Liu Muyan

Biodata

Background / History

Liu Muyan grew up in S City, where the Liu and Chu families were longtime friends of equal standing. Her mother, Lan Fei, was especially close to Chu Yannan’s mother, Ling Shuang. After Yannan declared as a small child that he wanted to marry Muyan, their families arranged a childhood betrothal. The two subsequently grew up and attended school together, while their families’ business cooperation and public reputations benefited from the connection 18 25.

Muyan never regarded Yannan romantically. She valued him as a childhood companion and someone akin to family, but initially stayed silent about the betrothal to avoid embarrassing either household. Her parents mistook their closeness for mutual affection and did not seriously ask whether she wanted to marry him 27 36 53.

Her social life was also shaped by their association. She later explains that classmates and prospective friends repeatedly fell for Yannan, leaving her with few genuinely close friendships and numerous superficial relationships within their wealthy social circle 72.

Appearance

• Features: Described as strikingly beautiful, with exquisite facial features and a curvaceous figure 45.
• Complexion: Takes pride in her creamy skin and natural beauty 19.
• Grooming: Enjoys skincare and is introduced using a face mask after skipping class for some personal time 18.

Personality

Muyan is outspoken, proud, and unwilling to accept humiliation. Her polished heiress manners readily give way to profanity and biting sarcasm when Yannan treats her badly. She also knows how to use others’ expectations: after slapping him in the conservatory, she deliberately appears tearful when Chu Yanqing approaches, prompting him to reprimand his younger brother 19 26.

Her objections to Yannan’s relationship with An Qian center on responsibility and public dignity rather than romantic jealousy. She explicitly dislikes attacking a woman merely to punish a man, and initially directs her criticism at Yannan. She does, however, challenge An Qian once she believes the pair are disregarding the unresolved betrothal and its consequences for both families 36 37.

Behind her sharp tongue, Muyan is earnest and affectionate. She devotes substantial effort to a handmade gift for Yanqing, becomes bashful around him, and worries about whether he reciprocates her feelings. With Shen Zhiyi, she is openly admiring and protective—even confronting Chi Ye despite her longstanding fear of his cutting remarks 35 68 72 73.

Abilities & Skills

Drawing and Design

Muyan creates a floral design that Shen Zhiyi praises without requesting revisions 35.

• Draws three Ely Chief herbaceous peonies, her favorite flowers, as the basis for Yanqing’s gift 35.
• Revises the design over several late nights before showing it to Shen Zhiyi 35.
• Continues sketching during the Northwest trip with Madam Ye and Shen Zhiyi 85.

Woodcut Carving

Muyan learns woodcut carving from Shen Zhiyi so she can make Yanqing’s present herself rather than commission a finished piece 35.

• Begins by applying color to the board, drawing outlines, and carving under instruction 35.
• Works on an 80-centimeter-tall, 50-centimeter-wide board, with the project initially expected to take slightly more than a week 35.
• Persists despite a reddened palm and a lack of experience, expressing pride in even the first small portion she completes 35.
• Spends the following week working with Shen Zhiyi and later sands the piece in the art classroom 39 40.

Cake-Making

Muyan learns from the specialist invited to prepare desserts for Yanqing’s birthday banquet 45.

• Prepares a small cake so Yanqing can make a proper birthday wish after the business-focused event 45.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Departure from the Original Novel’s Portrayal

• Shen Zhiyi recognizes Muyan as the original novel’s supposedly vicious supporting woman, written as committing wrongdoing to win Chu Yannan 36.
• Muyan’s actual affection for Chu Yanqing, including carving his name into her gift, contradicts that characterization. Shen Zhiyi identifies this as evidence that events have already diverged from the original plot 36 37.

Rejecting the Childhood Betrothal

• A viral photograph of Yannan with An Qian brings Muyan unwanted attention. She recognizes that Shan Yirou, who urges her to intervene, secretly likes Yannan herself 18 19.
• At a family dinner, Yannan publicly announces that he will never marry Muyan. His parents reprimand him, freeze his cards, and force him to apologize 25.
• In the conservatory afterward, Muyan slaps him and condemns his arrogance and dependence on the family wealth Yanqing works to maintain 26.
• She tells her parents that she does not love Yannan and wants no engagement. Rather than resisting, they enthusiastically support her decision and apologize for their assumptions 27.

Meeting Shen Zhiyi

• Muyan hires a carving instructor at S University, only to discover that the expert is Shen Zhiyi, a senior her teacher frequently mentions. Their first lesson begins their friendship 34 35.
• After the lesson, Muyan confronts Yannan and An Qian about their public behavior while the betrothal remains unresolved. Shen Zhiyi stands beside her and eventually slaps Yannan 36.
• Muyan openly supports Shen Zhiyi afterward and tells Yannan that she is deeply disappointed in him. Chu Yanqing later takes Muyan and his younger brother away from the confrontation 37 38.

Breaking with Chu Yannan

• At Yanqing’s birthday banquet, Muyan discovers that Yannan has taken the specially prepared desserts for An Qian. Her anger concerns his thoughtlessness toward Yanqing’s celebration, but Yannan again accuses her of bullying An Qian 45 46.
• Shen Zhiyi intervenes. Muyan rejects Shan Yirou’s attempts to defend Yannan and publicly backs Shen Zhiyi during the ensuing confrontation 46 47.
• Deciding that her crush on Yanqing does not justify tolerating further humiliation, Muyan declares that she will never be with Yannan and ends their childhood friendship 47.
• Yanqing checks that she is unharmed rather than scolding her. She wishes him a happy birthday using his full name, wanting to stand beside him as an equal rather than remain confined to their established family roles 48 49.

Chu Yanqing’s Courtship

• Yanqing resigns from the Chu company and demands that his family end Muyan and Yannan’s betrothal. He then apologizes at the Liu home and throws a stone at Muyan’s window to invite her to see blooming Ely Chief flowers 53.
• Muyan accepts his invitation and shows him her floral artwork. Her father subsequently decides to put the Liu Family’s collaboration with the Chu Family on hold after the current crisis 53.
• Later, Muyan confides in Shen Zhiyi that she suspects Yanqing is pursuing her but cannot confidently interpret his behavior 72.
• With Chi Ye’s assistance, Yanqing joins them at a restaurant and pretends to feel unwell so Muyan will accompany him to the hospital 73.

Supporting Shen Zhiyi

• After the banquet, Muyan becomes especially attached to Shen Zhiyi and joins her and Madam Ye for afternoon tea. Learning that Shen Zhiyi is dating Chi Ye prompts her to challenge him openly for the first time 68.
• During the restaurant dispute involving Yannan, An Qian, and Shan Yirou, Muyan photographs the drenched trio, alerts Chi Ye, and stands beside Shen Zhiyi. She refuses Yannan’s request for a private conversation 72 73.
• When Hao Qiulan attacks Shen Zhiyi near a lake, Muyan calls the police while Chi Ye rescues Shen Zhiyi and Yanqing restrains the attacker 81.
• She later travels to the Northwest with Madam Ye and Shen Zhiyi, sketching during the trip and noticing Shen Zhiyi becoming more expressive 85.

Relationships

• Shen Zhiyi — Carving teacher turned close friend and confidante. Shen Zhiyi repeatedly defends her against false accusations; Muyan reciprocates with outspoken loyalty and concern 35 46 47 68 72.
• Chu Yanqing — Longstanding crush and later apparent romantic pursuer. Muyan admires his hard work and prepares personal gifts for him; his intervention against the betrothal allows their relationship to develop beyond her position as his brother’s intended bride 25 35 45 53 72.
• Chu Yannan — Childhood companion and former betrothed. His repeated assumptions that she loves him, public insults, and accusations of bullying destroy their friendship. She ultimately refuses further discussion with him 18 26 47 72.
• Lan Fei — Mother. Supports Muyan’s refusal to marry Yannan and later speaks favorably of Yanqing as a possible partner 27 53.
• Father Liu — Protective father. Resents Yannan’s treatment of his daughter, readily supports ending the engagement, and later suspends cooperation with the Chu Family 25 27 53.
• Chi Ye — Initially intimidating older acquaintance whose remarks during her mathematics tutoring embarrassed her in front of Yanqing. Their later exchanges become openly combative when Muyan challenges his relationship with Shen Zhiyi 35 68.
• Shan Yirou — Former superficial friend. Muyan recognizes her concealed interest in Yannan and attempts to provoke conflict; after the banquet, Shan can no longer contact her 18 46 47 69.
• An Qian — Yannan’s romantic interest and a recurring source of conflict. Muyan does not oppose their eventual relationship, but objects to their conduct before her own betrothal has been properly ended 36 37.
• Madam Ye — Social and traveling companion. They attend afternoon tea with Shen Zhiyi, share an interest in watching social drama, and later accompany her to the Northwest 68 72 85.

Notable Quotes

“I never liked Chu Yannan in the first place. He's too childish. It's just that we grew up together, so there's some affection between us, more or less. I didn't say anything before because I was worried about both families losing face.” 27

“We used to at least have our childhood friendship, but from today on, he and I are on opposite sides of the line, each going our own way. Don't pair us up again. He isn't good enough for me!” 47