Chapter 583 - Dinner With The Kwan

Matthew studied Zoey's front and he could tell that she was just merely asking. 

"Background check." 

Thus, Matthew pushed the blame to the background check. Although Zoey's address and the Kwan Mansion was also in her profile, Matthew wasn't a genius to go there without GPS or anyone assisting him for the first time. 

However, since he dropped by this mansion a few times in his previous life, he could say that he had memorized the way to get here. 

"Background checks, huh?" Zoey muttered as she nodded in understanding. 

"I don't know if you're a genius or a skilled stalker. Heh." Zoey mumbled to herself as she unbuckled her seat. 

"Hmm?" 

"Nothing. Thank you for giving me a ride!" As soon as the seat belt came off, Zoey raised her head and smiled. 

She saw him nod but said nothing. For some reason, Zoey stayed there for a little while in silence. Just looking at him, the separation anxiety slowly crept in her heart. 

"You know, you should go before I change my mind." One minute later, Matthew broke the silence by saying his thoughts aloud. 

"Heh," Zoey let out a short chuckle as she nodded. "See you." 

She said, reaching for the door as she pushed it open. As she stepped her one foot out, Zoey turned around and smiled. 

"See you?" She repeated in a questioning tone. 

"Mhmm." Matthew hummed and then Zoey finally hitched outside. 

When she was out of the car, Zoey proceeded to walk towards the gates of the Kwan Mansion. A few steps away from the car, Zoey stopped and turned around once again. 

For some reason, Matthew rolled down the window. He turned to Zoey's figure, contemplating if he should just get her back inside the car so they could go home together. 

"Hey!" Zoey shouted as Matthew was staring at her. 

"I love you!" With that being said, Zoey immediately took off in a sprint, going inside the gate of the Kwan Mansion, leaving Matthew speechless behind. 

Zoey giggled as she finally said it. She skipped her steps, in a very good mood for finally expressing her heart; albeit, in a sneaky way. 

Meanwhile, Matthew let out a hopeless sigh as the side of his lips curled up into a subtle smile. 

"How cunning." He muttered while shaking his head sideways. 

If Zoey had told him those magical words that could touch his very soul while she was still within his reach, he would have changed his mind that very second. Matthew would just have to deal with Zachery himself and wouldn't let Zoey go anywhere. 

Sounds selfish? But Matthew was prepared to do everything to keep her away from harm and stress. 

Just then, Matthew heard his phone ring and checked who was calling him. Upon seeing his mother's contact number on the screen, Matthew pondered if he should answer. 

In the end, he didn't. Hence, he received a text message which he read. 

"Son, care to come over after dropping little Zoey? I have questions... particularly, about Kwan Zachery." 

After skimming his mother's message, Matthew arched his right brow before a smirk resurfaced on his lips. 

"Now this is interesting." He whispered as a glint flickered across his eyes and he sped away. 

*****

"Good evening, Young Miss." 

At the front door of the Kwan Mansion, Jean Long, the nanny that raised Zion and treated Zoey well in the past, welcomed her with a polite bow. 

"Nanny Jean!" Upon recognizing the nanny, Zoey didn't return the formal greeting as she hopped and hugged the old maid. 

"I missed you!"

Jean chuckled as she patted Zoey's back. "How have you been, young miss? Have you been eating well? You seem like you lost a lot of weight." 

She humored as Zoey was slimmer than before. She could feel Zoey's bone just by patting her back which slightly worried the nanny. 

"Hehe! I did? But, I've been eating well! It's probably my fast metabolism!" Zoey chortled as she let the maid go from her tight embrace. 

"Is that the case?" Jean skimmed Zoey from head to toe suspiciously, not buying Zoey's excuse. 

Regardless, she didn't dwell on it further as she cleared her throat, placing her fist in front of her lips. 

"Anyway, your mother and brother had been waiting for you. Come." Jean said and guided Zoey inside. 

With a bright smile on Zoey's lips, she followed the nanny. 

"Zoey, you finally came!" As soon as they entered the manor, Zion was standing not far away with his casual sweater and pants — heading towards the dining area but stopped upon sensing the people that entered the front door. 

"Big bro!" Zoey exclaimed excitedly and immediately skipped her steps towards Zion. 

Seeing these two, Jean's eyes softened as she glanced at Zion's smile. Zion had been gloomy recently and seeing him smile again upon seeing Zoey, the nanny was satisfied. 

"You're late." Zion remarked, yet, there was no trace of displeasure in his demeanor. 

If anything, it sounded as if he was humoring her. Zoey grinned widely, hooking her arms around Zion sweetly. 

"Sorry. I was caught up in a situation and I needed to settle it first." Zoey answered. 

Not that she was lying. Vivian and Matthew's situation earlier was indeed complicated. Therefore, Zoey had to settle it first or else, Vivian would be facing a lawsuit against her own son!

It was crazy. But they are the Xi's and those things were expected from them.

"Come. Mom and Dad are already in the dining room." Zion sighed, not probing further at the cause of Zoey's late entrance as she was always like that. 

"Yes~!" With that being said, Zoey and Zion headed towards the dining hall with her arms linked with his. 

As they do so, Zoey could not help but glance at her brother's stoic side profile. 

"By the way, big bro Zion, Cora is working in Z Image now." Without thinking, Zoey blurted out which stopped Zion's tracks. 

"Is she?" He said, sporting a gentle smile on his face as he faced his little sister. 

"Then, that's good, I guess. Mister Ivan is also working under you — they will have more time together." 

Zion added with a gentle smile. Zoey bit her lip as she walked back and unlinked her arms with him. 

"Let's go before the dinner gets cold." 

Zoey watched Zion resume in his tracks and watched his departing back. She felt the little sadness emanating from his eyes, but more than that, Zoey felt that Zion had already given up on Cora. 

"Big brother...."