[whatever he expected this story to be, it's nothing like that. he would almost believe it to be exaggerated, the way jin zixun would stretch stories when he had a few drinks in him, making the danger more dangerous and himself more heroic. but jin ling is not jin zixun. he tells the story in an adorably earnest way, true to his memory of the events.

he catches himself wondering if jiang cheng knows this story. if his heart seized at the most dangerous parts the way that his own does. but it's amazing too. he scoots forward, gripping the fabric of his robes over his knees more than once.]

Boys fight sometimes, even friends. I can't tell you the number of times I fought with Wei Wuxian. Even your uncle and I were not always on good terms.

[better now - not that he wants to remind him.

but speaking of "others"...zixuan opens his mouth, hesitating before finally speaking.]

Have you met many of...those who aren't the same from home?

[he's thinking of the other him, of yanli, even the other jin ling.]