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sid_guardian2024-11-23 09:43 am
cathyw) wrote in sid_guardian2024-11-23 09:43 am
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Guardian readalong: chapters 5 and 6
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.
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.
no subject
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:
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.
Ooh, that is such a gorgeous description, and the drama gets that extreme switch across so well.
This, and then his thoughts about Lu Ruomei's death - Xiao-Guo still hasn't grasped what genre he's living in. *g*
LOLOLOL!
Hee! What a visual. :D
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*)
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!
1) That is gorgeously described again! And 2) yay for Xiao-Guo catching on, and for his deeply felt empathy!
no subject
...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."
no subject
Yes, excellent point!
And LOL, that's harsh but not untrue. *g*
no subject
I thought he might be testing him a little? I feel like a lot of the unexplained missions and such are really just him trying to get Xiao-Guo's (very lacking) measure. (Clearly I'm giving ZYL the benefit of the doubt, here. :-)
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."
LOL, that's perfect! :D
no subject
Eee, I love that!!!
no subject
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...
no subject
He'll feel like he's missed out for sure!
no subject
Haha, yes!
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...
Yeah, agreed, it's not quite the same kind of interest, and not quite the same kind of questioning. So fascinating!
And that passage you describe, as well as being insightful about Li Qian, is absolutely foreshadowing re Shen Wei...
SO MUCH, OMG.