Jin Guangyao might be at a loss for words, but Lan Xichen has suddenly realized that even if he is just dreaming, this is a fleeting, impossible chance. He takes hold of the hands on his clothes, squeezing as he manages to catch up to thoughts he never expected to be able to voice.

"Tell me, what should I have done? Should I have been more stern and pulled you away from those people? Would you have been better off in Cloud Recesses? At least then you wouldn't have had to face so much cruelty. If I had pressed you for more answers before, then perhaps you wouldn't have had to go down that path."