After listening to the explanation, Melissa hummed to herself while continuing to stare up at the enormous statue towering above the empire.
"…Huh."
Then slowly, she turned toward Zen again.
"So basically… Unnie was the one out there actually putting in the work while you locked yourself away?"
"…Yes."
Zen answered surprisingly honestly.
There was no point denying it.
Compared to Jihyeon, he genuinely had no excuse.
Of course, Zen deliberately left out one important detail.
He never mentioned that Jihyeon had completely cut him out of her life before her death. Nor did he mention the hatred she held toward him until the very end.
Because there was no reason to burden Melissa with that.
The last thing Zen wanted was Melissa pitying him for something he deserved.
And perhaps more importantly, he did not want Melissa growing to resent Jihyeon either.
