It's fortunate for the both of them, perhaps, that Jin Guangyao is so focused on saving his own face that he does not look up to scrutinize Huaisang's too closely--at least, not until he makes those observations, and then Jin Guangyao has to look up at him again.
"You live in the same house, though. It's not this one's business how san-ge spends his time, but--think about it."
He's confronted by that little smile, one that seems shockingly aware of the delicate subject its bearer is encroaching upon, which is more than evidence enough for Jin Guangyao to decide that, fuck, he knows, doesn't he?
(The narrator: this, too, is called dramatic irony.)
Jin Guangyao sets the chisel down carefully and reaches for the little clay teapot to refill his cup. When in doubt, tea--and deflect. "Ah, Huaisang, this one is sincere--he truly has no talent for such things, and would not wish to waste our er-ge's time. But you do have a gift for it," he insists and nods to the woodblock again. "The oak wood may not yield to the chisel as well as pear, but you have a good eye for design and form, and that is something this one does not possess." Then his eyes light up and he smiles again, yes, the perfect distraction--
"Why don't I take you shopping in Cellar Door?" he suggests. "I have seen a number of specialty shops since my arrival here that might sell supplies we can repurpose for your art. Then you can try your design again and see how your work progresses when you have everything you need in front of you."
no subject
"You live in the same house, though. It's not this one's business how san-ge spends his time, but--think about it."
He's confronted by that little smile, one that seems shockingly aware of the delicate subject its bearer is encroaching upon, which is more than evidence enough for Jin Guangyao to decide that, fuck, he knows, doesn't he?
(The narrator: this, too, is called dramatic irony.)
Jin Guangyao sets the chisel down carefully and reaches for the little clay teapot to refill his cup. When in doubt, tea--and deflect. "Ah, Huaisang, this one is sincere--he truly has no talent for such things, and would not wish to waste our er-ge's time. But you do have a gift for it," he insists and nods to the woodblock again. "The oak wood may not yield to the chisel as well as pear, but you have a good eye for design and form, and that is something this one does not possess." Then his eyes light up and he smiles again, yes, the perfect distraction--
"Why don't I take you shopping in Cellar Door?" he suggests. "I have seen a number of specialty shops since my arrival here that might sell supplies we can repurpose for your art. Then you can try your design again and see how your work progresses when you have everything you need in front of you."