The words spill from Xiangling’s mouth freely, and it’s all Keqing can do not to cut in before she’s finished. She doesn’t need to apologize, she wants to say— but then, at the same time, what she’s saying is so embarrassing that putting an early end to it almost feels like the right thing to do.

It’d save her from the flush that’s spreading across her cheeks like wildfire, for one thing.

Still, it’s something she’ll have to deal with as they move forward, because there’s no chance she’ll feel less flustered until this is well behind them. Her mouth opens, and then closes, and then opens again, and then she huffs out a little sigh.

“It’s… fine, Xiangling. I’m just glad you told me before we sat down to eat.” Briefly, she lifts a hand to scrub at her silk flower-red cheeks, and then adds, “n- not that I, ah… I’ll still eat it, of course. Since you went through all the trouble to make it for me, and… because it might be nice to loosen up, but…”

A pause, and Keqing’s gaze darts away shyly.

“Knowing what I’m getting into in advance helps, a little.”

If Xiangling hadn’t told her… it’s easy to imagine herself trying to ignore the pepper-induced warmth, in spite of how frustrated that might leave both of them.