Shang Shuchen

Biodata

Background / History

Shangyu’s Staffing Crisis

Shang Shuchen founded Shangyu Entertainment Co., Ltd., a company primarily producing films and television dramas. A strict director who became a company boss, he regarded filmmaking as a hobby but maintained high standards for actors. Before the staffing crisis, he had not worked with trainees 54.

Shangyu suffered a wave of departures: actors nearing the ends of their contracts refused to renew, while others were poached by Chao Ci Entertainment. When Shang Shujue offered to introduce replacement talent, Shuchen readily accepted. Hu Zhiyuan, Li Ru, Zheng Jiaye, and Zhou Wangqi subsequently signed with the company 54 64.

The Fortune-Draining Antique

The company’s decline coincided with a supernatural attack by the former World Consciousness, which targeted Shuchen as a warning to Shang Shujue. Death qi surrounded Shangyu, and a dangerous antique box containing a human skullcap sat in Shuchen’s office. He had paid eight million for it 62 63.

Nuomi removed the death qi attached to Shuchen and protected his remaining purple qi and fortune. As the influence weakened, Shuchen’s exhaustion, irritability, and disproportionate despair over the resignations began to fade 62 63.

During the visit, Shuchen unexpectedly heard Shang Shujue’s thoughts. Startled, he scalded his hand, which his younger brother treated. He allowed Shang Shujue to take the antique, then learned from Hu Zhiyuan that the four newcomers could also hear those thoughts and that their world involved a novel coming to life 63.

Family Revelations

When Shang Shujue fell unconscious, Shuchen helped inform the family about his condition and stayed at his bedside. He privately questioned whether the changed young man was still their Xiao Jue; Yun Yuanmei reassured him that Xiao Jue would remain his younger brother 110.

After Shang Shujue awoke, Shuchen helped him carry his IV stand to the bathroom. Through the thoughts they overheard, the family learned that the Shang Shujue they had raised was working as a raider for the Quick Transmigration Bureau. Shuchen also discreetly warned his relatives not to make their eavesdropping obvious 111.

Shangyu’s Recovery

By the riding-ground visit, Shangyu’s crisis had been resolved. Shuchen had recruited fifteen talented performers from the twenty-one recently eliminated trainees. Having previously been let down by subordinates, he now selected recruits personally 112 113.

He sent Hu Zhiyuan and the other three initial recruits to different production crews. At the riding grounds, he worked with Wen Shaojie, Xia Dongyuan, Fang Shaodong, Han Ziqi, and Zhao Yuanli, all former trainees signed to Shangyu 113.

Life in the Bureau’s Main World

After his physical body died, Shuchen moved to the Quick Transmigration Bureau’s main world and became an employee there. He later encountered Shang Shujue and Song Yanqing at the bureau and brought them home for a family reunion, where Shang Shunan and Song Hengzhe were also living 232.

Appearance

• Exceptionally handsome; when standing beside Shang Shujue, the two are described as attractive in distinct ways 62.

Personality

Shuchen is openly affectionate and exuberant with his younger brother. He promises Shang Shujue spending money for helping Shangyu and later greets him with an exaggerated declaration of how much he has missed him. His enthusiasm can become clumsy: during their reunion at the riding grounds, he shakes Shujue in a hug and accidentally steps on his foot 62 113.

His professional strictness contrasts with his playful behavior around family. Even while enjoying his brothers’ horse race, he looks for useful promotional photographs and considers whether Shang Shujue would suit a role in his production 54 119.

Abilities & Skills

Directing and Talent Selection

Shuchen combines demanding casting standards with an active role in production decisions 54 113.

• Recruitment: Personally selects former trainees for Shangyu after the company’s staffing crisis 112 113.
• Character development: Contacts the screenwriter to give Xia Dongyuan a merfolk identity in Rosy Clouds, Moon, and Years of Light 116 118.
• Casting judgment: Watching Shang Shujue ride, identifies him as a potential fit for Yuqing, a general of the human realm 119.
• Promotion: Directs the others to photograph the horse race for promotional use 119.

Hearing Shang Shujue’s Inner Thoughts

Shuchen begins hearing his younger brother’s thoughts during the visit to his office 63.

• Learns about the antique’s danger and the supernatural threat to his company 63.
• Keeps his awareness hidden from Shang Shujue and signals relatives to avoid revealing that they are listening 111.
• Warns the chief director to keep the unusual phenomenon confidential when it occurs around the filming crew 114.

Equipment / Items

• Flashy convertible — Drives it to the riding grounds when Shang Shunan summons him for the horse race 118.
• Body-Protecting Life Pearls — Among the protective gifts given to the Shang family by Shang Shujue’s other self. Nuomi explains that the pearls should be bound with blood and worn daily; after their wearers die, the bureau’s HR department can collect them 111.

Relationships

• Shang Shujue — Younger brother who supplies Shangyu with recruits and saves Shuchen from the fortune-draining antique. Shuchen remains affectionate toward him after learning about his other-world identity 54 62 63 111 113.
• Shang Shunan — Elder brother. Shuchen joins him and Shang Shujue at the riding grounds and starts their horse race by lowering the flag 113 119.
• Yun Yuanmei — Mother and confidante during his uncertainty about Shang Shujue’s changed identity 110.
• Shang Yuanzhen — Father; joins the family gathered during Shang Shujue’s hospitalization 131.
• Shang Shuyu and Shang Shuying — Sisters. Shuchen shares hospital visits with them and leaves alongside Shuying when Shuyu stays to care for Shang Shujue 111 131.
• Hu Zhiyuan, Li Ru, Zheng Jiaye, and Zhou Wangqi — Shangyu’s first four recruits introduced through Shang Shujue; Hu Zhiyuan explains the inner-thought phenomenon to him 54 63 64.
• Xia Dongyuan — Signed performer whose exposed mermaid fantasies inspire Shuchen to arrange a merfolk identity for his drama character 116 118.

Notable Quotes

“Little brother—your second brother missed you to death! One day apart feels like three autumns, four autumns, five or six autumns—” 113

“I'm his second brother. Would I hurt him?! Enough nonsense. Start taking pictures!” 119