Not sure it's a defense so much as him being super freaked. Which is you know, probably how most people would respond to watching someone resurrect themselves twice

Yeah, agreed. He's already completely frazzled before he gets arrested!

I think Da Qing really wants to hang out with other cat Yashou but doesn't have any interest in her specifically.

I think he'd like her as an occasionally hanging-out buddy or little sister, but he has zero romantic interest in her.