In January 2021, Yu Yan graced the cover of ELLE China's first digital issue, further becoming the first idol to be featured.
Also in January 2021, Yu Yan returned to The9's group activities to perform live at iQiyi's 2021 Shout Out For Love Gala.
The welfare activities took place in different areas in Qilihe District, with the following project set to provide assistance to rural schools.
[22] Later in the month, along with The9 group members An Qi and Lu Keran, she visited iQiyi's Youth with You 3 as a senior mentor and performed a collaboration stage with some of the trainees.
[23] Later in the month, Yu Yan's work studio announced the opening of an official YouTube channel and also released four self-produced English song covers as a birthday special for fans.
[24] On June 11, Yu Yan supported the True Love Dream charity project and visited a children's music class at Xingshou School.
[25] She performed four solo songs, including "Give Me All Night" and a special rock version of "No Company (不奉陪)" from Youth With You 2.
Represented by AllBright Law Offices, the lawsuit severely reprimands and resists internet rumors and malicious speech targeted at Yu Yan.
[26] At midnight on June 26, Yu Yan released a cover of the song "Bygone Love (当爱已成往事)" originally by Sandy Lam and Jonathan Lee.
Yu Yan is expected to perform at Guochao Xingdong Music Festival, which was originally scheduled for August 14, 2021.
On January 3, she attended the "Starlight Young Annual Charity Gala" and won the "Best New Artist of the Year" award and performed the song "Simple LIFE".
On January 20, the single "The Faraway Place Without a Name", sung with Lou Yixiao, Su Yunying and Wang Ruiqi, was released as the theme song to help the Winter Olympics.