Arrogant Man VS Unyielding Woman

"Don't be upset, Jean. We're still in the same city. We'll still be able to see each other," Moore said in an attempt to comfort the unhappy Jean.

"Fine. I have more free time on my hands than you anyway. I guess I'll use that time to check up on you then." Jean had finally accepted the fact that Moore was going to move out of the Qi Mansion no matter what they said. She nodded, giving up. "That's settled then." Moore took a quick glance at Jean, but quickly averted his gaze. He wanted to say a lot of things to her but for obvious reasons, could't.

'I'm sorry, Jean. I have to leave this place.

If I don't, I'm scared to death that you'll see through me, that someday, you'll start to notice my feelings for you.

I can't even begin to imagine how you'll react once you find out I've been in love with you since the start.

I don't want to hurt you, nor do I want to put you in that situation.

That's why I've decided that if my leaving will ensure your happiness in the future, I'd gladly do it.

I just hope that without me, you and Zed will be happy forever!' Moore bitterly thought.

Zed was relieved that Jean didn't show any further resistance to Moore moving out, and that she didn't blame Zed at all. "So, now that you're moving out, what are your plans?" he shot Moore with a look of concern.

"Well, I did major in Business administration." Moore turned to Zed and smiled. "So, I'll probably find a job in a related field."

"Well, how about that? You can come to my company!" Zed invited him earnestly. "You don't even have to worry about anything. If you could come and help me with things at the company, I would have more time with Jean in the days to come. Since her belly is growing day by day, she'll need me to be there for her. So it'll really give me some peace of mind if you would be there to help me."

"That's right!" Jean nodded in agreement, a bit too excited. Her eyes visibly brightened and she said, "If you join Zed's company, it will not only help him, but you'll help me as well!"

"But..." Moore's face was red with embarrassment. He felt trapped. He was trying to slowly fade away from Zed and Jean's life.

But if he joined Zed's company, it would undo his efforts in leaving the Qi family.

"Please don't argue anymore. It's already settled!" Jean said, cutting off any potential protest from Moore. "I don't care why you want to move out, Moore. I promise. But there will be no further discussion about you joining Zed's company," she said, as if he had no say in the matter.

She looked at Moore intently and continued with a firm tone, "However, if you don't see Zed and I as your friends, then just forget it."

"Alright, fine. I promise I'll join Zed's company." Moore saw that he had no choice but to accept. With a heavy heart, he sighed and just nodded his head in response.

When Moore finally agreed, Jean gifted him with a big fat smile. "In that case, I forgive you for moving out so suddenly. After all, you made this decision so you and Avery can have more privacy together. Avery will be staying in H City and will continue to grow. It's only right that you two have your own home. But Moore..."

Jean broke off with a heavy expression forming on her tender face.

"What?" Moore looked at her and asked.

"Are you really sure you want to go back to Harkin Garden? After all it's one of the Bai family's properties. I believe that if you don't want anything to do with them anymore, you shouldn't go back there," Jean looked at Moore and asked, brows creased in concern. "Don't worry, Jean. I have promised Hanley that I would attend the party of the Bai family this weekend. Let's see what happens then. If I leave the Bai family for good, I'll just find another house,"

Moore answered after a moment of silence.

"Wait, you still need to find a house?" Jean asked and then cast a stern glance at Zed, who was standing beside her.

"Well, since you promised to join our company, I'll arrange the proper accommodations for you as soon as possible. Think of this as a way of buying you over,"

Zed smirked as he teased Moore. Jean heard this, and immediately beamed. "You definitely cannot refuse, Moore!"

"Zed, Jean." Moore looked at both of them and sighed. "I can't accept this. You know I can't. You've helped me enough. So please respect my choice and let me find a home on my own. Also, yes, I'm still going back to Harkin Garden for a while. After all, although it was bought by Gary, it was given to me by the name of my adoptive parents..."

"Well, we won't impose on you anymore," Jean said after Moore finished.

She only wanted to help out of kindness, but if she pressed further and started to bother Moore, that kindness could turn to annoyance.

That was the last thing she wanted to see.

"Thank you both for understanding me," Moore smiled and said gratefully.

Jean returned the smile. After that, she stopped insisting and just kept quiet. They then went their separate ways.

The Qi Mansion became quiet as night fell. Outside, the crickets were in full chorus. That was the only sound that broke the eerie silence of the night. In the master bedroom, Jean just finished showering and went out the bathroom. She saw Zed lying on the bed, eyes closed. Jean climbed onto the bed, put the covers on herself and snuggled onto Zed. She sighed and looked the white, immaculate ceiling and murmured, "Do you think I've been interfering too much in Moore's problems, Zed?"

"What made you say that?" Zed asked in return as he opened his eyes to his wife's voice, and turned to her.

"I always had this nagging feeling that Moore was reluctant to stay at our house was because he thought I was interfering too much in his life." Jean looked at Zed, sighed, and continued, "That's why he wanted to move out. Even when we just wanted to help him find a decent house, he was so reluctant to accept it."

"You're over thinking this, Jean," Zed said, attempting to comfort his wife. "Listen, Moore said he didn't want to go back to the Bai family, but think about it this way, if he really wanted the Bai family out of his life, why on earth would he still like to live in the house Gary bought?"

Jean heard Zed's words and her eyes widened in curiosity. She turned to him and asked, "Why?"

"If Moore had no more feelings for Gary and the Bai family, he would have left H City, let alone stay in Gary's house," Zed went on to explain.

"So you mean Moore still has feelings for the Bai family, so he promised Hanley that he would attend the weekend dinner?" Jean asked with bright eyes.

"Well, you'll find out tomorrow." Zed smiled mysteriously at Jean and continued, "If you want to see what's really going on with Moore and the Bai family tomorrow, you'd better dress up nicely and go to that dinner with me."

"Great!" Jean answered in anticipation. Her face flushed with excitement. "I'll be waiting for you at home tomorrow. I'll dress up nicely and I definitely won't bring you shame!"

"Are you willing to bring shame on me, honey?" Zed asked with a devilishly handsome smile.

When Jean heard his question, she turned red as a tomato. She covered her face with the silk blankets and said, her voice quivering and muffled, "I'm going to sleep now. I won't talk to you anymore."

Seeing his wife's embarrassed reaction, Zed chuckled and climbed down the bed and went to take a cold shower in the bathroom.

The sun rose the next day, as it always has. The light poured forth the glass windows and gave Jean's sleeping face a radiant glow. Not soon after, she awoke.

She got up quickly as if in race against time, rushed to the shower, got dressed and ran downstairs.

Zed had just come to the porch near their bedroom. He heard his wife's voice, turned around and saw Jean's anxious face. He couldn't help asking, "What's wrong, dear? Why are you in such a hurry? You're sweating already! Be careful..."0000000☐☐☐☐☐