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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.
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...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!
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Oh no, now I'm thinking of all those Lynx commercials. /o\
But given his description of Shen Wei later, maybe he just really appreciates beauty, LOL.
Suddenly he's surrounded by beautiful, competent, self-possessed men! I think he's hero-worshipping in every direction. :D
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and he hasn't even met lao-Chu yet!
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