Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 8, part 2

[trobadora]

Hi, welcome to this week's instalment of the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here is last week's half-episode. On to the second half!

Episode 8, from 22:19:

Summary: In Dixing, the Regent sends a smoke message. In Haixing, Shen Wei pours his drunk mentor into car and then finds Zhao Yunlan ill on the kerb. He takes him home in a taxi (where he serves as a pillow), then discovers Zhao Yunlan's disaster apartment (featuring: wine bottles, dirty dishes, THE FRIDGE). During the night, Zhu Jiu finds the pillar with the Mountain-River Awl, but can't approach it. Meanwhile Shen Wei discovers that Zhao Yunlan asked Dixing about him and the Regent is ratting him out. He alters the message. In the morning, Zhao Yunlan wakes up to a tidy flat and Shen Wei sitting next to his bed. He tries to recruit Shen Wei for the SID again, but fails again. Wang Zheng sees a newspaper report about an earthquake in the Hanga mountains, passes out and regains her memory. Da Qing comes to tell Zhao Yunlan and finds Shen Wei there in the early morning. The Sundial begins to glow and resonate with the Awl; Lin Jing traces the source to the mountains.



Quote:

Shen Wei: "I suggest you eat regular meals. I don't want to find you on the road again."

Zhao Yunlan: "If you want to know whether I eat regular meals, why don't you just join ourSID, and you'll know?"

Shen Wei: "So your SID doesn't need a consultant, it needs a nanny?"

Detail:

I always notice that when Shen Wei takes off Zhao Yunlan's boots, he accidentally slips one of Zhao Yunlan's socks off his heel and doesn't pull it back up, argh! :p

Questions:

What's going through Shen Wei's head in the taxi? How is Zhao Yunlan feeling about Shen Wei taking him home? What's your favourite detail in Zhao Yunlan's flat? What's Shen Wei's favourite detail? Why do you think Zhao Yunlan keeps trying to recruit Shen Wei after Shen Wei has refused more than once? Do you think Shen Wei is seriously hoping to warn Zhao Yunlan away from leaving Dragon City? Why is Da Qing surprised to find Shen Wei with Zhao Yunlan in the morning? Why does Wang Zheng try to leave the SID? Any thoughts about how any of this compares to the novel? Or about parallels with other parts of the drama?

(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!)

For the next two weekends, we're taking a break for the holidays - time to catch up on the rewatch, if you've been meaning to! Regular posts will resume on 9 January.

Here is our schedule for the current batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!

Comments

[trobadora]

My notes:

Ooh, is that our first look at the Dijun Palace? It's definitely the first and only time we actually see the Regent using any kind of power, which I still find fascinating ...

I love Shen Wei's dynamic with Professor Zhou. Awww! He's so drunk, and chiding Shen Wei for not learning to drink. "Drinking is a civilized act," LOL!

Somehow I had it in my head that the car Shen Wei pours him into is a taxi, but it's clearly not. For one, it has no taxi sign anywhere, and for another, we see its number plates as it drives away, and it has official number plates! (The normal ones are white text on blue; the official ones are red and yellow on brown.) Just like the car Professor Ouyang uses in episode 1. So it's presumably a staff car from the Inspectorate.)

I always like that Zhao Yunlan initially just tries to wordlessly wave Shen Wei away, miserable and embarrassed. *pets him* But after Shen Wei offers to take him to the hospital, Zhao Yunlan asks Shen Wei to take him home. (I guess he's feeling miserable enough that he's not up to fending him off further.)

And then he passes out in the car! I always notice that they're not using their seatbelts. Boo! But then with seatbelts this scene wouldn't happen, so I can't complain too much. *g* Shen Wei is visibly having SO MANY FEELINGS, OMG.

And then Shen Wei has his first Zhao Yunlan's disaster flat - first and only, because after Shen Wei is through with it, it's not a disaster any more. *g* I mean, overall it could be worse, the set dressers didn't bother to add such details as dust and cat hair under the sideboards. :p But the empty wine bottles lying around on the floor next to the bed always make me wonder just how much Zhao Yunlan generally does drink, ouch. Because he was out drinking with friends, and he has these empty bottles at home ...

Also, I don't think I ever thought of it that way, but it's really funny that we go from Professor Zhou telling Shen Wei how important social drinking is to Zhao Yunlan who's done too much of it.

Anyway, Shen Wei gets a look at Zhao Yunlan's private life beyond the public performance, the façade he puts up - and it makes him want to shake Zhao Yunlan and seriously wrap him in blankets. (He gets to do one of those! *g*) He's is so exasperated and frustrated with how badly Zhao Yunlan is taking care of himself! Enquiring about his eating habits; and "No wonder you're suffering; you were asking for it!" LOL. The way he rips the meds right out of Zhao Yunlan's hand again when Zhao Yunlan tries to swallow them dry! Awww.

Oh huh, Zhu Jiu in the Hanga mountains has an old map that is clearly the same one Chu Shuzhi has in episode 10! I wonder where it's from. And the hapless guard who gets murdered doesn't know anything about any Hanga tribe, but when Zhu Jiu asks about strange legends, he looks in a very definite direction.

Also, I really like how we see him teleporting in the light of the torch, long before we're actually told he uses light as his medium! Great stuff.

I don't think I ever noticed before that when after Shen Wei (off-screen) takes off his jacket to clean a glass for Zhao Yunlan, the jacket ends up on top of the breakfast bar!

Awww, the first time he tucks Zhao Yunlan into bed. ♥

(I love that there's a whole other scene in episode 28 that also features Shen Wei tucking Zhao Yunlan into bed, plus a smoke message! But that time, Shen Wei actually sits on the bed, and Zhao Yunlan isn't at all surprised to find him there when he wakes up. ♥ ♥ ♥ )

I find the smoke message from the Regent so fascinating. It pauses after saying there's no one named Shen Wei and they can't help, only to then continue and admit that a high-ranking official has used the name before. That for sure is a choice!

Also, we learn that Dixing's population register has 900,000 people - pretty substantial!

Shen Wei has feelings over a) Zhao Yunlan asking Dixing about him, and b) the Regent ratting him out - I love all his microexpressions!

He quickly wipes the message to replace it with a substitute. For some reason the Viki subs transcribe the Chinese as 镇魂 您的指示是什么？which is sort of a rephrasing, but even for that it's obviously wrong because it only has 镇魂 and not 镇魂令主 Lord Guardian. Anyway, pretty sure the actual text of the letter says 镇魂令主有何吩咐 - many thanks to nnozomi for help with the characters; the 有 defeated me! And it does translate to "Lord Guardian, what are your orders?"

Which is a weird reply to a query, but maybe is intended by Shen Wei to come across as Dixing playing dumb?

Zhu Jiu has found the cave where the Mountain-River Awl is, but the pillar/Sang Zan repels him. Zhu Jiu already knows who Sang Zan is, and I'm so curious how he found out about it all. Even if Ding Dun saw much of Wang Zheng's backstory, he didn't share any of it before Zhu Jiu killed him!

(There's so much foreshadowing in the chained pillar with someone trapped inside! And there'll be even more in Sang Zan's story when we get to it.)

And here's a bit I completely didn't remember: after Sang Zan throws icicles at Zhu Jiu, Zhu tries again to use his powers on the pillar and is thrown back again, there's growling in the distance - and Zhu Jiu flinches, looks around and says, "I was worried I couldn't reach this ice cone, and now it gave me such a lovely surprise. I didn't expect a tiresome place like this to hold so many good things. With you [pl.], my plan will be even more perfect." (The original subs and Solo's have "such precious objects"; Viki has "something valuable", but what the Chinese actually says is [这么多好东西 "so many good things".]

So that means:
1) He didn't know there were youchu there! He literally just discovered them and decided to incorporate them into his plans. Possibly they've been stuck in the cave along with the ghosts for a long time?
2) Zhu Jiu recognises youchu from their growling! So I guess that means they do exist in Dixing, if he's so familiar with them.

And the next thing Zhu Jiu does is use his powers on the cave. Rocks fly - he's presumably freeing the youchu the rest of the way, so he can use them. So the earthquake in the Hanga mountains seems to be his doing!

In the morning, Wang Zheng is singing at the SID (!) when she looks at the newspaper and finds an article about an earthquake in the northwest. It has an image of the Hanga totem, same as the anonymous letter, and she faints. I wonder if the totem in the newspaper is the one on the pillar? Or if not, where else it appeared? And also how that got into the newspaper so quickly!

When Zhao Yunlan wakes up to find Shen Wei sitting by his bedside, he flails in the most delightful way. I love it so! And no, Shen Wei didn't spend the entire night either tidying/cleaning or staring at Zhao Yunlan - he's also reading Zhao Yunlan's books. *g*

Also, I know I noticed Zhao Yunlan's slippers before, and that Shen Wei put them in front of the bed, but I didn't remember they were mismatched!

(Shen Wei's jacket is now lying over the arm of the sofa, btw.)

Zhao Yunlan makes all the best faces that morning. Such a great WTF!face when he notices the state of his flat!

And Shen Wei says it's thanks for saving him from the muggers, downplaying things and trying to let Zhao Yunlan off the hook, but Zhao Yunlan goes right back to fencing, telling him to join the SID if he wants to thank him. Shen Wei promptly refuses him again. But Zhao Yunlan, not done, turns Shen Wei telling him to eat regularly into another request he join the SID.

Shen Wei: "So your SID doesn't need a consultant, it needs a nanny?" ♥ ♥ ♥

And then Zhao Yunlan still won't let it go - he sprawls on the bed, pouting: "If you keep on rejecting me, it'll really be my life's greatest failure."

At this point I suppose Shen Wei realises that shutting this down entirely isn't going to happen any time soon, so he tries to at least shut it down for now, telling Zhao Yunlan he's about to leave on a field trip and they can talk more when he's back. LOL!

I love the way Da Qing bursts in and then is so taken aback by Shen Wei's presence! But Shen Wei immediately tells him about Zhao Yunlan's gastritis attack, and that makes sense to Da Qing.

More Viki subs weirdness: when Da Qing mocks Wang Zheng for fainting, the Viki subs say, "Maybe, she just fainted from crying after watching some TV drama." But it clearly says 小说 novel, no TV in evidence! (Solo's subs are the best translation here, "Maybe she fainted from crying over a new romance novel.")

Also, Zhao Yunlan when Da Qing tells him not to worry over her fainting: "Nonsense, how can I not worry about my people?" ♥ ♥ ♥

Training montage! Except Xiao-Guo isn't using the fear stick, he's afraid because it's so overpowered so he wants to practice with an ordinary baton, LOL. And he talks about being useless, no help during the Ding Dun case - which makes me wonder at which point in that mini-case any help was even needed. Possibly another sign that something was cut/changed there? Anyway, Xiao-Guo learns that Chu Shuzhi had a little brother!

Another bit that I never noticed before: when Wang Zheng wakes up and says she wants to leave the SID, Zhao Yunlan asks her what her connection with the northwestern mountains is - and Da Qing says when they found her, it was 龙城的西北郊区 in the northwestern outskirts/suburbs of Dragon City! So according to this, she wasn't found in the mountains. I must have kept missing that because the actual flashback scene we see looks so much like the mountains and not at all like the suburbs, with Da Qing and Zhao Yunlan in hiking gear! LOL.

Oh, and also, Da Qing's explanation about energy bodies is so confident, I wonder if he's seen it happen before.

Oh, and interestingly, when the Sundial starts glowing and Lin Jing traces the source of the resonance, the bit highlighted on the map is just to the north of Dragon City, so not nearly far away enough for the Hanga Mountains - exactly where the dialogue said Wang Zheng was found. Meanwhile, Lin Jing here says the source of the resonance is 20 km into the mountains, definitely further away. It's like there are two versions superimposed on each other here, and I really wonder where those inconsistencies come from!

[salamandras]

I haven't rewatched yet, but I love seeing your detailed observations and thoughts and now I plan to look for them as I watch! The light as a medium for teleporting, youchu growling as something significant, or Dixing's registry size for example - I don't think I'd have noticed that myself. :D Do you think the registry covers deceased people's powers as well, or the living population is 900,000?

[trobadora]

Yay, it's great to hear that you're enjoying the details! I always wonder if I ramble on too much, LOL.

I think the 900,000 has to be current population - Dixing has a 10,000 year history, I think if it listed deceased people it'd have to be a lot larger.

Enjoy rewatching! ♥

[china_shop]

"Drinking is a civilized act," LOL!

I really enjoy Shen Wei failing at drinking culture (in a completely different way from how ZYL fails at it in ep 11, when he's visibly having to force himself to drink). It makes me wonder whether this is a problem for Shen Wei in Dixing, too. Maybe the Regent thinks he'd get along much better with the Envoy if they could just get drunk together like civilised men?? ;-p

So it's presumably a staff car from the Inspectorate.

Ha! The poor driver. I wonder if this is partly a security precaution, to make sure people with top secret info aren't wandering around the city drunk on their own...

I always like that Zhao Yunlan initially just tries to wordlessly wave Shen Wei away, miserable and embarrassed.

YES! Me too, I love that!! :D :D :D

But the empty wine bottles lying around on the floor next to the bed always make me wonder just how much Zhao Yunlan generally does drink, ouch. Because he was out drinking with friends, and he has these empty bottles at home ...

Yeah, I know. He's such a mess, not just today -- and the fact that he's generally pretty capable of putting a good face on it when he's out and about is kind of disturbing in itself, I think? I wonder how much of his waking life he spends partly hung over.

The way he rips the meds right out of Zhao Yunlan's hand again when Zhao Yunlan tries to swallow them dry! Awww.

I always love that we hear one drop to the floor! Shen Wei is too angry to be careful!! :D

Great catch about the map!

I don't think I ever noticed before that when after Shen Wei (off-screen) takes off his jacket to clean a glass for Zhao Yunlan, the jacket ends up on top of the breakfast bar!

Oh, true! Another great catch! And then (as facethestrange pointed out last time) by morning it's over the couch arm. :D :D :D (Oh, you already noted that further down.)

(I love that there's a whole other scene in episode 28 that also features Shen Wei tucking Zhao Yunlan into bed, plus a smoke message! But that time, Shen Wei actually sits on the bed, and Zhao Yunlan isn't at all surprised to find him there when he wakes up. ♥ ♥ ♥ )

alkjsdfhalkdjsfhalkdjsfhalkdjsfhalkdjsfhalkdjsfhaskdjflhaskdljfhadksljfassa :D :D :D

Also, we learn that Dixing's population register has 900,000 people - pretty substantial!

!!!! I don't think that's in the VIKI subs (or if it is, it totally didn't sink in)!!

Which is a weird reply to a query, but maybe is intended by Shen Wei to come across as Dixing playing dumb?

It's hard to see what else it could be? But if ZYL replies to that, SW probably won't know...

1) He didn't know there were youchu there! He literally just discovered them and decided to incorporate them into his plans. Possibly they've been stuck in the cave along with the ghosts for a long time?

I only realised that this watch through, too!! *high fives*

2) Zhu Jiu recognises youchu from their growling! So I guess that means they do exist in Dixing, if he's so familiar with them.

Growling and smell?? ;-p /o\

And he talks about being useless, no help during the Ding Dun case - which makes me wonder at which point in that mini-case any help was even needed.

Maybe the point where they actually ran into Ding Dun, and then he got away before they realised? If GCC had been sharper and more capable, they could have possibly caught him. /how he might be thinking about it, without casting the slightest shade on CSZ, of course

[trobadora]

I really enjoy Shen Wei failing at drinking culture (in a completely different way from how ZYL fails at it in ep 11, when he's visibly having to force himself to drink). It makes me wonder whether this is a problem for Shen Wei in Dixing, too.

Oh yes, great point and great question, LOL!

I wonder if this is partly a security precaution, to make sure people with top secret info aren't wandering around the city drunk on their own...

Yeah, I could definitely see that!

and the fact that he's generally pretty capable of putting a good face on it when he's out and about is kind of disturbing in itself, I think? I wonder how much of his waking life he spends partly hung over.

It definitely makes you worry about him! Or it makes ShenWei worry. *g*

I always love that we hear one drop to the floor! Shen Wei is too angry to be careful!! :D

♥ ♥ ♥

alkjsdfhalkdjsfhalkdjsfhalkdjsfhalkdjsfhalkdjsfhaskdjflhaskdljfhadksljfassa :D :D :D

PARALLELS. :D :D :D

!!!! I don't think that's in the VIKI subs (or if it is, it totally didn't sink in)!!

Viki subs: "We can't find any Shen Wei among the list of 900,000 names in our Underworld."

I only realised that this watch through, too!! *high fives*

*high fives*

Maybe the point where they actually ran into Ding Dun, and then he got away before they realised? If GCC had been sharper and more capable, they could have possibly caught him. /how he might be thinking about it, without casting the slightest shade on CSZ, of course

Awwww! Yeah, I could see that for Xiao-Guo. *pets him*

[facethestrange]

I only just finished rewatching the first half of the episode (I hope I can get to this one a lot sooner than that! ♡), but I gotta flail a bit regardless because SO MANY OF MY FAVORITE THINGSSS. :D

- THE TAXI SCENE! ♡♡♡♡♡

- Soft and gentle (and appropriately exasperated) caretaking. *MELTS* ♡♡♡♡♡ (And yep, the sock, lol. :D :D)

- Zhao Yunlan flirting his ass off from the second he wakes up, not even caring that he's wearing yesterday's clothes. xD ♡♡♡ (Plus let me throw my 'Zhao Yunlan being Zhao Yunlan' ficlet about that morning, M-rated, non-explicit sex, mostly vibes: Tell Me I'm a Problem. :D)

[trobadora]

Yes! So much good stuff in this half, it's really an amazing episode. :D

Zhao Yunlan flirting his ass off from the second he wakes up, not even caring that he's wearing yesterday's clothes. xD ♡♡♡

YESSSSSSSSS, he's pulling out all the stops. The eyes. The sprawl. EVERYTHING. So good!

Looking forward to your comment when you get to it!

[facethestrange]

"YESSSSSSSSS, he's pulling out all the stops. The eyes. The sprawl. EVERYTHING. So good!"

Asdfghfjdksljkl IKRRR, he even goes 'sprawl -> sit up -> sprawl again but even sexier this time, with extra hip thrust'. ;D :D :D

♡♡♡!

[salamandras]

Nothing coherent to add, just lots of +1s for favorite things! :D

[facethestrange]

*HIGH FIVE* :D :D I'm permanently *heart-eyes* during this entire sequence of events. :D ♡____♡

[china_shop]

Zhao Yunlan flirting his ass off from the second he wakes up, not even caring that he's wearing yesterday's clothes. xD ♡♡♡

LOLOL, yessssss! (And ahhh, that fic is so delightful! :D :D :D)

[facethestrange]

(Thank youuuu!! ♡♡♡ :D :D :D)

[china_shop]

- That is by far the most open flame we ever see in the Dixing palace. Wow!

- LOL, Shen Wei sees one drunk mentor into a taxi, then has to escort another incapacitated, one-day-to-be mentor-ish figure home. (Not that he sees it like that at all, but it made me laugh.)

- Zhao Yunlan curled over in the gutter, being a total disaster is so my happy place!! Hee! He already feels so utterly terrible, and then he's like, "oh fuck, Shen Wei has found me like this? /o\ /o\ /o\ please just go awaaay," but he's too messed up to put up much of a fight/front.

- This parallel:



- THE FLAT!! It makes me so happy!!! I honestly can't explain why I love it so much, but Shen Wei walking into the discarded bottles makes me laugh every time!! :D (This inspired my very first Guardian fanfic, and also an evening-after fic from DQ's pov.)

- So, okay, in YOHE, Kunlun was all, "Take off your mask and smile," to SW, and what he got was SW taking off his mask and, yes, smiling, but also confiding about his lost brother and his despair about the state of the war. And here, we have Shen Wei gently but firmly trying to help ZYL take off his mask over the course of these first eight episodes, and what's behind it is this total lack of self-care. The gastritis and the flat together are like ZYL's fatalism about his own future made manifest. <3 <3 <3

- I'm using VIKI subs for the first time for this ep, and it's making the Zhu Jiu scenes pop a lot more compared to the original subs. I'm so amused that he visibly decides to be civilised and polite for a moment with the guard in the mountains. And then apologises before he kills him! (Is this a hint at ZJ's backstory as a palace guard? That he sees the soldier as someone almost relatable for a moment?)

- Shen Wei thoroughly washing the filth from a single glass. :D :D :D :D I always feel like his hands are shaking a little bit from shock at Just How Bad It Is. :D :D :D

- After the Regent's message arrives, SW stares tight-lipped at ZYL, but I'm 99% sure he's mad at the Regent, right? He can't blame ZYL for investigating when SW has gone out of his way to arouse suspicion?!

- I don't think I've ever paid attention to Sang Zan throwing stalactites at Zhu Jiu before. If he can do that, no wonder Ye Zun can cause trouble from his pillar!! (Pillars are such a bad criminal justice system! Major design flaw in the Hallows! *frowns at Ma Gui*)

- Huh, I thought Zhu Jiu was the one to bring Youchu to the surface, but no, he's just using them. I wonder how they came up this time.

- Wang Zheng is the cutest!!

- The scene from my "good morning" icon! :D :D :D Shen Wei with his legs crossed like he's ZYL! Shen Wei toe to toe with ZYL's (delightfully mismatched) slippers! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 ALL THE FLIRTING!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 (I've said so much about this before, I'd just be repeating myself, so I'll just link to this comment I made on the scene discussion post.)

- Shen Wei citing his magical sixth sense is the first of Shen Wei's overt "I don't expect you to believe this" lies, I think?

- DQ just runs into frame with no door noise, I think? You'd think if he'd opened the door, the others would have turned.

- Where was the letter? ZYL races out of the flat to hide it from Shen Wei (despite SW having stayed up all night going through every single one of ZYL's possessions), but I can never actually see it in the flat. Also, "I never write any characters at home" is hilarious - not something to boast about, ZYL!! ;D

- ZYL and DQ both have such a serious reaction to the contents of the letter -- I don't get it.

- CSZ and GCC training, and CSZ isn't even using his hands, lol. And aww, another reference to CSZ's didi. <3

- In the flashback to finding Wang Zheng, it always looks like it's night time (day for night?). Is it supposed to be, or is that just me misreading a flashback filter?

- Did we actually see the Envoy tell ZYL that the Hallows communicate with each other? Or are they having sneaky off-screen conversations that I want to seeee???

- This "remote region" does not look at all remote on Lin Jing's map, lol. And "20km from here" is, like, 15 to 20 minutes' drive. Are we sure it's not 200km?

What's going through Shen Wei's head in the taxi?

I always think of nnozomi's meta (second para in the post). <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

How is Zhao Yunlan feeling about Shen Wei taking him home?

I think if he were any more conscious, he'd be excruciatingly humiliated, but he's suffering too much to really care at this point.

What's your favourite detail in Zhao Yunlan's flat?

LOL, do you mean the chaos disaster or the decor? I love the state of the kitchen. And I like that it's so different from the novel, where the kitchen is completely unused: drama!ZYL clearly uses his dishes -- he just doesn't ever ever wash them. ;D

What's Shen Wei's favourite detail?

Ha. I think Zhao Yunlan is Shen Wei's favourite detail in any given room he's in. Other than that, the couch.

Why do you think Zhao Yunlan keeps trying to recruit Shen Wei after Shen Wei has refused more than once?

You already know my theories (a combination of wanting him under the SID's roof to protect him from deportation, wanting his expertise on tap, and just wanting him). I think it's the protection that keeps him asking, though -- that he thinks Shen Wei thinks working for the SID will make his secret more likely to be exposed, and ZYL is trying to reassure him/convey that that's okay by showing him how wanted he is.

Do you think Shen Wei is seriously hoping to warn Zhao Yunlan away from leaving Dragon City?

A forlorn hope, lol. Maybe he's hoping that warning him will at least put ZYL on guard?

Why is Da Qing surprised to find Shen Wei with Zhao Yunlan in the morning?

After the used book debacle? Shouldn't he be?

Why does Wang Zheng try to leave the SID?

She has to go and find Sang Zan and make things right. (I'm assuming she knows about the pillar?)

[trobadora]

LOL, Shen Wei sees one drunk mentor into a taxi, then has to escort another incapacitated, one-day-to-be mentor-ish figure home. (Not that he sees it like that at all, but it made me laugh.)

Ha, and me not seeing that is why I didn't look at it that way. *g* Great catch!

(I can't believe we all thought it was a taxi!)

This parallel

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

And here, we have Shen Wei gently but firmly trying to help ZYL take off his mask over the course of these first eight episodes, and what's behind it is this total lack of self-care. The gastritis and the flat together are like ZYL's fatalism about his own future made manifest. <3 <3 <3

Oh, I love how you put that! Yes, 100%, this is what it is! Zhao Yunlan beneath the mask! ♥ ♥ ♥

I'm so amused that he visibly decides to be civilised and polite for a moment with the guard in the mountains. And then apologises before he kills him! (Is this a hint at ZJ's backstory as a palace guard? That he sees the soldier as someone almost relatable for a moment?)

Oh, that's a good question about the former (Dixing) guard and the current (Haixing) guard! I could see that, yeah. And great catch about his initial politeness. It's a great little scene!

After the Regent's message arrives, SW stares tight-lipped at ZYL, but I'm 99% sure he's mad at the Regent, right? He can't blame ZYL for investigating when SW has gone out of his way to arouse suspicion?!

I don't think he blames him at all, but I do think the tight-lipped look at ZYL is separate from the anger at the Regent. It's another one of those "oh, I've just been slapped in the face by the fact that we're not there yet" moment, IMO.

I don't think I've ever paid attention to Sang Zan throwing stalactites at Zhu Jiu before. If he can do that, no wonder Ye Zun can cause trouble from his pillar!!

Oh yes, that's great foreshadowing!!!

Huh, I thought Zhu Jiu was the one to bring Youchu to the surface, but no, he's just using them. I wonder how they came up this time.

You and me both! Catching all kinds of things this time round!

Wang Zheng is the cutest!!

I adore her. She's so gorgeous, too, so I had to use a pic of her for the post. :D

I've said so much about this before, I'd just be repeating myself, so I'll just link to this comment I made on the scene discussion post.

♥ ♥ ♥

Shen Wei citing his magical sixth sense is the first of Shen Wei's overt "I don't expect you to believe this" lies, I think?

OHHHH yes, you're totally right, it is! And this time ZYL just goes "ohh" and doesn't really call him on it beyond that, so perhaps that's why he thinks it'll work later.

Where was the letter? ZYL races out of the flat to hide it from Shen Wei (despite SW having stayed up all night going through every single one of ZYL's possessions), but I can never actually see it in the flat.

Yeah, same here, and I looked for it! It's just not visible at all.

ZYL and DQ both have such a serious reaction to the contents of the letter -- I don't get it.

I wonder if it's because (they think) Dixing is responding to a concrete query with an empty phrase and they think that means Dixing is hiding something from them?

In the flashback to finding Wang Zheng, it always looks like it's night time (day for night?). Is it supposed to be, or is that just me misreading a flashback filter?

I think it's meant to be day - Da Qing is shielding Wang Zheng with an umbrella, while explaining energy bodies can't tolerate sunlight.

Did we actually see the Envoy tell ZYL that the Hallows communicate with each other? Or are they having sneaky off-screen conversations that I want to seeee???

Nope, that didn't happen on screen. They must have communicated, and damn, now I want that missing scene!

This "remote region" does not look at all remote on Lin Jing's map, lol. And "20km from here" is, like, 15 to 20 minutes' drive. Are we sure it's not 200km?

The map shows a place very close, not even 20km away! But the dialogue says 二十公里以外的高山区 high mountain area 20km away. But if Dragon City is in a valley and the mountains rise very close to it, 20km straight line on a map can translate to a much, much longer drive since you can't exactly go straight up and may have to go around another mountain to get to where you're going. It still sounds wrong, though, and the map that Lin Jing has definitely doesn't make sense at all.

I always think of nnozomi's meta (second para in the post). <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

OHHHH, thank you for the link! That is so gorgeous. YES. ♥ ♥ ♥

LOL, do you mean the chaos disaster or the decor? I love the state of the kitchen. And I like that it's so different from the novel, where the kitchen is completely unused: drama!ZYL clearly uses his dishes -- he just doesn't ever ever wash them. ;D

Any or all of it! But that's an excellent point about the kitchen, and a great example for how to work with a different medium - you can't show "unused kitchen" the way you can "messy kitchen"!

Ha. I think Zhao Yunlan is Shen Wei's favourite detail in any given room he's in. Other than that, the couch.

Awww! I think his favourite detail is the slippers, and the fact that Zhao Yunlan has them. Just that tiny bit of domestic comfort. ♥

I think it's the protection that keeps him asking, though -- that he thinks Shen Wei thinks working for the SID will make his secret more likely to be exposed, and ZYL is trying to reassure him/convey that that's okay by showing him how wanted he is.

I think I don't see it quite the same way - that element is there for sure; he's trying to make sense of Shen Wei's (to him) very mixed signals and doesn't understand why Shen Wei would refuse, other than worry over being exposed. But also, IMO part of why ZYL is coming on so strong is because he's emotionally invested, and to him Shen Wei accepting the consultancy is a stand-in for Shen Wei accepting him. (Because it is, in the novel-to-drama translation. *g*)

Maybe he's hoping that warning him will at least put ZYL on guard?

Yeah, that would make sense!

After the used book debacle? Shouldn't he be?

Oh, yes, absolutely! From Da Qing's perspective they've gone straight from Shen Wei walking away to morning-after; no wonder he's confused. *g*

She has to go and find Sang Zan and make things right. (I'm assuming she knows about the pillar?)

She must know, since she heads straight there. But she doesn't even consider asking the SID for help, she's all determined to go on her own ... (ALL of these people are like that, seriously!!!)

[china_shop]

(I can't believe we all thought it was a taxi!)

I think it's natural to assume. :-)

I don't think he blames him at all, but I do think the tight-lipped look at ZYL is separate from the anger at the Regent. It's another one of those "oh, I've just been slapped in the face by the fact that we're not there yet" moment, IMO.

Hmm, maybe. But Shen Wei wants him to be interested. He's gone out of his way to intrigue and befriend him, and moved in across the hall. Did he think ZYL wouldn't be curious and make enquiries? Especially once ZYL started his recruitment campaign. Maybe it's a tight-lipped "I should have seen this coming"? Or "I gave too much/the wrong things away"? Idk. Or... maybe you're 100% spot on, and I'm reading too much blame into the words.

OHHHH yes, you're totally right, it is! And this time ZYL just goes "ohh" and doesn't really call him on it beyond that, so perhaps that's why he thinks it'll work later.

Yes! And I think we've said before, it's modelling the kinds of evasions Shen Wei is good with, versus the fronting and evasiveness that he feels put a barrier between them.

I wonder if it's because (they think) Dixing is responding to a concrete query with an empty phrase and they think that means Dixing is hiding something from them?

Maybe! And they'd be right, except it's not Dixing, per se. Which makes me think it's interesting that Shen Wei didn't lie outright in the letter or just destroy it. Instead it's his typical kind of stubborn "I'm not going to answer this" silence in the form of a letter.

I think it's meant to be day - Da Qing is shielding Wang Zheng with an umbrella, while explaining energy bodies can't tolerate sunlight.

I thought he just said light, which always made me assume it was moonlight or starlight (but we know she can go outside at night, so that wasn't hugely sensical). Different subs. (It looks so night-like to me, lol.)

But that's an excellent point about the kitchen, and a great example for how to work with a different medium - you can't show "unused kitchen" the way you can "messy kitchen"!

Yes, very true! :D

Awww! I think his favourite detail is the slippers, and the fact that Zhao Yunlan has them. Just that tiny bit of domestic comfort. ♥

Aww! I wonder where SW dug them out from. I bet they weren't by the bed to start with.

But also, IMO part of why ZYL is coming on so strong is because he's emotionally invested, and to him Shen Wei accepting the consultancy is a stand-in for Shen Wei accepting him.

*nodnod* That's a great point. But do you think he'd ask that question twice in one conversation? Idk. *considers further* I think the recruitment is a game/flirting/come on[1], and it's testing SW, and it's reassurance[2], and he thinks SW really wants to join (or at least will cave) if ZYL can just find the right words/argument[3]. /pre-breakfast, hi

[1] so inappropriate! this is not what government appointments are for!!
[2] which maybe rings a bit hollow after SW found the letter from Dixing ;-p
[3] which, in the end, is true.

But she doesn't even consider asking the SID for help, she's all determined to go on her own ... (ALL of these people are like that, seriously!!!)

I think she's expecting to sacrifice herself (maybe enpillar herself to be with Sang Zan?), and she doesn't want them to stop her.

[facethestrange]

This half episode has the absolute highest concentration of my favorite scenes, asdfghfjkslasfjkl;; ♡♡♡ So happy to finally rewatch it! :D ♡♡♡

- The foreshadowing that Shen Wei really, really shouldn't drink even a drop of alcohol! (I always want to know how he originally learned that about himself, lol, and I do have a YOHE Weilan ficlet about it. :D Tomorrow, T-rated.) Also damn, I love Shen Wei's amused/indulgent smiles. :D ♡♡♡

- Zhao Yunlan waving Shen Wei off while sitting on the ground, this whole thing is so soft and heartbreaking to me, like 'I fucked up, why would he even care', and Shen Wei just LOVES HIM SO MUCH. *wibbles* ♡♡♡♡♡

- It's far from the first time I've noticed it, but Shen Wei's arm is around Zhao Yunlan, then it's not, and then it is again. :D (And then it isn't again, but that could be for the ease of putting him inside the car.)







- Me watching the entire taxi scene:

That's it, that's all. ♡♡♡♡♡

- Bts talk: Zhao Yunlan putting his head on Shen Wei's shoulder was improvised by Bai Yu, but I always wonder just how much of the actual scene that aired is improvised and how much of it was filmed after everyone went 'oh that's a good idea, we're keeping it'. Like, when Shen Wei adjusts his position and the camera angle changes to this, it has to be intentionally filmed this way:

[gif source]
So it switches somewhere between the improvised beginning and this part (unless they re-filmed the beginning, but it doesn't look like that to me :D). My best guess would be during or right before the part where Shen Wei puts him upright (3rd gif in the gifset). I know I'll never know when exactly it switched, but I like to wonder, if only to look at them some more and very thoroughly, hah. :D :D

- Zhao Yunlan's confusion when Shen Wei doesn't let him dry swallow the medicine is one of my favorite things that I always need to point out, hee, but also EVERYTHING, just absolutely everything about this scene is so damn perfect, all the gentle and softly exasperated caretaking, and Shen Wei being so done with Zhao Yunlan not feeding himself properly that he FEEDS HIM (and then he keeps feeding him :D), and the sock, and Shen Wei touching all of Zhao Yunlan's clothesss, and the jacket on the couch. *ALL THE HEART EYES*

- Poor Wang Zheng!! ♡ (Right in the middle of the Weilan scene, lol, but I still adore and appreciate her and her humming. ♡♡♡)

- Also new favorite thing I noticed this time - their feet briefly (or nearly?) touch/bump into each other after Shen Wei uncrosses his legs. :D ♡♡♡


[gif source]

- The slippers are not mismatched btw, they're intentionally printed like that - the black parts are white and vice versa. :D I checked it a few rewatches ago. :D


(Except Zhao Yunlan apparently has the opposite pair, hee, which I didn't catch until right now. :D)

- The absolutely SHAMELESS flirting and the soft congee bowl cupping (heating up?) are some of my favorite things about this part of the scene, but again it's ALL SO GOOD. ♡♡♡♡♡

- The way Shen Wei swallows when Zhao Yunlan does the hip thrust, afghfjdkskl;jkl :D :D ♡____♡

- Da Qing in the morning being like 'daaamn did you actually manage to get laid despite the catastrophic failure with the books??' xD xD

- I saw the comments before about whether or not it's night when DQ and ZYL find Wang Zheng, and honestly I've never thought it could be anything other than night - it's so dark behind Zhao Yunlan? But they have the umbrella and are talking about light, and I've never noticed this contradition. xD



"What's going through Shen Wei's head in the taxi?"

One of my favorite takes on this is tehfanglyfish's fic Ordeal (T-rated), and one of the main other things I think about (beyond 'his heart is melting just like mine is' ♡♡♡) is the TRUST, like, Zhao Yunlan has found him suspicious for so long and he still lowkey does, and here he just trusts him so much that he's completely vulnerable with him. ♡♡♡ Even if it's not fully intentional because Zhao Yunlan is so out of it, it was intentional to ask Shen Wei to take him home in this state. ♡♡♡ Also Shen Wei really, really wants to kiss the top of Zhao Yunlan's head. :D ♡___♡

"How is Zhao Yunlan feeling about Shen Wei taking him home?"

I think he's mostly resigned before he's completely out of it, but I also like to think that he's conscious enough to know that he slept on Shen Wei and that Shen Wei was more than okay with that. :D

"What's your favourite detail in Zhao Yunlan's flat?"

I think I've never had one favorite detail, I just like how everything looks together, it's so charming. :D

"What's Shen Wei's favourite detail?"

Asdfghfjdskljkl;; ZHAO YUNLAN. Zhao Yunlan's clothes. Zhao Yunlan's bed. :D

"Why do you think Zhao Yunlan keeps trying to recruit Shen Wei after Shen Wei has refused more than once?"

Because he can't just let Shen Wei go, as he says. :D And mostly because what he's actually asking is censored away. xD

"Do you think Shen Wei is seriously hoping to warn Zhao Yunlan away from leaving Dragon City?"

Lol nope, he even says so. xD

"Why is Da Qing surprised to find Shen Wei with Zhao Yunlan in the morning?"

Because it presumably means that he stayed there overnight, and DQ thought Zhao Yunlan has failed at all the courting and here's proof that he didn't. xD

"Why does Wang Zheng try to leave the SID?"

Because she doesn't want to put anyone else in danger, just herself. Which should be very relatable to many other characters, lol. :P

"Any thoughts about how any of this compares to the novel? Or about parallels with other parts of the drama?"

A whole lot of scenes in this episode are from the novel, but Shen Wei telling Zhao Yunlan to stay put and Zhao Yunlan going even faster is from a whole other part of the novel, not from the Hanga arc but from when they're already together. :D (And novel Shen Wei actually thought that he would listen, lol, while drama Shen Wei has no doubt that he won't. :D)

Btw, Zhao Yunlan's apartment in the novel:

"To say Zhao Yunlan’s apartment was as messy as a doghouse would be a grave insult to dogs everywhere. Clothes were strewn all over the bed and floor; it was impossible to tell whether he planned to wash or wear them. All manner of junk was piled on the queen-sized bed, some of it almost beyond human imagination. The lone sock draped over the corner of a laptop was one thing, and the presence of sunglasses and an umbrella wasn’t wholly bizarre, but it would be a stretch to explain the tall hat folded from white paper or the huge jug of cinnabar powder.

All of this clutter had been pushed into a heap, leaving only a nest big enough for one person to lie in—and he’d probably dug out that space just before lying down."

(But his kitchen is empty and unused, which obviously works better in writing than on screen. :P)

And the sock thing is probably there because Shen Wei gives Zhao Yunlan a foot massage in this scene in the novel, and I guess that's as close as they could get. xD

"Any further explanation was cut off when Shen Wei bent down and grabbed hold of Zhao Yunlan’s feet. Shen Wei’s hands were always cold, but they were warm in comparison. Shocked, Zhao Yunlan instinctively tried to pull his feet back, but Shen Wei’s grip was too firm. Strong fingers began massaging his pressure points."

Also, I think the Dixing palace does have a lot of the vibe of the Netherworld. :D And the little ghostly Reaper that gets sent out. :D

Drama-wise, my favorite parallels are Zhao Yunlan being tucked in by Shen Wei. :D And a very obvious one is people being imprisoned in pillars.

[trobadora]

This half episode has the absolute highest concentration of my favorite scenes, asdfghfjkslasfjkl;; ♡♡♡ So happy to finally rewatch it! :D ♡♡♡

Yay!!!!! *twirls you*

The foreshadowing that Shen Wei really, really shouldn't drink even a drop of alcohol!

Yes! I really love that they built it into things with the little Professor Zhou scene - the drama is so good at that stuff. This scene reminds us of Professor Zhou (who was mentioned in episode 1), introduces us to him personally and his relationship with Shen Wei, AND lays the ground for Shen Wei's reaction to alcohol. Such a little scene, and so fun to watch, and doing so much work, too! :D

I always want to know how he originally learned that about himself, lol, and I do have a YOHE Weilan ficlet about it. :D

Very neat, thank you for the link! I could see Shen Wei learning about his reaction to alcohol very young, too, but given that Ma Gui apparently didn't know what alcohol is (LOL), it's probably more canon-compliant (as well as more fun and more time-loopy!) if it happens while Zhao Yunlan is there. :D

this whole thing is so soft and heartbreaking to me, like 'I fucked up, why would he even care', and Shen Wei just LOVES HIM SO MUCH.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

It's far from the first time I've noticed it, but Shen Wei's arm is around Zhao Yunlan, then it's not, and then it is again. :D (And then it isn't again, but that could be for the ease of putting him inside the car.)

AWWWWW! Fantastic catch, thank you! Now I'm going to headcanon that he in fact does let go and then put his arm around him again, because having him this close is giving Shen Wei FEELINGS, but Zhao Yunlan isn't steady enough without. *g*

Bts talk: Zhao Yunlan putting his head on Shen Wei's shoulder was improvised by Bai Yu, but I always wonder just how much of the actual scene that aired is improvised and how much of it was filmed after everyone went 'oh that's a good idea, we're keeping it'. Like, when Shen Wei adjusts his position and the camera angle changes to this, it has to be intentionally filmed this way

Yeah, I always figured it wasn't improvised during the actual filming of the scene, but while they talked the scene through before - because as you say, it's clearly deliberately filmed like that. (I figure most "improvised" things are like that. I heard the kneeling-in-the-rain was a spontaneous reaction to rain during filming, too, but that scene, too, is clearly deliberately filmed that way. Real rain doesn't even show up well on film. *g* I love it when actors take their craft seriously and contribute things like this - and Zhu Yilong and Bai Yu very clearly put their all into Guardian. :D)

but also EVERYTHING, just absolutely everything about this scene is so damn perfect, all the gentle and softly exasperated caretaking

YESSSSSSSSSSS, it's completley delightful, I love it too! :D

Also new favorite thing I noticed this time - their feet briefly (or nearly?) touch/bump into each other after Shen Wei uncrosses his legs. :D ♡♡♡

Looks to me like they only almost touch, but that's already fantastic, and I have no idea how I never saw it before! Thanks for pointing it out!

The slippers are not mismatched btw, they're intentionally printed like that - the black parts are white and vice versa. :D I checked it a few rewatches ago. :D

Oh, right! Oh, Zhao Yunlan, this is such a ZYL pair of shippers. :D

The absolutely SHAMELESS flirting and the soft congee bowl cupping (heating up?) are some of my favorite things about this part of the scene, but again it's ALL SO GOOD. ♡♡♡♡♡

The bowl is steaming on the sideboard only moments before, so I don't think it needs heating up, but if it had needed it, Shen Wei was ready! :D

I saw the comments before about whether or not it's night when DQ and ZYL find Wang Zheng, and honestly I've never thought it could be anything other than night - it's so dark behind Zhao Yunlan? But they have the umbrella and are talking about light, and I've never noticed this contradition. xD

Haha, I always thought it was meant to be day. But yeah, it's really inconsistent, LOL.

Even if it's not fully intentional because Zhao Yunlan is so out of it, it was intentional to ask Shen Wei to take him home in this state.

YES! You bet that if it was someone he really didn't trust, gastritis or no, he definitely wouldn't have suggested they take him home! ♥ ♥ ♥

Also Shen Wei really, really wants to kiss the top of Zhao Yunlan's head. :D ♡___♡

I BELIEVE YOU. ♥

Asdfghfjdskljkl;; ZHAO YUNLAN.

Haha, of course the best thing in Zhao Yunlan's flat is Zhao Yunlan! :D :D :D

And mostly because what he's actually asking is censored away. xD

YES! And not just censorship, I think ZYL finds it easier to come at it this way because he still doesn't know how completely, 10,000% in Shen Wei already is. *g*

Because she doesn't want to put anyone else in danger, just herself. Which should be very relatable to many other characters, lol. :P

RIGHT???? It's every single one of them, they're ALL like that! *pets them*

but Shen Wei telling Zhao Yunlan to stay put and Zhao Yunlan going even faster is from a whole other part of the novel, not from the Hanga arc but from when they're already together. :D (And novel Shen Wei actually thought that he would listen, lol, while drama Shen Wei has no doubt that he won't. :D)

Damn, that's a fantastic catch, you're so right! And I love that drama!Shen Wei absolutely knows, yes. (Novel!Shen Wei should have known too, dammit!)

And the sock thing is probably there because Shen Wei gives Zhao Yunlan a foot massage in this scene in the novel, and I guess that's as close as they could get. xD

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH that's why he takes off his boots, of course! And why they didn't have him fix the sock! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH *screams* Thank you so much for pointing this out!

Drama-wise, my favorite parallels are Zhao Yunlan being tucked in by Shen Wei. :D

Yeah, I'm so fond of the tucked-into-bed thing too! ♥ ♥ ♥

[china_shop]

but given that Ma Gui apparently didn't know what alcohol is (LOL)

Maybe Ma Gui is just a massive nerd who never leaves his workshop? ;D

You bet that if it was someone he really didn't trust, gastritis or no, he definitely wouldn't have suggested they take him home! ♥ ♥ ♥

100%! He would have let them take him to the hospital, even though he really didn't want to go there.

And not just censorship, I think ZYL finds it easier to come at it this way because he still doesn't know how completely, 10,000% in Shen Wei already is. *g*

Ohhh, yes! THIS!!!! It's not like he's really subtle about it at all, but coming at it through recruitment gives him the plausible deniability he needs.

RIGHT???? It's every single one of them, they're ALL like that! *pets them*

Except maybe Lin Jing? (And honestly, I'm not sure about DQ, lol.) /compulsive nitpicking, sorry!! /o\

[facethestrange]

"I really love that they built it into things with the little Professor Zhou scene - the drama is so good at that stuff. This scene reminds us of Professor Zhou (who was mentioned in episode 1), introduces us to him personally and his relationship with Shen Wei, AND lays the ground for Shen Wei's reaction to alcohol. Such a little scene, and so fun to watch, and doing so much work, too! :D"

Yessss, all of this! :D The drama is amazing at adding context and connections/parallels and foreshadowing to everything. ♡♡♡ And I find it really cool that Shen Wei already knows that he shouldn't drink and that it's introduced beforehand, because in the drama that's actually a point - in the novel he doesn't pass out from the alcohol, he (consciously or unconsciously) decides to take himself out of the situation, and I guess the drunkenness is involved enough that the hospital is fooled, but otherwise it's just SW yeeting himself out of his body. (And in the Shen San story he does pass out from alcohol, but that's after an entire bottle - everyone else would too. xD)

"I could see Shen Wei learning about his reaction to alcohol very young, too, but given that Ma Gui apparently didn't know what alcohol is (LOL), it's probably more canon-compliant (as well as more fun and more time-loopy!) if it happens while Zhao Yunlan is there. :D"

Waaait, what is that about Ma Gui? xD xD I don't remember that but it sounds so funny. xD

I feel like Shen Wei was probably the most likely to learn that about himself during his first student party in modern Haixing, lmao, but throwing Zhao Yunlan in everywhere is always the most fun indeed. :D :D And for this headcanon I went with 'he has never had friends before, and he's slowly making friends now that Kunlun is there, oops, friends come with surprise alcohol'. xD

"AWWWWW! Fantastic catch, thank you! Now I'm going to headcanon that he in fact does let go and then put his arm around him again, because having him this close is giving Shen Wei FEELINGS, but Zhao Yunlan isn't steady enough without. *g*"

:D :D Ahhhhhh, I love that adfghfjdksl;; *MELTS* ♡♡♡♡♡

"Yeah, I always figured it wasn't improvised during the actual filming of the scene, but while they talked the scene through before - because as you say, it's clearly deliberately filmed like that. (I figure most "improvised" things are like that. I heard the kneeling-in-the-rain was a spontaneous reaction to rain during filming, too, but that scene, too, is clearly deliberately filmed that way. Real rain doesn't even show up well on film. *g* I love it when actors take their craft seriously and contribute things like this - and Zhu Yilong and Bai Yu very clearly put their all into Guardian. :D)"

I wish I knew which interview it was (especially since I know that I just rewatched it in November, so it could be relatively easy to pinpoint, but I may have rewatched like 80% of all their interviews on the same day xD I think it's one of Zhu Yilong's individual interviews?) but there's one where they talk about Bai Yu unexpectedly flopping his head down while Zhu Yilong tried not to break character, so it had to have been improvised in practice, but that obviously doesn't mean that any of that has made it to the final edit. (Or that it wasn't during a rehearsal, but idk if they had rehearsals in this way, especially with his fast they filmed.) I could see it either way because the way the taxi scene starts could be improvised (or not), and only later it switches to other parts that are clearly not improvised. As I said, trying to figure it out may be futile but the rewatching is 100% of the fun, hah. :D

Re: the rain, yep! I think I've only read second-hand accounts (I'm sure there's an actual interview somewhere, I just can't recall one), so idk how correct I am, but iirc it wasn't improvised per se, it was just that they were going to stop filming (idk if because of the rain or just because they were finished?) and Zhu Yilong decided that the rain made it even better and wanted to stay longer and do it this way. Which I guess does make it improvised - if the rain never happened, they wouldn't have thought of this possibility. :D

And yessss, they both always went above and beyond, it's amazing! ♡♡♡

"Looks to me like they only almost touch, but that's already fantastic, and I have no idea how I never saw it before! Thanks for pointing it out!"

:D :D Yeah, it's SO CLOSE but not quiiite, lol, but it's delightful either way. :D :D

"The bowl is steaming on the sideboard only moments before, so I don't think it needs heating up, but if it had needed it, Shen Wei was ready! :D"

I can't believe I never caught it steaming (what a wonderful excuse to rewatch :D :D) - in this part of the scene I'm always focused on how young Shen Wei looks. :D And now I'm wondering if he has kept it hot or if it's just a coincidence that he made it just before Zhao Yunlan woke up. :D

"You bet that if it was someone he really didn't trust, gastritis or no, he definitely wouldn't have suggested they take him home! ♥ ♥ ♥"

Awwwwwww, so true, this is such a great point!! ♡♡♡

"And I love that drama!Shen Wei absolutely knows, yes. (Novel!Shen Wei should have known too, dammit!)"

(Right?? He really should have, if not before than at least immediately after - iirc he's still confused and surprised that Zhao Yunlan didn't stay put even after everything goes wrong. :P And they have been together for a lot longer at that point too, like, what else would you expect from Zhao Yunlan of all people. xD)

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH that's why he takes off his boots, of course! And why they didn't have him fix the sock! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH *screams* Thank you so much for pointing this out!"

Yessssss. :D :D :D ♡♡♡

It even has an illustration of what could have been. xD :D


Though tbh I wouldn't in any way trade the drama version of this scene for that - I like it a lot better in so many ways! ♡__♡ Zhao Yunlan being so completely out of it makes everything softer to me. ♡♡♡ And in the novel he removes his own shoes, and Shen Wei removing them is one of my favorite things ever, so somehow the way they toned it down still contains all the foot touching AND makes things more intimate, not less. :D ♡♡♡ (I'd possibly take Zhao Yunlan's shameless pajamas, lmao, but I'm fine without that either. xD :D)

[china_shop]

Yayayay, you're here!!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 :D :D :D

This half episode is GLORIOUS!! MY BELOVED!! :D :D :D

The foreshadowing that Shen Wei really, really shouldn't drink even a drop of alcohol!

Haha, yes! (And awwwww, lovely ficlet!!! <333 I have a YOHE one where Shen Wei gets drunk from a kiss, lol, but he already knows at that stage.)

Zhao Yunlan waving Shen Wei off while sitting on the ground, this whole thing is so soft and heartbreaking to me, like 'I fucked up, why would he even care', and Shen Wei just LOVES HIM SO MUCH. *wibbles* ♡♡♡♡♡

Yessssss! (I don't know if I read it as "why would he even care" so much as "This on top of the books thing? I cannot face him right now!! *mortification*" And given that, the handwave is actually surprisingly chill. (Compared to, say, Xiao Guo in a similar situation, flailing madly and trying to burrow his way down a drain, lol.)

Me watching the entire taxi scene:

*HEARTS YOU AND THE SCENE AND EVERYTHING*

Zhao Yunlan's confusion when Shen Wei doesn't let him dry swallow the medicine is one of my favorite things that I always need to point out, hee

Yesss, he's so bewildered! I bet Da Qing would have just tossed him the bottle.

and the sock

This, next to the gif of the next morning, makes me want to know if ZYL's socks are on properly when he wakes up. I can't tell from the gif.

The slippers are not mismatched btw, they're intentionally printed like that - the black parts are white and vice versa. :D

Yes, I love that. It's exactly the kind of thing I would buy (minus the branding). (Says she who bought two colours of AllBirds so I could mismatch them. ;-p)

The way Shen Wei swallows when Zhao Yunlan does the hip thrust, afghfjdkskl;jkl :D :D ♡____♡

RIIIIIIIIIIGHT?!?!?! asdlkfja;ldskfjas;dlfkjad

and honestly I've never thought it could be anything other than night - it's so dark behind Zhao Yunlan?

*high fives* (I figured the umbrella was like a makeshift walking pole or something.)

Ohh, hey, your answer to the "What's Shen Wei thinking in the taxi?" question made me think he must, at least partly, be just incredibly glad to have found ZYL? Because, like, ZYL would still be curled up in a gutter, vulnerable and helpless, otherwise. SW must be thanking all the stars that he is *there* to look after him (while still being all big-picture feels, of course).

Also Shen Wei really, really wants to kiss the top of Zhao Yunlan's head. :D ♡___♡

Awwwwwwwwww! FACTS!

Asdfghfjdskljkl;; ZHAO YUNLAN. Zhao Yunlan's clothes. Zhao Yunlan's bed. :D

Hee! YES!

A whole lot of scenes in this episode are from the novel, but Shen Wei telling Zhao Yunlan to stay put and Zhao Yunlan going even faster is from a whole other part of the novel, not from the Hanga arc but from when they're already together. :D

Ohhh, that's right! Yes! <3 And omg, the foot-massage/shoe removal parallel a;lksdjf;adkslfj;askldfjas;dklfjasdlfkjadf

Also, I think the Dixing palace does have a lot of the vibe of the Netherworld. :D And the little ghostly Reaper that gets sent out. :D

Yes, so true!!

[trobadora]

I bet Da Qing would have just tossed him the bottle.

Ha, yes!

This, next to the gif of the next morning, makes me want to know if ZYL's socks are on properly when he wakes up. I can't tell from the gif.

They are! I paid attention! *g*

he must, at least partly, be just incredibly glad to have found ZYL? Because, like, ZYL would still be curled up in a gutter, vulnerable and helpless, otherwise. SW must be thanking all the stars that he is *there* to look after him

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[tehfanglyfish]

The taxi scene is just!!!! It just is. And poor Shen Wei - he is dealing with a lot there. If you think about it, before we get to this point, he's had to process Zhao Yunlan (Kunlun) not recognizing him, suspecting him, starting to move past that and flirt with him (hello cake scene!), and now he has to add in Zhao Yunlan being ill (so more worry) but also the close contact and AH! Shen Wei handles it well, I think, and he gets to be a caretaker.

Then he has to deal with the absolute disaster that is Zhao Yunlan's apartment. Honestly, I think Shen Wei's favorite detail about the apartment is that Zhao Yunlan is in it. Otherwise, he'd probably walk out and never return. (The stinky fridge scene is Shen Wei being tested in ways he'd never imagined.)

As for Zhao Yunlan's repeated attempts at recruiting Shen Wei, on the one hand Shen Wei is very knowledgeable about Dixingren (and Zhao Yunlan is suspecting he's Dixngren) plus he's helped out a lot on past cases. On the other hand, Shen Wei is hot and Zhao Yunlan is Zhao Yunlan (although I think by this point it's going deeper than just attraction.)

[trobadora]

Yeah, Shen Wei is going through a lot! Zhao Yunlan is still a long way from being Kunlun, and he's so suspicious, and he uses flirtation as a tool, and he just tried to gift him his own books, too! And then he discovers just what a disaster Zhao Yunlan is underneath it all. And yet he's also just 100% in on this version of Kunlun, even with all the differences! ♥ ♥ ♥

Shen Wei handles it well, I think, and he gets to be a caretaker.

Yes! Both in the taxi and in the flat! He's all "I CAN TAKE CARE OF YOU", and after that initial moment in the taxi, he proceeds to do just that without any further hesitating. :D

Honestly, I think Shen Wei's favorite detail about the apartment is that Zhao Yunlan is in it.

Haha, 100% truth. :D

although I think by this point it's going deeper than just attraction

Yeah, I think at this point Zhao Yunlan doesn't quite know what to do with it yet because he never expected to feel like that, but he's also 100% in already. :D

[china_shop]

The taxi scene is just!!!! It just is.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Honestly, I think Shen Wei's favorite detail about the apartment is that Zhao Yunlan is in it.

Hee! *high five*

although I think by this point it's going deeper than just attraction

100% agreed. This is a kind of "friendship"/intimacy/closeness ZYL has never known before, and he just wants more more more. :D

[facethestrange]

Always ALL THE LOVE for the taxi scene, yesssss, everything you said! ♡♡♡ It's one of my favorite scenes ever and I always love all your takes on it! :D ♡

"Honestly, I think Shen Wei's favorite detail about the apartment is that Zhao Yunlan is in it."

Lol, definitely, 100%! ♡♡♡ He gets to tuck him in and fold his clothes and watch him sleep, it more than makes up for the stinky fridge. xD