Note: I'll try to catch up a little but will probably be a few days behind the actual chapter updates from now on, especially since she's going to drop about 10k words when the novel goes into VIP.
Bian Jin wakes up briefly in the night and wonders vaguely what Shen Ni is doing in bed next to her, then looks down and see that she has a death grip on Shen Ni's arm. She loosens it, but she's already left deep red marks on Shen Ni's arm. She falls back to sleep. When she wakes up again the next morning, Shen Ni has moved back to the floor, as if nothing's happened. Shen Ni gives her a cheerful 'good morning', then leaves the room to wash up.
Unusually, they have breakfast together. Shen Ni asks if Bian Jin feels uncomfortable eating with someone else; Bian Jin replies no, not if the other person is Shen Ni. Bian Jin notices that Shen Ni is wearing an outfit with wide sleeves, which she doesn't usually do, and remembers the way she was gripping Shen Ni's arm last night. She asks to see Shen Ni's arm. Shen Ni says there's no need, and after a pause, asks what Bian Jin was dreaming of last night.
Bian Jin tries hard to remember, but can't recall anything except that she was very tired and was left with a sense of nausea. Shen Ni asks if this has happened before, and Bian Jin replies that it happened again three days ago, but not as badly as this time. Shen Ni tells Bian Jin that Bian Jin was at risk of overloading last night, but luckily they were able to resolve it. Bian Jin knows what she means, and marvels that Shen Ni was able to make her feel safe enough to shake off the nightmare. She doesn't quite understand what's going on with herself.
Bian Jin thanks Shen Ni for helping her. Shen Ni says she's welcome. She also reminds Bian Jin of how, when she was little, she used to insist on sleeping in the same bed with Bian Jin because she was afraid of ghosts (while claiming that she was nobly doing this to prevent the ghosts from eating Bian Jin). Bian Jin once again thinks about how Shen Ni is all grown up now (and hot).
Shen Ni reminds Bian Jin of the couples module, and how one of its functions is that it allows one half a couple to enter the other's dreams. Bian Jin responds with a very firm 'no'. After Shen Ni leaves by hovercraft, Bian Jin thinks about how she doesn't want Shen Ni to enter her dreams, because she doesn't want Shen Ni to see 'that scene'. Even though it's been many years since she had that dream, she's still very worried about that possibility. Then we get some mysterious references to it being an absurd greedy wish and how it has to be locked away, and the reason is apparently 'something that glows with enough light to imprison her soul', and that being 'the tomorrow she's heading towards'.
Shen Ni arrives at the site office for the firewall construction project, and Zeng Qingluo gives her a progress report. She notices two of her other subordinates (a woman and a man) staring at her, trying to work out if she has a 'rensheng' on her person. This is traditionally a sort of paper doll, cut out of coloured paper, that the people of TangPro wear on the seventh day of the new year. This custom was recorded in the reverse time capsule from the future, and has been adopted with fervour by the locals (as they do with everything else from the future). They've even spun a variation on it: it's now the fashion for lovers to weave each other rensheng out of coloured silks, the more elaborate the better.
Everyone in the capital had been speculating about the rensheng Shen Ni would receive from her mysterious new wife, but now her two subordinates see she isn't wearing one. The man, Fan Zhi, happily announces he's won his bet with the woman, Cui Ning, and demands that she hand over the tael of silver that was the wager. Cui Ning, however, takes this as a sign that Shen Ni is emotionally unattached and flirtatiously offers her a box of home-made cakes. Shen Ni turns this down, Zeng Qingluo tells Cui Ning, 'Waste not, want not, I love sweets!' and Cui Ning begrudgingly thrusts the box at her.
Shen Ni and Zeng Qingluo discuss Li Shan, aka Prince Yong, aka Li Ruoyuan's beloved younger sister, aka the head of the Supreme Bureau of R&D. Shen Ni is sure Li Shan is the one blocking her from being granted clearance to access the Supreme Bureau of R&D.
Bian Jin, meanwhile is at the archive. Since Shen Ni's visit, the food provided by the staff canteen has gone back to normal (presumably no longer the ultra-greasy, ultra-salty stuff they had previously been serving to Bian Jin). Auntie Wan has also brought Bian Jin lunch. Bian Jin sits by herself in a little garden at the back of the building, eating it. She notices that her lower jaw is sore, and recalls that there were signs of bleeding on her lower lip this morning. She realises this means she was biting down on something other than her own lip the night before, and wonders what it could have been.
On her way back into the building, she overhears two of her colleagues gossiping. They talk about how one man they know (unclear if he works at the archive) got an absolutely hideous rensheng from his wife, and how another man (also unclear if he works at the archive) got nothing at all. It's only then that Bian Jin realises what day it is. She reflects that it's embarrassing for Shen Ni not to have a rensheng now that she's married. So she runs off in the rain to buy some coloured silks, puts on a tutorial video, and starts making one.
At Firewall Construction HQ, one of Shen Ni's male subordinates suggests that she should show everyone her rensheng from her new wife, and only then notices she doesn't have one. Shen Ni coolly replies that her wife is too focused on her recovery to bother with these things. Just then, a coach stops outside the building and Bian Jin steps out, holding up an umbrella. Shen Ni, surprised, asks what she's doing there.
Bian Jin then hangs the rensheng she made — which has a black and red colour scheme, and a crooked little face — on Shen Ni's belt. Dissatisfied with her handiwork, she whispers to Shen Ni that she can get rid of the thing once they get home. Shen Ni defends the rensheng, saying she thinks it's cute. Then Bian Jin discovers that there are bite marks on Shen Ni's finger and the back of her hand, and puts two and two together.
Shen Ni whispers to Bian Jin that they should act close to dispel the rumours that keep circulating about how they don't get on. She takes the umbrella from Bian Jin, puts a hand on Bian Jin's shoulder, and steps into the coach with her. It's only then that Shen Ni realises that she's forgotten to wear gloves, but Bian Jin allows her to hold on, not trying to shake her off at all.
Tech watch: Does the YouTube tutorial, I mean tutorial video count Named men: 5.5 Reverse Bechdel passes: 0
Bian Jin thinks about how she doesn't want Shen Ni to enter her dreams, because she doesn't want Shen Ni to see 'that scene'. Even though it's been many years since she had that dream, she's still very worried about that possibility. Then we get some mysterious references to it being an absurd greedy wish and how it has to be locked away, and the reason is apparently 'something that glows with enough light to imprison her soul', and that being 'the tomorrow she's heading towards' What does this mean WHAT DOES THIS MEAN
and Zeng Qingluo gives her a progress report Yay, she's back!
Cui Ning, however, takes this as a sign that Shen Ni is emotionally unattached and flirtatiously offers her a box of home-made cakes Shen Ni is just attracting suitors EVERYWHERE.
So she runs off in the rain to buy some coloured silks, puts on a tutorial video, and starts making one Bian Jin, terror of the north, weapon of the empire, making a doll.
Shen Ni asks if Bian Jin feels uncomfortable eating with someone else; Bian Jin replies no, not if the other person is Shen Ni. THE NOT TO ME NOT IF IT'S YOU OF IT ALL
The strength of her hands was no match for what it had been at her peak, but it was still enough to crush a pile of wood bare-handed if she wanted Shen Ni is going to need a practical demonstration of that. For… repair reasons. To see how much strength you’ve recovered. Or something. Of course.
Bian Jin’s flat refusal of the couples’ module when Shen Ni suggests it for dream-sharing makes me wonder if we’re going to see it implemented in a more… dubious way. Ordered by the emperor. Emergency situation due to overload. Etc. You see my vision. (whump. my vision is whump.)
But she couldn’t be sure whether, if Shen Ni entered her dreams, she would see that scene. Though she hadn’t dreamed of it in many years, she still feared the possibility WHAT. SCENE.
Then we get some mysterious references to it being an absurd greedy wish and how it has to be locked away, and the reason is apparently 'something that glows with enough light to imprison her soul', and that being 'the tomorrow she's heading towards'. I stared that this part for like 5 minutes with just ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!! scrolling across my brain the way I assume 2000s-hacker-style text scrolls across Shen Ni's screens. WHAT IS GOING ON?????
'I’ve heard that that Bian Jin can kill without blinking an eye' So have I and I would like to humbly request that we be shown this at some point as well as told it. For science. Evidence to back up the claims and all, you understand.
Cui Ning what did you put in those cakes.
Bian Jin really delivering on that dramatic rainstorm entrance. 10/10 no notes. Did she look like that when she came to Shen Ni’s rescue on the battlefield? Inquiring minds want to know.
I stared that this part for like 5 minutes with just ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!! scrolling across my brain the way I assume 2000s-hacker-style text scrolls across Shen Ni's screens. WHAT IS GOING ON????? I KNOWWWWWWWWWWW. More fuel for the murderboard!!!
Did she look like that when she came to Shen Ni’s rescue on the battlefield? Inquiring minds want to know. Chapter 1 does say she descended from the heavens, so I'm going to take that very literally.
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baihe_media2024-06-23 09:25 pm
Chapter 11
Unusually, they have breakfast together. Shen Ni asks if Bian Jin feels uncomfortable eating with someone else; Bian Jin replies no, not if the other person is Shen Ni. Bian Jin notices that Shen Ni is wearing an outfit with wide sleeves, which she doesn't usually do, and remembers the way she was gripping Shen Ni's arm last night. She asks to see Shen Ni's arm. Shen Ni says there's no need, and after a pause, asks what Bian Jin was dreaming of last night.
Bian Jin tries hard to remember, but can't recall anything except that she was very tired and was left with a sense of nausea. Shen Ni asks if this has happened before, and Bian Jin replies that it happened again three days ago, but not as badly as this time. Shen Ni tells Bian Jin that Bian Jin was at risk of overloading last night, but luckily they were able to resolve it. Bian Jin knows what she means, and marvels that Shen Ni was able to make her feel safe enough to shake off the nightmare. She doesn't quite understand what's going on with herself.
Bian Jin thanks Shen Ni for helping her. Shen Ni says she's welcome. She also reminds Bian Jin of how, when she was little, she used to insist on sleeping in the same bed with Bian Jin because she was afraid of ghosts (while claiming that she was nobly doing this to prevent the ghosts from eating Bian Jin). Bian Jin once again thinks about how Shen Ni is all grown up now (and hot).
Shen Ni reminds Bian Jin of the couples module, and how one of its functions is that it allows one half a couple to enter the other's dreams. Bian Jin responds with a very firm 'no'. After Shen Ni leaves by hovercraft, Bian Jin thinks about how she doesn't want Shen Ni to enter her dreams, because she doesn't want Shen Ni to see 'that scene'. Even though it's been many years since she had that dream, she's still very worried about that possibility. Then we get some mysterious references to it being an absurd greedy wish and how it has to be locked away, and the reason is apparently 'something that glows with enough light to imprison her soul', and that being 'the tomorrow she's heading towards'.
Shen Ni arrives at the site office for the firewall construction project, and Zeng Qingluo gives her a progress report. She notices two of her other subordinates (a woman and a man) staring at her, trying to work out if she has a 'rensheng' on her person. This is traditionally a sort of paper doll, cut out of coloured paper, that the people of TangPro wear on the seventh day of the new year. This custom was recorded in the reverse time capsule from the future, and has been adopted with fervour by the locals (as they do with everything else from the future). They've even spun a variation on it: it's now the fashion for lovers to weave each other rensheng out of coloured silks, the more elaborate the better.
Everyone in the capital had been speculating about the rensheng Shen Ni would receive from her mysterious new wife, but now her two subordinates see she isn't wearing one. The man, Fan Zhi, happily announces he's won his bet with the woman, Cui Ning, and demands that she hand over the tael of silver that was the wager. Cui Ning, however, takes this as a sign that Shen Ni is emotionally unattached and flirtatiously offers her a box of home-made cakes. Shen Ni turns this down, Zeng Qingluo tells Cui Ning, 'Waste not, want not, I love sweets!' and Cui Ning begrudgingly thrusts the box at her.
Shen Ni and Zeng Qingluo discuss Li Shan, aka Prince Yong, aka Li Ruoyuan's beloved younger sister, aka the head of the Supreme Bureau of R&D. Shen Ni is sure Li Shan is the one blocking her from being granted clearance to access the Supreme Bureau of R&D.
Bian Jin, meanwhile is at the archive. Since Shen Ni's visit, the food provided by the staff canteen has gone back to normal (presumably no longer the ultra-greasy, ultra-salty stuff they had previously been serving to Bian Jin). Auntie Wan has also brought Bian Jin lunch. Bian Jin sits by herself in a little garden at the back of the building, eating it. She notices that her lower jaw is sore, and recalls that there were signs of bleeding on her lower lip this morning. She realises this means she was biting down on something other than her own lip the night before, and wonders what it could have been.
On her way back into the building, she overhears two of her colleagues gossiping. They talk about how one man they know (unclear if he works at the archive) got an absolutely hideous rensheng from his wife, and how another man (also unclear if he works at the archive) got nothing at all. It's only then that Bian Jin realises what day it is. She reflects that it's embarrassing for Shen Ni not to have a rensheng now that she's married. So she runs off in the rain to buy some coloured silks, puts on a tutorial video, and starts making one.
At Firewall Construction HQ, one of Shen Ni's male subordinates suggests that she should show everyone her rensheng from her new wife, and only then notices she doesn't have one. Shen Ni coolly replies that her wife is too focused on her recovery to bother with these things. Just then, a coach stops outside the building and Bian Jin steps out, holding up an umbrella. Shen Ni, surprised, asks what she's doing there.
Bian Jin then hangs the rensheng she made — which has a black and red colour scheme, and a crooked little face — on Shen Ni's belt. Dissatisfied with her handiwork, she whispers to Shen Ni that she can get rid of the thing once they get home. Shen Ni defends the rensheng, saying she thinks it's cute. Then Bian Jin discovers that there are bite marks on Shen Ni's finger and the back of her hand, and puts two and two together.
Shen Ni whispers to Bian Jin that they should act close to dispel the rumours that keep circulating about how they don't get on. She takes the umbrella from Bian Jin, puts a hand on Bian Jin's shoulder, and steps into the coach with her. It's only then that Shen Ni realises that she's forgotten to wear gloves, but Bian Jin allows her to hold on, not trying to shake her off at all.
Tech watch: Does the YouTube tutorial, I mean tutorial video count
Named men: 5.5
Reverse Bechdel passes: 0
Re: Chapter 11
What does this mean WHAT DOES THIS MEAN
and Zeng Qingluo gives her a progress report
Yay, she's back!
Cui Ning, however, takes this as a sign that Shen Ni is emotionally unattached and flirtatiously offers her a box of home-made cakes
Shen Ni is just attracting suitors EVERYWHERE.
So she runs off in the rain to buy some coloured silks, puts on a tutorial video, and starts making one
Bian Jin, terror of the north, weapon of the empire, making a doll.
Last paragraph: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Re: Chapter 11
THE NOT TO ME NOT IF IT'S YOU OF IT ALL
The strength of her hands was no match for what it had been at her peak, but it was still enough to crush a pile of wood bare-handed if she wanted
Shen Ni is going to need a practical demonstration of that. For… repair reasons. To see how much strength you’ve recovered. Or something. Of course.
Bian Jin’s flat refusal of the couples’ module when Shen Ni suggests it for dream-sharing makes me wonder if we’re going to see it implemented in a more… dubious way. Ordered by the emperor. Emergency situation due to overload. Etc. You see my vision. (whump. my vision is whump.)
But she couldn’t be sure whether, if Shen Ni entered her dreams, she would see that scene. Though she hadn’t dreamed of it in many years, she still feared the possibility
WHAT. SCENE.
Then we get some mysterious references to it being an absurd greedy wish and how it has to be locked away, and the reason is apparently 'something that glows with enough light to imprison her soul', and that being 'the tomorrow she's heading towards'.
I stared that this part for like 5 minutes with just ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!! scrolling across my brain the way I assume 2000s-hacker-style text scrolls across Shen Ni's screens. WHAT IS GOING ON?????
'I’ve heard that that Bian Jin can kill without blinking an eye'
So have I and I would like to humbly request that we be shown this at some point as well as told it. For science. Evidence to back up the claims and all, you understand.
Cui Ning what did you put in those cakes.
Bian Jin really delivering on that dramatic rainstorm entrance. 10/10 no notes. Did she look like that when she came to Shen Ni’s rescue on the battlefield? Inquiring minds want to know.
Re: Chapter 11
WE NEED TO KNOW
I stared that this part for like 5 minutes with just ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!! scrolling across my brain the way I assume 2000s-hacker-style text scrolls across Shen Ni's screens. WHAT IS GOING ON?????
I KNOWWWWWWWWWWW. More fuel for the murderboard!!!
Did she look like that when she came to Shen Ni’s rescue on the battlefield? Inquiring minds want to know.
Chapter 1 does say she descended from the heavens, so I'm going to take that very literally.
Re: Chapter 11
also +1 to what scene? what scene?! now my brain is going to go overdrive imagining
(slowly catching up!)