Perhaps that is why he persisted with me.

[ There's a soft joke at his own expense in there somewhere, but Xichen is too tired of being sad to dwell on it beyond acknowledgment. He pours them more tea. ]

I'm glad he has you. I was worried you would not care for him or take advantage of his kindness, so I apologise for my concerns. I can see Zhou Zishu is in fact exactly the man a-Xing painted him to be.