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sid_guardian2026-01-09 04:12 pm
Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 9, part 1
Welcome to 2026’s first installment 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 the post for the previous installment.
Episode 9 to 22:52
Summary
Lin Jing traces an energy surge linked to the Hallows to a northwest location that also happens to be the area Wang Zheng wants to travel to. Guo Changcheng tries his best to help and inadvertently buys a sex doll for Wang Zheng to travel in. On their way to the mountains, the SID come across Shen Wei and his students who are experiencing car trouble on their field trip. Coincidentally, they are also headed to the mountains. Shen Wei endures Zhao Yunlan fishing for information from Jiajia and using him as a pillow as they continue on to their destination. When their car gets stuck, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan get out to investigate and Zhao Yunlan not only insists that Shen Wei wear his jacket, but also wrangles him into it. As Shen Wei contemplates this development, they hear a scream back at the car and turn to hurry back.
Quotes
Zhu Hong: “I’m just practicing hypnotism. You’re so lucky to be the first guinea pig.”
Zhu Hong: “I’ve never seen [Zhao Yunlan] like this before. Why is he so keen on Professor Shen of all people?
Zhao Yunlan: “Normally I’m the one who gives the orders. This is the first time someone’s ordering me around.”
Detail
Shen Wei awkwardly adjusting Zhao Yunlan's cushion when Zhao Yunlan flops on him remains one of my favorite things.
Questions
How do you feel about the drama’s version of their journey to the mountains versus the airport meetup in the novel? What do you think Shen Wei was thinking when Zhao Yunlan’s convoy rolled up to help with the car trouble? Which Guardian character(s) would you like to go on a long-distance car ride with? What do you think Shen Wei did with the boyfriend jacket after they returned to Dragon City? What is your favorite part of this episode so far? Do you think Zhao Yunlan will become more involved in reviewing purchase orders after the whole doll incident?
(These are just meant to start discussion. Feel free to discuss whatever stood out to you in the first half of this episode.)
Here is our schedule for the current batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!
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(That being said, I would very much loved to have seen Zhao Yunlan steal a french fry from Shen Wei's fingers like he did in the novel XD)
Every time I've seen this episode, I feel so bad for Guo Changcheng. HE IS TRYING SO HARD HERE and yet...
I'm also very impressed with Lin Jing. He can build a dark energy detector AND repair a car. He contains multitudes and probably isn't paid enough.
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Yesssss. ♡♡♡ The jacket is as much about caring for Shen Wei as it is about shameless flirting and the need to touch Shen Wei 24/7 no matter what (which is what most of what he does is about xD).
"(That being said, I would very much loved to have seen Zhao Yunlan steal a french fry from Shen Wei's fingers like he did in the novel XD)"
Ahhhh! :D :D *WANTS* I forgot all about that, and yessss I need it now omg. :D :D
"Every time I've seen this episode, I feel so bad for Guo Changcheng. HE IS TRYING SO HARD HERE and yet..."
Awww! ♡ That's so true, and they're also mean to him when he's sick, which is when I feel especially bad for him.
"I'm also very impressed with Lin Jing. He can build a dark energy detector AND repair a car. He contains multitudes and probably isn't paid enough."
Right?? He also has the medical skills and equipment to diagnose the dead webnovelist a few episodes back. :D
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♥ ♥ ♥
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Yup! It's classic Zhao Yunlan caring-flirting combo and I love him for it.
they're also mean to [Guo Changcheng] when he's sick
They are and I so feel bad for him!!
He also has the medical skills and equipment to diagnose the dead webnovelist
Zhao Yunlan really does need to shut up about taking Lin Jing's bonus. Even if his salary was doubled, the man really is a steal haha!
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Hee! This made me wonder if there's something about Lin Jing's salary that gets ZYL's goat. Like, maybe Prof Ouyang negotiated Lin Jing a starting salary/budget that actually exceeds ZYL's? Lin Jing would never know, but ZYL would be very aware of it. Or maybe they have to pay Wang Zheng's salary out of the existing SID budget (because they're not allowed to officially employ a
ghostenergy being, so every time ZYL cuts LJ's bonus, the money goes to Wang Zheng. Or maybe Lin Jing's bonuses are really tiny anyway. *g*(But no, more likely it's just ZYL's only management strategy, at this stage.)
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I would very much loved to have seen Zhao Yunlan steal a french fry from Shen Wei's fingers like he did in the novel XD
Oh yes, I wouldn't turn that down AT ALL. :D
HE IS TRYING SO HARD HERE and yet...
Right? *pets him*
I'm also very impressed with Lin Jing. He can build a dark energy detector AND repair a car.
And play medic as well, as per the webnovelist case. Lin Jing can do anything! If it's remotely related to science, he knows it, apparently. *g*
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Ooh that's a good point! He does back off when Shen Wei makes it clear he needs to stop. (Though honestly it would have been suspicious if he hadn't tried to get some information, Zhao Yunlan being himself.)
Lin Jing can do anything! If it's remotely related to science, he knows it, apparently.
He deserves more love honestly XD
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Hee! He really is. Completely shameless, too. (I mean, Shen Wei cleaned his flat -- boundaries are clearly for other people! ;D)
That being said, I would very much loved to have seen Zhao Yunlan steal a french fry from Shen Wei's fingers like he did in the novel XD
Ooooh! You make a compelling point! :D
Every time I've seen this episode, I feel so bad for Guo Changcheng. HE IS TRYING SO HARD HERE and yet...
Aww! At least no one holds any of his gaffes against him for more than a few minutes. *pets him*
He can build a dark energy detector AND repair a car. He contains multitudes and probably isn't paid enough.
Yes, so true! :D
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That's part of what I love about their dynamic. They are both just so Extra where the other is concerned.
And I'm glad to see we're in agreement about the missing fry stealing scene XD
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Yes, and they both feel somewhat proprietary about each other, for different reasons. <3 <3 <3
Unanimous fry-stealing approval! ;D
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I'm looking forward to watching this half-episode tomorrow, so much good stuff in it! :D
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- Zhao Yunlan telling Wang Zheng to stop crying may or may not be a novel reference to when he literally makes her stop crying with a talisman because she's leaking energy. xD
- Idk if that's just the angle but Zhao Yunlan looks really tall in this scene, which is especially funny when you realize how smol he would look if Lin Jing stood up. xD
- Xiao Guo buying the sex doll is straight from the novel, including Zhao Yunlan telling him to do that. :D :D (I still have no idea how it was allowed in the adaptation, it's one of the more indecent things the novel has done. xD) And awww, Wang Zheng is crying the hardest when Zhao Yunlan is already helping her, idk if it's because of how much they're willing to support her or how much she's not willing/able to fully accept it (or both), but either way it's really touching. ♡♡♡
- She's so damn cuuuuute btw. :D :D
- Shen Wei with floppy bangs and a very, very unbuttoned shirt, and sort-of-visible pendant. :D
- Aw, I've never really paid attention to that before, but it looks like no one else knows that Wang Zheng is upset about all the laughing until Xiao Guo starts apologizing.
- Lol, Da Qing with the backpack on his stomach? xD (Xiao Guo has one too, but he has another one on his back. :P)
- Zhao Yunlan looks so damn good in this jacket (the only good reason to get rid of it is to give it to Shen Wei xD) and I love when he whistles. :D
- Lin Jing the Weilan shipper. xD :D
- Weilan spend so much time talking about how much they're not stalking each other, lmao, which I guess makes sense after all the stalking they have done and know about. xD :D
- Zhao Yunlan actually visibly touches Shen Wei's hand when he takes the bottle. :D ♡♡♡ And then he just goes 'if I can't be as close to Shen Wei as possible every waking second I will implode' and kicks the poor student out of the car, lmao. :D
- And Zhu Hong stealing snacks because she needs something to eat while she's jealous. :P (I never know how the comment about Shen Wei not having a wife didn't get censored into oblivion. xD The original "are you married" scene may be straight from the novel, but it could have other potential context. This? There are probably some other explanations, but they'd have to be REALLY convoluted. xD)
- Zhao Yunlan SLEEPING ON SHEN WEI againnnnnn. ♡♡♡♡♡ It's been literally a day and he already misses it so much. xD ♡♡♡ And his head is about as much on the pillow as it is on Shen Wei's actual shoulder. :D And his folded ear is so cute to me. xD (I only noticed in recently thanks to this gifset. :D)
- Shen Wei is trying to reply and Zhao Yunlan just goes "he doesn't have a cell phone", like, facts, but also he clearly has a grudge that he can't call and
sexttext Shen Wei 24/7. ;D- JACKET SHARING. ♡♡♡♡♡ And Shen Wei's
Xiao Weiwide-eyed expression! ♡♡♡ And lol, Zhao Yunlan gives away the jacket because he's totally going back to the car, and then he makes no attempt whatsoever to actually go back. xD He likes standing there with Shen Wei. :D- Jiajia clinging to Shen Wei, lol aw, Lin Jing, why do you scare her on purpose. :P
"How do you feel about the drama’s version of their journey to the mountains versus the airport meetup in the novel?"
The only thing I can think of right now is that the novel version has the equivalent of "Professor Shen's good friend" (when Zhao Yunlan says that they're neighbors), and the drama did it even earlier. xD I'm sure there are lots of differences I don't remember, but they also got to keep so many things from the novel, including the car cuddling. :D
"What do you think Shen Wei was thinking when Zhao Yunlan’s convoy rolled up to help with the car trouble?"
Something between *heart-eyes* and 'why the hell didn't you stay put' probably. xD
"Which Guardian character(s) would you like to go on a long-distance car ride with?"
Allllll of them, definitely all of them! :D :D
That said, I'd leave Weilan alone in their own car. xD"What do you think Shen Wei did with the boyfriend jacket after they returned to Dragon City?"
Waaaait, does anything canonically happen to the jacket after Zhao Yunlan smells it? I've read fics about the jacket (oh hey, fic rec: a pocketful of change by
"What is your favorite part of this episode so far?"
Zhao Yunlan sleeping on Shen Wei! ♡♡♡ And jacket sharing! ♡♡♡
"Do you think Zhao Yunlan will become more involved in reviewing purchase orders after the whole doll incident?"
Lolol, he probably should but also he probably won't, just because he's Zhao Yunlan and he'd rather deal with the fallout than do extra work upfront. xD
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Yes! You have the perfect icon for this. :D
Zhao Yunlan telling Wang Zheng to stop crying may or may not be a novel reference to when he literally makes her stop crying with a talisman because she's leaking energy. xD
Oh, good catch, I'd forgotten about that!
Idk if that's just the angle but Zhao Yunlan looks really tall in this scene, which is especially funny when you realize how smol he would look if Lin Jing stood up. xD
LOLOLOL! Lin Jing really is such a giant.
I still have no idea how it was allowed in the adaptation
Yeah, I don't understand the censors AT ALL. Their priorities are so bizarre and incomprehensible, but I guess that's part of the point with censorship; if it were predictable it'd be easier to work around it. :(
And awww, Wang Zheng is crying the hardest when Zhao Yunlan is already helping her, idk if it's because of how much they're willing to support her or how much she's not willing/able to fully accept it (or both), but either way it's really touching. ♡♡♡
I think it's because they're supporting her. She's planning to go back and probably die there, and the more they care about her and she cares about them, the harder that gets.
Aw, I've never really paid attention to that before, but it looks like no one else knows that Wang Zheng is upset about all the laughing until Xiao Guo starts apologizing.
Yeah, I noticed that too - no one seems to pick up on it at all!
Weilan spend so much time talking about how much they're not stalking each other, lmao, which I guess makes sense after all the stalking they have done and know about. xD :D
Haha, I love how you put that!
And then he just goes 'if I can't be as close to Shen Wei as possible every waking second I will implode' and kicks the poor student out of the car, lmao. :D
Not out of the car, just out of the driver's seat - during the second leg of the trip when Zhao Yunlan is driving, Jiajia and Xiao-Quan are in the back. But then after the checkpoint Zhao Yunlan wants to take a break from driving and take a nap
on Shen Wei, and Xiao-Quan gets kicked out altogether after all, so Lin Jing can drive. Poor Xiao-Quan!I never know how the comment about Shen Wei not having a wife didn't get censored into oblivion. xD The original "are you married" scene may be straight from the novel, but it could have other potential context. This? There are probably some other explanations, but they'd have to be REALLY convoluted. xD
Far be it from me to claim that it's not about Weilan, but - the (IMO not at all convoluted) explanation in context is "he's a professor at such a young age because all he does is work, no time left for a private life".
It's been literally a day and he already misses it so much. xD ♡♡♡
LOLOLOL!
And his folded ear is so cute to me. xD (I only noticed in recently thanks to this gifset. :D)
I noticed it literally JUST NOW when you pointed it out! AWWWWWWWW. :D
Waaaait, does anything canonically happen to the jacket after Zhao Yunlan smells it?
After Shen Wei smells it in the morning when he wakes up, it never turns up again. I bet Shen Wei kept it and enjoys having it!
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That's so true, yeah. (I thought for a moment that maybe the doll makes the show more straight so that makes it okay, but straight cdramas aren't allowed to have sexual content either, so I don't actually think that's the case, lol.)
"I think it's because they're supporting her. She's planning to go back and probably die there, and the more they care about her and she cares about them, the harder that gets."
AW. ♡♡♡ I can totally see that, ouch.
"Not out of the car, just out of the driver's seat - during the second leg of the trip when Zhao Yunlan is driving, Jiajia and Xiao-Quan are in the back. But then after the checkpoint Zhao Yunlan wants to take a break from driving and take a nap on Shen Wei, and Xiao-Quan gets kicked out altogether after all, so Lin Jing can drive. Poor Xiao-Quan!"
OH, thank you for this! :D (For some reason it's always difficult for me to follow who is in which car and when! Is there some kind of list somewhere? xD) Somehow it's even funnier that he doesn't kick Xiao-Quan out of the car at first and THEN later he does. xD Like, it's hilariously consistent - if Zhao Yunlan's argument is that Xiao-Quan is not an experienced driver, he couldn't just let him drive later without making it beyond obvious that it was never actually about that at all. xD
"Far be it from me to claim that it's not about Weilan, but - the (IMO not at all convoluted) explanation in context is "he's a professor at such a young age because all he does is work, no time left for a private life"."
Oh yep, this part is obvious, ITA! I meant something more meta - why Shen Wei's theoretical wife is something that Zhu Hong thinks/talks about in this way. Like, she's pissed that this guy is so interesting to Zhao Yunlan, and that's somehow made even worse by him not having a wife? Lack of free time/private life should make it better, not worse - he wouldn't have time for Zhao Yunlan either. xD (But yeah, it's also very true that the censors probably went 'eh, she's just listing random facts' and missed the implications.)
"I noticed it literally JUST NOW when you pointed it out! AWWWWWWWW. :D"
Heeeee yay, happy to share Zhao Yunlan's adorably folded ear. xD :D :D
"After Shen Wei smells it in the morning when he wakes up, it never turns up again. I bet Shen Wei kept it and enjoys having it!"
Thank you for the confirmation! :D I can't believe I've never wondered where it went, lol, I definitely want Shen Wei to have itttt. ♡♡♡
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Yes, but maybe to unstinkify it first, lol. ;D
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Yeah, though the rules about what can be shown have also tightened over the years. Back when Guardian was filming, things were still more permissive than they are now. So maybe that was their thinking at the time!
For some reason it's always difficult for me to follow who is in which car and when! Is there some kind of list somewhere?
1st leg (Dragon City to car breakdown):
Zhao Yunlan's jeep: Zhao Yunlan (driving), Da Qing (passenger seat), Wang Zheng and Zhu Hong in the back
Other SID car: Chu Shuzhi (driving), Lin Jing (passenger seat), Guo Changcheng in the back
University group car: not shown, but presumably Xiao-Quan driving since he assumes he'll drive after the breakdown
2nd leg (car breakdown to checkpoint):
Zhao Yunlan's jeep: Lin Jing (driving), Zhu Hong (passenger seat), Wang Zheng and Guo Changcheng in the back
Other SID car: not seen, but must be Chu Shuzhi and Da Qing
University group car: Zhao Yunlan (driving), Shen Wei (passenger seat), Jiajia and Xiao Quan in the back
3rd leg (checkpoint to Qingxi village):
Zhao Yunlan's jeep: not shown
Other SID car: not shown
University group car: Lin Jing (driving), Jiajia (passenger seat), Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan in the back
Somehow it's even funnier that he doesn't kick Xiao-Quan out of the car at first and THEN later he does. xD
LOL, right? :D
Though now I'm wondering who got to drive the jeep, given its two previous drivers have now abandoned it. *g*
Like, she's pissed that this guy is so interesting to Zhao Yunlan, and that's somehow made even worse by him not having a wife? Lack of free time/private life should make it better, not worse - he wouldn't have time for Zhao Yunlan either. xD
Oh yeah, I see what you mean now, that's totally true, LOL. Great catch!
lol, I definitely want Shen Wei to have itttt. ♡♡♡
Imagine if towards the end of the show, instead of that trench coat, Shen Wei had started constantly wearing this jacket!!!!
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Maybe Changcheng? He's driven it before, and it might improve his motion sickness. *g*
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Oh, I didn't know that! Whatever the reason, good for them that they got to keep this scene. :D :D
"
I KNEW this comm had absolutely everything anyone could wish for! ;D :D Thank you so much for writing it all up, that's super helpful! :D ♡♡♡
"Imagine if towards the end of the show, instead of that trench coat, Shen Wei had started constantly wearing this jacket!!!!"
Ahhhhhhhh omg! *WANTS* ♡♡♡♡♡ (He already wears what I'm sure is Zhao Yunlan's t-shirt at that point, but in the end that's just a headcanon - this specific jacket would make it 100% clear. :D :D)
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:D :D :D ♥ ♥ ♥
this specific jacket would make it 100% clear
Yes, exactly! WANT! :D
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Perfect!! :D
I'm finally on time for this one. :D I just rewatched it yesterday. :D ♡♡♡
YAYAYAY! *twirls you* :D
Aw, I've never really paid attention to that before, but it looks like no one else knows that Wang Zheng is upset about all the laughing until Xiao Guo starts apologizing.
Yes! I think ZYL immediately knows, but everyone else is distracted and oblivious. That's part of what makes ZYL so annoyed, I think.
and I love when he whistles. :D
Ahhh, somehow I missed that. Thank you so much for highlighting it!!!!! <333333
Weilan spend so much time talking about how much they're not stalking each other, lmao, which I guess makes sense after all the stalking they have done and know about. xD :D
LOLOL!!
And then he just goes 'if I can't be as close to Shen Wei as possible every waking second I will implode'
LOL, accurate!! <3 <3 <3
Shen Wei is trying to reply and Zhao Yunlan just goes "he doesn't have a cell phone", like, facts, but also he clearly has a grudge that he can't call and
sexttext Shen Wei 24/7. ;DI thought he was also claiming insider knowledge? Like, "I'm totally not stalking him, and also I have every available detail of his life at my fingertips." ;D
And lol, Zhao Yunlan gives away the jacket because he's totally going back to the car, and then he makes no attempt whatsoever to actually go back. xD
Heee! Right??!?! :D :D :D
Eeeee, thanks so much for the rec!! <33333
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I don't think there's any indication that he immediately knows? He notices quickly, but IMO his first reaction isn't connected to Wang Zheng at all. It's pure WTF over Xiao-Guo buying a sex doll without noticing.
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Heeee yay, happy to share. :D :D :D In addition to the vibe/sound of him whistling being really nice, I may be looking at his lips very closely. xD :D ♡___♡
"I thought he was also claiming insider knowledge? Like, "I'm totally not stalking him, and also I have every available detail of his life at my fingertips." ;D"
Definitely that too, lolol. :D :D
"Eeeee, thanks so much for the rec!! <33333"
♡♡♡♡♡! My pleasure! :D When I think of this jacket, I think of this fic! :D :D
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<3333333333333333
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he clearly has a grudge that he can't call and sext text Shen Wei 24/7
And honestly that's probably good for Shen Wei. Like, I get that they're both into each other and Shen Wei latched onto him in the ancient past. But I'm not sure that at this point in their relationship Shen Wei would be ready for constant bombardment of Zhao Yunlan's flirtatious energy.
I'd leave Weilan alone in their own car. xD
Honestly, probably best for everyone involved XD
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LOLOL! It would be a lot! But I feel like if anyone can handle it, SW can. *g*
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But he probably didn't end up getting a cell phone because his job would suffer. ;Dno subject
Thank youuu, it was made by
"And honestly that's probably good for Shen Wei. Like, I get that they're both into each other and Shen Wei latched onto him in the ancient past. But I'm not sure that at this point in their relationship Shen Wei would be ready for constant bombardment of Zhao Yunlan's flirtatious energy."
Lolol, Shen Wei may at least need some time to do his actual job, yeah. xD :D (Well, so does Zhao Yunlan, but Zhao Yunlan doesn't care - texting Shen Wei is definitely more enticing than work. ;D :D)
"Honestly, probably best for everyone involved XD"
Lmao rightttt, let them do whatever they feel like doing when it's just the two of them in the car - banter, cuddle, other things, not my business. ;D :D :D
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YThank you for hosting! ♥
Zhao Yunlan: "Normally I'm the one who gives the orders. This is the first time someone's ordering me around."
Hee! That stood out to me too, this time. I wonder if it's a reference to the top/bottom thing in the novel?
Shen Wei awkwardly adjusting Zhao Yunlan's cushion when Zhao Yunlan flops on him remains one of my favorite things.
Yes! And Shen Wei has such great expressions through that whole scene, I love it. :D
How do you feel about the drama's version of their journey to the mountains versus the airport meetup in the novel?
I like the meeting-on-the-road thing better, with Zhao Yunlan commandeering the car, and sleeping on Shen Wei, and everything! It's a more intimate setting, which I always approve of.
What do you think Shen Wei was thinking when Zhao Yunlan's convoy rolled up to help with the car trouble?
"I knew he wouldn't stay in the city, but really? He's here already?" mixed with "Zhao Yunlan ♥ ♥ ♥" :D
Which Guardian character(s) would you like to go on a long-distance car ride with?
Idk, which ones would let me drive? I get carsick worse than Xiao-Guo if I'm not the one driving. So I'll pick Wang Zheng because I like her and I really don't think she can't drive. *g*
What do you think Shen Wei did with the boyfriend jacket after they returned to Dragon City?
Hung it on his coat rack and then smiled every time he came past it?
What is your favorite part of this episode so far?
The verbal fencing between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan, as described by
Do you think Zhao Yunlan will become more involved in reviewing purchase orders after the whole doll incident?
No, he'll order Lao-Chu to do it. *g*
On to my notes:
But really, this whole fiasco is at least half ZYL's fault - he's the one who doesn't even let Xiao-Guo read the description in full before he's pushing him to buy the doll right now! Xiao-Guo even calls him on that later. Go, Xiao-Guo!
Solo's subs: "He's very young to be appointed Professor at Dragon City Uni and he's an all-rounder second only to Professor Ouyang."
The Chinese is a bit different in the second part: 当年有个全才欧阳贞 再来应该就是他了- Google translate renders it fairly literally as "Back then there was the all-rounder Ouyang Zhen; the next one should be him." So Lin Jing sees Shen Wei as his own mentor's successor!
Solo's subs: "Everything is ready now. I'll wait for you to come and die."
Viki subs: "Everything is well prepared. Just waiting for you to come and die."
This baffled me because who's supposed to die? Zhu Jiu is after the Awl, not after murder. But what he actually says in Chinese is, "The stove is already lit; we're just waiting for the rice to be put in the pot." 等米下锅 is an idiom, but the metaphor is easily understood in English. There's no specific meaning about death as far as I can tell! He's just waiting for his plans to come to fruition.
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I think it has to be, doesn't it? (And also, just, he is the boss. He's not used to having people around with the team who he doesn't outrank.)
It's a more intimate setting, which I always approve of.
Ha, snap! I said exactly the same thing. <3
The verbal fencing between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan, as described by [personal profile] china_shop in this post.
Haha, I linked to that, too. <3 <3 <3
Also, Shen Wei's map looks to be the same one again that Zhu Jiu had last episode and that will turn up again later when Chu Shuzhi explains his research.
Ooh, good spotting! I think it might be on the evidence board at the SID at some point, too.
he calls him on it the moment Jiajia is gone. (But hands him the water bottle at the same time. No hard feelings!)
Yes, I think SW is enjoying the sparring and playful cat-and-mouse games, isn't he?
I always notice that during the second leg of the trip, Chu Shuzhi and Da Qing have a car to themselves. I wonder what that's like!
Haha, now I'm imagining them singing along to classic pop or something. ;D
I always wonder about why there's a checkpoint on the road into the mountains. The guards might only be there because of the earthquake, but the gate looks to be a permanent installation.
Oh, good point. I meant to pay attention to whether the road really was as much of a mess as that scene implied. I didn't notice any major issues, just the pothole Lin Jing drove into.
There's no specific meaning about death as far as I can tell! He's just waiting for his plans to come to fruition.
Oh cool, thank you! *edits my subs file*
Zhao Yunlan wondering why he keeps getting colds!
While carrying the Sundial around in his breast pocket!
What Shen Wei senses in the mountains is presumably the youchu?
Oh yes, it must be.
(But I always notice that Zhao Yunlan wears a jacket under his jacket, LOL. Do people do that?)
One for warmth, one for rainproofness? Makes sense to me.
Knocking out the village head, LOL! Lin Jing spooked himself a bit with his own ghost stories, didn't he?
He totally did. Ha, serves him right. *noogies him* :D
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Yeah, I think so too! (And yep, that's the mundane, drama-only explanation. *g*)
Ha, snap! I said exactly the same thing. <3
*HIGH FIVES*
Ooh, good spotting! I think it might be on the evidence board at the SID at some point, too.
Ooh, I'll need to keep an eye out for that.
Yes, I think SW is enjoying the sparring and playful cat-and-mouse games, isn't he?
Yeah, and I think the water bottle moment is there to make clear this is friendly sparring.
Haha, now I'm imagining them singing along to classic pop or something. ;D
LOLOLOL!
I meant to pay attention to whether the road really was as much of a mess as that scene implied. I didn't notice any major issues, just the pothole Lin Jing drove into.
There's a lot of fog around and we don't see that much of the road, but yeah, I didn't notice anything either.
One for warmth, one for rainproofness? Makes sense to me.
Interesting! If it were purely a raincoat I'd get it, but the North Face jacket doesn't look like that to me at all. I've never seen that kind of combo in real life.
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I wonder if it's a reference to the top/bottom thing in the novel?
I was wondering that too.
Shen Wei has such great expressions through that whole scene
YES!!! I don't know how many times I've looked at that scene either watching or in gif sets just to see his expressions. They're excellent.
Hung it on his coat rack and then smiled every time he came past it?
Aww... Now I can see the smile in my mind and this is making me smile too.
Lin Jing is a true renaissance man, on top of everything else he's a car mechanic too!
So. Many. Skills.
I always notice that during the second leg of the trip, Chu Shuzhi and Da Qing have a car to themselves. I wonder what that's like!
Honestly, I could see it as a quiet ride. Chu Shuzhi is often reserved and Da Qing is a cat. I didn't notice that detail during my rewatch, so I can't remember who is driving, but if Da Qing isn't behind the wheel, I could see him settling in for a nap.
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Aww... Now I can see the smile in my mind and this is making me smile too.
:D :D :D
I can't remember who is driving, but if Da Qing isn't behind the wheel, I could see him settling in for a nap.
Chu Shuzhi was driving one of the cars. But with just the two of them, Da Qing would make him drive either way! Yeah, napping all the way, that makes sense. :D
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OMG LOL, this has never occurred to me, but it must be the case! xD :D :D As much as I could do without this part of the novel
let them both switch xD, I absolutely love it here - it's SO SNEAKY, no censorship would ever catch this. :D :D"I like the meeting-on-the-road thing better, with Zhao Yunlan commandeering the car, and sleeping on Shen Wei, and everything! It's a more intimate setting, which I always approve of."
There's some amount of car intimacy in the novel too, which is what the drama grabbed and built on really gloriously. :D (They take a plane first, but then they also do a lot of driving.) I think the earlobe quote that I was all heart-eyes about is from this part of the story, lol, but I'm gonna need to check because there are obviously other car scenes too. xD (Though there's no direct equivalent of the taxi scene iirc, so the drama went above and beyond there too! ♡♡♡)
Yep, it is. :D "It occurred to Zhao Yunlan that he could try making another move. He reached over to gently smooth out a caught corner of Shen Wei’s collar. When his curled finger grazed the tender skin just below Shen Wei’s earlobe, it could have been unintentional."
It's right at the beginning of the drive too, lol, this man has no chill. And obviously the jacket sharing happens during the drive too. :D
""I knew he wouldn't stay in the city, but really? He's here already?" mixed with "Zhao Yunlan ♥ ♥ ♥" :D"
*high five* xD MTE! :D :D :D
"Idk, which ones would let me drive? I get carsick worse than Xiao-Guo if I'm not the one driving."
OH ouch! *HUGS* I feel like everyone would let you drive if they knew that!! :)
Unless Zhao Yunlan had another 'get rid of the driver to get closer to Shen Wei' plan, then idk. ;D ;D"Hung it on his coat rack and then smiled every time he came past it?"
Awwwww!! :D ♡♡♡
"No, he'll order Lao-Chu to do it. *g*"
Lolol aw, poor Xiao-Guo would have to tell Lao-Chu what the doll was. xD xD
"But really, this whole fiasco is at least half ZYL's fault - he's the one who doesn't even let Xiao-Guo read the description in full before he's pushing him to buy the doll right now! Xiao-Guo even calls him on that later. Go, Xiao-Guo!"
Oh, absolutely - it's mostly Zhao Yunlan's fault, I'd say! Well, at least the novel makes it super clear (in the drama it's more like 50/50?):
"Guo Changcheng made an affirmative sound and was about to click Buy when his eyes fell on the shop name. It was a sex toy store.
The pure little nerd turned crimson, stammering into the phone. “D-Director Zhao… This… This is a little…”
“Don’t worry if it’s a little expensive,” Zhao Yunlan said. “Just remember to get a receipt. Okay, I can’t talk anymore. Gotta go. Don’t waste time!”
He hung up, leaving no room for argument."
(And as clear as it is that it's novel!ZYL's fault, his first reaction is exactly the same as in the drama because he has no self-awareness. xD xD "Guo Changcheng, is that a head or a chamber pot on your neck?!")
"Shen Wei with his just-showered floppy fringe, his open buttons and the pendant string showing! I love this whole scene."
Saaaame. :D :D (And I love it so much that everyone's headcanon seems to be that he just showered. :D)
"Also, last episode Shen Wei was worrying about Zhao Yunlan leaving Dragon City, and now he's worrying about something happening to Zhao Yunlan in the city while Shen Wei is away, awww!"
Ikrrrr, he's just worried when Zhao Yunlan is not close enough, no matter the configuration. :D ♡♡♡
"Until Xiao-Guo apologises to Wang Zheng, no one seems to realise how upset she is about the doll. :("
Yep, I noticed that too! Btw I always have a bit of a "chicken or egg" question about this scene - would she be so upset about the doll itself even if they weren't laughing so much about her new body? Like, is the doll inherently terrible, or is it only terrible to be the butt of all the jokes? (But if this follows the novel then it definitely is the doll itself - the scene is slightly different, and Wang Zheng is not around for most of the laughing.)
"I wonder where Zhao Yunlan got the second car. It's got normal number plates, so it's not an official one."
Hah, they're wondering in-world too, and he's not telling. xD
"Wang Zheng is in the doll when she comes out of the SID and goes to the car, but is shown as herself in the car. Maybe glass blocks whatever it is that's destructive to energy beings?"
I think that's the case, since she can work at the SID without any special protection from the daylight? The windows aren't as transparent as car windows, but some light shines through and she's okay, while in the novel during the day she needs to go downstairs where there are no windows.
"Lin Jing is a true renaissance man, on top of everything else he's a car mechanic too!"
I'm loving the Lin Jing appreciation in this post - damn right, he's good at his job, and at any random job anyone throws at him too! xD
"I always notice that during the second leg of the trip, Chu Shuzhi and Da Qing have a car to themselves. I wonder what that's like!"
This is such a delightful conclusion of having analyzed where everyone is, hee (thanks for that again! :D), and I totally want to see that too, but also it's probably pretty boring and no one has said anything. xD Even if DQ tried to talk at the beginning, it still didn't lead anywhere. xD
"The Chinese is a bit different in the second part: 当年有个全才欧阳贞 再来应该就是他了- Google translate renders it fairly literally as "Back then there was the all-rounder Ouyang Zhen; the next one should be him." So Lin Jing sees Shen Wei as his own mentor's successor!"
!!! Asdfghfjdksljkl; one more piece of evidence on the 'Professor Ouyang in Shennong' pile!! xD Thank you for this! :D :D
"I always wonder about why there's a checkpoint on the road into the mountains. The guards might only be there because of the earthquake, but the gate looks to be a permanent installation."
Such a good question! I kinda just went 'it's probably a bridge or a city gate or something' every time I watched it, but now I looked at it again and it's clearly not, lol, I have no idea what it's there for either.
"Zhao Yunlan's dramatics with the countdown - he's lucky Lang-ge is so punctual, LOL!"
Lol, I don't even pretend to understand how this worked - they are also really punctual themselves, considering the whole thing with Shen Wei's broken car. xD
"Zhu Jiu's speechifying and trying to stir up the youchu - how is Zhu Jiu he controlling them so they don't attack him? I have no idea."
Another fantastic question! In this universe no one is inherently scary to the Youchu (like the Kings of the Gui are in the novel), there has to be some actual reason.
"This baffled me because who's supposed to die? Zhu Jiu is after the Awl, not after murder. But what he actually says in Chinese is, "The stove is already lit; we're just waiting for the rice to be put in the pot." 等米下锅 is an idiom, but the metaphor is easily understood in English. There's no specific meaning about death as far as I can tell! He's just waiting for his plans to come to fruition."
Oh neat, thank you! I didn't give it any thought because he wouldn't mind killing the Envoy. :P
"Zhao Yunlan wondering why he keeps getting colds! And sleeping on Shen Wei, AWWWWW. :D :D :D"
For some reason it's this comment that just made me realize how sneaky this scene was - we are still meant to think that he's getting colds because of Shen Wei, like in the novel! (AWWWWW indeed, and I'm so glad that this is not the case in this universe. :D ♡♡♡)
"Zhao Yunlan insisting on putting his jacket on Shen Wei! Shen Wei taking Zhao Yunlan's arm when they rush back after Jiajia screams! ♥ ♥ ♥"
♡♡♡♡♡! INDEED. :D ♡♡♡
"But I always notice that Zhao Yunlan wears a jacket under his jacket, LOL. Do people do that?"
This kind of layering doesn't look unusual to me, though the weather confuses me - at the beginning when it's really hot and he's already wearing the two jackets, why doesn't he take one of them off? xD
"When Zhao Yunlan says, "Not a person; not a ghost; only one possibility left" - what the hell does he mean? I have no idea ..."
My subs say "human" and I didn't pay attention to the original, so I thought it was Dixingren, but it clearly says "person", and now I have no idea either! If it's another novel leftover, it would probably be Yao (or gods, idk?), but the drama Yashou are people too.
"Knocking out the village head, LOL! Lin Jing spooked himself a bit with his own ghost stories, didn't he?"
Lolol! He's so brave and protective tho. xD xD
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let them both switch xD, I absolutely love it here - it's SO SNEAKY, no censorship would ever catch this. :D :DHee! Yeah, great point. They were so sneaky in getting so many things into the drama! :D
There's some amount of car intimacy in the novel too, which is what the drama grabbed and built on really gloriously. :D (They take a plane first, but then they also do a lot of driving.)
True, but skipping the less-intimacy part definitely makes it better for me. *g*
Thanks for finding the earlobe quote, I had completely forgotten about that!
*high five* xD MTE! :D :D :D
*high five*
Unless Zhao Yunlan had another 'get rid of the driver to get closer to Shen Wei' plan, then idk. ;D ;D
I'm sure he could be convinced to get closer to Shen Wei in the back seat instead. *g*
Well, at least the novel makes it super clear (in the drama it's more like 50/50?)
Oh wow, I had entirely forgotten that, you're right, it's even MORE Zhao Yunlan's fault there! *headdesk*
And I love it so much that everyone's headcanon seems to be that he just showered. :D
Otherwise we'd have to believe he randomly changed his hair style for one scene only. *g* And it looks so flat! Really, the second someone suggested he must have just showered, everyone went, "headcanon accepted." :D
Ikrrrr, he's just worried when Zhao Yunlan is not close enough, no matter the configuration. :D ♡♡♡
There's a solution to that ... :D
would she be so upset about the doll itself even if they weren't laughing so much about her new body?
I think she would be. It's pretty icky, being forced to inhabit a sex doll.
Hah, they're wondering in-world too, and he's not telling. xD
LOL, too true, but it only makes me more curious!
I think that's the case, since she can work at the SID without any special protection from the daylight? The windows aren't as transparent as car windows, but some light shines through and she's okay, while in the novel during the day she needs to go downstairs where there are no windows.
That's a great point about the windows and the novel, thanks!
Asdfghfjdksljkl; one more piece of evidence on the 'Professor Ouyang in Shennong' pile!! xD
I'm still all !!!!!! over the Professor Ouyang/Shennong connection too! Definitely not something I'd have EVER seen coming, OMG.
For some reason it's this comment that just made me realize how sneaky this scene was - we are still meant to think that he's getting colds because of Shen Wei, like in the novel!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
You're right, that's totally the red herring here! I didn't even think of it, I'm too aware of him carrying the Sundial. *g*
And in the drama's context, it's such a great lead-up to the whole black energy corruption stuff later! Another little moment that does a LOT of work. :D
at the beginning when it's really hot and he's already wearing the two jackets, why doesn't he take one of them off? xD
Oh yeah, great point! OMG, how is he not melting?!
If it's another novel leftover, it would probably be Yao (or gods, idk?), but the drama Yashou are people too.
I think it has to be youchu, but I have zero idea how Zhao Yunlan would have arrived at that conclusion ...
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Heeee, I went back to the fry scene (which I wouldn't have remembered without
They're also making heart-eyes over chicken nuggets. xD "Shen Wei had just taken a chicken nugget, and Zhao Yunlan was already holding the dipping sauce in easy reach. Even from this distance, [Zhu Hong] could see the softness in his gaze."
(But since this scene is not in the drama either way, ITA that the fewer random strangers around, the better. :D)
"I'm sure he could be convinced to get closer to Shen Wei in the back seat instead. *g*"
Lolol, 100%. :D :D Sleeping on Shen Wei is a lot better than driving. xD
"There's a solution to that ... :D"
Hah, they have accidentally stumbled upon the solution, no stalking necessary
this time- just follow each other at all times and no one needs to worry. :D :D"I think she would be. It's pretty icky, being forced to inhabit a sex doll."
It's a new doll, so if they dressed it and treated it with respect from the beginning, it would basically be the same as any other doll? But yeah, I also think she would be upset regardless, if only because she's from a different time.
"I'm still all !!!!!! over the Professor Ouyang/Shennong connection too! Definitely not something I'd have EVER seen coming, OMG."
Right??? xD And with every new random scene it's only getting more obvious. :D
"And in the drama's context, it's such a great lead-up to the whole black energy corruption stuff later! Another little moment that does a LOT of work. :D"
Yessssss! Zhao Yunlan's health is deteriorating in the drama too, but it's because he can't stop touching the Hallows, not because he can't stop touching Shen Wei. xD :D (I LOVE how all of this got adapted, with Shen Wei also sharing his energy with Zhao Yunlan but completely differently, and with the blidness arc and the Sundial's power being directly included in this storyline when it the novel they're not - SO intricate and clever!)
"OMG, how is he not melting?!"
Lolol, I guess Zhao Yunlan agrees with me that he looks good af in this jacket and the only valid reason to take it off is to give it to Shen Wei. ;D He could have removed the inner one when it was so hot though, lol, but hey, maybe he did. :P
"I think it has to be youchu, but I have zero idea how Zhao Yunlan would have arrived at that conclusion ..."
Ooohh, from the bear conversation? Then again, how would he know it's the only other option - he has only just found out that the Youchu are a thing, for all he knows there may be lots of other beings he hasn't heard of. xD
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It was made to fulfil the function of a sex doll, and it's not like you can't tell what it is by looking at it. I think most people wouldn't want to be stuffed into that body! Regardless of anyone else's reactions.
I LOVE how all of this got adapted, with Shen Wei also sharing his energy with Zhao Yunlan but completely differently, and with the blidness arc and the Sundial's power being directly included in this storyline when it the novel they're not - SO intricate and clever!
Yes! All of this! I love it so. :D
he has only just found out that the Youchu are a thing
No, he already knew - when Da Qing suggests youchu, it's Zhao Yunlan who talks about the youchu attack that the Envoy drove back some time ago. But he didn't know about energy beings until Da Qing explained them in the flashback, so the point stands - how would he know what else there might be out there?
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I'll start with my notes.
* LOL, I love that Lin Jing is totally baffled by the Sundial but nonetheless 100% confident he can decipher its signal. :D
* ZYL on the phone to GCC: "In a couple of days..." -- I never noticed that before! So there *is* a small time gap there. (I set a fic there, so that makes me happy.)
* I'm not a fan of Shen Wei's floppy fringe.
* If Shen Wei is worried about Zhao Yunlan staying safe, obviously he should just keep him close. It's only logical. ;-p
* Zhu Hong rudely hypnotising delivery guys who are just doing their jobs, and later stealing GCC's snacks. That minx! <3
* I really like how ZYL handles the sex doll situation. I think it's pretty clear that his immediate and foremost concern is for Wang Zheng's feelings and dignity (it's such a humiliating situation for her, and super workplace-inappropriate!), and he expresses that by first yelling at GCC, then yelling at the others to make them stop goofing around. Then he apologises to Wang Zheng himself and tries to put things on a practical footing. Very leader. Good. ♥
* I also love ZYL throwing CSZ the car keys with no warning, and CSZ catching them. ♥
* I've flailed about the car breakdown scene before. Love that you can see the pendant through Shen Wei's top. Love the "who's stalking who" conversation. Love SW's expression when deciding how to introduce ZYL to Jiajia. And I always, ALWAYS laugh at Shen Wei's expression when Jiajia spills the beans about their route -- he SO CLEARLY wants to facepalm -- and then making up an excuse to send her back to the car. <3 <3 <3
* OMG, I feel so much for Xiao-Quan. Usurped by ZYL!! (I wrote fic.) And then after that, ZYL is all, "Lin Jing, you drive, I'll rest," rather than returning the driver's seat to its rightful occupant. OUTRAGEOUS! :D
* Oh hey, I never noticed before that LJ says Professor Ouyang was a prodigy like Shen Wei. Huh.
* Love that ZYL pre-arranged entry through the roadblock -- it's great when he's capable and organised. (How were Shen Wei and co planning to get through?)
* Zhu Jiu is not dressed for the mountains, lol.
* The napping!! The jacket!! ZYL has totally decided to just claim Shen Wei like a cat. <3 <3 <3
* I always love Jiajia hiding behind Shen Wei when Lin Jing scares her with ghost stories. <3
* And then Lin Jing randomly just knocks some guy out, unprovoked. Oh dear! The SID is FULL of chaos gremlins. :D
How do you feel about the drama’s version of their journey to the mountains versus the airport meetup in the novel?
I love it. It's more intimate than a busy airport would be, and I like all the different combos of people in different cars. <3 <3 <3
What do you think Shen Wei was thinking when Zhao Yunlan’s convoy rolled up to help with the car trouble?
Ha, I don't even know. "Dammit, I knew he wouldn't listen!"? ;D
Which Guardian character(s) would you like to go on a long-distance car ride with?
Chu Shuzhi. He can do all the driving, and I'll just stare quietly out the window and not have to make conversation. :-)
What do you think Shen Wei did with the boyfriend jacket after they returned to Dragon City?
Kept it forever!
What is your favorite part of this episode so far?
Shen Wei wanting to facepalm when Jiajia tells ZYL where they're going.
Do you think Zhao Yunlan will become more involved in reviewing purchase orders after the whole doll incident?
Haha, nope. He wants his team to do better, rather than himself to have to do any paperwork. ;D
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Yes, great catch! Presumably they need the time to organise the trip.
I'm not a fan of Shen Wei's floppy fringe.
I'm not a fan of that look either, but I love that we get this just-showered look anyway. :D
If Shen Wei is worried about Zhao Yunlan staying safe, obviously he should just keep him close. It's only logical. ;-p
LOLOLOL, truth!
And then after that, ZYL is all, "Lin Jing, you drive, I'll rest," rather than returning the driver's seat to its rightful occupant. OUTRAGEOUS! :D
RIGHT???? That bit's the worst! poor Xiao-Quan!
Love that ZYL pre-arranged entry through the roadblock -- it's great when he's capable and organised. (How were Shen Wei and co planning to get through?)
I assumed they'd arranged entry via the university. But with ZYL of course it's much smoother.
ZYL has totally decided to just claim Shen Wei like a cat. <3 <3 <3
Hee! :D
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Borrow the car, etc, yeah. Poor Wang Zheng having to wait, though.
> I assumed they'd arranged entry via the university.
Maybe. I feel like in the novel SW's party weren't super well-prepared, but there's no evidence one way or the other in the drama, so we can fix it if we want. :-)
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I love that Lin Jing is totally baffled by the Sundial but nonetheless 100% confident he can decipher its signal.
As we learn later in the episode, he can also repair cars. So considering all of his skills, I imagine his confidence is very high. But yes, that's an excellent catch.
I'm not a fan of Shen Wei's floppy fringe.
I am all for people doing what makes them happy when it comes to their hair. But also... not my jam either.
I also love ZYL throwing CSZ the car keys with no warning, and CSZ catching them
Good catch! (On your part, but also his.) Also THE TRUST in letting Chu Shuzhi drive his car.
It's more intimate than a busy airport would be
AGREED!
Chu Shuzhi. He can do all the driving, and I'll just stare quietly out the window and not have to make conversation
Excellent point. On trips like that there comes at point (at least for me) where I have made all the small talk I'm capable of. Chu Shuzhi wouldn't mind. In fact, he'd probably prefer it if I didn't try in the first place.
He wants his team to do better, rather than himself to have to do any paperwork
And in all honesty, after the sex doll mix up, I could see everyone being extra cautious with their future purchases.
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So glad you're enjoying it too! :D :D :D
> I am all for people doing what makes them happy when it comes to their hair. But also... not my jam either.
Haha, yes exactly.
> On trips like that there comes at point (at least for me) where I have made all the small talk I'm capable of. Chu Shuzhi wouldn't mind. In fact, he'd probably prefer it if I didn't try in the first place.
Yes, this! <3
> And in all honesty, after the sex doll mix up, I could see everyone being extra cautious with their future purchases.
Ha, true. GCC would get CSZ to check everything, until CSZ was tearing his hair out. Hee!