Zhuo Yang

Biodata

Background

Zhuo Yang attended martial arts schools as a child and later served in the special forces. He also worked as an instructor at Azure Dragon, where he trained young men preparing to leave home. An injury ended his special forces career, and he returned to civilian life 3 17 21.

At his former captain’s request, Zhuo Yang joined Star Radiance as a trainee to investigate the death of the captain’s daughter, Yuan Yuan. The company attributed her sudden death at work to an underlying health condition. Zhuo Yang initially sought evidence of labor-law violations, but became concerned by the circumstances surrounding her death and cremation 3 46.

Appearance

Zhuo Yang is tall and powerfully built, with wheat-colored skin, a buzz cut, and rugged features 13 39 47.

• Height: 191 cm 13
• Weight: 85 kg 13
• Body fat: 10% at the show’s measurement segment 13
• Build: Broad shoulders and back, with a firm waist and abdomen 13

Personality

Zhuo Yang is outgoing and straightforward, readily calling Qiao Huan his brother after meeting him. He is also protective: when he catches Jin Xiaopeng attempting to drug Qiao Huan, he pins him down, and during a fire dragon dance shoot, he instinctively shields his teammates from explosions 2 10 36.

His temper can make him impulsive, but he is attentive to others’ needs. He helps a Star Radiance life coordinator with charts and daily tasks, and handles Constantine gently despite his imposing appearance 25 47. His enthusiasm for military life leads him to consider recruiting Qiao Huan, though he later feels guilty after realizing how much Qiao Huan values a quiet life 17 45.

Abilities & Skills

Combat and physical conditioning

Zhuo Yang’s special forces training gave him exceptional fighting ability, reflexes, and physical strength 3 13.

• Restrains Jiang Renbao reflexively when Jiang tries to take his water gun while he is asleep 2 3.
• Keeps pace with Qiao Huan in a fight on Deserted Island; the two stop once they recognize each other 13.
• Carries Xiao Yue and Shi Xingzhou several hundred meters during an escape 16.
• Anchors the trainees’ effort to hold up a falling pole at Huixin Welfare Institute 24.
• Has a serious old Achilles tendon injury, which Uncle Yang notices from his movements 25.

Performance

Zhuo Yang is Xiu Si’s lead dancer and also contributes vocals 29 34.

• Leads the group’s Yingge Dance, incorporating powerful movements, somersaults, and twists 29.
• Sings more than four minutes of the six-minute promotional song “Beyond the Frontier Star River” 34.
• Performs the fire dragon dance with his teammates for the Phantom River promotional video 36 37.

Cooking and practical skills

• Learned to cook while at martial arts school, where he sometimes made himself extra meals at night 40.
• Constructs a pool safety net for Constantine, smoothing its sharp steel edges and surrounding it with inflatable toys 40.
• Makes grass crayfish traps and cooks with Qiao Huan during a livestream challenge 49.

Relationships

• Qiao Huan — Roommate, teammate, and close friend whom Zhuo Yang calls his brother. Zhuo Yang considers recruiting him before learning that Qiao is already an undercover officer; they later cooperate on their investigations 2 17 46.
• Ye Yiwei — Fellow Xiu Si member and undercover investigator. Zhuo Yang initially suspects his connections to Tao Zhenting, but verifies his identity by sparring with him 43 46.
• Bai Jike — Roommate and Xiu Si teammate. Zhuo Yang helps him catch a fish and makes sure Constantine thanks Bai for it 5 47.
• Yuan Yuan — His former captain’s daughter, whose unexplained death at Star Radiance prompts his undercover investigation 3 46.
• Constantine — Fan Hui’s son. Zhuo Yang rescues him from a pool and looks after him during filming; Constantine grows attached to him 39 42 47.
• Yang Yang — Star Radiance life coordinator and a friend of Yuan Yuan. Zhuo Yang helps her with trainee-related work and learns from her that Yuan Yuan previously worked for Fan Hui 25 40.

Story Role

Trainee shows and *Deserted Island*

During a trainee variety show, Zhuo Yang reflexively dislocates hunter Jiang Renbao’s arm when Jiang attempts to steal his water gun. Zhuo Yang is subsequently named among the candidates for Star Radiance’s new group 2 3.

On Deserted Island, Zhuo Yang and Qiao Huan briefly fight before recognizing each other. Stranded on a cliffside with a damaged bridge, Zhuo Yang offers to be eliminated rather than force Qiao across. The pair later leap over the ravine to help Bai Jike 13.

Azure Dragon and Xiu Si

At Azure Dragon, Zhuo Yang reunites with the other Dorm 404 trainees for military-style training. He helps prevent a pole from falling at Huixin Welfare Institute and learns Yingge Dance from a retired performer, leading the dance in the group’s performance 21 24 29 31.

Star Radiance announces Zhuo Yang, Qiao Huan, Ye Yiwei, and Bai Jike as the OSOK-X subunit. Their Phantom River promotional video, “Beyond the Frontier Star River,” earns an enthusiastic response and brings Xiu Si widespread attention 32 37.

Yuan Yuan’s investigation

Zhuo Yang switches variety-show groups to approach Fan Hui, Yuan Yuan’s former employer. While caring for Fan Hui’s son Constantine with Qiao Huan, he searches her villa for clues and later attempts to access her phone, but Qiao stops him 40 42 45.

Away from the cameras, Zhuo Yang and Qiao Huan reveal their respective investigations. After confirming Ye Yiwei’s undercover identity, the three compare clues and question Fan Hui, who says Yuan Yuan was a capable employee who left her company abruptly 46.