Wild Young Miss: Mister, Let's Kiss!

Slowly, Zoey propped her body up on her elbows. Silence followed the faint thudding noise, but somehow, it piqued something deep within her. "Are people still awake at this time?" She muttered, moving her eyes to find a clock where she could see the time.

Not long after, Zoey saw the clock and it was already past midnight. "Are they having midnight snacks?" Just the thought of it made her stomach grumble in despair.

"Right… I skipped dinner." She muttered awkwardly, shaking her head as she felt hungry at the thought of food. 

Zoey helped herself out of the bed, looking down to see a pair of house slippers she was wearing upon her arrival. "Did he carry me here?' She wondered, seeing how organized the house slippers were and everything. 

Not that it was a big deal to her as Matthew successfully stole kisses from her today. She was just glad he did nothing to her while she was asleep. After all, Zoey never had a real proper sleep — maybe one or two, but that was it.

"I wonder if I can sneak food in here…" She tiptoed towards the door, as she felt that she would wake up the people with the slightest noise. "I hope everyone is asleep, and that noise came from Dredd." Zoey muttered, reaching the door and held onto the handle.

As soon as she realised what she was thinking, Zoey's face distorted. 'Really, Z? You think that His Majesty is better meeting outside while you sneak food instead of actual people? Great mind you have! You might end up as his food instead.' Zoey's subconscious mind sassed sarcastically, causing Zoey to realize what nonsense she was thinking about.

"I'll be cautious…" She replied in a whisper as she couldn't neglect her growling stomach. 

Slowly, Zoey twisted the door handle, opening it ever so slowly as she peeked through the gap. Since there were no people or big cats around, Zoey opened it wider. Yet, she didn't go out immediately.

Zoey snuck her head out first, looking from left to right. When she was sure that no one was around, guarding the floor, Zoey gathered her composure. 

She cautiously headed out the room, holding the door behind her before closing it very carefully. 'I guess people here sleep too, huh?' She thought internally, tiptoeing her foot away from the room.

However, just as she took a few steps, Zoey jolted at another loud sound. It wasn't as loud as a gun firing, but rather, it resembled a sound of a body stumbling down -- or something heavy falling on a concrete ground.

"What the heck is that?" Zoey wondered. Her brows knitted together. It was the same thud sound she heard earlier. But this time, it was much louder than the first.

'It's coming from downstairs…' Zoey glanced at the railings nearby. Since she didn't want to go downstairs if there were people there, she decided to check. After all, Zoey only needed to take a peak from this indoor balcony to see what was going on downstairs.

Having that in her mind, Zoey tiptoed towards the railings. She carefully made her way, successfully not making a noise to disturb anyone if there were to disturb. For some reason, Zoey didn't peek right away.

Instead, she ducked and hid while both her hands held onto the railings. 'Why am I so afraid?' She asked herself, feeling her heart race for some unknown reason.

Deep down, her heart screamed not to look. However, her curiosity and hunger overpowered her heart's warning. Instead, Zoey pursed her lips as she swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Without further ado, Zoey slowly assisted herself up. She cautiously looked over the balcony. As soon as she did, her eyes widened in disbelief.

There were people downstairs — exactly in the middle of the slightly disorganized lobby because of the game that took place earlier. But what caught her eyes and shocked her was that there weren't just a few people in there; Matthew was there too, sitting on the head seat.

What more? There was at least one man on the floor, right in front of Matthew. By the looks of the specks of blood around him, he was in a terrible state. Yet, Matthew remained cold, sitting with his leg over the other while staring at the person. 

Dredd was also there, just lazing beside Matthew's seat. Paul as well; he was standing not far away from Matthew. Everyone's eyes were on the man. There was also someone who was in a military uniform sitting with a few people on the long couch at Matthew's right side.

'What the hell is going on?' Shocked and speechless, she heard her subconscious mind inquire.

"Ma — master Xi… I — I can… explain." The man stuttered, kowtowing despite the awful state of his body.

"Master Xi, we were just following orders from the Madam." The old man in the uniform spoke sternly. His tone didn't waver, and his demeanor radiated with honor and dignity. One could figure out that he had an excellent position in the military by his uniform and badges clinging on his chest.

"We acted according to what we think is right. Therefore, I believe such punishments for everyone who were involved in yesterday's incident are not reasonable." Still bearing the same tone, the old man in uniform didn't avert his eyes as he uttered those words while staring at Matthew.

"Unreasonable…?" Although Zoey couldn't properly see Matthew's expression from where she was at, his tone was enough to instill fear in her. She was still on the second floor, but Zoey could feel that Matthew was akin to a ticking time bomb that could explode anytime.

What more for those who were on the first floor? Those individuals that could see his reaction and the people that this menacing aura was directed towards?

Zoey's grip on the railings tightened. 'Go back, Z. Go back.' Her instincts commanded, but Zoey's feet wouldn't move and her eyes remained fixated on what was happening downstairs.

"General Bai, how am I unreasonable if you listen to my mother more than me?" His pair of russet eyes glinted, tilting his head to the side as he propped his jaw on the back of his hand. 

Upon hearing Matthew's next statement, her entire spine stiffened as sweats broke out from her forehead. "If not for your son, you would have buried her alive, wouldn't you have?"