Poll: Shen Wei's Clark Kent moments (drama)

[china_shop]

Poll #33087 Ordinary

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 26

View Respondents

What's your favourite of Shen Wei's lies, obfuscations and misdirects?

View Answers

"I am an ordinary person. I have no right to interfere with these things." (ep 1)
2 (7.7%)

holding his hip as Jiajia helps him out of the bushes, after he fell off the biology dept (ep 2)
9 (34.6%)

climbing to his feet, rubbing his very lower back in the hospital (ep 2)
5 (19.2%)

being trapped in the car while the hospital attacker goes after Li Qian (ep 2)
3 (11.5%)

"I really was at the wrong place at the wrong time," during the interrogation (ep 4)
5 (19.2%)

pretending his arm wasn't just bleeding a second ago (ep 4)
3 (11.5%)

deliberately pricking his finger to make it bleed (ep 4)
8 (30.8%)

don't ask me about Dixingren; let's talk about bears (ep 7)
11 (42.3%)

"I have a magical sixth sense." (ep 8)
3 (11.5%)

the innocent smile from the balcony, during the Hanga arc (ep 11)
5 (19.2%)

"To be honest, I'm just a normal person who happens to be unlucky. I don't know why, but I somehow became involved in these strange cases. And that's all there is to it." (ep 12)
2 (7.7%)

"I work out a lot." (ep 13)
13 (50.0%)

in the car, post-Envoy reveal, "I'm just an ordinary..." *trails off* (ep 14)
10 (38.5%)

other
4 (15.4%)

Thanks to trobadora for help compiling the list. :D

Comments

[china_shop]

Why I chose what I chose: uh, it was pretty random, really. I can say what I like about them, but it won't explain why those things versus the others. But anyway:

holding his hip as Jiajia helps him out of the bushes, after he fell off the biology dept (ep 2) I love how performative this is. Like, we rag on ZYL all the time for putting on an act, but here's SW doing exactly the same thing. :D :D :D Also, just the whole "Hi, I was thrown off a building, and now my hip is slightly sore" thing is awesome. :D

pretending his arm wasn't just bleeding a second ago (ep 4) I love that he healed himself reflexively (because of course he did), and then had to make an excuse for the blood. (And of course ZYL is alert and fussing.)

deliberately pricking his finger to make it bleed (ep 4) More performativeness, but especially I love how he laughs when ZYL freaks out. Like, he's just so amused that anyone would be worried about this little cut, but also maybe a little happy that ZYL is the kind of person who takes responsibility when someone gets hurt on his watch. <333

(Oh no, now I've thought of an "other" that I should have included in the poll, which is the entire mugging, where Shen Wei is very deliberately letting himself get robbed and letting ZYL rescue him. Awwww.)

"I have a magical sixth sense." (ep 8) This is just paper-thin and adorably ridiculous. He knows ZYL won't believe him, but he has to try. (And, like, if ZYL did believe him, it would be a dark-energy power, right? So that's incriminating in another way.)

in the car, post-Envoy reveal, "I'm just an ordinary..." trails off (ep 14) That reflexive defence really shows a) how used he is to hiding, and b) how much he wishes he still was (or at least is torn on the subject). *pets him*

:D :D :D

[autodach]

Thank you for this lovely poll! ♥

Hi, I was thrown off a building, and now my hip is slightly sore

He isn't used to getting hurt by something as trivial as falling off the roof! And so he doesn't know how to fake that either XD

Like, he's just so amused that anyone would be worried about this little cut, but also maybe a little happy that ZYL is the kind of person who takes responsibility when someone gets hurt on his watch. <333

Awww♥♥♥

the entire mugging

Oh yes, the mugging is an entire scene of pretending to be a weak academic! I especially love when Shen Wei steps back a little to give Zhao Yunlan space to brawl.

[china_shop]

You're welcome, yay! ♥

He isn't used to getting hurt by something as trivial as falling off the roof! And so he doesn't know how to fake that either XD

Ha, true! And he's surrounded by elderly academics who probably all have joint and back problems, lol.

Oh yes, the mugging is an entire scene of pretending to be a weak academic!

Yes! It's so good.

I especially love when Shen Wei steps back a little to give Zhao Yunlan space to brawl.

Haha, yes! ZYL gets to be an unwitting player in SW's street theatre. :D :D :D

[facethestrange]

"I especially love when Shen Wei steps back a little to give Zhao Yunlan space to brawl."

Ikr, it's precious. :D :D Oh, there's this meme about it, and now I'm wondering if it's from the same crack video I just linked for the other gif because it's the same style (I didn't rewatch the video when I linked it). :D

[facethestrange]

"I can say what I like about them, but it won't explain why those things versus the others."

Yepp, same. :D This is such a fun list, all vibes. :D ♡

"Also, just the whole "Hi, I was thrown off a building, and now my hip is slightly sore" thing is awesome. :D"

Hahah, now that you say it like that, it's so precious, lol aw! ♡ He picked a random-ass consequence and committed to the bit. :D

"Like, he's just so amused that anyone would be worried about this little cut, but also maybe a little happy that ZYL is the kind of person who takes responsibility when someone gets hurt on his watch. <333"

AW, yes, this! ♡♡♡

"(Oh no, now I've thought of an "other" that I should have included in the poll, which is the entire mugging, where Shen Wei is very deliberately letting himself get robbed and letting ZYL rescue him. Awwww.)"

I added 'other' to my vote because of your comment. :D I love this scene so much, and btw I don't even think Zhao Yunlan should be embarrassed about it at all - he wasn't fully informed, but he did so well with what he knew. :D Unlike the whole thing with giving SW the books, which was just objectively ridiculous and unnecessary, lol.

"This is just paper-thin and adorably ridiculous. He knows ZYL won't believe him, but he has to try. (And, like, if ZYL did believe him, it would be a dark-energy power, right? So that's incriminating in another way.)"

I just vote for everything from ep 8 because I love it so much, but also yes this, that's such a good point! ♡

[trobadora]

"Hi, I was thrown off a building, and now my hip is slightly sore"

I love how you put that! It's delightful, yeah. :D

Like, he's just so amused that anyone would be worried about this little cut, but also maybe a little happy that ZYL is the kind of person who takes responsibility when someone gets hurt on his watch. <333

YESSSSSSSSS, that was one of my picks too! So much love!

That reflexive defence really shows a) how used he is to hiding, and b) how much he wishes he still was

Yeah, he's extremely used to hiding and deflecting, and he didn't get to choose to come out; circumstances made that decision for him. And at this point IMO he's still not sure it's a good thing, though ultimately it is.

[autodach]

So many good bits! Some convincing, some very much not, haha.

I went with the hanga arc balcony. Because I think for just a moment there, Zhao Yunlan was (almost) buying it. He just found Zhu Hong asleep and confused, and assumed that meant Shen Wei would be gone - but here he is! Waiting for him. Still wearing Zhao Yunlan's jacket! How domestic :)

The bears are an all-time favourite of course. I wonder how far Shen Wei's interest in them goes. He had those drawings ready, after all.

The Working Out A Lot is a special case, because imo it's not trying to be convincing at all. Rather, this is Shen Wei trying to communicate he cannot reveal the truth right now, by telling a lie they both know is a lie, and they both know they know.

I also like the last one, where Shen Wei starts to lie purely out of habit XD

[china_shop]

I went with the hanga arc balcony. Because I think for just a moment there, Zhao Yunlan was (almost) buying it.

Aww, yes! Great reasoning!! *pets ZYL* (But really, he's much better off with a super-powered battle boyfriend. ;-p)

*He had those drawings ready, after all. *

I know, right? WHY THE BEAR PICTURES?!? He couldn't possibly have anticipated the video call.

The Working Out A Lot is a special case, because imo it's not trying to be convincing at all.

1000% agree. The whole subtext of that scene is "Will you please just accept that I can't say it?" / "No!"

I also like the last one, where Shen Wei starts to lie purely out of habit XD

Me too! It's so revealing. And in fact, in the very first conversation we see him have, with Professor Ouyang, he says, "I am just an ordinary scholar. I study and teach only." I wonder exactly how many people he's claimed to be ordinary to...

[facethestrange]

"but here he is! Waiting for him. Still wearing Zhao Yunlan's jacket! How domestic :)"

I like how your described it, AW. :D And I just love the way they smile at each other!

"The bears are an all-time favourite of course. I wonder how far Shen Wei's interest in them goes. He had those drawings ready, after all."

Hah, I always just thought the pictures were for one of his classes, but I can totally see why it's fanon that Shen Wei loves bears. :D (I just rewatched the scene btw, and now I kinda want to vote for it because of so many of these tiny moments that are so funny and perfect, like Zhu Hong being so done, and DQ and GCC being adorable, and ZYL's giant face on the screen. xD But that's not directly related to Shen Wei lying his ass off, so it probably doesn't really count. xD)

"Rather, this is Shen Wei trying to communicate he cannot reveal the truth right now, by telling a lie they both know is a lie, and they both know they know."

Yeah, and I kinda love that somehow they still communicate so well and clearly even when it seems like they're at odds. ♡

[trobadora]

The bears are an all-time favourite of course. I wonder how far Shen Wei's interest in them goes. He had those drawings ready, after all.

The bears are amazing. I wonder about the drawings, too - and about the youchu drawing; he had that ready, too, after all Maybe he has a power to spontaneously generate drawings? :D

imo it's not trying to be convincing at all. Rather, this is Shen Wei trying to communicate he cannot reveal the truth right now, by telling a lie they both know is a lie, and they both know they know.

Yes, exactly! I love that about it, A LOT. :D

[facethestrange]

POLL yay! :D ♡♡♡

And it's one of those where I just want to click everything, or very nearly everything. :D So I just went ahead and did that, obvsly. And apparently a lot of them come down to 'SHEN WEI'S FACE THO *heart eyes*' /pretends to be surprised ;D And some of them included a tumblr deep dive to get the right gifs. :D

The lower back one - it's directly because of this gif:

(From this post, and originally from a crack video that is linked in the post. :D)

The other two from ep 2 - HIS FACE THO ♡♡♡

Pricking his finger - I LOVE concerned Zhao Yunlan, and Shen Wei being all adorable and 'why??' ♡♡♡

Magical sixth sense - because it's ep 8, I feel like I'll just always vote for everything from ep 8, it's just a thing. :D :D

The balcony smile - I LOVE THEIR FACES, I love Zhao Yunlan's smile too, so much.

I work out a lot - it's largely because of this tumblr post, especially whatever he's doing with his jaw at the very end:


And also these tags:


Other - the mugging, because this time I read the comments before voting. :D

[china_shop]

And it's one of those where I just want to click everything, or very nearly everything. :D

:D :D :D :D :D

And some of them included a tumblr deep dive to get the right gifs. :D

Ha, awesome! Much appreciated. <3 (LOL, I remember that crack vid. Aww.)

Pricking his finger - I LOVE concerned Zhao Yunlan, and Shen Wei being all adorable and 'why??' ♡♡♡

Yesss! Shen Wei's spontaneous/incredulous little laugh is the BEST!!

I work out a lot - it's largely because of this tumblr post, especially whatever he's doing with his jaw at the very end:

Ha, yes. I feel like a lot of his expression is, "I've chosen my course and I'm sticking to it, but ZYL is about to explode at me again." braces for impact You know?

the mugging, because this time I read the comments before voting. :D

\o/!!! :D :D :D :D :D

[autodach]

Bwahaha a great gif indeed! I had not seen that video yet.
And the rapid blink of distress, lol XD

[trobadora]

Your excellent gif-finding powers strike again! :D :D :D

especially whatever he's doing with his jaw at the very end

Oooh yes! He knows ZYL isn't going to respond the way he wants him to, but he's not going to cave. Love his stubborn determination. ♥

[tinypinkmouse]

I voted for bears and I work out because how could I not. Those are iconic. But also holding his hip. Because that his hilariously fake, and Shen Wei, you just fell off a roof!

[facethestrange]

It's so adorable how fake it is. :D And now I'm wondering if he really doesn't know/care how to make falling off a roof more realistic, or if it's all just because he doesn't want to worry Zhao Yunlan. ♡

[trobadora]

BEARS! :D :D :D

[china_shop]

Iconic, indeed! :D :D :D

Shen Wei, you just fell off a roof!

He landed on some bushes, so he's fine. LOL! :D

[trobadora]

My picks:

BEARS first, because it's one of my all-time favourite troll!Shen Wei moments. It's so glorious, here ZYL is insisting he must know something, and SW doesn't, so what he's going for is Maximum Troll. And he's not budging an inch, keeps heaping bear upon bear while Zhao Yunlan gets more and more exasperated. :D :D :D

(As soon as he does know something and can contribute to the case, he does - as we see with the youchu - but before that, it really is ZYL just poking in the dark, and SW isn't having it, so SW ends up poking the BEARS. So much love!)

Second is the finger-pricking in the park, it's such a lovely slow deliberate move on SW's part, diverting ZYL's attention from his suspicions because SW couldn't hide that blood earlier, and I love everything about it - SW making that move, ZYL's exasperated-worried reaction, and SW's amusement at that reaction. All a delight!

Third choice: "other", because like others here, I have read the comments first, and OMG how did we forget about the mugging? That scene is so awesome, with SW determinedly-stoically letting himself be mugged RIGHT until the moment the muggers go one step too far and go for his pendant - and then just as he's about to unleash himself, ZYL appears and he immediately pulls it all back and steps back into his Professor Shen role. So much characterisation in there! So good!

[china_shop]

ZYL is insisting he must know something, and SW doesn't, so what he's going for is Maximum Troll. And he's not budging an inch, keeps heaping bear upon bear while Zhao Yunlan gets more and more exasperated. :D :D :D

And ZYL still doesn't end the call, because a) he hopes SW will eventually run out of bear steam, and b) secretly, he's just enjoying looking at SW's face. :D :D :D

Plus that scene has the "I won't just watch from the sidelines" line, which is one of my favourites. It's so "there are some things more important than protecting my secrets." :D :D :D

it's such a lovely slow deliberate move on SW's part

Ah, yes, you're right. It's so deliberate and so good!

and OMG how did we forget about the mugging?

Ha, I know! And it's an amazing scene -- I love how you describe it. (And I love, too, that this entire post is just us gushing about these wonderful moments, lol.)

[facethestrange]

"And he's not budging an inch, keeps heaping bear upon bear"

"it really is ZYL just poking in the dark, and SW isn't having it, so SW ends up poking the BEARS"

Laughing irl at these glorious descriptions. :D :D :D

(And yesss, I love the fact that he DOES help in the end too. ♡)

And ITA with everything else you said, 100%! Not even quoting because YES ALL OF THIS, I love these scenes so much. ♡♡♡

[tehfanglyfish]

This poll is absolutely delightful! I went with the working out one just because it's THE ABSOLUTE WORST lie ever. Like, Shen Wei, you are sooooooooooo brilliant and competent and amazing and yet... (But I get it. It's hard to think of things on the fly, especially during times of stress. But still...)

I'm also a big fan of bears just because he knew so many bear facts off the top of his head. Very impressive! And endearing. Also relatable. (Not bears exactly but knowing way too much about a specific animal - I had to have an uncomfortable medical procedure a few years ago and the doctor managed to distract me from it by letting me prattle off all the facts I knew about iguanas. Sadly, I had no folder of iguana drawings on hand to show her. Shen Wei is better prepared than me.)

[china_shop]

I went with the working out one just because it's THE ABSOLUTE WORST lie ever.

Heh, it is completely transparent, and all the more enjoyable for it, isn't it? (FWIW, consensus in the comments above is that it wasn't intended to be convincing -- that what he's really saying is, "I can't tell you the truth so I'm going to say something unbelievable; won't you just play along?" *pets them both* But of course, that reading is open to interpretation.)

YAY BEARS!

(And awwww, I love that you used iguana facts to distract yourself. That's so cool! (Clearly you should carry some iguana diagrams with you at all times. ;D))

[facethestrange]

"I went with the working out one just because it's THE ABSOLUTE WORST lie ever."

It's BEAUTIFUL, and I love his face journey in this scene. :D :D

"Not bears exactly but knowing way too much about a specific animal - I had to have an uncomfortable medical procedure a few years ago and the doctor managed to distract me from it by letting me prattle off all the facts I knew about iguanas. Sadly, I had no folder of iguana drawings on hand to show her. Shen Wei is better prepared than me."

Aww, that's so cool about the iguanas, and so sweet of the doctor to do that! :) (And I don't think I know even one iguana fact myself - feel free to throw some at me. :D) And hey, you have an excuse for not having a folder on hand - you were not at work with a whole desk full of stuff. :D

[trobadora]

Oh, that's so neat about the iguana facts! (Have you ever used that knowledge to write fic about the SID iguana? Just wondering. *g*)

The "working out" line is so great! I don't think it counts as a lie exactly, he's not trying to convince anyone, he just wants ZYL to let it go. But ZYL of course won't. It's really fun when they're being stubborn at each other!