Innocent love can be healing. The cats offer Xue Yang their affection free of charge and judgement. They only associate him with good things and so, in a way, he has a clean slate. Zichen admires them for that reason and he tries, in his own way, to give Xue Yang the same impression.

They won't get anywhere if they are shackled by the past.

"Mm." he doesn't disagree, but he does hold Xue Yang tighter, "I don't want you to give me a home out of guilt." though the fact that the guilt exists is progress, "Xingchen has a gift; he can make almost anywhere feel like home."

The shift in conversation has him biting the inside of his cheek.

"Since I can remember. Master thought something triggered it when I was very young."