If this scene looks to you suspiciously like a betrothal proposal, that’s because it is.
I’d really have to go all the way back to Killer and Healer 2021 to find a queer-coded Chinese drama that is as on point with all the BL elements as well as the advanced feminist queer politics between airing of The Untamed 2019 and now.
And just like every journey of true love the care, commitment, sacrifice, respect and devotion between Shen TuNan and Wei RuoLai just gets better, deeper and more homoerotically intense from here. Sadly I can’t add more than one video of the many highly charged commitments to stand side by side forever, acts of devotion, or extended eye-intercourse scenes between them in one post.
This scene of Wei RuoLai ascending as Shen TuNan descends the staircase of the apex Chinese financial institution is symbolic of where they were in their journey which was started in a hierarchy of two men unequally situated, and whose journey ends as equals united on the same, grand life path.
Over the course of 38 magnificently written, directed and acted episodes that go by way too fast, they exchange secrets, promises of fidelity, masterful financial strategies, life-saving blood infusions and finally common political purpose while the audience sits on the edge of its seat with baited breath a good 3/4 of the dramatic run time. Far too many scenes to count where I had to stand up while watching.
Despite all the galvanising tension there are many exquisite romantic, emotional scenes between these finance prodigy and banking genius, as well as regular points of levity. This post on AO3, where ShenLai have their own tag, is a good representation of how outrageously blatant Xiansheng’s affection for his Lai Lai is, including to the characters in the drama.
Link to original work here:
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
War of Faith won several prestigious awards and critical as well as quantitative accolades for its splendid dramatic showcase.
An array of ass-kicking, revolutionary women are also a joy and an inspiration to watch and to root for along with women who dared to love in extremely turbulent times.
Also, as is becoming the tradition of every magnificent queer coded Chinese Drama, the creators have compiled a luxurious two-hour video of all the best Shen TuNan and Wei RuoLai scenes to the delight of ShenLai shippers.
If you need a complex, sophisticated, adult, action drama to form your next shipping obsession over War of Faith is on IQIYI and on YT.
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So @stultiloquentia told me to link my fic here on Tumblr! In truth I've been remiss about sharing my complete War of Faith obsession here, but I am so, so obsessed. This show isn't even stealth m/m romance, as far as I'm concerned, it's just a straightforward BL about these two and their intense smoldering obsession with each other, masquerading as political idealism, but no one here is fooled, I mean look at them look at them
like if you haven't watched show yet you're sleeping on not only one of THE best c-dramas in recent memory, with stellar acting and edge-f-your-seat action and layered writing and intricate direction and absolutely gorgeous production design, but one of the most satisfying queer subtexts of any show ever.
um. which is to say i have been trying very hard to make this fandom happen by way of writing fics in a variety of shapes and sizes, and i haven't linked any of them here yet but if anyone would like to read them, here they are!
All fics are Shen Tunan/Wei Ruolai.
Out of his system. 1,269 words. Just a short scene and a quick bit of shenlai suit kink because i couldn't take their blazing UST anymore. Written after episode 8, which was 5 eps before the show actually gave us canonical shenlai suit kink?!?! This show, I swear. I swear!!!!
Wedding night. 3,385 words. Written after episode 16 and the epic staircase wedding ceremony. Just taking things to the obvious next level.
Ask a Manager: My boss is showing blatant favoritism to my coworker. This is just a silly meme I wrote based on the actual AAM blog before Congyun's longsuffering got kinda sad actually.
of a feather. 5,657 words. Kind of a pre-canon AU that posits spy!handler Shen Tunan, meeting a teen Wei Ruolai. Cue mutual obsession. I was so obsessed with this headcanon, I had to write it.
鵬程萬里. 1,130 words. A sort of stream-of-consciousness ramble from Ruolai's pov on becoming half of an intense soulmate bond, look i didn't say any of this was restrained.
Okay and here finally is an actual fic fic, except not because it started out as just a series of 5+1 sketches and then became a fic in the second half despite my best efforts.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
So I guess when I say I've been "writing fic" for this pairing I just mean I've been frantically coughing up loosely formed ideas hoping something sticks and might inspire other people to watch this show and join me in this pit because holy christ this pairing is off the chain— hot, sexy, mutually obsessed, so fucking smart and competent and obsessed with each other's briliance, so completely capable of trading who doms who in the relationship while equally capable of forming a lifetime lifestyle dom/sub partnership, 100% society elite power couple while also rough-and-ready rivals having intense soulmate bond sex in-between trying to fuck each other over for social justice, just an OTP for the ages.
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Shen Tunan himself may not notice, but he always looks at Wei Ruolai with indescribable fondness and doting. He pampers the boy, perhaps overly so, but he can't help it.
He loves seeing Wei Ruolai look at him with those peach blossom eyes, watching his every move with admiration and awe. It's an exhilarating feeling, being held in such reverence by such a precious boy; Shen Tunan knows many people admire him, but other people's praise do not matter to him.
He only likes Wei Ruolai's worshiping gaze.
This is his boy. The diamond in the rough that he picked up one day, the person he holds dear to his heart...
Wei Ruolai looks at him with such a lovely gaze that Shen Tunan finds himself preening every time the boy looks at him that way. Shen Tunan basks in the unrestrained admiration that overflows in Wei Ruolai's eyes.
He wants more of it, and so he pampers his darling, gives him new pens and entrusts him with important tasks and buys him new clothes -- all because he wants Wei Ruolai to turn to him, look at him with that sweet gaze, and smile.
God, Shen Tunan loved Wei Ruolai's smile. It was cheerful, filled with youthful naivete and yet a hint of slyness in it. Wei Ruolai smiles politely to various people, but Shen Tunan is pleased to note that Wei Ruolai only smiles genuinely when he's with him.
Shen Tunan thought that sometimes it was frightening. He was a man of finance, a man of data and facts and cold hard strategies. He needed to be rational in his line of work, especially since he was conducting financial reforms.
But Wei Ruolai...
Shen Tunan knew, without a doubt, that he would gladly turn crazy and burn the whole world down for the sake of protecting his Wei Ruolai.
Yes, his Wei Ruolai.
Shen Tunan had long thought of Wei Ruolai as his. His to teach and his to claim and his to pamper and his, his, his.
Wei Ruolai was the only exception in his work. Shen Tunan still recalled that moment when his Ruolai was sent to the Garrison Prison. Shen Tunan's superiors told him to abandon the boy.
"He's just a kid from a small town," they told him. "Plus, his family is related to communists."
"He's not worth it."
Oh, Shen Tunan begged to differ. His boy was worth it. So, so, worth it.
And if other people couldn't see Ruolai's worth, well then, it was their loss.
The selfish part of him was glad they didn't know what a jewel his Ruolai was, because if they realized how great his boy was, wouldn't they want to steal him away?
Shen Tunan never wanted that to happen.
"Ruolai," he once asked, "Are you afraid to be by my side?"
Only Shen Tunan himself knew how much he was dreading the answer to that question. What if Ruolai regretted it? What if he wanted to leave? Shen Tunan clenched his fists as he looked at Ruolai darkly. I'm sorry, but even if you regret it... even if you want to leave... I won't let you. You're already mine.
And Wei Ruolai, bless him, the boy answers even more spectacularly than he hoped for.
"I'm not scared, sir," Wei Ruolai had replied. "My life is yours."
When he heard those words, Shen Tunan felt like he was soaring. To hear his Ruolai say that, with his shy smile and puppy-dog eyes looking at him adoringly... Shen Tunan felt like he could die a happy man.
His Ruolai was so earnest, so sincere, and so trusting. Shen Tunan wanted his boy to keep looking at him like that, it was exhilarating...
Which was why he kept indulging the boy, protecting him and giving him anything he wanted. Of course Ruolai would never ask for things from him, no, but Shen Tunan made it his personal mission to keep track of Ruolai's needs and make sure it was met.
He wanted Ruolai to keep looking at him.
And he... he couldn't tear his eyes off hte boy even if he wanted to.
Lin Qiaosong: Why are you doing this?
Wei Ruolai: Then at that time, why did you join the dare-to-die corps?
Lin Qiaosong: To protect the country!
Wei Ruolai: I'm the same!
Shen Tunan rushes to save Wei Ruolai.
There's gunshots (someone is saving WRL?).
Shen Tunan: Congyun, drive forward! Wei Ruolai is in danger!!
Huang Congyun: No sir, only your safety matters to me!
Shen Tunan jumps out of the car to save Ruolai, HCY follows.
Shen Tunan (when he sees the dead bodies): Ruolai is not there...
Niu Chunmiao and Shen Jinzhen are the shooters, saving WRL.
Shen Tunan saw Jinzhen(?).
(So, Wei Ruolai has no idea that Shen Tunan begged Mr. Yu to save him and that Shen Tunan risked his life to go to the execution grounds to save him.... WRL thanks Shen Jinzhen and Niu Chunmiao for saving him and agrees to go to Jiangxi Soviet).
Shen Tunan did, indeed see Jinzhen and he knows for sure she's a communist. He looks so hurt that she lied to him QAQ. Jinzhen denies everything, of course.
Shen Tunan: Thank you for saving Wei Ruolai.
Shen Jinzhen arranges for WRL and Niu Chunmiao to evacuate, but they missed each other fuck.
Hongfang shop is exposed and Mr. Xu blows up the place...
Shen Tunan and Shen Jinzhen's confrontation. (these two actors are so good damn the emotions are supercharged).
Wei Ruolai is caught by the Axe Gang:
Mr. Qian: You're a communist.
Wei Ruolai: Well, technically, not yet. (he's such an innocent cutie pie i can't--)
Mr. Qian: But in the future?
Wei Ruolai: Uhh maybe uhh
Wei Ruolai and Niu Chunmiao are helped by the axe gang to leave.
Shen Tunan drives Shen Jinzhen (to run away?)
Ep 30 -> Shen Tunan drops of Shen Jinzhen in a gas station (lin qiaosong and his men are watching from the bushes).
Shen Tunan and Shen Jinzhen say their goodbyes.
Wei Ruolai's bus pass by and through the window Ruolai can see Shen Tunan and Shen Jinzhen hugging. AND GUESS WHAT Wei Ruolai's reaction is: Shen Xiansheng?!
His eyes are always automatically find his Xiansheng ah... tsk tsk
Shen Tunan leaves, and Lin Qiaosong and co attacke Shen Jinzhen. Shootout.
Wei Ruolai realizes there are people going to attack Shen Jinzhen and gets off the bus.
Shen Tunan hears gunshots and returns to save his sister (he's so cool damn it), he crashes the car into the gas station (the car explodes).
Shen Jinzhen is crying for her brother, Wei Ruolai and Niu Chunmiao have to drag her away. Shen Tunan is okay(?) I hope please please
Shen Jinzhen and Wei RUolai are crying (they're afraid Shen Tunan is dead).
Wei Ruolai: Xiansheng is a noble person, the heavens will protect him.
Shen Jinzhen: I hope so.
Shen Jinzhen is crying because her brother was trying to protect her.
Poor Huang Congyun (I forgot this bro existed lol). He's worried and he's the one who tells Cishu that Shen Tunan is in the hospital, and that Shen Jinzhen and Wei RUolai are communists.
Shen Tunan is in the emergency room.
Aww Huang Congyun this precious boi is cryingggg (ignore the fact that hcy can be a jerk to wrl sometimes--)
ALSO, i'm seriously kinda shipping Su Cishu with Shen Jinzhen. I feel like her relationship with Shen Tunan is more... platonic?
Like, when she found out Shen Tunan was in the hospital, Su Cishu kept asking, what about Shen Jinzhen? Shen Jinzhen ne?? Shen Jinzhen?? Like, instead of asking about her husband (she is worried about him, ofc ) she's asking about Jinzhen...
Shen Tunan is in the hospital, his chances of waking up are slim.
Lin Qiaosong (to STN): I thought you were the smartest person I knew... I thought you were the most loyal to the Kuomintang... But turns out your sis is a Communist and you didn't notice? Are you stupid or blind?
Wenbiao: Stupid and blind.
Lin Qiaosong: ...
WRL, SJZ, and NCM travel together to Jiangxi Soviet.
Shen Tunan finally wakes up, chats with Su Cishu.
Shen Tunan: That's why I have to work harder for the country.
Su Cishu: Mr. Song make you step down from you position... He also published your obituary...
Shen Tunan is angry and his head hurts. He goes home (from the hospital) and reunites with his daughter.
Huang Congyun and Chief Deng visit Shen Tunan.
WRL and co arrive in Jiangxi (they got caught but after verifying their identities they are welcomed there).
Niu Chunmiao's guy that she likes is dead, she's sad.
P.S. The ending song has changed.
Ep. 31 -> Wei Ruolai and co are in Jiangxi, Wei Ruolai returns to his dad.
Wei Ruolai works as a small accountant in his village (not working for the Red Army's bank, no)
Wei Ruolai has flashbacks of his time with Shen Tunan (his brain is making tiktok edits of his beloved Xiansheng).
Life in Jiangxi: WRL is an accountant and teaches a girl (fang ling) to count; Shen Jinzhen works in the military (shooting guns etc); Niu Chunmiao's dad teaches her self defense(?).
Fang Ling died. WRL reflects on stuff and has a stronger resolve to join the Communists.
WRL joins the Red Army bank.
WRL: Someone... made me write a report (on your bank) once.
So... previously Shen Tunan wrote an essay on the encirclement of communists. The chairman read it, approves, and wants to send Shen Tunan to Jiangxi (to intercept the ore transfer or something). Actually Shen Tunan promised his wife he will stop doing politics and their family can move to England, but now...
Chairman: I'm helping Shen Tunan meet his darling sooner ah
Su Cishu is (obviously) angry because Shen Tunan is leaving.
Shen Tunan: In this life I'm destined to offer my life to the nation.
Su Cishu: But you are my nation!
The song is different again?
Ep 32 -> Shen Tunan in the ferry spots his wife and daughter.
Su Cishu: You've pledged your life to the country. I've pledged my life to you. (seriously thats so romantic).
Su Cishu: Home is where you are.
Wei Ruolai gets the newspaper with Shen Tunan's obituary and shows it to Shen Jinzhen, the two of them cry and have flashbacks of Shen Tunan.
Shen Tunan and his family and Huang Congyun are in Jiangxi, Lin Qiaosong also goes there. Shen Tunan changes his name to Tu Nanshen.
Shen Tunan starts implementing stricter rules to catch communists and fight them through the economic field.
Shen Tunan: working hard to make counterfeit money and make the Soviet Bank lose credibility
Wei Ruolai: Working hard to restore credibility and save the bank.
You know, every time I think this show can't get any gayer (and i think fuck this will be boring becuz they'll just talk about money and war and stuff i don't understand) a new gay line (Shenlai) pops out and I'm struck by how fucking gay and fucking sweet Shenlai is. It just hits me out of the blue.
Wei Ruolai tells Shen Jinzhen about the fake notes and he tells her this is an economic war, must be the Kuomintang who did it. AND THEN HE SAYS:
Wei Ruolai: If only Xiansheng was here.
Shen Jinzhen: If he were here, you might have a headache.
Wei Ruolai: I'd rather have him here and be troubled by him instead.
I'D RATHER HAVE HIM HERE AND BE TROUBLED BY HIM INSTEAD.
