Ep 1: Li Qian and Shen Wei talk on a bench, Shen Wei intercepts Chief Zhao

[miss_ingno]

Context: Chu Shuzhi rescues Xiao Guo and Grandma Li during the one and only time he uses his puppet to fight. Back at the SID Zhao Yunlan realizes the Shadowman mistook the victim for Li Qian since they look similar and decides to follow her himself the next day, starting from when her grandma sees her off.

(We also get some Shen Wei pining over Zhao Yunlan’s file, our first YOHE flashback, and an ominous scene of Li Qian contemplating sleeping pills)

After our scene, SID investigates a dark set of tunnels, and Shen Wei gets a better look at the sundial before being attacked by the Shadowman at DCU.

Timestamp: 29:16 to 34:37

Zhao Yunlan is lounging on his motorcycle, sucking on a lollipop as he observes Li Qian trying to distribute flyers. Someone brushes her off and all the flyers go flying. After picking them up Li Qian sits down on the bench, looking exhausted.



We get a flashback to Li Qian coughing while cooking dinner for her and her grandma, a flashback of her grandma trying to fill her bowl and Li Qian snapping. On the bench, Li Qian looks close to tears. Professor Shen arrives and joins her on the bench. He asks after her well-being. Then:

Li Qian: Those people who came that day, can they really catch Mei’s killer?
Shen Wei: I think that they are not ordinary people.
Li Qian: Are they also monsters?
Shen Wei: No. They are not monsters.

This is doing interesting work to reaffirm for the audience the difference between the SID and all their scariness (snake tail, ghosts, explosions) and the criminals they hunt (the Shadowman). china_shop pointed out in this scene discussion of GCC joining the SID how GCC’s stumbling and fainting is contrasted with Li Qian’s genuine fear as she flees the scene of the murder. I think this dialogue is following up on that set-up, to strengthen that impression and put it into words.



(Can you tell how much trouble I had picking a shot? I wish I had the skills to turn this part into a gif, there’s some lovely acting going on in this scene, and I love how Li Qian mirrors a lot of Shen Wei’s mannerisms)

And then, Shen Wei delivers the thesis statement of the show:

In fact, real monsters only exist in people’s hearts.

Another flashback to the sleeping pills, Li Qian seems to connect Shen Wei’s words to her intended actions that night.



Shen Wei changes the topic, addressing Li Qian’s multiple jobs and lack of sleep due to having to take care of her ailing grandmother. (And I cannot help but note how similar to Shen Wei she is again here, what with his two full-time jobs nevermind the consultancy he’ll pick up over the course of the show.)

Li Qian: Professor, is it really worth giving all you have to protect someone?
Shen Wei: It is worth it.
*cue the sad-pondering theme music*

What fascinates me here is that neither of them have the full picture of what the other is talking about, and yet, the parallels are striking. They’re both talking about self-sacrifice: Li Qian giving up half her lifespan for her grandmother to be revived, Shen Wei is presumably talking about Kunlun. The people they both care most about in the world.

Li Qian slowly raises her hand to grasp at the sundial necklace, clearly thinking about this sacrifice. Shen Wei takes note. His expression shifts as he first glances up, then over his shoulder at where Zhao Yunlan is lurking.



(Again, someone needs to gif this. Shen Wei’s eye movement says so much. Notice the shift from affable Professor Shen to sharply focussed Heipaoshi expression here! The small furrow of his brow as he thinks!)

With a small huff of air, Shen Wei’s professor mask slides back on. He reminds Li Qian of her next class and she hurries off. Zhao Yunlan makes to pursue, trying to sneak past Shen Wei but Shen Wei moves to intercept. They start another verbal sparring match.

Zhao Yunlan: Oh, it’s you, Professor Shen! As they say, it’s a small world.
Shen Wei: It seems you have found a clue, or you wouldn’t make time to visit our university, Chief Zhao.

I love how Zhao Yunlan tries to play off their meeting as a coincidence, when they both clearly spotted each other. I think Zhao Yunlan must be aware that Shen Wei knows he’s trailing Li Qian, and how pointedly Shen Wei addresses this while also neatly sidestepping the coincidence bit. After all, Shen Wei works here, and Zhao Yunlan wouldn’t have come here if not for work, no?



Zhao Yunlan looks in the direction Li Qian walked off, obviously thinking fast. He turns back to Shen Wei.

ZYL: I came here today to ask you something, Professor Shen.
After all, you know almost everything about genetic mutation.

I love the way Shen Wei widens his eyes innocently and that little dip of his head xD



Shen Wei asks for an example and it takes Zhao Yunlan a moment to come up with something on the spot. He ends up bringing Dixingren and Yashou, naming powers such as telekinesis, invulnerability and shapeshifting. Shen Wei laughs in his face.

Shen Wei: If such people exist, wouldn’t you have already recruited them?

This is so interesting to me because it sets up the SID in a bit of a different light than we’re shown later? Almost like a “people with power who police people with power” department. I can only think of Ye Huo where this would apply in the course of canon? But it also brings up some interesting questions about the composition of the SID: two Yashou, a ghost, a Dixingren, and now two humans.

Shen Wei: Chief Zhao, even though the SID is kept a secret, it doesn’t mean that there are no signs.
Zhao Yunlan: I didn’t think of that. Seems like someone as intelligent as you also believes these incredible things exist.

Shen Wei lets on that he knows about what the SID is and about Dixingren. This is very suspicious! In contrast, one of the cops earlier didn’t know, and we’ve already been introduced to the idea that Dixingren is a hush-hush topic not a lot of people know about. Revealing he knows these things he shouldn’t definitely raises Zhao Yunlan’s suspicions. It’s almost as if Shen Wei is baiting Zhao Yunlan…

Is it just me, or does Zhao Yunlan’s sentence sound like an accusation? “You are intelligent, why do you believe in these myths?” He’s definitely prodding Shen Wei into explaining his knowledge he shouldn’t have.



Also, can I just say I love the theatrical way Zhao Yunlan pulls in air through his teeth, and the way he holds his arms here?

Shen Wei: Our ancestors that wise men do not discuss otherworldly things.
But actually, I do think they exist.
Most people do not know of their existence, but not all traces can be erased.

Zhao Yunlan nods as if in agreement, the gesture smoothly turning into one of thinking fast.



Shen Wei’s deflection is fascinating. He brings up that these things have always been secret and shouldn’t be discussed, almost like a rebuke at Zhao Yunlan for prodding him to talk about it? But at the same time, he acknowledges he knows freely in the very next sentence. And then he explains his knowledge: I’m a scholar, as much as people try to keep the Dixingren’s existence secret, I have found traces of them through study. Nothing suspicious about it, anyone might discover it putting the right clues together. And he’s doing it by basically turning Zhao Yunlan’s previous line around! “You said I am intelligent, thus obviously I should know”.

Shen Wei: Chief Zhao, do you think the Dixing people are really so different from us?

(I switched up the chronologically order of the first two images to have them looking at each other. Interesting how the camera switches angles, putting them on the other side for the second shot...)

Shen Wei seems to be searching Zhao Yunlan’s face to gauge his opinion re: Dixingren. Does he agree with his father, or is he like Kunlun in this? It’s a test designed to figure out the boundaries and personality of Zhao Yunlan, and how he’s the same or differs from what he remembers of Kunlun. At the same time, it’s a hook to keep Zhao Yunlan’s interest in Shen Wei.

ZYL: You even know about the Dixing people.
Professor Shen, you are a real treasure.
So what are your thoughts about the case?

Shen Wei was the first to namedrop Dixingren here, even though they both knew what subject they were dancing around. Zhao Yunlan jumps on that “slip” immediately, pushing for more answers. Shen Wei does a whole huff-smile-innocent face deflection in response.

Shen Wei: That… that is beyond me. My job is teaching and educating people.
Catching culprits and solving cases is your speciality.

(once again switching up chronological order for aesthetic reasons)

Zhao Yunlan seems almost amused by this deflection, in an appreciative “that guy, he really dares” kind of way? Shen Wei has been pushing, showing off his knowledge with some veneer of plausible deniability, which he removed the moment he namedropped Dixingren and all but declared they should be treated as people. Now he’s suddenly pulling back, pretending his opinions and statements don’t matter, it’s up to Zhao Yunlan to decide how to proceed.

ZYL: Tell you the truth, I really don’t know why, but the moment I saw you, you seemed familiar somehow.
Shen Wei: Who knows, maybe we have indeed met before.

And here we get to this iconic line! The micro-expressions that follow, ye gods. I wish I had gif-making capabilites to represent it here properly, there’s so many minute switches going on, especially in how Shen Wei's smile almost slips and his eyes seem sad, before catching himself. The twitches of his lower eyelids as he chooses his response... How much does Shen Wei hurt hearing this? How much hope does it give him? This man isn’t Kunlun, but there’s so many similarities, it can’t be ignored. And at the same time, Zhao Yunlan seems to be trying to pin down the magnetic draw between them. Is it just attraction? Just the mystery of how Shen Wei knows all these things? Is there an actual resonance, or is Zhao Yunlan simply reacting to Shen Wei’s intensity? What does it mean?



Zhao Yunlan’s phone rings, interrupting them from staring into each other’s eyes.


Questions:

1. What do you think of the parallels established between Li Qian and Shen Wei? Does this count as foreshadowing for Shen Wei’s story?
   I think there’s some obvious connections they’re trying to draw between the two, especially with the visual affinity of their customes (their outfits almost always match in this episode, but especially in this scene)
2. Why does Shen Wei intercept Zhao Yunlan? Li Qian is clearly struggling, and Zhao Yunlan is just as obviously staking her out. And yet, Shen Wei sends Li Qian away and holds up Zhao Yunlan before he can follow.
3. Can the SID recruit Dixingren who are on the surface and have done no harm that would demand they hand them over to Heipaoshi for justice?
4. Both of them are trying to figure each other out here. What do you think of their conversational gambits? What does this conversation establish about their cat-and-mouse game pattern for the episodes until the reveal?
5. What do you think about the familiarity/having met before line? Does Zhao Yunlan actually feel something or is it just a line? What are both of them thinking here?
6. There’s so much happening here, I’m sure I missed some stuff! What else did you notice? What’s your favourite part of this scene?

long post got long, sorry /o\

Comments

[autodach]

Great writeup! I love this scene. Shen Wei is so suspicious XD

What do you think about the familiarity/having met before line? Does Zhao Yunlan actually feel something or is it just a line? What are both of them thinking here?

I think Zhao Yunlan is (subconsciously?) noticing that Shen Wei knows him. He certainly doesn't quite treat him like a stranger. So I believe Zhao actually has a feeling of familiarity in response.

Poor Shen Wei. At this point, he must be wondering if this man is really Kunlun or a lookalike.

[miss_ingno]

Thank you! 💖 Yeah, Shen Wei is the most suspicious xD

I think Zhao Yunlan is (subconsciously?) noticing that Shen Wei knows him. He certainly doesn't quite treat him like a stranger. So I believe Zhao actually has a feeling of familiarity in response.

Ohhh interesting! So reflecting back the signals he's receiving? *ponders* I can see that! Or definitely see it as his attempt to figure out what's up with that intensity... Putting out bait and gauging Shen Wei's reaction.

Poor Shen Wei. At this point, he must be wondering if this man is really Kunlun or a lookalike.

Yeah, I think he's seeing a lot of potential and similarities so he keeps pushing to see where exactly Zhao Yunlan's current lines are. Because I think he can tell there's differences, so he's trying to work out what they are, exactly?

[autodach]

Yeah, I think he's seeing a lot of potential and similarities so he keeps pushing to see where exactly Zhao Yunlan's current lines are. Because I think he can tell there's differences, so he's trying to work out what they are, exactly?

Yes, I think so too.
I was also wondering when exactly Shen Wei figures out that Kunlun's weapon was a modern firearm.
Is he coming at this already expecting Kunlun to be a time-traveller?

[miss_ingno]

I was also wondering when exactly Shen Wei figures out that Kunlun's weapon was a modern firearm.
Is he coming at this already expecting Kunlun to be a time-traveller?

Ohhh, do you think he saw it when Zhao Xinci first used it and instantly recognised that new invention as Kunlun's weapon? 👀

Alternatively, what if someone had the idea to create the dark energy gun based on historical evidence of Kunlun's firearm? XD

I know there's a theory that Shen Wei figured out the time travel component soon after waking up because of the lollipops, and I think that would be in character? Shen Wei is smart and Zhao Yunlan wasn't the most careful about what he gave away in the details. I'm not sure when exactly he landed on time travel, but it wouldn't be out of the range of the Hallows' abilities after his ten millenia dirtnap...

[autodach]

Ohhh, do you think he saw it when Zhao Xinci first used it and instantly recognised that new invention as Kunlun's weapon?

Oof, that would be a gut punch for him. Poor Shen Wei.

Alternatively, what if someone had the idea to create the dark energy gun based on historical evidence of Kunlun's firearm? XD

Yes, perfect. This is the kind of circular time-travel shenanigans I like to see XD

I know there's a theory that Shen Wei figured out the time travel component soon after waking up because of the lollipops, and I think that would be in character? Shen Wei is smart and Zhao Yunlan wasn't the most careful about what he gave away in the details.

True, Shen Wei is anything but slow on the uptake. The more I think about it, the more I am sure he must have realized just where Kunlun was from.
Zhao Yunlan really didn’t care about keeping the secret at all did he XD

[miss_ingno]

Zhao Yunlan really didn’t care about keeping the secret at all did he XD

At least he didn't say anything outright? xD so he seems to care somewhat! But yeah, there was a lot of sparkle-heart eyes going on, and I like to think he got drawn into sharing more than he should've just because he wanted to reassure this younger version of Shen Wei?

[autodach]

I like to think he got drawn into sharing more than he should've just because he wanted to reassure this younger version of Shen Wei?

I can see that. Who wouldn’t want to reassure doe-eyed young Shen Wei?

[trobadora]

Haha, yeah, he DID hold himself back from saying "actually, I'm from the future", but he still threw around things like "ten thousand years, and you're still like that" and so on. Yeah, because he just got pulled in, wanting to reassure Shen Wei, and also overflowing with feelings and not being able to quite rein them in ...

[china_shop]

Caveat: I have no idea what I'm talking about!

In the novel She Who Became the Sun, the phrase "ten thousand years" came up several times, too, and I just checked wikipedia, which says it's a common saying in various east Asian languages to wish long life (historically to the emperor, but now more generally). So it might not, in itself, seem particularly suspicious to YOHE!Shen Wei? It might just seem like a figure of speech? I think the "you've already repaid it" is more telling...

[trobadora]

Yeah, it's definitely an expression and generally just means "a long time", but it's hilarious because it's literally 10,000 years. In isolation it wouldn't mean much - the "you still haven't changed" bit is much more telling, since it pretty clearly states prior familiarity. Even if you take "10,000 years" as just "a long time", that means something.

But "you've already repaid it" is even more telling, yes!

[miss_ingno]

Oh, I didn't know this! Excellent... *rubs hands and makes note to integrate this in fic at some point*

[china_shop]

You may wish to verify with trusted sources! *g*

[trobadora]

Is he coming at this already expecting Kunlun to be a time-traveller?

I definitely think so - there's not just the lollipop and the gun, both of which are very much modern-era objects Shen Wei would recognise once he woke up from his 10,000 year sleep and came to Haixing, there are also so many different things "Kunlun" said to Shen Wei back in the day! He threw around "10,000 years" and "you've already repaid it" and so on, and that and the entire way he acted towards young Shen Wei must have made SO much more sense to him the moment he thought about time travel.

(And if people can vanish into wormholes or sleep for 10,000 years under the earth, or - like that report Shen Wei mentions at one point about dark energy poisoning unmooring someone in time - letting them see visions of past and future, time travel doesn't sound all that out there, IMO!)

[autodach]

like that report Shen Wei mentions at one point about dark energy poisoning unmooring someone in time

Do you think maybe Shen Wei uncovered the information about dark energy causing temporal dysfunction while researching the possibilities of Kunlun being a time-traveler? That would tie things together nicely.

[miss_ingno]

Ohhhh, I love this theory! Headcanon ACCEPTED!

[trobadora]

I love that theory! *looks up the scene*

Hmmm, he says "last time in the archives of the Dijun palace" (episode 19, 13 minutes in), which makes it sound like it was just during his last visit to Dixing, and like he was specifically researching dark energy poisoning, maybe because of Zhao Yunlan's Hallows-touching habit?

But also, this is way before the time loop closes, so if he found this earlier while researching things around Kunlun, it's not like he'd have said that. So it still definitely works!

[china_shop]

And "last time" might be a translation thing? (In Korean, you might say "like I said last time" (lit) for "as I've said before", for ex. Again, I know nothing! Pure speculation!)

[trobadora]

No, I looked it up in the Chinese, and it really is "last time" here.

[china_shop]

Oooh, that's such a great theory! *adopts* :D

[trobadora]

I think Zhao Yunlan is (subconsciously?) noticing that Shen Wei knows him. He certainly doesn't quite treat him like a stranger. So I believe Zhao actually has a feeling of familiarity in response.

Oooh, I love that! It makes a lot of sense, and it's nicely circular, which is one of my favourite things about their entire relationship. Looping around and around! :D

[autodach]

It makes a lot of sense, and it's nicely circular,

I know, right? I love circular time tarvel stuff <3

[elenothar]

Why does Shen Wei intercept Zhao Yunlan? Li Qian is clearly struggling, and Zhao Yunlan is just as obviously staking her out. And yet, Shen Wei sends Li Qian away and holds up Zhao Yunlan before he can follow.

Hmm, I always read that as protectiveness of Li Qian (he knows her well enough that I think he's quite sure that while she may have something to do with the case, she wasn't the one who killed Ruomei, nor did anything bad on purpose), with a side-helping of being drawn to Zhao Yunlan and wanting his focus.

Can the SID recruit Dixingren who are on the surface and have done no harm that would demand they hand them over to Heipaoshi for justice?

My understanding was that at this point in time, it wouldn't be possible to just do that. Chu Shuzhi had to be personally sent/recruited by the Envoy, and the Treaty seems to stipulate that Dixingren need to be returned to Dixing regardless of whether they did anything wrong or not, so it would definitely need special dispensation of some kind. It's interesting that Shen Wei phrases it that way - I might check the Chinese to see if there's some nuance to the word choice I'm missing...

[trobadora]

Yeah, entirely agreed about the protectiveness!

And I'm curious about what you'll find with the Chinese, because that line always trips me up ...

[miss_ingno]

I meant to hunt down the Chinese subs and add them, but I forgot ^^"

[trobadora]

No worries! ♥

[elenothar]

Huh, ok, I just looked it up and that looks like it could be a mistranslation to me; the term is 网罗, which has several meanings. As a noun, it's "a net for catching fish or birds; trap; fig. fetters". As a verb, it's "enlist the services of, to snare (a valuable team member etc., to bring under one umbrella" (which all makes sense, since 网 means net, and 罗 means gather, collect, catch etc.).

So on the surface Shen Wei could be saying recruit, but the underlying connotation seems to be one of trapping more than something positive... My Chinese isn't good enough to tell in what context this word would usually be applied, but I don't think it's quite as straightforward as just recruiting, which is a pretty neutral word.

[miss_ingno]

Ohhh, I wonder! 🤔 that does sound more negative in connotation, at least translated that way. I was using Solo's subs since I have those handy.

OTOH, pressing Dixingren into service for the SID does not bear out by later canon either, so x'D who knows.

[elenothar]

Yeah, I was wondering if it's a politeness thing on Shen Wei's part - like, he says 'enlist' but because of the connotations of the word it's clear to both of them what he actually means is 'trap'. Doubt we'll ever know... And it's early enough in canon that Shen Wei might just be saying wrong stuff because he's not supposed to know exactly how things work anyway.

[trobadora]

Oh, that's fascinating! It's definitely used as a verb here, but it still seems like it has much more negative connotations than the English subs ...

Wiktionary says for the verb:
1. (literary) to catch with a net
2. to seek from all places; to include all things; to gather; to enlist

So I'd say it could very easily be the first meaning here.

[china_shop]

Do you think Shen Wei would have said that so lightly, then, though? Like, the laugh fits much better with #2, to me.

[trobadora]

"Do you know about people with powers?" - "If those people existed, wouldn't you have caught them already?" makes sense for me as a reading on that exchange - I don't think Shen Wei is unduly light-hearted about it. The laugh just reads as "are you really asking me this?" to me ...

[miss_ingno]

If it's "catch them" it would make more sense in line with handing them back over to Dixing, then the recruit/enlist interpretation. Hmmm.

[trobadora]

And he'd be implying he knows what the SID's main job is - to catch Dixingren on the surface ...

[elenothar]

Oh yeah, it's definitely used as a verb, I just tend to find that the noun meanings do influence the verb meanings or vice versa (courtesy of, I think, Chinese generally making generative sense with its character combinations).

And even if you go with something from the second meaning group, like 'gather', there could easily be a hint of suggestiveness there - gathering can be for good or nefarious purposes, after all.

[trobadora]

Yeah, agreed about the noun/verb thing! And if a word can mean multiple things, even if one of them is primary, the other meanings still hover somewhere in there ...

[elenothar]

Language! *throws confetti*

[miss_ingno]

Hmm, I always read that as protectiveness of Li Qian

I quite agree! (if you couldn't tell from the way I kept phrasing it in the post lol, I was actually surprised during the rewatch just *how* protective he felt to me. Like, I was already biased towards that reading of their relationship, but I hadn't realized until now just how much of that feels canon rather than fanon to me)

Chu Shuzhi had to be personally sent/recruited by the Envoy, and the Treaty seems to stipulate that Dixingren need to be returned to Dixing regardless of whether they did anything wrong or not, so it would definitely need special dispensation of some kind.

Yeah, that's why that saying is tripping me up. The best I can come up with is, maybe Shen Wei is naming a common misunderstanding of how the SID works, according to outsiders, to better mix his signals? But then, that's not how Zhao Yunlan reacts to it. Maybe they originally intended a different worldbuilding re: treaty, and that's a remnant they didn't catch/think to fix? Or they meant to emphasize "everyone at the SID is special" and used this moment for that, rather than consistent worldbuilding... *ponders*

Definitely curious about the exact Chinese too! I need to grab the relevant subs and edit them into this post ^^"

[elenothar]

(Exact Chinese in answer to trobadora's comment above)

Like, I was already biased towards that reading of their relationship, but I hadn't realized until now just how much of that feels canon rather than fanon to me

Sometimes we unconsciously pick up things and then later find that, yes, on a more detailed rewatch you notice that the markers are all there \o/

[miss_ingno]

I'm very grateful to the rewatch because it's giving me a bunch more Li Qian feels! :D

[elenothar]

\o/

[trobadora]

This is a great write-up! I really enjoyed reading it, and seeing all the details you’re pointing out again. :D

SID investigates a dark set of tunnels

This isn't what your post is about, but I thought that was some kind of derelict building, a warehouse or something? There's visible sunlight through various windows, despite the flashlights ...

Zhao Yunlan is lounging on his motorcycle

I still love that so much, it's a delightful visual. :D :D :D

This is doing interesting work to reaffirm for the audience the difference between the SID and all their scariness (snake tail, ghosts, explosions) and the criminals they hunt (the Shadowman). [profile] china_ship pointed out in this scene discussion of GCC joining the SID how GCC’s stumbling and fainting is contrasted with Li Qian’s genuine fear as she flees the scene of the murder. I think this dialogue is following up on that set-up, to strengthen that impression and put it into words.

Oooh, that's an excellent observation!

how similar to Shen Wei she is again here, what with his two full-time jobs nevermind the consultancy he’ll pick up over the course of the show

Oooh, yes! Excellent parallel! Except poor Li Qian has no Dixing powers to sustain her, so she's about to keel over. She needs all the hugs, and also a LOT of sleep.

What fascinates me here is that neither of them have the full picture of what the other is talking about, and yet, the parallels are striking. They’re both talking about self-sacrifice: Li Qian giving up half her lifespan for her grandmother to be revived, Shen Wei is presumably talking about Kunlun. The people they both care most about in the world.

I think Shen Wei is also talking about Ye Zun – in which case he's saying that, even if you fail to actually protect them, it's still worth it. *sniffles* (Which has its own parallels to Li Qian's situation!)

Again, someone needs to gif this. Shen Wei’s eye movement says so much. Notice the shift from affable Professor Shen to sharply focussed Heipaoshi expression here!

Yeah, that little look over his shoulder is so good!

I love how Zhao Yunlan tries to play off their meeting as a coincidence

Yeah, and I love that Shen Wei absolutely isn't having this! As you say, he's so pointed. :D

This is so interesting to me because it sets up the SID in a bit of a different light than we’re shown later? Almost like a “people with power who police people with power” department.

Yeah, I keep stumbling over this bit because it doesn't fit with the way the SID works. But you've got a good point about the SID's composition, so maybe Shen Wei is referencing one of the rumours going around about the SID? Because there have to be rumours ...

It’s almost as if Shen Wei is baiting Zhao Yunlan…

And by that you mean Shen Wei is basically walking around holding up a sign reading "BAIT"? :D

And he’s doing it by basically turning Zhao Yunlan’s previous line around! “You said I am intelligent, thus obviously I should know”.

Hee! Yes! This is delightful. :D

It’s a test designed to figure out the boundaries and personality of Zhao Yunlan, and how he’s the same or differs from what he remembers of Kunlun. At the same time, it’s a hook to keep Zhao Yunlan’s interest in Shen Wei.

Yes! Multiple purposes at once!

What do you think of the parallels established between Li Qian and Shen Wei? Does this count as foreshadowing for Shen Wei’s story?

Oh, yes, 100%! Lots of thematic resonance for the drama in general, and foreshadowing for Shen Wei's story in general. His "worth it" here foreshadows the one in the kitchen scene, and I love the way it shows that while he's talking hypothetically here in episode 1, he absolutely means it and lives by it and does not regret the cost. ♥

Why does Shen Wei intercept Zhao Yunlan? Li Qian is clearly struggling, and Zhao Yunlan is just as obviously staking her out. And yet, Shen Wei sends Li Qian away and holds up Zhao Yunlan before he can follow.

I'm not sure what you mean by "and yet"? IMO he's intercepting Zhao Yunlan because Zhao Yunlan is staking out Li Qian, and he wants him to stop bothering her, even if just for a while. Zhao Yunlan wasn't particularly nice to Li Qian when he questioned her, was he? I think Shen Wei is trying to shield her, probably hoping the investigation will turn up something else before the SID makes things even harder for Li Qian (or her reputation).

Of course it doesn't hurt that it gives him an occasion to catch Zhao Yunlan's attention! *g*

Can the SID recruit Dixingren who are on the surface and have done no harm that would demand they hand them over to Heipaoshi for justice?

It's a fascinating idea, but we see no hint about that. My understanding is that Dixingren aren't allowed to be upstairs at all, except with special permission (like Chu Shuzhi), so if they're on the surface they've already committed a crime.

Not that recruitment would be all that great either – "work for us or we'll have you deported" isn't a good choice to be forced to make.

What do you think about the familiarity/having met before line? Does Zhao Yunlan actually feel something or is it just a line? What are both of them thinking here?

There are a lot of theories about how, but I think episode 2 – where Zhao Yunlan talks to himself and wonders where he's seen Shen Wei before - definitely proves that Zhao Yunlan is feeling something.

My own theory is what I wrote in this fic (because I love time-loopiness, LOL): At First Sight

But I also love oracularmayhem's theory that came up during the rewatch, that kid!Zhao Yunlan once saw the Envoy. And what autodach above says about Shen Wei’s familiarity with him provoking a sense of familiarity in return is also a brilliant explanation!

[miss_ingno]

This isn't what your post is about, but I thought that was some kind of derelict building, a warehouse or something? There's visible sunlight through various windows, despite the flashlights ...

Lmao, fair! I just always think of them as tunnels thanks to the short intro shot. Very Tombs-mystery-esque!

Except poor Li Qian has no Dixing powers to sustain her, so she's about to keel over. She needs all the hugs, and also a LOT of sleep.

All of the hugs and a week straight of sleeping to catch up! 100%

I think Shen Wei is also talking about Ye Zun – in which case he's saying that, even if you fail to actually protect them, it's still worth it. *sniffles* (Which has its own parallels to Li Qian's situation!)

Oh! That's an interesting angle I hadn't thought about yet. I never connect the early episodes to Ye Zun in my head, it's all about Weilan for me xD But yeah, sometimes you cannot save the people you care most about... foreshadowing for no redemption for Ye Zun while still alive maybe? *ponders*

Yeah, I keep stumbling over this bit because it doesn't fit with the way the SID works.

I think I'm gonna stick with the "catching" interpretation we reached in a different thread here :D

And by that you mean Shen Wei is basically walking around holding up a sign reading "BAIT"? :D

*snorts up tea* that is a DELIGHTFUL image xD

His "worth it" here foreshadows the one in the kitchen scene, and I love the way it shows that while he's talking hypothetically here in episode 1, he absolutely means it and lives by it and does not regret the cost. ♥

Ooof, that's a great example. And yeah, it's great set-up pay-off. Now excuse me, my heart is aching (the kitchen scene always gets to me TT_TT "worth it" !!! YOU'RE WORTH IT TOO SHEN WEI!!)

I'm not sure what you mean by "and yet"?

*facepalms* teaches me to post at 3am instead of letting it sit for another day and re-read. That was badly phrased on my end.

Zhao Yunlan wasn't particularly nice to Li Qian when he questioned her, was he? I think Shen Wei is trying to shield her, probably hoping the investigation will turn up something else before the SID makes things even harder for Li Qian (or her reputation).

That makes sense to me! Especially in context to Shen Wei also interfering when they interview her the first time, and the way she immediately scurries to his side, almost as if she instinctively knows he will protect her (aaaaand I'm having more Li Qian feels again. If I didn't have work tmrw I'd sit down to write more baby vampire!Li Qian now...)

Time-loopiness is great! I love all the theories. I think autodach's theory from this discussion is resonating the most with me though :D

[trobadora]

Oh! That's an interesting angle I hadn't thought about yet. I never connect the early episodes to Ye Zun in my head, it's all about Weilan for me xD But yeah, sometimes you cannot save the people you care most about... foreshadowing for no redemption for Ye Zun while still alive maybe? *ponders*

And also to add weight to the choice, and the narrative in general? Because success is not guaranteed, and not everyone wins, and things have a cost ...

I think I'm gonna stick with the "catching" interpretation we reached in a different thread here :D

Yeah, same here! Yay for that thread!

That makes sense to me! Especially in context to Shen Wei also interfering when they interview her the first time, and the way she immediately scurries to his side, almost as if she instinctively knows he will protect her

Yes! It feels very in line with that. ♥

(aaaaand I'm having more Li Qian feels again. If I didn't have work tmrw I'd sit down to write more baby vampire!Li Qian now...)

I hope you find time anyway! *cheers you on*

Time-loopiness is great! I love all the theories. I think autodach's theory from this discussion is resonating the most with me though :D

Fair! It's a great theory. :D

[miss_ingno]

And also to add weight to the choice, and the narrative in general? Because success is not guaranteed, and not everyone wins, and things have a cost ...

That it does! "Worth it" only has as much weight as the price paid to Have the thing (relationship in this case), so without consequences it wouldn't hit nearly as hard :D I think that's why the kitchen scene gets me in the feels so strongly, because it's in the immediate aftermath of Shen Wei paying the price, /and/ foreshadowing the final price to pay ó.ò

I hope you find time anyway! *cheers you on*

Ngl I'm tempted to write at work right now xD

[trobadora]

"Worth it" only has as much weight as the price paid to Have the thing (relationship in this case), so without consequences it wouldn't hit nearly as hard :D I think that's why the kitchen scene gets me in the feels so strongly, because it's in the immediate aftermath of Shen Wei paying the price, /and/ foreshadowing the final price to pay ó.ò

Yes, this, exactly! ♥ ♥ ♥

Ngl I'm tempted to write at work right now xD

Hee! Priorities! :D