Shen Mu Lan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Shen Mu Lan (沈木岚)
Forms of Address	Mr. Shen, Boss Shen, Brother Shen, Supervisor Shen 132 449 509 510
Gender	Male
Age	Nearly thirty when preparing to join Shili Group; described as being in his thirties after joining 451 510
Affiliation	Shen family; Mulan Cloud Residence; Shili Group 267 348 509
Occupation/Role	Restaurateur; later deputy supervisor of financial analysis in Shili Group’s Finance Department 64 509
Education	Master’s degree in finance from Imperial College London 451
Family	Shen Lin — older brother; Shen Gongda — grandfather 197 204 267
Romantic Relationships	Meng Yunji — former boyfriend; Sun Ye — later romantic partner 132 449
First Appearance	Chapter 64, “A bridal carry” 64

Background / History

Military Family and University Years

Shen Mu Lan comes from a military family and was raised by his older brother, Shen Lin. As a child, he lived in the same military compound as Qin Zaiye, whose arrogance he later describes to Ji Yanzhi in considerable detail 92 267.

While studying in Britain, he helped organize a social group for Chinese international students. He first approached Ji Yanzhi with a flyer, only for Ji to bluntly question whether joining meant handing out flyers himself. Despite that poor first impression, they became friends partly because Shen could not resist the excellent food Ji’s family arranged for him. Meng Yunji was also their university classmate 131 430.

Meng Yunji and Family Estrangement

After beginning a relationship with Meng Yunji, Shen came out to his family. His father flew abroad overnight and brought him home. Shen expected resistance, but Shen Lin’s disappointed silence hurt him most: he believed the brother who had raised him had rejected him for liking men. He subsequently cut ties with the family 267.

Meng exploited the Shen family’s military connections to bring his trading company into the logistics systems of three major military regions. Photographs and classified procurement contracts later became evidence in a disciplinary investigation, during which Shen Lin was taken away for questioning. Meng eventually spent a year and a half in prison after the relationship ended, but resumed pestering Shen following his release 434.

Shen later learns that Shen Lin’s disapproval concerned Meng’s character, not his sexuality. Shen Lin had intended to explain what he had uncovered after allowing his younger brother time to cool down; he had not anticipated Shen leaving the family first 267.

Mulan Cloud Residence

Shen runs Mulan Cloud Residence, a reservation-only restaurant in an out-of-the-way location. Ji Yanzhi is its only booked guest on the evening he introduces Ji Ting to Shen 64 132.

The restaurant is more a pastime than a successful business: Shen says he opened it to pass the time, while Ji Yanzhi remarks that it loses money every year. Ji also invests in the establishment, giving the friends another recurring subject for their arguments 267 348 365.

Personality

Shen is hospitable, playful, and openly affectionate. He brings Ji Ting homemade meals, invites him to stay when he is upset, and repeatedly assumes the role of an indulgent older brother. His warmth extends to accepting responsibility for Ji Ting’s fall into a pond and preparing sweet ginger tea afterward 85 131 134 448.

His friendship with Ji Yanzhi relies on reciprocal insults and teasing. He enjoys exposing Ji’s emotional awkwardness, but can also offer quiet sympathy: when Ji explains his late mother’s request that he protect Ling Xi, Shen stops joking and pats his shoulder 179 180 268.

Shen is perceptive about other people’s romantic problems but less clearheaded about his own. He identifies Ling Xi’s behavior as stringing Ji Ting along and pushes both Ji brothers toward direct communication. In contrast, he initially fails to recognize his family’s arranged meeting with Sun Ye as a blind date and later insists they are “just friends” despite his visible nervousness 132 268 431 435.

His loyalty can lead him into impulsive deception. To secure help for Ji Yanzhi, he invents a long-standing romance between them, then becomes increasingly distressed as the story spreads through his family. At work, however, he shows restraint: he responds politely to deliberate sidelining and reminds himself that he must focus on the job rather than embarrass Ji Yanzhi 199 204 509.

Abilities & Skills

Cooking and Hospitality

Shen regularly cooks for friends and guests, and his New Year meal earns praise from the group 366.

• Prepares shrimp-and-egg custard, vegetable pancakes, miso soup, sweet ginger tea, and osmanthus Fox Nut Cake 85 134 448.
• Hosts meals and accommodates Ji Ting when he needs somewhere to stay 131 132.
• Attempts Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, but burns it while distracted by a couples’ game 448 450.

Finance

Shen holds a finance master’s degree from Imperial College London and later enters Shili Group in a financial-analysis role 451 509.

• Settles his restaurant’s accounts before discussing its transfer 446.
• Joins the Finance Department as deputy supervisor of financial analysis 509.
• Handles tedious summary spreadsheets on his first morning despite being excluded from core business discussions 509.

Gaming

Shen is an enthusiastic gamer who sometimes stays up through the night 364 469.

• After two months of playing a fighting game, his controls are smoother than Ji Yanzhi’s; he helps Ji Ting defeat him 65.
• Organizes four-player gaming sessions with Ji Ting, Ji Yanzhi, and Sun Ye 448 449.

Emotional Insight

Shen understands Ji Yanzhi’s habits well enough to distinguish ordinary irritation from genuine hurt 131.

• Helps Ji Ting recognize that his actions toward Ling Xi were partly intended to protect Ji Yanzhi from rejection 131.
• Warns Ji Ting against romantic manipulation 132.
• Challenges Ji Yanzhi’s assumptions about an accidental kiss and urges him to ask Ji Ting directly about their relationship 267 268.

Pet Care

Shen advises Ji Ting and Ji Yanzhi on caring for a sick kitten 469.

• Explains litter-box training and the supplies the kitten will need.
• Warns them to feed milk slowly because choking could worsen its pneumonia.
• Draws on his experience training his own cat, Doujuan 469.

Relationships

• Ji Yanzhi — University friend, restaurant investor, and later Shili Group chairman overseeing Shen’s return to corporate work. Their abrasive banter coexists with substantial loyalty: Shen seeks family help during Ji’s detention, while Ji later accepts responsibility for the resulting lie and supports Shen at work. Their supposed romance is explicitly fabricated 199 206 253 451 510.
• Ji Ting — Close friend whom Shen treats as a younger brother. Shen offers food, shelter, and relationship advice; Ji Ting later asks Ji Yanzhi to protect Shen from unnecessary workplace exclusion 85 131 132 448 510.
• Shen Lin — Older brother who raised him. Shen’s mistaken belief that Lin rejected his sexuality contributes to their estrangement; an eventual explanation begins repairing that hurt 197 267.
• Shen Gongda — Grandfather. He approves of Shen’s supposed relationship with Ji Yanzhi and expects to meet his prospective grandson-in-law 204 206.
• Meng Yunji — Former boyfriend and university classmate. Meng exploits the Shen family’s connections, continues approaching Shen after their breakup, and later becomes involved in a scheme targeting Ji Yanzhi through Shen 131 132 434 435.
• Sun Ye — State Security Bureau team leader, family-arranged blind date, and eventual romantic partner. Sun pursues Shen patiently, prioritizes his comfort, and openly declares personal affection during the Meng Yunji investigation 365 366 368 431 434 449.
• Qin Zaiye — Childhood acquaintance from the military compound. Shen advises Ji Yanzhi that forcing Qin to swallow his pride would hurt him more than physical retaliation 92.
• Manager Wang — Finance Department manager who initially sidelines Shen. His attitude changes sharply after Ji Yanzhi publicly approaches Shen at his workstation 509 510.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Confidant to the Ji Brothers

• Meeting Ji Ting: Ji Yanzhi introduces his younger brother at Mulan Cloud Residence. Shen soon joins their gaming session and helps Ji Ting beat Ji Yanzhi 64 65.
• After Ji Ting’s interrogation: Shen brings food and tells Ji Ting that Ji Yanzhi fought Qin Zaiye over him. He offers to question Ji Yanzhi when Ji Ting says his brother will not explain himself 85 86.
• Temporary shelter: Shen helps Ji Ting reconsider his feelings toward Ji Yanzhi and invites him to stay. When Meng arrives, Shen grabs Ji Ting’s hand to stage an impression of romantic closeness, later admitting it was only an act 131 132.
• Misreading the brothers: He overhears Ji Yanzhi say they sleep together every night and becomes alarmed because he believes them to be half brothers. He refrains from questioning them, but subsequently urges both to find romantic partners 134 135.

Kidnapping Investigation and the False Romance

• Ji Ting requests Shen’s presence while recovering in the ICU, expecting his family background to make officials willing to admit him. Shen firmly rejects the suggestion that Ji Yanzhi ordered the kidnapping 197 198.
• Shen passes Ji Ting’s written statement implicating Ji Shize to Director Liao, then claims to Shen Lin that he and Ji Yanzhi have been together since the previous year. He promises to return home if his brother helps 199.
• The lie reaches his grandfather and leads to an exaggerated hospital embrace. Shen asks Ji Yanzhi to maintain the pretense briefly before announcing a breakup, but Ji refuses 204 205 206.
• At the eventual family dinner, Ji Yanzhi reveals that Shen Lin already knows the truth and accepts much of the blame. The subsequent family conversation also resolves Shen’s misunderstanding about Lin’s earlier disapproval 252 253 267.

Supporting Ji Yanzhi’s Confession

• Ji Yanzhi confides that he loves Ji Ting and that they are not related by blood. Shen initially reacts with shock, then focuses on Ji’s uncertainty about whether Ji Ting’s kiss reflects affection or obligation 267.
• Shen argues that Ji’s confidence in Ji Ting taking responsibility already rests on a belief that the feelings are mutual. He urges Ji to stop speculating and discuss the remaining obstacle directly 268.

Sun Ye’s Courtship

• Shen’s family arranges a New Year meeting with Sun Ye without explicitly identifying it as a blind date. Shen recognizes him from Ji Ting’s steamed-bun-shop opening but does not understand the meeting’s purpose 364 365 366 435.
• During an escape-room outing, Sun notices Shen’s stress and helps end the activity early. Shen appreciates the consideration and invites him to his restaurant 368.
• Sun’s frequent visits and attentiveness prompt Ji Yanzhi to tease Shen about romance. Shen protests that they are only friends, while Sun privately confirms that his feelings have grown stronger 430 431.
• After Meng Yunji’s apparent drink-tampering incident, Shen fears Sun could lose his job for striking Meng. The incident is revealed as part of a national-security sting, and Sun openly acknowledges his personal affection for Shen 433 434 435.
• In a later couples’ game, Shen and Sun both reject breaking up over a partner’s erectile dysfunction. Shen then completes a dare by drawing a heart on Sun’s lower back and writing “Mu Lan’s exclusive property” 449.

Return to Corporate Work

• Shen begins settling his business accounts before a planned transfer. Ji Yanzhi instructs him to report to Shili Group’s Marketing Department after New Year, though his eventual appointment is in the Finance Department 446 451 509.
• On his first morning, Manager Wang assigns him a shabby temporary workstation and routine spreadsheets while colleagues exclude him from substantive work. Shen remains outwardly polite and concentrates on the assignment 509.
• Ji Yanzhi’s public intervention exposes Shen’s connections. At lunch, Ji Ting explains that he requested the support because he did not want Shen to suffer the ostracism he once experienced himself 510.
• Shen accepts a departmental welcome invitation, with Ji Yanzhi leaving the decision to him 511.

Trivia

• In his introduction, Shen clarifies that the Lan in his name means “mountain mist,” distinguishing it from the name of the female general Mulan 64.
• His birthday falls two months before Ji Yanzhi’s; he uses this seniority to defend calling himself Ji Ting’s “big brother” 448.
• His dog is named Doubao, and his cat is named Doujuan 132 469.
• He hopes Ji Ting will choose him as a best man, preferring that role to serving Ji Yanzhi, whose imagined complaints he imitates at length 507.
• Ji Ting notices Shen’s absence from Ji Yanzhi’s wedding guest list, but Ji Yanzhi leaves the explanation for Shen to give personally; the supplied passage does not reveal the reason 524.