but even as he drifted into slumber, Zhao Yunlan was confused. He hadn't been that busy recently. Why was he so tired?
Awww. He's young! Not used to being unexpectedly tired! *pets him*
Maybe there was some truth to that common saying: one feels drowsy in the spring, feels tired in the fall, takes naps in the summer, and can never get enough sleep in the three months of winter.
I had to check the Chinese because I want to adopt that saying! But alas, the JJWXC version (and the fan translation) only have "Maybe he caught a cold." Boo!
Then hands cradled his head, and soft lips pressed against his. A familiar scent momentarily quieted Zhao Yunlan's thoughts of protest, and the other person seized their chance to make him swallow the medicine.
♥ ♥ ♥
Shen Wei's ZYL-managing skills aren't bad!
a day upon which, via occult methods known among the common folk, one might borrow years off someone else's life
That's fascinating! I wonder if that's a real belief or superstition?
In older times, such a ritual might've been held when an elder fell ill. A filial child of the family would voluntarily burn the incense to show their willingness to lend their life. But these days, hardly anyone knew of these old customs and traditions, long since dismissed as outdated relics of feudal times. In the modern era, anyone who would attempt such methods was so terrified of dying that they'd hire an amateur to perform a ritual to steal from someone else's life.
So much of the worldbuilding around the supernatural just leads to extremely unpleasant things. It's all very cool! But still.
That was the thing about northern cities: once winter arrived, most nights were foggy or snowy, and clear skies were few and far between.
So this version of Dragon City is somewhere up north, interesting! I don't think the drama says anything about its location, and despite drama!GCC talking about cold winters about in the sub-zero lab, the temperature never appreciably changes, going by what people wear. :p (The drama does cover a good chunk of a year, with eps 1-19 already half a year, so you'd expect some seasonal changes ... I know, I know. Overthinking.)
Back when you failed to pass your tribulation and were injured by the divine lightning, I entrusted you to the Guardian's care. (...) Dragon City isn't an ideal place for focusing on your cultivation. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that you haven't made much progress in the last twenty years.
These little glimpses are so fascinating. If she's been in Dragon City 20 years, is that also how long she's been with ZYL, or did that happen later? That's a really long time, anyway. I wish we knew more about Zhu Hong's history, and how she ended up at the SID! (In the drama, too, tbh. More backstory for everyone, please!)
Besides, if you really had a place in his heart, I wouldn't be here acting like an annoying stick prying you two lovebirds apart.
I'm really glad he says that!
When the phone vibrated in his palm, it silently jarred him awake. His first instinct wasn't to look at the text. Instead, he held his breath and turned over to see if it had woken Shen Wei up too.
Ooh, and that's why before the drama version of the kitchen scene, ZYL wakes up with his phone in his hand!
Shen Wei's lower back slammed heavily into the cutting board. Zhao Yunlan was genuinely furious. He suddenly understood how Shen Wei had felt back at the hospital, when he'd raised his hand and nearly struck Zhao Yunlan after he used the Ghost Army Summons.
Oh, these two! But I'm very glad there's no physical violence in the drama version.
"Every part of me is dark, down to my very soul. Only the very tip of my heart is clean, and that's where I've kept you-where the blood runs red. I'll gladly use it to protect you."
♥ ♥ ♥
Finally, he grabbed a thick jacket off the large coatrack in the foyer, bundled it around himself, and walked out the door without a backward glance.
It's so fascinating to me that in the novel, ZYL walks out, whereas in the drama, SW is the one who leaves.
Something must be up if he's not going home during the holidays. My guess is he's either being forced into an unwanted marriage, or he's been forced into a breakup.
Aw, Lin Jing! It's sort of sweet that the only reason he can imagine is imposed from the outside. He doesn't deserve to have bonsais thrown at him!
(Though I really enjoyed that little moment, hee! And ZYL even apologises for it!)
What kind of stupid coat couldn't even be used for sharpening his claws?
Aww, ZYL protecting SW's coat! And it's just hilarious that coats are for claw-sharpening in Daqing's world. ♥
The only thing missing was a coat of his own. The obvious conclusion was that Shen Wei wanted Zhao Yunlan to keep his .
♥ ♥ ♥
He'd never cared for anyone like this before, with such intensity that just thinking of the other person hurt as if his heart had been gouged out.
AWWWWWWWW. :D
He spoke as if he was getting his affairs in order before death, so calmly that it made her heart ache.
Ouch! Ominous ...
"Director Zhao, just give me the word. One word and I'll sever all ties with my tribe and follow you to the end, through hell or high water."
Oh, Zhu Hong. At least her timing here is better than drama!ZH's, who pulls this right in the middle of a crisis!
Version comparison: just minor edits this time. These are the only ones that were slightly more noticeable:
In the fan translation, when they find ZYL sleeping at the SID, Zhu Hong takes off her jacket and covers ZYL with it, even though he's already covered with SW's coat.
After ZYL shaves in the bathroom at work, this bit from the fan translation isn't in the official one - we get a bit more of ZH's POV:
Zhu Hong is waiting at the door for him to come out. She struggles to say something, but Zhao Yunlan asks nonchalantly, "Anything to eat? I'm hungry." "...The canteen should have some food, you want to go have a look?"
Zhao Yunlan nods, and walks to the second floor. Zhu Hong is shocked... The normal Zhao Yunlan would sit at his desk and act like a big deal, going "get me a bowl of congee". Rarely would he condescend to go to the canteen personally.
Zhao Yunlan gets a regular breakfast set from the canteen, and silently sits down to eat. His entire person is in an eeriely peaceful state. Zhu Hong follows him quietly, thinking that even if the sky were to collapse, he would probably just look up for a bit, and keep eating his congee. She gets even more scared.
Fan translation: "Don't talk crap." Zhao Yunlan flickers away some ash, "Why are you getting more and more nosy. Careful, nosy women can't get married." Zhu Hong says with melancholy, "The person I like doesn't like me back, so why does it matter? I am not going to get married anyway."
Official translation: Zhao Yunlan flicked ashes from his cigarette. "Lately you've been gossiping more and more. Early menopause or something?" Sad and angry, Zhu Hong said, "What does it matter? Either way, the person I like doesn't like me back."
What do you think about the kitchen scene, and how it was adapted in the drama? Which is more intense? Which do you like better?
I think part of the reason the novel version isn't really doing it for me is because the reason it's happening (SW's ghost vibes being bad for ZYL) is something I don't enjoy, whereas I love everything about the background of drama!SW bleeding black energy so he can turn himself into a white energy bomb. And maybe the drama version just feels more intense to me because I'm more into it, but also, ZYL's reaction in the drama is so raw, and so revealing, and the novel's is just ... less, to me. Idk.
no subject
but even as he drifted into slumber, Zhao Yunlan was confused. He hadn't been that busy recently. Why was he so tired?
Awww. He's young! Not used to being unexpectedly tired! *pets him*
Maybe there was some truth to that common saying: one feels drowsy in the spring, feels tired in the fall, takes naps in the summer, and can never get enough sleep in the three months of winter.
I had to check the Chinese because I want to adopt that saying! But alas, the JJWXC version (and the fan translation) only have "Maybe he caught a cold." Boo!
Then hands cradled his head, and soft lips pressed against his. A familiar scent momentarily quieted Zhao Yunlan's thoughts of protest, and the other person seized their chance to make him swallow the medicine.
♥ ♥ ♥
Shen Wei's ZYL-managing skills aren't bad!
a day upon which, via occult methods known among the common folk, one might borrow years off someone else's life
That's fascinating! I wonder if that's a real belief or superstition?
In older times, such a ritual might've been held when an elder fell ill. A filial child of the family would voluntarily burn the incense to show their willingness to lend their life. But these days, hardly anyone knew of these old customs and traditions, long since dismissed as outdated relics of feudal times. In the modern era, anyone who would attempt such methods was so terrified of dying that they'd hire an amateur to perform a ritual to steal from someone else's life.
So much of the worldbuilding around the supernatural just leads to extremely unpleasant things. It's all very cool! But still.
That was the thing about northern cities: once winter arrived, most nights were foggy or snowy, and clear skies were few and far between.
So this version of Dragon City is somewhere up north, interesting! I don't think the drama says anything about its location, and despite drama!GCC talking about cold winters about in the sub-zero lab, the temperature never appreciably changes, going by what people wear. :p (The drama does cover a good chunk of a year, with eps 1-19 already half a year, so you'd expect some seasonal changes ...
I know, I know. Overthinking.)Back when you failed to pass your tribulation and were injured by the divine lightning, I entrusted you to the Guardian's care. (...)
Dragon City isn't an ideal place for focusing on your cultivation. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that you haven't made much progress in the last twenty years.
These little glimpses are so fascinating. If she's been in Dragon City 20 years, is that also how long she's been with ZYL, or did that happen later? That's a really long time, anyway. I wish we knew more about Zhu Hong's history, and how she ended up at the SID! (In the drama, too, tbh. More backstory for everyone, please!)
Besides, if you really had a place in his heart, I wouldn't be here acting like an annoying stick prying you two lovebirds apart.
I'm really glad he says that!
When the phone vibrated in his palm, it silently jarred him awake. His first instinct wasn't to look at the text. Instead, he held his breath and turned over to see if it had woken Shen Wei up too.
Ooh, and that's why before the drama version of the kitchen scene, ZYL wakes up with his phone in his hand!
Shen Wei's lower back slammed heavily into the cutting board. Zhao Yunlan was genuinely furious. He suddenly understood how Shen Wei had felt back at the hospital, when he'd raised his hand and nearly struck Zhao Yunlan after he used the Ghost Army Summons.
Oh, these two! But I'm very glad there's no physical violence in the drama version.
"Every part of me is dark, down to my very soul. Only the very tip of my heart is clean, and that's where I've kept you-where the blood runs red. I'll gladly use it to protect you."
♥ ♥ ♥
Finally, he grabbed a thick jacket off the large coatrack in the foyer, bundled it around himself, and walked out the door without a backward glance.
It's so fascinating to me that in the novel, ZYL walks out, whereas in the drama, SW is the one who leaves.
Something must be up if he's not going home during the holidays. My guess is he's either being forced into an unwanted marriage, or he's been forced into a breakup.
Aw, Lin Jing! It's sort of sweet that the only reason he can imagine is imposed from the outside. He doesn't deserve to have bonsais thrown at him!
(Though I really enjoyed that little moment, hee! And ZYL even apologises for it!)
What kind of stupid coat couldn't even be used for sharpening his claws?
Aww, ZYL protecting SW's coat! And it's just hilarious that coats are for claw-sharpening in Daqing's world. ♥
The only thing missing was a coat of his own. The obvious conclusion was that Shen Wei wanted Zhao Yunlan to keep his .
♥ ♥ ♥
He'd never cared for anyone like this before, with such intensity that just thinking of the other person hurt as if his heart had been gouged out.
AWWWWWWWW. :D
He spoke as if he was getting his affairs in order before death, so calmly that it made her heart ache.
Ouch! Ominous ...
"Director Zhao, just give me the word. One word and I'll sever all ties with my tribe and follow you to the end, through hell or high water."
Oh, Zhu Hong. At least her timing here is better than drama!ZH's, who pulls this right in the middle of a crisis!
Version comparison: just minor edits this time. These are the only ones that were slightly more noticeable:
Zhu Hong is waiting at the door for him to come out. She struggles to say something, but Zhao Yunlan asks nonchalantly, "Anything to eat? I'm hungry."
"...The canteen should have some food, you want to go have a look?"
Zhao Yunlan nods, and walks to the second floor. Zhu Hong is shocked... The normal Zhao Yunlan would sit at his desk and act like a big deal, going "get me a bowl of congee". Rarely would he condescend to go to the canteen personally.
Zhao Yunlan gets a regular breakfast set from the canteen, and silently sits down to eat. His entire person is in an eeriely peaceful state. Zhu Hong follows him quietly, thinking that even if the sky were to collapse, he would probably just look up for a bit, and keep eating his congee. She gets even more scared.
"Don't talk crap." Zhao Yunlan flickers away some ash, "Why are you getting more and more nosy. Careful, nosy women can't get married."
Zhu Hong says with melancholy, "The person I like doesn't like me back, so why does it matter? I am not going to get married anyway."
Official translation:
Zhao Yunlan flicked ashes from his cigarette. "Lately you've been gossiping more and more. Early menopause or something?"
Sad and angry, Zhu Hong said, "What does it matter? Either way, the person I like doesn't like me back."
What do you think about the kitchen scene, and how it was adapted in the drama? Which is more intense? Which do you like better?
I think part of the reason the novel version isn't really doing it for me is because the reason it's happening (SW's ghost vibes being bad for ZYL) is something I don't enjoy, whereas I love everything about the background of drama!SW bleeding black energy so he can turn himself into a white energy bomb. And maybe the drama version just feels more intense to me because I'm more into it, but also, ZYL's reaction in the drama is so raw, and so revealing, and the novel's is just ... less, to me. Idk.