Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Shen Jinyan (沈谨言) |
| Alias(es) | Second Brother; Second Young Master Shen 4 14 |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Shen family 4 30 |
| Occupation/Role | Chief financial officer (CFO); second son of Shen Shuyi and Xu Junshan 4 27 31 |
| Family Position | Shen Shenxing’s older twin brother, born three minutes earlier 4 |
| Status | Alive; participating in the brothers’ plans to protect the family 38 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 4 4 |
Background / History
Banxia’s Return and the Honey Trap
Jinyan meets his newly returned biological sister, Shen Banxia, alongside Shen Shenxing, Shen Zhishan, and Shen Qingfeng. When he mocks Shenxing, Banxia privately criticizes his vicious tongue and womanizing, predicting that he will be manipulated into a fatal sexual scandal. Hearing her thoughts leaves him stunned and defensive. The brothers compare their experiences and agree to keep the phenomenon secret 4.
Soon afterward, Banxia hides in Jinyan’s car to bypass the household’s nighttime restrictions on minors. She interrupts him kissing Lisa, his girlfriend of less than two days. Her thoughts identify Lisa as a serial honey-trap operator and predict that Jinyan will flee naked through a window, fall from the second floor, and become a nationwide laughingstock. He abandons the date and takes Banxia away 8.
After treating Banxia to a late-night meal, Jinyan decides not to see Lisa again rather than risk the predicted outcome. The next morning, he learns that Zhang Ziyang was caught with Lisa when her husband arrived with several men. Ziyang jumped from a second-floor window and nearly died. Jinyan verifies the story and realizes that Banxia’s interruption likely saved him 9 10.
Allergic Reaction
Jinyan later returns from a bar with red rashes and a swollen face. He wonders whether his near encounter with Lisa’s scheme has made him psychologically repulsed by women, but the cause of the allergy is not established. Concerned, Banxia asks the butler to summon family doctor Liang Xin 14.
Jinyan resists undressing for examination and receiving an injection, but Liang insists on treating him. His scream carries throughout the house, and news of his needle phobia spreads by the next day. Humiliated, he remains upstairs for an entire day and suspects Liang used the treatment to settle a childhood grievance 14.
Discovering His Father’s Betrayal
Banxia later asks Jinyan to take her out and directs him to a riverside vantage point overlooking an apartment. He enthusiastically watches two women fighting until he recognizes his aunt, Xu Yanni, and his father, Xu Junshan. Seeing Junshan protect the other woman makes him suspect an affair 26 27.
Jinyan wants to go upstairs, but Banxia stops him. Her thoughts warn that discovering Junshan’s secrets could get him killed and that his father is willing to murder his wife and children for money. Though shaken, Jinyan agrees to remain silent rather than confront Junshan prematurely 27 28.
Junshan’s claim that his facial scratches came from walking into a door destroys Jinyan’s remaining hope that he is innocent. Jinyan follows his mother to his grandmother’s home, where the Xu family continues covering up the affair. He resolves to prevent his father’s schemes from succeeding 29 30.
At Lakeside Leisure Manor, Shen Shuyi explains that Junshan married into the Shen family intending to seize its wealth. She then reveals that he substituted his mistress’s daughter, Mingyue, for the newborn Banxia and abandoned Banxia in the wilderness. Furious, Jinyan initially threatens retaliation, but accepts Shuyi’s instruction to conceal their knowledge and wait for usable evidence 31 32.
Protecting the Family
Jinyan joins Shuyi and Shen Ruogu in protecting Banxia after she catches a venomous snake and mistakes it for an eel. He later recounts the incident to his brothers and insists that she stop handling dangerous animals. After learning Mingyue’s identity, he avoids her without revealing why 32 33 34.
He drives Shenxing to the hospital after the latter’s sabotaged car crashes at low speed, promising their mother that his twin will complete every examination. At the hospital, Liang Xin discovers Jinyan has missed a scheduled vaccination; Shenxing makes him receive it despite his protests 35 37.
Jinyan subsequently joins Shenxing, Ruogu, and Zhishan in a private strategy meeting. The brothers agree to protect themselves, their mother, and Banxia rather than leave Shuyi to face Junshan alone. They also reaffirm that Banxia’s foreknowledge and their ability to hear her thoughts must remain secret 38.
Appearance
- Flashy clothing: At their first meeting, Banxia considers Jinyan’s outfit so gaudy that he resembles a high-end male escort 4.
- Blue-green suit: He initially finds it dashing, but changes into a black suit after hearing Banxia compare him to a displaying peacock. He then worries that the replacement makes him look like a bodyguard 9.
Personality
Jinyan is sharp-tongued, quick to mock others, and sensitive about his own dignity. He insists that Shenxing address him as “Second Brother” despite their three-minute age difference. His twin, in turn, readily exploits his embarrassing moments 4 37.
He has a reputation as the family’s biggest player and an enthusiastic appetite for gossip. His running commentary during the apartment fight is so animated that Banxia thinks he would earn more as a paparazzo than as a CFO 10 27.
Despite his teasing, Jinyan becomes increasingly attentive to Banxia. He worries about her safety and appetite, readily takes her on outings, and offers her a sports car as a reward for studying. His anger over their father’s betrayal can make him impulsive, but he accepts restraint when he understands that the family’s survival is at stake 9 26 32 38.
Abilities & Skills
Hearing Banxia’s Thoughts
Jinyan can hear Banxia’s unspoken inner voice, gaining warnings about future events and concealed threats 4 8 28.
- Initial restriction: During their first comparison, the brothers conclude that each hears thoughts concerning himself 4.
- No voluntary activation: Jinyan tries to encourage Banxia to think something useful, but discovers that he cannot summon the phenomenon at will 9.
- Practical use: Her warnings help him avoid Lisa’s trap and recognize the danger posed by Xu Junshan 8 10 28.
- Secrecy: He agrees not to tell Banxia or Junshan about the ability, both to protect her and preserve the family’s advantage 32 38.
Relationships
- Shen Banxia — Younger biological sister. His initial reluctance develops into affection and protectiveness; she also frequently embarrasses him through thoughts he cannot help hearing 4 9 32.
- Shen Shenxing — Younger twin brother and habitual sparring partner. Their mutual mockery coexists with practical support, including Jinyan taking him for medical examinations 4 33 35.
- Shen Shuyi — Mother. He tries to comfort her after learning of Junshan’s betrayal and accepts her demand for caution 31 32.
- Xu Junshan — Father. Jinyan’s former respect collapses as he discovers the affair and the plot against the Shen family 28 29 30.
- Shen Ruogu — Younger brother and ally. They support their mother together and participate in the brothers’ defensive planning 31 38.
- Xu Mingyue — Paternal half-sister, previously treated as his sister within the Shen household. After learning her origins and deception, he withdraws from her while concealing his knowledge 4 32 34.
- Liang Xin — Family doctor and childhood acquaintance. Jinyan once mistook her for a boy and suspects she still holds it against him. Banxia proposes her as his future wife, but he vehemently rejects the match; no romance is established 14 37 38.
- Lisa — Brief girlfriend whose honey-trap scheme he avoids after hearing Banxia’s warning 8 9 10.
Notable Quotes
“From now on, just tell me whenever you want something to eat. If I'm too busy to take you out, I'll order delivery. I won't let you go hungry.” 9
“Mom, don't be too upset. You still have us. We're all on your side.” 31