If Shen Yuan weren't in the middle of painting, and also if Aleksander didn't get overwhelmed with his spiritual energy whenever they touched, and also if he weren't vaguely trying to not make the wanting to kiss him thing happen again—okay, there are a lot of reasons he isn't going over there to take Aleksander's hand in sympathy. But he does cast him a deeply sympathetic glance. "I'm sorry. It's hard, never being able to connect with anyone, because you can't show them who you really are."