[ all the better for hua cheng to cuddle him up even tighter, doing his very best to make sure xie lian feels safe and loved. if he can't spirit him away from this place and keep him safe in ghost city, then at the very least he can keep xie lian safe in the shelter of hua cheng's embrace. ]

You don't need to be sorry to me. It only surprised me, but... in a way, as much as I hate the idea of you being drugged, I'm... glad it was at least with someone we both trust.

[ the circumstances leave a lot to be desired, but at the very bare minimum, hua cheng can believe that he xuan wouldn't bring harm to xie lian intentionally. ]

What do you need from me? How can I help you feel more at ease?