By the time you figure out the rules I broke

Meng Yao's right. Even saying that much is enough to make him feel guilty and ashamed. To go through all of that, to sacrifice what and who he's sacrificed to get to this point, to throw it all away and say that he loves him now? It's... wrong. It still feels wrong.

But Huaisang doesn't resist the covers being pulled away, even if he's finding it difficult to maintain eye contact. His cheeks are flushed and there's a faint tremor running through his body still.

"Please, I need you," he whispers, feeling helpless as he struggles with himself and what he needs or wants from Meng Yao in this moment. "Just... stay close to me. Don't leave me again."