[ Episode Twenty-Eight ] [ Masterpost ] [ Episodes Thirty to Thirty-Three ]
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The merit brush arc concludes! Featuring a heartbroken Zhao Yunlan with a protective & concerned Shen Wei, and a promise made.
The episode opens with another amazing synchronized walk + talk sequence, as they approach the Snake Tribe to search for their next clue.
I love how often they look to each other for affirmation even when they're talking to other people.
The only clue Ya Qing left was apparently the key to a car. Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan exchange a look and continue their search.
SID Discussions
Back at the SID, Zhao Yunlan is perched on the desk again as they all examine the phone they took from the phone booth.
They try to decipher the numbers pressed by the smudges on the buttons.
Zhao Yunlan is very impressed with Shen Wei's reasoning.
Look at that pleased little smile and nod of acknowledgment from Shen Wei!
They're both laughing like idiots because Shen Wei solves the riddle by being an experienced landline phone user.
Rescuing Minister Gao
Their investigations take them to an abandoned car next.
They find Minister Gao in the trunk and lift him out.
Elsewhere in the car, Zhao Yunlan finds a mysterious flower. He calls Lin Jing to find out what it means, and is told that it represents '纯洁的爱情 pure innocent love.' (I wonder if this might be a subtle nod to 纯爱 being another name for 耽美 danmei novels. *adjusts tinhat*)
Shen Wei stares at this flower in Zhao Yunlan's hand.
Rooftop Confrontation
They dig into Wang Xiangyang's past to see where his clues about love & marriage leads them, and they discover a location on the rooftop where he first found out his wife was pregnant.
They make a dramatic entrance, just in time to save Zhao Xinci.
They attempt to talk Wang Xiangyang down, but it's like talking to a wall.
Shen Wei's Zhao Yunlan danger radar goes off. He turns around just in time to see Zhao Yunlan step forward.
Zhao Yunlan: I offer my life in exchange for my father's life.
Shen Wei: Oh fuck.
In an attempt to get Zhao Yunlan angry enough to change his mind, Zhao Xinci starts berating his son. Shen Wei can only look on with concern.
Even though Zhao Yunlan knows it's a ploy, Zhao Xinci's words hurt.
And you can see Shen Wei feeling more protective and concerned about Zhao Yunlan as this goes on.
Zhao Yunlan's biggest fucking kick-ass moment in this episode. He tells his father that they're not the same. And that's sacrificing himself for family is worth it.
(Why does this show keep hurting us with that phrase?)
So many unresolved issues, but they first have to deal with Wang Xiangyang.
Wang Xiangyang supercharges Sha Ya's electrical powers. Zhao Yunlan shields his father. Shen Wei shields them both. And he is taken down.
Before he's destroyed by the dark energy, he does have time to warn them that the door is unlocked, and it can't be undone.
Aftermath
The team returns to the SId after the confrontation.
Is it just me or was Zhao Yunlan resting his hand on top of Shen Wei's? And as usual, Shen Wei is staring at Zhao Yunlan.
But just as they were in the middle of their discussions about what the key could be unlocking, the earth shakes. And they belatedly realize it might have something to do with Ye Zun.
They hear the sound of a crow, and Ya Qing confirms their worst fears.
Shen Wei grabs Zhao Yunlan and pulls him away from the crowd. I am forever here for Shen Wei manhandling Zhao Yunlan.
Shen Wei decides to head to Dixing to deal with the Ye Zun problem. Zhao Yunlan obviously wants to follow, but Shen Wei makes him promise to stay in Haixing and hold the fort, no matter what happens.
Zhao Yunlan is not very happy with this.
Why settle for a hand-shake when you can hold onto each other's shoulderes while staring meaningfully into each other's eyes?
The episode ends with Shen Wei leaving for Dixing as Zhao Yunlan watches him go.
[ Episode Twenty-Eight ] [ Masterpost ] [ Episodes Thirty to Thirty-Three ]
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