Focus on: Episode 22: Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei eating

[sakana17]

Location of scene: Episode 22, 34:20-36:22
[translated dialogue from the fan-provided subtitles QCed by solo]

Context: This scene happens right after Shen Wei has healed Zhao Yunlan's blindness with the Longevity Dial.

They are in Zhao Yunlan's apartment. Zhao Yunlan is eating and Shen Wei is bringing their bowls of rice from the rice cooker.



Shen Wei sits down and they eat. This excellent thread identifies some of the dishes they're eating.

Zhao Yunlan takes a few bites with his eyes closed. Then says to Shen Wei: I thought that when I can see again, there wouldn't be any more happy days of being fed when I ask for it. I even considered staying blind for longer. (哎哟喂，本来想着呢等我这复明之后，像这种饭来张口的幸福生活是不是就不会有了。当时还想着要不要再多瞎一会儿呢。)



Shen Wei: Don't joke about your health. (你不许拿自己的身体开玩笑。)



Zhao Yunlan grins, keeps eating, then gets down to business by asking Shen Wei about the Merit Brush. Shen Wei looks unhappy and says he doesn't know.



Zhao Yunlan, talking with his mouth full, is surprised that even Shen Wei doesn't know.

Shen Wei says that according to legends, the Merit Brush is the most powerful of the Holy Tools, but he doesn't know its exact abilities. And he can't sense dark energy ever since Feng Qubing's case. He can't tell what the enemy is plotting. (据传说，功德笔是四大圣器当中能力最强的辅助。可是它具体有什么功效我并不了解。非但如此，从冯去病的事情之后我再也无法感觉到龙城范围之内黑能量的活动了。对于敌人的阴谋也无法探索了。)





Zhao Yunlan tells him that Lin Jing's dark energy detector also isn't working, and jokes that he shouldn't cut Lin Jing's bonus.



Shen Wei's not amused, because now the Master of the Merit Brush can lead them by the nose. (不管怎么说，从现在开始我们不得不被功德笔主牵着鼻子走了。)

Zhao Yunlan: That won't do. That's not our style! No matter how deep we have to dig, we must find a clue. (那肯定不行啊。这不是咱们的风格啊。就算掘地三尺咱们也得找到线索。[掘地三尺 - Chinese idiom: digging three feet = like leaving no stone unturned]



Shen Wei: I knew you would say that, so I made other preparations. (我就知道你会这么说的，所以我做了别的准备。)
He contacted the Regent, who said there might be information about the Merit Brush in Dijun Palace.



Zhao Yunlan: So what are we waiting for? Let's go together. (那还等什么呢。一起去啊。)



Shen Wei doesn't look too keen on this idea.



He says he'll go alone. Zhao Yunlan reacts like, 'are you for real/are you kidding me'.



Shen Wei continues with his reasoning: Don't forget, your last trip to Dixing was not exactly pleasant. (你可别忘了，上次在地星你的旅行可不是很愉快。) And Zhao Yunlan continues to not be impressed.



Shen Wei: Besides, you are a normal human. Dixing will always be dangerous for you. (更何况你是个普通人，你去地星总归是危险的。)



Zhao Yunlan is not having it. Addressing Shen Wei as Hei Lao Ge (黑老哥) he says his eyes are completely fine now. It's a critical situation and they can't waste any time. (更何况现在情势这么的危急，已经刻不容缓了。啊~ )



Shen Wei tells him to eat.



Zhao Yunlan grins. He knows he's getting his own way.



I love the domesticity. Coming right after the scene of healing Zhao Yunlan's blindness, it seems like a celebratory meal for just the two of them. It's very natural and comfortable, like they eat together like this often. Zhao Yunlan seems so happy here, enjoying the food and Shen Wei. Teasing him about staying blind so he could be fed whenever he asked! (I completely agree with Shen Wei's "don't joke about being blind" reaction!)

I love their little tug-of-war about going to Dixing. Of course Shen Wei will insist on going alone. And of course Zhao Yunlan won't let him. As far as Zhao Yunlan is concerned, they are in this together and there's no question of going alone. Although Shen Wei is clearly not overjoyed by the idea of Zhao Yunlan going to Dixing again, Zhao Yunlan's counterargument is not solidly persuasive, so I think Shen Wei expected this. And/or he knows it's a waste of time to try to convince Zhao Yunlan to stay home. And/or he likes Zhao Yunlan accompanying him, even though he knows being in Dixing is bad for Zhao Yunlan. I love that Shen Wei doesn't overtly concede yet Zhao Yunlan knows Shen Wei has given in when Shen Wei tells him to eat.

It's such a short scene, but it's packed with themes about their relationship: Shen Wei caretaking Zhao Yunlan, Zhao Yunlan teasing Shen Wei, the two of them discussing business (the Merit Brush), Shen Wei declaring his intention to go it alone, Zhao Yunlan determined that they'll go together, and Shen Wei acceding. And it all happens over food!

Come discuss this scene! Thoughts, theories, ideas, plot bunnies, squee, fanwork recs... Anything related to this scene welcome!

Comments

[marycrawford]

SIGH I love this scene. 😍 So domestic, so sweet,so together. Oh, Zhao Yunlan, that last little smug smile in your cap is so cute! He knows Shen Wei can't say no to him...

I love that Shen Wei doesn't overtly concede yet Zhao Yunlan knows Shen Wei has given in when Shen Wei tells him to eat.

Yes, so true! That speaks of intimacy as well, I think: the unspoken part of the conversation that they both understand.

[sakana17]

Oh, Zhao Yunlan, that last little smug smile in your cap is so cute! He knows Shen Wei can't say no to him...

Zhao Yunlan really is so comfy/happy in this scene, which to me adds to the domestic feel. ~sigh~ ♥___♥

[thevetia]

I know you've heard me say this before, but I can't get over Zhao Yunlan (Bai Yu, really) holding two tiny clams in his chopsticks while teasing Shen Wei. It's such an effortless gesture, so casual, so comfortable. Something about his easiness, and the way Shen Wei holds his rice bowl and chopsticks while they talk, emphasises their intimacy. They're not talking over their food, it's an actual meal they are sharing, as you say, that they appear to have done so many times before that it requires no extra politeness.

[sakana17]

They're not talking over their food, it's an actual meal they are sharing, as you say, that they appear to have done so many times before that it requires no extra politeness.

I love that there's nothing formal about it. Zhao Yunlan's table is narrow, which forces them to be close, but even so their body language doesn't *need* to be as relaxed with each other as it is. That's such a good point about it being an actual meal. In other dramas/scenes there might be food but no one takes a bite, so it feels stilted. Here, the eating + talking feels so natural.

[donutsweeper]

Love that you caught the 'are you kidding me' face. It's so perfect.

[sakana17]

Zhao Yunlan has great facial expressions in this scene!

[china_shop]

Ohh, yes!! *rolls around in this post like a puppy* I love everything you say about this scene. And the screencaps! And the scene itself, of course. So domestic, so comfortable with each other, so very very partners. <3 <3 <3

(I also spent half the morning looking for a comment someone once made with a closer translation of "I thought that when I can see again, there wouldn't be any more happy days of being fed when I ask for it." -- thankfully, trobadora was able to lay her hands on it: it's here.)

Given they're celebrating Zhao Yunlan getting his eyesight back, Shen Wei seems pretty serious. He doesn't really smile at any of Zhao Yunlan's jokes or seem openly happy at their success. I know this is partly because they're under attack by Team Merit Brush and he can't let down his guard, but I wonder how much he's distracted in the back of his mind, wondering about the effect the energy exchange had on him, too. Perhaps worrying about being weakened, or just feeling a bit sick and off-kilter?

Also, I only just noticed they have different ways of holding their chopsticks: I hold chopsticks like Shen Wei does, but Zhao Yunlan's hold is quite different. For some reason, I find this terribly charming. <3 <3 <3

[sakana17]

Oh, thank you for linking to the other translation! That's so interesting!

Shen Wei seems pretty serious

Yes, elenothar also mentions this below, and I'm leaning toward this: he's distracted in the back of his mind, wondering about the effect the energy exchange had on him

I'm sure he's also concerned about the Merit Brush. (Earlier in the episode they received the note from the Master of the Merit Brush.) But I think the energy exchange residual effect is probably at the forefront of his worries now, because it's just happened.

I only just noticed they have different ways of holding their chopsticks

Awww, that is charming! I hadn't noticed until you pointed it out, but they do. :)

[velithya]

I love this face Zhao Yunlan is making! :D :D :D such a beautiful unimpressed face I love it hehehe

I don't really have anything to contribute other than agreeing with everything you and other commenters have already said! I love how comfortable they are in each other's space (although I do wonder whether pre-blindness if they were this comfortable or whether Shen Wei has become more comfy moving around Zhao Yunlan's apartment only during the course of ZYL's blindness), sharing a meal, talking about important things. I love how Shen Wei is bare-faced, too - no substitute mask glasses to hide his emotions here, and speaking openly about (at least some of!) his worries.

On a technical note I love whoever lit this scene... the lighting is incredible, the light is soft but makes them both glow as they look at each other... ahhh, they're in love :3

[sakana17]

although I do wonder whether pre-blindness if they were this comfortable or whether Shen Wei has become more comfy moving around Zhao Yunlan's apartment only during the course of ZYL's blindness

I wondered about this, too. I can imagine a scenario where Shen Wei has been spending more time with Zhao Yunlan in his apartment pre-blindness, but while Zhao Yunlan is blind, Shen Wei more or less moves in because he doesn't want to leave Zhao Yunlan alone.

the lighting is incredible, the light is soft but makes them both glow as they look at each other...

The lighting is lovely in this scene.

[velithya]

> while Zhao Yunlan is blind, Shen Wei more or less moves in because he doesn't want to leave Zhao Yunlan alone.

This seems very plausible to me, too! Like the barrier of the hall between their apartments allowed Shen Wei to keep some distance between them (a reminder of all the secrets he's still keeping, perhaps? A reason he can't be with Zhao Yunlan the way he wants to, at least not until Zhao Yunlan knows-) but as soon as Zhao Yunlan was blind, Shen Wei was like WELP I LIVE HERE NOW

[elenothar]

Looking at all these excellent screen caps, I'm struck byt how Zhao Yunlan's face is very expressive in this scene (not unusual for him), and Shen Wei's face is mostly stuck in this slightly worried, pondering expression - it's an honest expression, but despite lacking the barrier of the glasses it still feels a little distracted to me. Which would make sense, given that he's probably in the middle of figuring out what exactly he did to himself with the sundial exchange.

Other than that, I mostly agree with everyone else. The domesticity! This scene really feels like they've done this many times before and move around and with each other easily. It's all very 😍

[sakana17]

Shen Wei's face is mostly stuck in this slightly worried, pondering expression

It's true. As china_shop mentioned above, Shen Wei is subdued in this scene, especially compared to Zhao Yunlan. (But also compared against the big smile Shen Wei had when he'd healed Zhao Yunlan with the Longevity Dial.)

he's probably in the middle of figuring out what exactly he did to himself with the sundial exchange

That's my guess, too. It would make sense that he's worried about it and wondering what happened.

I think that despite Shen Wei being distracted or subdued, though, he's still very present in the scene, interacting even if not joyfully the way Zhao Yunlan is. To me, that sort of adds to the domestic feel of the scene -- they're both being themselves with each other -- if that makes sense.

[nnozomi]

This is such a lovely scene and a lovely post about it, picking up all the important details. I don't have a whole lot to add, but a few things. The happiness and intimacy of the setting--Zhao Yunlan can see again, they're sharing a delicious meal for just the two of them, they both have their sleeves rolled up and Shen Wei has his glasses off, they're facing each other across the counter, there's sunlight shining in through the blinds--makes me wistful, because it's like a little glimpse of the happy ending they're not going to get. (Oh, and Shen Wei of all people has his elbows on the table!).
Zhao Yunlan: That won't do. That's not our style! ... Shen Wei: I knew you would say that, so I made other preparations.
I really like this little exchange, Zhao Yunlan's determination and his flair, Shen Wei knowing him so well and being so thorough in his work.

[sakana17]

a little glimpse of the happy ending they're not going to get

😭 I want to believe they had other happy scenes like this that we didn't get to see.

(Oh, and Shen Wei of all people has his elbows on the table!)

Yes! 👀 I think this is one of the most relaxed Shen Wei postures.

Zhao Yunlan's determination and his flair, Shen Wei knowing him so well and being so thorough in his work

I love this, too. They're very much themselves in this scene, individually and together.

[awanderingcoyote]

Ahhhhh!! What a lovely write-up of this scene!!!!!

I love this scene! I also saw it as a post-celebratory sort of scene that Zhao Yunlan's eyes were now healed and he could see.

The whole general softness of the scene was just so nice to see, even with the tension when discussing the merit brush and Dixing, and whether ZYL would go with SW.

I also just realized that SW didn't wear his glasses for this whole scene. I don't know why I missed that on my first watch of this episode, but I just realized it now. Maybe because he feels so serious about the merit brush and those thoughts are weighing him down.

Also, without those glasses of his, he's less inclined (or so I read it) to display the professor-y facade that he often portrays to people.

[sakana17]

The whole general softness of the scene was just so nice to see

It is! The softness and closeness are so lovely.

without those glasses of his, he's less inclined (or so I read it) to display the professor-y facade that he often portrays to people

I love the scenes where Shen Wei doesn't wear glasses when he's with Zhao Yunlan. It feels like he's letting his guard down.