Xichen nods, approvingly, to Jin Ling. Just so, he tries to convey, but then his attention returns to Meng Yao, thoughtful.

For his part of the words... he wilts very slightly. But his response is also very certain. "You are not your father. I know that." He breathes out carefully.

"A gift may be cherished, but still not what is needed. It... I think it would be good if, when you know what you need, and what you want, you try to talk with us about it. I don't mean beg." The clarification is immediate, and firm. "I don't mean humiliate yourself. I mean... try to work out a way to get it which will not end up hurting others. Or yourself."

He swallows, then his eyes move between the uncle and nephew and back, again.

"We cannot change the past. Nor can we stay in the past. All we have is the present, and a chance to shape the future. We don't want ... any of us to fall in the traps that we were in before. Because we can all do better, if we find the right path."

Together, he doesn't add. But as the youngest of them said... They will not leave him alone. And not in the bad way.