Wild Young Miss: Mister, Let's Kiss!

"Hmm..." Zoey pondered, studying his blank front, which revealed nothing to her. "Of course! I don't particularly hate liars — I lie too, sometimes." She shrugged her shoulders and turned her attention to the vegetable aisle. 

"I think people lie or keep things to themselves for a reason. I'd rather hear them out and appreciate their courage in telling me the truth." Her lips curled into a meek smile as she turned towards Matthew Xi. "In that case, we can figure out a way to deal with it. Communication is always the key, after all." 

"Aren't you a little naive?" Out of nowhere, Matthew Xi shook his head lightly as the side of his lips curled into a slight smile. 

"Well, you can say that, but don't forget that you're a bit useless in grocery shopping." Chuckling back, Zoey gave him a knowing look because Matthew Xi did nothing aside from pushing the cart and let her do the shopping. 

Matthew Xi could've told her that this was his first time doing groceries. However, he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't know their preference." It wasn't a complete lie, though. 

"Whatever, Browny. We will do our groceries ourselves when we get married." She giggled, shaking her head as she looked at their cart, which was full of ingredients and foods. "I think this is enough." Satisfied, Zoey proposed, and they headed to the cashier to pay for it. 

****

Back at Cora Ma's apartment. 

When Zoey and Matthew Xi returned, Zion Kwan was in the kitchen, seemingly checking out her fridge. 

"We bought you guys groceries." Carrying the little paper bag while Matthew Xi carried the rest, Zoey uttered and placed it on the kitchen counter. 

"That'd be 1,500 yuan." She added, although the groceries didn't cost that much. 

"Thank you," Yet, with a lot of money like Zion Kwan, he couldn't dwell on the price. After all, Zoey saved him the trouble of doing Cora Ma's groceries and he could focus on taking care of her. 

Glancing at Matthew Xi, who placed a large paper bag full of groceries on the table, Zion Kwan shook his head. Who would have thought that this man would do anything for Zoey — be it being an abductor or a man carrying someone else's groceries? 

Just thinking about it, Zion Kwan would want to think about it as an illusion. However, he witnessed all of that himself. Hence, he couldn't neglect Matthew Xi's skeptical intentions towards her. 

"So..." Leaning on the kitchen counter, Zoey arched her brow as she stared at Zion Kwan. 

"So?" 

"Did you settle your problem?" Zoey rolled her eyes as it was obvious that she wanted an update. After all, she helped them and she needed assurance that Zion Kwan didn't mess it up again before leaving them alone. 

"I... I explained my side of the story. We will talk about it when she gets better." Pursing his lips, Zion Kwan fished out the groceries one by one out of the brown paper-bag. 

"I see. Don't mess things up or I'll arrange blind dates for Cora... or tell mom you're gay and give her the shock of her life." In a matter-of-fact tone, Zoey languidly straightened her posture and stood. "Anyway, we'll get going. I entrust my bestie's health to you. Refrain yourself from exhausting her, okay?" With that said note, Zoey turned her back against Zion Kwan and slowly trudged out with her hand waving weakly. 

Zion Kwan then shifted his gaze to Matthew Xi who glanced back at him before following Zoey. 'That man... what does he really want with her...?' Zion Kwan wondered internally. 

Although Zion Kwan had told Matthew Xi a lot more than he should have, that was not because he trusted him. It was merely because Zion Kwan was well-aware that Matthew Xi would find out eventually. 

Even so, Zion Kwan has thought that if he hinted Matthew Xi of the mystery Zoey held, the man would have to think twice about the woman of his choice. Yet, it appeared it didn't affect him. 

Why?

"Whatever. Our Kwan family can at least shield Zoey if things get worse." Shaking his head as he cleared his mind, Zion Kwan didn't dwell on it further. 

At the very least, Zion Kwan was certain that the Kwan Family could help Zoey if they used all their connections against Matthew Xi. Not that they could beat the man, but they could hold on before the Xi Family. 

*****

Meanwhile, as they left Cora Ma's apartment, Matthew Xi stared at her back and asked. 

"Can I ask why your surname is Zhou and not Kwan?" Although Matthew Xi already knew the answer, he asked to give himself a reason to ask more things to which he had gained no answers yet. 

"Uh?" Stopping in her tracks, Zoey turned and faced him. "Right, I haven't told you that they illegally adopted me."

"Why?"

"Because I asked them to?" Cocking her head to the side, Zoey gave him an innocent look as her curled lashes fluttered slowly. "The accident I told you about, it was because the Kwan's vehicle had a brake malfunction. Their family driver lost control and crashed into ours." As if she was just telling a gossip and not a tragic part of her life, Zoey didn't show any reluctance of satiating his curiosity. 

"Then, why don't you hate them...?" 

"Why would I?" Zoey knitted her brows, seemingly confused about his question. 

"Because of them, you lost your parents." Just as Matthew Xi spoke his mind, he pressed his lips on a thin line. He spoke too much. 

"Hehe, my big brother told you?" Obviously, Zoey wouldn't ignore that Matthew Xi already knew about it. After all, she had mentioned nothing about who was in the car with her that time. 

"Mhmm," Nodding his head, Matthew Xi couldn't deny anymore as he hummed a tune. 

Stretching her lips into a weak smile, Zoey kept her eye contact with him for a minute. "Actually, the Kwan are kind people, how can I despise such people? Their conscience gave me leverage to my advantage — they should be the one who should feel cheated and not me." Once again, Matthew Xi could not understand the other half of her words. 

Whenever he tried to get a clear and direct answer, her response often confused him. Was it because he wasn't as smart as he thought he was?

"Browny," Taking a step forward, Zoey reached her hand to him and guided it to her. "What will you do if I tell you that what the Kwan's feel is a complete contrast to what I feel? They felt bad for losing my parents, but I am glad — relieved even — that it happened." Staring at his slender finger, Zoey's eyes softened as she played with them. 

For the first time, she could not bring herself to look at him in the eye and see what kind of reaction he had upon hearing her words. Although she could have avoided telling the things that only she knew, Zoey didn't feel the need to lie. 

Not because she trusted him that much.. It was because she wanted to know if Matthew Xi was worthy to invest deeper feelings or to let things remain as they were.