"Your faith in me is touching," he says, which is and isn't a joke. He takes the cup back, lifting it to Zewu-jun before downing it, a convenient reason not to reply to the question: how are you.

Thus he waves his hand, "No better or worse than you'd think," and smiles, in the wan way of a man tired and familiar with the unkindness of the world. "It'll be a few minutes, but I'll set water aside from what's being boiled for tea. You're welcome to join me, Zewu-jun."