Li Lianhua is prepared for whatever recrimination that follows his apology and so he does not flinch or look away when Cat agrees. What's unexpected and harder to weather is what comes after that. Whether or not Cat understands that Li Lianhua is trying to help doesn't affect how he feels about the boy, but it certainly had sounded quite different when he was told he doesn't understand wanting someone to be well. It had seemed as if at least part of Cat refusing his advice was purely based in anger with him, or expecting him to prioritize his own mistrust of Iris over Cat's well-being. It's good, that the misunderstanding didn't run so deeply. He supposes he's been obvious enough after all, or at least Fang Xiaobao was. A small grateful smile tugs at Li Lianhua's lips as Cat comes closer still, joining him on the sofa.

Even in the dim light of the house, this close he can see the deformation around Cat's eye. His vision has been improving these past few days, and it's been a while since he last saw Cat's face this clearly. Though it's not the sight of that advancing illness as much as the weariness in the boy's voice, too familiar by far, that has his gaze dropping away. It's Cat telling him, showing him all this so openly as if he needed convincing.

As if he doesn't understand how urgently Cat needs a cure. How tired he is of the suffering and the struggle, how desperately aware that each day passing without real treatment takes him further away from ever meeting his sister again in this life. Most people will try just about anything for a chance at being cured. He's seen it often enough, and it isn't like he doesn't feel his own sense of urgency, where Cat is concerned. He too would do just about anything to help cure the boy and see him live the life he deserves free of pain. If Cat wants to take that chance, to make that trade, it was never Li Lianhua's intention to seem like he would fault him for it.

It would be easy to offer Cat this measure of understanding and let the matter be settled there. But there is something he hasn't yet managed to let go of, a question that's been weighing on him since the start of this disagreement. He can't quite find a way to ask it that doesn't feel too honest and vulnerable, words and feelings turning over uneasily in his mind. But for Cat's sake, he can't let himself off the hook so carelessly.

"Then let me ask you... If, after going to all this effort, you find yourself holding that miracle cure in your hands at last..." Li Lianhua speaks softly, thoughtfully. He suddenly regrets setting his cup down, wishing he had something to look at besides his own empty hands in his lap. "... And it fails, would that not be worse?"