Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 7, part 1

[china_shop]

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 starts disrobing takes off his jacket and attempts, twice, to fold it while pressing Zhao Yunlan to stay.

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!)

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Comments

[china_shop]

An old picspam of mostly the liniment scene. :D :D :D

1. THE MUGGING SCENE IS SO GOOD! I love Shen Wei covertly fixing his collar & tie as ZYL approaches. I love ZYL sidelining SW, and SW just going with it. <3 <3 <3 (He even takes a little step back during the metal bar attack, later! I guess he knows that if ZYL gets hurt, SW can fix him.) I love that ZYL is more impressed with his own fighting ability than Shen Wei is (SW barely reacts at all -- does he already know ZYL's skill level from YOHE?). ZYL picks up the watch and returns it without question -- does he recognise it? LOL at Shen Wei tweaking ZYL about the "coincidence" of him showing up. (And ZYL totally can't admit he was tailing SW, but I think he was -- just a bit too far behind.)

2. AHHHHHHHH, THE LINIMENT SCENE, MY BELOVED!!! It took me more than half an hour to get through this scene because of SO MUCH REWINDING and GAZING, I love it so much!! ZYL is squirrelly, and SW keeps teasing him, hee!

ZYL: my house is right across the hall.
SW: *no reaction at all, like, he obviously knew this already and isn't even pretending otherwise*

SW seems completely unsurprised by the job offer, too (maybe saw it coming?), but ZYL seems taken aback by the refusal (or just the lack of hesitation?). I wonder if ZYL had theorised that SW's been angling for the position. Anyway, SW could have refused with reference to the Chancellor, ie, he needs to protect his uni position, but that might have made ZYL back off completely, so he doesn't.

There's no music in this scene until Shen Wei turns down the consultantship.

And then, ahh, we get ZYL's outrageous flirting. \o/ \o/ \o/ Shen Wei does actually seem slightly thrown (turned on?) by it, but he rallies quickly, deflecting by taking ZYL's words literally, and then ZYL just rolls with it and compliments him on his brain. *g*

This whole scene reminds me of a film-making Youtube video I watched about banter (heyjameshurst): Just like in tennis, you want to avoid simple, predictable shots that are easy for your opponent to return. Retorts like "What do you mean by that?” are soft lobs that need to be replaced. Each line must first respond to what was said, and then spin the ball back over the net with a new twist.

This scene does this in spades, eg, when Shen Wei invites ZYL to interrogate him ("If you have any questions for me, ask away."), ZYL's response isn't about Shen Wei's identity or suspicious behaviour, but rather to ask him to join the SID. :D :D :D

Also, everything Zhao Yunlan is doing with his hands in this scene ahhhh a;sdlfkja;dflkajsd;flkasdf;lkajsdf;kasdfadak :D :D :D

3. LOL, the muggers referring to ZYL as a gangster. Also, complaining even though they presumably still have all of Shen Wei's cash. /o\ Do they think the growling is ZYL back for another dust-up?

4. I love Lin Jing scaring Changcheng with ghost stories, and all the SID bickering. CSZ thinks ghost stories are boring, lol. (I wonder what CSZ's reading. Something work-related or something fun?) And then awww, ZYL comes in and cheerfully says they're in a lull and he'll buy them all a meal -- and then finds out about the case. He's in such a good mood, awww!

5. Changcheng is still squeamish. *pets him*

6. On the CCTV footage, is the monster invisible? Because it's semi-imaginary?? But anyway, I love this scene. EVERYONE KNOWS! :D :D :D (Here's an old picspam of ZYL's face-journey. :D)

7. The "bears" call!! Shen Wei actually smiles a greeting to Zhu Hong *and* waves when she leaves, but she's still mad about the interrogation and ignores him. Also, Shen Wei handles the tech more gracefully than ZYL, who is fiddling with the camera when the call starts (why??). Hee!

I wonder if this is a video call because ZYL read between the lines of SW's refusing the consultancy, and he wants to prove he can be discreet?

"When the safety of people around me..." <3 <3 <3 <3

Love that Da Qing just nodded off mid-bear lecture; I bet ZYL wishes he could have done the same (except for the visuals of Shen Wei, of course). And then Shen Wei trying to hear the other half of the phone call *through* the video call. :D :D :D

SW: (trying to be helpful) Wait! I keep having a feeling that the dead victim and his friend don't have qualities of an Undergrounder.
And it immediately comes back to bite him. But ZYL lets him off the hook. And then SW is all "Lmk what you find out," like the info sharing should go both ways. <3 <3 <3

8. CSZ is really grumpy at the hospital. I love him! I love ZYL lying on the bed even more. *screencaps madly* Very confused by Lin Jing making the connection with Lai Su, and then Wang Zheng immediately calling with the ?same? info. How did she know? Does she read web novels too?

[facethestrange]

I'll be rewatching today, but I don't need to rewatch anything to know this scene by heart, so: SKILLFUL HANDSSSSS. ♡♡♡♡♡ One of my all-time favorite scenes, and also this line specifically, LIKE, Shen Wei is literally not doing anything with his hands, skillful or otherwise, other than touching Zhao Yunlan - if they didn't want it to sound suggestive af, they would have had Shen Wei putting in stitches or something. xD

(And yepp, I have written a fic about this scene that is just 2K of shameless smut: In Your Hands. And PacifisticHerbivore has illustrated it (no nudity, just a wonderfully debauched Zhao Yunlan): Blissful. ♡♡♡)

(Also literally the other day I made a tumblr incorrect quote thingy with this scene. :D Though I like your screencap better because he's looking at Shen Wei's hands so fondly and intently godsssssss ♡______♡ And yep, I just made an icon of it, thank you! :D :D)

"The moment they're inside his apartment, Shen Wei starts disrobing"

Lolol. :D :D FACT THO. I know about him trying to fold the jacket from the comm (your poll about the wincing probably ♡♡♡ need an icon of that too), and now I can never unsee it. :D ♡

"Which of them do you think was most turned on by the "first aid"?"

*DED* I so want to say both of them equally, lmao, but my actual answer is - until Shen Wei heals him, it's mostly Zhao Yunlan srsly give this poor guy a pillow to put in his lap, but I guess the way he's sitting is enough xD xD, because Shen Wei is too busy being concerned about the pain. Though allll the flirty af lip touching is doing things to him, and when he offers to be more gentle I feel like he's startled for both reasons too, so yeah, it is both of them, just not equally. xD And then when Zhao Yunlan is healed, all bets are off. :D :D

[facethestrange]

"An old picspam of mostly the liniment scene. :D :D :D"

OMG *LOVE* :D :D :D

"Zhao Yunlan is torn between ow and nnnrgh." That's the most wonderful way I've seen his wince described asdfghfjdksl;; ♡♡♡♡♡

"That finger is not a lollipop. He's not offering me a lollipop." Lolol, awww! :D :D Doesn't mean you can't put it in your mouth, JUST SAYING. (Oh hey, Zhao Yunlan knows that Shen Wei doesn't like sweets, so he has a better offer. xD)

(I'll reply to more things once I have rewatched, lol. :D)

[china_shop]

OMG *LOVE* :D :D :D

*beams*

(Oh hey, Zhao Yunlan knows that Shen Wei doesn't like sweets, so he has a better offer. xD)

Hee!! :D

(I look forward to it! <3 <3 <3)

[china_shop]

aklsjfd;laksjdf;laksdjf;alksjdf;slkdjf;lsdkjfasd ICON!!

Yayay fic and art, and omg, that incorrect quote thingy! Perfect! LOLOL! (I totally think they wanted it to sound suggestive af. *g*)

:D :D :D :D :D

[china_shop]

I didn't answer the questions, so I should do that. (Actually, I should be asleep, pfft, whatever. ;-p)

Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 7?
LINIMENT!! Every second of it, from the entrance to Shen Wei having a just-for-ZYL first aid kit to... all of it!!

Do you think Zhao Yunlan's arrival at the mugging was coincidence, or had he been tailing Shen Wei?
Tailing, but a bit too far behind. (And I think Shen Wei was well aware of it, too.)

Do you think Shen Wei had qualms about letting Zhao Yunlan take on the muggers?
I don't think he shows any sign of having qualms. I love that he even steps back for the iron bar, thing. He's sure ZYL can take care of himself, and if ZYL does get srsly hurt, Shen Wei will either take him to a hospital or (if urgent) give up his secret to heal him, with or without a mindwipe afterwards.

Shen Wei doesn't show any surprise at the job offer -- do you think he was expecting it?
I think he must have been expecting it sooner or later, with the regularity with which ZYL keeps coming around to consult with him.

Which of them do you think was most turned on by the "first aid"?
Shen Wei -- finally getting his hands back on Kunlun after all these years!!! (I think ZYL being off-balance and squirrelly about the break-in is half-distracting him. But only half. And maybe the pain is a bit distracting, too, but that goes away ~surprisingly quickly~.)

ETA: I was being glib last night. Having slept on it, I think Shen Wei is probably a bit aroused by Zhao Yunlan's obvious arousal as well as the touching, but he's also distracted by the healing (how much concentration does it take to do that surreptitiously?) and more importantly, there's too many lies embedded in the situation to really do it for him: him having to pretend to be the rescued damsel, Zhao Yunlan pretending he hasn't broken in (and being very fidgety/squirrelly about it), and Shen Wei pretending he's not healing ZYL. Like, Shen Wei wants the genuine version of this, and while he might find himself turned on by the contact and stuff, I don't think it's 100% doing it for him.

Meanwhile, I think ZYL is very turned on, and that's contributing to his off-kilter squirrelliness. He knows something's up with Shen Wei, and he's in a potentially dangerous situation, but his body is on-board anyway. ;D (I forgot I'd written fic for this, ha. Holding Back (M-rated).)

Also, the way ZYL segues from "skilful hands" to "you academics are so smart" reminds me of CSZ and the Envoy: the Envoy makes overtures of friendship, and CSZ can't get past the status differential. With ZYL, he's always flattering SW for his big shiny academic brain. And Shen Wei's all, I'm trying to approach you as an equal!!

We didn't see Zhao Yunlan in Shen Wei's bedroom while searching the apartment -- did he?
I never thought about this before, but now I really want him to have shamelessly rifled through Shen Wei's bedside table and underwear drawer. (Shen Wei would be fine with it, after all, and DQ would just roll his eyes and make rude remarks about alley cats.)

We now know Lin Jing and Da Qing read web novels; who else at the SID reads them?
Everyone! I think CSZ reads epic historical romances, Zhu Hong reads contemporary martial arts, and Wang Zheng reads everything.

What do the others think is going on when they see Zhao Yunlan with Shen Wei in the CCTV footage?
Stalking/pining.

Did Zhu Hong volunteer to take the laptop to Shen Wei for the video call, or was she assigned to do it?
I can't decide. I think she doesn't trust SW *and* she's holding a grudge about the interrogation, but I don't know if that would make her want to scope him out at work (looking for cracks in his good-guy facade) or keep her distance.

At the hospital, why is Chu Shuzhi so grumpy?
Because he's no longer partnered with ZYL, and this time it isn't even GCC. Now it's Lin Jing?!?! Bottom of the barrel!!

Lin Jing draws a connection between the case and the web novel -- but how does Wang Zheng already know about this when she calls?
She reads everything. :-)

[autodach]

Zhao Yunlan accidentally implies he's been in Shen Wei's place before

I love how Shen Wei lets him think he’ll get away with this for just a moment, then calls him out anyway.

Do you think Shen Wei had qualms about letting Zhao Yunlan take on the muggers?

He doesn’t seem very concerned when he neatly steps aside to let his shining knight ride into battle for him (my favourite moment btw). This is Zhao Yunlan’s job as police, and Shen Wei knows he can still interfere if it really becomes necessary. And it’s a good opportunity to prove just how harmless and helpless Professor Shen is.

Which of them do you think was most turned on by the "first aid"?

Zhao Yunlan. Look at his face! Covering his mouth to keep his moans in.

We didn't see Zhao Yunlan in Shen Wei's bedroom while searching the apartment -- did he?

He must have, right? Enough to know the view from the window at least. And it’s a place where people hide things, like under their beds.

We now know Lin Jing and Da Qing read web novels; who else at the SID reads them?

When Wang Zheng faints, Da Qing speculates she might have been too excited over a novel – maybe this is actually based on knowledge of her reading habits? She has a lot of alone time on her hands, too. I headcanon that she is 800 000 words deep into Proud Immortal Demon Way.

What do the others think is going on when they see Zhao Yunlan with Shen Wei in the CCTV footage?

Chief Zhao scored a date with the hot Professor after all! Not even wrong, I guess?

[china_shop]

I love how Shen Wei lets him think he’ll get away with this for just a moment, then calls him out anyway.

Ha, yes, Shen Wei is masterful with his torment. Little does ZYL know that if he just came clean, SW would be totally approving, heh.

He doesn’t seem very concerned when he neatly steps aside to let his shining knight ride into battle for him (my favourite moment btw). This is Zhao Yunlan’s job as police, and Shen Wei knows he can still interfere if it really becomes necessary. And it’s a good opportunity to prove just how harmless and helpless Professor Shen is.

Yes to all of this!! (Oh, and I wonder if he enjoys watching ZYL be competent? He's quite matter-of-fact about it, anyway, not all swoony and grateful. ;D)

Zhao Yunlan. Look at his face! Covering his mouth to keep his moans in.

You make a very compelling point!! :D :D :D :D :D

He must have, right? Enough to know the view from the window at least. And it’s a place where people hide things, like under their beds.

:D :D :D :D :D

When Wang Zheng faints, Da Qing speculates she might have been too excited over a novel – maybe this is actually based on knowledge of her reading habits? She has a lot of alone time on her hands, too. I headcanon that she is 800 000 words deep into Proud Immortal Demon Way.

Hahaha, awesome! :D

Chief Zhao scored a date with the hot Professor after all! Not even wrong, I guess?

Oh, good point. And ZYL doesn't put them right, either. Huh...

[facethestrange]

- One more thing that has only just occurred to me about the liniment scene - Zhao Yunlan doesn't even offer to do it himself even though he could reach this part of his arm really easily. xD They both just assume that Shen Wei is going to do it for whatever reason (TOUCHING, they just both really want to get to the touching obviously Shen Wei wants to heal him, but honestly it's Zhao Yunlan who should have said something xD) and then they just go ahead and do it this way, they don't communicate about it beforehand and never question it at all. :D

- Btw what IS the place outside Shen Wei's bedroom window that Zhao Yunlan is talking about?

- 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

- Also Zhao Yunlan whistling and wanting to throw a party after his date with Shen Wei. xD :D

- The way Shen Wei's expression changes to this in the blink of an eye when the pendant is involved, DAMN.



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

(And Zhao Yunlan doesn't even get to see the pendant at all, which afaik is different from the novel. I guess because in the novel it's his POV and the reader wonders what the pendant even is because Zhao Yunlan saw it.)

- Dammit, Zhao Yunlan, stop joking about getting yourself killed, do you see Shen Wei's face. :P

- I love how Xiao Guo's imagination sequence is filmed. :D :D

- The "Ghost Terror" nickname is wonderful in a universe in which ghosts don't exist. :D :D (And Shen Wei supposedly knows that Zhu Hong is talking about Zhao Yunlan? Or he doesn't know and just politely waits until something becomes clearer, and it immediately does because there's Zhao Yunlan on the screen. xD I adore Shen Wei's little flinch btw. :D)

- Also I only just realized that Zhu Hong just gives him the laptop with this weird explanation and without any greeting?? xD (And then she leaves without a goodbye, lmao, Shen Wei's little wave, AW.) And her annoyed lounging on the chair, and the epic eyeroll when Shen Wei starts playing a damsel in distress. :D

- Da Qing and Xiao Guo grinning at Shen Wei are the cutest! :D :D ♡ (And awww, they want to be the people who protect Shen Wei, and he smiles at it, and then he goes on to say that he wants to protect them people. :D)

- Xiao Guo writing down bear facts in his notebook! :D

- Lin Jing talking about his fannish obsession!! :D (And the tiny flashback of him chair-dancing at his computer, aww! :D) What is he waving around that Chu Shuzhi takes out of his hand? xD And Zhao Yunlan is so bored he just lies down on the hospital bed, like why the hell not. :D He's so beautifully flat too, lmao. ♡♡♡



- Also gratuitous smol Zhao Yunlan with big Lin Jing (I know ZYL is sitting lower, lol). :D :D



And the way Lin Jing goes grrrr behind Zhao Yunlan's back is adorable. :D

- I feel like "those web novel authors stay behind the scenes and don't like exposure" is some fourth wall breaking. xD

"Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 7?"

SKILLFUL HANDS, the scene and the quote. :D :D But this half episode is SO GOOD that if this scene wasn't there, I have no idea what I would choose out of all the other awesomeness. :D

"Do you think Zhao Yunlan's arrival at the mugging was coincidence, or had he been tailing Shen Wei?"

Not sure, possibly tailing? Can't go with the novel where it was a coincidence because the other circumstances are so different.

"Do you think Shen Wei had qualms about letting Zhao Yunlan take on the muggers?"

Nope, it's his job, he does it all the time, and he's clearly very good at it too at least when he's not distracted by bantering with Shen Wei.

"We didn't see Zhao Yunlan in Shen Wei's bedroom while searching the apartment -- did he?"

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

"We now know Lin Jing and Da Qing read web novels; who else at the SID reads them?"

Before this rewatch I totally forgot that they read web novels, but I remembered that Wang Zheng did (or at least that's the assumption in the fainting scene). :D And I feel like everyone else does too. :D

"What do the others think is going on when they see Zhao Yunlan with Shen Wei in the CCTV footage?"

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

"Did Zhu Hong volunteer to take the laptop to Shen Wei for the video call, or was she assigned to do it?"

She's so pissed, I feel like she really doesn't want to be there. Unless keeping an eye on Shen Wei is more important to her than being super annoyed by having to be in his presence. :P

"Why a video call instead of Zhao Yunlan paying a visit?"

I honestly have no idea? Shen Wei just told him that he's really busy, but having Zhu Hong sit there doesn't make him any more free to do other things than if Zhao Yunlan was sitting there?

"At the hospital, why is Chu Shuzhi so grumpy?"

Lol, I didn't notice him being more grumpy than usual - it's kinda just normal Chu Shuzhi to me? xD

"Lin Jing draws a connection between the case and the web novel -- but how does Wang Zheng already know about this when she calls?"

I thought the superiors that she's talking about have told the SID about the connection.

"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?"

(I was so focused on all the novel parallels that I can't think of any drama ones, but I'm curious to read other comments! :D)

The mugging is another thing from the novel that gets really neatly tied to a drama case, which is really cool. :D And the fact that they were needed for this explains why the muggers don't just get handed over to regular police. :P

The first mention of the youchu! And everything about them sounds so similar to the novel, but Shen Wei not being the same species makes it all very, very different. 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? (Well, at this point it sounds like Heipaoshi didn't do a very good job getting rid of the youchu, but that can't be reason enough, can it?) I'm also curious if the "Forbidden Place" is the same word/name as in the novel or a different one? (And the hardsubs don't even say Forbidden Place, they just say Dixing.)

And the entire 'please sleep with me' storyline being turned into 'please work with me' obviously. I give it to the drama that they made it work outside of censorship reasons - using it as a way to have Shen Wei reject something (since his presence is not harmful to Zhao Yunlan, so he would have no reason to reject him) is pretty damn brilliant. :D And it's even made super clear that he's not rejecting ZYL, only the job offer! (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)

[china_shop]

One more thing that has only just occurred to me about the liniment scene - Zhao Yunlan doesn't even offer to do it himself even though he could reach this part of his arm really easily. xD They both just assume that Shen Wei is going to do it for whatever reason (TOUCHING, they just both really want to get to the touching

Ahhh, 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 masturbating thinking 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!!

[facethestrange]

"Ahhh, that's such a great point! You're right! They really want that (not really necessary at all) physical contact. alsdkfa;sdklfjas;dkfjas;dflkjasdf!!!!"

: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 masturbating thinking 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!)

[facethestrange]

"He even takes a little step back during the metal bar attack, later! I guess he knows that if ZYL gets hurt, SW can fix him."

Oooh, I didn't catch that! *rewatches* :D It looks like he's giving Zhao Yunlan some space to fight properly, without having to worry about accidentally hitting Shen Wei. Which sounds really helpful and probably instinctual for a warrior in a situation when they both can't fight together.

"I love that ZYL is more impressed with his own fighting ability than Shen Wei is (SW barely reacts at all -- does he already know ZYL's skill level from YOHE?)."

Lol! :D He definitely knows it from YOHE, and he doesn't look very affected to be either, but also I feel like he wouldn't let it show on his face, so who knows how impressed he really is. xD

"ZYL picks up the watch and returns it without question -- does he recognise it?"

Asdghfjksljkl;; I would just assume it's Shen Wei's because who else's watch could it be (unless they're going around robbing people without putting the loot away xD), but now I love the idea that Zhao Yunlan knows what Shen Wei's watch looks like because he's been staring at his hands so much. ♡__♡ :D :D

"2. AHHHHHHHH, THE LINIMENT SCENE, MY BELOVED!!! It took me more than half an hour to get through this scene because of SO MUCH REWINDING and GAZING, I love it so much!!"

Saaaaaaaame. :D :D :D

"ZYL: my house is right across the hall.
SW: *no reaction at all, like, he obviously knew this already and isn't even pretending otherwise*"

Lolol, both of them aren't even pretending that they don't know exactly where the other one lives. :D

"And then, ahh, we get ZYL's outrageous flirting. \o/ \o/ \o/"

Omfgggg, your screencaps of this scene are killing me ded, the way he keeps lovingly gazing at Shen Wei's hands in different ways, asdfghfjdksl;; ♡♡♡

"Also, everything Zhao Yunlan is doing with his hands in this scene ahhhh a;sdlfkja;dflkajsd;flkasdf;lkajsdf;kasdfadak :D :D :D"

AND THIS TOO, damn, this scene + HANDS. *IMPLODES* :D :D ♡______♡

"Do they think the growling is ZYL back for another dust-up?"

Because of what Lin Jing says about the web novel, I think the muggers had seen the Youchu before they robbed Shen Wei, and then it came back for them. ("Oh, and in the latest chapter released five days ago a thug in the street accidentally sees the killer's grotesque face. Then he chases after the thug, hunts him down, and freezes him to death. Is that not what happened in our case?")

"I wonder what CSZ's reading. Something work-related or something fun?"

In the novel he's researching the stock market, so maybe that, lol, but that would be mostly online, so probably not. xD

"6. On the CCTV footage, is the monster invisible? Because it's semi-imaginary?? But anyway, I love this scene. EVERYONE KNOWS! :D :D :D (Here's an old picspam of ZYL's face-journey. :D)"

I've always thought it was out of the frame, but I like this idea a lot. :D If everything weird showed up on CCTV, people in Haixing wouldn't be so convinced that supernatural stuff doesn't exist. (And your picspam has always been my favorite thing. :D :D :D WTF ZHAO YUNLAN, this is sooooo not how you convince people that you weren't doing ~THINGS~ with Shen Wei. xD)

"Love that Da Qing just nodded off mid-bear lecture; I bet ZYL wishes he could have done the same (except for the visuals of Shen Wei, of course)."

Lololol, facts. xD Zhao Yunlan's face is a thing of beauty. :D :D



"SW: (trying to be helpful) Wait! I keep having a feeling that the dead victim and his friend don't have qualities of an Undergrounder."

This line confuses me a bit because doesn't the SID mostly investigate cases when the victims are Haixingren? So it should be already implied that the muggers are Haixingren too? (Also I'm assuming the reason SW knows that is because they attacked him in a mundane way? Which is something that he could openly tell Zhao Yunlan, who was also there after all.)

[facethestrange]

"Actually, I should be asleep, pfft, whatever. ;-p"

Lolol! :D *two-days-later high-five* xD

"And I think Shen Wei was well aware of it, too."

Hah, yeah, I don't think anyone can tail Shen Wei without him being aware of it. :D

"Shen Wei -- finally getting his hands back on Kunlun after all these years!!!"

I know you took it back, but I'm grabbing it anyway for my personal argument that they are both equally turned on, hah. xD :D (I also do think that with the way this scene goes later, Zhao Yunlan gets momentarily distracted away from his arousal which is probably a good thing because he needs to stand up, but then it switches right back on, as proven by him being in a really, really good mood in the morning and also tired at the hospital. :D)

"He knows something's up with Shen Wei, and he's in a potentially dangerous situation, but his body is on-board anyway. ;D (I forgot I'd written fic for this, ha. Holding Back (M-rated).)"

A lot of the time these are the reasons why Zhao Yunlan's body is on-board, lmao. :D :D (Turns out I've had this fic saved for a while. ♡__♡ *EYES IT SOME MORE*)

"I never thought about this before, but now I really want him to have shamelessly rifled through Shen Wei's bedside table and underwear drawer. (Shen Wei would be fine with it, after all, and DQ would just roll his eyes and make rude remarks about alley cats.)"

LOL YESSSS, and I'm sure he did. :D :D (Even more so because this scene is the equivalent of breaking into Shen Wei's 'bedroom' in the novel, and the reason novel ZYL originally does that is because he's still partially blind and didn't see Shen Wei's underwear in the closet. xD) And now I want to hear Da Qing's commentary. xD

"Everyone! I think CSZ reads epic historical romances, Zhu Hong reads contemporary martial arts, and Wang Zheng reads everything."

Lol, I have no idea which genres they would read, but ITA that they all read web novels! :D (And unfortunately don't talk about them enough because Lin Jing was surprised by Da Qing. :P)

> > Lin Jing draws a connection between the case and the web novel -- but how does Wang Zheng already know about this when she calls?
"She reads everything. :-)"

:D :D :D This is my favorite explanation by far! :D

[china_shop]

I know you took it back, but I'm grabbing it anyway for my personal argument that they are both equally turned on, hah. xD :D

Hee! Fair. Shen Wei is having A LOT of intense, capital-F feelings, either way, for sure, as evidenced by the pendant touching at the end. :D :D :D

A lot of the time these are the reasons why Zhao Yunlan's body is on-board, lmao. :D :D

Ha, you make a compelling point! :D I do have a habit of expecting TV characters to be more rational than they in fact prove to be. ;-p

Re the bedroom ransacking, I'm not sure I take the novel as evidence (the drama is its own thing, in my mind), but the fact that he blurts out about the window and then has to scramble for how he knows about it does strongly suggest that there's more to the break-in than we see. (I wonder where it fits into the scene, though.)

And now I want to hear Da Qing's commentary. xD

Haha, yes!

:D :D :D

[china_shop]

Oooh, I didn't catch that! *rewatches* :D It looks like he's giving Zhao Yunlan some space to fight properly, without having to worry about accidentally hitting Shen Wei. Which sounds really helpful and probably instinctual for a warrior in a situation when they both can't fight together.

Yes! I just found it interesting that, even when someone's coming at ZYL with a weapon *and* ZYL is unaware, SW doesn't break cover and smite the attacker with an energy bolt or anything. Maybe there isn't time?

and he doesn't look very affected to be either, but also I feel like he wouldn't let it show on his face, so who knows how impressed he really is. xD

Maybe he doesn't want to praise ZYL for it because he doesn't want to incentivise ill-advised running into danger? ZYL does enough of that already!! ;D

unless they're going around robbing people without putting the loot away xD

I wouldn't put it past them? *g* But yes, hand staring, definitely. :D :D :D

Omfgggg, your screencaps of this scene are killing me ded, the way he keeps lovingly gazing at Shen Wei's hands in different ways, asdfghfjdksl;; ♡♡♡

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 :D :D :D

I think the muggers had seen the Youchu before they robbed Shen Wei, and then it came back for them.

Huh, wouldn't they be more freaked out, if that was the case? The survivor in hospital is scared out of his wits -- and Youchu are pretty scary even if they haven't killed anyone yet.

In the novel he's researching the stock market, so maybe that, lol, but that would be mostly online, so probably not. xD

Yeah, and novel!CSZ is quite different from drama!CSZ. Maybe he's reading histories or something from the library. He's the one who did research about the Hanga tribe before the trip, so he seems inclined to gather potentially useful knowledge. :-D

If everything weird showed up on CCTV, people in Haixing wouldn't be so convinced that supernatural stuff doesn't exist.

Oh, that's true. Great point! (Or, alternatively, it could just be out of frame. Ha, why didn't that occur to me?)

WTF ZHAO YUNLAN, this is sooooo not how you convince people that you weren't doing ~THINGS~ with Shen Wei. xD

LOLOLOL!! He has zero chill about this!! :DDDDD

Zhao Yunlan's face is a thing of beauty. :D :D

akdslfas;dklfjas;dflkjsadf HEEEE! :D

This line confuses me a bit because doesn't the SID mostly investigate cases when the victims are Haixingren? So it should be already implied that the muggers are Haixingren too? (Also I'm assuming the reason SW knows that is because they attacked him in a mundane way? Which is something that he could openly tell Zhao Yunlan, who was also there after all.)

Those are all EXCELLENT points, none of which had occurred to me. LOL!! Yeah, I don't know either.

[facethestrange]

"He doesn’t seem very concerned when he neatly steps aside to let his shining knight ride into battle for him (my favourite moment btw). This is Zhao Yunlan’s job as police, and Shen Wei knows he can still interfere if it really becomes necessary. And it’s a good opportunity to prove just how harmless and helpless Professor Shen is."

Yep, this! It's not any more dangerous than what Zhao Yunlan already does every day. (Probably less dangerous tbh, the muggers are pretty inept, they just happen to have found a metal bar. :P)

"Zhao Yunlan. Look at his face! Covering his mouth to keep his moans in."

Asfghfjdksghjkl; this is now my favorite explanation for what his hands are doing. xD ♡_____♡ Well, this and the fact that he doesn't have a lollipop to draw Shen Wei's attention to his mouth, so he needs to find another way to do that. :D

"He must have, right? Enough to know the view from the window at least. And it’s a place where people hide things, like under their beds."

100%, yep!

"When Wang Zheng faints, Da Qing speculates she might have been too excited over a novel – maybe this is actually based on knowledge of her reading habits? She has a lot of alone time on her hands, too. I headcanon that she is 800 000 words deep into Proud Immortal Demon Way."

:D :D Yessss, I got it from that scene too. :D Wang Zheng has always been THE web novel reader to me, and I didn't even realize how not-strictly-canon it was!

"Chief Zhao scored a date with the hot Professor after all! Not even wrong, I guess?"

And Zhao Yunlan is sure not acting as if they are wrong. :D :D If anything his reaction makes it sound like they're underestimating the situation. xD

[facethestrange]

"Ha, yes, Shen Wei is masterful with his torment. Little does ZYL know that if he just came clean, SW would be totally approving, heh."

Hee, with the way Shen Wei is smiling, I feel like Zhao Yunlan already knows that he approves. :D :D Or at least he realizes that later that night. :D

[facethestrange]

"I just found it interesting that, even when someone's coming at ZYL with a weapon *and* ZYL is unaware, SW doesn't break cover and smite the attacker with an energy bolt or anything. Maybe there isn't time?"

I do think there's too little time to really do anything, but also the more I rewatch this scene, the more I see Shen Wei instinctively reacting as if he's in YOHE again (the way he already did when he healed the cut in Zhao Yunlan's presence, even after he has spent years hiding his powers from other people). He only steps away once Zhao Yunlan is aware of the danger, and his first reaction is to get out of the way when another warrior is fighting. So maybe the instinct of 'this is how we do things together when Kunlun is around' is stronger than the instinct to protect him. :D

"Maybe he doesn't want to praise ZYL for it because he doesn't want to incentivise ill-advised running into danger? ZYL does enough of that already!! ;D"

Lolol. :D :D :D He was just doing his job, but he was far too smug about it, it is safer if he doesn't get even more smug. xD

"Huh, wouldn't they be more freaked out, if that was the case? The survivor in hospital is scared out of his wits -- and Youchu are pretty scary even if they haven't killed anyone yet."

Yeah, honestly idk either, it just sounds like that from what Lin Jing says, and the way they react to the growling. But they're not the sharpest tools in the shed, so maybe they genuinely think that it's a sound that a human would be making. xD

"Maybe he's reading histories or something from the library. He's the one who did research about the Hanga tribe before the trip, so he seems inclined to gather potentially useful knowledge. :-D"

Lol, in episode 3 Zhu Hong was like 'nobody ever uses the library' - it would be so fun if CSZ has actually quietly read all of it. :D :D

[facethestrange]

"Shen Wei is having A LOT of intense, capital-F feelings, either way, for sure, as evidenced by the pendant touching at the end. :D :D :D"

Asdfghfdjskljkl;; YES. ♡♡♡

"Re the bedroom ransacking, I'm not sure I take the novel as evidence (the drama is its own thing, in my mind), but the fact that he blurts out about the window and then has to scramble for how he knows about it does strongly suggest that there's more to the break-in than we see. (I wonder where it fits into the scene, though.)"

It absolutely does, otherwise what he said about the window wouldn't have alarmed either of them. :D (Ftr what I meant about the novel is not that the same thing happened, just that the drama often takes keywords and puts them in other contexts, so that's possibly where 'bedroom' came from. :))

Where IS Shen Wei's bedroom though? Do their apartments actually have the same layout? Because Zhao Yunlan's apartment kinda IS his bedroom (+ the couch area + kitchen), and there's no space for anything else other than the bathroom, right? But if they were sitting in/adjacent to Shen Wei's bedroom in this scene, then the conversation wouldn't make any sense. xD

[china_shop]

:D :D :D They have zero excuses, and aren't even trying to find any! :D :D ♡___♡

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

[facethestrange]

"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.)"

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)

[facethestrange]

:D :D :D

I went through your picspam and made another icon. :D :D ♡____♡

And while I'm at it, there is another pwp fic all about this scene and Shen Wei's skillful hands: touch by synonemous (explicit, obviously), which just showed up in my 'is it later already?' ao3 thing yesterday, and I may not have read it yet but it's very relevant. :D :D

[china_shop]

He only steps away once Zhao Yunlan is aware of the danger, and his first reaction is to get out of the way when another warrior is fighting. So maybe the instinct of 'this is how we do things together when Kunlun is around' is stronger than the instinct to protect him. :D

Aww, that makes sense. Yeah, you're right, he only steps back as ZYL starts to react. And it's quite possible that shoving ZYL out of the line of fire strike zone would just cause different injuries.

He was just doing his job, but he was far too smug about it, it is safer if he doesn't get even more smug. xD

It's a little outside of the SID's jurisdiction, but basically, EXACTLY! :D

it would be so fun if CSZ has actually quietly read all of it. :D :D

I love that idea! After all, he had to do something for the three years when they had no major cases! ;-p :D

[china_shop]

just that the drama often takes keywords and puts them in other contexts, so that's possibly where 'bedroom' came from. :)

Oh right, good point!

I am 100% sure someone's made floor plans of their respective apartments, but I have no idea how to find them. Maybe Trobadora can dig them out when she has time to catch up. ;D

(There is a door in ZYL's flat next to the bathroom which I think leads to a kind of box room? Maybe that's officially a bedroom, but ZYL decided it was too much trouble to, idk, have an extra door in his life? ;D

[china_shop]

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

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!)