Shen Meiyu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Shen Meiyu (沈湄妤)
Alias(es)	President Shen; Principal Shen
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Lop Nur University
Occupation/Role	President of Lop Nur University; literature educator and administrator; investor
Status	Active 710
First Appearance	Chapter 284

Background / History

Shen Meiyu becomes Lop Nur University’s new president on the day she meets Chen Zhao. She was appointed after the previous president, who had pancreatic cancer, chose to leave work and spend his remaining time traveling. Her first major decision is to invite Chen Zhao—then a freshman—to lecture for the School of Literature, arguing that Lop Nur evaluates teachers by genuine ability rather than age or credentials. 284

She organizes Chen Zhao’s entry into the faculty, provides him with an office and work supplies, and oversees the School of Literature’s course-selection process. Chen Zhao’s online-fiction course receives 3,099 enrollments, the second-highest figure in the school’s history. 286 293 When Professor Li attempts to impeach Chen Zhao as unqualified, Shen Meiyu’s inspection team finds the complaint unfounded; Li resigns, while Chen Zhao remains in his teaching role. 300 313

After witnessing the popularity and quality of Chen Zhao’s teaching, Shen Meiyu publicly commends him and submits an application for him to become Lop Nur University’s lifetime honorary professor. She also pushes the School of Literature to enter the National Anonymous Writers Competition and seeks a top-ten result for the university. 313 314

Although initially skeptical that Chen Zhao could produce competition-worthy work quickly, Shen Meiyu is impressed after reading his short story, Forging Swords, written during a flight. She approves leave for him to complete a novella and reschedules his class so he can focus on writing. 326 She later investigates the apparent surge of successful online-fiction writers among his students, only to be stunned when more than sixty students identify themselves as authors. 328 329

Shen Meiyu is connected to the highly classified codebreaking work surrounding Mr. Wang. She warns Chen Zhao never to speak openly of Wang Ganyi, then later handles the confidentiality process allowing him to meet Mr. Wang. Chen Zhao eventually deduces that she is Mr. Wang’s great-granddaughter, a family relationship known to very few people. 373 440 445

Beyond university administration, Shen Meiyu becomes a business partner in Chen Zhao’s Sand Binder venture, contributing five million yuan for a ten-percent dividend share while leaving management to Chen Zhao and Grigory. 520 523 She also works with Chen Zhao to establish a new-style bookstore: she takes responsibility for the location, permits, book purchasing, and up to twenty million yuan of funding. 525

In the future, Shen Meiyu remains an old acquaintance of Chen Zhao and meets his son, Chen Yandai. After her husband dies in a car accident, she proposes that she and Chen Zhao “make do together,” offering to raise Yandai as her own; Chen Zhao declines. 706 When Chen Yandai warns that Chen Zhao is about to activate a time machine, Shen Meiyu races with him through a storm to stop it. She is injured in a vehicle crash but continues to the underground laboratory, arriving only seconds too late. 709 710

Appearance

Shen Meiyu is a beautiful woman in her early thirties with a refined, scholarly presence. Chen Zhao initially mistakes her for a staff member or admirer because she appears far too young to be the university president. 284

• Long, smooth black hair and fair, delicate skin. 284
• Calm yet bright eyes and a clear, gentle speaking voice. 284 292
• Often wears glasses, including thick black frames and gold-rimmed pairs. 284 373
• Has a distinctive gait: steady and unhurried in appearance, but surprisingly fast in practice. 293
• Dresses in a wide range of styles, from scholarly sweaters and jeans to formal suits, long dresses, outdoor gear, and a green-haired faculty-meeting look. 284 300 485 520

Personality

Shen Meiyu is confident, direct, and strongly meritocratic. Her decision to recruit Chen Zhao as a lecturer despite his freshman status reflects her belief that ability matters more than conventional academic qualifications. 284

She is perceptive and difficult to flatter. Chen Zhao recognizes that she quickly reads his hesitation about teaching, while her literary judgment proves both demanding and fair when she evaluates his writing. 285 326 328

Despite her gentle manner and scholarly image, Shen Meiyu can be forceful when pursuing the university’s interests. She pressures reluctant faculty members into participating in the Anonymous Writers Competition and handles Chen Zhao’s faculty-impeachment case without compromising her decision. 300 314 Her normally composed demeanor turns stern and secretive when Mr. Wang’s identity is discussed. 373

Abilities & Skills

University Administration

Shen Meiyu oversees faculty recruitment, course administration, disciplinary reviews, academic competitions, exchange programs, and university projects.

• Recruited Chen Zhao as a School of Literature lecturer based on demonstrated ability. 284
• Managed course enrollment rules after Chen Zhao’s class attracted 3,099 students. 293
• Led the review that rejected Professor Li’s impeachment of Chen Zhao. 300
• Proposed Chen Zhao for lifetime honorary professor status. 313
• Organized the university’s participation in the Anonymous Writers Competition and exchange programs with Cambridge and MIT. 314

Literary Knowledge and Evaluation

Shen Meiyu is a devoted reader with a strong grounding in literature, including Chen Zhao’s published works and classical Chinese essays.

• Recognized Chen Zhao from his books and stated that she regularly reread his newspaper-published classical essays. 284
• Assessed Forging Swords as having a strong chance of winning an award. 326
• Gave a more reserved but objective assessment of Chen Zhao’s novella Spring Tide. 328

Project Management and Investment

Shen Meiyu applies financial resources and institutional experience to commercial and campus projects.

• Invested five million yuan in Chen Zhao’s Sand Binder company for a ten-percent share. 523
• Budgeted up to twenty million yuan for the bookstore project and handled its location, permits, and book procurement. 525
• Acquired a 1.6-million-yuan meteorite as the centerpiece of Lop Nur University’s Astronomical Star-Seeking Association. 326

Relationships

• Chen Zhao — Recruited him as a lecturer, defended his continued teaching position, supported his writing, and later partnered with him in business ventures. 284 300 326 525
• Mr. Wang — Her great-grandfather; she protects his confidentiality, facilitates Chen Zhao’s contact with him, and is deeply affected by his codebreaking past. 440 445 446
• Chen Yandai — Chen Zhao’s son, whom she knew through his parents; she later helps him attempt to stop Chen Zhao’s time-machine activation. 706 710
• Professor Li — His impeachment of Chen Zhao is ruled unfounded under Shen Meiyu’s administration, leading to his resignation. 300 313
• School of Literature Faculty — Frequently challenges them to take part in projects and competitions rather than remain in their comfort zones. 314

Trivia

• Shen Meiyu’s office contains extensive floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, including a section devoted to cipherbreaking books. 293 448
• She approved the Astronomical Star-Seeking Association after finding the students’ proposal interesting. 326
• She once appeared at an all-faculty meeting in a formal gray business suit with green hair, startling many older professors. 485