I guess his "How to be a Normal Haixingian" manual didn't cover the topic of dealing with grief, given this and the bit with Zu Ma's death.
YUUP. He also might not have that good a handle on grief even with Dixingians, given that he's lost a whole lot more people and things in his life than the average present-day person. "What do you mean, losing your friend has you in tears? I used to lose friends by the dozen in my youth, which is why I am attachmentphobic now. What is this overreaction???" (Poor thing. Pat his head and hug him!)

Does that pole go right into Zhao Yunlan's office?? I... have so many questions but that is A GREAT SCREENCAP and that's definitely how ZYL stays in shape
It's a fireman's pole from library to office, yes! I imagine Zhao Yunlan has lots of fun sliding down it, and has spent many an evening illicitly running up the stairs to the library and sliding down then repeating. (It is too thick to use for pole dancing.)

that's a Chinese lantern fruit and among the names it has are 挂金灯 and金灯, the same 灯 as the Guardian Lamp!
AHHH just like all the lanterns in Zhao Yunlan's apartment. How long has Zhang Shi been grooming him to become the genie in the Guardian Lamp? So much visual foreshadowing. *g*