>>280301631
To me it looked like Shang Chao saw him as a friend but Yang Chen couldn't really reciprocate or go past his feelings of inadequacy before such a stereotypically priviledged and talented guy as well as his instinctive dislike for a romantic rival. Shang Chao was completely oblivious to it and obviously liked him though.
It was gradually changing as Shang Chao got more involved in supporting him and Yang Chen got to know him more intimately but then he died so yeah.