With that being said, Matthew didn't waste a second as he stood up from his seat. When he got back on his feet, he turned to his mother who looked up at him in amusement. Vivian's brows raised, silently asking him 'what, my son?'.

"I have a date. We will be having a picnic in my office. Please, don't disturb." Blunt and direct as ever, Matthew informed her as he knew how meddlesome his mother could be.

"Oh, son, how nice~" Vivian chuckled, covering her lips by the back of her hand. "What a unique date you'll be having." She commented, slowly looking up at him. "Of course, I won't." She reassured, an inexplicable glint flashing across her eyes which told him that her last remarks were unreliable.

Meanwhile, as the mother and son talked, everyone who was preparing to leave moved at a turtle pace. Unconsciously, their curiosity won over them and they eavesdropped on their brief conversation. They weren't surprised by how Matthew talked to the chairwoman, his mother, as they were used to the two interacting.

However, everyone's ears twitched upon hearing the word 'picnic'. 'Master is having a picnic inside his office?!' They all gasped in disbelief. Their eyes could not help but peer at him from head to toe. 

They all knew how busy he was. His every minute was worth more than a normal employee's monthly salary. Thus, spending it on sudden dates could be considered a waste of time. Still, what frightened everyone was that even 'love' seemed like it wouldn't change their big boss! Perhaps, the days in the XI Corporation would remain under the winter season.

'If he could stomach having a picnic inside his own office, spring will never come forth.' In unison, everyone wept internally.

"Good." Still, Matthew just nodded his head before slightly bowing his head. After a beat, Matthew began walking out of the meeting room. He knew his mother very well. Hence, there was no point in fretting over whether she would interrupt or not. After all, he just needed to stop her forcefully.

She's not the only one who has cards up her sleeve. He was her son, so she shouldn't expect any less from him.

When Matthew left the meeting room, Vivian also helped herself up. She glanced at Butler Yi before she began trudging out of the room. The mother and son duo didn't speak a word as they exited the meeting room. Soon, all important board of directors also took their leave as well while the employees remained behind.

As soon as all important figures left, the person who was given the second chance gasped for air. His knees gave way, causing him to collapse on the carpeted floor. "Oh my mother…" He panted, patting his chest as if he just escaped death.

"Hey, slap me and tell me I was in a daze earlier and daydreaming." One female employee turned to her colleague, her face blank and pale, as if went through shock witnessing such a moment.

"No, we weren't." Having the mutual aghast front, the other female employee shook her head sideways. For some reason, they felt like knowing such news could bring them trouble.

Knowing the company rules, they didn't know whether to consider this one was classified information. Although they didn't plan on gossiping about their big boss -- they wouldn't dare -- what if the word went out?

Would they get affected? Would Matthew blacklist every employee just for his peace of mind? The terrifying mass firing he did in his last year was still fresh in their mind. Thus, one wouldn't feel happy with this ticking time bomb burden.

"I'll get fired anyway. I just avoided death… but it is inevitable." The man who was given the second chance was on the brink of a mental breakdown. His brain numbed as he thought of the inevitable end of his.

After a long silence, everyone that was left in the meeting room looked at each other. For some reason, their thoughts seemed to connect with each other as they suddenly thought of an idea.

*****

Meanwhile, inside the CEO's office of Z Image Building, Zoey scoffed at her phone. "Did he just hang up on me?!" Her hand landed on her chest as her mouth gaped open as she scoffed out in annoyance.

"What now?" Ivan frowned, shaking his head as he couldn't sleep now after hearing a seemingly eternal phone call with Matthew. "That's what you get for acting rashly." Ivan mocked, shrugging his shoulders as he couldn't blame this on anyone but her.

"Don't snub me!" Frustrated, Zoey ground her teeth as she plopped down on her swivel chair, leaning her head back as she closed her distressed eyes. "Why am I thinking about that night…?" She muttered, thinking of the night she went to save him from drinking that drug.

If she knew this would happen, Zoey would have let that drug go inside his system and have a one night stand with him. If she only followed the original course of destiny that was supposed to happen, Zoey wouldn't have a problem shrugging him off.

However, Zoey couldn't rewind that anymore. She was lucky enough to be gifted with this kind of opportunity. Sadly, it was a one time thing. Therefore, she could only reflect on her mistake and be more cautious on the future changes she was about to make.

After all, it seemed like no matter how little changes she made, it could change their course of life. If that happened, some events she was expecting might not happen.

"Ugh…" She grunted, massaging her temple as her head throbbed from thinking too much. "Why am I being punished?" She wondered, her voice in utter distress as it seemed like she was stuck with Matthew until she could plan an effective way to part ways with him.

"You're not being punished. It is the consequences of your actions." As inconsiderate as he was, Ivan corrected which irked her even more.

"Scram!" Zoey bellowed agitatedly. However, instead of watching him leave, Zoey pushed herself up, picking up her phone before stomping her feet out of the office. She closed the door behind her with one loud slam.

"Uh… I'm pretty sure she told me to scram, and not to herself." Ivan knitted his brows, tilting his head to the side as he scratched the back of his head. "How weird." He shrugged his shoulder, shaking his head as he fished his phone out and checked his messages from Cora.

*****

Zoey immediately drove the car she borrowed from Kenneth towards the XI Corporation. However, while she was on the day, she recalled that he was asking for food. Out of habit, Zoey didn't head straight towards the said company.

Instead, Zoey drove to the restaurant in which they both loved to dine in their previous life. It wasn't a fancy restaurant, rather it was a discovery they two found out when Zoey tagged along on one of his late night walks.

Soon, Zoey arrived at the small shop that was established for decades. After she parked, she didn't waste a second and went inside. Looking around, Zoey found an empty spot and occupied it. 

"Thank you," She expressed, stretching her lips into a meek smile as she accepted the menu. The young crew smiled back before he left to give her some time to decide.

Zoey then skimmed through the very familiar menu. Even without it, she had memorized it as she craved food from this place back when she was in her first stage of her pregnancy. "I remember he particularly liked this one…" Zoey muttered, pointing at the cheap yet delicious dish that satisfied his empty stomach

"Hi, have you decided on…" When the young crew returned to ask her, his words trailed off upon seeing that Zoey was tearing up. "Are you alright?" He asked, grabbing a tissue from the table and handed it to her.

"Oh, thank you," Upon seeing the tissue being handed to her, Zoey snapped from her daze and accepted it. "I'm sorry." She apologized, wiping her tears as she sniffed. "I'd have this, this, this, and this one…" Zoey pointed at particular dishes they would usually have whenever she and Matthew dined here.

The staff jotted her order that was akin to a feast. After making sure that was all, he left and passed her order to the kitchen. It took almost half an hour before they served her the food in a bag. 

Zoey skimmed through it after paying. However, just as she was done checking, her phone rang and she saw that it was Matthew. "What?" She asked, her voice was shaking as she could not help but tear up while she was waiting for the food.

"Are you crying?" Curious, Matthew furrowed his brows. For some reason, he felt guilty as he assumed she was crying because of him. Did he push his luck too hard? She wouldn't cry over small stuff, right? 

Well, now that he thought about it, the building seemed to hold some sentimental value to her. Did the thought of selling it to others stress her? Matthew pursed his lips into a thin line as his guilt slowly ate him on the inside. 

"No! I'm on my way!" Out of frustration, Zoey denied and cut off the line. "It's annoying that his younger version is annoying." Zoey grumbled as she stomped her way back to the car.

Meanwhile, Matthew blinked his eyes as he stared at his phone. "Paul, cancel our participation in the auction. Change it to any island under my name." As he pushed the button on his transceiver, Matthew immediately ordered, panicking that she would cry her eyes out in here that would grow his guilt stronger.

"Yes, Master Xi."