Gonna Post Shit Here

I firmly believe this is because he knows where they're coming from. He clings desperately to hope - no matter how illogical or infinitesimal. He comforts Dou Dou's father in part because he understands his desperation, sees himself in this grieving man who falls to his knees and weeps, apologizes over and over to a son long gone, someone who can not hear him. He sees this man who, despite everything chooses to persist, and understands his pain, and he decides right there and then that he will do anything in his power to help (without admitting it, of course.)

Whereas Cheng Xiaoshi is innately more skeptical. He's friendly, but he's also quick to dismiss other people's beliefs as stupid. He's quick to judge because he's always had to make quick judgements. Even though his belief that his parents will come back for him is possibly just as absurd as a staunch belief in divination or the paranormal may seem to him, he believes it anyways, because the only other option available to him would be utter despair.

Cheng Xiaoshi is quick to judge - but he's also quick to learn, and it's easy to convince him. He's a very, "I have to see it to believe it" kind of person. He doesn't believe in divination until Lu Guang shows that he can do it (at least, until it's revealed what his powers actually are). He doesn't believe in tarot, but he still gets scared when the door flings open after the cards warn him.

Cheng Xiaoshi clings to hope as well, but he's also, on some level, aware of the absurdity of it. He hopes, he dreams, but he also prepares himself for disappointment. He can't bring himself to believe too hard for fear of being hurt even more - Which is why he tells Dou Dou's father to move on. He's projecting, yes, but he's also doing what he thinks is the kindest thing he can do in that moment: Offer someone comfort without coddling them, without pitying them. Because Cheng Xiaoshi hates to be coddled and pitied, finds it insulting. So he doesn't lie to Dou Dou's father and say everything will be okay, but he does offer to print any old photos for free.

Lu Guang is open-minded because his only other option would be to ignore possibilities that might one day help someone. Cheng Xiaoshi is more closed-minded, not because he actually believes anything in specific is impossible, but because he wants to protect himself and others from the pain of disappointment.

I wonder if it's possible that Lu Guang got this hope from Cheng Xiaoshi? We already see the effects of Lu Guang influencing Cheng Xiaoshi positively, helping him be more open-minded, and thus more hopeful, which ultimately culminates in his speech to Emma. Who's light shined first? Or have they always been reflecting one another?

When Cheng Xiaoshi thinks that Lu Guang is dead, he almost jumps back in time but doesn’t, because he respects Lu Guang’s rules and wishes. He acknowledges that doing so would break the rules and fundamentally alter the past, so he tries his best to grapple with his feelings and take a logical approach to handling his grief.

When Lu Guang sees Cheng Xiaoshi die, he does jump back into the past. He admittedly tries to be rational, trying not to change too much because he knows the consequences. But then we get him in Bridon arc purposefully creating waves and starting to nudge things off track because he can’t handle or cope with the idea of losing Cheng Xiaoshi again.

And I know they’re meant to be yin-and-yang, right? Personality, color scheme, everything about their dynamic. And this always strikes me because in each side of the yin-and-yang, there’s the small circle of the other half. And they have that, too, in their personalities. When the other is threatened and they are left to their base instincts and fears to react, they react like each other.

I could argue that they replicate the parts of each other that they admire in a crisis. That they have a sort of unconscious “what would Cheng Xiaoshi/Lu Guang do?” sort of moment in the split second before they react. I could argue that they aren’t completely right without each other, and that shows. Or just that they’re so ingrained in each other, even their basic instincts reflect this.

I just think it’s really interesting and important to acknowledge because neither one of them is a 2D character. They have their archetype but they aren’t pigeonholed into that alone. Lu Guang is actually quite caring and open about showing it, often the opposite of what we see in the quiet, reserved one. And Cheng Xiaoshi isn’t stupid and all forgiving and even recognizes the outcomes of his recklessness, something not typically seen in the brash and outgoing one. They are very multifaceted in their personalities and dynamics and it’s even more so in their personal dynamic because of how close they are and how much they’re able to be truly genuine together.