Well Li Lianhua is certainly pleased to be providing entertainment. There's a smugness to that running commentary that luckily precludes any notion of concern, so all it does is tease out a small smirk and a huff that could be exhaustion or irritation or amusement. What pride? Cat couldn't be more wrong about what's keeping him self-reliant and standing and that, like the boy's vague air of superiority, is just fine.

Li Lianhua takes a fortifying breath to stand without support and picks up the tea tray, making his way over to the kitchen table with a lot more concentrated force of will than he'll be letting on. "Who's losing consciousness? I'm fine, aren't I? I haven't lived this long without knowing my limits." Nevermind that he'd all but collapsed, heaving blood into the sink as soon as he staggered through the door just yesterday. He made it back and he's still alive today, what else matters?

"If you're waiting for me to pass out, then let me tell you right now the most valuable thing in here is probably that cut of pork ribs marinading up on that shelf. I've got a pretty decent bottle of wine somewhere too, but it's elsewhere in the house. Hah, with the way they're running their economy here, I can't even hide away any savings, can I?"