I think the reason xin cut off ties with lau in ch 61 is because he's trying to save lau from whatever ritual the head family is planning. idk his whole attitude so far has seemed very self-sacrificial to me, from him not caring about the tattoo possibly killing him to staying in the annex for 5 years for a "personal" reason probably related to the head family to also smiling through everything even if he's literally dying from the tattoo. i think he knows that if he keeps lau with him, lau will end up being hurt or killed like how both of their siblings were.
this isn't the only reason imo ofc, i do think xin does feel a bit resentful of how lau is always trying to get away from him even if he does care for him. i think that he also feels tired of being cast aside by lau, similar to how lau feels xin is casting him aside.
a scene that stands out to me that foreshadowed that was in ch 24. the scene where lau goes outside to smoke on the patio and xin is inside and tries to raise a toast to him. lau then blows smoke in his face basically shutting him down in his classic lau way lmao. xin then leans against the glass door almost like he's trying to be close to lau despite the barrier between them. then in the next scene lau complains xin kicked him out for seemingly no reason after that.
i think that there was a reason, that being xin was feeling a little resentful or melancholy about there always being a barrier between him and lau. whether that barrier is one created by the difference in their own attitudes towards each other or the barrier cast between them by their positions, i have no idea. imo its a bit of both.
i think this scene is supposed to signify a pattern in their relationship, where xin tries to support lau (even if its in a weird way), lau doesn't like it and lashes out, and xin tries to break off their bond.
not to mention, prior to ch 60 the last time xin and lau met in the timeline was in the s1 finale when lau freaked out because of his past trauma about possibly hurting xin, xin was very vulnerable and then begged him to stay, to which lau responded by running off in tears.
xin probbably feels even more resentful about that, but i think he realizes that its not really lau's fault. i think this because in the final panel of s1, we see xin standing at the top of the staircase with the painting of the first heir and guardian casting a shadow over him. i think xin realizes in this moment that the reason why the relationship between him and lau is strained is because of their relationship as heir and guardian. and that as long as that bond is tying them together, lau will always try to run away from him. which is why the next time we see xin, he breaks off the bond with lau by burning their contract. (i think that even if lau at that point hadn't realized who was tattooing xin, he would've tried to break off their bond regardless).
anyways thats the end of my rambling session ╮(￣▽￣)╭
Ok now theory time based off of ch 61:
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I think the reason xin cut off ties with lau in ch 61 is because he's trying to save lau from whatever ritual the head family is planning. idk his whole attitude so far has seemed very self-sacrificial to me, from him not caring about the tattoo possibly killing him to staying in the annex for 5 years for a "personal" reason probably related to the head family to also smiling through everything even if he's literally dying from the tattoo. i think he knows that if he keeps lau with him, lau will end up being hurt or killed like how both of their siblings were.
this isn't the only reason imo ofc, i do think xin does feel a bit resentful of how lau is always trying to get away from him even if he does care for him. i think that he also feels tired of being cast aside by lau, similar to how lau feels xin is casting him aside.
a scene that stands out to me that foreshadowed that was in ch 24. the scene where lau goes outside to smoke on the patio and xin is inside and tries to raise a toast to him. lau then blows smoke in his face basically shutting him down in his classic lau way lmao. xin then leans against the glass door almost like he's trying to be close to lau despite the barrier between them. then in the next scene lau complains xin kicked him out for seemingly no reason after that.
i think that there was a reason, that being xin was feeling a little resentful or melancholy about there always being a barrier between him and lau. whether that barrier is one created by the difference in their own attitudes towards each other or the barrier cast between them by their positions, i have no idea. imo its a bit of both.
i think this scene is supposed to signify a pattern in their relationship, where xin tries to support lau (even if its in a weird way), lau doesn't like it and lashes out, and xin tries to break off their bond.
not to mention, prior to ch 60 the last time xin and lau met in the timeline was in the s1 finale when lau freaked out because of his past trauma about possibly hurting xin, xin was very vulnerable and then begged him to stay, to which lau responded by running off in tears.
xin probbably feels even more resentful about that, but i think he realizes that its not really lau's fault. i think this because in the final panel of s1, we see xin standing at the top of the staircase with the painting of the first heir and guardian casting a shadow over him. i think xin realizes in this moment that the reason why the relationship between him and lau is strained is because of their relationship as heir and guardian. and that as long as that bond is tying them together, lau will always try to run away from him. which is why the next time we see xin, he breaks off the bond with lau by burning their contract. (i think that even if lau at that point hadn't realized who was tattooing xin, he would've tried to break off their bond regardless).
anyways thats the end of my rambling session ╮(￣▽￣)╭