I apologise in advance for the length of this comment! I love this scene so much!!
1. Why does Zhao Yunlan want Shen Wei to officially join SID? What’s wrong with being an on-call unofficial consultant?
Zhao Yunlan first tried to recruit Shen Wei after he rescued him from the mugging. Part of that was that Shen Wei obviously has a lot of useful knowledge, and Zhao Yunlan wants to ensure ready access to it, but I think it's mostly what he says in episode 10, in the Hanga caves: "All the people at 4 Guangming Road are mine." He protects his people, and he wants to protect Shen Wei, especially since Shen Wei keeps turning up in dangerous situations.
I think by the time this scene happens, that impulse has solidified: whoever Shen Wei is, Zhao Yunlan wants to keep him close and protect him as well as he can. So his sneakily trying to recruit him as "compensation" has an element of "nothing has changed, I still see you as the same person." When that's unacceptable, he explicitly recruits the Envoy, and Shen Wei relents.
2. Why doesn’t Shen Wei want to join SID? I can’t really divorce this scene from the rest of ep 14, especially the drive to Haixing Inspectorate.
Partly, he was trying to handle things on his own to keep Zhao Yunlan and the SID safe, trying to cut danger off at its source and/or draw its fire. But also, I think it's that if Shen Wei had joined the SID as Professor Shen, he would have been subordinate to the SID's chief, and the Envoy cannot be subordinate to anyone, even nominally. Being part of the SID is something the Dixing government and population might rightly baulk at, if they knew. He's their Envoy, not part of Haixing law enforcement!
Plus, the more time he spends with Zhao Yunlan, the harder it is to hide his identity and other secrets. And it's probably a bit painful to be around Zhao Yunlan, given how gauche and openly anti-Dixing he is to start with, and how very different their dynamic is compared to Shen Wei's relationship with Kunlun. (I was just rereading comments on this post and went, wow, I disagree with this thing I said. Sorry for the very belated edit. :-)
Also: some more reasons Shen Wei doesn't want to join the SID.
1. As soon as the chancellor hears Professor Shen has taken the position, he regretfully tells him he has to choose one role or the other. Shen Wei doesn't want to have to choose.
2. Shen Wei expresses concern later on in the car that it will change the way the SID team relates to him, if they learn his identity, and he doesn't want that. And will them knowing lead to word getting out to others in Dragon City?
So I think he might be apprehensive about what this unmasking will mean for his life as Professor Shen? But then again, I don't think that's at the top of his mind at this particular point/in this scene. :)
3. Why is Shen Wei so apprehensive in this scene?
Like I said above, I don't read him as apprehensive. I think he's having a lot of feelings -- smarting pride and irritation at the gloating, alarm at the risks Zhao Yunlan is prepared to take, longing for the relationship they had long ago, wondering what their relationship will be like going forward and how Zhao Yunlan will treat him now he knows, tiredness (he might still be weakened from overextending himself earlier). And yeah, I think he's strategising about what Zhao Yunlan now knows versus what Shen Wei still has to keep hidden.
I really love the moment when Shen Wei turns the tables on Zhao Yunlan, when he says, "Who says I can't [erase your memories]?" I love that he's challenging Zhao Yunlan directly and putting him in his place, and that little jut of his chin (which I have maybe watched a couple of dozen times)! And then he immediately backs off. He doesn't want Zhao Yunlan to be afraid of him -- but he won't be teased or gloated at either.
And Zhao Yunlan gets the message and offers a real, fairly formal apology after that.
4. Why is it the last appeal that works? Shen Wei won’t join SID for friendship, he won’t join for guilt, he won’t even do it for the sake of Zhao Yunlan’s puppy eyes.
When Zhao Yunlan says, "Fine, I won't push you to answer. But I was fooled by you for so long, and my heart hurts. I will feel so upset unless I get compensation." (orig subs, tidied a little) I think Zhao Yunlan is somewhat sincere. He does feel like an idiot for not working it out earlier, and hurt that Shen Wei has lied to him for so long. But he's hiding that sincerity behind the form of a request for compensation.
Shen Wei hears the sincerity and, faced with a request for compensation, is immediately taken back to Kunlun asking him to take off his mask and smile -- a personal request that changed Shen Wei's whole life. So he becomes a mess of emotions -- is this where it starts for them? What will Zhao Yunlan ask for? He says "What do you want?" hoping it will be something real and personal between them.
And then Zhao Yunlan leans in and says, "Promise me something. Shen Wei, professor of the Biological Engineering Department, the Black-Cloaked Envoy, for me... please join the SID."
It starts so personal, and then at the last moment it becomes a trick, Zhao Yunlan claiming something work-related (and something which Shen Wei has already flatly refused twice). I think it feels to Shen Wei like Zhao Yunlan is mocking his emotions, mocking their relationship (even though, logically, Zhao Yunlan doesn't really know about their relationship). So he reacts angrily, and Zhao Yunlan instantly recants, says he was joking and asks again, making it clear they will be partners.
By now Shen Wei has realised he can keep the SID safer by working with them, they can be more effective together. And he won't deny a genuine request for compensation. So when Zhao Yunlan repeats the request with due respect and courtesy, Shen Wei agrees. That's my reading of it.
Because of the time loop. He has to keep Zhao Yunlan safe so that Zhao Yunlan can become Kunlun, and anything he says might influence or change the future... which would change the past. So he's constantly walking that tightrope.
6. How conscious is Zhao Yunlan in his manipulations? Is it just the detective in him? He’s not subtle here: what is Shen Wei thinking, comparing him to Kunlun?
I think a lot of Zhao Yunlan's behaviour is instinctive. He can see that Shen Wei is having feelings, but he doesn't know why or what they're about, so he tries out different approaches to see what happens, including using flirting like sonar, weaponising it. He is attracted to Shen Wei, but I don't think that's what his flirting here is about -- not when he's just revealed the truth that Shen Wei is the Envoy. Thankfully, he's smart enough to see when his strategy isn't working, regroup and try something else.
His other attempts to recruit Shen Wei were when Shen Wei was giving him first aid after the attempted mugging, and after Shen Wei had cleaned his flat (nominally in return for being saved from the mugging). Zhao Yunlan didn't really have the upper hand in either of those instances -- didn't have any leverage. Now he thinks he has leverage, he can't not use it!
Other things about this scene:
1. Zhao Yunlan has just seen Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi skipping off into the night together, so he's just discovered the Envoy isn't as implacable as he seems -- but he doesn't know if Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi were a one-off situation (as a kind of gift to the SID, who clearly felt for the two of them?) or a pattern. He's still figuring the Envoy and Shen Wei out.
2. Otoh, he does say "you take care of everything and sometimes get softhearted." (Viki subs.) And it must be good for Shen Wei to hear that framed approvingly and not as a reproach that he's let a potentially dangerous Dixingren stay in Haixing. Shen Wei made the right call in letting Zhao Yunlan see those two. Zhao Yunlan has come a long way!
3. I adooore the look Shen Wei gives Zhao Yunlan in Minister Gao's office after the flashback! Minister Gao has asked how Zhao Yunlan persuaded Shen Wei to join the SID, cue flashback, and then Shen Wei gives Zhao Yunlan this dry look that makes Zhao Yunlan stutter, "Maybe it's because I'm charming." Which makes Shen Wei scoff, and Minister Gao call him glib. HEE!
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1. Why does Zhao Yunlan want Shen Wei to officially join SID? What’s wrong with being an on-call unofficial consultant?
Zhao Yunlan first tried to recruit Shen Wei after he rescued him from the mugging. Part of that was that Shen Wei obviously has a lot of useful knowledge, and Zhao Yunlan wants to ensure ready access to it, but I think it's mostly what he says in episode 10, in the Hanga caves: "All the people at 4 Guangming Road are mine." He protects his people, and he wants to protect Shen Wei, especially since Shen Wei keeps turning up in dangerous situations.
I think by the time this scene happens, that impulse has solidified: whoever Shen Wei is, Zhao Yunlan wants to keep him close and protect him as well as he can. So his sneakily trying to recruit him as "compensation" has an element of "nothing has changed, I still see you as the same person." When that's unacceptable, he explicitly recruits the Envoy, and Shen Wei relents.
2. Why doesn’t Shen Wei want to join SID? I can’t really divorce this scene from the rest of ep 14, especially the drive to Haixing Inspectorate.
Partly, he was trying to handle things on his own to keep Zhao Yunlan and the SID safe, trying to cut danger off at its source and/or draw its fire. But also, I think it's that if Shen Wei had joined the SID as Professor Shen, he would have been subordinate to the SID's chief, and the Envoy cannot be subordinate to anyone, even nominally. Being part of the SID is something the Dixing government and population might rightly baulk at, if they knew. He's their Envoy, not part of Haixing law enforcement!
Plus, the more time he spends with Zhao Yunlan, the harder it is to hide his identity and other secrets. And it's probably a bit painful to be around Zhao Yunlan, given how gauche and openly anti-Dixing he is to start with, and how very different their dynamic is compared to Shen Wei's relationship with Kunlun.(I was just rereading comments on this post and went, wow, I disagree with this thing I said. Sorry for the very belated edit. :-)Also: some more reasons Shen Wei doesn't want to join the SID.
1. As soon as the chancellor hears Professor Shen has taken the position, he regretfully tells him he has to choose one role or the other. Shen Wei doesn't want to have to choose.
2. Shen Wei expresses concern later on in the car that it will change the way the SID team relates to him, if they learn his identity, and he doesn't want that. And will them knowing lead to word getting out to others in Dragon City?
So I think he might be apprehensive about what this unmasking will mean for his life as Professor Shen? But then again, I don't think that's at the top of his mind at this particular point/in this scene. :)
3. Why is Shen Wei so apprehensive in this scene?
Like I said above, I don't read him as apprehensive. I think he's having a lot of feelings -- smarting pride and irritation at the gloating, alarm at the risks Zhao Yunlan is prepared to take, longing for the relationship they had long ago, wondering what their relationship will be like going forward and how Zhao Yunlan will treat him now he knows, tiredness (he might still be weakened from overextending himself earlier). And yeah, I think he's strategising about what Zhao Yunlan now knows versus what Shen Wei still has to keep hidden.
I really love the moment when Shen Wei turns the tables on Zhao Yunlan, when he says, "Who says I can't [erase your memories]?" I love that he's challenging Zhao Yunlan directly and putting him in his place, and that little jut of his chin (which I have maybe watched a couple of dozen times)! And then he immediately backs off. He doesn't want Zhao Yunlan to be afraid of him -- but he won't be teased or gloated at either.
And Zhao Yunlan gets the message and offers a real, fairly formal apology after that.
4. Why is it the last appeal that works? Shen Wei won’t join SID for friendship, he won’t join for guilt, he won’t even do it for the sake of Zhao Yunlan’s puppy eyes.
When Zhao Yunlan says, "Fine, I won't push you to answer. But I was fooled by you for so long, and my heart hurts. I will feel so upset unless I get compensation." (orig subs, tidied a little) I think Zhao Yunlan is somewhat sincere. He does feel like an idiot for not working it out earlier, and hurt that Shen Wei has lied to him for so long. But he's hiding that sincerity behind the form of a request for compensation.
Shen Wei hears the sincerity and, faced with a request for compensation, is immediately taken back to Kunlun asking him to take off his mask and smile -- a personal request that changed Shen Wei's whole life. So he becomes a mess of emotions -- is this where it starts for them? What will Zhao Yunlan ask for? He says "What do you want?" hoping it will be something real and personal between them.
And then Zhao Yunlan leans in and says, "Promise me something. Shen Wei, professor of the Biological Engineering Department, the Black-Cloaked Envoy, for me... please join the SID."
It starts so personal, and then at the last moment it becomes a trick, Zhao Yunlan claiming something work-related (and something which Shen Wei has already flatly refused twice). I think it feels to Shen Wei like Zhao Yunlan is mocking his emotions, mocking their relationship (even though, logically, Zhao Yunlan doesn't really know about their relationship). So he reacts angrily, and Zhao Yunlan instantly recants, says he was joking and asks again, making it clear they will be partners.
By now Shen Wei has realised he can keep the SID safer by working with them, they can be more effective together. And he won't deny a genuine request for compensation. So when Zhao Yunlan repeats the request with due respect and courtesy, Shen Wei agrees. That's my reading of it.
5. Why can’t Shen Wei tell Zhao Yunlan why he’s helping him?
Because of the time loop. He has to keep Zhao Yunlan safe so that Zhao Yunlan can become Kunlun, and anything he says might influence or change the future... which would change the past. So he's constantly walking that tightrope.
6. How conscious is Zhao Yunlan in his manipulations? Is it just the detective in him? He’s not subtle here: what is Shen Wei thinking, comparing him to Kunlun?
I think a lot of Zhao Yunlan's behaviour is instinctive. He can see that Shen Wei is having feelings, but he doesn't know why or what they're about, so he tries out different approaches to see what happens, including using flirting like sonar, weaponising it. He is attracted to Shen Wei, but I don't think that's what his flirting here is about -- not when he's just revealed the truth that Shen Wei is the Envoy. Thankfully, he's smart enough to see when his strategy isn't working, regroup and try something else.
His other attempts to recruit Shen Wei were when Shen Wei was giving him first aid after the attempted mugging, and after Shen Wei had cleaned his flat (nominally in return for being saved from the mugging). Zhao Yunlan didn't really have the upper hand in either of those instances -- didn't have any leverage. Now he thinks he has leverage, he can't not use it!
Other things about this scene:
1. Zhao Yunlan has just seen Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi skipping off into the night together, so he's just discovered the Envoy isn't as implacable as he seems -- but he doesn't know if Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi were a one-off situation (as a kind of gift to the SID, who clearly felt for the two of them?) or a pattern. He's still figuring the Envoy and Shen Wei out.
2. Otoh, he does say "you take care of everything and sometimes get softhearted." (Viki subs.) And it must be good for Shen Wei to hear that framed approvingly and not as a reproach that he's let a potentially dangerous Dixingren stay in Haixing. Shen Wei made the right call in letting Zhao Yunlan see those two. Zhao Yunlan has come a long way!
3. I adooore the look Shen Wei gives Zhao Yunlan in Minister Gao's office after the flashback! Minister Gao has asked how Zhao Yunlan persuaded Shen Wei to join the SID, cue flashback, and then Shen Wei gives Zhao Yunlan this dry look that makes Zhao Yunlan stutter, "Maybe it's because I'm charming." Which makes Shen Wei scoff, and Minister Gao call him glib. HEE!