[sizhui keeps a respectable amount of distance between them, waiting patiently, his own expression smoothing into a faint smile once the man recognizes him. they hadn't met in any proper manner, but perhaps they'll have a chance to change that now.

polite as ever, he circles his arms in front of himself and clasps his hands, returns the bow then straightens afterward, watching intently while song lan answers him by writing.]

Two weeks and three days? Daozhang...! [that seems so, so long to spend by himself— and he doesn't know there are more of them here? oh no.]

There's myself, Lan Jingyi, Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng, Jiang Yanli, Nie Huaisang, and Wen Ning. Ah— [a beat of silence, he presses his lips tight, brow knitting with incertitude. how exactly does he explain?] Lan Jingyi is a junior like myself, though he isn't from our world? He's different, to put it simply, but he's... he is still Jingyi.

[and sizhui won't ever waver in that decision.]