He frowns and leans forward in the chair. It's an awkward seat that doesn't allow for much movement but he attempts to get himself in a more upright position. "I don't see you that way at all! You're the first person to be nice to me. Person...and I don't want to own you or control you or hurt you ever again. And if you can never like me then I can understand that and won't ever force you to."

Xue Yang's voice is almost desperate, as if he wishes he could say something that would make Xingchen believe him. "You're the light that pulls me from the darkness..I just saw that too late. But I won't make that mistake again."