"I didn't go back to my world," Shen Yuan answers, carefully keep his gaze focused on his own hands as they arrange teacups, kettle, and sweets on a tray. "I switched places with Consort Shen."

Still not looking at Lan Xichen, he carries the tray over to the little sitting area, like an open-plan parlor, that Consort Shen arranged next to the largest window in the apartment, the curtains already drawn back to let in the pale wintry sunlight. He sets the tray down -- and sighs deeply before sinking into one of the low, padded chairs arranged around the coffee table.

"Consort Shen seems to have been very proud of having a husband," he notes out loud, face turned towards the window. "Did he ever mention the gentleman's name?"

Whoops it turns out the hickie and Shen Yuan's issues are related after all! Awkward conversation, here we go~