"You'd have to be careful, because thyroids actually... Do things." (Sorry Mr Xiao.)

"But at least they're not endangered!"

"That's true."

"What happens if you eat cow thyroids?"

"I think your heart beats too fast and you lose weight and are nervous and angry all the time?"

"I wonder if anyone has tried that as a diet."

"--Someone probably has."

"That's horrifying."

"--I don't think I know any non-horrifying facts, actually."

"Si-mei you are my favorite person."

"Because I know horrifying things?"

"Yeah!"

... This is so not how she is used to social interactions working. "Okay. You're pretty cool, too!"

"Is it terribly rude if I demand that you tell me more facts while we're working?"

"I can give it a go."

Then he will LISTEN AVIDLY TO FACTS.

She knows facts! Mostly about ways to die or what happens after you die, with a smattering of non-fatal medical and forensic things.

Those are amazing facts! Especially the gross ones.

She is not used to having such a receptive audience!

"I should come eat at Chang'an's table sometime and you can tell me more gross facts."

"I'm not sure other people would appreciate that while they're eating." Especially as she is not in all of Chang'an's good books. On the other hand: he totally should.

"Aw, Shanghai would object to it too. Maybe we should get our own table?"

...she should actually try and get further on Chang'an's good books, and not hare off to their own table. "We could try."

"Or we could hang out and talk about non-gross things! Magic theory!"

"I'd be interested in magic theory." A chance to have half an idea of what's going on!