Gu Yanshen

Biodata

Background

Gu Yanshen is the only son of the prominent Gu family. At school, he has access to a private lounge both because of his family status and because he secured substantial resources for the school through academic competitions and international exchange programs 2 39.

Appearance

Gu Yanshen has a cold, composed appearance and is notably tall 2 14.

• Clean-cut features, a high nose, long lashes, and narrow lips 2.
• Pale skin and large hands with long fingers and prominent knuckles 3 34.
• Wears a neatly pressed uniform with a buttoned white shirt, tie, and Student Council badge 2.
• Carries a cedar scent 2.

Personality

Gu Yanshen is known for being meticulous, self-disciplined, and impartial. He also has a strong need for control and dislikes situations that fall outside his expectations 2.

His involvement with Shi Zheng exposes a possessive and calculating side. He demands that she leave Hua Jinchen, then plans to use Hua’s jealousy against their relationship. Despite his usually controlled manner, he can become visibly embarrassed by Shi Zheng’s teasing 16 27 34.

Story Role

Expulsion crisis

Shi Zheng deliberately drugs herself and Gu Yanshen before spending the night with him. The following morning, his favorability toward her stands at −99. When a campus forum exposé puts her at risk of expulsion, she seeks his help as Student Council president, but he initially refuses to take responsibility for her situation 1 2.

After Shi Zheng provokes him in his office, his favorability falls to −100. He subsequently convenes a Disciplinary Committee meeting to review her case, an exception that draws Hua Jinchen’s attention 3 4 9.

Rivalry with Hua Jinchen

After the disciplinary meeting, Gu Yanshen questions Shi Zheng about Hua Jinchen and repeatedly tells her to break up with him. He offers her more money than Hua can give her, but she rejects what she calls his possessiveness 14 16 18.

At Yunding Club, Gu Yanshen follows Shi Zheng toward Hua Jinchen’s private room and declares that he intends to pursue her despite Hua’s warning. He later joins their gathering and sits beside her, although she chooses to leave with Hua 23 24 25 28.

The rivalry becomes physical after Hua overhears Shi Zheng discussing her night with Gu Yanshen. The two men fight in Gu’s lounge until Shi Zheng orders them to stop 40 41 42.

Su Qingqing’s exposure and relationship with Shi Zheng

Gu Yanshen publicly clarifies that he met Shi Zheng in a hallway at Yunding Club. Shi Zheng later gives him a recording implicating Su Qingqing in the forum incident and an earlier anonymous report. He promises to handle the matter fairly but later admits that he delayed it so Shi Zheng would come to him; in exchange for resolving it, he asks her not to stop him from pursuing her 38 40 45.

Gu Yanshen eventually tells Shi Zheng that Su Qingqing will be expelled, including for arranging an illegal hack of the school forum. After Shi Zheng accepts money from Hua Jinchen’s mother to break up with Hua, she asks Gu Yanshen to be her boyfriend. He agrees and promises that his family will not make things difficult for her 47 50.

Favorability

The system reports Gu Yanshen’s favorability or affection toward Shi Zheng at several points:

Relationships

• Shi Zheng — Initially hostile toward her, Gu Yanshen becomes determined to pursue her despite her relationship with Hua Jinchen. She later asks him to be her boyfriend 2 23 50.
• Hua Jinchen — A longtime acquaintance and rival for Shi Zheng. Their conflict escalates from verbal confrontations to a fight in Gu Yanshen’s lounge 24 41 42.
• Su Qingqing — A Student Council member who admires him. He reprimands her for questioning a disciplinary decision on personal grounds and later helps secure her expulsion 17 18 47.

Notable Quotes

“The one who isn’t loved is the third wheel.” 23

“In exchange, don’t stand in my way—let me keep liking you.” 45