Guardian readalong: chapters 5 and 6

[cathyw]

Hello! Welcome back (or just welcome!) to our readalong of Guardian! Whatever translation you're reading, whatever language you're reading it in, please join in our discussion!

Our story so far:
Prologue, chapters 1 and 2
Chapters 3 and 4

... and today we're on to chapters 5 and 6 in the official English translation, or chapters 10-11 in the current JJWXC Chinese text or the most widely-distributed English fan translation.

Chapter 5: Shen Wei has a parting exchange with Zhao Yunlan; Zhao Yunlan sends Guo Changcheng on a mission.
Chapter 6: Guo Changcheng, Da Qing, and Shen Wei visit Li Qian in the student clinic.

Some excerpts:


1) Shen Wei has Zhao Yunlan's number
... Shen Wei couldn't help looking back, even though the person he wanted to see had already disappeared from view. When he looked through his phone's contacts, he found a flirtatious "a-Lan" innocently displayed on the screen. As he silently drank in those two syllables, he felt as though a knife were slipping cleanly through his heart, turning the softest part to a bloody pulp. Finally, his narrow lips locked the words away where no one could hear them.

Shen Wei lifted his fingers and caught the faint scent of Zhao Yunlan's cologne. Closing his eyes, he took a slow, deep breath. He didn't know what cologne it might be, but from the very first whiff, it was as if the scent had been haunting his dreams for years on end.


2) Zhao Yunlan gives a motivational speech
Director Zhao had never had to deal with such a weirdo. There was no way out of this excruciating situation but to push through, no matter how much internal damage he had to suffer in silence. He forced himself into an enigmatic, leaderly stance and said "You did great. That was very detailed. You have potential."

Guo Changcheng's head snapped up. The man before him was gazing down with a pleasant, kind smile wreathing his face. His eyes and brows were more beautiful than Guo Changcheng could express. Those few words flooded him with warmth and strength, and his face went red. His boss was way too good to him - so good that Guo Changcheng suddenly understood the ancient saying, "A man is willing to die for the one who truly understands him." If Director Zhao cherished and valued him like that, even his life wouldn't be too great a sacrifice.

And so, Guo Changcheng voluntarily took on a task even more difficult for him than dying: calling and interacting with strangers.


3) Guo Changcheng is not the best bereavement counselor
Guo Changcheng tugged foolishly at his hair. He'd been able to say so much for once out of sympathy. He was on the verge of admiring himself. "Come on, don't cry. When my grandma first passed away, I thought my world was collapsing too. I remember thinking, now I'll never get the chance to be a filial grandson again, so what's the point of studying and working hard? Back then I would even have traded my life for hers, but..." He sighed. "Anyway, I'm not good with words. I just mean don't be sad. Our relatives who have passed away are still watching over us."

It would have been better if he'd stopped talking while he was ahead. At his last sentences, Li Qian began to shake and sob loudly. It was quickly clear that she was unable to stop, so badly out of it that her hands and feet were twitching unconsciously. Shen Wei hurried to get the doctor. Guo Changcheng, who had never seen someone so utterly devastated, could only stand aside helplessly.


Questions:
Is Zhao Yunlan a good boss? (a good cop? a good Guardian?) Do you find him likeable so far? How about Changcheng? As always, share your favorite bits, comparisons with the drama, comparisons between editions, or whatever other thoughts, feelings, or wordless squeeing you feel moved to.

Schedule and hosting signup.

Comments

[cathyw]

...ngl, I picked that second excerpt at least in part because I found "a task even more difficult for him than dying: calling and interacting with strangers" extremely relatable.

I don't think I introduced myself before - I'm Cathy, I think Guardian was the third c-drama I watched (after The Untamed and Word of Honor), and the ending of the drama will have me flipping tables in the nursing home. I read the fan translation later, and I was so excited when the official translation was announced! I've read volumes 1 and 2 but not 3 yet, and I'm glad we're doing this readalong because fandom is better when it's not just you. :)

ANYWAYS, on to the chapters. I don't think I noticed much in the way of major differences between editions?

Yunlan gets to flirt, yay, and then this:
He got his phone out, but Zhao Yunlan didn't take it. Instead, he lifted Shen Wei's hand and gently held the back of it while he casually entered his own name and number into Shen Wei's contacts.
...that is quite a move there. Very brash, but then a couple paragraphs down he's being compared to a peacock with his tail on display, so I guess brash is the vibe he's going for here.

Excerpt #1 pushed my SHEN WEI IS YEARNING button, of course (and speaking of brash: a-Lan? goodness, you just met, and in a work setting...). I'm curious about the timeline - has Zhao Yunlan been back home to clean up since he was called to the murder scene? Or was 'spritz cologne' part of the three-minute roll-out-of-bed routine?

Also I was a little confused by the ending of that passage:
For that brief moment as he glanced down, the faint desolation evaporated. His face tightened, as if carved to reveal a silent, murderous intent.
a) I can visualize Zhu Yilong doing this so clearly; b) What silent, murderous intent?

As for Guo Changcheng, the stupid kid had been tasked with getting a sense of the situation. But since he genuinely didn't know what exactly he should be getting a sense of, all he could do was suck it up and talk to people, stammering the whole time.
I read this and started screaming about TRAINING JFC WTF YUNLAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING SENDING THE NEPO HIRE OUT ON A CASE MORE OR LESS UNSUPERVISED WITH VAGUE INSTRUCTIONS AND NO TRAINING?... which probably tells you my answer to 'is Zhao Yunlan a good boss?', all the problems he has with xiao-Guo in this chapter are self-inflicted.

Due to the cat's great bulk, Zhao Yunlan had to walk with his neck bent, as if he'd suffered a stroke. Yet despite that, he looked handsome and elegant - a handsome, elegant stroke victim.
I think this is the second time xiao-Guo has referenced ZYL's handsomeness in his POV sections and there will be one more before the end of the chapter (excerpt 2). I feel like xiao-Guo wouldn't recognize horny if it walked up and hit him with a stick, but there it is, in his own little xiao-Guo way.

But he maintained his two-faced act, determinedly putting on a warm, affectionate expression. "Okay, young man. This is your first time out in the field." - so he at least knows on some level he *shouldn't* have much in the way of expectations of xiao-Guo at this point, but he nevertheless does.

...Guo Changcheng suddenly understood the ancient saying, "A man is willing to die for the one who truly understands him."
The fan translation has here: "he suddenly feels like Chief Zhao is someone worth dying for." This is the second time this saying has been referenced, and yes, the original Chinese is 知己, zhiji, which you might remember from The Untamed or Word of Honor. And if he's going to go from 'That was very detailed' to 知己, I don't think xiao-Guo has ever received a lot of praise in his life.

The JJWXC text/fan translation and official translations are different at the end of this chapter.
Zhao Yunlan watched the intern go. To the black cat on his shoulder, he said, "Mortals."
Da Qing raised his large pancake face. "Doesn't get any more mortal than that."
"The Soul-Guarding Order must've blue-screened." Zhao Yunlan patted the kitty's rump. "I need to go back to the office to check something. Keep an eye on him."
vs.
"Fuck me," he says to the cat on his shoulder, "I have never seen a pure idiot like this one, so motherfucking impressive!"
Da Qing sighs, "you're really mean and hypocritical, Chief."
"You're a cat, don't give me that dog crap, you're the hypocritical one... Go follow him, don't let him die, otherwise what do I say to his uncle." He pats the cat on the butt, and Da Qing lazily "meows."

...so are they trying not to reference the Soul-Guarding Order as a thing?

SO back to the murderous intent... the next time we see Shen Wei he's bringing food to Li Qian, had he been thinking of harming her because she endangered Zhao Yunlan? That doesn't seem to fit, though.

Shen Wei: genuinely nice to xiao-Guo (recognizing he's in over his head! feeding him!) ... and then pumping him for information about Zhao Yunlan, heh.

Without quoting... Li Qian's family is sure something. No space for her at home, nobody will come visit her in the hospital? wtf.

Shen Wei - just the opposite, she's a stranger, not even in his department, and there he is putting food in her bowl.

"Our relatives who have passed away are still watching over us."
GOSH I WONDER WHY THIS MADE LI QIAN UPSET.

The professor had broad shoulders, a slim waist, and long, slender legs His shirt cuffs were securely buttoned, and a pair of rimless glasses perched on his nose. All in all, he looked like a perfume ad model, exuding an air of forbidden sex appeal.
xiao-Guo, slightly horny for Shen Wei as well.

...Li Qian had suffered too much shock; that, combined with relentless negative emotions, malnutrition, and low blood sugar, had resulted in her extreme reaction.
...ahh, yes, grad school. XD

From now on, there was no one to care about her happiness, anger, sadness, or joy. No one would be watching over her, encouraging her to test her wings while also wishing she could stay a little longer in the nest.
...compare with the fan translation "from then on, no one will support her and love her anymore." oof. the fan translation does an okay job most of the time, but this kind of spare prose, especially knowing that priest's writing tends to the flowery, is why I'm glad there was an official translation.

[china_shop]

Hi, Cathy! *waves and waves* :D

Very brash, but then a couple paragraphs down he's being compared to a peacock with his tail on display, so I guess brash is the vibe he's going for here.

Hm, I feel like it's bold, but not overbearing. (I may be influenced by having had someone write their phone number on my hand when I was at university; it felt tingly and romantic at the time, but not super-intrusively so.)

a-Lan? goodness, you just met, and in a work setting...

Haha, right? Daqing's assessment of his shamelessness is completely on the button.

I'm curious about the timeline - has Zhao Yunlan been back home to clean up since he was called to the murder scene? Or was 'spritz cologne' part of the three-minute roll-out-of-bed routine?

Excellent question!! Maybe he keeps some in his car? ;-D

b) What silent, murderous intent?

I presumed that was aimed at Lu Ruomei's murderer, presumed to be the escaped Hunger Ghost(?).

I feel like xiao-Guo wouldn't recognize horny if it walked up and hit him with a stick, but there it is, in his own little xiao-Guo way.

LOLOLOL! Hero worship, either way. :D

I don't think xiao-Guo has ever received a lot of praise in his life.

I think his life has been a desert! *pets him forever*

Go follow him, don't let him die, otherwise what do I say to his uncle."

Ot1h, hahaha, I love the casualness of it; otoh, there is an actual murderer wandering round. GCC dying is not actually beyond the bounds of possibility, which makes he casualness a bit more disturbing. ;-p

[trobadora]

Hi there! :)

...ngl, I picked that second excerpt at least in part because I found "a task even more difficult for him than dying: calling and interacting with strangers" extremely relatable.

Haha, 100% agreed!

I'm glad we're doing this readalong because fandom is better when it's not just you. :)

Yes, exactly! I'm really enjoying the chat in the comments, the novel is fun so far but being able to talk about it makes everything better. :D

I'm curious about the timeline - has Zhao Yunlan been back home to clean up since he was called to the murder scene? Or was 'spritz cologne' part of the three-minute roll-out-of-bed routine?

Haha, I hadn't thought about it, but it really doesn't seem like there's any break when he could have gone home? So maybe cologne is part of those three minutes, to cover up any smells since obviously he didn't shower? *g*

a) I can visualize Zhu Yilong doing this so clearly

YES! That instant shift in expression, Zhu Yilong is so good at it. Perfect casting. :D

b) What silent, murderous intent?

My impression was that when he looked down, he saw something (or thought of something?) related to the case/the ghost involved, and that's what caused his fury.

TRAINING JFC WTF YUNLAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING SENDING THE NEPO HIRE OUT ON A CASE MORE OR LESS UNSUPERVISED WITH VAGUE INSTRUCTIONS AND NO TRAINING?...

Haha, right???

I think this is the second time xiao-Guo has referenced ZYL's handsomeness in his POV sections and there will be one more before the end of the chapter (excerpt 2). I feel like xiao-Guo wouldn't recognize horny if it walked up and hit him with a stick, but there it is, in his own little xiao-Guo way.

True! Idk if it's just trying to get across how handsome ZYL objectively is, but since it's specifically Xiao-Guo noticing it all, it does come across as him being more than a little smitten in a totally oblivious kind of way. But given his description of Shen Wei later, maybe he just really appreciates beauty, LOL.

and yes, the original Chinese is 知己, zhiji, which you might remember from The Untamed or Word of Honor. And if he's going to go from 'That was very detailed' to 知己, I don't think xiao-Guo has ever received a lot of praise in his life.

Ha, I knew it had to be, but also, oh, poor Xiao-Guo, if that's enough for him to consider himself 知己-level understood ...

The JJWXC text/fan translation and official translations are different at the end of this chapter.

Thanks for poitning that out, I have no idea what the point of the change is! But I think I like the version that's in the officialy translation better.

Without quoting... Li Qian's family is sure something. No space for her at home, nobody will come visit her in the hospital? wtf.
Shen Wei - just the opposite, she's a stranger, not even in his department, and there he is putting food in her bowl.

Yes! ♥ ♥ ♥

the fan translation does an okay job most of the time, but this kind of spare prose, especially knowing that priest's writing tends to the flowery, is why I'm glad there was an official translation.

Yeah, 100% agreed!

[tehfanglyfish]

Hi hi hello!

It's always nice to meet new Guardian fans. I first watched it in the autumn of 2020 and I haven't been able to move on since XD Work has left my brain pretty fried here lately so I can't promise I'll be entirely coherent but these are really good chapters.

I picked that second excerpt at least in part because I found "a task even more difficult for him than dying: calling and interacting with strangers" extremely relatable.

SAME! Honestly, there's so much about Guo Changcheng that I find relatable. I watched the drama before I read the novel (so I didn't come into the novel knowing nothing about him), but even in my first read through I think I had come to really like Guo Changcheng by this point. The novel makes him out to be more of a disaster at first than the drama, but he tries so hard! And I adore him for it.

speaking of brash: a-Lan? goodness, you just met, and in a work setting

Zhao Yunlan may not be the best boss at this point but he is getting top marks in shamelessness!

Li Qian's family is sure something.
Absolutely! Li Qian's family is a real mess. I feel bad for her (well, apart from the whole murder thing).

[circumference_pie]

Hello, nice to meet you!

Re: the cologne, I thought the same thing! 🤣 No time to comb his hair or tuck in his shirt, but he had time to put on cologne? That’s a big time investment when you only have 3 minutes (and two and a half are spent peeing 😆).

I’m also dying at the thought of ZYL peacocking it up with his disaster hair and half-tucked shirt, swaying from side to side like a drunk. Lucky for him, Shen Wei would find him attractive even if he were a worm. He (ZYL) is absurd.

Speaking of ZYL, I think I prefer the drama version so far :( Drama version is cuddlier.

[jayfire]

Oooh interesting. I hadn't ever thought about Shen Wei’s gaze of murderous intent that much before. It was one of those things I just kind of accepted and glossed over in my head 😅😅

The way I'd understood the murderous intent from Shen Wei was it being about himself because it comes right after he smiles self-mockingly so I took it as anger against himself for his lack of control when it comes to Zhao Yunlan (which is also why I just kind of accepted it without thinking about it too much. "Ah yes it's Shen Wei being completely reasonable about himself and his reactions to Zhao Yunlan. Nothing to see here, folks, move along" if that makes sense?) But I had also half thought it was aimed at the ghost that killed Lu Ruomei or even potentially at the little skeleton xiao Guo saw out the window in chapter 2. There's many ways to interpret it, but mostly I just kind of shrugged, accepted it, and forgot about it

Also I have to say, I'm really enjoying all your comments and comparisons between the versions! They're always so fun to read through. Thank you!!

[amedia]

I don't think I introduced myself before - I'm Cathy, I think Guardian was the third c-drama I watched (after The Untamed and Word of Honor)

Hi, Cathy, I'm Amedia - don't know if we've met (I'm a trifle absent-minded), but glad to see ya!

compared to a peacock with his tail on display I LOVE THAT DESCRIPTION SO MUCH!!! So glad you singled it out.

All in all, he looked like a perfume ad model, exuding an air of forbidden sex appeal. When I read this originally, and when I reread it here, I had the same thought: I immediately flashed on all those gorgeous photos people post of Zhu Yilong doing ads and photoshoots!

[china_shop]

I enjoyed these two chapters a lot, and bonus, I actually made some notes about things.

Zhao Yunlan responded by changing the topic entirely. “Shen-laoshi, are you married?”
Shen Wei froze and answered reflexively. “No. Why…?”

His freezing is such a different response from the drama, where Shen Wei is silent for a moment but not visibly fazed, and actually seems quite pleased by ZYL's interest. I note, too, that novel!Zhao Yunlan then apologises for asking, saying it's none of his business. I had the impression (mostly from Kdramas) that asking about marital status was kind of a social norm in Asia, or at least acceptable -- but maybe that's just nosy grandmother types, or it's not as true in China? Idk.

Instead, he lifted Shen Wei’s hand and gently held the back of it while he casually entered his own name and number into Shen Wei’s contacts.

That's such a romantic gesture! He's such a player. ;-p I feel like this context makes the "after I've closed this case, I'll be sure to treat you to a meal" line flirtier than it comes across in the drama... The proposed novel meal is definitely a date!

As he silently drank in those two syllables, he felt as if a knife were slipping cleanly through his heart, turning the softest part to a bloody pulp.

I know the mystery is part of the draw, but I really wish there were more hint of Shen Wei's motivations sooner, because it completely changes his character if you know why he's holding back so hard. (In particular, I can't believe the Shen San extra is an extra, and not part of the novel proper.)

For that brief moment as he glanced down, the faint desolation evaporated. His face tightened, as if carved to reveal a silent, murderous intent.

This gives me such drama!"Envoy mode" vibes. *hearts*

LOL, Guo Changcheng is so smitten (I don't necessarily mean romantically) with Zhao Yunlan. <GCC POV>He's so cool!</GCC POV> Also, I didn't really relate to the failure to phone about his start time, but wow do I identify with his feeling of first-week inadequacy. That "everyone else knows what they're doing, and I'm completely out of my depth" feeling. *winces*

Due to the cat’s great bulk, Zhao Yunlan had to walk with his neck bent, as if he’d suffered a stroke. Yet despite that, he looked handsome and elegant—a handsome, elegant stroke victim.

LOLOLOL!

I love ZYL being delighted by that flash of Changcheng's self-awareness -- it reminds me of that moment in episode 1 of the drama where Guo Changcheng pushes himself free of ZYL's hold, and ZYL gives him a considering look. :D (Also, of course, drama!GCC's crossbody bag and the notebook are straight out of the novel. <3)

He spewed all of this bullshit at length, and for once, Zhao Yunlan actually heard him out patiently.

Oh, look, he's trying to be a good boss! *pets approvingly* And then he asks, "Then how do you think she died?" in a teaching style worthy of Shen Wei himself. *g* And I love how energised and motivated GCC is by ZYL's seeming approval. *noogies him lovingly*

Zhao Yunlan watched the intern go. To the black cat on his shoulder, he said, “Mortals.”

Wait, is ZYL not mortal?

Aww, the "Shen Wei brings Li Qian food in the hospital" scene in the drama is lifted straight from the novel. I love it! The main difference is Shen Wei luring Daqing to join them. :D

Perhaps that’s the charm of an intellectual, Guo Changcheng thought admiringly. Shen Wei could stand shoulder to shoulder with someone with a powerful aura without seeming weak, and yet when standing beside someone like Guo Changcheng, who was a lifetime member of the Church of Uselessness, he didn’t seem at all high and mighty.

Aww, I love this description. *pets Changcheng's despairingly self-deprecating self*

"Daqing silently face-pawed" -- I wonder if that's supposed to be literal... :D

As they reached the room where Li Qian was resting, Shen Wei burst out laughing.

Was he teasing Xiao Guo??? This seems so random and at odds with his drama characterisation. I don't really get it.

I love the metaphor of Li Qian's tears being like "beads from a broken string". <3

I did a poll about novel!Shen Wei's car, during my first read-through.

Oh no, none of Li Qian's relatives care what's happened to her. :-(((((((( Also, I can't remember whether Shen Wei pinches his nose in the drama, but even if not, it seems entiiiirely IC. *g*

Even Shen Wei is getting exasperated with Guo Changcheng. *pets Xiao Guo*

Perhaps the only person in the world who’d loved her was no longer there. From now on, there was no one to care about her happiness, anger, sadness, or joy. No one would be watching over her, encouraging her to test her wings while also wishing she could stay a little longer in the nest.

*sobs in Li Qian AND immortal!Shen Wei*

[trobadora]

His freezing is such a different response from the drama, where Shen Wei is silent for a moment but not visibly fazed, and actually seems quite pleased by ZYL's interest.

Yes! And it also struck me that when ZYL says he'll treat SW to a meal, novel!SW says nothing, but drama!SW says it should be his treat instead. Such a shift - and emblematic of the difference in their early dynamic, novel!SW holding back so hard while drama!SW is deliberately putting himself into ZYL's path and drawing his attention. (I really love the drama's version, and don't appreciate the novel's nearly as much, even though I know the drama's version would make no sense in the novel's context.)

I know the mystery is part of the draw, but I really wish there were more hint of Shen Wei's motivations sooner, because it completely changes his character if you know why he's holding back so hard. (In particular, I can't believe the Shen San extra is an extra, and not part of the novel proper.)

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense to me! But on the other hand, that's one of those things that makes rereads so good, right? Recontextualising things. (I wonder how the Shen San extra could have been integrated into the novel ... I love the idea!)

This gives me such drama!"Envoy mode" vibes. *hearts*

YES! It's described exactly as it looks on screen. Such perfect adaptation! :D :D :D

Wait, is ZYL not mortal?

I was wondering about that, too. What qualifies him as not mortal, at this point?

Aww, the "Shen Wei brings Li Qian food in the hospital" scene in the drama is lifted straight from the novel. I love it! The main difference is Shen Wei luring Daqing to join them. :D

And novel!Daqing being lured by milk, whereas drama!Da Qing sits there (in cat form, too!) grouching abouit how suspicious Shen Wei is for showing interest in Zhao Yunlan, and how he has to warn Zhao Yunlan. (I love protective!Da Qing! But would it have been even better if he'd had to resist the lure of food to be protective? *g*)

"Daqing silently face-pawed" -- I wonder if that's supposed to be literal... :D

I took it that way!

As they reached the room where Li Qian was resting, Shen Wei burst out laughing.
Was he teasing Xiao Guo??? This seems so random and at odds with his drama characterisation. I don't really get it.

It reads very strangely! He's laughing at Xiao-Guo saying of course he's afraid of his boss, and amusement makes sense, but bursting out laughing is a bit much, LOL. I went and checked the Chinese version on JJWXC, and it says 失笑 - the dictionary defines it as "to laugh in spite of oneself / to be unable to help laughing / to break into laughter", some of which would definitely have been better choices here.

I also note that the official translation differs from the Chinese text in other ways here, and the switched order definitely makes it read more weirdly:

Chinese: 　沈巍失笑，知道从他这里也问不出什么，就不再折磨他，两人一起到了李茜休息的病房。

Google Translate adjusted/edited by me: Shen Wei couldn't help but laugh. Knowing that he couldn't get anything out of him, he stopped torturing him, and the two of them went to the room where Li Qian was resting.

Official translation: As they reached the room where Li Qian was resting, Shen Wei burst out laughing.

[circumference_pie]

“Smitten” is a good word to describe GCC right now, lol. “My boss who is so cool and handsome and believes in me…”

> Zhao Yunlan watched the intern go. To the black cat on his shoulder, he said, “Mortals.”

Wow…my version doesn’t have that at all. Spoilers, I guess?

Fwiw, this is what my version has:
“卧槽，”他注视着实习生的背影，对肩上的黑猫说，“我第一次见到这么纯种的傻逼，真他娘的要叹为观止了！”

“Fuck me,” he said to the black cat on his shoulder as he watched the newbie’s disappearing back, “this is the first time I’ve seen this kind of stupidity. His mother should be proud of such a magnum opus!”

[trobadora]

Great choice of excerpts! :D

Is Zhao Yunlan a good boss? (a good cop? a good Guardian?) Do you find him likeable so far?

I think he's clearly competent at his job, and I enjoy reading about him being outrageous and cynical and all that, but I can't say I quite like him yet. And he's definitely not a good boss, considering how he handles poor Xiao-Guo. At least he pretends to be a little bit professional here? But then he then sends him off on an undefined mission he's 10,000% unqualified for (thankfully with Daqing as backup).

Some notes on these chapters:

• I love how handing over the ointment and the "are you married" line - two bits separated by several episodes in the drama - are the same scene here! Hee!


• Instead, he lifted Shen Wei's hand and gently held the back of it while he casually entered his own name and number into Shen Wei's contacts.
  
  And, like a peacock with its tail spread, seizing every opportunity to display his colorful plumage and spread his hormones around, LOL! Spot on!
  
  And then "A-Lan", OMG. ZYL, you really have no shame. Openly flirtatious, and he's coming on so hard. Awww.


• For that brief moment as he glanced down, the faint desolation evaporated. His face tightened, as if carved to reveal a silent, murderous intent.
  
  Ooh, that is such a gorgeous description, and the drama gets that extreme switch across so well.


• Hadn't it been just a slightly eerie hallway? Hadn't it been just a little dark and creepy? Hadn't his boss just said something ambiguous? How had it all made him faint?
  
  This, and then his thoughts about Lu Ruomei's death - Xiao-Guo still hasn't grasped what genre he's living in. *g*


• Zhao Yunlan lied through his teeth without even needing to make notes. Daqing, listening beside his head, nearly threw up from disgust.
  
  LOLOLOL!


• Daqing meowed lazily, sprang from his shoulder like a ball shot from a bow, and rolled away at the speed of light.
  
  Hee! What a visual. :D


• Shen Wei paused awkwardly. Earlier, precisely none of his attention had been on the person before him now.
  
  Haha, oh, Shen Wei. ♥ He's really good with Xiao-Guo (and later Li Qian), though, once he decides to pay attention. Even if he does use the opportunity to question Xiao-Guo about Zhao Yunlan. ♥ ♥ ♥
  
  And I love Xiao-Guo's perspective on him! (Also, love that Shen Wei calls him "Officer Xiao-Guo" - he can't bring himself to leave out the "xiao", can he. *g*)


• "What I mean is..." Guo Changcheng tugged foolishly at his hair. He'd been able to say so much for once out of sympathy. He was on the verge of admiring himself. "Come on, don't cry. When my grandma first passed away, I thought my world was collapsing too. I remember thinking, now I'll never get the chance to be a filial grandson again, so what's the point of studying and working hard? Back then, I would even have traded my life for hers, but..." He sighed. "Anyway, I'm not good with words. I just mean don't be sad. Our relatives who have passed away are still watching over us."
  It would've been better if he'd stopped talking while he was ahead.
  
  LOLOLOL! But I love Xiao-Guo's anecdote about his dreams of his grandmother, even if he has no idea what he's saying, or how it's hitting Li Qian!


• It makes sense to me that the drama decided to streamline things and only have one hospital setting, rather than having the clinic and the hospital as two separate places.


• I love how hard Shen Wei tries with Li Qian's family, and ugh, poor Li Qian that no one cares about her.


• Guo Changcheng sat at Li Qian's bedside and suddenly grasped why she was so sad, why her emotional reaction was so extreme, why she'd sobbed to the point of convulsions and had even tried to jump off a building. Perhaps the only person in the world who'd loved her was no longer there. From now on, there was no one to care about her happiness, anger, sadness, or joy. No one would be watching over her, encouraging her to test her wings while also wishing she could stay a little longer in the nest.
  
  1) That is gorgeously described again! And 2) yay for Xiao-Guo catching on, and for his deeply felt empathy!

[cathyw]

Xiao-Guo still hasn't grasped what genre he's living in.
...and it feels like Zhao Yunlan hasn't grasped that xiao-Guo hasn't grasped that, if he wanted something other than "...murdered?" as an answer about how Lu Ruomei died.

2) yay for Xiao-Guo catching on, and for his deeply felt empathy
yes, he is so good at that (and possibly doesn't know to value it? or has not had much chance to give it a workout, if being around people terrifies him that badly?)... *sparkling heart emoji* if I were to sum up my reaction to xiao-Guo in this chapter in a pithy phrase, it would be "heart as pure as his head is empty."

[china_shop]

But then he then sends him off on an undefined mission he's 10,000% unqualified for (thankfully with Daqing as backup).

I wonder if he'd have gone himself if he'd known Shen Wei was hanging around...

Openly flirtatious, and he's coming on so hard. Awww. -- Do you think he's partly compensating for Shen Wei's reticence? Testing to see how far he can go?

This, and then his thoughts about Lu Ruomei's death - Xiao-Guo still hasn't grasped what genre he's living in. *g*

Despite having met Wang Zheng and Lao-Wu!

Even if he does use the opportunity to question Xiao-Guo about Zhao Yunlan. ♥ ♥ ♥

There's a subtle contrast with his questioning in the drama, isn't there? There, I felt like he was making sure Zhao Yunlan had loyal, capable subordinates...

It makes sense to me that the drama decided to streamline things and only have one hospital setting, rather than having the clinic and the hospital as two separate places.

Yes absolutely.

And that passage you describe, as well as being insightful about Li Qian, is absolutely foreshadowing re Shen Wei...

[circumference_pie]

Pressing my nose up to this discussion like it’s a department store display behind a window.

Alas, I am very behind :( Might come back at the end of the week, though.

[cathyw]

Take your time, we'll be here!

[trobadora]

Awww! ♥

No rush, we'll be here whenever you get to it!

[china_shop]

♥ ♥ ♥

[amedia]

Pressing my nose up to this discussion like it’s a department store display behind a window. Awesome metaphor awesome!!!

Alas, I am very behind :( Might come back at the end of the week, though.

You may be behind, but you are ahead of me when it comes to participating in the discussion! *shaking pompons* RL has been getting in the way, dagnabbit.

[circumference_pie]

I finished! \o/

Here are some highlights I had:“要是有和本案有关的线索，欢迎骚扰。”
“If there are any clues related to the case, I welcome the bother.”
I don’t know what the translations do here, but what I translated as “bother” above, 骚扰, my dictionary actually defines as molestation/harassment. I can’t believe ZYL is basically using a thin, thin veneer of business context to basically bat his eyes at Shen Wei and say, “Please harass me.” The nerve of this man!

And I guess he gave into his itchy heart, haha.

THE COLOGNE. Discussed at length above. (I can’t believe he was wearing cologne.)

利用这半个小时蹲墙角的时间，郭长城深刻反省了他进入特别调查处后不到十二个小时内发生的一系列的事……
Guo Changcheng had used the time he’d been squatting in the corner to deeply reflect on the series of events that had happened in the twelve hours since he joined the SID.

Guess it’s 2:30 PM now :P Come on, xiao-Guo, you were planning on being awake this whole time anyway.

And gosh, he hadn’t had anything to eat for a full day until Shen Wei fed him. No wonder he fainted!

As far as the discussion questions, hmm. I think ZYL is very decisive (see: what he does when he makes up his mind to pursue Shen Wei) and used to achieving what he puts his mind to. I think he’s a bit ruthless and has high expectations of his subordinates. He doesn’t think of himself as a good person and is perfectly okay with it. (Shen Wei is also perfectly okay with it, lol. See: would love him even if he were a worm.)

Is he a good boss? Hmm, maybe not to Guo Changcheng, but the others seem happy and functional enough.

I feel for Changcheng! He’s instinctively insightful, but the others don’t seem to value that.

[trobadora]

I don’t know what the translations do here, but what I translated as “bother” above, 骚扰, my dictionary actually defines as molestation/harassment. I can’t believe ZYL is basically using a thin, thin veneer of business context to basically bat his eyes at Shen Wei and say, “Please harass me.” The nerve of this man!

Hee! The official translation actually literally has him say, "If anything else comes up related to the case, feel free to harass me." :D

[china_shop]

He doesn’t think of himself as a good person and is perfectly okay with it.

Oh! That's such a good point. He makes pragmatism an extreme sport, doesn't he?

I feel for Changcheng! He’s instinctively insightful, but the others don’t seem to value that.

In their defence, he's not super-good at expressing that insightfulness yet, since he's scared out of his skin most of the time. *pets him*

[ride_4ever]

Firstly, <3 to cathyw for saying what I was thinking...which is "I'm glad we're doing this readalong because fandom is better when it's not just you."

I am more squeeing than detailed commenting at this juncture -- just a few comments on specifics here.

When Zhao Yunlan asked Guo Changcheng for his thoughts on how Lu Ruomei died and Guo Changcheng's response was "Murdered?" my response to that was a cross between SMH and LOL plus wondering if there's a way to call someone "Captain Obvious" in Chinese.

And I totally related to this: [Guo Changcheng] took on a task even more difficult for him than dying: calling and interacting with strangers.

Now here's a question for those of you who have knowledge of Chinese idiomatic speech. In my neighborhood (in the midwestern U.S.) there is a Chinese restaurant called "To Your Taste". I never gave the name any particular thought until I read the lines [Shen Wei said] "I bought some dishes at random. I don't know if it's to your tastes.... so now I wonder if "to your taste" is an English translation of a Chinese idiom.

[circumference_pie]

Hi! I’m not great at idioms in Chinese, but I know Shen Wei doesn’t use one when he tells Li Qian he doesn’t know if the food is to her taste.

My dictionary does have an entry for “(of food) to one’s taste,” though! 合口/hékoǔ, which is similar to what Shen Wei says.

[jayfire]

"Then is there a girlfriend in the picture?"

There was an invasive edge to how he was looking at Shen Wei. It somehow made Shen Wei feel that there was no right answer to the question."

Zhao Yunlan will always be Zhao Yunlan, and aim right at the questions Shen Wei absolutely does not want to answer, while being shameless about it too. Reading this, it made me laugh, because it's so easy to picture Shen Wei freezing and blinking and struggling to decide how to answer haha

Also the description of Zhao Yunlan walking away, "like a peacock with its tail spread," is just. So very Zhao Yunlan, and Shen Wei is feeling very normal about everything. He's totally in control. Totally not feeling all his walls splintering and caving in as he sees "a-Lan" in his phone or smells Zhao Yunlan's cologne. He's very much not thinking about it. Not at all.

Guo Changcheng continues to be incredibly relatable this chapter. Left alone and genuinely has no idea what his job is supposed to be, so he just starts awkwardly talking to people. I have been there before. Me too, xiao Guo, me too. (Even the bit about calling strangers, I relate to that a little too much)

Me 🤝 Xiao Guo
Debilitating anxiety

Priest continues to be incredibly funny: Unable to decide, he looked down and searched for a clue in Da Qing's expression. Da Qing, however, was a long-haired cat with a face of glossy black fur. There were no answers to be found there.

(And Da Qing continues to be the true embodiment of a cat haha)

When Guo Changcheng talks about his grandma, and how he dreamed of her up until the day he got his university acceptance letter, and then how she said she could leave now that he was grown up — I think she really did do that. It makes sense in the context of the novel and it makes for a solid parallel between him and Li Qian, both being watched over by their grandmothers' ghosts And, since xiao Guo's third eye wasn't open yet at that point, dreams was probably the only way she could communicate with him, if she really did stay around.

But also, given the situation, definitely would have been better if he hadn't shared that fun fact just then oops

I had forgotten how awful Li Qian's family is and how they just don't care about her at all. It makes her actions a lot more sympathetic but also makes me want to fight someone for her. Also the way the chapter ends, that sentence about how there's no one left to care about her or watch over anymore, no one left to encourage her to grow while also being sad to her become more independent... ouch. It's such a priest-way of putting things, and now I'm the one who's heart is a mess. *pats novel Li Qian's head like a cat because I'm worse at comforting people than xiao Guo*

[trobadora]

(Even the bit about calling strangers, I relate to that a little too much)

A lot of us seem to, hee!

I love how funny priest's writing is. Great comedic talent. :D

When Guo Changcheng talks about his grandma, and how he dreamed of her up until the day he got his university acceptance letter, and then how she said she could leave now that he was grown up — I think she really did do that.

Yes, absolutely, that's how I took it too. Xiao-Guo has no clue now, of course, but now I wonder if there's a point later when he figures it out ...

And I really like what priest does with the parallels between him and Li Qian, yeah!

[konshokoentaiko]

For the first scene: I love the image of Zhao Yunlan strutting like a peacock contrasted with Shen Wei's dramatic centuries old angst/yearning :] like they are both attracted to each other but they're on such different wavelengths here...

Why is Guo Changcheng squatting in despair haha omg :') my poor child. The whole conversation of Zhao Yunlan lying/posturing shamelessly to Guo Changcheng while poking fun in his head is so funny, no notes.

Shen Wei luring Daqing with milk, does this mean he knows Daqing can understand his words? And Daqing/GCC know that he knows this etc? hmmm

Guo Changcheng is currently my fav still! And we're spending a lot more time in his head than I'd initially expected. I do find Zhao Yunlan likable so far, I think he's entertaining. I don't know if he's necessarily a good person but he seems like someone who's very strong-willed and does whatever he wants, so it'll be interesting to see how Shen Wei's presence in his life affects that, whether it'll temper him / balance him out or make him even more intense about things. I'm also curious how dedicated he is to his job... not how good he is at it but like, whether he's very passionate about it or it's just a job for him, whether he has other things going on in his life, etc. (I'm not sure how much of that was already conveyed, I might've forgotten some details from earlier chapters...)

[circumference_pie]

Guo Changcheng fan club! 😁