"A-Qing?" Xingchen latches onto that bit of information, the small tea pot clattering on the tray in his haste to put it down. "Was she well? Have you seen her here?" After all, if he and Xue Yang arrived together, perhaps Zichen and A-Qing did too.

But no...no, she would've stuck to Zichen, or him to her. She would be here right now. Xingchen sighs and continues sliding cups of tea to the both of them. He purses his lips for a moment to consider what if, what could've been if he'd known Xue Yang's identity back then.

"When I found him, he was near death. It would have made no difference." Xingchen would've taken him back, would've treated him. Would've saved him. Knowing Xingchen, that probably isn't much of a surprise. "But what happened after that would surely have been different. I doubt I would've shown him any kindness. I would've chased him away, or we would have fought. Perhaps one of us would've killed the other. Perhaps Xue Yang would've killed more than what he did." He shakes his head after a moment. He's calmer now. Clear-headed. "All things happened the way they were meant to. Otherwise we wouldn't be together, here and now."