"Yes."

"I didn't want to just let him die."

"We let seventy-five percent of the people in this school die, why is he special."

"It's different if he's standing in front of you. I know most kids get eaten by a mal but I'm not going to-- leave someone to die when I could have saved them-- even so--"

"You and Nie Mingjue."

Lan Xichen doesn't say anything. They both know how Nie Mingjue died, and the wound is open in his heart.

"Seoul says you're thinking with your dick."

"Seoul would."

"...you could just fuck him."

"Then Seoul would definitely think I'm thinking with my dick."

"If they know."

"I'm not going to do that to him."

"There are much worse things people do to be allied to one of the most powerful enclaves in the Scholomance."

"I know."

"There are much worse things people do to stay alive."

"I know."

"It's what I told my sister to do. She's quite pretty, she'd do well. Her mom's an idol."

"I'm not going to do that to you."

"Er-ge, I have never asked anything from you but your love."

"And yet that's not the only thing I'm going to give you."

"Er-ge is generous."

"Nie Huaisang says he doesn't even like kissing. He probably hasn't hit puberty yet-- probably a little bit because he's underfed--"

"And he's beautiful and brilliant and ruthless and he desperately needs for you to take care of him. Er-ge."

"Yes, I am very predictable."

"If you ask he's going to agree whether he wants you or not."