Hua Xiaotang

Biodata

Background / History

Assignment and Reunion with Tong Zhao

Hua Xiangxiang enters Shu Sizhuo’s world under the name Hua Xiaotang. She is the sixth member of a task force assigned to redirect his attraction toward women, following five unsuccessful predecessors. The institute regards Tong Zhao’s earlier involvement with Shu Sizhuo as the cause of the problem. Unlike Tong Zhao’s assignment, her short-term mission provides ample reserve funds, access to luxury housing and cars, no penalty for failure, and a substantial reward for success 10.

She first appears as a newly debuted model at the studio where Tong Zhao is filming a shampoo commercial. Tong Zhao finds her familiar but does not immediately recognize her. She subsequently chats with Shu Sizhuo and two executives, repeatedly leaning toward him before leaving with the group 7 8.

After seeing Tong Zhao get out of Shu Sizhuo’s car, she confronts him and reveals her identity as his senior fellow tasker. She questions their renewed contact and orders him to stay away from her target. Although she acknowledges that Shu Sizhuo shows no interest in women, she insists that she can complete the assignment 10.

Acting and the Restaurant Fight

Hua Xiaotang uses her connections to attend a company summit, but Shu Sizhuo ignores her. The favor she owes for gaining access leads her to replace an actress who has withdrawn from Falling into My Heart. She plays Meng Zhiting, the romantic counterpart to Tong Zhao’s Shen Yi’an; their characters form the drama’s third couple 15.

After their first night of filming together, she treats Tong Zhao to a late-night meal. A drunken man nicknamed Floral Jacket harasses her, and she initially claims Tong Zhao is her boyfriend to discourage him. When the harassment escalates, she throws water in the man’s face and joins Tong Zhao in fighting his companions, using a high heel as a weapon 16.

Shu Sizhuo’s men stop the brawl. Hua Xiaotang leaves with her godmother, while Shu Sizhuo takes the injured Tong Zhao away. She later defends Tong Zhao before the director, explaining that he was hurt while helping her 16 20.

Investigating Wind House

Concerned that Tong Zhao has spent the night with Shu Sizhuo, Hua Xiaotang calls him the next morning and insists on collecting him. After he encounters a young man who resembles him, she explains that other female taskers have reported seeing similar lookalikes around Shu Sizhuo 17 18 19.

She offers to investigate Wind House after Tong Zhao’s system cannot uncover its purpose. During their conversation, she directly asks whether Tong Zhao still loves Shu Sizhuo. His admission surprises her: genuine attachment to someone from a mission world is taboo among taskers 19.

Her investigation does not reveal Wind House’s location or function. Through her godmother, however, she identifies Boss Huang as a building-materials businessman who frequently brings people to Shu Sizhuo. Her godmother reprimands her for probing information Shu Sizhuo wants kept private 23.

The Yacht Banquet Scheme

Hua Xiaotang plans to approach Shu Sizhuo at a deck banquet, dismissing Tong Zhao’s repeated warnings about taking the mission too far. The yacht’s departure point near the seaside filming location allows her to attend between scheduled scenes 23 25.

Her plan is to seduce Shu Sizhuo and give him drugged red wine. She expects the drug to render him unconscious and leave him believing they have slept together. She then intends to alternate affection and distance to cultivate his attachment. These are her expectations; the plan never reaches that stage in the provided account 30.

Instead, her godmother, Shen Yan, enters the lounge Hua Xiaotang believes belongs to Shu Sizhuo. Shen Yan is flushed, burning hot, and unsteady, leading Hua Xiaotang to suspect she has consumed something. Hua Xiaotang discovers that her own arrangements have trapped them: she bribed someone to lock the door and ordered that nobody open it regardless of noises from inside. With neither woman carrying a phone, her calls for help go unanswered. She finally tries to guide Shen Yan to a cold shower 30.

Appearance

Hua Xiaotang is described as beautiful, with a striking figure and long, wavy hair reaching her waist 15 16.

• Red clothing: Wears a red dress on set and a strapless red dress for the yacht scheme 15 30.
• Bright red lipstick: Part of her appearance both when confronting Tong Zhao and preparing to seduce Shu Sizhuo 10 30.
• High heels: Favors bright red heels; uses one of her shoes as an improvised weapon during the restaurant fight 16 23.
• Oversized black sunglasses: Wears them during her early confrontation with Tong Zhao 10.

Personality

Hua Xiaotang is outspoken, self-assured, and proud of her appearance. She credits her beauty and intelligence with opening doors, takes Shu Sizhuo’s indifference personally, and declares that there is no mission she cannot complete. Her confidence becomes recklessness when she dismisses Tong Zhao’s concerns and designs a coercive seduction scheme without anticipating how her own precautions could backfire 10 15 23 25 30.

Her treatment of Tong Zhao mixes scolding with practical support. She blames him for complicating her assignment and repeatedly questions his contact with Shu Sizhuo, but also buys him a substantial meal, helps defend him during the restaurant fight, and speaks up for him afterward. When he admits his genuine feelings, she responds with surprise rather than her usual teasing 15 16 19 20.

She is also openly flirtatious. After discovering that her scripted kiss with Tong Zhao has been replaced by a forehead kiss, she complains about losing the opportunity to kiss a handsome man 23.

Abilities & Skills

Social Networking and Information Gathering

• Builds a broad network after entering the mission world and secures access to Shu Sizhuo’s company summit 15 19.
• Uses her godmother’s contacts to identify Boss Huang and investigate his connection to Shu Sizhuo 23.
• Cannot penetrate the secrecy surrounding Wind House despite her efforts 23.

Improvised Fighting

• Strikes an attacker with a removed high heel and kicks Floral Jacket in the groin during the restaurant brawl 16.
• Is not portrayed as a skilled combatant; the narration treats her contribution as limited, with Tong Zhao bearing the main burden until Shu Sizhuo’s men intervene 16.

Equipment / Items

• Red sports car — Drives it when confronting Tong Zhao, taking him to dinner, and collecting him from Shu Sizhuo’s residence 10 16 19.
• Drugged red wine — Prepared for the yacht scheme; intended to induce unconsciousness and a misleading impression of having had sex. Shu Sizhuo is not shown drinking it 30.

Relationships

• Tong Zhao — Junior fellow tasker and acting partner. She tries to keep him away from her target but also assists him with meals, transportation, and information gathering 10 15 18 19.
• Shu Sizhuo — Mission target. Her attempts to attract him receive little attention; his concern for Tong Zhao repeatedly complicates her assignment 15 16.
• Shen Yan — Godmother and source of influential contacts. She helps Hua Xiaotang identify Boss Huang, then becomes trapped with her when the yacht scheme goes wrong 16 23 30.
• Other straightening taskers — Predecessors and sources of reports about Shu Sizhuo’s interest in men resembling Tong Zhao. Five have already failed before Hua Xiaotang’s assignment 10 19.

Notable Quotes

“There's no mission I, Hua Xiangxiang, can't complete!” 10

“You shouldn't be too curious about how other people win over their mission targets.” 25