Guardian Readalong: Vol. 3, Bonus Stories: Sage 1 & Sage 2

[facethestrange]

Hi, and welcome to this week's installment of the Guardian novel readalong! We're finished with the main text of the novel, but the readalong continues - it's time for the first bonus stories. ♡

Here are last week's chapters, and you can find all previous discussions in the schedule posts (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5), or via the !readalong tag.

This week's chapters:

• Sage 1: Many SID team shenanigans happen, including but not limited to: They have acquired a Samoyed puppy named Xiaomi who plays with Daqing. They talk about the new office they're moving to, and have some theories why Zhao Yunlan is not at work. No one tells Guo Changcheng that he's the wick, they just confuse him with questions and occasionally pluck his hair to experiment on. Meanwhile, Zhao Yunlan talks to Shennong's mortar about the primordial past and Shen Wei's oath, and explains that some things are meant to be confusing. Shennong's mortar announces that he's leaving Zhao Yunlan's father's body. Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan take a walk together and cause spring flowers to bloom.
  



• Sage 2: The SID moves to their new office, which includes a sunny attic and Zhao Yunlan's vegetable garden, among other things. Everyone loves Shen Wei because his arrival means that Zhao Yunlan finally goes home. Lin Jing invents an invisible listening device. Daqing bickers with people, including Shen Wei. Zhao Yunlan falls asleep trying to learn gardening from a boring book, and cuddles with Shen Wei (while also bickering). Guo Changcheng goes on an arranged date with a girl. Chu Shuzhi accompanies him and listens in on their awkward conversation, and then interrupts the date and drags Guo Changcheng away. They start dating, which is revealed to the rest of the SID by Lin Jing's listening device.
  

The corresponding chapters:
Sage 1 = fan translation Extra 2
Sage 2 = fan translation Extra 3


Excerpts:

1) The SID team speculating about Zhao Yunlan's activities

Guo Changcheng ran a hand through his hair. “Director Zhao isn’t here?”

Without looking up, Zhu Hong said, “Officially, he’s off picking up the keys for our new office today and has to do a final inspection. Plus he’s moving today—ugh, why does this always freeze up? I hope we have better internet in the new place.”

Daqing, who was chasing Xiaomi all over the room, screeched to a halt upon hearing this explanation. He looked over and asked, “And unofficially?”

Despite the trace of jealousy in Zhu Hong’s tone, she clearly savored the words as she said, “He got fucked so hard that he can’t get out of bed, duh.”

Shock made Guo Changcheng tremble and miss his chair when he tried to sit. He nearly fell on his ass as it rolled away.

Zhu Hong gave him a bombastic side-eye. “Our boss is that fucking gay. What’s there to be shocked about?”



2) Shennong's mortar leaves, and Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan make flowers bloom

To Shennong’s mortar, he said, “Drive carefully on the way back. Don’t let my dad notice anything. Take care of his body.”

Shennong’s mortar stood up. With great respect, he said, “Thank you for your wisdom, Mountain God. In truth, I came to say goodbye today. Having carried out my mission, it would be inappropriate to continue occupying a mortal’s body.”

Zhao Yunlan was taken aback. “When are you leaving?”

“Today,” the mortar said. “After taking Mr. Zhao back now.”

“All right, then.” Zhao Yunlan thought about it, then gave him a casual wave. “Take care. If you ever need anything, come find me.”

Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan went downstairs together, while Shennong’s mortar stood at the window. Together, they ambled through campus toward the neighborhood across the street, as if taking a leisurely afternoon stroll.

Even further in the distance, in the green areas of the neighborhood, flowers on the large condo terraces quietly burst into bloom wherever they passed by. It struck the mortar then that spring had already arrived.



3) The new SID office

The new office space was an appealing one. It had a little attic that got plenty of sunlight throughout the day, and there was a two-level basement. The lower basement housed the library while the upper basement had a mahjong table surrounded by a bunch of memorial tablets that gave the ghost employees somewhere to rest. They could even play a game of mahjong during bouts of insomnia.

With all the natural light the attic got, and thanks to a thick layer of sound-absorbing paint, one could go up there for a nice afternoon nap. Opening the window offered a lovely view of the front courtyard…or it would have, if a lovely view existed. Everyone had wildly different ideas about what to do with the space, so after it had been divided up for everyone to do their own thing, the result was the polar opposite of a cohesive whole.

As for the backyard, Zhao Yunlan claimed it entirely for himself. After a lifetime spent learning absolutely nothing about art, his taste was…rather unique. He vetoed the roses Zhu Hong liked, vetoed Chu Shuzhi’s suggestion of vines, and vetoed Lin Jing’s request for bodhi trees.

In the end, after careful consideration, he planted a garden full of vegetables, including bok choy, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin sprouts, pea shoots, xiangchun…a whole array of vegetables all next to each other. And in the center, like a bright moon shining among the stars, was one single slutty eggplant.



4) Daqing 'practices yoga'

Daqing was curled up on the stair railing. His black tail waved at Shen Wei. “He’s upstairs in the attic.”

“Mn, thank you.” Shen Wei nodded, glancing over as he passed by. The railing was only half as wide as the cat’s belly, making it seem like Daqing might roll right off at any moment. The words “Why don’t you go somewhere roomier?” slipped out of Shen Wei’s mouth. “Take care not to fall.”

Daqing froze for a moment, then realized Shen Wei was calling him fat. He gave a yowl, fur standing on end. “I’m! Practicing! Yoga! What’s wrong with practicing yoga? Is there a problem?”

Shen Wei gave his head a pat and then headed up the stairs, still smiling.

In a huff, Daqing lay back down on the railing. Further annoyance approached in the form of Lin Jing. “Daqing-gongzi, which yoga pose are you practicing right now?”

“…Cat Pose.”

Following the precept of “monks don’t lie,” Lin Jing responded appropriately. “Ha ha ha ha ha ha!”



5) Chu Shuzhi interrupts Guo Changcheng's date

Guo Changcheng froze. Before he could respond, a hand descended on his shoulder and he was hauled up out of his seat.

“C-Chu-ge?”

The girl looked at Chu Shuzhi, utterly perplexed. Chu Shuzhi glanced at her, his smile not reaching his eyes, and then his gaze landed on Guo Changcheng. In an incredibly ambiguous tone, he said, “Going on a date behind my back? You really think you’re hot shit now, huh?”

Guo Changcheng’s mind boggled. Wh-what?!

The girl’s eyes flew wide-open. She sat there in shock at the Corpse King’s aura and the dramatic turn of events. Chu Shuzhi grabbed a few bills from Guo Changcheng’s wallet, tucked them under a glass as payment, and stalked off with Guo Changcheng under his arm.

“What are you looking at? I did that for her own good. How dare she try to poach someone from Kunlun-jun? I’m astounded that the idea even crossed her mind.” Chu Shuzhi stuffed Guo Changcheng into the car, then he stretched out his long legs. “Drive,” he ordered. “Take me home first.”

Guo Changcheng didn’t say a word. Crimson-faced, he started the car.

On his crossbody bag, an invisible object shaped like a fish scale was sending signals.

The very next day, a rumor began to spread: “Chu-ge and xiao-Guo are dating! 9 University Road is full of gays!”

And what happened to whom? Lin Jing? The Lin Jing who just so happened to hear something he shouldn’t have and spread the rumor?

Heh heh.



Questions:

Favorite SID shenanigans moment? (Or several - there are so many!) Do you think Xiao-Guo should be told that he's the wick? Do you understand what Zhao Yunlan explained about the primordial gods, or are you also a few thousand years too young? Are Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan consciously making flowers bloom, or is it just what happens when nature gods are happy? What is your favorite thing about the new office? Whose garden idea do you like the best, and why is it (not) the slutty eggplant? Any thoughts about the drama adaptation of these chapters, especially Xiao Guo's date?

You can answer as many or as few questions as you like, or just comment without answering any of them at all! And if you see this post and you're not actually reading the novel, I would love to know what you think about any of this with limited context. :D

And here is the schedule, where you can sign up to host a post. (There are only two weeks left!)

Comments

[facethestrange]

:D :D ♡

"Daqing yelling about doing yoga on the bannister, I think, but there are a lot. :D These extras are so fun!! I love seeing the SID team just hanging out. :D :D :D"

Ikr!! :D :D :D The extras are basically slice of life crackfics, in the best way. :D

"Given how easily he sets off his baton (like fireworks in the streets!), I suspect the others are worried about the Lamp exploding or something if he finds out."

Lol omg, this is fantastic, and if that's how it was explained canonically, I would understand their decision a lot better. xD :D

"But also, all his do-gooding is so pure, I kind of love that he just does it without a reason. Knowing about the Lamp might make him feel pressured or self-conscious or something. Idk.

And that's a really good point too! What they're canonically worried about is that he wouldn't be happy if he knew that all his merits go to the Lamp and not to him. And I feel like he wouldn't care about that at all, and what you said is a lot more likely - that he'd feel uncomfortable about having this many merits in the first place, regardless of where they go.

"If anyone's going to tell him, it should probably be ZYL, anyway."

Oh, because of their connection? I didn't think of that, but I think I'd be okay with anyone telling him, including accidentally. :) (How did they all manage not to tell him accidentally btw?? xD)

"So I ~think~ ZYL is saying SW started out someone with a great obsession without resentment or regrets, and then, when push came to shove, he became someone who knows what lies on the other side of death and chose it anyway. It was that transition that changed everything? Like, whether he'd make that choice was the colossal gamble? So it wasn't a coincidence: Shen Wei's choice fulfilled the oath, reawakened Kunlun, and freed Shen Wei from the oath. But I'm just randomly guessing, really. :-)"

This is SO COOL, and far more than I could come up with, and it makes so much sense that honestly it could be exactly the intended interpretation?? I'm taking your random guess as the actual explanation of what they were talking about. :D

"I think spring is a metaphor for rejuvenation and love blooming (I watched a Kdrama once called "Daljal's Spring" and I've come across the metaphor in other Kdramas, too) -- and because they're them, it happens literally. <3 <3 <3"

Aww, yes, it's definitely the case here too (spring came in the final chapter already: "The ground that had been devastated by the destruction of the Great Seal was restored to how it had been; fresh green buds, so easily overlooked in early spring, burst from the soil."), and I love that they keep amplifying it just by existing. ♡♡♡

"Definitely the attic. It sounds so cosy. I want it!!"

Ikr, the sun sounds so good! :D

"Idk, I don't know enough about the other SID members' spaces to decide!"

Fwiw, there are two different areas - the backyard/garden ideas got described but no one got to do anything there other than Zhao Yunlan ("He vetoed the roses Zhu Hong liked, vetoed Chu Shuzhi’s suggestion of vines, and vetoed Lin Jing’s request for bodhi trees."), and then there's the front yard, where everyone did get their own space but it's not described at all. So I think my favorite garden idea is the vegetables, but I want to know their front yard ideas and I really want to see what exactly is happening there. :D :D

[trobadora]

What they're canonically worried about is that he wouldn't be happy if he knew that all his merits go to the Lamp and not to him. And I feel like he wouldn't care about that at all, and what you said is a lot more likely - that he'd feel uncomfortable about having this many merits in the first place, regardless of where they go.

Yes! That's totally how I see it too.

[china_shop]

What they're canonically worried about is that he wouldn't be happy if he knew that all his merits go to the Lamp and not to him.

It does say Everyone was too afraid of disturbing Guo Changcheng’s peaceful state of mind to dare mention the Soul-Guarding Lamp in front of him. but worrying about the merits side of things is only in Lin Jing's POV. Maybe everyone else has a better one? ;-p

> > "If anyone's going to tell him, it should probably be ZYL, anyway."
> Oh, because of their connection?

Their connection, and ZYL is the boss and a god and responsible (in some sense) for the Soul-Guarding Lamp. And the one most likely to be able to fix it if things go horribly wrong. ;-p

(How did they all manage not to tell him accidentally btw?? xD)

Ha! Excellent question!

I'm taking your random guess as the actual explanation of what they were talking about. :D

\o/ \o/ \o/ :D

but I want to know their front yard ideas and I really want to see what exactly is happening there. :D :D

Yes, exactly! I can't decide what's best without knowing what everyone's done to their sections. Chu Shuzhi's might be full of bones, or it might be awesome! ;p :D ...I wonder if GCC got one.