china_shop: Zhao Xinci pointing a gun with the text "ask questions later". (Guardian - ask questions later)
The Gauche in the Machine ([personal profile] china_shop) wrote in [community profile] sid_guardian 2022-12-09 08:13 pm (UTC)

I think the most ZXC about this is that he really still seems to think he can reach ZYL with phrases like that ...

I wonder how often he heard it from his own father. Maybe that's just what parenting sounds like to him?

(I like the way ZYL just nods and turns away to look out the window instead of at ZXC!)

Right? Like, "I am Yunlan's complete lack of surprise."

Both, I think. Especially since this decision clearly comes out of nowhere for Minister Guo as well.

Yeah, I think ZYL's alert for weirdness, and this definitely registers.

I love how he's doing the impression of a sulky teenager, except it's all much more serious and fraught. *pets him* His father really brings it out in him.

Yes! So much this.

I think he's 100% surprised; he initially expects ZYL to be taken to Xingdu Bureau, as he says at the start of the scene. But it looks to me like he's glad ZXC seems to be de-escalating instead.

I wonder if he's thinking, "Who are you, and what have you done with Director Zhao?"

ZYL not recognising Zhang Shi as ZXC means to me that he doesn't know Zhang Shi at all. IMO Zhang Shi can't have been interacting with younger Zhao Yunlan. Which doesn't necessarily mean he wasn't involved in parenting him - he may well regularly have pushed (or attempted to push) ZXC in certain directions, even if he didn't take over and speak or act himself.

Given how ornery ZXC is, I wonder whether Zhang Shi's advice would just have made him double down with the criticism. *sigh*

I think it really contributes a lot to how tightly wound he is in this scene, and how close he seems to snapping.

I think so, too. And maybe how he doesn't let himself shout (like he did at Minister Gao), because Shen Wei would approve of a more measured approach? Idk. ZYL is hanging on by a thread.

Either that, or he essentially hasn't been home since Shen Wei left. (Because it's not home without Shen Wei any more? ♥)

Oh, yes, or that. *cries*

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