He doesn't flinch or shy from Xichen's touch, even as that hand hovers near his throat. So. Xichen even knows about that. He wishes otherwise, briefly before dismissing it. Mingjue sits opposite from him, but close enough their knees can touch.

He nods, gaze not leaving the other man's face. An embrace might come later - after all, Meng Yao gets hugs. Why not Xichen?

The question doesn't spark an immediate answer. That would be thoughtless, and this man deserves far better. And with a clearer head...Mingjue is better able to give it.

"We have made mistakes," he echoes what he'd said before. "We have the chance while here to learn from them and do better. I do not know if what we do here will carry over. We must still try."

A moment's pause. "...Speak with Meng Yao. I will be with you if you wish it." He wants to believe Meng Yao won't hurt Xichen. But he'd wanted to believe so very much of that man in the past, and had been proven wrong. Even today, just now when Xichen had played his xiao, he had believed Meng Yao had broken his promise.

So he must do better.