Though Xichen's grip and words serve to keep Jiang Cheng present and on topic, they are also starting to make it difficult to focus in other ways. He finds himself flushing warmly for the praise, unaccustomed to approval in any avenue of his life. He would normally rebuff such a thing with great offense, but Lan Xichen is not one he would dare be so abrasive to.

"Seclusion? No— Things were... normal. I was busy with the sect, with Jin Ling, nothing in particular comes to mind. I—" He blinks slowly, a portion of his memory unclouding as Xichen directs his attention to it. "All that was a long time ago. I can't recall... exactly when we arrived here, in this village exactly, but I've been in this realm for far longer."

Expression growing worried, the thread of conversation on this village and how he came to be here slips from him again as he turns more fully to study the state of Lan Xichen as though seeing him for the first time, scrutinizing his frame, his pallor, the weariness in his eyes.

"What could have driven you to seclusion? Did something happen to your brother? Did—"

...it can't have been the fact Wangji is stupid in love with Wei Wuxian, can it? Jiang Cheng isn't prying open that can of worms unless forced.