circumference_pie (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
circumference_pie) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sid_guardian2024-12-06 09:36 pm
circumference_pie) wrote in sid_guardian2024-12-06 09:36 pm
Entry tags:
Guardian Readalong: chapters 9 & 10
Hi, and welcome back to our Guardian readalong discussions!
Previous discussions:
This week's chapters are 9 and 10 of the official translation, or 15 to part of 17 on JJWXC and RainbowSe7en-based fantranslations.
JJWXC Chapter 15: Zhao Yunlan and Lin Jing fight their way through the hospital. The closet gets crowded.
JJWXC Chapter 16: Chaos in the closet. The hungry ghost finally breaks in but the cavalry arrives.
JJWXC Chapter 17 part: The hungry ghost is defeated, and Yunlan “wipes Shen Wei’s memory.”
1) Lin Jing's contradictions
更多的黑影从医院里往外冲，跟在赵云澜身后的林静摸出一把枪，一边嘴里转轱辘似的念经，一边一枪一个，绝不漏网。
More shadows rushed out of the hospital. Following behind Zhao Yunlan, Lin Jing pulled a gun out from somewhere. He chanted sutras, rolling them in his mouth while he shot, one bullet per shadow. Not one escaped him.
2) Zhao Yunlan 'rescues' Shen Wei
赵云澜搂住沈巍的腰往旁边拖了半步，打火机的火光下映出了他的脸——英俊、冷漠，有刀刻一样略显瘦削但线条利索的轮廓，目光从最黑的地方射出来，眼睛里倒映着小小的火苗。
他成功地保持了这个装逼的造型，像条大尾巴狼一样，刻意压低了声线，看着沈巍的眼睛，像电影里英雄救美的男主角一样轻声问：“沈教授，没事吧？”
Taking Shen Wei by the waist, Zhao Yunlan pulled him half a step to the side, his face reflected in the glow of the lighter -- handsome and cold, the nimble lines of his thin face forming a silhouette that looked as if it had been carved by a knife.
Successfully maintaining this pretentious pose like a toad pretending to be a wolf*, he lowered his voice on purpose, looked into Shen Wei's eyes, and asked softly, like the hero saving the beauty in a movie: "Professor Shen, are you okay? "
* 大尾巴狼, or "big-tailed wolf," is one-half of a saying that goes, "a toad with chicken feathers stuck in its ass, pretending to be a wolf with a big tail," meant to make fun of someone strutting around posturing.
3) Zhao Yunlan amuses Shen Wei
他的倒霉样实在是太喜感了，赵云澜目光在小小储物间一扫，确定目前为止没有伤亡，顿时放松了，百忙之中还不着四六地来了句戏腔：“尔等有甚冤屈，速速报来，可有状纸？拿来与本官细看——哪！”
郭长城直接趴下，以身糊地了。
沈巍伸手揉了揉自己的鼻梁，遮住了翘起来的嘴角。
His gloomy countenance was too comical. Zhao Yunlan's gaze swept over the small storage room and confirmed there were no casualties. He immediately relaxed and, despite the many urgent matters pressing down on him, said brashly in an operatic falsetto: "If you have any grievances, don't wait to report them. Do you have written complaints? Bring them to me so this official can examine them in detail!"
Guo Changcheng lay directly down, spreading himself on the ground.
Shen Wei reached out and rubbed the bridge of his nose, covering the raised corners of his mouth.
4) Zhao Yunlan kisses Shen Wei's hand
而后，赵云澜想了想，拉起了沈教授的右手背，用食指在上面画了一个看不见的安神符，末了赵云澜坏笑了一下，在沈巍的右手背上轻轻地亲吻了一下，叼了满口的嫩豆腐，得意洋洋地说：“晚安吧，睡美男。”
Then, Zhao Yunlan thought for a while, pulled up the back of Professor Shen's right hand, and drew an invisible calming charm on it with his index finger. After that, Zhao Yunlan smirked and kissed Shen Wei's right hand gently, taking advantage of him as easily as biting into tender tofu. He said, full of self-satisfaction: "Good night, Sleeping Beauty."
What do you think of Lin Jing? Do you prefer his drama version or book version so far? Why do you think the ghost was able to possess Li Qian? Do you think Zhao Yunlan would have been so bold as to kiss Shen Wei’s hand if he hadn’t thought he was unconscious?
You can see the schedule and sign up to host a post here.
Previous discussions:
This week's chapters are 9 and 10 of the official translation, or 15 to part of 17 on JJWXC and RainbowSe7en-based fantranslations.
JJWXC Chapter 15: Zhao Yunlan and Lin Jing fight their way through the hospital. The closet gets crowded.
JJWXC Chapter 16: Chaos in the closet. The hungry ghost finally breaks in but the cavalry arrives.
JJWXC Chapter 17 part: The hungry ghost is defeated, and Yunlan “wipes Shen Wei’s memory.”
Excerpts
1) Lin Jing's contradictions
更多的黑影从医院里往外冲，跟在赵云澜身后的林静摸出一把枪，一边嘴里转轱辘似的念经，一边一枪一个，绝不漏网。
More shadows rushed out of the hospital. Following behind Zhao Yunlan, Lin Jing pulled a gun out from somewhere. He chanted sutras, rolling them in his mouth while he shot, one bullet per shadow. Not one escaped him.
2) Zhao Yunlan 'rescues' Shen Wei
赵云澜搂住沈巍的腰往旁边拖了半步，打火机的火光下映出了他的脸——英俊、冷漠，有刀刻一样略显瘦削但线条利索的轮廓，目光从最黑的地方射出来，眼睛里倒映着小小的火苗。
他成功地保持了这个装逼的造型，像条大尾巴狼一样，刻意压低了声线，看着沈巍的眼睛，像电影里英雄救美的男主角一样轻声问：“沈教授，没事吧？”
Taking Shen Wei by the waist, Zhao Yunlan pulled him half a step to the side, his face reflected in the glow of the lighter -- handsome and cold, the nimble lines of his thin face forming a silhouette that looked as if it had been carved by a knife.
Successfully maintaining this pretentious pose like a toad pretending to be a wolf*, he lowered his voice on purpose, looked into Shen Wei's eyes, and asked softly, like the hero saving the beauty in a movie: "Professor Shen, are you okay? "
* 大尾巴狼, or "big-tailed wolf," is one-half of a saying that goes, "a toad with chicken feathers stuck in its ass, pretending to be a wolf with a big tail," meant to make fun of someone strutting around posturing.
3) Zhao Yunlan amuses Shen Wei
他的倒霉样实在是太喜感了，赵云澜目光在小小储物间一扫，确定目前为止没有伤亡，顿时放松了，百忙之中还不着四六地来了句戏腔：“尔等有甚冤屈，速速报来，可有状纸？拿来与本官细看——哪！”
郭长城直接趴下，以身糊地了。
沈巍伸手揉了揉自己的鼻梁，遮住了翘起来的嘴角。
His gloomy countenance was too comical. Zhao Yunlan's gaze swept over the small storage room and confirmed there were no casualties. He immediately relaxed and, despite the many urgent matters pressing down on him, said brashly in an operatic falsetto: "If you have any grievances, don't wait to report them. Do you have written complaints? Bring them to me so this official can examine them in detail!"
Guo Changcheng lay directly down, spreading himself on the ground.
Shen Wei reached out and rubbed the bridge of his nose, covering the raised corners of his mouth.
4) Zhao Yunlan kisses Shen Wei's hand
而后，赵云澜想了想，拉起了沈教授的右手背，用食指在上面画了一个看不见的安神符，末了赵云澜坏笑了一下，在沈巍的右手背上轻轻地亲吻了一下，叼了满口的嫩豆腐，得意洋洋地说：“晚安吧，睡美男。”
Then, Zhao Yunlan thought for a while, pulled up the back of Professor Shen's right hand, and drew an invisible calming charm on it with his index finger. After that, Zhao Yunlan smirked and kissed Shen Wei's right hand gently, taking advantage of him as easily as biting into tender tofu. He said, full of self-satisfaction: "Good night, Sleeping Beauty."
Questions
What do you think of Lin Jing? Do you prefer his drama version or book version so far? Why do you think the ghost was able to possess Li Qian? Do you think Zhao Yunlan would have been so bold as to kiss Shen Wei’s hand if he hadn’t thought he was unconscious?
You can see the schedule and sign up to host a post here.
no subject
but he barely broke stride even as he drew a palm-sized dagger from under his pant leg -- does this mean from under his cuff? Huh.
Wow, ZYL is super rude to Lin Jing, too, as well as Zhu Hong. (Love Lin Jing's response.)
His loathing for work could be blamed directly on having people like this as coworkers.
I hadn't really got the impression he loathed his work, but given how antagonistic he is with everyone, no wonder he doesn't find it a harmonious environment! ;-p
So with the flame consuming all the shadowy ghosts, are these human ghosts? I wonder if they can still reincarnate once they're burned up...
Before Shen Wei could check to see whether this little ghost had a monstrous face and oversized fangs, a sudden weight settled against his legs. Guo Changcheng was wrapped around them like a koala.
This reminds me of drama!Guo Changcheng clinging to Chu Shuzhi at various times, but also the way he clings to the hospital attacker in the equivalent scene in the drama. There, he's doing it out of stubborn bravery rather than fear...
By the time Zhao Yunlan was only a dozen meters into the hospital, his watch, Clarity, looked like it had been dyed with blood.
So it's a ghost energy detector? I'm so vague about what it does.
Zhao Yunlan frowned. It was hard for him to say what Guo Changcheng would do in this situation, but Daqing was there. Lazy and gluttonous the cat might be, but he still had some professional ethics. Besides, Shen-laoshi was with them.
“That’s not possible,” he replied reflexively. “There’s no way Shen Wei would leave a student behind.”
I love that certainty, and also his faith in Daqing. *hearts*
The thing with Li Qian being replaced by a ghost is super creepy, and also surprising. The ghost managed to fool Shen Wei? I guess good that he's not infallible either?
I love Daqing's powers, especially that he doubles in size! (Foreshadowing other, later transformations.) He suddenly becomes super-charged, out of necessity, and then immediately falls asleep. *pets him so much*
LOL at Zhao Yunlan catching Shen Wei and playing the hero. (I don't like him very much, atm, but I do find him funny.) His "Shen-laoshi, are you all right?" with the deliberately deepened voice is a bit of a contrast with drama!ZYL during the Wang Yike case, where he seems genuinely concerned and solicitous.
But compared to Guo Changcheng, the well-mannered Shen-laoshi was the epitome of calm and collected. He recovered in no time at all, then he looked down, removed a certain someone’s wandering hands from his waist - LOL!
When Lin Jing chants and there's the sound of the bell that subdues Changcheng, Li Qian, and the hunger ghost, it doesn't seem to affect Shen Wei at all. That should be a clue.
And then the little bottle prison, cf Zhu Jiu's bottles in the drama (used on the underground fight club victims and, eventually, himself).
Zhao Yunlan stuffed the complaining cat into his briefcase
Made me ??? (How big is this briefcase?)
I love Shen Wei's faked faint, and his unwitnessed dramatic exit from the hospital room. :-)
no subject
Following behind Zhao Yunlan, Lin Jing pulled a gun out from somewhere. He chanted sutras, rolling them in his mouth while he shot, one bullet per shadow. Not one escaped him.
This makes me think: none of drama!Lin Jing's inventions are weapons (except for Changcheng's non-lethal zapper), right? I wonder how much that's the ghost vs Dixingren thing, and how much it's a character note for Lin Jing.
"big-tailed wolf," is one-half of a saying that goes, "a toad with chicken feathers stuck in its ass, pretending to be a wolf with a big tail,"
Haha, awesome! Thanks for that.
He immediately relaxed and said brashly in an operatic falsetto
Oh, interesting! In the official translation, it's a "jokingly theatrical tone", not specifically a falsetto.
I do like the calming charm -- it's sweet.
Why do you think the ghost was able to possess Li Qian?
I presume she's weakened by the Dial exchange, still? And that the residual bitterness makes her susceptible, too.
no subject
Ahh, your comment about the falsetto made me realize I dropped an important part of that sentence — the part where it says ZYL is making time for his bullying despite all the urgent matters pressing in on him! (Will fix.)
I’m actually not sure about that word, 戏腔, which breaks down into “performance” and “tune.” I had to look it up and found a lot of examples like this: https://youtu.be/JNd3l_WgTh0?si=zaHFOhaHn5J7XtFU
It’s a specific type of voice characteristic of Beijing opera. It’s high, so it sounded like falsetto to me. But even that doesn’t fully capture the theater inherent in it — so yeah, maybe “theatrical” was the way to go.
no subject
LOLOLOL! I love that the narrative calls him out. Priest's comedy is A+.
no subject
I loooove that Lin Jing weaponised his haplessness. :D
Thanks for the translation notes! <3
no subject
Oooh, excellent observation! Yeah, he doesn't even seem to be working on weapons at any point. I figure it's both a character note for Lin Jing, and for (ZYL's version of) the SID in general.
no subject
no subject
Oh, good question. 🤔
> The thing with Li Qian being replaced by a ghost is super creepy, and also surprising. The ghost managed to fool Shen Wei? I guess good that he's not infallible either?
Hmm, I read it her being possessed, with her “spirit” gone? Though I guess she could have been replaced wholesale too.
> When Lin Jing chants and there's the sound of the bell that subdues Changcheng, Li Qian, and the hunger ghost, it doesn't seem to affect Shen Wei at all. That should be a clue.
Ah, you’re right. Too bad no one was in a state to pay attention.
no subject
That's how I took it too!
no subject
Oh, of course. Thanks! I was reading too carelessly.
Too bad no one was in a state to pay attention.
Ha, right? Though if they had been, Shen Wei might have faked it.
no subject
Haha, both excellent points! Damn, the drama really did something with that monstrosity of a car. ♥ ♥ ♥
but given how antagonistic he is with everyone, no wonder he doesn't find it a harmonious environment! ;-p
LOL, right???
So with the flame consuming all the shadowy ghosts, are these human ghosts? I wonder if they can still reincarnate once they're burned up...
That's a really good question! Now I'm definitely wondering.
So it's a ghost energy detector?
That was how it seemed to me when it first appeared, at any rate ...
I love that certainty, and also his faith in Daqing. *hearts*
Yes! :D
The thing with Li Qian being replaced by a ghost is super creepy, and also surprising. The ghost managed to fool Shen Wei? I guess good that he's not infallible either?
I figured she hadn't been physically replaced, but displaced from her body by the ghost possessing her?
I don't like him very much, atm, but I do find him funny.
The humour is excellent, I love how funny priest's writing is! But yeah, definitely not likable.
His "Shen-laoshi, are you all right?" with the deliberately deepened voice is a bit of a contrast with drama!ZYL during the Wang Yike case, where he seems genuinely concerned and solicitous.
Agreed! Drama!ZYL in the early episodes is allergic to being genuine in a lot of ways that make him get in his own way, but situations where someone's genuinely in danger (especially Shen Wei!) cut through all of that and have him reacting sincerely. Which doesn't happen with novel!ZYL, who seems so jaded, nothing touches or bothers him.
And then the little bottle prison, cf Zhu Jiu's bottles in the drama (used on the underground fight club victims and, eventually, himself).
Yes, I thought of that too! They really managed to get so many small elements and visuals into the drama, even if in completely different contexts sometimes.
no subject
Right. I feel like it does several different things, like not just alerting Zhao Yunlan to energy, but sometimes he can see faces in there, and there might have been something else? But maybe I'm just confused.
> > The thing with Li Qian being replaced by a ghost is super creepy, and also surprising. The ghost managed to fool Shen Wei? I guess good that he's not infallible either?
>I figured she hadn't been physically replaced, but displaced from her body by the ghost possessing her?
Thanks, I missed that somehow. And even so, Shen Wei didn't notice the possession/energy.
Which doesn't happen with novel!ZYL, who seems so jaded, nothing touches or bothers him.
Yes, exactly. Jaded is the perfect word for it. Aside from his relationship with Daqing, he's very disconnected and cold.