Looks like nobody is getting what they want, which is always the risk when denying teenagers, especially ones that aren't already loyal or prone to being soft. Cat isn't thinking too deeply on the request -- nor the rejection -- but he doesn't need to go out of his way to do the things he doesn't want to do anymore. There isn't a point.

Li Lianhua's further prompting doesn't bite back perhaps in the way the man wanted, with Cat easing into a more casual lean that speaks to a matching attitude. His comfortable tone and poise isn't a complete letting down of his guard, but it isn't performative either, and he's less suspicious of anything happening here than he might've been elsewhere, especially after refusing to help in the way he was asked. When he speaks, he's back to the mindset of having a conversation. The momentary bummer of not being allowed access to what he can't stop thinking of as a rarity has passed.

"It is really the wrong size if the soup's meant for me?" he ventures, arms crossing more comfortably. "Of course I can cook. Maybe not fancy meals like you folk are used to --" Li Lianhua, regrettably, would be described as stuffy by him...though with less derision than others would be. It's just the way it is. "-- but I had to take care of myself, didn't I? You expect me to have eaten out of the garbage? Got more pride than that."

"Uh-hmm. Sure."

'Not fancy' and then he tosses in even more ingredients and thinks about adding spices beyond basil and salt to any dish? Psh. Li Lianhua is setting his low bar too high.

"Wouldn't know," he admits after a moment of thought. There definitely were spicy dishes, even at the Red Lobster Inn, but his own diet had remained pretty bland. No full pantry for him, indeed. "It's meant to heat you up, yeah? I don't think I'd mind that...though this place is plenty warm already."

Maybe he...will...take off his mask a little early, phew. What little advantage he had is lost, but it's easier to breathe once he can feel the air on his face again. Since all the tasks have either been rejected by him or refused him away, he tucks his mask and the net-bound collar beneath it against his hip with one hand and uses the other to ruffle up his hair and further embrace this minor freedom.

If it makes him feel any better, most of Cat's worrying is in jest -- of course, when the end result is still that stick going right back to blocking the door like he found it when he leaves again, the motive likely doesn't matter too much. Being an annoyance out of fondness or out of fondness for being an annoyance... Either way, it's being an annoyance. How unfortunate for Li Lianhua.

How unfortunate for Cat that he's decided to Trust the Process and isn't paying much mind anymore to what's being added to the meal, at least until the ham is offered. He accepts, naturally, though doesn't seem as welcoming as his interest before might have suggested. Salty meat and knife are cool, but consider... Carrot. Mmm, scarcity: the most delicious of things to a Cat.

He grunts vaguely at first, weighing his possible responses while he nibbles away at the ham. In truth, he hadn't needed to bandage his arm at all. The scarring was fresh and discolored, but the wound wasn't in danger of reopening or at risk of infection. It wouldn't be long before it blended in with the rest of the hardships his body bore. Where the side of the angel's icy blade had slid across his side was a little worse, thanks to his discomfort in having someone -- a stranger -- treating him so closely for long. The worst of it was remembering the cold, and the nothing.

"A bit stiff." Cat shrugs, flipping the knife deftly in his fingers to hold it back out to his host handle first after removing the rest of the meat with his other hand. Utensils are unnecessary in this case. "That healing magic in this place sure is something, and I didn't have to give even a single shard. That's a good deal."

He complies while watching the man go about, a little pleased with himself despite not having much of a hand in whether or not he'd lost money over it. It's still weirdly validating to have it parroted back at him. Terribly, it's also validating to see the toll that this morning is taking on him. It makes it feel more like tricking Li Lianhua into doing what he wants, for one, but also, "It's a shame you were so determined to not take advantage of my offer... Where will that pride get you, when you've lost consciousness, I wonder? Yesterday, too."

He's just so silly, standing around in the cold and playing host despite his health being so much worse than Cat's.

The noise he makes is doubtful, but amused all the same. Someone's limits could change by the day -- or less -- and leave them unaware. He would know. But...that's not really his business, this time. He waves off the thought and the calm accusation both, striding back over to the table and pulling a chair out with his foot so he can sit with enough space to set his mask and gloves on the table beside him. The elbows immediately go on the table.

"Is that what you think of me? You're going to hurt my feelings all over again, friend. Anyway, if you think that would keep anyone from snooping, though, have I got bad news for you..." he chuckles. It doesn't matter when he isn't interested in stealing anything from here, or even doing that much exploring. He's not going to spend the energy worrying about what he would do in the event that his host passed out, but he imagines it would be something that he found outrageous, but would delight that nosy neighbor that enjoys needling him so much. Once everything got back to stable, anyway. "Can't imagine someone like you would have much in savings, even outside this place. You aren't even interested in buying treatment!"