Lan Wangji already knew that Nina and Luo Binghe were closer than he might like them to be, but it still nags at him, an unavoidable current of fear on Nina's behalf. "Mn," he says, briefly quieter still. "I knew that I could not defeat Luo Binghe in battle. He might easily kill me. But I was not willing to speak with him thereafter." A little helplessly, tiredly amused at the pettiness of this, but having decided already not to spare Magnus any details, he says, "He came to speak with me about his romantic prospects and I ignored him. He lit my calligraphy on fire."