Focus on: Zhao Yunlan meets the young Envoy in Allied Forces HQ, ep 34

[china_shop]

Ep 34, 35:52 - 38:26 (here on Youtube)
Viki subs, lightly edited; screencaps lightened a little.



Zhao Yunlan appears from behind a screen, wearing his Kunlun outfit.

ZYL: How is it? Does it have the feeling of a noble warrior?
怎么样 有没有一种 大侠的感觉

He starts making martial arts moves, playing dress-ups. *noogies*



Ma Gui: (enthusiastically) Yes. Very much so.
像 太像了

Fu You: (getting down to business) We used meteor fragments to create the Hallows. We initially intended for them to benefit all of Haixing. But unexpectedly, the Rebel Forces have stolen them. The moment they release all the Hallows' energy, the consequences will be unthinkable.
我们将陨石碎片制成圣器 本想造福整个海星 不料现在反抗团将圣器抢了去 一旦反抗团将这些圣器的能量全部释放 后果不堪设想

Ma Gui: Yes. Even we can't fully exploit all of the powers of the Hallows. Da Qing touched the Hallows accidentally before. It looked like he was affected somehow.
是啊 即使是我们也未能完全开发出圣器的全部效用 当年大庆不小心触碰了圣器 似乎也受到了某些影响

ZYL: That's right. Otherwise, how could Damn Cat have lived so long?
对了 要不然死胖猫怎么能活那么久啊

Fu You: Black-Cloaked Envoy, you're here!
黑袍使 你来了

This cuts off the conversation about the Hallows. I think Fu You was worried the Envoy might overhear Zhao Yunlan's indiscreet talk about Da Qing.



Envoy: Yes. I've just settled my men.
对 我刚安顿好我的部下





Zhao Yunlan is delighted to see him. He goes over, punches him on the arm in greeting and looks expectant. (I think he's half-hoping Shen Wei will recognise him the way Fu You and Ma Gui did, even though he didn't at the battlefield?)



Envoy: (sternly) You are?
你是

ZYL: You don't recognize me already?
你就不认识了



Zhao Yunlan pulls his hair off his face. He's such a dork. ❤



Envoy: You are... Benefactor!
你是... 恩人

Zhao Yunlan laughs in confirmation and approval.

Envoy: (cont.) So you were here.
原来你在这呢

He seems really happy to see Zhao Yunlan, not at all burdened by the debt he owes him. He must have thought their first meeting was random and not known how or where they would meet again -- plus to find him here in the Allied Forces HQ confirms Zhao Yunlan is a good guy.

He reacts to Zhao Yunlan's change of clothing. Fu You and Ma Gui exchange glances.

Envoy: But why are you...?
可是你 你怎么



ZYL: This... (He looks to Fu You and Ma Gui like, isn't he in on it? They don't fill in the gap, so he fumbles for a bit and just says:) It's a long story.
这... 说来话长

Not even bothering with a lie. The Envoy accepts that with a laugh.



Envoy: I still do not know how to repay you for saving my life.
之前的救命之恩我还不知道该如何报答你呢

ZYL: You want to repay me? Easy. Take off your mask and smile.
想报恩啊 简单 把你的面具摘了笑一个

I think there's three ways to read this: 1) literally, 2) euphemistically, and 3) metaphorically, ie, step outside your role and live a happy life. The Envoy's reaction suggests he's leapt straight to door #2. He looks self-consciously at Ma Gui and Fu You, like he can't believe they're talking about such private matters in front of them, then earnestly offers himself to Zhao Yunlan... but later.





Envoy: When everything is finished, whatever wishes Benefactor has, I will fulfill them to my utmost ability.
等大事了结之后 恩人有任何的要求 我都会尽力满足的

I mean, he's definitely talking about sex, right?





ZYL: (echoes) After everything's finished...
大事了结之后

He says it with good-natured disapproval(?). I feel like he's heard this line before! (Possibly also when talking about sex?) Then he remembers that Shen Wei was just nearly killed in battle.

ZYL: How are your injuries?
你之前的伤怎么样了

He looks genuinely concerned, and the Envoy breathes a laugh.

Envoy: It's just a small wound. You don't need to worry.
小伤而已 恩人不必担心

This also sounds familiar to Zhao Yunlan. He sucks in a critical breath and gently scolds him.



ZYL: You have not changed even after 10,000 years. According to you, when can you ever be hurt?
你这个人还有是一万年都没变 对于你来说 你什么时候能受个伤啊

He sighs loudly and walks off, apparently having forgotten Ma Gui and Fu You were even there.





The Envoy turns to watch him go, pauses for, seriously, 10 seconds or more while he contemplates Zhao Yunlan's shameless charisma and unprecedented scolding, and the promise Zhao Yunlan just extracted from him, and then follows -- also without acknowledging Fu You and Ma Gui.

Some observations

• I think Zhao Yunlan's theatrics and goofing around are a coping strategy for suddenly finding himself flung into a time so dramatically different from his own: pretend it's all make-believe. The whole thing is incredible, and he doesn't have much choice but faking it till he makes it. (And he's always been great at rolling at the punches.) I find his behaviour extremely (charmingly) dorky.


• I also love that he just picks up his friendship/relationship with Shen Wei, without hesitation, trusting in his welcome and in Shen Wei to play along.


• The Envoy's initial reaction of "How dare!" to being punched on the arm by a random stranger is fantastic and says so much.


• And then, once he recognises his benefactor, he's all enthusiasm, smiles and laughs -- far more open about his emotions than we see him in contemporary Dragon City.


• I wonder if Zhao Yunlan is the first person to ever scold the Envoy for neglecting his own well-being (on top of all the other firsts).


• As far as we know, Fu You and Ma Gui aren't aware Zhao Yunlan knows Shen Wei in the future, and they seem to be in the habit of keeping the Envoy on the outside. (I love all the fanfic that has Kunlun drawing the young Envoy into the inner circle of leadership.)

Questions

1. What do you think Zhao Yunlan means by "take off your mask and smile"? Is he speaking literally? And what do you think the Envoy thinks he means?
2. What do you think made Shen Wei so much more reserved in the future -- meeting Ye Zun again, losing Kunlun, twenty plus years' waiting in modern day Dragon City... all of the above? Something else?
3. What is the Envoy thinking in that pause before he follows Zhao Yunlan out of the chamber?
4. Any thoughts about parallels between this and their first meeting in episode 1?
5. What might the pink glowy thing in the background be? What other technology might the Allied Forces have had?

Comments

[trobadora]

I'll be back later with more thoughts, but for now:

I think there's three ways to read this: 1) literally, 2) euphemistically, and 3) metaphorically, ie, step outside your role and live a happy life. The Envoy's reaction suggests he's leapt straight to door #2. He looks self-consciously at Ma Gui and Fu You, like he can't believe they're talking about such private matters in front of them, then earnestly offers himself to Zhao Yunlan... but later.

The way I read it, the Envoy isn't going straight to interpretation #2. To me it seems more like he's actually running through the options of what ZYL might mean, not really arriving at a definite conclusion (though absolutely considering #2!), and then going, "either way, not NOW!" *g*

[china_shop]

*nodnod* I think it's deliberately ambiguous, at least partly because censorship, and your take may well be correct/intended. Though I'm not sure option three would occur to him? But he might well be unsure if Zhao Yunlan means #1 or #2.

(I still like my interpretation. :-)

[trobadora]

Yeah, agreed, #3 probably wouldn't occur to him. His list would have been more like, "1) literal, 2) metaphoric, 3) ??? something else ???". *g*

(Do you really think he's literally offering himself to a stranger just because that person saved his life? He doesn't know ZYL at all yet.)

[china_shop]

(Nothing about his reactions makes sense in terms of ZYL being a total stranger. He's so openly delighted to see him again. But I'm sure he takes the debt seriously, and I don't know how else to interpret "whatever wishes Benefactor has, I will fulfill them to my utmost ability". [ETA: If he was taking it literally, like, how much ability does it take to remove a mask?] Like, that's carte blanche, right there? And ZYL isn't exactly not leering...?)

[donutsweeper]

The injuries convo here always gets me. ZYL's reactions to that are so great and mirror his earlier reactions back in his apartment while the Envoy's like... boggling at someone asking, like it hadn't occurred to him that it mattered.

And of course, through the whole first meeting between them Fu You and Ma Gui are there kind of 'wait, they're flirting? They do know we're standing right here, don't they?'

[china_shop]

ZYL's reactions to that are so great and mirror his earlier reactions back in his apartment while the Envoy's like... boggling at someone asking, like it hadn't occurred to him that it mattered.

Yes! They're so them, even though they've just met (again)! *pets bb!Envoy who's never had anyone to care*

through the whole first meeting between them Fu You and Ma Gui are there kind of 'wait, they're flirting? They do know we're standing right here, don't they?'

LOL, I know! They might as well have ceased to exist. *g*

[trobadora]

He's delighted to see the guy who randomly saved him, who he presumably thought he wouldn't see again or be able to repay; I think that makes sense. And he does take the debt seriously. But I don't think he actually thinks ZYL means it literally in the sexual sense, though he's clearly aware of that potential reading. And he promises repayment at some unspecified later point, putting it off for potentially a very long time and making sure ZYL can't reasonably ask anything from him for now. I also don't think ZYL is actually leering, honestly. Flirting, sure, but that's not the same thing.

That's my take on this exchange, anyway.

[china_shop]

(I think I'm taking this less seriously than you are. Sorry! It may be partly the music, and ZYL being so ridiculous with his hair. :-)

And he promises repayment at some unspecified later point, putting it off for potentially a very long time and making sure ZYL can't reasonably ask anything from him for now.

Oh, do you think that's him stalling? I thought it was "war first, personal stuff later."

You're right about the leering. He's not leering. He's just being super pleased to see him in a surprisingly-to-the-Envoy personal way that the Envoy is unused to and doesn't have any context for.

ETA: Also, the way ZYL phrases his request, with the smile, it's clearly not like "I want to use you," even if you read it as a sexual proposition. It's more like, "I want to show you a good time."

[trobadora]

I think he's stalling AND being "war first". Multitasking! *g*

And yeah, I find ZYL's enthusiasm and pleasure at meeting young!Shen Wei so charming! I'm not surprised Shen Wei is charmed by it as well, even if he's also very "??? are you for real?!" about it.

(Not taking it that seriously is probably better! Taking it seriously, the idea that SW might actually be offering himself sexually is so deeply unpleasant to me, I can't.)

[china_shop]

I think stalling would be slightly evading-his-obligations, and being "war first" is deeply in character...

And yeah, I find ZYL's enthusiasm and pleasure at meeting young!Shen Wei so charming! I'm not surprised Shen Wei is charmed by it as well, even if he's also very "??? are you for real?!" about it.

So charming! So fond and "I know you" and "I care about your well-being." *pets the Envoy, who didn't stand a chance against that* :-)

Taking it seriously, the idea that SW might actually be offering himself sexually is so deeply unpleasant to me, I can't.

Yeah, that's gross (though maybe not that unusual, historically speaking? especially for women?) -- luckily, ZYL would definitely think so too, and not let that attitude stand for even a second.

(And yeah, much less squicky if you take the request literally...)

[trobadora]

I mean, if he didn't want to stall/evade anything at all, he'd have to take off his mask then and there as ZYL asked. But it's an inappropriately personal request even without taking the flirty/sexual subtext in consideration, so going "uh ... later?" is IMO a very polite way to deal with that.

(Totally agreed about ZYL thinking so too!)

[china_shop]

There's a difference between "uh... later?" and "When all this is over..." But I don't want to keep pushing this if you don't like it.

[trobadora]

We're clearly not seeing this the same way; better agree to disagree then.

[china_shop]

Fwiw, I don't think we're seeing things that differently. :-)

(And now I've had more thoughts. Can I blurt them at you?)

[trobadora]

Feel free to blurt!

[china_shop]

In the next scene, ZYL steals the mask and makes Shen Wei smile, right? And then Shen Wei says, "By the way, Kunlun, the life that I owe you, I will definitely return it to you." And ZYL says, "You have already returned it. Many times over."

So whatever Shen Wei thinks is being asked of him here, in the scene this post is about, it gets overwritten very quickly. I think you could read it that he thinks "take off your mask and smile" is obviously too trivial to count as repayment for such a debt, which is why he's confused, or you could read it as "this is a euphemism for sex" is a misunderstanding that ZYL clears up by making the literal thing he asked for happen. Or possibly both?

[trobadora]

Oh, yeah, that's a good point about the mask. I think once they actually talked to each other, yeah, whatever Shen Wei originally assumed Zhao Yunlan meant (no matter what it was), it got overridden quickly. And also he's not stalling on paying back his debt; he's waiting for a suitable opportunity. So probably that's what was implied in the original "after the war" was, too - stalling on the frivolous request because he plans to pay him back in a non-frivolous way.

[china_shop]

I think once they actually talked to each other, yeah, whatever Shen Wei originally assumed Zhao Yunlan meant (no matter what it was), it got overridden quickly.

Yes! They've always been good at understanding each other (which is why contemporary ZYL was so aware of Shen Wei's secrets). *hearts them*

And also he's not stalling on paying back his debt; he's waiting for a suitable opportunity. So probably that's what was implied in the original "after the war" was, too - stalling on the frivolous request because he plans to pay him back in a non-frivolous way.

Yeah, whatever he's thinking there, "after the war" only makes sense. He has an important job to do! He's focused! Priorities! (And given ZYL's reaction and repeating the line, I do wonder whether modern-day Shen Wei has taken a similar stance...)

[velithya]

What do you think Zhao Yunlan means by "take off your mask and smile"? Is he speaking literally? And what do you think the Envoy thinks he means?

I get the impression that the Envoy is very used to being seen as a thing/weapon/representative of Dixing first and a person never; I personally think that he doesn't go unmasked at any point unless he's forced to do so. So I think when he gets asked to take off his mask and smile, it comes up hard against that wall of vulnerability and intimacy that the Envoy has literally never had anyone try and cross before. And just to jump straight to question 3 - then when Zhao Yunlan follows that up with asking him about his injuries (!) and then scolding him for not taking care of himself (!!) it just compounds that... and the Envoy is so shocked that he just needs a minute to process what just happened before he follows him. (Because at that point, he can't not follow him - this person saved his life and then talked to him like a person! - because I don't think the Envoy has ever had that kind of interaction with another person and I think it would be a little bit terrifying and a lot mesmerising.

[china_shop]

I personally think that he doesn't go unmasked at any point unless he's forced to do so. So I think when he gets asked to take off his mask and smile, it comes up hard against that wall of vulnerability and intimacy that the Envoy has literally never had anyone try and cross before.

Ohhhh, yes! I agree 1000% (and was perhaps a bit glib in my post, oops!). *hearts*

unless he's forced to do so

And who's going to force him? Who could? It must have been so strange for him when the Rebel Chief knocked his mask off in battle. He must have felt practically naked! And that's the exact moment Kunlun arrives in his life!

and the Envoy is so shocked that he just needs a minute to process what just happened before he follows him. (Because at that point, he can't not follow him - this person saved his life and then talked to him like a person! - because I don't think the Envoy has ever had that kind of interaction with another person and I think it would be a little bit terrifying and a lot mesmerising.

Yeah, absolutely! I mean, he doesn't even really have a name at that point, not one that anyone knows or uses. *cries a little* Oh, Shen Wei! (Thank goodness he gets to taste life's other flavours, eventually!)

[velithya]

Oh I didn't find you glib! I didn't realise the potential euphemistic connotation either but I'm not 100% sure that's my reading of what he's thinking - but even if he's not taking it that way I definitely think it's very much an intimate request of a different sort for sure.

> And who's going to force him? Who could?

Exactly! Even here as a young Dixingren the Envoy is untouchable - he gives Zhao Yunlan such a dirty look for daring before he recognises him.
(and I LOVE the complete 180 he goes through hehehe)

I actually jumped ahead and watched this episode the other night and I was surprised by just how long the camera stays on the Envoy after Zhao Yunlan leaves in this scene, so we can get the full range of stare - head duck/look down - deciding to follow.

[trepkos]

I have nothing to add, but find all these discussions very helpful!

[nnozomi]

I love your exegesis, including the photos and bilingual text. So many good ideas. Vague reactions below:
Poor Fu You, you can see her going “give me strength, somebody do something about all these idiot men” at regular intervals. (Someone please write the time-travel fic where she and Zhu Hong get to go out drinking together, whether it’s a sisterly mentorship Yashou thing or they end up in bed?).
...wow, Shen Wei really, really imprinted on Zhao Yunlan at absolute first sight, didn’t he, when just seeing him again brings out this helpless delighted smile.
I think there's three ways to read this: 1) literally, 2) euphemistically, and 3) metaphorically, ie, step outside your role and live a happy life.
this actually makes me very sad, because Zhao Yunlan knows it’s not going to happen (maybe 1 or 2, but not 3, and he wants it for Shen Wei so much)
ZYL: You have not changed even after 10,000 years. According to you, when can you ever be hurt?
or maybe “yeah, like you ever admit to being hurt” or similar. I wonder what the other three are making of the “10,000 years” line. Poor Zhao Yunlan, running into this same helpless frustration, and poor little!Shen Wei, completely confused and so, so smitten.

I think Zhao Yunlan's theatrics and goofing around are a coping strategy for suddenly finding himself flung into a time so dramatically different from his own: pretend it's all make-believe.
One of my absolute favorite Zhao Yunlan moments happens a little before this scene, at the moment when he recognizes who Ma Gui is and gives a short laugh—“How is this my life?” and also “this is ridiculous and amazing and I’m gonna give it what I got if I’m here.” ♡

What do you think made Shen Wei so much more reserved in the future -- meeting Ye Zun again, losing Kunlun, twenty plus years' waiting in modern day Dragon City... all of the above? Something else?
Oh, all of the above, especially since it’s not just twenty years of waiting but twenty years of deliberately holding himself apart from anyone he could actually become close to (as Hei Pao Shi) and living with a huge secret he can’t ever tell anyone (as Professor Shen). Re Ye Zun and Kunlun as well, Shen Wei was taught in the absolute most painful way possible that wholehearted love for someone is going to tear the heart out of you, and I don’t think he ever recovers from it.

[trobadora]

And given ZYL's reaction and repeating the line, I do wonder whether modern-day Shen Wei has taken a similar stance..

I thought ZYL's reaction was about Shen Wei saying similar things like "I'll definitely tell you some day" and so on, but that would work too. From Shen Wei's perspective, it might make sense to hold off until the time loop completes ...

[trobadora]

I personally think that he doesn't go unmasked at any point unless he's forced to do so

Yes, this! And no one would ever ask him to, except perhaps an enemy doing it as a taunt, so this must be very weird to him. ♥ ♥ ♥