[Guangyao shakes his head, apologetic and a bit embarrassed--he doesn't have to fake that much either, since it was his own traitorous thoughts that had betrayed him here.]

I'm afraid there's always much on my mind these days, but this time with you always helps to soothe it.

[His gaze lowers to the guqin strings-- or rather, the hands that lie atop the strings and he takes a breath, releasing slowly. Jin Guangyao is not a man adverse to taking risks, but only when he can be reasonably sure of his victory (or, at the least, that a loss would be in his favor anyhow), so he speaks carefully, gauging every movement and weighing it against the decision to speak up more.]

You are quite the unparalleled distraction.