Pictures of Perfection

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

Here are the previous weeks' rewatch posts.

Episode 21, up to 23:00

Summary
Zhao Yunlan eats breakfast at the SID while everyone watches in dismay, then he dismisses them all for the holiday and leaves with Shen Wei. Chu Shuzhi asks Zhu Hong about Shen Wei's presence the night before, and she decides it's time to let the cat out of the bag. At the hospital, Shen Wei's old classmate Dr Cheng Xinyan checks Zhao Yunlan's eyes and can't find anything physically wrong. Zhao Yunlan insists Shen Wei leave to take a lecture.

Lin Jing sits in a music shop, browsing through everyone's holiday selfies. Zhu Hong is at the Snake Village. Guo Changcheng has taken Chu Shuzhi (and his puppet) home for a socially awkward game of mahjong. Meanwhile, Da Qing and Zhao Yunlan hang out at the hospital, where Da Qing teases Zhao Yunlan, eats his snacks, and delivers a recorder full of messages from the team. The recorder includes Zhu Hong's podfic of the Record of Ancient Secrets, and hearing Kunlun's name messes up Da Qing's head. Zhao Yunlan leaves him with Cheng Xinyan for treatment and decides to make his own way home.

Shen Wei is distracted in class to the point where everyone notices. Zhao Yunlan fumbles his way around the hospital, only to be intercepted by his dad.

Lin Jing sees a hot girl in the music shop, and he chases after her to return some sheet music she left behind. Alas, she's working with Ya Qing.

Zhao Xinci drives Zhao Yunlan home. Upon arrival, they argue about Zhao Yunlan's "friendship" with Shen Wei, and then Zhang Shi emerges to wax philosophical. Zhao Yunlan goes inside but has a vision of his father in a car crash and rushes back out with the help of a kind neighbour. He has a near-miss with a car, and Shen Wei snatches him to safety. Shen Wei grabs Zhao Yunlan's wrist and tows him back inside.

In the Snake Village, young men are lining up to audition for the role of Zhu Hong's husband, but she's only interested in finding a cure for Zhao Yunlan's eyesight. Her uncle mentions the Yashou flea market.

Shen Wei puts Zhao Yunlan on the bed; Zhao Yunlan won't stay put. Shen Wei grows agitated enough to let slip an oblique reference to YOHE, and Zhao Yunlan fishes for answers. Then Zhu Hong calls about the flea market, and they leave in search of a cure.



Quote
Zhao Yunlan: Regardless of what type of person he is, he genuinely treats me well. There is this one type of friend in this world. No need to have long intimate chats or openly express deep concerns, but you just know that at the most crucial moment, he will always have your back.

Detail
During the hospital scene with Da Qing, my beloved, Zhao Yunlan is wearing very clean socks -- presumably courtesy of Shen Wei having helped him dress.

Questions
Do you have a favourite scene or line of dialogue from this half episode? Who do you think made breakfast for the SID -- Lao Li, Shen Wei, or did they order takeout? When Chu Shuzhi asks Zhu Hong, "What happened that night? When you left, it was only you and Zhao Yunlan. Why did Professor Shen come back with you?" what is he referring to, given that Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei left the Reunion dinner together? How much do you think Cheng Xinyan knows about Shen Wei? How long has Zhao Yunlan had Shen Wei's work schedule in his phone? Why did Chu Shuzhi bring his puppet to lunch with Guo Changcheng's family? During the Da Qing & Zhao Yunlan hospital scene, why doesn't Da Qing mention that Zhu Hong revealed Shen Wei's identity? What is Shen Wei thinking when he hears his students talking about him? Why does Zhang Shi choose this moment to give Zhao Yunlan life advice? What did Zhao Yunlan hope to achieve by racing back down to the road -- did he think he could stop the crash somehow? How many places did Shen Wei look for Zhao Yunlan before finding him at home? Where are all the other Snake village young women, and how do they feel about Zhu Hong's popularity among the young men?

Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama? If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation compares, if at all?

(As usual, 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. We'd love to hear your thoughts!)

And here is our schedule -- if you can, please sign up to host a post!