Mu Chen

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and Adoption

Known as Yan Chen during childhood, Mu Chen entered Warm Home Orphanage after both his parents died. He was frequently ill and initially lacked even the will to live. Gu Nian’an’s companionship and care helped him survive those years, when the understaffed orphanage had no outside financial support 97 108 121.

The two children treated each other as brothers. Mu Chen helped the younger Gu Nian’an obtain food when the children fought over meals, while Gu Nian’an cared for him during fevers and sang to soothe him. They also huddled together for warmth during winter 97.

Mu Chen was adopted at ten by parents he came to regard as his own birth parents. After learning that the orphanage had received funding, he assumed Gu Nian’an would be doing well and never returned to visit. He later acknowledged that shame about his past and fear of facing painful memories had also driven his avoidance 49 108 121.

Acting Career

Mu Chen became famous at a young age and won a Best Actor award after reaching adulthood through The Emperor’s Heart. By the time he accepted In the Name of Love, he considered himself at a professional plateau: he had won numerous awards but no longer felt his former dedication to acting 4 82.

He initially intended to decline Ai Mingzhu’s offer to play Wen Chen. Reading the script changed his mind; despite having performed more elaborate stories, he felt an unusually personal connection to this role 82.

Appearance

• Overall appearance: Extremely handsome, with a gentle, refined air that Gu Nian’an considers consistent with his personality 4.
• Distinguishing features: Well-shaped lips and expressive eyes that appear gentle even when he is not smiling 4.

Personality

Mu Chen is gentle, considerate, and careful about other people’s discomfort. When Gu Nian’an does not want to explain his distress over the kitten, Mu Chen keeps him company without pressing for answers. He also recognizes when a casual question has touched on painful memories and stops pursuing the subject 5 14.

He is willing to revise his judgments. Although online rumors initially prejudiced him against Gu Nian’an, meeting him leads Mu Chen to reject those impressions. His support later becomes outspoken: he defends Gu Nian’an’s acting despite criticism from his own fans and publicly reveals his private childhood history to counter further rumors 4 47 90 121.

Beneath his composed manner, Mu Chen carries guilt about leaving Gu Nian’an behind. Learning what happened during their separation intensifies his self-reproach. His romantic feelings ultimately give way to an expressed wish for Gu Nian’an’s freedom and happiness, alongside acceptance of Fu Xiuyuan as his partner 58 93 108.

Abilities & Skills

Acting

Mu Chen is an experienced, award-winning actor capable of conveying emotions that are not explicitly written into a script 4 108.

• Portrays Wen Chen’s love for Gu An even though Ai Mingzhu did not include that detail in the screenplay 108.
• Receives Ai Mingzhu’s praise for his performance in the piano-competition scenes 92.
• Becomes unusually absorbed in Wen Chen’s emotions, sometimes remaining affected after a scene ends 92 93.

Psychological Observation

Having previously played a psychiatrist, Mu Chen thoroughly studied psychology for the role 15.

• Recognizes that Gu Nian’an’s trembling during his collapse indicates pain rather than low blood sugar 9.
• Notices Gu Nian’an’s grief during the fireworks display and quietly takes his hand to comfort him 9.
• Identifies a discrepancy between Gu Nian’an’s avoidance of the kitten and his practiced way of holding it 15.

Physical Fitness

• Completes thirty push-ups with Gu Nian’an sitting across his lower back during a variety-show challenge 7.

Known Screen Appearances

Story Role / Major Arcs

Reunion on *Leisurely Little House*

• First interactions: Helps Gu Nian’an wash vegetables and tells him that meeting him has undermined the rumors he previously believed 4.
• Team challenges: Joins Gu Nian’an and Yu Songqing in the city treasure hunt. His attention repeatedly turns to their closeness, including their joined hands during the push-up challenge 7 8.
• Gu Nian’an’s collapse: Catches him when he faints and later recognizes that the episode involved significant pain 8 9.
• Fireworks and the kitten: Comforts Gu Nian’an at the mountain summit and remains attentive when the production team’s kitten triggers another distressed reaction 9 14 15.

Mountain-Village Filming

• Roommates: Shares a room and its only bed with Gu Nian’an, readily agreeing to the arrangement 45 46.
• Private disclosure: Reveals that he was adopted and describes his loving adoptive family to reassure Gu Nian’an that he, too, can find family again. At this point, Mu Chen has never publicly disclosed his adoption 49.
• Concealed recognition: Has already recognized Gu Nian’an as his childhood companion but initially chooses to remain nearby, hoping Gu Nian’an will remember him independently 58.
• Renewed guilt: Online revelations about Gu Nian’an’s suffering leave him distressed that he enjoyed a loving home while remaining unaware of what his former companion endured 58.

*In the Name of Love* and Wen Chen’s Consciousness

• Casting: Accepts the supporting role of Wen Chen because the character feels personally significant. He likewise believes Gu Nian’an is exceptionally suited to playing Gu An 82.
• Public defense: Endorses the script and Gu Nian’an’s acting when publicity stills provoke accusations of favoritism. He continues arguing in Gu Nian’an’s defense despite hostile responses 90.
• Romantic realization: During filming, recognizes that his feelings for Gu Nian’an extend beyond friendship, both within the role and outside it 93.
• Connection explained: Yu Meng later confirms that a sliver of Wen Chen’s consciousness attracted and merged with Mu Chen’s consciousness. Mu Chen remains dominant; the revelation does not erase his separate identity 103.

Recognition and Reconciliation

• Childhood identity revealed: After the wrap party, tells Gu Nian’an that he grew up at Warm Home Orphanage and was named Yan Chen. Gu Nian’an recognizes him as his childhood “big brother” 97.
• Apology: Expresses regret for never returning after his adoption. Gu Nian’an reassures him that he is happy now, and Mu Chen asks him to resume calling him “big brother” 97.
• Interview acknowledgment: Confirms that Wen Chen loved Gu An from their first meeting, then says that he shares Wen Chen’s wish for Gu An’s freedom and happiness 108.
• Emotional reconciliation: After the interview, Gu Nian’an brings him an umbrella and affirms the value of their childhood memories. Mu Chen breaks down in tears over his avoidance and regrets, then asks Fu Xiuyuan to treat Gu Nian’an well 108.

Public Support and Wedding Gift

• Orphanage history made public: During another wave of rumors, reveals that Gu Nian’an repeatedly cared for him as a sick child. He credits Gu Nian’an with helping him grow up safely 121.
• Wedding absence: Cannot attend Gu Nian’an and Fu Xiuyuan’s wedding because he is filming out of town, but arranges delivery of a present 172.
• Gift contents: Sends a watercolor painting they made together, a white scarf he had left unfinished before leaving the orphanage, and a card identifying Gu Nian’an as family. Gu Nian’an reciprocates that acknowledgment, and Mu Chen sends his wedding wishes 172.

Relationships

• Gu Nian’an — Childhood companion, younger-brother figure, colleague, and romantic interest. Their relationship ultimately centers on mutual recognition as family and Mu Chen’s acceptance of Gu Nian’an’s happiness with Fu Xiuyuan 93 97 108 172.
• Adoptive parents — Took him home at age ten and provided a loving family. He regards them as his birth parents rather than drawing a distinction based on adoption 49.
• Wen Chen — His role in In the Name of Love and a person whose consciousness partially merged with his own; Mu Chen’s consciousness remains dominant 82 103.
• Fu Xiuyuan — Gu Nian’an’s partner. Following his reconciliation with Gu Nian’an, Mu Chen explicitly asks Fu Xiuyuan to care for him well 108.
• Ai Mingzhu — Director who invites him to play Wen Chen and praises his ability to communicate the character’s unwritten romantic feelings 82 108.
• Yu Songqing — Fellow variety-show guest and treasure-hunt teammate. Mu Chen closely observes his growing intimacy with Gu Nian’an 7 8 9.

Notable Quotes

“Being so considerate of others that you often neglect your own feelings isn’t a good habit.” 47

“But Wen Chen wanted Gu An to find freedom and happiness. So do I.” 108

“I’ve long since thought of you as my family, too. You must be happy, An’an.” 172