Song Nianxing

Biodata

Background / History

Song Nianxing grew up in an orphanage alongside Jiang Jingzhe. His delicate appearance made him a target for bullying, and Jiang repeatedly defended him, becoming the person he trusted and depended on most. The two chose to share a birthday and promised to celebrate it together every year 2 24 37.

Their closeness continued into their early entertainment careers. They belonged to the same boy band, shared accommodation, and experienced periods of poverty together. When an unfamiliar dormitory left Song unable to sleep, Jiang comforted him and brought belongings from their previous rental to help him settle in 4 5 6 36.

By the beginning of Starstruck Moments, their careers had diverged: Jiang had become famous, while Song remained obscure and faced persistent online abuse. Song’s manager belittled his standing and warned him against associating with Jiang. Viewers accused him of exploiting better-known celebrities, although his fans claimed that his lack of opportunities resulted from refusing the company’s attempts to connect him with wealthy patrons 1 3 4 23.

Appearance

Song Nianxing is notably pretty, with delicate features and a slight, slender build. Other guests openly praise his appearance, with Du Yuesi expressing surprise that he looks as good in person as in photographs 2 8 16.

• Fair complexion and long eyelashes are repeatedly noted 2 3 34.
• Easily visible blushing often begins at his ears and spreads across his face when Shen Siyi flirts with him 2 10 22.
• Tear-reddened eyes frequently accompany his fear or distress; the narration compares him to a frightened rabbit 2 32.

Personality

Song Nianxing is anxious, sensitive, and deeply afraid of abandonment. He describes his crying as uselessness, but the narration explains that he has been unable to control his tears when upset since birth. Unfamiliar surroundings disrupt his sleep, while familiar possessions help him feel secure 2 3 4.

Childhood bullying has left him instinctively resistant to close physical contact. Nevertheless, he often treats his discomfort as a personal failing and worries that refusing someone’s touch is unfair to them. Shen Siyi repeatedly uses this guilt to encourage greater intimacy 15 16.

He is quick to apologize and reluctant to trouble others. His admiration for Shen becomes especially self-effacing: he regards Shen as nearly perfect and fears that becoming his partner would introduce a flaw into that perfection. He also feels compelled to repay kindness, sometimes interpreting intimate cooperation as something he owes 1 3 15 39.

Despite his habitual compliance, Song can defend both himself and others. He stops Jiang from attacking Shen, openly challenges Jiang’s double standards, and eventually rejects their former closeness after Jiang becomes violent 7 28 32 36.

His ideal partner is gentle, and he dreams of cooking together because he longs for a sense of home. His actual cooking ability is limited: his knife work draws teasing, and his fried eggs turn out excessively salty 10 11 20.

Story Role / Major Arcs

First Encounter with Shen Siyi

Song first appears waking beside Shen after a sexual encounter he initially mistakes for a dream. Believing he has wronged his admired senior, he offers to make amends. Shen reassures him and arranges food, replacement clothing, and privacy, reinforcing Song’s impression that he is exceptionally considerate 1.

Stalking and the Dating Show

During the promotional shoot for Starstruck Moments, Song receives obscene messages from someone who knows his schedule. He seeks Jiang’s help, only to be dismissed and told to keep his distance. Shen instead comforts him and gives him a star plushie, which secretly contains surveillance equipment 2.

Online hostility intensifies after Song posts photographs with the plushie and Jiang unfollows him. Shen privately calls to comfort him, apologizes for abuse committed in his name, and follows Song’s account 3.

On the show, Song publicly reveals that he likes men and has had sex once with a man. Jiang responds with disgust, then privately grabs and interrogates him. Shen intervenes and identifies himself as Song’s sexual partner. After stopping Jiang’s attempted attack, Song tells Shen about the obscene messages and unwanted adult toys, accepting his promise of protection 5 6 7.

Choosing Shen Siyi

Song and Shen choose each other for intimacy tasks, cook together, and exchange affectionate messages. Shen’s apparent understanding of his fears increasingly makes him Song’s first choice for help, replacing Jiang in that role 9 10 12 17.

After another stalker threat, Song agrees to leave the villa with Shen for two days. Their date includes an amusement park that Jiang had repeatedly promised—but failed—to visit with him. When they encounter Jiang there, Song firmly states that he is happy to have chosen Shen 24 26 28.

Shen also celebrates Song’s birthday a day early. Song is moved by being remembered, explaining that he does not know his actual birthday and that few people have ever celebrated it 29.

Breaking with Jiang Jingzhe

After the date, Jiang corners Song inside his home, accuses him of belonging to him, and attempts to force a kiss. Song breaks free and slaps him. Shortly afterward, the stalker sends a photograph of the area below Song’s recently changed residence, prompting him to contact Shen for help 32.

Song stays at Shen’s home and later agrees to move his belongings there because he feels safer with him. When Jiang attacks Shen during their return to collect Song’s things, Song intervenes and tells Jiang that they should pretend they never knew each other 33 34 36.

Footage of the fight spreads online. A former orphanage acquaintance then publishes photographs and testimony establishing Song and Jiang’s childhood closeness, contradicting claims that Song had merely forced a connection with him. Song subsequently promises Shen that he will stay away from Jiang 37.

Confession, Dependence, and Suspicion

Song struggles to distinguish gratitude from romantic attraction. He cares for Shen’s injuries and fever, unaware that Shen deliberately caused the fever to obtain his attention. Later, while considering Shen’s confession, Song avoids casual physical contact because he fears it could be mistaken for an answer 35 39 42 43.

On the island, Song refuses both the reward and punishment attached to an intimacy task. Shen responds with apparent heartbreak and withdraws. When a familiar box and threatening messages arrive outside Song’s tent, unanswered calls to Shen leave him terrified. Upon Shen’s return, Song begs not to be abandoned and agrees to stay by his side 45 46.

Song subsequently catches Shen smelling his clothes and becomes frightened by the resemblance to his stalker’s messages. He accepts Shen’s explanation that he was curious about the detergent, then kisses him as an apology for doubting him 47.

His suspicions return over a private photograph used as Shen’s wallpaper. Shen says he purchased exclusive rights to protect Song’s privacy; Song’s manager confirms the purchase. Reassured, Song offers to take more private photographs, remaining unaware of the extent of Shen’s obsessive surveillance 49.

Equipment / Personal Items

• Star plushie — A gift from Shen that Song holds while sleeping and uses for comfort. It conceals surveillance equipment and a sensory link through which Shen can feel Song touching it; Song does not know its true function 2 6 16 17 46.
• Familiar belongings — Brought to the dating-show villa to lessen his stress and help him sleep in an unfamiliar environment 4.
• Amusement-park plush toys — Won together with Shen and carried home after their date. Seeing them after the confrontation with Jiang reminds Song to seek Shen’s help 32.

Relationships

• Shen Siyi — His idol, sexual partner, and developing romantic interest. Song increasingly sees him as a source of safety, while Shen secretly monitors him and manipulates his guilt and fear of abandonment 1 17 39 46 49.
• Jiang Jingzhe — Childhood friend, former primary source of security, and fellow boy-band member. Their bond breaks down through Jiang’s rejection, possessiveness, and violence; Song ultimately promises to avoid him 2 6 32 36 37.
• Qiu Bailu — Fellow contestant and Jiang’s public romantic pairing. Qiu mocks Song’s luggage and comments on his growing closeness with Shen 4 16.
• Chen Mingyi — Fellow contestant who objects to Song being bullied and tries to protect him, though she initially misunderstands his encounter with Shen as a past relationship 8 14 26.
• Yuan Man — Fellow contestant who finds Song cute, teases his poor cooking, and offers to teach him knife work 11 12 19.
• Wen Xian — Shen’s manager, not Song’s. His harsh remarks lead Song to believe he is unwelcome, although Wen recognizes the surveillance hidden in Shen’s gift and condemns Shen’s behavior 1 2 34.
• Unnamed manager — Belittles Song’s career and association with Jiang. Later confirms that Shen purchased Song’s private photographs and arranged punishment for the manager’s taking them 4 49.

Notable Quotes

“Didn't you tell me to stay away from you? Then whoever I sleep with is none of your business.” 7

“I chose Senior Shen today, and I'm super happy Senior Shen chose me too. Besides, the amusement park really is fun. I've wanted to come for ages, and I should have come ages ago.” 28

“After all... after all, I don't even know my real birthday myself, and there weren't many people in this world who remembered my birthday to begin with.” 29