Ever the planner, Jin Guangyao had thought of more formal words should the situation demand it, but had been uncertain on just how it would go with Lan Xichen, with the way things were at present. So it had definitely been for the best to let him speak first -- with a particularly surprising opening statement.

Truth is something that doesn't come easily to Jin Guangyao any more, dodging and weaving his way past inconvenient facts or hiding in half-truths and miswordings.

"I have always admired you, and even when I was unable to live up to your ideals, I truly wished to," he responds in turn, looking up into Lan Xichen's eyes, "I give you my promise that I will put the sins of the past behind me, for both of our sakes, but not the spirit of brotherhood we shared. And that I will not abandon you again, no matter what comes to us both."