Grand Unified Theories of Shen Xi

[extrapenguin]

I have sent out inquiries about house showings! Only two places at first, but: progress.

To tide me over the anxious wait, I invite you to tell me your grand unified theories* of Shen Xi, Zhao Yunlan's mother, based on the few scenes of drama evidence we get of her! She wants her husband to pay more attention to her son, but how much arguing with one's husband over one's son is considered normative in the modern age? I, personally, find her strong-willed, but do you think she'd be strong-willed about things other than the proper treatment of her son? Do you think she shares her husband's prejudice against Dixingians? Did she know about Zhang Shi? /has perhaps unwisely chosen to tackle something related to her in fic

* Small sub-theories also welcome.

Comments

[extrapenguin]

I can see divorce as an ending, especially in AUs. Here she got a sprinkling of the time travel powder like her son and was sent forwards in time, so I'm trying to figure out how she'd react to being dumped in the "present" and observing her son and husband having such a terrible relationship – and also Shen Wei the Dixingian son-in-law.

[phyrry]

Hmm, I tend to think of her as a concerned parent who would be happy with Shen Wei as a son-in-whatever once she got over the initial protectiveness / concern spike. But there's plenty of room to maneuver. (Damn fridges.)

[extrapenguin]

I'm sort of thinking about how much anti-Dixing prejudice she'd hold, and how that would reflect onto her views of Shen Wei. (Also the size of her "oh no I have missed over a decade of your life and now you're all grown up" reaction plus stuff like Haixing's background homophobia levels.) And indeed, damn fridges.

[phyrry]

I think if she knew about Dixingren at all, it would be because of Zhang Shi - who certainly seems like a better husband and father than the human she married.

(An interesting AU idea: she married Zhang Shi and then wondered who this asshole she woke up to was. HMMM. It's a pity the canon timeline doesn't work.)

I would probably just go with "Zhao Xinci didn't talk about the details of his work at home and Shen Xi doesn't know about Dixingren until her son's boyfriend has an epic Secret Identity Fail in front of her," though.

From various aro discussions, I'd suspect she'd be very happy that her son was interested in dating at all, even given background homophobia and weird aliens. One of the few things we do know about her from canon is that she's more concerned with her son's well-being than maintaining the illusion of a happy family.

(Sorry for all the edits! I have Thoughts but I'm not good at getting them all out right the first time. Or I'm a nervous perfectionist. Or both.)

[extrapenguin]

I think if she knew about Dixingren at all, it would be because of Zhang Shi - who certainly seems like a better husband and father than the human she married.
She knew her husband was the SID Chief and visited the SID, so she must have at least a vague clue about Dixingians. Especially since she was killed/vanished by one in canon. So she might not know much, but she might also have a huge argument with Zhao Xinci about how he misrepresented all of Dixing to her.

One of the few things we do know about her from canon is that she's more concerned with her son's well-being than maintaining the illusion of a happy family.
True! I expect she will be supportive after her initial WTF at having been teleported 14-ish years into the future and her boy being all grown up. She and Shen Wei can bond over having irreversibly time traveled into the future!

[phyrry]

I'm reminded of the police officer ZYL shows his ID to during the opening of episode 1.

Officer: Don't you know the SID? They deal with the strange and unresolved cases. Every time they come, the notice is always issued from the higher ups.
(Source)

So just knowing about SID doesn't necessarily equate to knowing about Dixing. BUT. When it comes to Shen Xi, we just don't know! There are a wide range of plausible possibilities and whatever works best for the story can probably fit somehow.

Personally, I like the idea of Zhao Xinci getting dragged in every conceivable way from every conceivable angle, so I'm here for Shen Xi ripping into him. Very id satisfying.

[extrapenguin]

Nodnod. I think I'll have her knowing more than the random police officers, if only because she on at least one occasion turned up at the SID with Yunlan in tow, and you know Zhao Xinci would be the type of dude who answered work calls at all times of the day.

I'm here for Shen Xi ripping into him
Good! There, uh, might be over-ripe fruit involved...

[clevermanka]

I like the idea of Zhao Xinci getting dragged in every conceivable way from every conceivable angle

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