Chapter 409 - Are You Jealous, Miss Tan?

"A lot of women tried and had a bad ending. Please don't make the same mistake as them." She added, gazing at Zoey in pity as she sounded like someone who was speaking out of pure concern. However, Scarlet could've fooled everyone by her fake concern, but not Zoey.

"Omo!" Zoey scoffed, placing her hand in front of her lips as she slightly widened her eyes. "Are you jealous, Miss Tan?" Without a slight hesitation, Zoey asked, sounding surprised. 

Zoey's unexpected question rendered the entire hall, or rather, everyone who was listening to their conversation, speechless. Eyes darted from the beauty and then to the disaster, gasping in disbelief at Zoey's thick skin… and makeup.

How could she ask such a question? Where did her confidence come from? Scarlet? Jealous? From whom? From her? Gosh… everyone might not conclude about what relationship Matthew and Scarlet have, but if they're going to conclude that, they wouldn't be surprised.

After all, Scarlet Tan was a successful superstar. The movies she starred in were all blockbuster hits — being one of the top paid actresses in the country at the moment. Not to mention, she was known to be a natural beauty with a heart of gold. She funded numerous charities, empowering women, and had a very inspiring image in front of the masses.

On the other hand, Matthew Xi, although no one in this entire lobby had seen him, they could definitely say that he would fall for someone like Scarlet. He might be an infamous tyrant, but the achievements of the XI Corporation since he led it continued to grow. In terms of looks, well, who would dare think that he was ugly? With the riches the XI Family has, one would doubt he looked bad.

Moreover, even if Matthew never showed his face aside from the chosen people in this company, everyone had seen Vivian Xi, Enzo Li, Lucas Xi, and other members of the Xi Family. Each and everyone of them were blessed with good looks and genes. Therefore, it would be stupid to assume Matthew was the unfortunate one.

"Excuse me?" Scarlet knitted her brows together, peering at Zoey from head to toe. "Who do -- What did you say?" She corrected, holding her temper at the unbelievable question thrown at her. If she didn't have an image to protect, Scarlet would have put Zoey in her place in an instant.

"Hehe. Don't worry, Miss Tan. You're too pretty and there's many fish in the sea. As for me, my unparalleled beauty caught the biggest one~!" Zoey cupped her cheek, smiling sweetly as she giggled while her body swung from left to right.

"Ahem," While she watched Zoey giggle while she 'daydream', a malicious glint flashed across Scarlet's eyes. For some reason, she felt irritated that Zoey could talk all nonsense while she had to keep her temper cool and hold back.

"Are you sure, though?" Scarlet meekly asked, raising her right brow while staring at Zoey. Her words halted Zoey from acting in love.

Zoey slowly tilted her head to the side, blinking her eyes many times. "Miss Tan, are you also dating Young Master Xi?" She asked, not beating around the bush as she studied the latter's tense body language.

"I'm confident to say that because I am. How about you? If so, does that mean Young Master Xi was playing with both our hearts?" To add more dramatic effect, Zoey gasped. Her hand on her chest while the other was on her open mouth.

"Uh…" Zoey's questions caused tension in Scarlet's shoulder. The words that wanted to escape from her lips clogged in her throat. Now, what she told Zoey from earlier came back to remind her: 'Be careful with your words' was what she had reminded her.

Scarlet couldn't say she was dating Matthew Xi. Although the thought of these people boosted her ego, she couldn't say that directly. Why? Matthew might end her career if she spoke such misinformation.

'Uh, good lord. So, she's not dating him.' Unlike what she appeared on the surface, Zoey sighed in relief as she studied the woman's reaction. Even though Scarlet wouldn't say it herself, Zoey just confirmed that they were not dating. 

Still, she needed to tie Matthew or he might get seduced! After all, Matthew didn't date because he trusted no one; Zoey assumed his trust issues came from that one-night stand ploy that Kenneth and Mommy Xi had concocted. 

But now that she had spoiled that, Zoey couldn't help but wonder if there would be another chance like that. Matthew wouldn't try dating just because he wasn't traumatized by the drug and that one-night stand, right?

Just then, as the air grew thick and everyone's attention was subconsciously waiting whether Scarlet would drop an important information, the female attendant who was put on hold was finally reconnected to the line.

"Uhm, Assistant Qian said hold Miss Darling first. As for Miss Tan, she can go. That's all." Without repeating the words, the person from the other end of the line ended the call that was on hold for minutes.

"..." The female attendant remained silent, clearing her throat to catch the two women's attention. She was a little confused by the vague answer, but assumed that she got it correctly.

"Miss Scarlet, the management said you can go. As for Miss Darling…" The female attendant paused, pursing her lips in a thin line. "I'm sorry, Miss Darling. But you have to stay here for a moment." When she continued, there was a slight pity in her eyes.

"Huh?" Zoey took several seconds to understand the words that the latter relayed. 

"That's the order I received from the people above." The desk woman replied, still feeling sorry for Zoey as it was akin to slapping for her boasting previously. In her mind, the reason Zoey was being held was because of spreading misinformation. They would only need to see a legal representative to confirm her speculation.

Meanwhile, Scarlet smirked upon hearing that. "So I can go now?" She asked, her mood instantly brightened.

"Um, yes." The female attendant nodded. Still, there was this slight hesitation in her heart that she felt like she was missing something. She just felt like she misinterpreted the information, but that's the only order she received: Scarlet can go.

"I told you, Miss. Be careful of what you say." Slowly, Scarlet turned to face Zoey. The side of her lips curled into a triumphant smirk, briefly raising her eyebrows as she cast her a knowing look. "Anyway, will you show me the way?" Pleased at Zoey's grumpy reaction, she turned to the female employee that was currying favor to her.

"Uh, yes!" The female employee snapped back to reality, a little surprised at the short transition of Scarlet's expression. "This way, please." She gestured, sounding a little awkward.

"Hmmp!" As they began to depart, Zoey's nose flared as she wrapped her arms under her chest. She then turned to the two male employees who were staring at her. "Weren't you two supposed to do some brown-nosing in front of her so you won't get fired?" She asked, still bearing her grumpy frown.

"Uh, that's fine. We'll just hold you here… I guess." The first employee responded, laughing awkwardly as they watched Scarlet and their female colleague walk away.

"Huh, are you doing this because you pity me or just wanted to make sure I won't run for it?" Zoey's gaze alternated between the two. "I won't." She affirmed.

"Ugh, it's not like that." The other male employee scratched his temple. To be fair, they felt for both. After all, Zoey seemed to be a good person who wouldn't just come in here to seek death. Aside from her eye problem because of her thick makeup, the two just had a hunch to stay.

"So, it's both. Tsk. You two are too smart. I wonder why your boss wanted to waste such smart people." She clicked her tongue, shaking her head as she somehow got the grasp of why these two decided to stay. "Maybe, he's stupid, or he's being surrounded with smart people he's not lacking of people to rely on." She added, but this time, she murmured it in a low tone. Still, her remark reached the two employees' ears.

"Don't worry. You'll do great in your presentation if you carry yourself in confidence. Even if someone close to your boss will ask to give you a chance, all they could do is to guide you in front of the door; whether or not you make it, that's up to you." Zoey shrugged, recalling the male employees' dilemma earlier.

Just as the two male employees absorbed Zoey's wisdom, a group of men in suits caught their attention. Obviously, Zoey's attention was caught too, so she turned her head towards their direction. "Hmm?" Zoey tilted her head to the side upon seeing Paul walking in their direction.

"What the heck?" Zoey blinked her eyes many times as her eyes landed on a particular figure.