[ Episodes Thirty to Thirty-Three ] [ Masterpost ] [ Episode Thirty-Five ]
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The Time Travel arc begins!
Ye Zun Infiltrates the SID
As conditions in Haixing continue to deteriorate, Ye Zun - biggest Weilan shipper in the show - invades the SID while impersonating his brother.
Note the incredibly low neckline and the high ankle-exposing pants. This is what Ye Zun imagines a flirty Shen Wei is like around his boyfriend.
"Professor Shen" takes care of the two people giving the SID trouble in a way that's not at all suspicious.
"Is my Little Yunlan inside?" asks Ye Zun, whose overactive imagination has also conjured up sappy nicknames for his brother and his brother-in-law.
Sang Zan & Wang Zheng are weirded out by this, but nod anyway. Ye Zun goes off to find Zhao Yunlan.
Ye Zun walks in on Zhao Yunlan recklessly touching the Hallows again, and actually manages a passable imitation for a concerned!Shen Wei, calling out "Yunlan!"
Disheveled and out-of-breath after touching the Hallows is a *very* good look for Zhao Yunlan.
I'm not sure what acting magic Zhu Yilong conjured up here, but I love that Ye Zun simply looks *off* as Shen Wei. Just something slightly unhinged in his eyes even as he's trying to pretend to be normal.
Zhao Yunlan takes notice of the new outfit (and lbr, probably the low neckline) and compliments "Shen Wei" on it.
Ye Zun: "I wasn't sure if this outfit suited me, so I wore it over for you to take a look."
Ye Zun Weilan Shipper Head-Canon #3: Shen Wei likes to model new outfits for Zhao Yunlan's approval.
Ye Zun gives himself away by asking Zhao Yunlan whether it's "worth it" to defend people who are out for his blood.
I love watching Zhao Yunlan go up against Ye Zun because the intensity and chemistry is still there but it's so *different*.
Zhao Yunlan: "You're not Shen Wei. The things you say would never cross his lips."
This gif is solely here to showcase Ye Zun's unnecessary use of his tongue in this scene.
The confrontation escalates into a fight! I love how Ye Zun took so many of Shen Wei's gestures (like ducking down to smile earlier, adjusting his glasses now) and made them all twisted.
The real Shen Wei arrives in time to drive off Ye Zun, but not before Zhao Yunlan gets sucked in by the wormhole.
Look at the distressed expression on his face! It occurs to me now that Shen Wei knew Zhao Yunlan traveled through time to meet his younger self, but has no idea if Zhao Yunlan survived to return, which must be terrifying for him.
On top of everything else, Shen Wei is also injured.
Shen Wei follows Zhao Yunlan into the wormhole.
Ye Olde Haixing
10,000 years ago, Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei meet for the first time (again).
I love that the roles are reversed here and Zhao Yunlan is the one staring in wonder and recognition at Shen Wei.
Shen Wei thanks Zhao Yunlan for saving his life and promptly leaves with his wounded soldiers.
Zhao Yunlan, mind completely blown at the prospect of Shen Wei voluntarily ignoring him: He... left?!
With the help of Ma Gui and Fu You, Zhao Yunlan transforms into Kunlun. He immediately starts goofing off.
Shen Wei doesn't recognize Zhao Yunlan with his new look, and is completely impervious to his charms.
Zhao Yunlan obviously won't stand for being snubbed by Shen Wei, so he tries to jog Shen Wei's memory.
An instant 180 for Shen Wei the minute he recognizes Zhao Yunlan. Look at that wide happy smile.
Zhao Yunlan doesn't ask for much as repayment, only for Shen Wei to take his mask off and smile. Poor Shen Wei has no idea how to handle all this flirting.
Shen Wei earnestly offers to do whatever Zhao Yunlan asks when all this is over.
Zhao Yunlan's face says what all our gutter minds are thinking.
In another first for Shen Wei, Zhao Yunlan actually asks about his injury and fusses over him.
By the time Zhao Yunlan walks out, Shen Wei is already completely smitten.
The Lollipop That Launched 10,000 Years of Pining
They take a synchronized walk outside.
They chat about the war as they walk, still completely in sync.
Shen Wei vows to take the final step alone, because he doesn't want to sacrifice more of his men.
Zhao Yunlan: You still have me.
The surprise on Shen Wei's face kills me in this scene.
Grinning up at Shen Wei, Zhao Yunlan snatches his mask away.
Look at Shen Wei all shy and blushing while Zhao Yunlan compliments his looks.
Zhao Yunlan asks Shen Wei why he wears this ugly mask to hide his good looks.
"If I looked like you, I'd walk around a house full of mirrors naked" - Zhao Yunlan, probably.
Shen Wei explains that he uses the mask to hide his fear when he's on the battlefield. If you look closely, you can identify the exact moment Zhao Yunlan's heart broke in half.
I'll never be over how bright and open younger Shen Wei's smile is. Zhao Yunlan can't resist smiling with him either.
Sneak lollipop attack!
Shen Wei has no idea what a lollipop is, so Zhao Yunlan gives a demonstration.
Did I really make a super-cut of Shen Wei sucking on a lollipop? Yes. Was it necessary? Also yes.
The biggest unsolved mystery to Guardian has to be just what exactly the stage directions for this scene were, because that is a hell of an acting choice we're seeing here.
Zhao Yunlan's face is all of us while watching this scene.
After having suggestively sucked a lollipop in front of a stranger he just met, Shen Wei finally realizes that he might want to find out the guy's name.
This is his fanboy reaction when he finds out it's Kunlun.
Shen Wei promises to return this life that Zhao Yunlan has saved.
And here's Zhao Yunlan's heart-breaking reaction when he finally realizes what Shen Wei meant during the kitchen scene about returning a life owed.
The episode ends with Zhao Yunlan confusing the hell out of Shen Wei by telling him that he's already returned the favor, many times.
[ Episodes Thirty to Thirty-Three ] [ Masterpost ] [ Episode Thirty-Five ]
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