Liu Xu

Biodata

Background and History

Liu Xu’s mother died from severe bleeding while giving birth to him. His father blamed him for her death and forced him to grow his hair long and wear her dresses, treating him as her substitute. At his old school, other boys mocked and physically bullied him because of his hair 41 48.

Appearance

Liu Xu is a teenage boy with fair skin and a slender build 41 44.

• Hair: Soft, shoulder-length and black, with a slight natural curl at the ends 41.
• Eyes: Large and bright, with long eyelashes 41 44.
• Clothing: His father forces him to wear dresses; Wen Shiming later buys him a hoodie and sweatpants 41 44.

Personality

Liu Xu is shy and speaks softly, initially struggling to respond to Wen Shiming’s attempts at conversation. Despite his timidity, he stands up to Fu Li when Fu Li insults Wen Shiming’s brother, explaining that he cannot stand seeing people bullied 41.

He is attentive and considerate: he makes detailed English notes for Wen Shiming and brings him bandages and iodine after a fight. Although afraid of his father, Liu Xu eventually tells Wen Shiming that he wants to be himself rather than live as his mother’s replacement 42 47 48.

Skills

Studying and Tutoring

Liu Xu listens attentively in class and takes neat notes. He helps Wen Shiming prepare for his English midterm after Wang Chenchen challenges him to score 90 41 42.

• Organizes grammar points into illustrated, color-coded notes with reminders for common mistakes 42 45.
• Studies with Wen Shiming at the library and encourages him before the exam 44 45.

Arcade Racing

On his first visit to the motorcycle game with Wen Shiming, Liu Xu improves from repeatedly crashing into walls to winning a race against him 44.

Story Role

New School and Teacher’s Apology

Liu Xu transfers into Wen Shiming’s class and becomes his deskmate. Wen Shiming’s compliment about his hair gives him comfort; Liu Xu later defends him from Fu Li and reports Fu Li’s behavior to a teacher 41.

When English teacher Wang Chenchen insults Liu Xu’s hair, Wen Shiming bets that he can score 90 on the midterm to make her apologize. Wang later claims he scored 88, but Fu Yanzhi uncovers footage of her changing the score. The school dismisses her and requires a public apology to both boys 42 47.

Friendship With Wen Shiming

During a study outing, Wen Shiming reassures Liu Xu that his hair and clothes do not define him. Afterward, boys from Liu Xu’s old school attack them at an arcade; Fu Yanzhi drives them away, and Wen Shiming stays beside Liu Xu at the hospital 44.

After the midterms, Fu Li and two other boys pull Liu Xu’s hair and hit him. Wen Shiming intervenes, and Fu Yanzhi helps secure an apology from Fu Li. At home, Liu Xu’s father slaps and whips him for putting his hair at risk, then locks him in a room 45 46.

On a later Sunday, Liu Xu and Wen Shiming visit an aquarium, pose for costume photographs, exchange gifts and ride a boat at sunset. Liu Xu tells Wen Shiming about his father’s treatment and the bullying at his old school; Wen Shiming promises to protect him 48.

Forced Separation

Fu Li informs Liu Xu’s father about the boys’ closeness and supplies photographs of their outing. His father destroys Liu Xu’s diary, bird plush and bracelet, beats him, and arranges a leave of absence from school 49.

Determined to separate Liu Xu from Wen Shiming, his father arranges for him to attend Talent-Nurturing Correction Academy. Three men drag Liu Xu from home and put him in a van with his wrists bound. He loses consciousness before reaching the academy, wishing he could say goodbye to Wen Shiming 49 50.

Items

• Green bird plush — Won at the arcade with Wen Shiming’s help; Liu Xu holds it for comfort after his father beats him. His father later cuts it apart 44 46 49.
• Silver bracelet — A gift from Wen Shiming, decorated with a small bird pendant. Liu Xu’s father tears it from his wrist and crushes it 48 49.
• Diary — Liu Xu records moments of kindness from Wen Shiming in it; his father discovers and destroys it 49.
• Jade pendant — A pendant engraved with the character for “peace,” which Liu Xu gives Wen Shiming in the hope of keeping him safe 48.

Relationships

• Wen Shiming — Liu Xu’s deskmate and close friend. They defend and care for each other, exchange gifts, and grow increasingly close 41 44 48.
• Liu Xu’s father — An abusive parent who treats Liu Xu as a replacement for his deceased wife and sends him away to separate him from Wen Shiming 41 49 50.
• Fu Yanzhi — Wen Shiming’s eldest brother. He helps Liu Xu and Wen Shiming after the arcade attack and defends them at school 44 46 47.
• Bo Qing — Wen Shiming’s brother, who helps stop Fu Li from pushing Liu Xu and thanks Liu Xu for defending Wen Shiming 41.
• Fu Li — A school bully who targets Liu Xu and later tells his father about his closeness with Wen Shiming 41 45 49.
• Wang Chenchen — An English teacher who insults Liu Xu over his hair and is dismissed after tampering with Wen Shiming’s exam score 42 47.

Original Storyline

System 127 identifies Liu Xu as the protagonist of the book’s original storyline and claims he will become a powerful hidden figure in the future. According to the system, he was originally meant to meet the female lead at a low point in his life, fall in love with her and confront the villain with her 44.

The system says Wen Shiming would not have met Liu Xu in the original storyline because he would have been surviving by picking through garbage rather than attending school. Their meeting is therefore a change to that storyline 44.

Notable Quotes

“I really hate having long hair. I hate people calling me a freak. I just want to be myself and live a decent life, that’s all...” 48

“I’m not sick! You’re the one who’s sick! You made me keep my hair long, you raised me like a monster, and now you want to force me to leave here!” 50