Shen Lian

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Shen Lian (沈连)
Alias(es)	Teacher Shen; Mr. Shen 146 257
Species/Race	Human; transmigrator from another world 1 211
Gender	Male 1
Birthday	June 23; initially gives Chu Yilan the body’s winter birthday instead 211
Affiliation	Xingtu, formerly; Xingkai 20 29
Occupation/Role	Actor, commercial endorser, and later script contributor; considers writing and directing 221 272
Partner	Chu Yilan 51
Status	Alive in the novel’s world after a fatal car accident in his original world 1 276
Health	Has an inherited heart condition requiring medication and monitoring 124 147 276
First Appearance	Chapter 1 1

Background / History

Previous life and transmigration

Before entering the novel, Shen Lian was a superstar whose standing came from professional achievements. He was known for outworking and outlasting rivals, and his career left him with substantial investments, properties, funds, and stocks. He had already planned to step back from the entertainment industry before his fatal car accident 3 276.

He awakens in the body of a disgraced entertainer with the same name and face. The original Shen Lian debuted through a talent show but lost his opportunities while pursuing Zhou Tangsi. Zhou and Zheng Ge repeatedly drew him into their relationship, making him a convenient target for public blame—even when he wanted to withdraw 1 3 182.

Knowing the novel’s plot, Shen Lian recognizes that he has arrived at a turning point. His counterpart is supposed to provoke the recently disfigured Chu Yilan, lose his career, fall into debt, and die. Instead, he remains composed when Chu pours liquor over him and begins changing their expected relationship 1.

Pursuing Chu Yilan

Shen Lian denies setting the resort fire that injured Chu, although his incomplete memories prevent him from fully explaining what happened. To defuse Chu’s hostility, he claims that his actions against Zheng Ge came from wanting Chu’s attention. He then kisses Chu’s scar, turning a threatening confrontation into an unsettled first encounter 2.

His attraction becomes a sustained courtship: he brings flowers, cooks for Chu, questions Ning Sixian about scar treatment, and discourages habits that could hinder Chu’s recovery. Their closeness develops through affection and conflict, particularly when Shen deletes Zheng Ge from Chu’s contacts and challenges Chu’s continued attachment to him 4 12 25 28.

Chu eventually introduces Shen as his boyfriend. They initially keep the relationship private to protect Shen’s developing career, but neither intends to hide it permanently. Shen later accompanies Chu to his mother’s and grandfather’s graves, offering quiet comfort when grief overwhelms him 51 90 126.

Conflict with Chu Changqi

Ming Lin’s repeated attempts to approach Shen are part of Chu Changqi’s effort to hurt his son through someone he loves. Shen exposes Chen Yan’s attempted seduction, hears her admission that Ming Lin pressured her, and offers protection in exchange for information 148 149 160.

Chu Changqi later holds Shen captive aboard a yacht and subjects him to a drowning device. Shen pretends to surrender, fashions an escape tool from copper wire, overpowers Liu Li, and escapes in a small boat. He subsequently reveals that he evaded the search by clinging to the yacht’s exterior during a storm 170 172.

Despite fever and injuries, Shen turns Chu Changqi’s torture equipment against him. The confrontation exposes both Shen’s capacity for extreme violence and his anger over the abuse Chu Yilan and Ming Mei suffered 170 172.

Acceptance and later life

Chu Yilan eventually recognizes that Shen’s stated birthday is not his own and directly acknowledges his unusual origins. Shen reveals his true birthday, June 23, and finds reassurance in Chu’s acceptance rather than rejection 211.

As his career becomes established, Shen grows more selective about scripts and considers creative work beyond acting. His priorities increasingly include time with Chu and care for his health 221.

In the later extra, Shen discovers that the original owner of his body survived by taking his place in the original world. They have exchanged bodies rather than one simply disappearing. Shen is relieved to find his counterpart studying diligently, preserving his career, and making charitable donations; by then, Shen has spent nine years in the novel’s world 276.

Appearance

• Face: Shares the original Shen Lian’s face, with finely sculpted features, a handsome jawline, and a fair complexion 3 25 188.
• Eyes: Exceptionally beautiful and expressive; later described as amber 3 84 195.
• Build: Tall and slender. Chu’s attentive care helps him fill out slightly, improving his proportions 128.
• Hands: Long, attractive fingers compared to segments of bamboo while he weaves a basket 14.
• Presentation: Can shift from languid charm to intimidating sharpness. A restrained gray suit gives him a composed appearance, while elaborate costumes and even rainbow hair remain visually striking 16 84 185 188.
• On-camera appearance: His unretouched selfies receive praise, and colleagues repeatedly remark that he looks even better in person 36 108.

Personality

Shen Lian is confident, pragmatic, and unwilling to accept the helpless role assigned to his counterpart. He answers provocation with controlled sarcasm, rejects Zhou Tangsi’s old authority over him, and refuses to let Wei Fanchen use him to target others. His relaxed manner often conceals preparation and a precise understanding of the situation 7 20 27 28 190.

He takes acting seriously without treating glamorous presentation or leading-role status as necessities. He willingly portrays humiliation, studies worthwhile scripts, and accepts smaller parts when the material interests him. Success makes him more grounded rather than more concerned with billing 146 221.

His gentleness is especially evident with Chu, children, animals, and people he chooses to support. He comforts Chu without demanding explanations, patiently cares for their kitten, and opens professional doors for Chen Mu. He also recognizes that fans’ affection should not be exploited to maintain an idol image incompatible with his private life 51 84 90 126 132.

That warmth coexists with possessiveness, a quick temper, and a ruthless streak. Insults against Chu can push him into physical intimidation, and his conduct toward Chu Changqi reveals a history of thrill-seeking and a willingness to use severe violence. He is not universally patient: when prolonged filming exposes poor preparation, his criticism becomes harsh enough to unsettle the director 53 162 172.

Abilities & Skills

Acting and Character Interpretation

• Emotional range: Portrays Li Kuan’s menace, Lu Xiaokai’s terror and numbness, and Emperor Linxiao’s transition from abasement to authority 27 70 146 155.
• Immersion: His Li Kuan audition makes the panel recognize the character immediately; he then sheds the role’s threatening presence once the performance ends 27.
• Line mastery: Arrives with lines memorized and earns the shared nickname “line machine” from Dai Tong and Zhao Wenshu 59 146.
• Adaptability: Willingly sacrifices his glamorous image for a convincing performance, including crawling to eat crushed pastries as the starving young Linxiao 146.
• Professional discipline: Maintains punctuality and preparation despite difficult schedules and fatigue 93 147 155.

Fight Choreography and Physical Performance

• Wirework: Developed fluid, graceful action skills through enthusiasm and diligent practice in his previous career 31.
• Fight scenes: Completes a demanding sequence in one take without a stunt double and learns another production’s choreography in just over ten minutes 31 92.
• Balance and control: Demonstrates excellent core control during aerial sequences 92.
• Other physical skills: Can perform bicycle tricks and mounts and handles a horse confidently for a battlefield scene 59 155.
• Limits: His heart condition can impair balance and stamina; he postpones action work until he believes his body is ready 147 150.

Practical Combat and Escape

• Close combat: Fights five men in a private-room brawl, although he eventually takes hits himself 10.
• Protective intervention: Drives off a man harassing Jiang You and later knocks down the same man when he breaks into Shen’s room 60.
• Improvisation: Uses copper wire taken from a torture device to fashion an escape tool 170.
• Tactical deception: Feigns defeat to make Chu Changqi leave him alone, then exploits depleted yacht security to escape 170.
• Risk tolerance: Survives concealment on the yacht’s exterior during a storm, drawing on a past appetite for extreme thrills 172.

Outdoor Knowledge and Handcraft

• Tracking: Follows footprints and disturbed vegetation to locate a hidden marker 8.
• Route planning: Recalls previously observed terrain and chooses a safer, flatter route after rain 14.
• Plant identification: Recognizes silverback kudzu vines and their usefulness as tough weaving material 14.
• Basket weaving: Produces a usable basket while travelling, completing its base in under ten minutes 14.
• Fire-making: States that he can start a fire, but decides against it when the task would be troublesome and his hand is injured 16.

Social Judgment and Networking

• Hospitality: Uses experience from his earlier career to arrange refreshments around executives’ preferences 93.
• Reading others: Recognizes manipulative demands, Chen Yan’s strained performance, and Feng Yueshan’s disguised request for romantic advice 28 137 201.
• Mentorship: Coaches Huang Jiacan’s action performance, recognizes Chen Mu’s potential, and later guides other artists managed by Hu Kailan 36 129 272.
• Cooking: Learns from Aunt Fen and prepares meals for Chu 28.

Health

• Condition: The body he inherits has a heart condition; the original Shen Lian later confirms this directly 276.
• Symptoms: Episodes include chest pressure or pain, numbness, dizziness, weakness, pallor, and bluish-purple lips 122 130 147.
• Treatment: Follows Ning Sixian’s instructions, takes scheduled medication, and carries emergency heart medicine supplied and refreshed by Chu 91 137 147.
• Precautions: Avoids cold drinks and often abstains from alcohol. Sun Binghe also enforces limits on drinking 59 124 151.
• Possible triggers: Shen suspects that encounters connected to Ming Lin and Chen Yan contribute to his distress, but the supplied accounts do not establish a definitive medical cause 130 147.
• Later work arrangements: Hu Kailan stops accepting higher-risk projects for him because of his health 272.

Acting Career

Documented Roles

Production	Role	Significance
Silent Words	Li Kuan	Wins the role after an impressive audition. His performance becomes a breakout hit and remains valuable enough that the director and investors reject Zhou Tangsi’s attempt to remove him 27 28 36 90 91.
Blazing Fire	Lu Xiaokai	Wins Zhao Wenshu’s approval through natural performance and demanding emotional scenes. The production becomes a winter-holiday dark horse, increasing Shen’s popularity without overshadowing Lin Fu 59 70 124 125.
Ethereal Immortal Journey	Immortal Venerable Restraining Intent, the First Immortal Venerable	Brief appearance as a white-haired figure whose sacrifice connects him to the principal characters; showcases Shen’s wirework 91 92 201.
Production directed by Liu Zong	Huo Qingshan	Becomes another signature role, bringing a surge of popularity and collaboration offers 111 182 211.
Destined Splendor	Emperor Linxiao	Plays the central figure from a humiliated prince and apparent puppet emperor to a commanding ruler; impresses Zhao with both emotional and battlefield scenes 146 151 155 167.
Godslayer	Heavenly Star Lord	Appears in red with white hair. His performance attracts praise despite controversy and widespread criticism surrounding the production 204 211 221.

Recognition and Commercial Work

Milestone	Details
Early reputation recovery	Variety-show composure, outdoor competence, and popular cosplay photos and voice clips bring new followers and brand inquiries 7 14 20.
Designer-brand opportunities	Receives lucrative offers from major brands selected through Sun Binghe’s assistance 70.
Golden Flower Award	His award recognition helps propel him toward A-list status; the category is not specified in the supplied passages 201 211.
Lily Awards	Wins Best Supporting Actor and later Best Actor 221.
Creative expansion	Begins contributing to scripts and seriously considers writing or directing 221.
Later commercial value	His product recommendations can cause items to sell out the following day 272.

Relationships

• Chu Yilan — Boyfriend and principal emotional attachment. Shen initiates their courtship, protects Chu’s vulnerabilities, and eventually trusts him with his otherworldly identity. Their relationship becomes accepted by fans, and Chu expresses an intention to register their marriage 51 90 92 211 220.
• Original Shen Lian — His same-named counterpart and the original owner of his current body. Shen sympathizes with his mistreatment and later discovers that they exchanged worlds and bodies 182 276.
• Wang Xiufen / Aunt Fen — Chu’s longtime caregiver and a warm domestic presence. She feeds and tends Shen, teaches him to cook, and indulges his fondness for desserts 2 28 132.
• Hu Kailan — Manager and professional advocate. Finds scripts and industry connections, supports Shen’s comeback, and later adjusts his workload to account for his health 27 93 125 272.
• Qian Gao — Former agent associated with Xingtu. Berates Shen over missed work, sells him out during a hostile encounter, and later pays 50,000 yuan in overdue fees 2 10 12 20.
• Jiang You and Li Yi — Assistants. Shen values their support, protects Jiang You from harassment, and permits both to accept brand gifts 42 60 93 142.
• Sun Binghe — Chu’s special assistant and Shen’s protective ally. Reports on Shen’s health and filming, rebuffs unfair demands, and develops an easy, sarcastic rapport with him 31 33 150 156.
• Dai Tong and Zhao Wenshu — Directors who recognize his ability and become recurring collaborators. Dai defends his casting, while Zhao gives him increasingly demanding roles 36 146 155 221.
• Huang Jiacan — Friendly colleague whom Shen helps prepare action scenes. She also witnesses his confrontation with Zheng Ge 36 53.
• Lin Fu — Friend and Blazing Fire co-star. Respects Shen’s acting and predicts that he can become a star; Shen sincerely supports Lin’s award prospects 60 70 124.
• Chang Qing — Friend and professional connection who invites him into Ethereal Immortal Journey. They discuss their relationships candidly, and Shen looks after him when he is ill 85 92 93.
• Feng Yueshan, Ning Sixian, and Zhou Yuanlin — Members of Chu’s circle who become Shen’s friends. Ning monitors his health; Feng seeks his romantic advice; Zhou exchanges relaxed banter with him 25 91 184 201.
• Chen Mu — Actor whose talent and character Shen admires. Shen intervenes against his bullies, recommends him for work, introduces him to useful contacts, and defends him against Song Yuan and Shi Zhujie 125 126 128 132 142 146.
• Zhou Tangsi — The original Shen Lian’s former love interest. Shen rejects his commanding behavior and ultimately tells him that the Shen Lian who loved him is gone 35 180 190.
• Zheng Ge and Wei Fanchen — Hostile industry rivals linked to the original fire and romantic entanglements. Shen refuses Wei’s manipulation and fiercely confronts Zheng over his treatment of Chu 28 53 70.
• Ming Lin and Chen Yan — Participants in a scheme targeting him. Shen rejects Ming’s claimed closeness to Chu and turns Chen Yan into a protected informant after hearing how she was pressured 129 148 149.
• Chu Changqi — Chu’s abusive father and Shen’s captor. Shen escapes his control and retaliates using the torture devices Changqi created 160 170 172.
• Chu Piggy and the household cats — Pets Shen feeds, plays with, and tends alongside Chu. He later welcomes an orange cat and her kittens and plans to have them spayed after recovery 51 92 184.

Notable Quotes

“It could also be a future superstar in the entertainment industry. For instance, me.”
— Answering Wei Maopeng’s claim that Chu would marry a wealthy family’s daughter 85.

“He won't have a chance to beat me in any round from now on.”
— On Zheng Ge’s prospects against him 91.

“Please, if you weren't my friend, do you think you'd get any meat out of my bowl? … Besides, I'm taken.”
— To Liu Tang, who mistakes his relationship status for a persona 147.

“Love at first sight.”
— Explaining his relationship with Chu Yilan to the original Shen Lian 276.