He does not say 'Er-ge looks older than I remember him' in return because it is not strictly speaking true. If any cultivator from their generation possesses the power and fortitude to cultivate a path to immortality, it is Lan Xichen, and when that day arrives he will undoubtedly look just as beautiful as he does today. But he is changed; sorrowful, and haunted. That much Jin Guangyao cannot deny.
But he would rather not acknowledge it, either, and so he does not.
"Before my arrival?" He blinks his wide brown eyes in a subtle but nevertheless tactical display of thoughtful innocence, before looking to the side as though to consult his memories. (It is not precisely a lie so much as a bit of genteel obfuscation; he recalls all too clearly the pain and humiliation of what Nie Mingjue had just done to him before all of Jinlintai, his life saved only by Lan Xichen's own timely intervention. But discussing it here... He must proceed with caution.)
He lowers his eyelashes and thoughtfully smooths the fabric of his robes, then sighs past his nose. "We had been at work together on the latest revisions for the watchtower proposal, in hopes of winning my father's approval." It takes great effort to keep the bitterness from leeching into his voice, but he manages. "Before Da-ge's--interruption." He risks a glance at Lan Xichen's face, then away; he loves this man above all others, but he does not wish to receive another well-intentioned but nevertheless utterly blind lecture on not 'provoking' Nie Mingjue's anger. "I returned to my rooms to clean up before Qin Su could see the blood, and then..." A little gesture with both hands. "I awoke here."
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But he would rather not acknowledge it, either, and so he does not.
"Before my arrival?" He blinks his wide brown eyes in a subtle but nevertheless tactical display of thoughtful innocence, before looking to the side as though to consult his memories. (It is not precisely a lie so much as a bit of genteel obfuscation; he recalls all too clearly the pain and humiliation of what Nie Mingjue had just done to him before all of Jinlintai, his life saved only by Lan Xichen's own timely intervention. But discussing it here... He must proceed with caution.)
He lowers his eyelashes and thoughtfully smooths the fabric of his robes, then sighs past his nose. "We had been at work together on the latest revisions for the watchtower proposal, in hopes of winning my father's approval." It takes great effort to keep the bitterness from leeching into his voice, but he manages. "Before Da-ge's--interruption." He risks a glance at Lan Xichen's face, then away; he loves this man above all others, but he does not wish to receive another well-intentioned but nevertheless utterly blind lecture on not 'provoking' Nie Mingjue's anger. "I returned to my rooms to clean up before Qin Su could see the blood, and then..." A little gesture with both hands. "I awoke here."