If Xiao Xingchen couldn't hate himself anymore, the way his face feels even hotter as he listens now sinks his opinion of himself to a new low. And he should not have doubted Song Lan for a moment... no, it's also possible that something out here made him need some relief.

At least that thought would be better than the alternative.

Even as his thoughts distract and spin wildly in his head, he watches and listens to his surroundings closely, taking care to not alert Xue Yang to his presence until he's close enough to-- to stop this, hopefully.