Shang Yan

Biodata

Background / History

Early life and family leadership

Shang Yan began taking over Shang Household affairs while still in middle school. Although he had only recently come of age when introduced, he was already the household’s unquestioned head 5.

His early maturity and the approval of the other heirs’ elders gave him considerable authority within their social circle. He also had enough influence with their parents for the young masters to take his instructions seriously 19.

*The Young Master’s Field*

Shang Yan joined the six-person cast of The Young Master’s Field, a livestreamed program in which wealthy young men developed an island farmstay using production funds. He initially paired with his childhood acquaintance Mu Yao for the race to the island 5.

During the crossing, Xie Ji secretly used the system item Rosemary, designating Shang Yan as its user and Mu Yao as its target. The resulting fragrance overwhelmed Mu Yao, who grabbed Shang Yan and lunged at him. Unaware of the cause and unable to evade him in the cramped craft, Shang Yan kicked Mu Yao into the sea. Production staff dispatched rescuers, while the broadcast spawned the “YaoYan” ship and several trending topics 6.

On the island, Shang Yan became a practical organizer. He reminded Ji Shi not to abandon Zhou Heyu’s share of their work, calculated shared kitchen expenses, and insisted that absent members be consulted about group decisions 19 46.

Once the guests’ assigned areas were nearly complete, he chaired the meeting to establish the farmstay’s brand and arrange its trademark registration and business license. He later helped with the courtyard design, welcomed paying visitors, and sourced a dressed sheep for a twelve-person bonfire party 73 76 91 93.

Pill business

Shang Yan initially regarded approaching Xie Ji as a likely losing proposition. That changed when he learned that Xie Ji had earned three hundred thousand in a single morning selling unusual pills without a marketing team 46 47.

The production team contributed its entire pill-sales share—already around one million—to the farmstay’s startup capital 73.

University and wartime service

After the island program, Shang Yan attended the Imperial University of Science and Technology. When a video of Xie Ji’s entrance examination reached his university, he hurried to the Imperial Military Academy before the practical combat assessment. He criticized Xie Ji for taking such a dangerous route, offered his connections as an alternative, and promised him two truckloads of cherries if he returned safely 99 105.

As the border crisis developed, Shang Yan shared information learned at his university about an unidentified alien species apparently emerging from a black hole. Xie Ji’s subsequent divination found that Shang Yan’s destiny chart had shattered, along with those of several others 145.

Shang Yan later took responsibility for delivering supplies to the major war zones. Mu Yao reported that he was probably in War Zone Thirteen 146 153.

Appearance

Shang Yan has sharply defined, handsome features, a cold expression, and a falcon-like gaze. His bearing conveys the intimidating authority of someone accustomed to power 5.

• Glasses: Frequently adjusts or pushes them up while speaking, thinking, or intervening in disputes 19 37 46.
• Formal presentation: Wears an immaculate suit during the initial island crossing 6.

Personality

Shang Yan is controlled, commercially minded, and conscious of his accomplishments. He initially evaluates closeness to Xie Ji through the language of profit and loss, deciding that his instincts warn against the association. He also becomes exasperated with the group’s chaotic conversations and romantic quarrels 24 46.

His introduction identifies him as one of the four “scum gongs,” particularly associated with coercion and humiliating people through money. His later conduct toward Xie Ji is more protective: he revises their business proposal to avoid taking unfair advantage, challenges possessive behavior, and insists that Xie Ji should choose where to live rather than depend on someone else for support 5 61 90.

Despite his reserved image, Shang Yan develops an openly teasing side. He mocks Ji Shi’s recurring complaints, trades barbs with the others, and steals a chicken foot directly from Xie Ji’s skewer. His early refusal to eat ordinary food and professed dislike of junk food also give way to enthusiastic participation in the group’s barbecue 18 86 89.

Abilities & Skills

Business and negotiation

Shang Yan demonstrates commercial ability both before and during the island program.

• A livestream commenter claiming to be his former schoolmate recalls that he won all the money in their grade during a school business simulation 5.
• Recognizes the pills’ market potential and arranges testing before commercialization 47 51.
• Develops distribution, branding, licensing, and profit-sharing arrangements through Shang Group and the show 61 73.
• Handles product listings and publicity while Xie Ji supplies the goods 73.

Organization and leadership

He regularly coordinates shared work and redirects the group when personal disputes interfere.

• Calculates the immediate kitchenware budget at twenty thousand points and proposes shared contributions 46.
• Insists on notifying Zhou Heyu before committing the group to a joint expense 46.
• Leads planning for the farmstay’s formal opening and rebukes both Ji Shi and Lu Xunji during a contentious meeting 73 74.
• Later coordinates supply deliveries across major war zones 153.

Crisis response

Shang Yan prioritizes practical assistance when someone is ill or injured.

• Stops Ji Shi from competing to carry a sick Xie Ji and points out that contacting a doctor is more important 56.
• Helps restrain Lu Xunji during a self-injury crisis, improvising bindings from clothing. The bindings fail, and Shang Yan acknowledges that even he cannot hold Lu Xunji down 59.
• Pays the hospital bill following Lu Xunji’s treatment 60.

Relationships

• Xie Ji — Business partner and trusted, older-brother-like friend. Xie Ji describes him as mature, dependable, decent, and good at making money, explicitly distinguishing that affection from romantic interest. Shang Yan warns him about intimacy without informed understanding, teaches him to refuse unwanted advances, and defends his financial independence 51 62 69 90.
• Lu Xunji — Fellow cast member with whom he maintains a guarded relationship. Shang Yan acknowledges his architectural talent and helps during his medical crisis, but repeatedly challenges his treatment of Xie Ji. His concern is that Xie Ji may be hurt or exploited, rather than a stated romantic interest of his own 59 66 76 122.
• Mu Yao — Childhood acquaintance and initial island-race teammate. Shang Yan knows his habits well enough to recognize his Rosemary-induced behavior as abnormal. He later reins in Mu Yao’s provocations and helps him upstairs after drinking 5 6 37 86.
• Ji Shi — Fellow heir whom Shang Yan frequently corrects. He admonishes Ji Shi over neglected work, ineffective reactions to illness, and claims that Xie Ji needs someone to take him in 19 56 90.
• Zhou Heyu — Fellow cast member whose fair treatment Shang Yan supports. He objects to Zhou Heyu doing two people’s work and insists that he be included in shared spending decisions, though he also mocks his soot-covered appearance after the kitchen mishap 19 46 54.

Notable Quotes

“Any kiss without your permission is sexual harassment. Do you understand?” 62

“Being sick isn’t an excuse to do whatever you want.” 62

“Wherever he goes should be somewhere he wants to go, not somewhere he has to go because he needs to depend on someone.” 90