"Since Shirley's so called boyfriend had admitted his guilt, why don't you just get her out of the jail?" Juan got confused. He asked him with curiosity.
Zed couldn't help but stare at Juan when he heard Juan. "Did you hear me? I said I have nothing to do with Shirley Wen! Why do I have to help her? It's Jean who doesn't want her to die, not me! I don't want to help her anymore. Besides, it's not that easy to get her out. The entire thing is too complicated and difficult to execute. Even though I haven't really broken my principles, I still have a bad feeling about this. I should just keep my distance."
Juan nodded quickly and said, "But Zed, she is connected to you in a way. I think you just don't want to save her for the moment. Or is it some weird wish to torment her first? You want to see if she has changed for the better? You know you have spent energy on things. Will you really let it go to waste? All the time and resources, sacrificed?"Juan asked, concerned and convincing.
Zed got slightly irritated and snapped, "What are you talking about? Do you even know me? You'd better not try to interpret me. It will do you no good." His voice was bitter and cold, with a sense of finality to it. This discussion needed to be over.
Juan was taken aback but spoke politely, "Zed, don't say that. You know that I mean no harm. Trust me, I'm really glad to see that you've become a normal person. You've softened and you're responding to your emotions. It's a new thing for me to witness but it's great." Juan said to Zed sincerely. He meant every single word. The change in Zed was remarkable and he needed to let him know it was for good, that it was welcome and that it was something he should be embracing.
Zed, on the other hand, was still annoyed at this conversation. He glared at Juan as he finished, hissing at the sound of all that emotional talk.
Inside, he could tell why Juan felt the need to express this. They'd been friends for a long time. Zed was certain he had changed but it was still new for him. It was only natural.
Zed had always been a cold person to deal with. His face always poised and set like stone. He barely ever smiled at anyone, keeping up a serious and unapproachable air about him.
In contrast, now he was much gentler and tender; open to feeling things and saying them out loud. He had given up the resistance to smile.
What had changed him? It was Jean. Anyone could tell.
She constructed a warm family with him, teaching him to love, cherish and care about the people around him, and to be kinder and sensitive to not just her but everyone he encountered.
With her, he saw the essence of living life. He saw meaning and the will to live better and fuller. Memories manifested around him and years started to have more weight.
If it was not for Jean, Zed would have never stepped in Shirley's business. He would never pay any attention to her or make any efforts
Jean Wen sacrificed herself for family interests. Before her husband divorced her, she made every effort to please him.
"You are inexperienced in bed," he said coldly.
"You! Give that land to my family, or I won't agree to divorce," Jean replied furiously.
"Fine. It is exactly what I am thinking about," he sneered.
s was all in innocence as far as his friendship with Zed was concerned. He was just trying to gauge the situation, unbiased.
"Okay, one more question..." Juan started.
He was hesitant to go on but Zed spoke before he did, "You've got too many questions!" Zed got a little annoyed and glared at Juan.
"Hey! Don't say that. I deserve to ask you things!" Juan felt a little embarrassed. Maybe he was intruding. Nevertheless, he went on, "We are already talking about it, so one more question is no harm. If Jean saved you five years ago, how come she doesn't know your indentity in the past? You haven't told her? Or she doesn't want to know?"
This was tough to answer. It seemed like there was no end to this conversation.
For a while, Zed just stared into the sky through the window, lost in thought. He felt Juan's eyes looking at him, expectant. "Actually, I have no idea. I don't know what she thinks. Whenever I bring it up, she stops me. Our team has been dismissed for so many years now. I don't think I need to conceal my secrets from her, anymore. But, I can feel there's something she's worried about."
"So Jean doesn't want to know your past?" This was hard to believe for Juan. How could anyone live with that sort of secrecy? He'd die of curiosity.
"No, she doesn't. I mean, we are married. And trust me, I really want to tell her about my past. But it seems like she has no interest in it at all. I cannot make her listen to me if she doesn't want to, right?"
Zed explained.
Juan listened but was lost in thoughts at the same time. His expression was peculiar, as if he was trying to recall something.
"Tell me if you know anything about this. You've shown up again in my life. In the future, Jason and the others will show up too. All of you are strong, powerful and successful. And she is generally curious about you all. But she is never interested in my past, never."
Zed looked at Juan, confiding his confusion.