Tian-Chen Liu

**Tian-Chen Liu** is the wife of Bing-Qian and mother of Kenny Liu. She and her family are trapped in the Town, but have done their best to adjust to their new life, with Tian Chen managing the Town's Diner, while her son is the Sheriff's Deputy. Tian Chen also cares deeply for her husband, who suffers from dementia.

## Biography

### Background

Tian-Chen and her husband, Bing-Qian were Chinese immigrants who settled in College Station, Texas. They had a son, Fu-Hen, who went by Kenny because he wanted to fit in. As they got older, Bing-Qian suffered from dementia. One night, Bing-Qian had a particularly bad episode and took the bus all the way into Austin. On the drive back to College Station, they became trapped in the Town.

One night, Bing-Qian had a particularly bad episode and thought the Creatures knocking outside the door were his brothers, and pushed his wife when she tried to stop him from opening the door. Afterwards, they moved Bing-Qian into the Clinic, where he could be kept and cared for more securely. Bing-Qian does not like the idea, particularly the fact that his family is not moving with them. Kenny promises his father that they will be close by and visit every day, but it is important that he be in a secure location at night for his safety. Bing-Qian refuses, but Tian-Chen tells him that he is sick, but can return when he gets better. Bing-Qian says he will get better soon, and agrees to his new accommodations

In a flashback, Kristi helps **Tian-Chen** and Kenny move Bing-Qian into the Clinic. Bing-Qian does not like the idea, particularly the fact that his family is not moving with them. Kenny promises his father that they will be close by and visit every day, but it is important that he be in a secure location at night for his safety. Bing-Qian refuses, but Tian-Chen tells him that he is sick, but can return when he gets better. Bing-Qian says he will get better soon, and agrees to his new accommodations. Kenny leaves to fetch his things, and is found by Boyd, who says he heard they had an incident. Kenny explains that the Creatures were knocking on the door and his father was convinced that his brothers were outside, and pushed Tian-Chen when she tried to stop him. Boyd sympathizes, knowing how hard it is seeing one’s parents struggle. Boyd admits that there is not a lot holding the place together, with all the fear and confusion, but something he learned in the army is that it helps to look to, who seem like they know what they are doing. Kenny says it looks like they’re doing a good job, and Boyd offers him the job of deputy, and Kenny happily accepts.

### Season One

After her husband, Bing-Qian, dies in the attack on the Clinic, Tian Chen tries to soldier on as if it's business as usual. The day after his death, Tian Chen frantically prepares food while Kenny begs her to get some rest. Tian Chen replies that she has too much to do but knocks over a glass. As she chides her son for making her break the glass, she tries to clean up the shards but cuts her hand. Kenny helps her and tells her that she needs rest. Tian Chen begins to say that if she were with her husband the previous night but Kenny cuts her off and says it would not have changed anything. As the two are talking, Sara walks in and seeing the broken glass, begins cleaning it.

While breakfast is going on, Jade loudly makes an entrance and asks where the clues are. Jade rudely cuts the line and begins taking food, prompting Tian Chen to hit him on the head with a whisk and yell at him in Cantonese. Kristi stops by and asks Kenny how she's doing, and Kenny recalls his remark about denial being part of his family tree. That night, Tian Chen cries at a shrine she made for her deceased husband when Kenny arrives with Jade, explaining that he'll be staying with them for a few days.

The next day, before opening the Diner, Tian Chen cries while she is alone, but quickly regains her composure when Sara arrives. During breakfast, Jim Matthews and his son Ethan, the newcomers, arrive for the meal, and Sara greets them, adding that Tian Chen likes to prepare something special for new arrivals. Ethan asks if he can have pancakes, and Sara she'll have to check, but praises Tian Chen's cooking abilities, saying that she could make a Salisbury steak out of a tire iron. Taking notice of her name, Jim realizes that her husband was one of the people who was killed the previous night in the Clinic.

During breakfast, Tian Chen brings a plate stacked with pancakes to an excited Ethan, telling him to enjoy. Before leaving, she places a comforting hand on Jim’s shoulder. Later that day, the Matthews join Boyd for dinner, and they get to know each other better. Observing them, Tian Chen comments to Sara that they are a nice family. Moments later, Sara has a seizure, and Tian Chen rushes to her aid with Boyd.

Tabitha and Ethan arrive at the Diner, to drop off the Pratts' things and **Tian Chen** lead them to the storage area. Later that day, Jade obsessively draws the symbol he saw on the tree when Tian-Chen approaches him with tea, which he rudely dismisses. Tian-Chen speaks to him in Cantonese, and Jade relents and sips his tea, thanking her. Tian-Chen notices the symbol on the paper, and Jade begins to explain that he keeps seeing the symbol but Tian-Chen leaves to the storage room. Jade follows her inside, and he realizes that it is all the belongings of the former inhabitants. Tian-Chen finds a box and begins sifting through it before finding a journal whose pages are covered in the same symbol Jade was drawing, scaring him.

At night, Kenny informs Jade that dinner is ready. Jade refuses to come down, and Kenny begins to argue with him when Tian-Chen arrives and begins yelling at him in Cantonese, prompting Jade to relent. Jade continues to stare at the journal with the symbols during dinner with the Lius before realizing that two of the pages are stuck together. He is able to pry them apart, and a polaroid photo falls out of the book. The picture is of a smiling man holding the journal in front of the diner. As the three look at it, Tian-Chen points out that a young victor is in the corner of the picture, identifiable by his signature lunchbox, shocking Jade and Kenny.

After the Colony House attack, Boyd returns to town and finds Tom and Eli at the head of a crowd arguing with Tian-Chen, who is barring them from entering the Diner. Tom explains that the Colony House people are using up their supplies, and if he has to choose between himself or the Colony House people raiding the Diner, he’s choosing himself. Boyd says that no one is raiding anything, but Eli points out that the Creatures weren’t supposed to get into Colony House either. Boyd chastises them for acting like animals, and promises that they will figure it all out, telling them to go home in the meantime. The crowd disperses, grumbling as they do. Tian-Chen tells Boyd that they are scared before going inside.

Kenny explains to his mother how they are dividing work on the radio tower. Tian-Chen asks if Jade has found Victor, and Kenny answers no, adding that if Jade mentions the symbol one more time, he believes Jim might kill him. Tian-Chen expresses happiness that Jade is finally working, and says that she does not like him because he is selfish and lazy. Kenny quips that that is what Tian-Chen says about her favorite people, making her smile. Tian-Chen tells her son to go ring the bell and be a good sheriff. Later, Jade complains about having to try and figure out the power source and the pressure that is on him. Tian-Chen loses patience and scolds him for complaining so often. Tian-Chen asks if he needs electricity, and directs his attention to the lights. Jade says the problem is they can’t plug anything in, but realizes that they can still harness electricity through the lights.

As the radio tower is being hoisted onto Colony House's roof, Jade goes to the Lius’ house, where he finds Tian-Chen kneeling in front of the memorial shrine to Bing-Qian. He tells her that they might be going home, and asks why she is not more excited. Jade tells her that he grew up with his grandmother in France but she died when he was 12, and he had to return to the States to live with his uncle because there was no one in France to take him in. Jade says he did not want to leave his grandmother alone, even though she was dead. As he was crying at the airport, a nice woman bought him a soda and after he explained the situation, she told Jade that “they come with you when you go.” Jade tells her not to feel sad or guilty, because Bing-Qian will be with her when she goes. Tian-Chen is touched, and asks Jade to pray with her, which he does. As they are about to turn the radio on, Jade and Tian-Chen arrive with snacks. Jim then powers up the radio, and is able to get a signal. However, a heavy storm blows in, and Jim soon runs off. Chaos ensues as the lightbulbs powering the radio begin exploding and Jade tries to get all the radio equipment inside.

### Season Two

Ethan gives a dustpan he found to Tian-Chen, who is helping to clean up the broken glass. Tian-Chen tells him to be careful, and Ethan asks how she thinks they broke, describing it as scary. Tian-Chen agrees, and Ethan asks if the others will return soon. Tian-Chen tells him not to be afraid, promising to protect him. Ethan says that he isn’t afraid, although after Tian-Chen gives him a look he admits the he is a bit scared. He says that quests can get scary, especially close to the end.

While eating in the Diner, Tabitha Matthews approaches Tian-Chen, who oversees many of the Town’s supplies, asking if she can go through some of the storage for supplies and clothing. Tian-Chen offers to host her family, saying that mothers help each other, gladdening Tabitha. The Matthews move into the Lius' home, and Tian-Chen later gifts Ethan Matthews a wooden block puzzle.

Tian-Chen gives Kenny a container of food and tells him to sit and eat. Kenny says it is for Boyd, who is not feeling well. Tian-Chen replies that they both work too hard. Before he leaves, Tian-Chen asks if he has talked to Kristi. Kenny replies that he knew she was engaged, and just wants her to be happy. Seeing the people unloading the bus, Kenny tells his mother that she should help them. Later that day, when the passengers unpack the bus, Tian-Chen takes the belongings of the deceased for storage, and is criticized by Randall.

While **Tian-Chen** washes dishes in the Diner, Sara approaches her, shocking her former boss, who has since learned that Sara caused her husband's death. Sara apologizes and prepares to leave, but Tian-Chen tells her to stay. Tian-Chen says that she took Bing-Qian away from her, even after she took care of her, and put hate inside of her. Tian-Chen says she knows why Sara came, and says she will take her belongings and never return. Sara takes the box and as she leaves, but is confronted by Kenny, who scatters her belongings and breaks her ornament. Boyd Stevens later approaches her, and asks a clearly angry Tian-Chen if they can talk.

Boyd haltingly tries to explain how while he believes his decision to keep Sara alive is for the good of the Town, he understands if she hates him for it due to Sara’s actions. He sympathizes with the difficulty of losing a loved one in this place. He struggles to explain how he is doing everything he can to get them al home when Kenny arrives, and he angrily confronts Boyd. Tian-Chen tries to diffuse the situation but Boyd thanks her for her time and leaves. Boyd goes to the Church and finds the main room empty. He then hears a music box, and turns around and sees a Ballerina dancing in front of him. The Ballerina has Boyd twirl her, smiles at him, but then opens her mouth in a blood-curdling shriek as worms fall out of her mouth. Back in the Diner, Boyd falls on the floor of the Diner, hitting his head. Boyd apologizes and is helped up by the Lius. Tian-Chen tells Kenny to take Boyd to Kristi, but Boyd insists he is ok and tries to walk out, but struggles to stay upright, and is helped out by Kenny.

That night in the Liu home, Donna leads Tian-Chen and the Matthews in preserving their food supplies. She instructs Ethan to use only two tablespoons of salt per jar, as they have a limited supply. Julie asks how long their supply will last, and Donna answers a year if they ration properly. Jim asks if this is all their food, pointing out that they have a month’s worth of food at most. Jim says they need to warn people but Donna says it will make them panic. Jim scolds her for not telling him sooner, and Donna asks if she was supposed to tell him when he was stuck under the house. Donna says they are simply trying to do their best. Jim then says that whoever is watching would want to increase the stress level. Ethan worriedly asks what he meant when he said they don’t have enough food. Jim tells him it’s ok and to get back to jarring, but Tabitha and Julie are concerned.

Kenny finds his mother in the kitchen cooking and asks where the Matthews are. She says they are still asleep and tells him that she is cooking his favorite dish. The phone in their kitchen then begins answering, and Tian-Chen tells him to answer it. Kenny picks up the phone and a voice says “they touch, they break they steal, no one here is free, here they come, they come for three, unless you stop the melody.” Kenny is shocked, and the voice does not answer his questions. Kenny then hears a noise coming from the pot, but Tian-Chen tells him it’s not ready yet. When he looks inside, it is filled with cicadas. The music box then appears and begins playing. One cicada jumps out of the pot and lands on Kenny’s arm. Kenny swats at it as his mother begins shaking him and he wakes up in his bed to Tian-Chen shaking him awake, informing him that he was screaming. Kenny says he had a bad dream but is ok, however he notices a burn on his arm in the spot where the cicada landed in his dream.

Ethan, Julie and Victor go to the Diner to help Tian-Chen with chores. After they finish up work, Tian-Chen locks up the Diner and compliments Julie and Ethan on their work. Boyd and Kenny arrive and greet them, but Kenny hears the sound of cicadas. Reggie then comes running outside of his house covered in blood and crying out for help as the cicadas continue humming.

Boyd and Kenny go inside to investigate. When they exit, Ethan asks if everything is ok, and Boyd tells him yes, and asks if he can go home while he talks to Julie. Tian-Chen leads Ethan home. That night, everyone is warned not to go to sleep, as they can now be harmed in their dreams. As the night goes on, Tian-Chen brings board games to Julie, Ethan and Victor in order to make them feel better. Julie agrees, but Ethan glumly asks if Jim is going to die, shocking everyone. Julie says he will be fine, but Ethan then asks if they will die. Julie says they will be fine, but Ethan points out that everyone died when Victor was little. Victor tries to assure him that it won’t happen like that again, but Ethan is skeptical. Julie tries to comfort him by referencing the Cromenockle, but Ethan dismisses it as a stupid story. Victor says that his mother used to say everything was a story, and they’re the ones who get to decide how it ends. Ethan asks if her story ended the way she wanted, prompting Julie and Tian-Chen to scold him. Ethan then storms off with Julie following him. Later that night, Julie begins screaming in pain as her eyes glaze over as everyone watches helplessly.

Later the next day, Tian-Chen, Ethan and Victor return, and Ethan says Julie will be hungry when she wakes up. Tian-Chen promises that they will make her favorite food. Boyd Stevens is eventually able to save everyone, freeing them from what would have been their imminent demise and Julie Matthews, Randall and Marielle from their possession.

## Appearances

### Season One

* Choosing Day
* A Rock and a Farway
* Book 74
* All Good Things...
* Broken Windows, Open Doors
* Into The Woods
* Oh, the Places We'll Go

### Season Two

* Strangers in a Strange Land
* Tether
* This Way Gone
* Lullaby
* Pas de Deux
* Forest for the Trees
* Ball of Magic Fire
* Once Upon a Time?

## References

1. ↑ The Way Things Are Now
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 This Way Gone
3. ↑ Choosing Day
4. ↑ A Rock and a Farway
5. ↑ Book 74
6. ↑ All Good Things...
7. ↑ Broken Windows, Open Doors
8. ↑ Into The Woods
9. ↑ Oh, the Places We'll Go
10. ↑ Strangers in a Strange Land
11. ↑ Tether
12. ↑ Lullaby
13. ↑ Pas de Deux
14. ↑ Forest for the Trees
15. ↑ Ball of Magic Fire
16. ↑ Once Upon a Time?