Picspam: Chu Shuzhi &/ Zhao Yunlan (early drama episodes)

[china_shop]

Hi, my initial plan was to picspam Chu Shuzhi smiling at Zhao Yunlan. Of course, I took way too many screencaps, so please congratulate me on whittling them down and not including every single scene where the two of them appear together (just most of them). *g*

Naturally, I immediately extended my brief when I began scanning the episodes and saw this.


Episode 4, interview scene. Zhao Yunlan interrupts Chu Shuzhi's interviewing of Shen Wei with a casual hand on Chu Shuzhi's shoulder. At this point, I think the only other person who's touched Lao Chu is Guo Changcheng when he's freaking out. I doubt Zhao Yunlan makes a habit of it, either.

Shortly thereafter, on the SID mezzanine, Chu Shuzhi and Zhao Yunlan talk about the case. Chu Shuzhi has unilaterally sent his doll to tail Lin Yusen, and Zhao Yunlan sees Chu Shuzhi's ear twitching and catches on immediately.



There are mutual compliments:
ZYL: Not bad, Lao Chu. Sending a puppet to shadow him. You even picked up remote monitoring.
CSZ: Casting a long line to catch the big fish, you taught me that.

Again, outside my brief, but I do enjoy them working so well together at the end of episode 4, during fake Zhang Danni's poisonous-gas temper tantrum.





Not pictured: after Zhao Yunlan starts negotiations with fake Zhang Danni, he sends a sly, silent glance to Chu Shuzhi, signalling that Chu Shuzhi should pull Da Qing out of the danger zone. Chu Shuzhi immediately gets the message.

Episode 5 has this wonderful exchange outside the residence where Butler Wu works.







GCC: Chief Zhao, you're amazing. You can see her face from so far away?
ZYL: If you were the chief, you'd be able to see it, too
CSZ: This is the instinct of a beast.
ZYL: Lao Chu, you little... You've changed.
CSZ: *smirks*

I love that Chu Shuzhi has opened up and joined the team enough to tease Zhao Yunlan like this. It's so playful, especially in the middle of a case! And it feels like a real shift from the first couple of episodes, building on what's come before.

Honorary inclusion: at the start of episode 6, when they're interviewing Ji Xiaobai about his missing Weiwei, Zhao Yunlan stomps on Da Qing's foot for being tactless, and Chu Shuzhi looks away, presumably so he won't laugh.



Not pictured: in episode 5, in the mirror dimension, when Dixingren!Weiwei appears, Zhao Yunlan puts a restraining hand on Chu Shuzhi's shoulder.

Gratuitous cap just because Chu Shuzhi is pretty. This is from episode 7, when the rest of the team minus Zhao Yunlan are talking about web comics.



Still in episode 7, Zhao Yunlan and the team watch the CCTV footage of the mugging. When Zhao Yunlan gets flustered about being caught on tape with Shen Wei, Chu Shuzhi raises his eyebrows and gives a sceptical, "Ahh." Hee!





Episode 7, at the hospital. This one is a bit of a stretch because Chu Shuzhi is probably following Lin Jing's explanation rather than looking at Zhao Yunlan, but he is looking across rather than up, and it looks so speculative. If I were vidding... (Also, it made me wonder: what if the entire SID team (minus Da Qing) had crushes on Zhao Yunlan, each in their own way, before Shen Wei arrived on the scene. *g*)



Episode 7 at the web novelist Lai Su's place. I just thought these shots of them working together were pretty.





Not pictured because it happens too quickly: in ep 9, when they're outside the SID preparing to leave for their trip to the mountains, Zhao Yunlan tosses Chu Shuzhi some car keys with zero warning, and Chu Shuzhi catches them effortlessly and without fuss. *hearts*

When they stop to rest on their way to the Hanga caves, in ep 10, Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi's both sprawl on a big rock. (Chu Shuzhi often sits with his feet up at the SID, too. I wonder how differently he'd have sat if Shen Wei had been there openly as the Envoy earlier on; how much has he adopted the habits and postures of those around him *koff*ZhaoYunlan*koff*?)





Honorary inclusion: this is Chu Shuzhi grinning and giving Guo Changcheng a thumbs up for zapping Zhao Yunlan with his fear stick. LOL!



Finally, in the Hanga caves in ep 11, Chu Shuzhi smiles at Zhao Yunlan's having appointed Sang Zan as the SID's new librarian. Aww!



I'm stopping here, because over the few episodes after the Hanga arc, the dynamic changes; instead of Zhao Yunlan working with Chu Shuzhi and the others so much, the focus shifts heavily to the Envoy reveal (as is only right and proper!). We get Zhao Yunlan being "kidnapped" by Zhu Jiu and then, increasingly, partnering with Shen Wei. And whereas at the end of episode 5, Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi worked together to test Xiao Guo's tailing skills (and Zhao Yunlan says it's the seventh time he's failed, lol), from here on out, Chu Shuzhi's partnership with Guo Changcheng starts to solidify.

Comments

[china_shop]

sometimes on “well, he would be if he weren’t agressively avoiding the thought so hard.”

Ha! You know, that formulation actually works really well...

yeah I mean we never see student!Wei but I kinda feel like between the newness of the grief (it being much closer to when he wakes up), the adjustment, and the sheer innocent babyness of the students none of them would have really cought his interest?

Yes, exactly. I suppose he could always go incognito somewhere else to scratch an itch, but that doesn't really seem like his style either.

oh no have we combined these and now *this* is how/why ZYL ends up fixing things?? I guess it solves the ‘unless he thinks it’ll hurt Shen Wei’ if he started the whole thing on accident 😂

Hee! Now I'm thinking something like a semi-accidental, semi-in-the-spirit-of-full-disclosure blurt of "if I'd known then what I know now, I probably -- no, I definitely would not have. Uh. Had that extremely consensual one-time thing with Lao Chu. Before I met you. Which I didn't regret at all until... right this minute."

(Is Zhao Yunlan a non-strategic blurter? I'm not sure about that part.)

(Ditto! *waves goodnight* ♥)

ETA: Or, oh nooo, what if instead of one-time, it was on-again-off-again, and then Shen Wei has to do a very complicated dance of knowing he has a prior claim, but not wanting Chu Shuzhi to feel disrespected or dismissed!!!! :DDDDD

[satsuma]

Hee! Now I'm thinking something like a semi-accidental, semi-in-the-spirit-of-full-disclosure blurt

Yeah I imagine Shen Wei is mostly content to leave Zhao Yunlan's past partners in the past but considering it's someone Shen Wei is friends with I feel like it's a lot more likely Zhao Yunlan would feel the need to bring it up.

(Is Zhao Yunlan a non-strategic blurter? I'm not sure about that part.)

It's true he's usually pretty strategic! But he does miscalculate sometimes, especially when he's digging for informaiton (admittedly increasingly less as he gets to know people better). And also maybe he's trying to avoid copying Shen Wei's habit of keeping uncomfortable secrets up until they absolutely have to come out.

[china_shop]

Yeah I imagine Shen Wei is mostly content to leave Zhao Yunlan's past partners in the past but considering it's someone Shen Wei is friends with I feel like it's a lot more likely Zhao Yunlan would feel the need to bring it up.

Yes, exactly. Awkward all round!! :D :D :D :D :D

And also maybe he's trying to avoid copying Shen Wei's habit of keeping uncomfortable secrets up until they absolutely have to come out.

Yes, I could absolutely buy that, especially mid-canon. :D :D :D

ETA: Of course, it could come out another way. Zhao Yunlan could treat Chu Shuzhi in a habitually mildly revealing way in front of Shen Wei, and Shen Wei could notice and ask about it...

[amedia]

I am positively *itching* to read this fic!!! (Not to write it!)

precanon Shen Wei is desperate for companionship but too noble to ever admit that or ask for anything with anyone he has power over which is…everyone, including this person he’s just met who seems like a good man with compatible principles. But Chu Shuzhi would never be anything other than deferentially professional with him so neither of them can act on/acknowledge their feelings That makes me think about poor Shen Wei trying to get Chu Shuzhi to think of their relationship as "a friendship between gentlemen." Which really does not seem to work, alas.

I saw a fic once and I can't remember the title or who wrote it, but it had SW coming to CSZ, with ZYL's blessing, because ZYL is so protective that he can't bring himself to play rough with Shen Wei, and sometimes Shen Wei just wants some rough sex, and Chu Shuzhi is willing to give it to him. (Possibly also conflicted, I can't remember!)

[china_shop]

I am positively *itching* to read this fic!!! (Not to write it!)

Ha! I would like to have written it, but I'm not sure I could pull it off.

That makes me think about poor Shen Wei trying to get Chu Shuzhi to think of their relationship as "a friendship between gentlemen." Which really does not seem to work, alas.

Yes, exactly! (Did you see forerussake's twi(n)light in this year's Wishlist collection? That engaged with some of that beautifully, I thought.)

I saw a fic once and I can't remember the title or who wrote it, but it had SW coming to CSZ, with ZYL's blessing, because ZYL is so protective that he can't bring himself to play rough with Shen Wei, and sometimes Shen Wei just wants some rough sex, and Chu Shuzhi is willing to give it to him. (Possibly also conflicted, I can't remember!)

I've seen a few variations on this theme (sometimes Dixing-power-related?). It hits a stumbling block for me, personally, in that I don't really enjoy characters kinking on sex acts independent of who they're performing them with. In that scenario, I'd feel a bit like Chu Shuzhi was being used rather than wanted for who he is? (IOW, transferable kinks just usually aren't my thing.) But you know, it's great that people are exploring that! Yay!

For me, the tricky part of this threesome is getting them all to want each other specifically, to the point where they're prepared to risk having the hard conversations, etc.

(Also, personally, I think Zhao Yunlan is protective of Shen Wei in a lot of ways, but I don't see that being one of them. MMV, of course. :-)

/er, wildly over-thinking all of this; sorry! *g*

[satsuma]

That makes me think about poor Shen Wei trying to get Chu Shuzhi to think of their relationship as "a friendship between gentlemen." Which really does not seem to work, alas.

Yeah that line is like, core to my theory that Shen Wei want's something from Chu Shuzhi that he doesn't feel like he can ask for. That something can totally just be "a more normal collegial relationship" or "friendship" if one works but it's also very easy to read through ship goggles...

saw a fic once and I can't remember the title or who wrote it, but it had SW coming to CSZ, with ZYL's blessing, because ZYL is so protective that he can't bring himself to play rough with Shen Wei, and sometimes Shen Wei just wants some rough sex

Possibly https://archiveofourown.org/works/42020166 ??? (Disclaimer, have not done more than glance over but it seemed to fit your description)

[amedia]

Yes, that's the one I was thinking of. I went and reread it; I had forgotten how poetically the story is told!

Yeah that line is like, core to my theory that Shen Wei want's something from Chu Shuzhi that he doesn't feel like he can ask for.

I agree! I tend to think of it in terms of friendship but I would totally read a fic that used that line as a launchpad for shipping.

[satsuma]

I’m glad I was able to find it for you :D

but I would totally read a fic that used that line as a launchpad for shipping.

Yeah I’m not particularly stuck on any one interpretation—I think there are a lot of interesting options but this week is threesome week apparently 😅

[satsuma]

Yes, I could absolutely buy that, especially mid-canon. :D :D :D

haha I think they’d all compartmentalize if it came up while there were urgent work things but there are a few lulls one could squeeze a series of awkward convos into…

ETA: Of course, it could come out another way. Zhao Yunlan could treat Chu Shuzhi in a habitually mildly revealing way in front of Shen Wei, and Shen Wei could notice and ask about it...

Yeah I can imagine that happening also! esp if they were still sleeping together in the first couple eps so the whole thing was still p recent?

[china_shop]

haha I think they’d all compartmentalize if it came up while there were urgent work things but there are a few lulls one could squeeze a series of awkward convos into…

It would be fascinating if they got together during the blindness arc, for example. Because Shen Wei's secrets are a real bone of contention around then, so Zhao Yunlan might feel compelled to be defiantly forthcoming. ;-)

Yeah I can imagine that happening also! esp if they were still sleeping together in the first couple eps so the whole thing was still p recent?

Yes! Just that kind of "more physically familiar than normal colleagues" or "more protective" or something -- just enough to ping Shen Wei as something to ask about? (Oh, hey, what if it were Chu Shuzhi who was inadvertently revealing, not having realised that Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan have got it together?? Oh, and then Zhu Hong finds out, too, as part of a whole cascading truth-spilling?! *pets her*)

[satsuma]

It would be fascinating if they got together during the blindness arc

oh my yes, that would definitely a Time for ZYL to bring that up. I can see it!! And Shen Wei can’t even hide bc he’s taking care of ZYL…

Ohhh or blind Yunlan is what provoked Shuzhi’s overfamiliarity? and Shen Wei’s like, trying to rationalize it away but then ZYL’s like “oh no we used to sleep together, you’re not imagining anything”

(Oh, hey, what if it were Chu Shuzhi who was inadvertently revealing, not having realised that Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan have got it together?? Oh, and then Zhu Hong finds out, too, as part of a whole cascading truth-spilling?! *pets her*)

Yeah I can see it turning into a whole mess depending on where it came out. Poor Zhu Hong would be so annoyed if she’d found out Zhao Yunlan had been sleeping with a coworker this whole time and it wasn’t even her? At least Shen Wei can be written off as fate but this?

[china_shop]

And Shen Wei can’t even hide bc he’s taking care of ZYL…

Shen Wei trying to be so calm and understanding, and having TOO MANY FEELINGS about it, and yeah, unable to avoid those feelings. Perfect. :D And Zhao Yunlan would find Shen Wei's silence on the subject so frustrating, because he wouldn't be able to see how Shen Wei was reacting, so he'd have to keep poking at it to make sure Shen Wei wasn't being weird... which would make it more of a thing. *g*

Ohhh or blind Yunlan is what provoked Shuzhi’s overfamiliarity? and Shen Wei’s like, trying to rationalize it away but then ZYL’s like “oh no we used to sleep together, you’re not imagining anything”

Ahh, I love that. ♥ Especially if there was an element of, "I broke it off when I met you, because you know, you're YOU." Like, ZYL being careful to make Shen Wei know that he's special? And not making too light of it, because he does like and respect CSZ. But Shen Wei still having to deal with all of this unexpected backstory.

(Though now I'm wondering if CSZ would even go there, given his loyalty to the Envoy and the historically difficult relationship between the SID and the Envoy. Maybe once he starts to see how different ZYL is from ZXC, though...)

Poor Zhu Hong would be so annoyed if she’d found out Zhao Yunlan had been sleeping with a coworker this whole time and it wasn’t even her? At least Shen Wei can be written off as fate but this?

Ha, yes, exactly!!! Poor Snake!!

[satsuma]

And Zhao Yunlan would find Shen Wei's silence on the subject so frustrating, because he wouldn't be able to see how Shen Wei was reacting, so he'd have to keep poking at it to make sure Shen Wei wasn't being weird... which would make it more of a thing. *g*
Exactly haha — question is tho, do they manage to actually have that emotional convo before Yunlan gets his sight back? I kinda feel like Shen Wei wouldn’t want to engage with the whole thing while he’s busy mother henning but also ZYL cab be *really* persistent

And not making too light of it, because he does like and respect CSZ.

Yes the mutual respect all around is v important amongst the awkwardness of feelings! and yeah poor Shen Wei is prob not prepared being the one discovering secrets and having to deal with that for once haha

(Though now I'm wondering if CSZ would even go there, given his loyalty to the Envoy and the historically difficult relationship between the SID and the Envoy. Maybe once he starts to see how different ZYL is from ZXC, though...)

I have also been pondering this! Your picspam did an excellent job of illustrating how early canon Chu Shuzhi seems much more comfortable working with Zhao Yunlan during the days when he’s still kinda standoffish towards the SID in general. And they’re handling most of the pre-canon SID’s fieldwork as a pair so maybe sometimes have some adrenaline to burn off? But yeah it depends on your perception on how they feel about casual sex, sleeping with coworkers, etc to actually work. I think there’s some wiggle room characterization wise to justify it but

[china_shop]

Exactly haha — question is tho, do they manage to actually have that emotional convo before Yunlan gets his sight back? I kinda feel like Shen Wei wouldn’t want to engage with the whole thing while he’s busy mother henning but also ZYL cab be *really* persistent

And they don't know how long it's going to take for Zhao Yunlan to get his sight back. I think he'd be unhappy about putting everything on hold indefinitely, you know? But otoh, he might want to see, to gauge reactions... And Shen Wei wouldn't want to make ZYL feel like an invalid, but also, he needs processing time! I think it could go either way is what I'm saying. *g*

and yeah poor Shen Wei is prob not prepared being the one discovering secrets and having to deal with that for once haha

Lol! What's sauce for the gander is sauce for the other gander. *g*

And they’re handling most of the pre-canon SID’s fieldwork as a pair so maybe sometimes have some adrenaline to burn off?

Ooh! That's a good thought! (The trick is to balance it so they're mutually respectful but not catching feels. I wouldn't personally want it to turn into too much of a love triangle early on. Hmm...)

But yeah it depends on your perception on how they feel about casual sex, sleeping with coworkers, etc to actually work. I think there’s some wiggle room characterization wise to justify it but

Exactly. I think it partly depends on Chu Shuzhi's backstory in prison, too. I can imagine some matter-of-fact mutual comfort/release happening there, and this could feel like an extension of that?

[satsuma]

And they don't know how long it's going to take for Zhao Yunlan to get his sight back. I think he'd be unhappy about putting everything on hold indefinitely, you know?

Yeah I think he'd be pretty annoyed if he thought something was going on w/Shen Wei and Shen Wei was refusing to talk about it (...as so frequently happens in canon lmao) and hopefully by then his understanding of Shen Wei's tone etc would be good enough that as long as Shen Wei's actually *talking* it'd probably work out? But also Shen Wei probably want's to brush it off as unimportant I think, esp when there genuinely is a lot of other things going on...

Ooh! That's a good thought! (The trick is to balance it so they're mutually respectful but not catching feels. I wouldn't personally want it to turn into too much of a love triangle early on. Hmm...)

ZYL at least definitely isn't in the business of catching feelings before Shen Wei so we're safe on that side haha -- I think Chu Shuzhi is closed off enough at that point that it'd probably be fine also? *ponders*

Exactly. I think it partly depends on Chu Shuzhi's backstory in prison, too. I can imagine some matter-of-fact mutual comfort/release happening there, and this could feel like an extension of that?

oooh yeah that'd be a good way of framing it!