Wild Young Miss: Mister, Let's Kiss!

Soon, the door shut closed, leaving Zoey and Matthew Xi inside. Matthew Xi stopped a meter away from her, his gaze never leaving hers. 

"What — what do you want?" Panicking, Zoey vigilantly took a step back as the distance between them was already too close for her! 

Knowing the thirty-year-old Matthew Xi, Zoey was confident she wouldn't be placed in such a situation! However, what's this? Matthew Xi wouldn't even like her in her previous lifetime if Zoey didn't force herself inside his heart. 

Yet, this Matthew Xi before her was a little different! Although he was still hot, he seemed to be rather bold! Where was her Browny?! The original Browny whom she knew?!

On second thought, Zoey met Matthew Xi during his thirties. Therefore, with all the changes through the years, he had matured, became more serious about everything, and extra cautious. 

But now... this man was far from cautious. He was curious and had this adventurous vibe around him. 

Matthew Xi took another step forward, but she took another step back. He raised his gaze, displeased at the distance she wanted to maintain. But, that didn't stop him from taking steps forwards. 

He purposely strode forward, while Zoey stepped back until her back reached the wall. Hence, Matthew Xi could only lessen the space between them as Zoey could not step back anymore. 

"What — keep your distance, oy!" Seeing him approach slowly, Zoey exclaimed with widened eyes. However, those words weren't enough to stop him until he slammed his hand to her side. 

"Barney, is it?" Since Zoey stared at his hand, Matthew Xi cocked his head a little to the side and slowly blinked his eyes. 

"Ah?" Confused for a moment, Zoey faced him again and pursed her lips as his face was only a palm-length away from hers. 

"It's a lie..." Nodding his head in understanding, her reaction was enough that Barney wasn't her name. "Who sent you?" When he returned his gaze back to her, his eyes were sharp, piercing through the deepest part of her soul. 

"Sent? Who?" Blinking her eyes in confusion, Zoey was somewhat confused at his last remarks. 

Was he in danger during this time of the year? Did he have an enemy? Was his life in danger? Myriad questions rushed inside Zoey's head which caused her brows to furrow. 

"Do you have an enemy? Like your life is in danger now? By who?" Overwhelmed by her paranoid mind, Zoey didn't think twice about her questions and just asked recklessly. 

Obviously, her reaction caused his eyes to narrow. By the looks of it, Zoey didn't have any bad intentions towards him. If anything, she appeared genuinely worried. 

"Who are you and why do you care so much if I'm in danger?" Still bearing his narrowed eyes, Matthew Xi studied every change in her expression as she pursed her lips as if she realized she had said too much. 

"Nothing. I mean, I'm a good samaritan — that's all!" After swallowing down, Zoey felt her tongue drew backward while explaining this fresh new lie she had cooked up. 

Matthew Xi just nodded his head, not buying her effortless lie. His gaze, however, stared at her lips. He noticed that the side of Zoey's lips had a little crack, as if she bit it hard until it bled. 

"You have to believe me... I don't plan anything bad about you. I just, you know, planned to stop the drug from going into your system and then leaving silently." Since he didn't say anything, and even though Zoey was certain he didn't buy it, Zoey remained adamant on her plan and explained. 

To her, as long as she didn't cause him enough trouble, he would let her go. Although that would break Zoey's heart, she could meet him one day once she settled her problem with her past's karma. 

She just needed to be patient because if she broke her resolve now, Matthew Xi would face the same fate. That's the last thing Zoey wanted in this lifetime — to lose him once again. 

Churu said there's no next time. If she lost Matthew Xi now, Zoey wouldn't be able to return to the start once again. This was her first and last shot to amend the past she had neglected before and kept on running from. 

"Leave silently... and not show up again?" Arching his right brow, Matthew Xi inquired. Zoey nodded her head profusely, seemingly satisfied that he understood her intentions. 

"I see..." Nodding his head in understanding, Matthew Xi glanced up again and saw Zoey's eyes lit up with hope. 

At the same time, he smirked and without further ado, Matthew Xi leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. His abrupt action caused Zoey's eyes widened in disbelief as her whole body froze. 

'Darling...' Feeling his lips move slowly, his tongue guiding her lips to part, Zoey's eyes softened as they stung with unshed tears. 

She missed him. The taste of his lips, the scent of his breath, his rough yet loving touches, his warmth, the way he looked at her, his voice, and every little detail about him. Zoey yearned for him for too long that her feelings reflected through her eyes. 

Zoey closed her eyes, causing a single tear fall from the corner of her eyes. Let her live this moment. Let this be her break for a year of a series of tragedies. 

Just for today... She wanted to cheat and make him feel her heart today. Just for today... She wanted to make this brief painfully beautiful kiss last in her memory so she could move forward. 

After a brief minute of lip-locking, Matthew Xi parted his lips from her. His sharp russet eyes pierced through her as it glinted seeing tears on her side. 

"Why aren't you resisting?" He asked, under his breath as he didn't expect that she would accept his sudden action easily. Yet, she was crying that slightly clenched his heart for no clear reason. 

'Because I missed you so so bad...' Zoey responded internally, expressing how painful it was for her to keep her words to herself. 

"How can I resist a kiss from a hottie?" Pursing her lips, Zoey muttered that was unrelated to what her heart and mind agreed.