He's not dead yet! Xingchen gives him another somewhat bewildered look before composing himself. "Unfortunately I am not used to quite so much flavor." And he's upset with himself because this is clearly a failure on his part! So he must do better so he can enjoy his poor nephew's obviously delicious food.

He gladly takes the offered subject change and reclaims the seat he'd scrambled out of. "I would love to hear how they are different here." There's a flash of a frown at the hint Wuxian hasn't been doing much to help, but he doubts it's for lack of interest. So what does it mean?

But Wuxian wants to hear him talk, so he thinks back to some of his more favored memories of some night hunts with Zichen, and sets about trying to describe them. Unfortunately they end up...described oddly, despite his obvious affection for the subject and his partner!