sid_guardian | Focus on: Shen Wei apologizes to Chu Shuzhi, from episode 21

Entry tags:

Focus on: Shen Wei apologizes to Chu Shuzhi, from episode 21

Location of scene: episode 21, 37:33 to 38:50

Description:

In the beginning of this episode Zhu Hong tells the rest of the SID team about Shen Wei being the Black-Cloaked Envoy. We don’t see all of it, and we don’t see the teams’ reaction to the news. We only see the beginning with Zhu Hong saying: “All right, I’ll tell you all. Actually Professor Shen is really more important than we imagined.” And then that scene ends.

And at the end of this episode we have another scene at the SID office where Shen Wei finds out that the SID members know about him now.

When the scene begins Shen Wei enters the office with Zhao Yunlan. Lin Jing, Da Qing, Zhu Hong, Wang Zheng and Sang Zan are more or less in one group, close to each other when they greet Shen Wei with “Hi, Black-Cloaked Lordship”. It’s a light-hearted and cute scene. :) They don’t seem intimidated at all, and Zhu Hong and Lin Jing are smiling.

It seems as if the team talked before and agreed to do it that way, since they all say it together when Zhu Hong prompts them with her hand gesture.

As you can see Chu Shuzhi stays in the back. He doesn’t join in the greeting.

Shen Wei, after a moment of adorable confusion, says: “Everyone, just act like before.”

And the first thing he does, after making sure Zhao Yunlan is safely seated on the couch, is walk to Chu Shuzhi, who instantly respectfully drops his gaze and bows his head a little – more or less his standard posture in front of the Envoy.

Then we have this exchange:

Shen Wei: “I’m sorry, I did not tell ahead of time.”

Chu Shuzhi: “There is no need for that, sir. In fact, regardless of what you do, I’ll support you unconditionally.”

And then Zhao Yunlan totally spoils this beautiful moment. :D I’m joking, of course, I love it, this is such a ZYL thing to do.

Zhao Yunlan says: “Lao Chu, don’t forget that I’m your boss.”

Which makes Shen Wei smile with that soft and fond smile, and it makes Chu Shuzhi give Zhao Yunlan a look of his usual disrespect.

Zhao Yunlan continues with: “Shen Wei is only our consultant. Gratitude is gratitude, but I’m in charge here.”

This is Chu Shuzhi’s reaction:

This is such a short scene, but it’s one of my absolute favorite scenes from the drama. I love that Shen Wei felt the need to apologize to Chu Shuzhi. I love that this is the first thing he does when he realizes that the SID team knows about him being the BCE. He clearly feels guilty of concealing that information from his loyal subordinate. Especially since he did say earlier in episode 2: “This is a friendship between gentlemen” when Chu Shuzhi knelt before him in gratitude and respect.

And most of all I love Chu Shuzhi saying: “Regardless of what you do, I’ll support you unconditionally.” That one sentence perfectly encapsulates Chu Shuzhi’s relationship with the Black-Cloaked Envoy, his loyalty and his respect and his worship of the Black-Cloaked Envoy. And it shows that he doesn’t feel any resentment, and probably never felt any resentment, for Shen Wei hiding who he really was from Chu Shuzhi.

A few questions:

1. We didn’t see Chu Shuzhi’s reaction to being told that Shen Wei is the BCE. How do you think he reacted? Was he shocked? Did he believe Zhu Hong right away?

2. How did he react to the team deciding to greet She Wei with that not very respectful “Hi, Black-Cloaked Lordship”. :)

3. And what did Shen Wei think after that greeting? He was surprised, sure, but to me it doesn’t seem as if he was that much surprised. He must have suspected that Zhu Hong would tell the rest of the team. Or did he think that she would stay silent? Did he consider telling the rest of the SID himself?

So come and discuss it with me. :) Links to meta, picspams, and related fanworks, new or old, are very much appreciated. Basically, this is the place for anything you want to say or link to about this scene.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I really wish we'd seen CSZ's reaction, and more of his interactions with Shen Wei in general. I like them so much.

1. We didn’t see Chu Shuzhi’s reaction to being told that Shen Wei is the BCE. How do you think he reacted? Was he shocked? Did he believe Zhu Hong right away?
I think he was retroactively not amused with himself interrogating Professor Shen back in episode 4 ;) But he'd said that Shen Wei reminded him of the Envoy, so maybe while still shocked, he still believed Zhu Hong immediately.

2. How did he react to the team deciding to greet She Wei with that not very respectful “Hi, Black-Cloaked Lordship”. :)
I think he's used to Zhao Yunlan at this point, they can't do worse ;)

Did he consider telling the rest of the SID himself?
Considering his approach to secrets, probably not, but I think he must've known his secret was out once Zhu Hong learnt it. He never asked her not to tell anyone else the way he did with ZYL, and I think that was because he accepted he wouldn't be able to keep this secret anyway. (Also, he was already rather careless with his secret identity before--he showed his face to the fire guy (I'm sorry, I'm horrible with names) and around Dixing...)

I really wish we'd seen CSZ's reaction, and more of his interactions with Shen Wei in general. I like them so much.

I keep saying this to myself every time I rewatch this scene. :) I would love to see Chu Shuzhi's reaction especially. Maybe one day someone will write this fic. Maybe one day I will. :D

And I always imagined that Chu Shuzhi reaction was probably something like shock at first, and then "everything makes so much sense now" feeling. :)

Considering his approach to secrets, probably not, but I think he must've known his secret was out once Zhu Hong learnt it. He never asked her not to tell anyone else the way he did with ZYL, and I think that was because he accepted he wouldn't be able to keep this secret anyway.

I think so, too. I think that he knew after apprehending Zhu Jiu that there was no going back to keeping that secret from the rest of the SID. But yes, Shen Wei wouldn't make any official announcements. His approach was probably more wait and see and then react accordingly, in that "whatever is going to happen will happen" way. :)

I keep saying this to myself every time I rewatch this scene. :) I would love to see Chu Shuzhi's reaction especially. Maybe one day someone will write this fic. Maybe one day I will. :D

YES YES YES YES PLEASE! :D

1. I'm personally torn between the idea that CSZ already knows (just like so many of the people down in Dixing seem to already know) vs. a slo-mo replay of every time he was rude to Professor Shen in his head full of retroactive horror. Hahaha.

2. >:[ Respect my idol!!!

3. Honestly I think that as soon as he materialized his sword while still in his Professor Shen identity, he was already resigned to having his secret be out. He decided ZYL's safety was worth his cover being blown. And that greeting is quite in line with the SID's *handwaves* energy, so he probably wasn't that surprised.

And most of all I love Chu Shuzhi saying: “Regardless of what you do, I’ll support you unconditionally.”
Yes!! I love the SW & CSZ dynamic, and I wish we got so much more of it in the show.

a slo-mo replay of every time he was rude to Professor Shen in his head full of retroactive horror. Hahaha.

LOL I love this.

Honestly I think that as soon as he materialized his sword while still in his Professor Shen identity, he was already resigned to having his secret be out. He decided ZYL's safety was worth his cover being blown.

Yes, I think so, too. He just did what was needed at that time, and it was worth having his secret out.

Imagining it like: CSZ interrogating SW -- mmmm watcha sayyyy -- CSZ presenting the banner to SW looking uimpressed -- MMM WATCHA SAYYYY.

a slo-mo replay of every time he was rude to Professor Shen in his head full of retroactive horror. Hahaha.

Thissssssssss. :D

I kind of want a crackvid now of that now, set to the "mmm watcha say" song. LMAO.

Hee! Yes, please. :D

I don't know how to vid though! D:

Damn. Me neither. *sighs*

I love this scene so much! It's short but so meaningful, and I really appreciate them putting some thought into the emotional fallout of the identity reveal.

It says so much to me, that the first thing Shen Wei does is go right to Chu Shuzhi and personally apologize--his Lordship! The Black-Cloaked Envoy himself! Apologizes to someone whose place in society could be considered so far below him--a felon on work-release. But that doesn't matter, he is thoughtful and careful of Chu Shuzhi's feelings and his face. It shows who Shen Wei is, how he cares for those who are his, how much he values Chu Shuzhi. And of course as you say, Chu Shuzhi's response perfectly shows who he is as well. His look and his tone are so direct and gentle and reassuring--he doesn't mutter his answer like a servant who might be concealing other feelings, it's clear he means exactly what he says.

Given how important Chu Shuzhi feels it is to physically show proper deference to the Envoy--thinking of how he instructs Guo Changcheng early on in the series, insisting on lowered eyes and bowed head--I'm sure he didn't like the team's idea of a funny greeting. I also think that if Guo Changcheng had been in the room at the time, Chu Shuzhi wouldn't have allowed him to participate. If Guo Changcheng would even have wanted to--I doubt GCC would have felt so casual about the situation, unlike the others who are less reverent about things in general.

It says so much to me, that the first thing Shen Wei does is go right to Chu Shuzhi and personally apologize--his Lordship! The Black-Cloaked Envoy himself! Apologizes to someone whose place in society could be considered so far below him--a felon on work-release. But that doesn't matter, he is thoughtful and careful of Chu Shuzhi's feelings and his face. It shows who Shen Wei is, how he cares for those who are his, how much he values Chu Shuzhi. And of course as you say, Chu Shuzhi's response perfectly shows who he is as well. His look and his tone are so direct and gentle and reassuring--he doesn't mutter his answer like a servant who might be concealing other feelings, it's clear he means exactly what he says.

This is so well said, I love it and I agree 100%. Shen Wei's reaction, that he felt the need to apologize, and that he does it such thoughtful way shows what kind of person Shen Wei is. And it shows that he doesn't see Chu Shuzhi just as an obedient soldier to carry the Black-Cloaked Envoy's orders.

I also think that if Guo Changcheng had been in the room at the time, Chu Shuzhi wouldn't have allowed him to participate. If Guo Changcheng would even have wanted to--I doubt GCC would have felt so casual about the situation, unlike the others who are less reverent about things in general.

Yes, if he was in the room, I think that Guo Changcheng wouldn't want to join in the greeting of his own free will, no ban from Chu Shuzhi necessary. :)

Lovely summing up of this great scene. The comments above have pretty much covered most of my ideas already, but:
I feel as if Shen Wei's apology to Chu Shuzhi is a manifestation of the way, when he said "This is a friendship between gentlemen," he meant it--it's easy to imagine the Regent, for instance, using phrasing like that to manipulate someone without actually feeling it, but we see via his action here that Shen Wei was absolutely serious and is willing to follow through. And maybe that communicates to Chu Shuzhi too, so that it's easier for him to consider Professor Shen the same person as his revered Envoy on the spot.

(I always feel like Shen Wei's inner reaction to "Good morning, Lord Black Cloak!" in chorus is along the lines of "oh my god how could they do this to me, but they mean well, they deserve a smile, oh dear," slightly mortified but not seriously disturbed; at this point it seems like so much of his attention is concentrated on a) Ye Zun issues and b) Zhao Yunlan's blindness that he's not really worried about the SID knowing his identity.)

I feel as if Shen Wei's apology to Chu Shuzhi is a manifestation of the way, when he said "This is a friendship between gentlemen," he meant it

Yes, absolutely. Shen Wei always meant it. And that apology was a conformation of that.

I always feel like Shen Wei's inner reaction to "Good morning, Lord Black Cloak!" in chorus is along the lines of "oh my god how could they do this to me, but they mean well, they deserve a smile, oh dear," slightly mortified but not seriously disturbed

LOL, yes, that's what he's thinking probably. :) And like a few comments above mentioned, too - he knew his secret was out the moment when he went all Envoy on Zhu Jiu in front of Zhu Hong. So he knew it was only a question of when and how about the rest of the SID finding out. And he knows them by now, so he definitely knows they mean well. :D

along the lines of "oh my god how could they do this to me, but they mean well, they deserve a smile, oh dear," slightly mortified but not seriously disturbed

You know what? He's a professor, he must have seen plenty of students say something slightly embarrassing to him, and that's probably how he reacts to that too ...

1. We didn’t see Chu Shuzhi’s reaction to being told that Shen Wei is the BCE. How do you think he reacted? Was he shocked? Did he believe Zhu Hong right away?

I'm sure Chu Shuzhi gave nothing away when Zhu Hong told the team that Shen Wei is the Black-Cloaked Envoy, even though he was completely shocked. The BCE is his hero, someone he has put on a pedestal, I think he wouldn't have guessed that Shen Wei is the BCE by himself.

Like everyone I'm pleased that Shen Wei went to apologize to Chu Shuzhi right away, and I'm really entertained by imagining what must be going through Chu Shuzhi's mind as Shen Wei is approaching him. His response, his pledge of unconditional loyalty is excellent, but there must have been a second or two where he was thinking about how he dared treat Shen Wei the same way he treats all the people who are not the BCE. *g*

2. How did he react to the team deciding to greet She Wei with that not very respectful “Hi, Black-Cloaked Lordship”. :)

Well, I love that greeting, but poor Chu Shuzhi must have hated it.

3. And what did Shen Wei think after that greeting? He was surprised, sure, but to me it doesn’t seem as if he was that much surprised. He must have suspected that Zhu Hong would tell the rest of the team. Or did he think that she would stay silent? Did he consider telling the rest of the SID himself?

I don't think he was surprised. He must have expected Zhu Hong to share with the team, although I can't imagine that he would have told them himself if she hadn't. He certainly did not expect that greeting, though. He looks a bit uncomfortable.

Like everyone I'm pleased that Shen Wei went to apologize to Chu Shuzhi right away, and I'm really entertained by imagining what must be going through Chu Shuzhi's mind as Shen Wei is approaching him. His response, his pledge of unconditional loyalty is excellent, but there must have been a second or two where he was thinking about how he dared treat Shen Wei the same way he treats all the people who are not the BCE. *g*

Heh, yes, Chu Shuzhi probably remembered the interrogation and was mortified that he was so disrespectful then. :D

This is such a good scene, and such a good post. ♥

We don’t see all of it, and we don’t see the teams’ reaction to the news.

Which is a tragedy! I would so have loved to see everyone react. But especially Chu Shuzhi, yeah.

We didn’t see Chu Shuzhi’s reaction to being told that Shen Wei is the BCE. How do you think he reacted? Was he shocked? Did he believe Zhu Hong right away?

I think he had a moment of shock, and then he was all, duh, now everything makes sense! And then the dread of realising he's been disrespectful to the Envoy. :D

How did he react to the team deciding to greet She Wei with that not very respectful “Hi, Black-Cloaked Lordship”. :)

I don't think it bothered him overly much - he's used to SID shenanigans. But of course he wasn't going to join in.

And what did Shen Wei think after that greeting? He was surprised, sure, but to me it doesn’t seem as if he was that much surprised. He must have suspected that Zhu Hong would tell the rest of the team. Or did he think that she would stay silent? Did he consider telling the rest of the SID himself?

Yeah, I think he expected them to know after he revealed himself in front of Zhu Hong. And at that point I don't think he thought it mattered any more. He didn't bother to ask her to keep it quiet, just let things happen from there. I suppose he didn't expect them to confront him with their knowledge the way they did! But like Chu Shuzhi, he's used to the SID by now. *g*

Which is a tragedy! I would so have loved to see everyone react. But especially Chu Shuzhi, yeah.

Yes, I wanted to see Chu Shuzhi's reaction the most. But it would be wonderful to see the reaction of the rest of them, too.

I suppose he didn't expect them to confront him with their knowledge the way they did! But like Chu Shuzhi, he's used to the SID by now. *g*

Heh, probably. I really like the way nnozomi described it above: "oh my god how could they do this to me, but they mean well, they deserve a smile, oh dear," :DDD

Ahh, what a great post for a great scene! (That gif! ♥___♥) I'm really enjoying all the discussion, too. :-)

I like that Shen Wei didn't ask Zhu Hong to keep his identity a secret. It's one thing with Zhao Yunlan, who a) kind of tricked him into revealing himself, and b) is the chief of the SID. But it's such a huge secret for Zhu Hong to keep to herself. So I wonder if Shen Wei, knowing the cat was out of the bag, meant to take Chu Shuzhi aside to tell him but didn't get a chance because of Zhao Yunlan's blindness. So some of the apology is, "I'm sorry you had to hear it from someone else."

I also wonder if Chu Shuzhi knew about the camera in the banner, and whether he's retrospectively appalled at the invasion of the Envoy's privacy.

Like a lot of people, I would have loved to see Chu Shuzhi's reaction to finding out, and also the rest of the SID's reaction to lao-Chu's finding out. I feel like once they'd got over their own incredulity, they'd all turn to him and ask, "Did you know?" "How could the Envoy be a Haixing professor?" "Are you enrolled in all his classes?" and so on, and being generally irreverent, so he probably stomped off to have his feelings in private. *pets him*

And of course, I adore Zhao Yunlan's "Hey, don't forget I'm your boss!" reaction and Chu Shuzhi's huff-and-eyeroll-y response. ♥

I feel like once they'd got over their own incredulity, they'd all turn to him and ask, "Did you know?" "How could the Envoy be a Haixing professor?" "Are you enrolled in all his classes?" and so on, and being generally irreverent, so he probably stomped off to have his feelings in private. *pets him*

This is hilarious, and now I'm even sadder that we didn't get to see Chu Shuzhi and the team's reaction.

:D :D :D

(I couldn't help myself and wrote it as a fic, jsyk.)

So I wonder if Shen Wei, knowing the cat was out of the bag, meant to take Chu Shuzhi aside to tell him but didn't get a chance because of Zhao Yunlan's blindness.
Now I really want a fic where Shen Wei does tell him the truth!

*dares you to write it* (Write it!!)

So I wonder if Shen Wei, knowing the cat was out of the bag, meant to take Chu Shuzhi aside to tell him but didn't get a chance because of Zhao Yunlan's blindness. So some of the apology is, "I'm sorry you had to hear it from someone else."

Oh, I haven't thought about that, but yes, Shen Wei probably did mean to tell Chu Shuzhi himself, but didn't manage to find the time, what with the visit from Ye Zun and Zhao Yunlan's blindness. And now I really want that fic, too. :)

I would have loved to see Chu Shuzhi's reaction to finding out, and also the rest of the SID's reaction to lao-Chu's finding out. I feel like once they'd got over their own incredulity, they'd all turn to him and ask, "Did you know?" "How could the Envoy be a Haixing professor?" "Are you enrolled in all his classes?" and so on, and being generally irreverent, so he probably stomped off to have his feelings in private.

LOL Yes, they would ask him if he knew for sure. Poor Chu Shuzhi, having to deal with finding out about his hero's secret identity and with his annoying and disrespectful coworkers at the same time. :DDD

Poor Chu Shuzhi, having to deal with finding out about his hero's secret identity and with his annoying and disrespectful coworkers at the same time. :DDD

I couldn't help myself -- I had to write it. :-)

You know, I feel like Shen Wei was maybe actually sort of relieved that everybody finally knew? He must have known there was no way he could keep the secret indefinitely, and not having to struggle to keep his two identities separate around everyone must have been a somewhat welcome change, even if it wasn't what he'd actually wanted. He seems a bit relieved about Zhao Yunlan finally finding out his identity, and given that he knows he can trust the SID members not to make trouble for him, it seems like he'd have similar feelings about them knowing, too.

I really wish we'd seen Chu Shuzhi's reaction, though. I'd love to know whether he already subconsciously suspected it, or if he was completely shocked. (I tend to imagine it like

trobadora said -- Chu Shuzhi being momentarily shocked and then like... yeah, okay, a lot of things suddenly make sense, how did I not figure this out before...)

I tend to imagine it like trobadora said -- Chu Shuzhi being momentarily shocked and then like... yeah, okay, a lot of things suddenly make sense, how did I not figure this out before...

Yes, I think so, too. I think he definitely would have this reaction, like: "I should have known". :)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Focus on: Shen Wei apologizes to Chu Shuzhi, from episode 21

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject