Mei Chengyu took the remaining food boxes and went to find Zhongli Shan. On the way, he asked Xing Chun to come eat with Zhongli Shan.
When he opened the door, he saw that Xing Chun had indeed arrived before him.
Zhongli Shan lived alone. These scions of prominent families didn't much care for sharing a residence with others.
He didn't seem in a hurry to go out today. He'd casually thrown on a robe and was lounging around, a slight contrast to his usual cool, composed demeanor.
Xing Chun patted the table, took the things from Mei Chengyu, and started setting them out.
Zhongli Shan watched Mei Chengyu take a seat and asked, "About what happened last night—do you have anyone in mind?"
"Not really," Mei Chengyu replied casually.
Zhongli Shan looked at him with a hint of confusion. "Then what did you want to talk about?"
He'd received a message from Mei Chengyu first thing that morning asking him to make time for a chat, so he hadn't hurried out of the dormitory.
"How are your Heavenly Secrets Technique exercises coming along?" Mei Chengyu looked up at him. "Are they useful against the Shura Eye of the School of Names?"
"I can't say they're completely useless," Zhongli Shan said. "But the timing has to be right, and I'll need to study it some more."
Mei Chengyu nodded, his gaze fixed on the bowls and chopsticks Xing Chun was arranging. "Has Nian Qiuyan been acting strangely lately?"
Zhongli Shan was slightly taken aback, then raised an eyebrow. "You suspect him?"
"I asked him, but he wouldn't say." Mei Chengyu leaned back in his chair, his expression cool and giving nothing away. There was no sharp edge of accusation in his words. "It's his refusal to talk that worries me."