Whereas Xue Yang believes in dead ends. His life has been filled with them and he has no reason to expect better from Xingchen.

Yet something keeps him still under those hands. He feels the leaf put into place and he closes his eyes, wrestling with the conflicting emotions in his heart.

"It was easier when they kicked me and barked at me. I didn't have to care about them, that way, or what might happen to them."