if possible, please consult persons fluent in Chinese language, if they are willing, when naming characters in fiction.
For example, the folks at Marvel want the name ShangChi to mean ‘Rising Spirit’ but the characters they have used actually mean ‘Upper Air’ so you get the change in nuance here.
Some have suggested the spelling ShangQi instead (if you run across this in stories)
Chinese names are unique, they are not chosen from a list of existing names, but each Chinese character has a specific meaning, a character might sound the same but can have 105 different meanings, one of the reasons why pronunciation in Chinese is so important.
Bai - can mean "white or pure", "one hundred" or "cypress tree” depending on how it is written, and Bai can also have connotations to well known idioms or famous poems or homophones, what a name sounds like.
Naming is a skill and can be considered an art form.
Please do not name people in Chinese culture stories after famous Chinese people. Again, if you want to create an OC, consult someone who is willing to help you out.
Chinese names begin with a surname, so Simu Liu the actor, is actually Liu Simu.
His character ShangChi is Xu ShangChi. His father is Xu WenWu.
Xu is their family surname, putting the surname first instead of last puts emphasis on the importance of family and clan, and duty to parents and ancestors.
There are only about 100 surnames in Chinese, a name is constructed using the surname first.
Do not shorten his name to Shang, as ShangChi is the whole name.
Perhaps in a modern story you can use only ShangChi, but in an historical setting you would always use both Xu ShangChi.
You can’t just put names through a generator, the name Steve Rogers in Chinese when translated directly makes no sense, putting him (or other marvel characters) into an ancient Chinese world would involve giving them new Chinese names, and you’d have to make certain you didn’t end up with an unintentional awful pun!
Also please do not refer to Xu WenWu as the Mandarin, as he refutes the name, (and it is offensive to Chinese people) - he may be called Leader of the Ten Rings or Grandmaster of the Ten Rings.
Summary: Being bus boy’s girlfriend includes being kidnapped by some goons but Shang chi can’t believe what happened next.
Things weren’t the same when Shang chi went viral. The video of the bus scene raked up almost millions of views and was shared on different platforms. He has a new image with his co-workers that he is someone not to be messed with.
People who usually pass by him now recognize him. He just had a teeny tiny problem that it irks him to be called bus boy. They could have addressed him as something cooler like the shadow (Katy thinks this is far terrible) or something. Bus boy doesn’t sound so heroic.
Wong was clearly right when he said that Shang chi’s life will change drastically.
It wasn’t the same ever since he became a member of the avengers. He was cautious of everything. It became his second nature to look over his shoulders to check if someone’s following him or if there is danger ahead. It made him a little paranoid as well about the people closest to him, especially Y/N.
Y/N is someone that Shang chi started dating recently. They have been friends for years already, he just decided to level up their relationship. It happened right after coming back from Ta-Lo that he realized that he should just seize the opportunity given to him while there aren’t any life-threatening situations around.
Shang chi felt his phone buzz signaling that there is an incoming call. The photo of him and Y/N was on the screen. It was their first photo taken together as a couple. He was looking at the camera while Y/N was pressing a kiss at his cheeks. He felt the rush of giddiness as he slides to answer the call.
“And what can I do for you darling?” he greeted right away. “How was your day at work? Did you miss your very handsome boyfriend?”
But instead of the sweet voice of his girlfriend, there was a gruff tone at the other side of the call “Your darling might be needing your help Shang chi”
“Who are you? Why do you have her?”
“You don’t need to worry a thing, just come to this address and everything will be sorted out.” the man replies “This is just a payback for you kicking some of our guys the other day”
A shrill scream was heard at the other side of the phone. He felt like he was sweating upon the realization of who that voice belongs to.
“I swear if you hurt her, I won’t hesitate to rip you apart limb by limb” Shang chi was livid beyond words. How dare they.
“Tick tock, meet us here”
The place that they asked Shang chi to be in was eerily quiet. He was careful to arrive there without making a sound or any attention. His hands were balled up to a fist as he prepares for anyone that is coming to attack him.
Two goons were guarding the front of the warehouse, they were an easy one to handle. He entered the warehouse and expected more to come. What he didn’t expect was that someone seems to have taken care of them.
Two men have been lying down on the ground in pain and blood. One was knocked out cold while the other was groaning in pain. Shang chi pulls out his phone and rechecks if he is in the right party or did he manage to get lost. This wasn’t the fight he was expecting.
“SHANG CHI” Y/N was at the other side of the hallway. She was rushing forward to hug her lover.
He was more confused than ever. What the hell is happening here?
But Y/N couldn’t care less as she just wants to hug him tight. She was too exhausted with everything that happened today that all she wanted was a hug from her boyfriend. Her boyfriend on another hand has been checking her whole face. It was like she was under deep scrutiny.
She was just as beautiful as Shang chi first met her. Hair a little like a bird’s nest and seems to be sticking together by some blood. A little blood splatter on the face. Bruises in the hands. But overall she looks completely normal.
“How? What happened” he was simply stunned and proud as well “I heard you scream at the phone”
He has always thought that Y/N was someone who he needs protecting. But he never thought that she could perfectly handle her own ground
“It’s called acting Shang chi, I’m a good actress” she laughs “Your sister is a pretty good teacher you know”
“So this is what you two have been practicing when she asks you to hang out?”
“Yup” the grin in her face was evident before she proceeded to tell the whole story.
The only reason why they caught her was that they caught her off guard as she was walking down the street. They drugged her, making her pass out then she finds herself waking up in the warehouse.
Overpowering them has become an easy thing after she assessed the whole situation. She pretended to cry and be as hysterical as possible. This made her captors panicked about how they could shut her up. She utilized the time that they are distracted in getting something to hit them or knock them out.
She wasn’t afraid to bust some moves out. She remembers that she should probably thank Xialing for teaching her some stuff.
“In my defense I only have to deal with four of them. I was still trying to figure out the two outside” she explains
Shang chi felt like seeing his girlfriend in a different light (in a good way of course). Completely awe-struck.
“You are incredible” was all Shang chi managed to say.
“Well I better be” she snickers before adding “I am bus boy’s girlfriend after all”
A/N: this is probably the last time i will be utilizing shaun as his name, were focusing more and embracing on his name shang chi. Forgive me for the past misshaps. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Summary: As his girlfriend, he obviously needs to tell you everything that happened when he suddenly disappeared. But he might have forgotten a small detail that seems to be bothering him.
It was weird how life changes in a simple snap.
The past few weeks feel like Shang chi’s life has been turned upside down. He didn’t know that his life would change when he fought off those henchmen. If he did, he wouldn’t have taken that bus ride and would just be late for work.
He was suddenly pulled back to the world that he has been running away from since he was 16. Nearly got killed by the dweller of the darkness, watch his father die, and rekindled with his sister. It felt like a blurry dream.
He gives out a small sigh as he listens to the sound of the city that seems to be awake even at the ungodly hours. It was quite peaceful to hear it though.
“My love why are you awake?” a sleepy figure emerged from the darkness.
There she was. The one that kept his life sane for the past few weeks and even years. Together with his bestfriend Katy, Y/N was a constant in his life. His girlfriend has always been there through thick and thin since they got together when he was 20.
She was the first person that Shaun contacted right after the whole fiasco. He remembered how he promised her that the minute that this whole thing finishes, he will sit down and tell her everything. He ends up giving her a brief summary of everything that happened and she listened through it all night long. Shang chi was glad to have such an understanding girlfriend like Y/N.
But there’s something that he has left out.
“Love why are you awake? You should be sleeping by now” he comes over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
“I know but the bed is too cold”she pouted “you weren’t there”
“Then I suppose that I should be there with you”
The two couple went back to the bed that they shared. It was not a bed too big nor it was too small, it was just right. They were perfect to fit the couple in a cuddle. It was one of the most peaceful place for the two of them with the soft pillows and their scents lingering in the sheets.
Shang Chi just loves the pure bliss that they are in right now. He just hated to ruin how things are if he told her the truth.
“Is there something on your mind?” Y/N breaks his train of thoughts.
She was always observant. The past few weeks have been a little dreadful for Shaun because of all the family fiasco, joining the avengers, and the ten rings. But she has this inkling that Shaun is hiding something that he was scared to tell.
“I need to tell you something” It was now or never.
Shifting from her position, she sit up straight because she knew that this is a serious conversation. His hands held her as if he was afraid that she would slip away the moment that he tells her the truth. He was nervous.
“Hey, you can tell me anything” she soothed.
“What if I am the person you think I am?” he breaks the news.
She was puzzled, “You’re not the person I think you are? What is this shaun?”
Shang chi cringed upon hearing the name being muttered. He feels like a fraud whenever he hears that name being uttered. It was like a betrayal straight to the face. He usually didn’t mind it but now that he has accepted who he is, he finds the name to be someone that he is not.
“I’m not shaun”
“Really funny” Y/N saw the serious look of his and realized that it was far from a joke “Then who are you?”
“Shaun is a nickname I crafted for myself.. Shang Chi is my real name”
And the sound of the bustling city seems louder than ever. Only this time, it felt uncomfortable for Shang Chi to hear.
“I know, I’m sorry that I haven’t told this to you but I just didn’t know how to break it that I am not Shaun and I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable about the whole thing since its been years since we met and I haven’t told you. Frankly I used the name to escape who I am before but I’m not running away anymore and-” he rambles.
He literally thought that this was the end of the relationship and he was done for. Imagine his surprise when he felt lips that was stopping him from speaking. He felt the feeling of comfort and ease as he melts in the kiss.
“You know you don’t have to be scared to tell me the truth about who you are” she whispers “You really think that you can push me away after telling me about your adventures in Ta-Lo?”
Shang chi was happy to hear that from her. He wants to give himself a slight hit on the head for thinking that Y/N would leave him because of embracing his true name.
Together, the two of them snuggled in the comforts of their bed with the covers cocooning the two of them.
“Shang chi?” his heart raced upon hearing his name being called. There was a certain spark to hear her call him Shang chi, it was like everything fits in place.
“Yes Y/N”
“I realized I haven’t told you I love you yet using your real name so I’m hoping this is the first of many.” she giggles “I love you Shang Chi”
And a sweet kiss sealed it. He is definitely looking forward to hear his name more.
Summary: It was a mess to have an annoying co-worker but I guess it becomes more annoying when the said co-worker suddenly went missing and you start to realize how much you care about him.
It was an early shift for today and Y/N was not looking forward to it. The day has been pretty bad by waking up late, not being able to take a shower properly, leaving a hair tie, and being late to work. And Y/N began to ask what did she do in her previous life that made the Gods hate her so much.
“You look uhmm” someone approached her “Crappy”
The Gods decided that they couldn’t bring Y/N to the devil so here she was dealing with the devil’s incarnate, Shaun.
“Well spotted genius” she muttered
“You’re having a good morning today Miss?” Shaun asked
And Y/N could almost roll her eyes at the man. She doesn’t know if he is simply dense or is he mocking her. He just infuriates her so much and she is reaching her limits. Her patience for his little teasing games isn’t going to last very long today.
“I’m having a wonderful morning Shaun truly” her words dripping with sarcasm “How about you?”
“I’m having an amazing morning as well then.” His pearly white teeth are smiling at her like it was mocking her. His eyes has those usual twinkle of mischief, something very charming and makes Y/N tick as well.
“You really do like mocking me don’t you? Think its funny to laugh at other people’s misery?” she snapped.
“I don’t understand..”
“I am having a very bad day and you decided to tell me in my face i look crappy. I am having a bad day shaun and I am not playing your games again. I’m tired and the day hasn;t started. I need hair ties, i need coffee, i don’t need your stupid remarks and your stupid smile that looks brighter than the sun that looks so beautiful and I HATE YOU”
Upon unleashing her fury, Y/N had accidentally slipped something that she meant to take to the grave. With a red face, she excused herself to go to the bathroom to get herself together.
Katy couldn’t help but overhear the conversation with her two co-workers. She went ahead to check her bestfriend because he was standing so still as if he was not breathing. There was a stupid smile on his face.
“What the hell happened? I told you to ask her how she is not make her feel crappy” Katy scolded.
“She thinks my smile is brighter than the sun and it looks beautiful” was the only reply Shaun could give.
This forced Katy to slap Shaun’s head back to reality. Her bestfriend could really be dense at times and only picks up the bits of information.She has watched the two go on and on like this for too long. Shaun feels happy to get any bits of attention from Y/N even if it means that he has to tease her thus the start of the love-hate relationship between the two.
“You have to pull your shit up together”Katy said “You are meant to woo her and make her see the romantic side of you, not make her feel bad. She might think that you’re just messing with her”
“But how can I do that? She thinks I just like teasing her”
“Hey, care to park my car than chitchatting there?” a man called out as he stepped out of his car. Katy immediately went to grab the car keys.
“I’ll take this and you think about what you can do to possibly make it up for her” Katy advised.
“But how?”
Shaun was lost in how to woo Y/N. It was really hard to woo a girl or he is just too awkward for it. Or maybe he was just in too deep into teasing her that when he started to feel something else, it feels like its too late.
It took some time for Y/N to get herself together but when she does there was a hair tie, a cup of coffee, and a bagel sandwich at the desk. A paper with a neat scrawl lies with it and Y/N curiously picked it up. She would be lying if she says that her lips didn’t curl up into a smile.
And Shaun who has been quietly watching in the distance count that as a win. Maybe he did have some chances.
“You’re heading out for tonight?” Shaun tried to make a decent conversation with his co-worker slash crush.
“Yeah”Y/N replied “How about you?”
“A few beers and karaoke night”
Shaun was literally proud in his progress because he managed to hold a conversation with Y/N without infuriating her. He thanks Katy for leaving them alone to converse and he will surely brag about this later.
On the other hand, Y/N was trying to test the waters in regards about her behavior during the morning. She knows that it was totally uncalled for to burst all of a sudden. She knows that Shaun was often teasing her but he has never been too mean or says harsh things to her. And Shaun have clearly put an effort to try make her day brighter for that small note of items she needs.
“Shaunimsorryformybehavior” Y/N lets the sentence out quickly.
The man was confused about the sudden string of words, “come again?”
“I’m sorry” Y/N takes out a deep breath “I know you didn’t deserve my behavior a while ago. I was just too annoyed early in the morning. I appreciate the hair tie, coffee, and the bagel a while ago.”
Y/N was already bracing herself for a witty remark but Shaun just smiled at her. It was those moments that makes Y/N’s heart flutter. It was undeniable that Shaun was pretty charming when he isn’t teasing her.
“Tell you what if you appreciate the coffee and bagel a while ago then why don’t I take you out to the shop where I got it from tomorrow” Shaun offers
“Is this a prank?”
“No, I’m being genuine here” Shaun held his hands up as if saying that he has no tricks on his sleeves.
She was skeptical about the sudden change of Shaun’s behavior but she kind of likes this side as well.
“Sure, I’ll wait for you tomorrow” she agrees.
“I’ll wait for you then fun size”
“Fun size?”
“Because you are smaller than me”
“SHAUN!”
Needless to say, Y/N was excited for the breakfast date tomorrow. She doesn’t know if it’s a date but she feels like it’s some sort of date. Maybe she’ll clarify what was it when she talks to Shaun.
So just imagine her disappointment when Shaun didn’t arrive today. She was actually hoping that he was just late but when the whole day passed with Shaun and Katy not arriving at work, Y/N was pissed. She knew that the two bestfriends went to have a drink last night and maybe Shaun forgotten about today’s event.
It makes Y/N deeply upset and hurt.
Here she thought that she’ll be making some progress.
Just as she was clocking out, she saw a group of teenagers huddled up.
“Woahh that was so cool! Did you just see how he dodged that machete”
“Yeah and how he flipped, it was awesome!”
“That dude looks familiar, I think I’ve seen him parking cars before here”
“What are you watching there?” Y/N lets her curiosity gets the best of her. She wonders if it was a co-worker that she knows.
“Oh there was an awesome fight sequence by the bus a while ago, it was so awesome! Dude went dodging this machete guys like pow boom kazam” one of them answered her while another showed her the video.
The fight was intense with a guy against several men in black. Y/N was wondering about what is happening here when she caught the sight of a familiar green pendant.
“Oh my god!”
“Katy! Where the hell are you?” Y/N was trying her best not to lose her cool. But after seeing that video in which they literally wrecked a bus and nearly survived a life and death situation, she was close to losing it.
“I’m a few minutes to boarding a plane” Katy’s voice was filled with chatters of airport announcements.
“A plane?”
“A plane to Macau”
“Macau?” Y/N was in disbelief. It was mind-boggling for her. “What the hell are you guys doing in Macau”
“Look Y/N there’s a lot to explain but Shaun hasn’t been doing any explaining to me as well. I will try my best to keep you posted” Katy promised. She was just as in the dark as Y/N was.
There was a sigh at Y/N’s end, her former annoyance with Shaun was gone and all she wanted was for him to be safe.
“Just please stay safe, okay? I’ll cover for your shifts” she sighed again in resignation.“
You got that”
“And tell Shaun to come back in one piece and tries not to get chopped because he still owes me a breakfast date” Y/N said as she ended the call.
Katy was smiling to herself as she nudged at her bestfriend who was listening to the call.“
It was a date right? I heard that right yeah?”
Day one with no Shaun. And Katy.
Y/N guessed that it was a blessing in disguise that there were a lot of people who wanted to get their cars parked because it kept her busy for a while. It made her pass the day with ease without worrying. She figured that maybe Shaun and Katy were just jetlagged that’s why they aren’t answering, she was as chill as a potato.
It was the second day without Shaun. And Katy.
She had arrived extra early to work and she wanted to brag about it to Shaun. But then she realized that he wasn’t coming to work.
“You okay there Y/N?”Jonathan, another co-worker of theirs, has taken note of Y/N’s glum expression.
“Yeah perfectly okay”
But she’s not. Her mind is already making up different scenarios of what happened during the duo’s trip to Macau. It was making her feel uneasy.
And the third day comes by without any updates still.
Y/N is currently at her apartment and facing the screen of her laptop. She is chewing her nails as she scrolls through the recent news in Macau. She was hoping to find something that could link the sudden disappearance of the two but alas she finds none.
She doesn’t know if this is a good sign or a bad sign. Good sign since they weren’t in trouble or a bad sign that no one even bothered reporting if something went wrong with them.
“I am so gonna kill you when I see you Shaun”
The fourth day comes and by now Y/N can be found drinking.
She normally don’t drink but when her co-workers offered then she decided to agree rather than spend her night worrying about Shaun. And Katy.
“What is on your mind nowadays?” Julia was slightly tipsy when she asked Y/N “You have been so bothered ever since Shaun took a leave of absence”
“Oh is Shawny your boyfriend already?” Jonathan teased
“Shut up, I’m just worried” Y/N denies “And Katy as well, Im worried about the two of them”
“You shouldn’t be too worried, lover boy got moves and I know he will come home soon” Julia assured
Y/N just forced the bitter liquid down her throat. It was never a good idea for her to drink because she could be brutally honest. She doesn’t feel like admitting that she has a different kind of care for Shaun.
“I don’t think you are worried though” Kerry pipes in “I think you are more of in deep regrets about the chances you didn’t take when he was still around”
The group had a small “ooohhh, she said it” moment.
“You like Shaun, everyone could see it. It was very obvious that despite you two going like cats and dogs, you two like each other very much. Now that you two are torn apart, you begin to realize that you like each other very much. You miss those teasings, those eyes, those smiles”
The girl being accused was just speechless at how accurate they were. She has just decided to pour another glass and let the liquid flow down her throat.
Will she ever have a chance to tell him how she feels?
It has been five days since that phone call from Katy.
If you want to be more specific, five days, thirteen hours, and twenty-four minutes since that phone call and she hasn’t received anything from the duo yet. The whole situation has been bothering Y/N.
It was too quiet now at the valet parking. There were no obnoxious best friends who are stealing the car keys from each other to take the car for a spin. There were no more sassy remarks from Katy. And of course, there were no more of Shaun’s daily teasing.
Y/N misses him the most.
And she is extremely worried about those men in black catching up to him. She didn’t know what kind of danger Shaun was in. Were those guys from the mafia or the money lenders? Did they catch Shaun and Katy that’s why they haven’t updated anything? These thoughts have been plaguing her for the past four days.
She was so consumed by her thoughts that she didn’t see that someone was looming over her table.
“Aww princess did I really worry you that much?” the familiar voice immediately made Y/N look up.
He was still in one piece but there was a slight gash at his cheeks. It immediately raised concern from Y/N as she gently touched it. She wonders what the hell happened to him in the past few days. But like a light switch, her mood flipped.
“You asshole” Y/N said punching Shaun “You have a lot of explaining to do. Did you have any idea how worried I was about you. You literally left me here all alone in the dark. Now you are coming back as if nothing’s wrong-”
“Hey hey calm down” Now Shaun might have fought off the dweller of darkness a few days ago but here he was running away from a very angry Y/N
“You made me worry so much, I lost so much of sleep because of you and you walked in here looking so handsome and fresh. This is not cool Shaun. You are an asshole, I don’t know why I like you so much-”
That catches Shaun’s attention and he went to a stop “You like me?”
“With all the things that I have said, you really just picked that up? You are insufferable” Y/N was turning to leave but Shaun catches her hand to face him again.
“I’m sorry that I left you out and I’m sorry for worrying you but I promise to tell you everything” Shaun’s eyes was sincere as ever as he stared at hers. Y/N couldn’t help but blush under his close scrutiny. She just nods as a response.
“So I guess you still like me Y/N?” Shaun tested the waters
.“That depends whether you’ll take me on a date or not”
“I think it’s about time I take you out on a date”
