Shen Xunye

Biodata

Background

Shen Xunye grew up as the heavily indulged youngest child of the wealthy Shen family. Although he did not become someone who bullied others through his family’s power, having his wishes fulfilled too easily left him unable to sustain enthusiasm for anything 4.

His grandmother, Old Madam Shen, treated him differently from her other descendants. On the day he was born, her prolonged illness improved and a stalled business project made a breakthrough. She regarded him as fortunate and spared him the demanding upbringing imposed on the rest of the family 136.

Seeking excitement, Shen Xunye became absorbed in extreme sports. After he broke his right leg twice, his family prohibited him from continuing. He later stated that both injuries healed after two or three months of rest and left no lasting effects 4 22.

A psychologist recommended romantic relationships to address his emotional emptiness. He pursued several attractive men and women, displaying intense but short-lived interest; none of these pursuits lasted more than a month, and the most recent ended within three days. Shen Yu eventually stopped this treatment 4. Shen Xunye later clarified that he had never actually dated, kissed, or slept with anyone before Chi Li, and that his earlier pursuits had partly been an effort to reassure his family 118.

Appearance

• Exceptional height: At 196 cm, he immediately towers over the other Raising House participants, including the 185-cm Zhou Yang 6.
• Muscular build: He has broad shoulders, firm pectorals, clearly defined abdominal muscles, and powerful thighs 74 106.
• Large hands: His broad palms and long fingers are repeatedly emphasized when he touches or guides Chi Li 87 89.
• Striking looks: His appearance prompts Chi Li to mistake him for an entertainment-industry artist, while viewers immediately compare him favorably with Zhou Yang 5 6.
• Later bearing: When he returns to the livestream after an extended absence, viewers remark that his face is unchanged but his demeanor has become noticeably more mature 156.

Personality

Shen Xunye is blunt, teasing, and largely unconcerned with maintaining a polite on-camera persona. He openly implies that the house’s supposedly non-actor residents are performing, dismisses Xie Weishui’s attempts to approach him, and tells him that envying Chi Li will never make him Chi Li 11 54.

His attachment to Chi Li brings out both tenderness and conspicuous possessiveness. He watches Chi Li perform with undivided attention, treasures an ungainly handmade gift, and takes pride in displaying their closeness. He also becomes jealous of former partners, professional collaborators, rival pairings, and even family members who flirt with Chi Li 23 26 55 77 95 133.

Beneath that confidence is a fear of abandonment. He admits that Chi Li’s growing popularity makes him afraid of losing him, while acknowledging that this insecurity is his own problem rather than Chi Li’s fault 149. His physician had warned that someone capable of stirring his emotions might also provoke an unusually strong, potentially pathological possessiveness 73.

Although he frequently pushes his luck, Shen Xunye accepts Chi Li’s boundaries and punishments. He follows the requirement to request kisses, reluctantly submits to a three-day kissing ban, and recognizes that jealousy does not entitle him to behave unreasonably 78 82 86 116.

Abilities & Skills

Strength and Fitness

Shen Xunye maintains a strong physique with support from a dedicated nutritionist and personal trainer arranged by Shen Yu 27.

• Lifts and carries Chi Li with ease 16 170.
• Guides Chi Li through controlled crunches and explains how to engage his core 89.
• Takes over Chestnut’s leash when the growing dog becomes difficult for Chi Li to hold 86.
• Helps loosen the soil for Chi Li’s vegetable plots 36.

Handcrafts and Photography

• Needle felting: Makes a refined felted kitten as a return gift for Chi Li 77.
• Photography: Takes Chi Li’s promotional photo during an online controversy and later photographs him during his assistant assignment 39 113.
• Perfume blending: Learns to blend perfume at the Shen family banquet and exchanges his creation with Chi Li 138.

Performance Experience and Limitations

Shen Xunye initially admits that he is not good at acting. His introduction as a newcomer in Starlight Entertainment’s film and television division is a cover rather than an established acting career 4 5 6 26.

• Performs a dramatic confrontation scene opposite Chi Li under Shen Qiang’s coaching 70.
• Later participates in filming as a younger-brother character opposite Chi Li and Lu Wei 114.
• Has little aptitude for dance; Chi Li describes his stiff movements as resembling a rusty robot 27.
• Is a poor singer, according to Chi Li’s immediate refusal to hear him sing 159.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Joining *Raising House*

Shen Xunye agrees to become Chi Li’s staged bromance partner after Shen Yu summons him to criticize his drinking and partying. Shen Yu warns that pursuing one of his artists on a livestream will not be easy to abandon, but Shen Xunye insists that Chi Li is different 4.

Chi Li establishes their arrangement: they will pretend not to know each other initially, create romantic tension, and compete for screen time. He also requires Shen Xunye to promote a pairing only with him 5. Their ship becomes known as Night Ashes Dawn 43.

The partnership quickly extends beyond performance. Shen Xunye helps Chi Li fend off Zhou Yang’s unwanted advances, stays until two in the morning after watching a comedy with him, and tucks him into bed before leaving 35 36. When Chi Li faces online abuse, Shen Xunye takes his promotional photo and asks Shen Qiang to intervene, hoping that one celebrity’s fans withdrawing will encourage the others to follow 39 40.

Becoming Chi Li’s Boyfriend

Their staged intimacy develops into private kisses and increasingly explicit negotiations over affection. After Shen Xunye kisses him in a bathroom, Chi Li requires advance applications for future kisses; a later overlong encounter earns Shen Xunye three days without them 77 78 82.

When Chi Li leaves for a film cameo, Shen Xunye objects to the appointment of Wu You as his assistant and obtains a two-day trial in the role instead 111. During the trip, he explains the truth about his earlier romantic pursuits and his treatment history 118. By the following morning, he has become Chi Li’s boyfriend while continuing his assistant duties 119.

Chi Li subsequently confirms to Li Ming that they are dating, though they intend to keep the relationship unofficial publicly 126.

Confronting the Shen Family

Shen Xunye brings Chi Li to his eldest uncle’s birthday banquet and introduces him openly as his boyfriend. He nevertheless asks relatives to use Chi Li’s name rather than define him only through their relationship 132 133.

When Old Madam Shen insults Chi Li and his parents, Shen Xunye immediately shields him and states that he was the pursuer 134. He offers to confront his grandmother himself, but Chi Li insists on meeting her alone 136.

Shen Xunye briefly considers ending the relationship if staying together would cost Chi Li his career, then abandons the idea because he cannot bear to separate 138. The confrontation also changes his ambitions: he decides that merely spending family money will never give him enough influence to protect Chi Li within the household 138.

Building a Career and Home

After leaving the show, Shen Xunye turns toward business. Shen Qiang publicly confirms that they are biological brothers, while the teams stop short of announcing Shen Xunye and Chi Li’s relationship 142.

Shen Xunye later confirms the approval and construction of a new music-performance show, Signal, whose debut features performers who have continued pursuing music despite limited opportunities 157 160. Later online discussion also reports that his company is developing a science-fiction filming complex using cutting-edge technology 174.

He and Chi Li move into a shared home filled with matching couple items 159. Shen Xunye introduces Chi Li as his boyfriend at the company’s annual gala, but a formal public announcement remains deferred. When he presses the issue at a family gathering, his relatives prioritize Chi Li’s career; Chi Li teasingly promises an announcement when Shen Xunye turns thirty 172 174.

Relationships

• Chi Li — His staged bromance partner, first actual romantic partner, and eventual live-in boyfriend. Chi Li gives him emotional fulfillment while refusing to indulge every demand; he later reassures Shen Xunye that he loves him uniquely and wants to spend his life with him 86 118 149 159.
• Shen Yu — His eldest brother and the head of Starlight Entertainment. He tries to redirect Shen Xunye toward worthwhile activity, objects to his short-lived pursuits, and arranges professional support for his health and fitness 4 27 138.
• Shen Qiang — His second brother, a top star who helps Chi Li but also enjoys provoking Shen Xunye’s jealousy. He recognizes that Shen Xunye’s feelings are genuine and warns Chi Li about his possible possessiveness 40 60 73.
• Shen Wei — His older sister. Initially concerned that his variety-show behavior might damage the family’s reputation, she notices his unusual eagerness to return to Chi Li 17 18.
• Old Madam Shen — His grandmother and the founder of the Shen family’s business empire. Her special treatment contributes to his upbringing; her fear of losing Chi Li as his emotional support drives her interference in their relationship 133 136 137.
• Shen Ling — His cousin and a fan of Night Ashes Dawn. Her enthusiasm for pairing Chi Li with other men repeatedly provokes him 132 133.
• Zhou Yang — Chi Li’s ex-boyfriend and an early romantic antagonist. Shen Xunye helps drive him away from Chi Li and deliberately aggravates him by flaunting their closeness 35 36 48.
• Jiang Yue — A professional collaborator of Chi Li’s and an acknowledged romantic rival. Shen Xunye rejects his prediction that the relationship will end and insists that colleagues onstage are distinct from the lover waiting at home 121 122.
• Jiang Lele — A fellow participant whom Shen Xunye recruits as an ally by appealing to his sympathy, then uses as an audience for showing off his relationship 82.
• Xie Weishui — A fellow participant whose attempts at intimacy Shen Xunye firmly rejects. Shen Xunye also warns him when his remarks target Chi Li 54 87.
• Chestnut — The dog he walks and plays with alongside Chi Li; he also shops for dog supplies 27 53 86.

Personal Items

• Felted cloud puppy: A crooked handmade gift from Chi Li that Shen Xunye receives with obvious delight 77.
• Couple bracelets: Matching accessories he pointedly emphasizes when Shen Qiang suggests giving Chi Li another bracelet 76.
• Blended perfume: A handmade fragrance exchanged with Chi Li at the family banquet 138.
• Matching household items: Furnish their shared home after Chi Li leaves the livestream residence 159.

Notable Quotes

“Work isn't the only thing people can have in common. And we won't break up. Ever.” 122

“Once he comes offstage, he'll go home with his ‘lover,’ who's been watching him and waiting for him in the audience.” 122

“Night Ashes Dawn must never be split or reversed.” 133

“I don't want to have to push my boyfriend out in front again the next time something like this happens.” 138