Chapter 458 - Recommendation

'She ate it!' 

The three of them studied Zoey's reaction upon eating her own cooking. By the looks of it, she seemed as if she was just eating something normal. Food that was edible and didn't have any weird taste or a little bit of extra in a particular taste.

"Hmm?" Zoey raised her brows, staring at Matthew while shoving another piece inside her mouth.

Obviously, her reaction wasn't what the three had expected. What they had expected was Zoey realizing how bad the food was. But she didn't even look like she was pretending to eat it. She was enjoying it! As if there was truly nothing wrong with their food!

'Hey, do you think she purposely made ours taste bad?' Secretly, Owen glanced at Ryan, communicating with him through his eyes.

'I don't know!' Ryan, on the other hand, widened his eyes as an answer while shrugging his shoulders.

Meanwhile, Matthew narrowed his eyes while Zoey waited for him to continue his words. He could not help but wonder, just like Owen and Ryan. However, he watched her make it from the beginning. Thus, he was certain that Zoey didn't add something in his food as she made everything in the same pot.

"It's good… isn't it?" To make himself sound more encouraging, Matthew rested his jaw on the back of his hand while watching her chew.

"Yeah… I thought you guys were just lying." Zoey smiled, blushing at the job well done. "I didn't actually expect that it would be this good." Although she might sound proud, Zoey was a little shy, showing her genuine thoughts about it.

Matthew saw her tuck her hair behind her ear. "It's good," Matthew reassured, his lips curled into a gentle and loving smile while Zoey bit her lower lip.

"Don't waste it." Matthew glanced at the two, who nodded their heads almost in an instant. However, just by laying their eyes on the food on their plates, the two felt like their world would crumble down before this long night would end.

With that being said, the four of them resumed eating. Zoey was the only one who wasn't affected by the undeniable sweetness they were eating. Matthew, on the other hand, just ate everything continuously and then drank a mouthful of water.

The two, however, ate slower than a snail. They tried doing Matthew's method, but they felt like choking. Thus, they took their sweet time and only consumed three-fourths of what was on the plate when Zoey and Matthew was done.

"Aiya~ I'm so full…" Zoey patted her stomach, satisfied for having her fill. She turned to Matthew who was silently wiping his lips. "Are you?" She asked, seeking for more praise as she was too proud at this achievement.

After all, Ivan just insulted her cooking and told her she was trying to murder Matthew. However, Matthew was still alive and enjoyed what she made for him! 

"Mhmm, thanks for the meal." As usual, his tone was blank and cold. Still, his usual sharp eyes had a tinge of gentleness in it.

"Hehe…" She giggled, smacking her lips as she glanced at the two. "By the way, when will my training start?" As she returned her eyes back to Matthew, pleased that the two were still eating, Zoey inquired with less enthusiasm.

"Tomorrow." Without batting an eye, Matthew answered. "You'll start tomorrow or…" He paused, studying Zoey's front, who seemed to be ready to refute.

"Send your schedule to me. I will ask Paul to fix it." When Matthew resumed, he compromised. 

Upon hearing his last remarks, Zoey's eyes lit up. "You mean, I can still do my business?" Zoey's eyes beamed at him, almost blinding the latter as she didn't expect that he would propose that.

"If you promised to behave." In a matter-of-fact tone, Matthew replied. By the sound of it, he had fully claimed ownership of her, and Zoey sounded more accepting at that thought. Not that it mattered to him. 

After all, Matthew was akin to a devil incarnate. He would get what he wanted by means or foul. It was just less hassle that Zoey seemed to accept their set up sooner than he expected.

"What are you thinking?" Since Zoey didn't say anything after that, Matthew furrowed his brows as Zoey pondered something over.

Zoey cast him a glance, clearing her throat as she sat up straight. "I was thinking if I can bring Ivan here." Without further ado, Zoey spoke her mind and didn't beat around the bush.

"You don't need him." Yet, Matthew was quick to reject. He trusted Zoey, but not Ivan or Angelo. 

Although Matthew didn't know much about Zoey and Ivan and their sibling relationship, deep down, he knew they knew a few things here and there. After all, Matthew had witnessed and knew that she was now associated with Cecil — the man behind the Feng Estate and a drug lord.

No normal and sane person would purposely associate himself with those types of people. Regardless, Matthew felt that Zoey was acting according to something that was pushing her. Whatever it was, it didn't matter to him. Why? Because Matthew was already in the picture and would protect her from harm.

"Well," Zoey shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, agreeing with what Matthew said. "I don't." Slowly, she rested her chin on the back of her hand.

"But you do -- and them." She tilted her head slightly towards the two men across her. 

Matthew, Owen, and Ryan could not help but furrow their brows. Yet, Matthew was the only person who could ask why the other two were not part of this conversation.

"You mean?"

"What I mean is, Ivan, although he seems to be a good for nothing bum, he's very skilled." In a matter-of-fact tone, Zoey informed him with her eyebrows raised. 

"Let me tell you," Zoey pointed her forefinger towards Matthew before moving it to the other two. "I'm certain that if you ever come across Ivan in a real battle as an enemy, these two wouldn't stand a chance. Oh, maybe, Wen Wen can last for at least five minutes and Carter, but not Yan Yan." Her honest thoughts were obviously perceived as an insult for the two.

"Are you insulting my men?" Although the two kept quiet, keeping their displeased thoughts inside them, Matthew didn't find it pleasing to his ears either.

After all, they were still his men. He likes Zoey and would go against the world for her. However, that didn't mean Matthew had lost his senses to determine where to put a stop on it and her words.

"No?" Zoey chuckled, shaking her head as she didn't mean it like that. "I'm stating a fact." She added, glancing at the two who showed displeasure at the current discussion. 

"The reason I said what I said is because, unlike Carter and Wen Wen having real battle experiences, Yan Yan doesn't — it was all obvious in the game." Zoey explained, cupping her cheek languidly as she stared at the two men across her.

"If the situation calls for a kill, I'm sure you two will still hesitate to pull that trigger. If you do, you will end up dead instead. That's why I am recommending my brother." Her lips stretched into a meek smile, slowly turning to Matthew while fluttering her curled eyelashes. 

"He'll be a perfect practice partner for your Captains.." Upon dropping those remarks, a sweet smile resurfaced on her face while the entire dining area fell into deep silence.