[Xiao Xingchen blinks. The answer is more elucidating than he had expected, and as suspicious as Xiao Xingchen has advised himself to be about whatever comes out of Xue Yang's mouth, there's no reason to doubt any of it. He would have taken the "fun" as mocking - and he doesn't doubt there's still an element of that to it - but surely he would have gotten tired eventually if Xue Yang's approach was that simple.

That would require a belief that Xue Yang is not so broken as to only find the suffering of others fun. Perhaps it adds another layer of flavor to the sweet taste. Yet, despite his opportunity to harm him physically... while also knowing that Xue Yang isn't exactly the greatest at impulse control—

He shouldn't think take anything at face value, but he can't ignore anything he learns. Maybe a clearer image of Xue Yang isn't out of reach, and if he must stay with him, he'd be unwise to not observe more carefully.]

How strange it is... that we can agree that such a place wouldn't befit either of us.

[Placing the crepe on the plate, he turns to look around the room.]

I ought to have expected that. The Augur would have granted you anything to decorate this place, and you would no longer need to hide. [He takes a small bite.] Of course... I had considered that you lived in a secret castle hidden from my view while we were apart.

[He had a lot of time to consider many possibilities about how Xue Yang managed it.]