"Thank you."

He lays a hand on his guqin, returning it to its hidden storage, and is beyond grateful that the small exertion does not cause him any further trouble. He is recovering already, it would seem.

"Did you learn what you needed to know? I would be glad to try again, in the future."

A beat of silence, and then, anticipating --

"As long as I am not doing so immediately after a few days such as these last three, it will present no difficulty."