Wen Cishu

Biodata

Background / History

Wen Cishu grew up in a scholarly household with his parents and older brother. His poor health restricted his activities outside the home, but his parents supported quieter interests, including reading, calligraphy, music, carving, and incense-making 8 50.

He married Bo Tingyuan ten years before the current storyline. Their wedding took place at a lakeside castle in France, in a ceremonial hall filled with red roses. Although Bo Tingyuan cared for him meticulously, they slept separately for years because Tingyuan considered his health too fragile 1 21.

Before his awakening, Wen Cishu was withdrawn, uninterested in exercise, and prone to giving up on himself. He also indulged his only child, Bo Yiming, without reprimanding him. He later understands his prolonged emotional stagnation as part of the original novel’s treatment of their family 2 3 4.

Appearance

• Build: Tall and slender, with long limbs, straight shoulders, and a narrow waist 3 15.
• Hair: Waist-length, exceptionally thick, ink-black hair with a silk-like texture; usually worn loose, tucked into a hat, or tied up 1 7 12.
• Face: Narrow phoenix eyes, long lashes, pale lips, and porcelain-white skin. His features are repeatedly described as possessing classical Eastern elegance 1 3 12.
• Clothing: Wears both relaxed modern clothing and Chinese-style garments. For Li Yun’s birthday, he chooses midnight-blue brocade with a subtle begonia pattern 7 24.
• Public image: His appearance in a plain indigo historical costume attracts so much attention that viewers mistake him for a drama’s leading actor 37 38.

Personality

Wen Cishu is gentle and considerate toward both acquaintances and household staff. He thanks a housekeeper for covering him with a blanket, treats the filming crew to dinner, and sends his tai chi instructor home with pastries. His instructor particularly appreciates that he never makes unreasonable demands 1 8 23.

His awakening brings out a firmer, more involved approach to parenting. He rejects the idea that Yiming is inherently wicked and hopes to become his son’s friend while guiding him away from harmful choices. Despite resolving to stop indulging him unconditionally, he remains openly affectionate, praising, hugging, and comforting him 1 6 15 18.

He also has a playful, occasionally mischievous side. He enjoys imagining his family’s surprise at his television appearance and teases both Yiming and Tingyuan. Tingyuan’s reserve nevertheless frustrates him: a one-character reply about their dance photographs leaves him annoyed at his husband’s inability to sustain a conversation 6 24 25 50.

Although he says that illness left him without strong ambitions, he admires people with careers and dreams. Zhu Wei’s invitation to build a career together affects him deeply because nobody has previously offered him that possibility 29.

Health

Abilities & Skills

Calligraphy

Wen Cishu practices calligraphy and supervises Yiming’s brush-writing exercises 4 50.

• Writes Spring Festival couplets for the show’s teahouse 38.
• Produces a tourist’s requested couplet, which Zhou Xu sells for thirty-eight 44.

Fishing

He retains practical fishing knowledge despite not having fished for roughly ten years 14.

• Assembles the provided rods with conspicuous familiarity 14.
• Catches fish that contribute to the guests’ farm dinner 15.

Music, Languages, and Handicrafts

His home-based interests extend beyond reading and calligraphy 50.

• Learned piano from his parents during childhood.
• Taught himself guitar and less commonly studied languages.
• Learned carving and incense-seal making.
• Admits that he generally learned only the basics before losing interest and moving on 50.

Cooking and Baking

Wen Cishu begins learning to cook after his first farm stay 28.

• Makes broccoli with shrimp under close supervision, using ingredients prepared by the household chefs 28.
• Bakes treats to thank Tingyuan for helping Zhu Wei 29.
• Makes desserts with Yiming and brings black tea cheesecake to Tingyuan’s office 32.
• Prepares madeleines and a note for Tingyuan while away filming 42.

Tai Chi

He takes up tai chi after accepting Doctor Lin’s advice to exercise 4 6.

• Initially practices the basic twenty-four forms with imperfect movements 6.
• Later completes a forty-minute lesson without feeling tired; his instructor notices improved energy and technique 23.

Notable Items

• Bamboo-patterned nephrite bracelet — A gift from Tingyuan before filming. Wen Cishu refuses an antique dealer’s offer to buy it, explaining that its sentimental value is priceless 8 40.
• Wedding ring — Becomes important as he recalls his wedding and searches for the ring he once wore daily. Uncle Xu returns it, and Tingyuan puts it back on his finger before Li Yun’s birthday gathering 21 24 25.
• Hetian green jade page turner — Chosen by Tingyuan at auction two years earlier; Wen Cishu repurposes it as a hairpin 4 5.
• Rose quartz incense burners — A pair of small, pink, three-legged burners purchased by Tingyuan. Wen Cishu uses them while introducing Yiming to incense seals 50.

Relationships

• Bo Tingyuan — Husband, five years his senior. Wen Cishu’s awakening reveals the love behind Tingyuan’s seemingly cold courtesy. Their relationship grows more openly affectionate, though Tingyuan’s silence continues to cause misunderstandings 1 25 33 35 50.
• Bo Yiming — His nine-year-old son and the future villain shown in his dream. Wen Cishu shifts from unquestioning indulgence toward active guidance, while Yiming increasingly looks after his health and seeks his affection 1 2 10 13 31.
• Auntie Zhong — A longtime caregiver who watched him grow up. She protects his health, assists with his daily routine, and affectionately teases him about Tingyuan 1 24 33 48.
• Uncle Xu — The Bo family’s meticulous butler. Helps care for him, locates his wedding ring, and supports arrangements for the family 21 24 48.
• Li Yun — Tingyuan’s father. Discusses Tingyuan’s upbringing and suggests that he may have fallen for Wen Cishu in Paris before their marriage, explicitly acknowledging that this is speculation 25 26.
• Zhu Wei — Fellow show guest whom he calls “Sister Wei.” After his request leads Tingyuan to resolve her copyright difficulties, she offers Wen Cishu a no-cost equity stake in her planned studio 15 28 29.
• Chu Han — Fellow parent guest who helps look after him during filming and assists with his historical costume 10 37.
• Zhou Xu — Fellow show guest who shares farm activities with him, cooks for the group, and helps turn his calligraphy into teahouse income 12 15 44.
• Doctor Lin — Advises him on exercise, monitors his condition, and treats his rash 4 21 44 48.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Awakening and Changing Yiming’s Future

Wen Cishu awakens from a dream revealing that his family exists within a novel. In that future, Yiming becomes an obsessive, abusive antagonist and ultimately loses his standing and reputation; Wen Cishu dies when Yiming is twelve. Learning that his son is currently nine convinces him that there may still be time to intervene 1.

Yiming’s demand to enter an idol competition prompts Wen Cishu to confront conduct he previously tolerated. The resulting emotional strain requires medical attention, but it also marks a change in his willingness to exercise, make decisions, and participate in family life 1 2 3 4.

Joining *Little Ones Are Supermen*

Rather than immediately pursuing an idol competition, Wen Cishu favors a parent-child program. He and Yiming join Little Ones Are Supermen, with accommodations for his health and Albert handling production communications 5 6 7 8.

At the farm, he helps gather vegetables, washes dishes, fishes, and bonds with the other families. These ordinary shared activities contrast with his sheltered life at the Bo mansion. He also begins seeing Yiming’s consideration for others, particularly when the boy asks Chu Han to look after him before going exploring 10 11 12 14 15.

Reconsidering His Marriage and Independence

After the farm stay, Wen Cishu recalls his wedding, searches for his ring, and questions how his marriage began. Li Yun’s account raises the possibility that Tingyuan’s affection predates their wedding, but does not establish it as fact 21 24 25.

His expanding activities also create opportunities beyond caregiving and marriage. Helping Zhu Wei leads to an invitation to share in her future studio, while learning to cook gives him an unfamiliar sense of accomplishment 28 29.

Teahouse Filming and Family Closeness

During the teahouse segment, Wen Cishu writes couplets and keeps accounts while the children attract and serve customers. His historical-costume appearance becomes a trending topic within two hours 38 40 44.

After filming, domestic routines increasingly include all three family members: bedtime stories, shared desserts, planting potatoes, and making incense. Wen Cishu also asks Yiming to invite Tingyuan to participate in an episode, bringing his husband closer to the experience he and their son have shared 32 48 49 50.

Notable Quotes

“No, Yiming... he wasn’t born rotten...” 1

“Sister Wei, my health is poor, and I’ve never really had any ambitions since I was little. I really envy people who have careers and dreams, so just keep doing your best.” 29

“Someone in my family gave it to me. The sentiment is priceless.” 40