Chapter 716 - Who Said I'm Not Dating?

"Oh… so, that Richard Sun is really trying to give me a headache, huh?" Zoey nodded before shoving a piece of meat inside her mouth.

"I talked to the legal firm of the Xi Corporation. They handled it pretty well." Paul reassured without moving his attention from his plate.

"Is that why you were so busy earlier?" Zoey asked, not surprised that Paul was as efficient as ever. 

"Since the Xi Corporation will take over Z Image Group for a week, I thought of ways to benefit from it." Paul finally raised his gaze and smiled at Zoey.

"Goodness… why haven't you started your own company?" Zoey mumbled. Her spine shivering despite the kind smile on Paul's lips.

"Darling, is that alright?" Zoey then turned to Matthew who was eating beside her.

"I don't see any problem. The XI Corporation had put this upon themselves." Matthew shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

Seeing their reaction, Zoey's brows could not help but twitch. Surely, Matthew and Paul would never miss an opportunity. Not that it was bad per se. It was just that, Matthew didn't even consider his current relationship with the Xi Family.

"Boss brother-in-law, that Richard Sun guy has been acting cocky because he knows you've stepped down and cut ties with the Xis. haist…!" Ivan clicked his tongue as he put down his cutlery and leaned his elbow on the edge of the table. 

"I'd pay a month's worth of my salary just to see his reaction. It must be hilarious. Priceless." 

Ivan let out a sigh. However, he raised a brow when he saw Paul take out a pen from nowhere and write on the tissue.

Paul then pushed the piece of tissue towards Ivan. "If you want to see it, here's my bank details."

"..." The room fell into nothing but silence.

"You…" Out of words, Ivan scoffed that sounded like a short chuckle. "You asked for a video?"

"He had been getting on my nerves just because the Z Image Group had struggled at first. So, I paid a huge amount just so they could record his reaction." Paul shrugged but he failed to conceal the slight pride in his action.

"Wow… just wow." Ivan slowly stood from his seat and clapped slowly. Paul deserved it. 

Not just Ivan, but Zoey as well. She stared at Paul in awe as she didn't expect that from him. Surely, Paul had a dark -- very dark -- side to him. And that was what was scary about him.

"Pst! Ivan, pay Paul and let me watch it with you." Zoey snapped her finger at Ivan, gesturing to him that he should pay so she could watch for free.

"What?!" In disbelief, Ivan cast Zoey with eyes full of disdain. "Let's split!" 

Ivan proposed unhesitatingly. Meanwhile, Matthew remained silent, pressing his lips in a thin line. They all had been patient with Richard Sun. Hence, every single one of them would enjoy that video.

"Geez! You're such a cheapskate! Is that why you're still single?" Zoey hissed.

"Who said I'm single?" Ivan furrowed his brows. 

As soon as Ivan said that, Zoey, Paul, and Matthew perked up. Their intrigue immediately resurfaced on their face.

"You're dating now?" Zoey inquired as her eyes slowly went wide.

"Aish! Don't jinx it!" Ivan snapped his tongue annoyingly. "Just show me the video! I'll send my payment later!" 

Ivan tapped the table and diverted the subject. The three of them narrowed their eyes suspiciously but didn't press on the matter. 

They would be staying for a while. Therefore, they had time to investigate.

"Alright." Paul nodded as he took out his phone. He then laid the phone in the middle of the table and immediately played a video.

Instinctively, Ivan and Zoey stood up, bent over, and watched the video. As they watched, they turned to their side as Matthew did the same.

"I'm annoyed at him." Matthew cleared his throat and focused his eyes towards the phone.

Ivan and Zoey exchanged gazes and giggled. But, they didn't say anything to it as they all watched the clip together.

[ "What… what are you saying… atty. Xi?" Richard Sun asked lifelessly at Lucas Xi, Matthew's cousin.

"I'm saying, even though my cousin has stepped down as the CEO of the XI Corporation, he's still a Xi. Regardless, that doesn't matter in this talk. You wanted to cancel the deal with the Z Image group, right?" Lucas explained and then threw a question.

"Please check the document I have presented to you."

Lucas beckoned Richard to read the folder on the table. Richard hesitatingly reached for the document. His hands trembled.

It took Richard a while to read everything. Once he finished, his complexion was as white as a sheet of paper.

"I'll be blunt with you, Mister Sun." Lucas's voice was confident. "Doing business with the Z Image Group is the same experience with the Xi Corporation. Surely, your lawyers had missed all the critical loopholes in the contract."

"What… this isn't in the contract."

"It is in the contract, Mister Sun. it was just worded differently and it's all your responsibility that your lawyers are lazy to parse all the words written in the contract you signed." Lucas could not help but let out a brief chuckle. "I hope you're ready to get summoned by the court once they return."

Satisfied with Richard's reaction upon his realization, Lucas slowly stood up. But just as he did, Richard suddenly rushed to his knees and begged.

"Please, Mister Xi. Don't do this to us! How can I give more than half of our company to the Z Image Group?! That's ridiculous!"

"It is ridiculous, Director Sun. However, it is clear you signed the contract and agreed with its terms. Still, that's why we're taking this to the court." Lucas's tone was cold with a touch of mockery. "I just hope the Sun Family had enough funds to burn because cases like this will take years."

"No, no. Director Xi!" As Lucas turned around and took a step, he stopped hearing Richard. "Please, let's all settle this!"

Slowly, Lucas turned around with a smirk. "I can't, Director Sun. I am ordered to file the lawsuit today. However, if you really want to settle this privately, please talk to Miss Zhou or Assistant Xi. But you have to wait until their return to the country." ]

"Good job!" Zoey exclaimed as she clapped at Lucas' merciless ways. Surely, Lucas was a Xi.

"Wow… that's worth it." Ivan mumbled as it rendered him speechless. "That Richard guy is surely dumb. He thinks he can boss around my brother-in-law just because he chose to be your assistant. Dang. Did he forget the reason no one wanted to offend the Xi Family, especially in the past?"

Meanwhile, Matthew only let out a weary sigh. Zoey noticed it.

"Why are you sighing, Darling?"

"What a bother." Matthew just whispered and went back into his seat. "They didn't have to go that far. Now, I have to deal with his begging."

"If you don't want to deal with him, I will!" Ivan raised his hand and volunteered, 

"Ohh, goodness. I should let Owen and Carter watch this. This will sober them up." Zoey giggled as she snatched the phone to watch the clip once again.

"Hey sis! I want to watch it too! I'm the one paying!" Ivan exclaimed as he rushed to Zoey's seat across from him.

As they watched the video again with Ivan and Zoey's laughter resonating in the air, Cora and Zion watched them from a distance.

"Come." Zion beckoned as Cora had stopped moving.

"He looks so happy." Cora smiled as her eyes remained in Ivan's figure. "Let me watch him a little longer."