sid_guardian | Focus on: Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan’s conversation with Minister Gao (mention of Zhao Xinci)

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Focus on: Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan’s conversation with Minister Gao (mention of Zhao Xinci)

Location: ep 14, 22:31-24:32 (transcripts from Viki subs, screencaps from me.)

Hi everyone! This is my first scene discussion post on this comm, so I’m still kind of figuring out how this works :)

To provide some context, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan are meeting with Minister Gao at his office (supposedly to discuss Zheng Yi’s case, as Zhao Yunlan tells Shen Wei on the car ride over, though that doesn’t really happen). Before they sit down to talk, Minister Gao asks Shen Wei how he was persuaded to join SID as a consultant and we get a delightful flashback :)

***

The Scene

We start off with the three of them moving to the couch to talk (and with Zhao Yunlan *guiding* Shen Wei with a hand on his back - he really has a hard time keeping his hands off Shen Wei, doesn’t he? :P)

Then Minister Gao brings up the topic of Zhao Yunlan’s self-criticism (written by Shen Wei, hehe), and they sort of exchange side-ways panicked gazes without full-on eye contact.

Zhao Yunlan is a little worried when Minister Gao doesn’t continue. He clearly doesn’t expect praise, but he gets it.

Minister Gao: Amazing! You wrote it so well! 好写得太好了

Chief Zhao, I never thought you were so knowledgeable about our traditions and cultures. 赵处长没想到你对传统文化有那么深的造诣

Such flowing and high expressive self-criticism! 一篇检讨写得是洋洋洒洒

Zhao Yunlan’s worry transforms into relieved laughter.

Shen Wei ducks his head and smiles too.

Zhao Yunlan claps Shen Wei on the shoulder at this, both in thanks and because again, he has trouble keeping his hands to himself, hehe.

Then Minister Gao brings up Zhao Xinci by saying (to Zhao Yunlan): You are indeed the son of Brother Xinci. 真不愧是心慈兄的公子

Shen Wei is immediately on his guard and you can see Zhao Yunlan’s face just fall a little at the mention of his father, even while he keeps a polite mask in place (SO MANY FEELS)

Minister Gao tells them that Zhao Xinci is a friend and role model of his, and that he was recently promoted to the position of Director-General of the Xingdu Bureau (星督局局长). Minister Gao goes on to explain more about the Bureau when Shen Wei asks.

As Minister Gao is explaining, we get a shot of Zhao Yunlan with his hands folded together on his leg, a far cry from his previously open and relaxed posture and body language when he was clapping Shen Wei on the shoulder.

Zhao Yunlan: He was promoted again? 原来他又高升了呀

Minister Gao: He didn't tell you? 怎么心慈兄在家里每根你说过

Zhao Yunlan: He doesn't talk much. 他老人家不大爱说话

As Minister Gao comments that Zhao Xinci shouldn’t be so serious at home, Shen Wei is glancing down at Zhao Yunlan’s hands, which are now clenched tighter and tighter.

Shen Wei clearly observes Zhao Yunlan’s reaction and his tight, withdrawn expression. We get a close-up of Shen Wei’s own expression and then a wider shot.

After seeing Zhao Yunlan's reaction, Shen Wei asks Minister Gao if has anything else to discuss with them.

Shen Wei: Minister, do you have anything else to say that's why you called us over here? 高部长您今天叫我们过来是不是有什么事要交代?

Shen Wei’s question successfully changes the subject.

Minister Gao: Did you notice a strange man holding a camera in his hand 在黄朝阳家的那场风波里你们有没有注意到

Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan exchange glances again, and Zhao Yunlan’s previously withdrawn expression has turned focused and speculative with this new topic. They go to discuss Cong Bo and the possible threat he poses to the SID, but I’ll end my scene recap here and move on to my observations.

***

Favorite Things about this Scene/Observations:

I picked this scene because I love how in tune Shen Wei is with Zhao Yunlan’s reaction and body language when Zhao Xinci is mentioned. His reaction is subtle but it says so much (protective and pained on Zhao Yunlan's behalf). The way he distracts Minister Gao with his question towards the end of the scene so they can move on to a less emotionally fraught topic gives me all the feels <3 In an email to china_shop, I highlighted this part of the scene as a parallel to Shen Wei noticing that Zhao Yunlan doesn’t want to drink in ep 11 so he swoops in to drink on Zhao Yunlan’s behalf (and then faints :P). This moment is a little less obvious, but I really enjoy the similarities.

One of my favorite Weilan things is how aware they are of each other and this scene is a
great example of that.

I’ve mentioned this already, but I LOVE that Zhao Yunlan guides Shen Wei to the couch with a hand on his back (it’s so unnecessary and yet we have it), and the little happy shoulder clap is so great too.

There’s also quite a bit of eye contact in this scene between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan, both when Minister Gao brings up the self-criticism) and later on when the topic moves on to Cong Bo, and I always love that.

Shen Wei smiles when Minister Gao says he never expected Zhao Yunlan to be so knowledgeable about traditions and cultures. Obviously, he’s smiling because they successfully got Minister Gao believing Zhao Yunlan wrote the self-criticism but I like to think he’s also smiling because when it comes to knowing Zhao Yunlan well, Shen Wei is an expert :D

When Minister Gao first mentions Zhao Xinci, Shen Wei’s expression and demeanor transforms from relieved (about the self-criticism) to careful, and I’d say protective (8th screencap). I think Zhao Yunlan hasn’t yet mentioned his father to Shen Wei when we get to this scene - I could be remembering wrong though. It’s a detail I really like.

Questions:

Do you think Shen Wei asked about Xingdu Bureau as a way to keep the Minister’s focus on him and away from Zhao Yunlan, or did he also want more information about the Bureau?

What do you think Shen Wei is thinking about Zhao Yunlan’s reaction to the mention of Zhao Xinci given his own professional history with ZXC?

What do you like about this scene? :)

I haven’t read any fanworks that focus specifically on this scene (although there are many wonderful Episode 14 codas!), but I’ve missed one or some, please do link me!

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Aaah fabulous screenshots, and I love your attention to their body language/facial expressions! They interact in such layered ways here.

One of my favorite Weilan things is how aware they are of each other and this scene is a
great example of that.

100% THIS. They are in tune, and when ZYL's response to the mention of his dad changes the melody to minor key, SW adapts immediately.

I think Zhao Yunlan hasn’t yet mentioned his father to Shen Wei when we get to this scene

I think so too! Which, oof, if my timeline memory is accurate, means that ZYL talked to SW about his mom before ever mentioning his dad. Of course, SW knows who his dad is, but I don't know if he has been given any clues about the nature of their relationship before. I feel like SW would not have guessed how ZYL feels about his dad, unless Zhao senior actually badmouthed his son to the BCE? Who knows. I love that SW is so quick to understand and sympathize in this moment.

I love that SW is so quick to understand and sympathize in this moment.

♥ Me, too! ♥

I feel like Zhao Xinci wouldn't have been on close enough terms with the BCE to talk much about his son (or about his personal life in general, for that matter). I imagine them having strictly business interactions, with not a lot of chatting...

That reminds me of another thing I find interesting in this scene: Minister Gao, who is Zhao Xinci's buddy, has no idea that Zhao Yunlan and his dad don't get along well.

Minister Gao, who is Zhao Xinci's buddy, has no idea that Zhao Yunlan and his dad don't get along well.
Oh, a good catch. I'm pretty sure Minister Gao also doesn't know Zhao Xinci has (preexisting) heart trouble. My impression is that Zhao Xinci a) is VERY tight-lipped about his personal life and always has been, and b) doesn't consider Minister Gao someone close enough/trustworthy enough to break this personal rule for. (Does ZXC have any actual close friends? If not, is it because he works too much, because he can be a jerk, because he's being careful not to reveal Zhang Shi's presence in his head? Okay, I will stop now before I get started on my usual ZXC thing).

Does ZXC have any actual close friends? If not, is it because he works too much, because he can be a jerk, because he's being careful not to reveal Zhang Shi's presence in his head?

All of those things! Hmm, I wonder how many friends he had pre-Zhang Shi. He was probably closer to Minister Gao then, them being cop partners, but do you think he had a wider circle of friends, too? I suspect most of his "friends" now are politically convenient...

Okay, I will stop now before I get started on my usual ZXC thing

I love your usual ZXC thing!

I feel like Zhao Xinci wouldn't have been on close enough terms with the BCE to talk much about his son (or about his personal life in general, for that matter). I imagine them having strictly business interactions, with not a lot of chatting...

And probably not many of those, either, or Shen Wei would have known Da Qing was working at the SID and been paying more attention.

I suspect most of their interactions were like Zhao Yunlan's first meeting with the Envoy on the university rooftop -- "Here's the prisoner, here are the charges, take him away!"

This is a scene that I haven't thought about enough, honestly. And I love how you caught Zhao Yunlan's inability to keep his hands off of Shen Wei XD

In thinking about Shen Wei witnessing Zhao Yunlan's reaction to the mention of Zhao Xinci, one thing that came to mind was Shen Wei's relationship with Ye Zun. Not that it's the same as Zhao Yunlan's experience with his father, but it's still a complicated, messy, uncomfortable family dynamic. Definitely not the kind of thing one wants to discuss in that kind of setting.

I interpreted the shift as Shen Wei witnessing Zhao Yunlan's obvious discomfort about family and going into protect mode. I'm sure he'd like to get more info on the Bureau, but he didn't have to step in at that specific moment to get information. he could probably have learned a lot just by listening to Minister Gao and Zhao Yunlan talking.

I really enjoyed reading your take on this scene!

In thinking about Shen Wei witnessing Zhao Yunlan's reaction to the mention of Zhao Xinci, one thing that came to mind was Shen Wei's relationship with Ye Zun. Not that it's the same as Zhao Yunlan's experience with his father, but it's still a complicated, messy, uncomfortable family dynamic. Definitely not the kind of thing one wants to discuss in that kind of setting.

Oh, that's a good point. Shen Wei very much understands the kind of reticence and need for privacy that comes with ~complicated family relationships, especially in a work setting!

and going into protect mode

Yesss, I love that! :-)

Do you think Shen Wei asked about Xingdu Bureau as a way to keep the Minister’s focus on him and away from Zhao Yunlan, or did he also want more information about the Bureau? -- I do think he went for two reasons. The first to support ZYL but also to try and scope out what's going on at the Bureau.

What do you think Shen Wei is thinking about Zhao Yunlan’s reaction to the mention of Zhao Xinci given his own professional history with ZXC? -- I think once ZYL is triggered Shen Wei goes into protection mode which leads into let me divert this conversation flow to something else, something safer for ZYL.

What do you like about this scene? :) -- My fave parts of this scene is the interplay between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan. I also loved the fact that they showed his hands clasped together, more relaxed, and then after his father is mentioned they go to nail biting into skin and that Shen Wei saw that. A very good byplay!

Very nice write-up!!

I think once ZYL is triggered Shen Wei goes into protection mode which leads into let me divert this conversation flow to something else, something safer for ZYL.

*nodnodnod* I agree. It's very deftly done, too. *admires Shen Wei's diplomatic handling of the situation* :-)

I think it's clear he doesn't know that Shen Wei is Heipaoshi - IMO he wouldn't be so casual with Dixing's Envoy

That's how I read it, too. The way Minister Gao is praising Professor Shen and then being casual with him doesn't fit with the kind of formality between Heipaoshi and Haixing institutions that we've seen.

mmm great point there's definitely a lot more formality! And I also think on top of that a lot more... suspicion too? I'm still working my way through the series but certainly from what I've seen so far, based on the way that other Haixing officials and especially Zhao Xinci react to him. Heipaoshi is a foreign dignitary with an incredible amount of power and is treated with formality and respect due to that but I think they're all also very aware that Heipaoshi is specifically a Dixing agent and especially with Professor Ouyang's lab having been greenlit in the background it seems like they're anticipating conflict with Dixing. It makes sense that they would want to keep him on the outs.

I really like Shen Wei in this scene - he's so switched on and alert, which I think starts out as that he's effectively "undercover" in the Ministry Office (Minister Gao might have seen him subdue the wedding party but do we know that he 100% knows Shen Wei is Dixingren?

Ooh, yeah, that undercoverness is a great point! (I assume Minister Gao realises Shen Wei is Dixingren. When they're talking about Cong Bo, Zhao Yunlan asks Minister Gao is he's a Dixingren, and Minister Gao said, "Worse! He's paparazzi!" So clearly Dixingren are spoken of openly in their meetings and not that big a leap for him to make, having seen Shen Wei use his powers.)

but in any case I think it's clear he doesn't know that Shen Wei is Heipaoshi - IMO he wouldn't be so casual with Dixing's Envoy)

Yes, 100% agreed. I think very few people in Haixing, if anyone, knows Shen Wei's official identity. (Personally, I think there's a good chance even ZXC doesn't know at this stage, though I know not many people agree with me.) Shen Wei has so many good reasons to keep it quiet, including not wanting to deal with bigoted officials objecting to a Dixingren teaching at a Haixing uni! (Interestingly, Minister Gao doesn't seem bothered by that at all, assuming he knows Shen Wei is Dixingren.)

I think that he asked the question to divert attention; getting information is a bonus but I don't think he particularly cared about Minister Gao's answer as long as it changed the topic away from Zhao Xinci. I think Zhao Yunlan's emotional state was his number one priority!

+100. :-)

> I assume Minister Gao realises Shen Wei is Dixingren. When they're talking about Cong Bo, Zhao Yunlan asks Minister Gao is he's a Dixingren, and Minister Gao said, "Worse! He's paparazzi!" So clearly Dixingren are spoken of openly in their meetings and not that big a leap for him to make, having seen Shen Wei use his powers.

Ahh right! I guess I thought that Zhao Xinci's anti-Dixing prejudice (and the rest of the Haixing Ministry given the green light to the serum research etc) was indicative of the general opinion of Haixing officials regarding Dixing and Dixingren, and it seemed a bit contradictory that Minister Gao would be so effusively full of praise for Shen Wei while also knowing that he's Dixingren. I know there are more Ministry interactions to come (from where I've seen up to) so I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for more clues in this respect!

> I think very few people in Haixing, if anyone, knows Shen Wei's official identity. (Personally, I think there's a good chance even ZXC doesn't know at this stage, though I know not many people agree with me.)

Oh, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this point! The two interactions that really stand out for me are when Zhao Yunlan is blind and Zhao Xinci warns him off associating with Shen Wei, and Zhao Xinci and Shen Wei's chat at the tea house during the merit brush arc. I can't remember off the top of my head if Zhao Xinci makes it explicitly clear he knows Shen Wei is Heipaoshi during the tea house chat, but it certainly seemed to be implied that that was the case? Him and Minister Gao are bros so I guess if Minister Gao finds out Shen Wei is Dixingren at the wedding then he could have told Zhao Xinci and that alone could have been enough for him to try and warn Zhao Yunlan off...

I guess I thought that Zhao Xinci's anti-Dixing prejudice (and the rest of the Haixing Ministry given the green light to the serum research etc) was indicative of the general opinion of Haixing officials regarding Dixing and Dixingren, and it seemed a bit contradictory that Minister Gao would be so effusively full of praise for Shen Wei while also knowing that he's Dixingren.

Hmm, good point. Maybe Minister Gao has a double standard kind of "Dixingren associated with the SID" vs "Dixingren generally"? And after all, Shen Wei is demonstrably and impressively respectable -- hard to dismiss as a monster!

Him and Minister Gao are bros so I guess if Minister Gao finds out Shen Wei is Dixingren at the wedding then he could have told Zhao Xinci and that alone could have been enough for him to try and warn Zhao Yunlan off...

Yes, that's my theory. (I keep rattling on about this in various places, so I won't do it again here: here's some discussion about how classified Shen Wei's Haixing identity might be / whether and when Zhao Xinci would have found out, and I put 95% of my meta about it into a Zhao Xinci POV fic about the meeting at the tea house. :-)

(The other moment that stands out to me is the end of the Merit Brush arc, on the rooftop when Zhao Xinci is being held hostage. When Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan show up, no one particularly reacts to Shen Wei's presence, which... if they knew he was the Envoy, wouldn't they?)

> Maybe Minister Gao has a double standard kind of "Dixingren associated with the SID" vs "Dixingren generally"? And after all, Shen Wei is demonstrably and impressively respectable -- hard to dismiss as a monster!

It could also be contributory that Minister Gao's first introduction to Shen Wei was him stopping the wedding chaos/saving Minister Gao from that situation so he's already inclined to think positively of him?

OH JUST HAD A THOUGHT: also, given what we know about Professor Zhou just endlessly talking about how great Shen Wei is, maybe if Minister Gao has had a reasonable amount of contact with Professors Ouyang and Zhou he's heard about Shen Wei before?

Thank you for linking the discussion, very interesting! And I've read your fic before - somehow without leaving kudos, shame on me ^^;; - I found it fascinating both then and still now! I don't like Zhao Xinci very much as a person (but what a great character!) and I think you get into his head very neatly. (Also the power when Shen Wei says I am Heipaoshi ahhhhhh so good)

> The other moment that stands out to me is the end of the Merit Brush arc

I'm getting pretty close to this now in my watch, I think! I'll look out for that moment and see what I think :3
I'm getting

also, given what we know about Professor Zhou just endlessly talking about how great Shen Wei is, maybe if Minister Gao has had a reasonable amount of contact with Professors Ouyang and Zhou he's heard about Shen Wei before?

LOL! Poor Shen Wei! I'm pretty sure he doesn't want a PR person at the DoS, but Prof Zhou just can't help himself. IOW, it seems quite reasonable to me that Shen Wei's reputation might precede him... but then, does that mean Prof Zhou finds out Shen Wei is Dixingren, or does that bit of information not get passed back (assuming Prof Zhou doesn't already know)?

Thanks for your kind comments on the fic! I kind of love what a total mess Zhao Xinci is, and how far in denial he is about it. :-)

(I hope I didn't spoil you unduly! If so, many apologies!!)

Professor Zhou just thinks he's the best thing :D :D

> does that mean Prof Zhou finds out Shen Wei is Dixingren, or does that bit of information not get passed back (assuming Prof Zhou doesn't already know)?

I always felt that Professor Zhou didn't know - like he's clearly working with Professor Ouyang on the serum but I feel like if he knew Shen Wei is Dixingren he might have reacted differently to Shen Wei - and certainly when Shen Wei is talking to Professor Ouyang outside the doctor's place while Zhao Yunlan is blind, Professor Ouyang doesn't strike me as someone who knows, either. I think the info sharing is probably pretty sparse!

> I kind of love what a total mess Zhao Xinci is, and how far in denial he is about it.

He could definitely do with a thorough self examination! I'd like to say that the outcome of that would be that he might not be able to meet his eyes in the mirror, but sadly I think he's probably justified all the lives he's taken/things he's done sufficiently to himself that he considers his conscience clear :| oh well

> I hope I didn't spoil you unduly! If so, many apologies!

Ah, please don't worry! I am already thoroughly spoiled so all good :3 The only thing affected by my having not seen the whole series yet is that I sometimes don't have the personal context for scenes I haven't watched yet! So don't worry at all ♥

This is a great write-up with lovely screencaps!

I love how in tune Shen Wei is with Zhao Yunlan’s reaction and body language when Zhao Xinci is mentioned

That's one of my favorite things about this scene.

I think Zhao Yunlan hasn’t yet mentioned his father to Shen Wei when we get to this scene

I think as far as we know, he hasn't. My feeling is that Shen Wei didn't know how strained the father-son relationship is until this scene when he sees how tense Zhao Yunlan becomes.

By now, Shen Wei has seen that Zhao Yunlan isn't like his father, and I always wonder how Zhao Xinci and Shen Wei interacted when Zhao Xinci was head of the SID.

My feeling is that Shen Wei didn't know how strained the father-son relationship is until this scene when he sees how tense Zhao Yunlan becomes.

Agreed! And it's a lovely way of show-don't-tell-ing us, as well as Shen Wei. :-)

I always wonder how Zhao Xinci and Shen Wei interacted when Zhao Xinci was head of the SID.

As little as possible? :-)

This is a terrific writeup, I really have nothing to add, except an idea based on the details you point out--Zhao Yunlan starts with his hand on Shen Wei's back and then on his shoulder, mostly because he can't keep his hands off him anyway lol, but also in a sense reassuring him, making sure he knows that Zhao Yunlan is there with him to protect both of his identities. And then, when the topic of Zhao Xinci comes up and Zhao Yunlan tenses, Shen Wei is the one to notice his tension and step in gracefully to protect him.

but also in a sense reassuring him, making sure he knows that Zhao Yunlan is there with him to protect both of his identities. And then, when the topic of Zhao Xinci comes up and Zhao Yunlan tenses, Shen Wei is the one to notice his tension and step in gracefully to protect him.

Oh, I love that! Both of them looking out for the other -- so balanced!! ♥_____♥

Don't mind me, I'm just over here staring at that third-to-last screencap for a worryingly long time...

This is one of the scenes that makes me think that Shen Wei actually could be good at politics, if it didn't jar so much with his sensibilities. He doesn't normally have the patience for it (or the willingness to compromise, I think), but here, to protect Zhao Yunlan and make him look as good in front of his boss as possible? He's very on top of it.

My favourite thing about this scene is how attuned they are to each other. Just <3

Don't mind me, I'm just over here staring at that third-to-last screencap for a worryingly long time...

Hee! <3

He doesn't normally have the patience for it (or the willingness to compromise, I think), but here, to protect Zhao Yunlan and make him look as good in front of his boss as possible? He's very on top of it.

Oh, yes, I love that it's a choice (and you're very right about his unwillingness to compromise, though he works with the Regent to run things, despite the Regent's awfulness). I suspect the university bureaucracy gives his diplomatic skills a good workout on a regular basis. ;-)

My favourite thing about this scene is how attuned they are to each other. Just <3

It's so beautiful and satisfying! :D :D :D

Ahhhhhhh, this is such a great post (and an utterly delightful choice of scene)!!!!! *hearts everywhere* I love your screencaps, too!

I’ve mentioned this already, but I LOVE that Zhao Yunlan guides Shen Wei to the couch with a hand on his back (it’s so unnecessary and yet we have it)

alkdsjfa;ldskjfa;sdfks I don't know if I've ever noticed that before. :D :D :D

Zhao Yunlan claps Shen Wei on the shoulder at this, both in thanks and because again, he has trouble keeping his hands to himself, hehe.

Hee! Yes, I feel like Zhao Yunlan's touching Shen Wei is a way of passing the compliment on, even though he can't explicitly do so. Otherwise, it's pretty embarrassing sitting there receiving praise for something he didn't do. Even Zhao Yunlan isn't that shameless. *g*

Obviously, he’s smiling because they successfully got Minister Gao believing Zhao Yunlan wrote the self-criticism but I like to think he’s also smiling because when it comes to knowing Zhao Yunlan well, Shen Wei is an expert :D

Maybe also a little bit of a trolling smile, because he's made Zhao Yunlan sound more eloquent than he normally would, and this kind of puts Zhao Yunlan on the spot? *g*

I think Zhao Yunlan hasn’t yet mentioned his father to Shen Wei when we get to this scene - I could be remembering wrong though.

I'm pretty sure that's the case.

I find it kind of strange Zhao Yunlan didn't already know Minister Gao knows ZXC. Surely it would have come up in meetings earlier, even if he doesn't remember they used to be cop partners? And Minister Gao doesn't seem to realise Zhao Yunlan doesn't live at home. This suggests to me that Minister Gao and ZXC aren't really close at all, lately. I suspect they'd fallen out of touch until ZXC got in promotion and had reason to be in touch with Minister Gao again.

Minister Gao: Technically speaking, they are the highest leaders of your Special Investigation Unit. Under normal circumstances, they won't give you orders directly.

Zhao Yunlan kind of laughs at that. I wonder if he's like, partly, "My father is always trying to give me orders -- and now they'll be official. >:-("

And Minister Gao saying, "He didn't tell you?" reminds ZYL that he's supposed to put on a good outward facing face and pretend they're a normal respectable family, for the sake of both their careers, if nothing else.

(Ha, sorry, I went and made this all about Zhao Yunlan. Shen Wei is also awesome! Like you, I really love how attentive he is. *heart-eyes* :D :D :D)

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Focus on: Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan’s conversation with Minister Gao (mention of Zhao Xinci)

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