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sid_guardian2020-03-27 03:00 pm
maggie33) wrote in sid_guardian2020-03-27 03:00 pm
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Focus on Chu Shuzhi: Regardless of what you do, I’ll support you unconditionally
Chu Shuzhi – the SID’s only field personnel and a huge Black-Cloaked Envoy fanboy. :)
This is his first scene.
Quite an impressive entrance.
I liked him from the start. The first things that caught my attention was his beauty and his fighting style, but most of all his unwavering and intense loyalty to Black-Cloaked Envoy, which is obvious straight away in the 1st episode. After the 1st episode I thought “I like that guy a lot.” After the 2nd episode I was already in love. Mainly because of this scene:
“I will not hesitate to sacrifice my life for the Honorable Envoy.”
And that was it for me. I have a loyalty kink and a thing for people kneeling to show respect and that scene cemented my love for Chu Shuzhi.
This is such a fascinating relationship and it’s not one-sided. Shen Wei uses Chu Shuzhi for a purpose, of course, but he also respects him. Which is confirmed when the first thing Shen Wei does, after realizing that SID knows he’s secret identity, is to apologize to Chu Shuzhi for not telling him earlier.
And coming back to that scene and to the quote from the title of this post.
“Regardless of what you do, I’ll support you unconditionally.”
Which for me begs the question – would he really? If Black-Cloaked Envoy would do something morally questionable or even evil would Chu Shuzhi still support him? Would he even consider something The Envoy does as anything else but just and right? After all when he argues with Zhao Yunlan in episode 32 he says: “Sometimes you need to be ruthless, or you’ll miss the big picture and regret it forever.”
In the 1st episode we are introduced the two of the three most important relationships Chu Shuzhi has in the drama – Guo Changcheng and Black-Cloaked Envoy. The third is Chu Nianzhi. It’s mainly that relationship that informs who Chu Shuzhi is in present time. It gets the spotlight in episodes 32 and 33 when we find out some facts about Chu Shuzhi’s life in Dixing.
But we don’t know much, or rather we don’t know anything at all, about his life in Haixing, after Black-Cloaked Envoy brought him here. I don’t think he had any acquaintances, casual or otherwise, in Haixing, besides the SID people.
“What are pleasantries?” he asks after the dinner with Guo Changcheng’s aunt and uncle. He clearly didn’t have any opportunities, or the need to socialize.
His relationship with Guo Changcheng is another highlight of the drama for me. And the way it changes from this
to this:
From awe laced with a healthy dose of fearful respect on one side, and annoyance and disdain on the other, to partnership where both sides complement each other and work beautifully together.
I made two post with recs for Chu Shuzhi/Guo Changcheng fanworks here and here.
But I would also like to rec these two fics:
Discidium, Reparandam by galaxysoup
This fic has fantastic scenes between Chu Shuzhi and Shen Wei.
For a more concerted victory by china-shop
It’s a wonderful canon divergence AU, where after the last battle Chu Shuzhi travels back in time before the Reunion Festival, and he’s given the opportunity to fix things.
So – these are my thoughts. What is your opinion about Chu Shuzhi? Which of his relationships is the most interesting to you? Recs or links for fics, meta, picspams, fanart, fanvids are very much appreciated, too.
no subject
I have a loyalty kink and a thing for people kneeling to show respect and that scene cemented my love for Chu Shuzhi.
Oooh, yes, me too. I want more of that so badly. Why isn't there more fic that focuses on Lao-Chu and Shen Wei?
I liked him right away, too. He's attractive of course, and his grumpiness is great, and then the loyalty kink! (Also when he makes Xiao-Guo bow to the Envoy!)
This is such a fascinating relationship and it’s not one-sided. Shen Wei uses Chu Shuzhi for a purpose, of course, but he also respects him.
Yes! That's there in that scene, too, with Shen Wei all, "this is a friendship between gentlemen".
the first thing Shen Wei does, after realizing that SID knows he’s secret identity, is to apologize to Chu Shuzhi for not telling him earlier.
I don't think I've seen any fic about that - have you? I really want to know what went on in Lao-Chu's head at that moment!
Which for me begs the question – would he really? If Black-Cloaked Envoy would do something morally questionable or even evil would Chu Shuzhi still support him? Would he even consider something The Envoy does as anything else but just and right? After all when he argues with Zhao Yunlan in episode 32 he says: “Sometimes you need to be ruthless, or you’ll miss the big picture and regret it forever.”
Lao-Chu isn't afraid to ask the Envoy questions. I think he'd be willing to assume good reasons for as long as he could, but if the Envoy did something Chu Shuzhi actually considered evil or pointlessly cruel and couldn't give him a convincing reason, ultimately he wouldn't go along with it. He might even convince himself it's not the Envoy but an impostor. (And he would probably be right, because I can't see Shen Wei doing anything genuinely evil. *g*
I don’t think he had any acquaintances, casual or otherwise, in Haixing, besides the SID people.
I don't think he did either, and he wasn't even close to his colleagues before the start of the drama. (No wonder he was grumpy! *g*)
Discidium, Reparandam by galaxysoup
For a more concerted victory by china-shop
Yes! These are both excellent on the Lao-Chu front. (And Discidium, Rparandam is excellent with all the SID characters.) ♥
no subject
I love that little scene, that was such a nice touch – him teaching the newbie proper behavior in front of Chu Shuzhi’s idol. :)
He might even convince himself it's not the Envoy but an impostor. (And he would probably be right, because I can't see Shen Wei doing anything genuinely evil. *g*
Heh, yes, that was rather theoretical deliberation on my part. I can’t believe that Shen Wei would ever do anything genuinely evil. More like maybe Ye Zun would try to pretend to be Shen Wei and try to use Chu Shuzhi’s loyalty. But I don’t think Chu Shuzhi would fall for this either.
no subject
I always read that as Shen Wei genuinely going, "Actually, it would be really nice (and more useful to me) if we could be friends, and you spoke candidly," and Chu Shuzhi taking it as a gracious pleasantry rather than at face value, because how could someone as exalted as the Envoy want to be friends with him?
no subject