Huaisang's smile warms and softens a little as well. It isn't just the something in Rosemary's voice, it's her honesty and her interest in his customs, foreign though they are. He can't trust her and she isn't an ally, at least not yet, but he knows he'll look more favorably in the future on any requests coming from Rosemary. "I look forward to that day very much, Mrs. Craven, and I genuinely appreciate your honesty with me."

Nodding at her change of topic, Huaisang takes it up gladly. He feels that he got quite a lot of information and earnestness from her, more than he had expected, and it's only fair and polite to make it up with sweetness. "I collect art in addition to painting it myself, and poetry as well, and I adore birds. It's been such a joy to learn of the local species. I bought a book so that I can identify the different types native to the region."