Focus on: Consulting Dr Cheng about Zhao Yunlan's eyes, ep 21

[china_shop]

Ep 21, 3:29 to 5:22 (here on Youtube)
English and Chinese subs by the Viki team.



The scene starts off with a close-up of Zhao Yunlan's eyelashes. \o/



Dr Cheng Xinyan concentrates as she examines his eyes with what I think is a retinal camera. (Idk why I spent so long looking up optometry equipment!)



Shen Wei looks understandably tense.

Dr Cheng says, "It's done." (好了) Shen Wei tells Zhao Yunlan to get up (来) and pushes him into a chair. "Sit." (坐)

They all sit at the desk, and Shen Wei and Dr Cheng confer about Zhao Yunlan's prognosis while I froth at the mouth about him being right there, don't talk about him like he's not right there!



SW: How is he, Doctor Cheng? 怎么样成医生
CXY: I've checked his eyes, but everything seems fine. 我检查了他的角膜 视网膜 晶状体以及视神经都没发现什么异常
I'm really sorry, I can't find the reason why he lost his sight. 很抱歉 我查不出他失眼的原因
ZYL: (spreading his hands) So, the hospital can't help me either. 这么说 医院也没法治啊

He doesn't seem surprised or dismayed. I think he was expecting this and felt Shen Wei was clutching at straws to bring him here. Or maybe he's just fronting, as he does.



CXY: Shen Wei must have already done all that I could do. For you two to still come find me, you must be so worried that you became muddled. 我能做的沈巍应该都做了 还来找我只能说关心则乱了吧

a) I presume she's talking about rest, cold compresses and eye drops, but for some reason this line always makes me think she knows about Shen Wei's powers.
b) Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan both react to her use of Shen Wei's name: I think Shen Wei looks like he wants to stuff that cat right back into its bag; Zhao Yunlan is openly curious.



ZYL: You know each other? 你们俩认识
SW: Doctor Cheng is my university classmate. 成医生是我大学同学
ZYL nods. "Oh."



Zhao Yunlan does his "everything's fine" laugh, then catches Shen Wei's barely audible sigh.

ZYL: That's enough. Even though I can't see, I know that you are putting on a worried face. 行了 我这不用看都知道你现在肯定是哭丧着一张脸

Shen Wei raises his head, faintly exasperated, maybe?

ZYL (cont): I am a lucky person. I have a resilient life. I won't die. 我这个人呢 吉人自有天相 命硬 死不了
SW: The problem isn't that you'll die. It's— 这不是死不死的问题 这



An alarm goes off on Zhao Yunlan's phone, and he holds up a hand to interrupt Shen Wei.

ZYL: It's time. 时间到了啊
SW: You have something on? 你有事啊
ZYL: Don't you have a lecture for the sophomores at 10:00 a.m.? 你这上午十点要给大二上课呢

Shen Wei looks taken aback, like it was the furthest thing from his mind, and maybe he's a bit self-conscious about that -- or about what Cheng Xinyan might be thinking of his and Zhao Yunlan's relationship.



He looks at Cheng Xinyan...



...who smiles to herself.

SW: I think I'd better take the day off. 我还是请假好了


ZYL: There's no need, Da Qing is coming soon. 不用啊 大庆马上就来陪我了



Cheng Xinyan gives Shen Wei a small grin of "you've been out-manoeuvred, and also you two are so cute!" Shen Wei breathes a tiny, polite laugh in response.

SW: (to ZYL) Then, I'll pick you up after my class. 那 那我下课之后过来接你
SW (cont.): (earnestly) Doctor Cheng, I'll leave him in your care. 成医生 那就麻烦你照顾他一下了

Cheng Xinyan nods, and Shen Wei says thank you. (谢谢)



Zhao Yunlan waves without looking around and grins broadly in the general direction of Dr Cheng.

Random staging observations

• The office door is open, which seems weird during a patient consultation.
• When Shen Wei helps Zhao Yunlan to his chair, he pushes him by the shoulder to sit back.
• Shen Wei's bag is on the other chair, and he just sits in front of it, presumably putting him on the edge of his seat. How apt!
• As soon as Zhao Yunlan sits down, he crosses his legs -- as always, he's being very deliberately chill.
• They sit close together and don't hesitate to talk among themselves, including about their (Shen Wei's) feelings. ♥

Great things about this scene

1. Dr Cheng -- a welcome additional woman in the cast, and one who is likeable, smart and capable, successful in her field, and not defined by a romantic relationship -- A+!


2. Shen Wei & Cheng Xinyan -- they clearly like and respect each other, with zero romantic tension (I feel like in any other show, they would be exes or there would be some ~history~ there); their being classmates speaks to Shen Wei's time in contemporary Haixing; how much does she know about him? how many other classmates is he still in touch with? Was he popular at university?


3. Zhao Yunlan -- indomitable! cheery, undeterred, declaring himself lucky and resilient; seeming more interested in the idea that Shen Wei & Cheng Xinyan know each other than in his own predicament; being capable and proactive, and looking out for Shen Wei. (Not wanting to be a nuisance?)


4. Shen Wei -- in full-on protective mode; he looks to me like he wants to cut Dr Cheng off when she calls him Shen Wei, like he wants to keep this info secret too; he's really not used to having his worlds collide, but he brought Zhao Yunlan here anyway, because this is an emergency! (What did he tell her had happened to Zhao Yunlan's eyes, when he called to make the appointment?)


5. Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan -- they're so coupley! Shen Wei is acting as Zhao Yunlan's guardian, openly taking responsibility for him, not bothering to hide his concern; not only does Zhao Yunlan have Shen Wei's schedule in his phone, this seems to be the first Shen Wei is hearing of it. Adorable!



A poll, not intended to be taken seriously



Poll #26577 Dr Cheng consultation scene poll, just for fun (tick all that apply)
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 23


View Respondents


Dr Cheng is
View Answers

cute
15 (65.2%)
awesome
17 (73.9%)
queer
10 (43.5%)
insta-shipping Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan
20 (87.0%)
other (I will elaborate in comments)
0 (0.0%)
Dr Cheng
View Answers

knows Shen Wei has special powers / isn't human / is Dixingren
13 (56.5%)
knows Shen Wei is the Black-Cloaked Envoy
0 (0.0%)
knows Shen Wei is queer
15 (65.2%)
knows Shen Wei has been in love with a mysteriously absent someone for more than ten years
9 (39.1%)
can definitely tell Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan are a couple
20 (87.0%)
other (I will elaborate in comments)
0 (0.0%)
Shen Wei
View Answers

would rather keep the different areas of his life siloed and separate
14 (60.9%)
is most worried about Zhao Yunlan personally
18 (78.3%)
is most worried about the timeline/history/fate of the world
4 (17.4%)
had to be reminded about his own lecture!!!
17 (73.9%)
has just been outed to Cheng Xinyan
1 (4.3%)
is doing his utmost not to fuss and managing surprisingly well, considering
18 (78.3%)
other (I will elaborate in comments)
0 (0.0%)
What does it mean when Dr Cheng says, "Shen Wei must have already done all that I could do"?
View Answers

eye drops and cold compresses
14 (60.9%)
kissing it better
7 (30.4%)
it's an oblique reference to Shen Wei's powers
13 (56.5%)
other (I will elaborate in comments)
0 (0.0%)
How long has Zhao Yunlan had Shen Wei's university schedule in his phone?
View Answers

since the day after the day they met
6 (27.3%)
since a week or two after they met
14 (63.6%)
since the Envoy identity reveal
1 (4.5%)
he got Da Qing to put it in after he was blinded (in the five minutes when Shen Wei wasn't taking care of or trying to heal him)
1 (4.5%)
other (I will elaborate in comments)
0 (0.0%)
As soon as Shen Wei's out of earshot, Zhao Yunlan asks Cheng Xinyan for gossip about Shen Wei's university days
View Answers

true
21 (95.5%)
false
1 (4.5%)