Biodata
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Sheng Xia (盛夏) |
| Gender | Female |
| Affiliation | Sheng family |
| First Appearance | 31 |
Background / History
Sheng Xia was born after her father, Sheng Zigui, had succeeded within the Sheng family. Unlike her elder sister Sheng Mo, Sheng Xia received conspicuous affection and indulgence from their parents: her birthdays were celebrated and recorded in family photographs, while Sheng Mo's were ignored. This unequal treatment helped turn the sisters' early distance into mutual jealousy and resentment. Sheng Xia grew jealous of Sheng Mo's accomplishments and learned to use their parents' favoritism to provoke her sister. 127
She was engaged to Gu Yijin and remained committed to him when the possibility arose that the Sheng and Gu families might replace him as her fiancé. 31 At the Sheng family banquet, however, she was immediately struck by Shen Qingling's appearance. Though she initially disparaged him as Ruan Mingyi's hired escort, his piano performance deepened her attraction. 32 33 35 Her relationship with Gu Yijin was damaged when Sheng Xia was led to find him with another woman. 42 She later told Shen Qingling that she no longer liked Gu Yijin and was willing to clarify their relationship. 83
Her rivalry with Sheng Mo later expanded to Shen Qingling. After learning that Sheng Mo intended to marry him, Sheng Xia confronted her sister, proposed that they share him in a polygamous arrangement, and vowed to secure him for herself when Sheng Mo refused. 89 Sheng Mo repeatedly warned her away, but Sheng Xia continued pursuing him. 122
Personality
Sheng Xia is competitive, jealous, and emotionally impulsive, particularly where Sheng Mo and Shen Qingling are concerned. Her privileged upbringing gave her a sense of entitlement, while her long-standing comparison with Sheng Mo made her sensitive to being ignored, outperformed, or treated as secondary. 127 132
She can be manipulative and reckless in pursuit of affection, including disguising herself as a nurse to approach Shen Qingling and impulsively kissing him amid a dispute with the other women around him. 147 169 However, she also shows resilience, sincerity, and a capacity for change: she attempts to apologize for past actions, seeks Shen Qingling's forgiveness, and ultimately tries to rescue Sheng Mo from a fire despite their history. 82 140 254
Sheng Xia is unusually forthright about her affection for Shen Qingling, even when this exposes her to ridicule or places her at a disadvantage against more reserved rivals. 503 Her confidence can also exceed her actual ability, as shown when she boasts about her mahjong skill before repeatedly making basic mistakes. 633
Relationships
- Sheng Mo — Elder sister and principal rival. Their relationship is shaped by childhood favoritism, resentment, conflicts over Shen Qingling, and Sheng Xia's eventual attempt to save her from a fire. Sheng Xia later supports Sheng Mo's plans concerning Shen Qingling and expresses a wish to live with the couple should Sheng Mo marry him. 89 127 140 144
- Sheng Zigui — Father. He indulged Sheng Xia as compensation for his earlier neglect of Sheng Mo. 127
- Sheng Xia's mother — Mother whose preferential treatment of Sheng Xia widened the divide between the sisters. 127
- Gu Yijin — Former fiancé. Sheng Xia initially reaffirmed her commitment to him, but later discovered him with another woman; they clash again when he interferes with her attempt to reconcile with Shen Qingling. 31 42 254
- Shen Qingling — Object of Sheng Xia's increasingly determined affection. His kindness after her confrontation with Sheng Mo and during preparations for Sheng Mo's birthday deepens her feelings, though he later treats her coldly. A card-and-firework display prepared for her brings her affection to its peak. 82 136 137 254
- Ruan Mingyi — Rival and occasional ally in pursuing Shen Qingling. They argue, protect him from other admirers, and later strategize together against Shen Qi. They also jointly tease and challenge Pei Shishi as a new competitor. 151 239 254 505
- Lin Xingmian — Becomes Sheng Xia's friend after visiting the Sheng residence with homemade ice cream. Lin Xingmian later supports Sheng Xia by praising her courage in openly expressing her feelings for Shen Qingling. 198 328 503
- Fang Qingran — Misled Sheng Xia to the men's restroom, where she discovered Gu Yijin with another woman. 42
- Shen Qi — A perceived threat to Sheng Xia and the other women because of her status as Shen Qingling's prospective arranged-marriage partner. Sheng Xia joins Ruan Mingyi in planning to compete against her. 239 254
- Pei Shishi — A later romantic rival for Shen Qingling. Sheng Xia is hostile toward Pei Shishi's pursuit, publicly clashes with her, and joins Ruan Mingyi in teasing her. 502 503 504 505
Story Role / Major Arcs
Engagement and betrayal
At a banquet involving the Gu and Sheng families, Sheng Xia and Gu Yijin reaffirm their commitment despite pressure that he could be replaced as her fiancé. 31 Her faith in the relationship is later undermined when she finds him with another woman after Fang Qingran directs her to the men's restroom. 42
First attraction to Shen Qingling
Sheng Xia first notices Shen Qingling at the Sheng family banquet and is captivated by his appearance, despite her initial hostility toward Ruan Mingyi. 32 33 When Gu Yijin attempts to humiliate Shen Qingling through a piano contest, Shen Qingling's performance instead leaves Sheng Xia astonished and intensifies her interest. 35
Conflict with Sheng Mo
Sheng Xia's interest in Shen Qingling turns her rivalry with Sheng Mo into an open confrontation. She disputes Sheng Mo's claimed relationship with him, proposes sharing him, and resolves to compete directly for him. 89 Sheng Mo's possessiveness keeps Sheng Xia cautious but does not extinguish her interest. 122
Pursuit of Shen Qingling
After Sheng Mo attacks her, Sheng Xia collapses and receives discreet help from Shen Qingling, who gives her a silk scarf to conceal marks on her neck. 82 His consideration, along with later kindness while helping her wash dishes, intensifies her attraction. 136
She makes increasingly direct attempts to get close to him, including posing as a nurse during his hospitalization, confronting rivals on campus, and kissing him impulsively after he defends Sang Yin. 147 151 169 Her unanswered messages later expose the emotional vulnerability beneath her persistence. 197
During preparations for Sheng Mo's birthday, Shen Qingling gives Sheng Xia a card featuring her profile and arranges fireworks that frame it with butterfly wings. The gesture brings Sheng Xia's Heart-Throb Score to 100. 137
Reconciliation attempts
Although Sheng Xia resents Sheng Mo's closeness with Shen Qingling and feels used by them, she chooses to try saving Sheng Mo during a fire. 132 140 She also becomes friendlier with Lin Xingmian, treating her as a friend rather than solely as another rival for Shen Qingling's attention. 198
When Shen Qi emerges as a prospective arranged-marriage candidate for Shen Qingling, Sheng Xia joins Ruan Mingyi in considering practical ways to compete for him. 239 She later apologizes to Shen Qingling and seeks forgiveness, but he remains distant; Gu Yijin's intervention leads Sheng Xia to slap him. 254
Rivalry with Pei Shishi
As Pei Shishi becomes attached to Shen Qingling during the dating show, Sheng Xia regards her as a new rival. Encouraged by Lin Xingmian, Sheng Xia takes pride in having the courage to openly acknowledge her feelings for Shen Qingling. 503
When she meets Pei Shishi, Sheng Xia publicly identifies herself as Shen Qingling's fiancée, only for Gu Yijin to expose that she previously rejected the proposed marriage. 504 She and Ruan Mingyi subsequently participate in undermining Pei Shishi's confidence through teasing. 505
Mahjong contest
During a competition to determine villa-selection privileges and other rewards, Sheng Xia volunteers to replace Sheng Mo at the mahjong table, claiming a history of frequent victories. She repeatedly makes elementary mistakes and is removed from the game, prompting Ruan Mingyi to suggest that others had merely let Sheng Xia win in the past to curry favor with her. 633
Trivia
- Sheng Xia had not called Sheng Mo “Sister” since an earlier unspecified incident until she used the term to escape Sheng Mo's attack. 82
- She accidentally splashed herself with tomato juice while trying to impress Shen Qingling. 136
- Her rivalry with Ruan Mingyi can shift into cooperation when they face a common romantic competitor. 151
- Shen Qi characterizes Sheng Xia as the “legendary edition” of the similarly spoiled and love-struck Pei Shishi. 513
- Despite claiming to be skilled at mahjong, Sheng Xia performs so poorly in a high-stakes game that she is replaced by Sheng Mo. 633