Chapter 411 - Grumpy Old Man

"Anything for you." The second those words escaped her lips, a sharp glint flashed across Matthew's eyes.

Matthew narrowed his eyes, darting it from Zoey's side profile and then to Scarlet who had a sudden change of personality. 'Are they flirting in front of me?' His right brow arched, perking his chin a little upward.

"You," Just as Matthew was gravitating what was unfolding before his pair of russet eyes, Zoey abruptly turned towards him. Due to her thick, colorful makeup, he could not help but frown the instant he laid his eyes on her full front. "How can you bully a delicate lady like Miss Tan? Everyone can vouch that she's not at fault here!"

In a matter-of-fact tone, Zoey scanned her gaze around and nodded her head. However, unlike her courageous and unfaltering statements, the crowds' expression shared the same horror on their faces. It was as if they couldn't believe their eyes and ears that the ugly duckling had the guts to spout nonsense at Matthew.

"Jeez! That ugly has lost her mind!"

"No, I didn't see anything. I can't vouch for anyone…"

"Why wouldn't that ugly duckling shut up? If she wants to die, she shouldn't drag us along with her..!" Through their gritted teeth, the crowd who Zoey was pointing out had the urge to curse her. Some just wanted to duct tape her lips so she would shut up. While the rest tried to back away in silence so that no one would notice.

After all, Zoey seemed to drag them all as if trying to have some reinforcement! For Pete's sake! Even if they outnumbered Matthew, that wasn't enough to defeat the villainous tyrant!

Sure, they could vouch for Scarlet because she wasn't at fault. But had she forgotten whose territory they were standing in? It was the XI Corporation! If Matthew said that Scarlet was at fault, then that's the truth. Even if he said one plus one equals eleven, everyone should believe it!

Unless they had a death wish, they would blatantly go against Matthew just like the ugly duckling who has an eye problem due to her excessive makeup. Still, if she sought death that much, she should just do it alone! 

"Bully?" Matthew scoffed, repeating her words with a smirk. "Everyone can vouch?" He queried, his gaze traveled across the people whom she pointed at moments ago. 

Upon the sight of his russet eyes, everyone subconsciously shook their head sideways. The second Zoey saw them shake their heads out of fear of Matthew, her under eye twitched. "Damn… they're too scared to back me up." She murmured, sighing heavily as she could not blame any of them.

"Who can vouch that I am at fault, Miss Darling?" Pleased at the horrified faces that stared back at him, Matthew returned his eyes back to Zoey's ridiculous front. 

Zoey coughed upon hearing how he addressed her. "Ahem!" She cleared her throat, patting her chest until she recovered. "Me!" Since she has no one else to rely on in this situation, Zoey, with a straight back, pointed at herself by her thumb as she proudly announced.

"You?" Irked, the side of his lips curled down. "You have a habit of defying me, huh?" He muttered, audible for only her ears.

Meanwhile, Scarlet darted her gaze from Zoey to Matthew. Upon sensing the thick dark aura emanating from the latter, Scarlet pursed her lips into a thin line. She then tugged Zoey's slender arm lightly. "It's okay," She whispered, lowering her head because Matthew turned his attention towards her.

"Ah?" Zoey cocked her head to the side, knitting her brows as she didn't expect Scarlet to surrender that easily. Wasn't she a fierce one earlier? Zoey narrowed her eyes as she studied the lady if she was merely acting. However, by the looks of it, Scarlet wasn't acting but expressing herself.

"It's fine, Miss Ling." Scarlet cast Zoey an awkward smile before facing Matthew ever so slowly.

"My apologies, Young Master Xi. It's my fault for blocking your way. I hope you can let this one slide. I will surely keep in mind to step aside next time." After clearing her throat, Scarlet made a deep bow as she apologized sincerely. 

Deep down, she knew she didn't need to apologize. She knew that she wasn't at fault. However, this had dragged on and Zoey might also be in trouble if this continued. After all, Matthew would never admit he was wrong, even if the world would crumble. Thus, instead of inflicting more problems on the sole person who tried to stand up for her, Scarlet wouldn't mind bowing her head and admitting to the problem that wasn't hers.

"No." Without batting an eye, Matthew responded coldly that sunk Scarlet's heart. "There'll be no next time. You will never step foot on anything that owns and has an association with…" Just before Matthew could finish his sentence, the rest of his words went back in his throat as Zoey placed something inside his mouth.

"You haven't had lunch, that's why your temper is a bit unstable… like a grumpy old man.." Zoey nodded her head in understanding while holding the other half of the bun in her hand. "There, have something to cool down." She clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes at him before shifting her attention to Scarlet.

"Lunch? Hungry? Want some? Do you have any plans later? Can you walk properly? Should I help you?" One after another, Zoey blurted out a series of questions while Matthew was busy chewing the bun down his throat.

Yet, Scarlet was stupefied, too mind-blown by the act she had witnessed just now. Not just her, but the entire lobby including Paul gasped in disbelief upon witnessing Zoey shoving down a bun inside Matthew's mouth! The nerve… she must be truly seeking death was what everyone thought. Some even covered their mouths as they truly couldn't picture Zoey's future… no, to be exact, they couldn't picture what would happen to her in a moment.

"Hey, are you okay?" Zoey waved her hand in front of Scarlet, snapping her finger numerous times until Scarlet started blinking again.

"Ah?" Still a little distracted, Scarlet's eyes shook until she met Zoey's blinking eyes.

"Are you okay? Should we leave this person and…" Just before Zoey could finish her nonsense blunder, she found herself being carried like a sack on Matthew's shoulder. "Hey!!" She squealed, seeing the dumbfounded eyes staring back at her.

"Help…?!" Zoey waved her hand, but to no avail, Matthew was more sturdy in this lifetime. "Put me down —"

"Shut up. If you don't, I don't know where my hand will land." Just before Zoey goes completely hysterical, Matthew shushed her by squeezing her thigh.. Dumbfounded, Zoey could only watch Scarlet, Paul, and everyone watching her being carried by this evil young master Xi without a word.