Zichen is gentle as he urges Xue Yang to sit on the bed. Then he kneels down and uses a handkerchief to wipe - equally gently - at Xue Yang's tear-stained face. This might not seem like progress or anything good to Xue Yang, but Zichen knows better.

Growth usually hurts. When a heart begins to feel, it's worse than being stabbed.

Gathering his communicator, he finally uses it to speak:

"Are you hurt?"