Contract?
"Did you read my mind?!" Hao Xuan asked without giving it much thought, "And gifted with what?" right before berating himself inwardly the very next moment.
'Why am I even talking to him? For fuck sakes, don't engage with the mentally handicapped!'
Liet gestured to the space around Hao Xuan, "I am not a mind reader but I can pick up on things. Your thoughts, once thunk, are not yours alone."
'???'
'What does that even mean? Whatever, just- ignore and he will give up sooner or later. Poor guy must have lost his marbles, who knows how long he's been cooped up out here.'
Hao Xuan looked away without saying another word, opting to stare into the flames rather than meet his optimistic gaze, which, to his credit, did have an effect.
"Ohh, that's not good..." Liet lost his energetic spirits rather quickly, "You don't believe me do you?"
'Huh, maybe he really can't read my mind. But he can still tell a thing or two somehow...'