Unworthy, Undeserving

"It's… too much." He finally let a sliver of his true feelings out, his voice light and quivering.

He felt winded and untethered… as if someone had abruptly pulled his head out of the water, allowing him to drink in air for the first time in a while. Alas, he had gotten so used to the pressure underwater that breathing in air made him feel like he was going to fly away. Unable to meet He Juan's eyes, he could only fix his stare on the fruit cake and the exquisite chocolate plaque that was still untouched. His words were getting increasingly jumbled. "I don't know… I don't know how I can repay you—"

"Xiao Ze." He Juan reached out across the table to hold his sweaty hand and it felt so warm, dry and powerful that Mu Yuze almost burst into tears. No one had ever held onto him with such strength before, as if they were certain that they wanted him to stay, that they did not mind what kind of a mess he was. No one, except He Juan.