Focus on: Zhao Yunlan finds out his father has been kidnapped

[sakana17]

Scene: Zhao Yunlan finds out his father and Minister Gao have been kidnapped

Note: I am using the English subtitles QCed by solo

Location of scene: Episode 28, 25:37-29:43


Summary of the scene:

Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei, and the SID team at the SID are going through reports for clues about Sha Ya and the Master of the Merit Brush.



Guo Ying comes in and tells them that one of the Haixing Inspectorate's official vehicles was found and all three people inside are missing. He doesn't immediately say who's missing, and Zhao Yunlan gets angry because he warned the Inspectorate to be on the alert for Wang Xiangyang, the Master of the Merit Brush.



Guo Ying hands Zhao Yunlan the note Wang Xiangyang left, written in blood: "Three graves." Zhao Yunlan looks at Shen Wei, and says Wang Xiangyang is about to make his final move.

Lin Jing asks who's missing. Zhao Yunlan asks if Minister Gao is one of them.



Guo Ying breaks the news: not just Minister Gao but Director Zhao, too. Zhao Yunlan is in shock. He clutches his head and sees flashes of the vision he had before (in episode 21) of his father slumped in a car with blood on his head. "The vision back then was about today."





He gets off the table and stumbles. Shen Wei, Guo Ying, and Lin Jing help him stand.



Shen Wei holds onto him and tells him, "Their safety is in our hands now. We must keep our heads." He pats Zhao Yunlan's back.





Guo Ying is worried that the hostages will be killed.



Shen Wei reasons that Wang Xiangyang is taking them, step by step, to experience his hatred.







The Haixing Inspectorate will suppress the news to prevent panic, and Guo Ying asks the SID to take point. As he leaves, Zhao Yunlan picks up the note.



Shen Wei watches him.



Zhu Hong notices more writing on it, and Lin Jing reads: "24 hours to crack the code starting from 12 midnight."



It's 12 midnight now. Zhao Yunlan holds the note, repeating to himself: "24 hours to crack the code starting from 12 midnight." Then he angrily kicks one of the chairs and breaks it. He yells, "A fruit seller! Thinks he's a master spy!" Shen Wei goes over to him and places a hand on his arm, telling him to calm down.



He says to Zhao Yunlan: "You know how different you are from your father. So why would he recommend you as Chief of the SID? Because he believes in you."



Zhao Yunlan slowly seems to listen to what he's saying.



Shen Wei continues: "Zhao Yunlan. You are now the Chief of the SID. The Lord Guardian. If you lose it now the whole city will be in chaos. Do you understand?" Zhao Yunlan, jaw clenched, nods a bit.



Hands shaking, he takes the note and sits down on the stairs, more calmly focusing on it. Shen Wei watches him.








Why I chose this scene:

See screencaps above! :D
I chose it for two reasons: Angst. Comfort.

Zhao Yunlan is upset and losing it. His emotions are raw and completely on display, which is startling from him, especially in front of his team and Guo Ying. Shen Wei is clearly worried about him and comforts him with touch and with calm counsel. To me, this is one of the most intimate scenes between them in the whole show.

Like other important emotional moments between them -- Shen Wei restoring Zhao Yunlan's sight with the Longevity Dial in episode 22, Shen Wei leaving to go to Dixing alone in episode 29 -- it happens in the SID and in front of everyone. But this makes the scene feel more intimate to me. The others are there, but as Zhao Yunlan becomes increasingly upset and shaken up, he responds to and listens to Shen Wei, and only Shen Wei attempts to calm him. And I love that Shen Wei uses touch as well as words -- holding him up, patting his back, touching his arm. No hesitation in front of the others. It is Shen Wei's place to comfort Zhao Yunlan, and everyone knows it and respects it. It speaks to an understanding of the closeness of their relationship. It also demonstrates how Shen Wei is on the same footing as Zhao Yunlan in the SID space, at least to the team. Paraphrasing how a friend described it: the SID "dad" is upset, but fortunately "other dad" is there to comfort him. ♥

Questions:

How might Zhao Yunlan have handled it if Shen Wei hadn't been there when he got the news? What would've happened? Could anyone else in the SID get through to Zhao Yunlan as effectively? (Perhaps as a group they could?)

I've always been interested in this tidbit of information from Shen Wei: that Zhao Xinci recommended Zhao Yunlan to be Chief of the SID. Any thoughts or theories? Was it Zhao Xinci or Zhang Shi who made the recommendation? Did Zhao Yunlan always know his father recommended him? How did he feel about being recommended by his father?

Thoughts, reactions, squee, fanwork recs, anything related to this scene welcome!

Comments

[sakana17]

but it might've calmed him enough to think about his responsibilities to the city and get his mind going on solving the riddle.

Oh, yes, I can see that, and I like the idea of Xiao Guo stepping up to be earnest and hopeful and "we'll solve this" because he would be.

What really gets me about this scene is the touching

Yes, me too. ♥ That's a good point about Shen Wei rarely initiating touch, and when he does it's more or less utilitarian. One could make the case that the almost-hug here is also utilitarian -- they are grabbing Zhao Yunlan to keep him upright -- but Shen Wei doesn't let go of him like the others do, and patting Zhao Yunlan on the back is pure comfort. ♥ ♥ As is the arm touch later in the scene.

doesn't hesitate to use it, even in a public setting

I really love that about this scene!

He is young for his position

I'm trying to remember: is this mentioned in the show? (From Minister Gao, or Guo Ying, or anyone else?) I feel like there's some mention of it that I can't call to mind.

[china_shop]

I'm trying to remember: is this mentioned in the show? (From Minister Gao, or Guo Ying, or anyone else?) I feel like there's some mention of it that I can't call to mind.

In episode 2, Shen Wei tells xiao-Guo, "You should give him some consideration. He's so young, but is leading you through countless dangers." Might that be what you were thinking of?

[sakana17]

In episode 2, Shen Wei tells xiao-Guo, "You should give him some consideration. He's so young, but is leading you through countless dangers." Might that be what you were thinking of?

Maybe? I still vaguely feel there was something in passing from someone in the Haixing Inspectorate, but I may be completely off-base.

[elenothar]

but Shen Wei doesn't let go of him like the others do, and patting Zhao Yunlan on the back is pure comfort

<3 <3