I'm gleaning a lot of information from this one; looks like Mo Guan Shan's either changed jobs or acquired a second one since the Christmas update (bro looked like a bus boy taking out the garbage in chapter 224). I'd put my money on He Tian having a hand in this hook up (it wouldn't be the first time he's recommended him for something with good pay, and it seems like a job Mo would enjoy).
I'm wondering if this takes place before or after the Christmas proposal, though, since He Tian's hair looks so different, but that could be either a stylistic change or HT just dressing up for a nice dinner. Either way, I'm not seeing any rings, but maybe they don't always wear it? Or it could be under their clothes? (It would make sense for Mo not to wear it on the job, but would HT ever go without it?)
Something to consider is that we know HT was away for a while before the Christmas events, and perhaps him being away was what soured the relationship pre-proposal. 🤔 But then if this took place before that, why would Mo not continue with this job? (So it makes more sense that this took place after Christmas, but they just aren't wearing the rings.)
It's fun to see the consistency of both character's habits here; He Tian blowing smoke in Mo's face yet again (as he did in chapter 224; so rude), and also being quickly swayed the moment Mo offers him a gift. The value doesn't even matter; we know He Tian's love language is gift giving among others, and he softened right up with this chapter. XD
Mo also has the same ride, but a different helmet this time around. Doesn't seem like the type of person who has much, but also is really into the things he's into, so. It's not a stretch to say he has multiple helmets or replaced one with the other.
I'm so out of touch with the fandom, y'all must've already noticed this, but back when I read the current chapter, I thought it was especially interesting that He Cheng was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Really makes me wonder about his plans for the day (especially when he's planning on taking He Tian with him), and when I brought it up to @rainy19days, they considered that He Cheng might be taking He Tian out on a job.
I don't think it'd happen, but it'd be very interesting if the reason He Tian suddenly pulled out of school wasn't just because of the inevitable move, but because he somehow got injured (shot?) and hospitalized in the process. I'm not saying that I'm gunning for that level of excitement (pun intended), but it might be a good reason for Mo's saltiness towards him in the future storyline if He Tian got injured and didn't tell him about it.
My first post on the subject describes Mo Guan Shan's interest and desire to play music, specifically the guitar. What I was really getting at here is the symbolism behind it; the guitar as a representation of his interest and desire in He Tian.
Chapter 226: Mo's longing here runs parallel to his longing to He Tian; someone who he sees as unattainable as the guitar, and so he dismisses him as an impossibility.
But He Tian doesn't see it that way. He goes and buys Mo a custom guitar after hearing Mo admit that he couldn't afford it on his own; couldn't move forward in that regards. In a similar vein, doesn't He Tian also make himself available to Mo despite Mo seeing their relationship as an impossibility?
Chapter 346: Even after receiving the gift, Mo hesitates to accept it, claiming that He Tian doesn't understand him. In a way, this proves to be true to some degree (see below), but He Tian also pushes for Mo to change; to move forward from such a bleak mindset. Although they don't understand each other quite yet, He Tian says they'll have the opportunity to get to know each other better later on.
Chapters 363-364: There's a parallel here, in the way Mo turns his head away at the sight of He Tian (just like he turned away from the guitar by the window in chapter 226). He Tians asks him if it isn't about money, which is kinda insensitive af, but also, looking at their previous conversation in chapter 299 (see part 1), Mo had stated then that joining music club (aka. pursuing his interest) would be a waste of time and money.
With guitar/music being representative of He Tian, am I reaching in thinking that Mo sees pursuing a relationship with He Tian as something that would go nowhere at this point? Mo admits to his shortcomings and sense of inferiority in this chapter (how ill-suited he thinks he is to be with He Tian), not that He Tian would let him use it as a reason to leave him.
Mo tells him, "You don't understand," which echoes his inner turmoil in chapter 346 and the theme of the two of them not understanding each other continues.
Chapter 397: He Tian previously told Mo, "If you don't even have the courage to change, then you don't deserve to dream." We've fast-forward a bit here, but after Mo's initial confrontation with She Li, we see that after Mo accepted He Tian (accepting his "dream"), he's been making that effort to change.
He put more effort into his studies with He Tian's help (his support) and it paid off in improved grades, but I picked this scene to highlight because this is the moment where his courage is made manifest.
The teacher who previously scolded He Tian pretty much disparaged Mo by highlighting his insecurities (of being unworthy of He Tian), and yet instead of continuing to turn away, to run away from He Tian, Mo decides to move forward towards change. He aims to become someone who could proudly stand next to He Tian; to pursue his dream.
(I got a little sidetracked from the guitar metaphor this was supposed to be, but hopefully y'all get where I'm coming from.)
Chapter 226: Mo's interest in music and in playing the guitar is first shown here, but as much as he desires it, he forces himself to dismiss it as something impractical and unreachable.
No words are exchanged on the subject, but He Tian takes notice.
Chapter 299: As soon as Jian Yi brings up the conversation about a music club, He Tian texts Mo about it. The first time I read this, I thought, "Of course he would; he wants to do everything with Mo." But after remembering He Tian taking note of Mo in the previously noted chapter, we can see that he really is keeping Mo's interest in mind.
Chapter 304, 307: It's been about 9-10 days since He Tian noticed Mo noticing the guitar, which means he would've bought the custom guitar in under two weeks. (Did he do it right away? Or was it perhaps after Mo mentioned that he couldn't afford the instrument / music lessons?)
Either way, He Tian was trying to prevent Jian Yi from offering Mo a free guitar because he already had one custom made at home and didn't want Jian Yi to ruin his surprise.
Chapter 322: He Tian's shown studying the guitar books the very next evening.
Chapter 340: About three days since the last image of He Tian practicing, and either He Tian's already mastered the basics of guitar or maybe he feels like it's about the right time, but it's at this point that he leaves the instrument in the locker for Mo.
Chapter 344: The lines in the photo hit harder for me, knowing that He Tian took notice of Mo's unspoken interests and the dreams that Mo wouldn't even dare to imagine or entertain the thought of. He Tian does what he can to make it a reality.
I was inspired by this Old Xian illustration of the boys going on a day trip. I'd like to think at one point, they have to hire bikes to get somewhere but could only afford two. Not easy, but doable. Then Jian Yi and He Tian thought of making it a little more challenging by turning it into a race! Idiots.
It would've been a real race, had Zhan Zheng Xi taken the rider seat, but Classic Main Character Jian Yi believed that he could do it. He could not do it. At some point Zhan gets off and starts pushing.
Meanwhile, He Tian - the giant labrador that he is - is expending all of his energy trying to get there as fast as he can. Being just a little bit reckless with his steering, all in the hopes that Mo Guan Shan would cling to him a little tighter. Meanwhile Mo Guan Shan is most stressed about not dropping He Tian's expensive-looking satchel.
Writing this little story was easy because Old Xian has done such a wonderful job fleshing out these characters for the past 10 years that I feel like I know them as if they were real people. Happy 10 year anniversary Old Xian, here's to another 10 more with these boys!
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