"You don't believe him. I understand." It's nothing for a murderer to be a liar as well, and Xue Yang has always been a clever trickster. "But believe me. He hasn't shed innocent blood here. And he won't."

Xingchen has faith in him. Maybe one day the man on his other side will prove him wrong. But until that day, he's choosing to believe that he's making changes for the better.

"I still can't believe you're here. I've missed you so much, Zichen."

His voice is as soft and as fond as the smile on his lips. To be at Zichen's side again makes him so incredibly happy. As happy as the moment Xue Yang asked him to marry him.

Ah. Xingchen takes a sip of his tea. No amount of meditation is going to help him with this one.