trobadora (
trobadora) wrote in
sid_guardian2024-11-16 09:43 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
Entry tags:
Guardian readalong: chapters 3 & 4

Hi, everyone, whether you were already here last week or are just joining us now! Last week's discussion post for the prologue and chapters 1 and 2 will remain open, of course, so feel free to comment there at any time. :)
Today we're on to chapters 3 and 4.
- Chapter 3: Shen Wei takes Zhao Yunlan, Daqing and Guo Changcheng to the admin building, where they encounter much creepiness and ghostly happenings.
- Chapter 4: Shen Wei saves Zhao Yunlan from falling off the roof, and Zhao Yunlan questions Li Qian.
Excerpts
1) Guo Changcheng's impression of Shen Wei
For some reason, after a few steps, Guo Changcheng looked back.
Shen Wei had yet to take even a single step from the spot. He'd removed his glasses and was absentmindedly wiping them with the corner of his shirt. In the dim hallway, his shadow stretched out, long against the floor, looking lonely and dejected. The eyes that had so determinedly avoided Zhao Yunlan were now fixed on his back.
There was a dark distance in that intense gaze. His expression held both a sort of restrained yearning and an affection that was almost palpable...but at the same time, there was deep, crushing pain.
Out of nowhere, Guo Changcheng got the feeling that the man had been standing there for thousands and thousands of years.
2) The SID's history
The Soul-Guarding Order had existed since ancient times. It served to conduct Netherworld business in the mortal world, act as a medium between yin and yang, and coordinate the Three Realms. Historically, it had fallen under the Imperial History Bureau. After the People's Republic of China was founded, the Soul-Guarding Order came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Security. That was when the Special Investigations Department had been established.
The current director of the Special Investigations Department, Zhao Yunlan, was also the Guardian. This Guardian was equally comfortable in the Netherworld or in banquet halls. He was talented and smooth, able to hold his alcohol and exchange cups with anyone in the Three Realms. Eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, or putting on a show-he was an expert at it all.
3) Shen Wei rescues Zhao Yunlan
Zhao Yunlan hesitated, but then, despite the fierce wind atop the tall building, he met Shen Wei's eyes and saw himself in their depths-himself and, somehow, the night sky, impossibly intermingled. For some reason, looking up into those eyes, Zhao Yunlan instinctively let go and placed everything, including his insignificant little life, in Shen Wei's hands.
He regretted it the moment he let go. Is lust rotting my brain?
In the next second, Shen Wei hauled him up by sheer force. His unimposing, scholarly appearance belied an unusually powerful grip-Zhao Yunlan's wrist was rapidly going numb, his fingers purpling. The friction pushed his sleeve up to the elbow, scraping a layer of skin from his forearm.
Then he was being held tightly in Shen Wei's arms as they both collapsed on the roof-tightly enough that his bones creaked in protest, as though Shen Wei were hugging something he'd lost long ago. A strange feeling stirred in Zhao Yunlan when he glanced at his wrist and saw the bruises from Shen Wei's hold on it.
4) Have you seen me before?
"Shen-laoshi, have you ever seen me before today?"
Surprised, Shen Wei met his gaze, mind going blank. For two full seconds, he could only stare at Zhao Yunlan, unable to look away. Finally, his throat a little dry, he said, "I... Yes. I saw you before."
Zhao Yunlan raised an eyebrow and waited for him to finish.
"I..." A conflicted expression flitted across Shen Wei's face. Just as Zhao Yunlan thought he was about to tell a fantastic story of how incredibly their lives were entangled, Shen Wei's tone lightened. "Actually, I saw your team working on a case."
Zhao Yunlan felt a sudden pang of disappointment, as though his hopes had been lifted just to be let down gently.
Questions
How are you enjoying things so far? What's your favourite line or moment in these chapters? Any particular bits that drew your attention? Any favourite worldbuilding elements or character details? Parallels or contrasts with the drama? What do you make of the hints and foreshadowing we're given? What's your impression of Li Qian? If you're reading a different translation or a Chinese edition, how do the excerpts above compare? Any other thoughts? (Note: these are just conversation starters. Feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like!)
Our schedule (you can also sign-up there to host a post)
no subject
I meant what Zhu Jiu does in episode 4 - I figured him holding Shen Wei's foot with black energy was inspired by this image.
I read it as his needing the testimony to catch the ghost and knowing that if he lets her, she'll shut down and lie to him and probably to herself, too. Possibly, if he was warmer and more patient, he could have got the same info out of her in a gentler way, but maybe not? He kind of has to goad her into admitting what happened, because it's so unlikely (from her POV).
If he'd tried more gently at first and the got harsher when he got no result, I'd be more willing to cut him some slack, but as it is, I'm not fond.
Huh, I didn't read it as comic. I mean, it's written in that detached, ironic tone, but it was still pretty horrifying to me.
Horror and comedy aren't mutually exclusive, and to me this felt like it was aiming straight at the overlap.
but it also is an iconic "battle couple" moment that makes it into the opening credits. Already working together to save lives. I love it!
Yes, me too! So much love! ♥
Poor Li Qian! But there's clearly more wrong with her than there is with drama!Li Qian.
I wonder if it was just the resolution of being able to let her grandmother go in peace, or if Shen Wei covertly healed her energy in some way...
I think it was mainly getting closure. She was feeling guilty enough to confess to a murder she didn't commit, and being comforted and protected by her grandma must have been such a huge weight off her.
The drama kind of replaces that with the Kunlun flashback, doesn't it? At least partly.
Yeah - we get more from Shen Wei's side of things early on in the drama, seeing as how we start out with Shen Wei, but the flashback really gives us a look inside his head, doesn't it? Great stuff.
no subject
Oh, right. I don't think I'd ever have connected them...
Poor Li Qian! But there's clearly more wrong with her than there is with drama!Li Qian.
Yes, though drama!Li Qian is already listless and withdrawn at the beginning. I kind of like the idea of her having been affected by the Dial exchange, and Shen Wei bolstering/healing her somehow. But you're right that the closure and a chance to grieve (with others there to support her) must have helped immeasurably.