Sheng Xia

Biodata

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 Their relationship was damaged when Sheng Xia was led to find Gu Yijin with another woman. 42

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

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. 89 127 140
• 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. 82 136 254
• Ruan Mingyi — Rival and occasional ally in pursuing Shen Qingling. They argue, protect him from other admirers, and later strategize together against Shen Qi. 151 239 254
• Lin Xingmian — Becomes Sheng Xia's friend after visiting the Sheng residence with homemade ice cream. 198
• Fang Qingran — Misled Sheng Xia to the men's restroom, where she discovered Gu Yijin with another woman. 42

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

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

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

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