Shen Lian is the male lead and the nominal husband of Lin Xiaojiu. He was rescued from drowning by the original Lin Xiaojiu's parents and later married him as a repayment of gratitude. He is also reborn from a past life where he suffered betrayal, half-face disfigurement, and eventually became the Emperor's ruthless assassin known as the "Jade-Faced Asura". In this second life, he is initially ill and bedridden, but suspicious of the drastically changed Lin Xiaojiu. He observes Lin Xiaojiu's novel cooking methods and generosity, and slowly reconsiders his earlier plan to end his life. Though physically weak, he still exhibits an aristocratic grace and intelligence. His past experiences give him a cold interiority, but he shows a gentle and polite facade to others. He helps Lin Xiaojiu in small matters, such as boiling medicine and giving advice about the neighbor, while carefully hiding his own rebirth.
