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sid_guardian2025-11-30 04:53 pm
china_shop) wrote in sid_guardian2025-11-30 04:53 pm
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Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 7, part 1
Hi, and welcome back to the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch. Watch half an episode a week, at your leisure, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!
Here are the previous weeks' rewatch posts.
Episode 7, up to 24:30
Summary
Shen Wei starts to get serious with the muggers, but just then Zhao Yunlan shows up and "rescues" him... only to be caught unawares with a metal bar. They go to Shen Wei's place for first aid and verbal sparring.
Zhao Yunlan asks Shen Wei to be an official consultant to the SID, and Shen Wei refuses. Zhao Yunlan accidentally implies he's been in Shen Wei's place before. The next day at the SID, Lin Jing is telling ghost stories when a call comes about a new case: one of the muggers is dead. When the SID review nearby CCTV footage, they don't see much, but rewinding to earlier reveals that Zhao Yunlan met up with Shen Wei in that alley. Zhao Yunlan unconvincingly laughs this off. The "bears" call: Zhu Hong grudgingly conveys a laptop to Shen Wei for a Zoom call with Zhao Yunlan and the others. After Shen Wei's extensive and illustrated lecture on different kinds of bears, Da Qing pipes up to suggest the attacker might be a Youchu; Shen Wei produces a relevant sketch. Zhao Yunlan, Lin Jing and Chu Shuzhi visit the surviving mugger in hospital; he's out of his wits, babbling about a monster. Lin Jing sees the crime scene photos and makes the connection with his favourite web novel.
Quote
Shen Wei: There are some questions that, out of principle, I cannot answer. But when the safety of people around me are at stake, I will surely not watch from the side and hide information from you. You can count on me for that.
Detail
The moment they're inside his apartment, Shen Wei
Questions
Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 7? Do you think Zhao Yunlan's arrival at the mugging was coincidence, or had he been tailing Shen Wei? Do you think Shen Wei had qualms about letting Zhao Yunlan take on the muggers? Shen Wei doesn't show any surprise at the job offer -- do you think he was expecting it? Which of them do you think was most turned on by the "first aid"? We didn't see Zhao Yunlan in Shen Wei's bedroom while searching the apartment -- did he? We now know Lin Jing and Da Qing read web novels; who else at the SID reads them? What do the others think is going on when they see Zhao Yunlan with Shen Wei in the CCTV footage? Did Zhu Hong volunteer to take the laptop to Shen Wei for the video call, or was she assigned to do it? Why a video call instead of Zhao Yunlan paying a visit? At the hospital, why is Chu Shuzhi so grumpy? Lin Jing draws a connection between the case and the web novel -- but how does Wang Zheng already know about this when she calls?
Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama? If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation compares, if at all?
(As usual, these are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in. We'd love to hear your thoughts!)
And here is our schedule -- if you can, please sign up to host a post!
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TOUCHING, they just both really want to get to the touchingAhhh, that's such a great point! You're right! They really want that (not really necessary at all) physical contact. alsdkfa;sdklfjas;dkfjas;dflkjasdf!!!!
they don't communicate about it beforehand and never question it at all. :D
*heeeeeaaaaarts*
Btw what IS the place outside Shen Wei's bedroom window that Zhao Yunlan is talking about?
I'm guessing it's some kind of library? I have no idea, lol. I always gloss right over that part.
I can never get over Zhao Yunlan just completely and entirely losing his composure, sputterining nonsense and laughing awkwardly because he was seen at night with Shen Wei, like daaaamn, way to make it not weird and not suggestive at all. :D :D And the AHHHHH is my favorite Chu Shuzhi scene, and then Zhao Yunlan just keeps quietly dying inside for another five full seconds, asdshgfjdksljkl; :D :D
I knooooooooow, he's SUCH A DORK (ilhsm), and it's SO GOOD! :D :D :D
Also Zhao Yunlan whistling and wanting to throw a party after his date with Shen Wei. xD :D
LOL! (And okay, now I'm wondering what that's all about -- because it seems at odds with ZYL's awkward/hasty exit from SW's flat, to me. Is it just that he got to see SW last night and hang out for a bit? Did he erase everything from his mind about the evening except his heroic defeat of the muggers and SW's first aid? Huh.)
Ha, great screen cap. SW is fierce SW!!
I love it so much that the pendant is not a soulfire and has absolutely zero objective value, it always makes everything even better. :D
Yessss! :D :D: D
And Shen Wei supposedly knows that Zhu Hong is talking about Zhao Yunlan?
I'm assuming he figures it out from context and Zhu Hong's attitude?
Also I only just realized that Zhu Hong just gives him the laptop with this weird explanation and without any greeting?? xD
Haha, I know. SW smiles when she arrives AND he waves goodbye, and she ignores all the niceties and just glares. :DDD
Xiao Guo writing down bear facts in his notebook! :D
LOL, I never noticed that before. Awesome!! *pets Changcheng indulgently* ;D
What is he waving around that Chu Shuzhi takes out of his hand? xD
Those are the crime scene photos.
I screencapped ZYL lying on the bed, too. <3 <3 <3 (I don't think he's bored -- maybe just tired from staying up all night
masturbatingthinking about SW.)Lin Jing is such a giant, lol!!
I feel like "those web novel authors stay behind the scenes and don't like exposure" is some fourth wall breaking. xD
Hee! Right? :D
SKILLFUL HANDS!!! :DDDDDDDDDDD
If he knows where the window is in a way that can't be explained by just knowing the layout of the apartment, he has definiely searched the bedroom. :D
:D :D :D :D :D
They probably start out thinking pretty tame things, and then Zhao Yunlan stammers epically and there's no limit to anyone's assumptions and imagination anymore. xD
Hahaha, right?!! Especially Lao Chu's. :D
Unless keeping an eye on Shen Wei is more important to her than being super annoyed by having to be in his presence. :P
Yeah, I was wondering about that. Or, ooh, maybe she heard about the late-night alley meet-up and is determined to keep ZYL and SW apart. Maybe the video conference was her idea?
I thought the superiors that she's talking about have told the SID about the connection.
So two groups of people make the connection in parallel? That makes sense, I guess (but I find it less satisfying than the SID's deduction leading to the development).
Btw did he actually not know that it was a youchu until Da Qing said it? Because in the drama he has no reason to hide it?
I assume it didn't occur to him because he wasn't expecting Youchu in Dragon City. I think Zhu Jiu let the ones in the Hanga arc loose in Haixing, but I'm not sure about this one. Since it didn't show up on CCTV, it might not be completely real?
And the entire 'please sleep with me' storyline being turned into 'please work with me' obviously.
lkasjdf;laksdjfa;skdlfja;sdklfjas;dlkfjas;dflkjasdflasdfadfafd Ahhhh, I totally hadn't put that together! That's brilliant!!
(Fwiw, the only drama parallel I noticed was with YOHE: ZYL appears and rescues SW, then needs first aid. Unfortunately, in YOHE it's Ma Gui who does the healing, with his special ointment -- but maybe the fact that that's magic implies that Shen Wei is using his healing power here?)
Same with the books later - in the novel it's literally just Shen Wei turning down the gift, without Zhao Yunlan making a ridiculous blunder, but drama Shen Wei would have been happy to receive this gift if it weren't for the blunder. :D
Yes, so true! If they were given genuinely, he'd have been delighted!!
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:D :D :D They have zero excuses, and aren't even trying to find any! :D :D ♡___♡
"I'm guessing it's some kind of library? I have no idea, lol. I always gloss right over that part."
Lol, same!
"he's SUCH A DORK (ilhsm)"
:D :D :D ALSO SAME.
"And okay, now I'm wondering what that's all about -- because it seems at odds with ZYL's awkward/hasty exit from SW's flat, to me. Is it just that he got to see SW last night and hang out for a bit? Did he erase everything from his mind about the evening except his heroic defeat of the muggers and SW's first aid? Huh."
I think that's exactly the case, yeah. :D He made a hasty exit because he didn't want to end up saying anything even weirder/more incriminating? But he also knows that Shen Wei only called him out because bantering is fun, not because he was upset, so in the end they had a good time and they are on the same page. :D And yeah, if he ever started to worry about how Shen Wei felt about it, he only had to remember all the touching to be instantly reassured, so by morning it was the only important part of the evening in his mind. :D (And the glory of the heroic rescue probably helps too, yep! :D)
"I'm assuming he figures it out from context and Zhu Hong's attitude?"
Hah, yeah, it's probably easy to figure out even before there's a giant Zhao Yunlan on the screen. :D
"SW smiles when she arrives AND he waves goodbye, and she ignores all the niceties and just glares. :DDD"
In case anyone had any doubts that the entire SID knows about Zhao Yunlan's new crush. :D :D (Other than Xiao Guo probably. xD :D)
"LOL, I never noticed that before. Awesome!! *pets Changcheng indulgently* ;D"
I find it so endearing that he writes down everything. :D :D And now he knows a lot about bears, he can quote it at someone whenever it becomes relevant. xD
"Those are the crime scene photos."
Ah, thanks! Somehow that makes it even funnier that he waves them around in his fannnish excitement, wtf Lin Jing. xD :D
"I screencapped ZYL lying on the bed, too. <3 <3 <3 (I don't think he's bored -- maybe just tired from staying up all night
masturbatingthinking about SW.)"*HIGH FIVE* :D (Asdfghdjskalfjdksl;; ♡♡♡ Omfggggggg okay, I like this so much better. :D :D :D)
"Hahaha, right?!! Especially Lao Chu's. :D"
Lao Chu is like 'I don't even need to guess or imagine what was happening, I KNOW what was happening', bwahhhh, and he may be incorrect but Zhao Yunlan acts like he's 100% correct. xD xD :D
"Or, ooh, maybe she heard about the late-night alley meet-up and is determined to keep ZYL and SW apart. Maybe the video conference was her idea?"
OOOH, I love this idea, I think it's the one thing that would explain to me why it's a video call! Zhu Hong went 'no it's fine, you don't have to go anywhere, I'll go instead, I totally hate it but it's fine', and Zhao Yunlan took it at face value (he gets to talk to Shen Wei, he doesn't have to waste time actually going there, Zhu Hong is always grumpy anyway), and for Zhu Hong keeping them a bit more apart is worth all the annoyance.
"So two groups of people make the connection in parallel? That makes sense, I guess (but I find it less satisfying than the SID's deduction leading to the development)."
Yeah, I like it better if they figured it out themselves, and especially if Wang Zheng did. :D That was just my assumption why she already knows about it, so I've never questioned it before.
"I assume it didn't occur to him because he wasn't expecting Youchu in Dragon City. I think Zhu Jiu let the ones in the Hanga arc loose in Haixing, but I'm not sure about this one. Since it didn't show up on CCTV, it might not be completely real?"
Yeah, the 'Heipaoshi must have messed up' reaction (since he doesn't know why the Youchu is in Dragon City, it does sound like it was his fault/mistake in some way) doesn't look preemptive or like he's trying to hide something, and he doesn't have other reasons either. So this time Zhao Yunlan was actually wrong that Shen Wei was withholding information? I can never figure it out in this scene, lol.
Do the Youchu freeze people in general, or is it only during this case? I don't remember. (And I agree that this one is a special one and possibly not actually real.) In this conversation they don't seem to consider the freezing at all, only the wounds? Or is this why Zhao Yunlan says that it can't be a bear? I think I'm just generally confused about a lot of this, lmao. Maybe everyone was just having an earnest conversation and getting nowhere until Da Qing had an epiphany in his sleep. xD :D
"Fwiw, the only drama parallel I noticed was with YOHE: ZYL appears and rescues SW, then needs first aid. Unfortunately, in YOHE it's Ma Gui who does the healing, with his special ointment -- but maybe the fact that that's magic implies that Shen Wei is using his healing power here?"
Ahh, neat, thank you, and I definitely think that he's using his healing power, yeah. :D (And now I want an AU where YOHE Shen Wei did the first aid too, and openly used his powers, and then in the current scene he can't openly use them and has feelings about it!)
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Both of them going, "If he's not going to point out the obvious then neither am I!!" ;D (And obviously Shen Wei wants the fig-leaf of first aid so he can do actual healing.)
But he also knows that Shen Wei only called him out because bantering is fun, not because he was upset, so in the end they had a good time and they are on the same page. :D And yeah, if he ever started to worry about how Shen Wei felt about it, he only had to remember all the touching to be instantly reassured, so by morning it was the only important part of the evening in his mind. :D
Hmm, my reading of this is a bit different, but I'm still figuring it out. (Is this a DND thing? Should I think it through in a separate thread?)
(Other than Xiao Guo probably. xD :D)
LOL! This makes me wonder when Xiao Guo *does* realise. :D :D :D Probably sometime after the Envoy reveal, I think. Hee!
♡♡♡ Omfggggggg okay, I like this so much better. :D :D :D
:D :D :D :D :D
Lao Chu is like 'I don't even need to guess or imagine what was happening, I KNOW what was happening', bwahhhh, and he may be incorrect but Zhao Yunlan acts like he's 100% correct. xD xD :D
:D :D :D :D :D
I think it's the one thing that would explain to me why it's a video call!
Heh, you don't think ZYL is trying to be discreet and give SW space (during working hours at least) because SW said he was busy? ...Oh, ha, that makes me realise:
SW: I'm teaching many classes this semester. I truly am too busy.
Also SW: *gives an hour plus TED talk on bears* :D :D :D
(But it could easily have been Zhu Hong's idea, too.)
So this time Zhao Yunlan was actually wrong that Shen Wei was withholding information?
Yeah, I think so. I don't think the possibility of Youchu occurred to him. And really, this is a notional Youchu that came out of the web novelist's story/imagination, right? So Shen Wei isn't wrong that a Youchu attack is unlikely in Dragon City.
In this conversation they don't seem to consider the freezing at all, only the wounds?
Ahh, that's such a great point. I'm confused about that now, too. Why would you suggest bears (and not even polar bears, lol)?! (I mean, I know Shen Wei was basically just trolling ZYL in a "why are you insisting I have information about this? Fine, here is some information" kind of way, but really, the subject of freezing should have come up!!)
SUCH A GREAT HALF-EPISODE!!! a;sdlkfja;sdlkfjas;dlfkjasdf
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Yep, Shen Wei has another reason not to point it out, but Zhao Yunlan doesn't have one, and it would be so obvious for him to say 'hey, I can do it myself' (and then Shen Wei could insist anyway) but he just really doesn't want to. :D :D
"Hmm, my reading of this is a bit different, but I'm still figuring it out. (Is this a DND thing? Should I think it through in a separate thread?)"
(AW, yeah, probably, thank you! :) ♡♡♡)
"LOL! This makes me wonder when Xiao Guo *does* realise. :D :D :D Probably sometime after the Envoy reveal, I think. Hee!"
Lmao, I have no idea. :D :D :D He's so adorably clueless about anyone's personal stuff, so definitely really late, possibly never? And then at some point he's suddenly faced with 'waittt, they're basically married, but when did that happen'? xD
"Heh, you don't think ZYL is trying to be discreet and give SW space (during working hours at least) because SW said he was busy?"
I dismissed that first because Zhu Hong sitting there makes Shen Wei just as busy (and looks the same to an outside observer) as Zhao Yunlan sitting there? But maybe the difference is that Zhu Hong is not flirting with him, lmao. xD
"SW: I'm teaching many classes this semester. I truly am too busy.
Also SW: *gives an hour plus TED talk on bears* :D :D :D"
Hahah, this is totally on brand with 'I'm rejecting your offer but I'm not actually rejecting your offer'. :D
"I don't think the possibility of Youchu occurred to him. And really, this is a notional Youchu that came out of the web novelist's story/imagination, right? So Shen Wei isn't wrong that a Youchu attack is unlikely in Dragon City."
Yeah, this is all true, but then I stumble into the question why did it occur to Da Qing? I'm starting to consider a crack idea of Cat Tribe prophetic dreams or something. ;D
"Why would you suggest bears (and not even polar bears, lol)?! (I mean, I know Shen Wei was basically just trolling ZYL in a "why are you insisting I have information about this? Fine, here is some information" kind of way, but really, the subject of freezing should have come up!!)"
Right?? (Does Shen Wei even know about the freezing at this point? But if he doesn't, why didn't Zhao Yunlan tell him? /more confusion)
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Yes, and saying that would draw attention to the fact Shen Wei wasn't saying that, and potentially make things awkward. Much more socially comfortable and normal to let Shen Wei grope his arm! \o/ ;D :D :D
<3 <3 <3
But maybe the difference is that Zhu Hong is not flirting with him, lmao. xD
Hee! :D :D :D (Oh, maybe the difference is that Zhu Hong is in legit respectable business clothes...)
Hahah, this is totally on brand with 'I'm rejecting your offer but I'm not actually rejecting your offer'. :D
Yesss! :D
I'm starting to consider a crack idea of Cat Tribe prophetic dreams or something. ;D
He is canonically another Hallows-groper, so it's quite possible!
Re the freezing -- maybe that's not so much about the attacker as the case generally. All the other victims were frozen, too, and I don't think they were all Youchu attacks, were they? (I, uh, wasn't paying that much attention to the case part, sorry Lin Jing!)
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Lolol, I love everything about this. :D :D :D :D
"Oh, maybe the difference is that Zhu Hong is in legit respectable business clothes..."
Oh true, that's one difference! (Otoh, if this was Zhao Yunlan's reason for the video call, maybe he would just dress more respectably for once - he doesn't bother to do that for authority figures, but being able to sprawl seductively on Shen Wei's desk could be an actual incentive. ;D)
"He is canonically another Hallows-groper, so it's quite possible!"
Oh damn, yes, I didn't even think of that - my crack theory is a lot less cracky than I thought! xD
"Re the freezing -- maybe that's not so much about the attacker as the case generally. All the other victims were frozen, too, and I don't think they were all Youchu attacks, were they? (I, uh, wasn't paying that much attention to the case part, sorry Lin Jing!)"
I think Lin Jing didn't explain this in his scene (or I missed it too, which is always possible xD), but now I'll be paying extra attention during the second half because I have no idea what the freezing has to do with the Youchu? (Even if it's two different things, would a bear make any sense? That would be a wild coincidence. Oh, and now I went back and CSZ at the crime scene says "I'd say he froze to death." and ZYL nods, so the 'bear' isn't even what killed him? Yeah, I'll wait for the second half, maybe it will explain something. :D)
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Noooooooooooo! *keeps him scruffy forever* (Hee!)
Oh, and now I went back and CSZ at the crime scene says "I'd say he froze to death." and ZYL nods, so the 'bear' isn't even what killed him? Yeah, I'll wait for the second half, maybe it will explain something. :D
I should make more of an effort. But honestly, I just assume the murders are horror stories that came true, so I don't know how much internal logic they need? But yeah, you're completely right that the freezing really should factor into the SID's enquiry at this stage.
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Same tbh. :D :D ♡___♡
"But honestly, I just assume the murders are horror stories that came true, so I don't know how much internal logic they need?"
True, I don't expect internal logic either. :D But yep, what the SID deems important during the investigation is getting more confusing the more I think about it.
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Idk if they were also physically attacked or just frozen, but I think it's meant to be all the same monster doing it - the manifestation of the monster from Lai Su's novel.
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FWIW I'd love it if you came back to this in a separate thread, I'd love your take!
SW: I'm teaching many classes this semester. I truly am too busy.
Also SW: *gives an hour plus TED talk on bears* :D :D :D
LOLOLOLOLOL! :D
I know Shen Wei was basically just trolling ZYL in a "why are you insisting I have information about this? Fine, here is some information" kind of way
Damn, you already put this more succinctly than I did!
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Done!
:D :D :D
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I have lots of thoughts, but it may take a while to make them coherent and put them into words - the day ran away from me and I don't have much brain left tonight. Very looking forward to tackling this, though! :D
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THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS :D :D :D
So this time Zhao Yunlan was actually wrong that Shen Wei was withholding information?
Yes, 100% He keeps insisting SW knows something he's not sharing, but actually this time SW doesn't know a thing, which IMO is why SW is trolling him with BEARS, because ZYL is refusing to accept that.
Do the Youchu freeze people in general, or is it only during this case?
Youchu don't freeze anything, and it's not a youchu in this case, going by the monster manifesting at the end of the episode. (And yeah, either way, it's not actually real either; it's the manifestation of Lai Su's power and doesn't need to follow the laws of nature. *g*)
In this conversation they don't seem to consider the freezing at all, only the wounds?
That is such a good point, somehow that never occurred to me, so strange!
And now I want an AU where YOHE Shen Wei did the first aid too, and openly used his powers, and then in the current scene he can't openly use them and has feelings about it!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH *flails*
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Oh! I hadn't thought of that contrast, but you're right! I guess that after he escaped the immediate awkwardness, he decided that it was overall a great win, and heralded good things for the future. *g*
So two groups of people make the connection in parallel? That makes sense, I guess (but I find it less satisfying than the SID's deduction leading to the development).
I mean, it's a popular webnovel, and there were already rumours about the crimes being true. It would be weirder if no one else drew the connection!
I assume it didn't occur to him because he wasn't expecting Youchu in Dragon City.
Yeah, and youchu aren't exactly inconspicuous. If one were running around in Dragon City presumably more people would have seen it.
Fwiw, the only drama parallel I noticed was with YOHE: ZYL appears and rescues SW, then needs first aid. Unfortunately, in YOHE it's Ma Gui who does the healing, with his special ointment -- but maybe the fact that that's magic implies that Shen Wei is using his healing power here?
Awww, I like that! But now I wish we'd had SW heal ZYL in YOHE!
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Hmm, maybe. I still don't find this entirely satisfying. He's just so twitchy when he leaves SW's place...