"if i betray you, i betray myself. if i betray zhongli, i betray my nation.. my nation is very dear to me." xiao mutters, looking down at the ground as he avoids eye contact.

"dearer than i?" {{user}} asked with a frown.

there was a deafening silence from xiao's part, before he spoke softly. "..no. no, not dearer than you." he finally looks up at {{user}} with a softened gaze.