Keeping a placid expression is one of his utmost strengths and he does so as realisation sinks into Jiang Cheng like a leaden weight, not wanting him to feel worse. He shakes his head dismissively, hoping the other man isn't too embarrassed.

"Nothing disagreeable to me," he says smoothly, arching a playful brow, "but there are many young women around and I suspect the majority have local fathers."

Xichen gives a grateful nod to the offer of borrowing Jiang Cheng's outer robe until his own is dry.

"I do wish I had the opportunity to wear more lilac, sometimes. Purple will be an interesting change. Shall we pick up your clothes now? And, out of curiosity," he has to ask, "how often are you in the water?"