Chu Tianqing

Biodata

Background

Before transmigrating, Chu Tianqing was a recent college graduate from an ordinary family. Her parents ran a business, and her older sister had helped care for her. Three months after graduation, she found a job but was struck by lightning during a company mountain-climbing event 1 9.

She awoke in a hospital in the body of Shen Xixi, the fake heiress in a novel she had read. Xixi’s biological mother had deliberately switched her with the Shen family’s daughter, Lin Bufan. In the original story, Xixi tried to retain her privileged position and ultimately went to prison for murder. Chu Tianqing resolved to change that outcome and distance herself from the Shen family 1 3.

Appearance

In Shen Xixi’s body, Chu Tianqing is considered beautiful and is often seen without makeup. She has long hair, which she sometimes wears loose or braided 8 11 14 48.

• She favors simple, inexpensive clothes over Xixi’s designer wardrobe 12 14.
• For the Shen family banquet, she wore a light-gray, off-the-shoulder gauze gown and an elegant braided hairstyle 21.
• At the restaurant, her work uniform consisted of a dark-red outfit, brown beret and small brown apron 38.

Personality

Chu Tianqing is practical and determined to support herself. Although she initially uses money left in Xixi’s accounts, she intends to repay it and looks for work rather than depend indefinitely on the Shen family 2 4.

She is sympathetic toward people harmed by the original Shen Xixi, even though she did not commit those acts herself. She wants to make amends to Jiang Lean, but also recognizes that she cannot spend her entire new life atoning for someone else’s actions 5 9 18.

Anxious situations often make her talkative, and she uses humor to cope with embarrassment. She can also be outspoken when she feels controlled, as when she rejects Shen Heng’s attempt to arrange a match for her 11 24.

Skills

Cooking

Chu Tianqing learned to cook in middle school after her older sister began boarding at high school. She describes her cooking as modest but edible and prepares meals for Shen Heng and the Shen family 9 28.

Cleaning and service work

• She learns cleaning techniques from an experienced cleaner and adapts to working at Sister Bai’s bar 6 9 10.
• She volunteers as a server at her restaurant and later takes a salaried serving job at the bar 38 46.

Relationships

• Shen Heng — Xixi’s non-biological older brother. Initially wary of her, he repeatedly helps Chu Tianqing, including retrieving her from the police station and caring for her when she falls ill. Their relationship grows closer but is marked by teasing, arguments and his concealed feelings for her 1 7 38 50.
• Jiang Youyi — Xixi’s mother by upbringing. Chu Tianqing is grateful for her affection but begins calling her “Auntie Jiang” to establish distance 11 12.
• Shen Yunsheng — Xixi’s father by upbringing. He tells Chu Tianqing she can return home after her hospitalization and is concerned when she chooses to live apart 2.
• Shen Bufan — The Shen family’s biological daughter, formerly known as Lin Bufan. Knowing their characters’ antagonism in the original novel, Chu Tianqing initially wants to stay out of her way 1 17 20.
• Jiang Lean — A former victim of Xixi’s school bullying. She initially seeks revenge on Chu Tianqing, but they reconcile, become friends and open a restaurant together 5 6 19.
• Xiao Junyi — A Jincheng young master who pursues Chu Tianqing. They become a couple, briefly quarrel and reconcile, then break up after she meets his mother 38 42 47 48 50.
• Ye Mingchen — Shen Heng’s friend, who asks to meet Chu Tianqing after admiring her boldness. Although they spend time together, she does not return his romantic interest 25 32 40.
• Yan Ruyu — Xixi’s former acquaintance, whose threat prompts Chu Tianqing to quit her cleaning job. They later agree to keep the peace at a dinner, and Yan Ruyu warns her about Xiao Junyi’s family and a supposed engagement 13 33 43.
• Baogang — A rescued male puppy placed in Chu Tianqing’s care by Shen Heng. She trains and looks after him; Shen Heng calls him Rocky 18 30.

Story Role

A new life as Shen Xixi

After leaving the hospital, Chu Tianqing moves into an apartment arranged by Shen Heng and searches for work. She encounters Jiang Lean, whom Xixi had bullied at school, and accepts a night job arranged by her: cleaning a bar’s gender-neutral restroom for 300 yuan per shift 4 5 6.

When a drunk customer later identified as Brother Bao tries to drag her into a stall, she strikes him with a mop. Shen Heng comes to the police station with legal help after she is taken there. Chu Tianqing returns to the job and becomes friendly with the bar workers 6 7 10.

Reconciliation and the restaurant

Yan Ruyu’s threats lead Chu Tianqing to quit the bar and book a ticket to Liancheng. Before she leaves, Jiang Lean asks for help at Yan Ruyu’s party; Chu Tianqing goes despite suspecting a trap. Shen Heng subsequently helps her clean up after she is humiliated at the club 13 14 15 16.

Chu Tianqing remains in Jincheng and takes care of Baogang. She and Jiang Lean reconcile, then partner with Sun Haoyu to open a restaurant. Chu Tianqing agrees to invest 100,000 yuan, and the three begin preparations 18 19.

The Shen banquet and later relationships

At Shen Heng’s urging, Chu Tianqing attends the Shen family banquet. She is overwhelmed by Shen Bufan’s entrance and later leaves angrily when Shen Heng tries to arrange a match for her. Outside, she meets Ye Mingchen, whom she subsequently shows around Jincheng 20 22 24 25.

After the restaurant’s soft opening, Xiao Junyi and Ye Mingchen both show interest in her. Chu Tianqing accepts Xiao Junyi as her boyfriend at the grand opening. Yan Ruyu later warns her that he has an arranged engagement, but Xiao Junyi tells Chu Tianqing he is not engaged. The couple briefly quarrel over her bar job before reconciling 38 42 43 47 48.

Xiao Junyi takes her to meet his mother, Teacher Zhou, who objects to the relationship because Xixi is not the Shen family’s true heiress. Chu Tianqing overhears the conversation, and the couple break up. After Chu Tianqing and Baogang fall ill, Shen Heng takes her to the hospital and stays to care for her at home 48 49 50.

Trivia

• After her lightning strike, Chu Tianqing vows never to climb another mountain 5.
• Jiang Lean started a rumor that Chu Tianqing had once had cerebral palsy; the bar workers treated her kindly in part because they believed it 10 42.
• Chu Tianqing gives Xiao Junyi’s expensive flower deliveries to female restaurant customers rather than throw them away 39.