Wen Leyu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Wen Leyu (文乐渝)
Alias(es)	Xiao Yu
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Qingshui County No. 2 Middle School, Repeat Class 1; Capital University, English Department; Sino-New Company 11 226 787
Occupation/Role	Student; costume designer for Lone Army Gazing Homeward; later a director at Sino-New Company 584 1420
Status	Alive 1633
First Appearance	Chapter 11

Background and History

Early life

Wen Leyu spent part of her childhood in hardship alongside her mother, Ke Xuan (“Teacher Ke”), in the Qingshui County area. Her silence and reluctance to initiate conversation earned her the childhood nickname “Little Mute,” but the difficult years made her observant, resilient, and unusually composed for her age 13 453 1633.

She first encountered Li Ye when he accompanied Lu Jingyao to Teacher Ke’s English tutoring sessions. Li Ye regularly brought scarce food and sweets for the household, leaving Wen Leyu and her mother with a favorable impression of him despite Teacher Ke believing he was more focused on accompanying Lu Jingyao than studying 12.

Before they became classmates, Li Ye inadvertently protected Wen Leyu during a corn-related incident. Wen Leyu escaped covered in mud, while Li Ye was caught and branded a “corn thief” after taking responsibility; he did not recognize her at the time 61.

Qingshui County No. 2 Middle School

In 1981, Wen Leyu entered the newly reorganized Repeat Class 1 at Qingshui County No. 2 Middle School. She remained calm under the class’s attention, but showed visible surprise and a faint smile upon discovering that Li Ye was her new deskmate 11.

Their bond began through exchanged looks, notes, and shared study. Wen Leyu performed easily on an English test and privately asked whether Li Ye intended to enter the Capital City to pursue Lu Jingyao. Li Ye instead declared his ambition to attend Tsinghua University or Peking University 13.

Although initially quiet, Wen Leyu increasingly defended Li Ye in public. She confronted Lu Jingyao over the consequences of her actions, challenged students who insulted Li Ye, and developed a reputation for being calm until provoked 61 84.

Capital University and courtship

Wen Leyu later attended Capital University’s English Department. Her relationship with Li Ye became widely known on campus, where students described the prominent Economics Department student as having been “captured” by an English Department girl 226.

The pair grew close through walks, dates, study, and mutual support. Wen Leyu encouraged Li Ye when he doubted himself, knitted him a sweater, helped manage his daily life, and trained in bayonet fighting so she could stand beside him rather than merely be protected 27 210 262 313.

Their families formally recognized the relationship through a reverse proposal and exchange of betrothal gifts. Wen Leyu accepted the gifts shyly, marking the couple’s relationship as officially approved by both families 450.

Marriage, career, and family

By early September, Wen Leyu and Li Ye were married and had established a household routine in which she cooked while Li Ye washed the dishes 733. A prenatal check-up later revealed that she was carrying twins: one boy and one girl 752.

Alongside her personal life, Wen Leyu developed professional responsibilities. She designed most costumes for the roles in Lone Army Gazing Homeward, traveled as part of the Japan film-festival delegation, and later worked at Sino-New Company, handling departmental work and overseas assignments 584 787.

By the time of her Soviet Russia trip, colleagues referred to her as “Director Wen.” Though respected for her capability, family background, and steady professional bearing, she became openly youthful and affectionate when reunited with Li Ye and their children 1420.

Appearance

Wen Leyu was initially considered unconventional by the beauty standards of her era: slender, pale, and notably tall for a young woman. Her appearance became increasingly elegant and mature as she grew older 13 1293.

• Small, palm-sized face.
• Exceptionally large, expressive eyes.
• Pale, blemish-free complexion in her youth; later described as healthier and more rosy 13 210.
• Height of just over 1.7 meters, with notably long legs 13.
• Initially thin and undernourished-looking; later gained a fuller figure while retaining an elegant bearing 117 1293.
• Usually carries herself with a quiet, refined, and well-bred demeanor, even while doing practical work 128.

Personality

Wen Leyu is outwardly reserved, cool, and restrained. She speaks concisely, watches people carefully, and can make others uncomfortable with a single cold look. Her hardships taught her to read intentions and act with composure rather than panic 13 118 1633.

Her calmness does not mean passivity. Wen Leyu is sharp-tongued when defending herself or Li Ye, and she reacts strongly to manipulation, disrespect, and perceived threats to her family. She directly confronted Lu Jingyao over Li Ye’s past sacrifices and later challenged those who treated him unfairly 61 387 531.

Around Li Ye, she is more emotionally transparent, playful, jealous, and impulsive. Teacher Ke observes that Wen Leyu’s emotions often outweigh her usual reason whenever Li Ye is involved 118. Even so, she values honesty in their relationship and investigates concerns before deciding whether to trust him 467.

Wen Leyu is practical about money and long-term security. She wants to learn investment, follows royalty and business matters closely, and believes her own abilities matter more than relying indefinitely on her parents’ influence 340 525 750.

Abilities & Skills

English and academics

Wen Leyu is a strong English student and later studies in Capital University’s English Department.

• Finished an English test with ease while other students were surprised by her ability 13.
• Studied in the English Department at Capital University 226.
• Participated in discussions involving literary rights, royalties, and international cultural collaboration 287 288.

Bayonet fighting and physical agility

Wen Leyu trained extensively in bayonet fighting under Li Ye’s guidance, primarily to strengthen herself and stand beside him in dangerous situations.

• Practiced regularly and developed a firmer stance and greater physical confidence 210.
• Moved quietly while tracking Mu Yunning, stepping into existing footprints to avoid making noise 468.
• Assisted Li Ye in driving off Yu Lichen by throwing snowballs during his harassment of Mu Yunning 468 469.
• Used a quick, subtle trip to knock down a man who caused trouble during her prenatal check-up 752.
• Is agile and capable rather than a formal martial-arts master 752.

Design and professional work

Wen Leyu combines aesthetic sense with practical work ethic.

• Designed most of the costumes for Lone Army Gazing Homeward 584.
• Served as part of the film-festival delegation to Japan 584.
• Took departmental responsibilities and overseas assignments at Sino-New Company seriously 787.
• Earned recognition from senior colleagues after work connected to a Soviet Russia trip 1420.

Driving and business judgment

Wen Leyu learned new practical skills to support Li Ye and participate in their shared work.

• Learned to drive so she could help Li Ye during long trips 492.
• Paid close attention to royalties, investments, and intellectual-property negotiations 287 288 340.
• Proposed using a major loan to develop the Light Vehicle Company, revealing an aggressive strategic instinct in business matters 806.

Relationships

• Li Ye — Husband. They met through Teacher Ke’s tutoring sessions, became deskmates in Qingshui, attended Capital University together, received family approval, and later married 12 13 450 733.
• Ke Xuan / Teacher Ke — Mother and primary early influence. Teacher Ke raised Wen Leyu through difficult circumstances, taught her self-protection and social awareness, and openly supported her relationship with Li Ye 12 453 450.
• Wen Qingsheng — Father. Protective of Wen Leyu, but ultimately supportive of her future with Li Ye and their professional plans 639 681.
• Wen Guohua — Older brother. He is close to Wen Leyu, protective of her interests, and treats Li Ye as both family and a business counterpart 184 217.
• Lu Jingyao — Former acquaintance and a source of long-running tension. Wen Leyu resents Lu Jingyao’s treatment of Li Ye and repeatedly confronts her over it 61 387 862.
• Fu Yiruo — Sister-in-law. The two cooperate in household tasks and support one another, with Fu Yiruo addressing Wen Leyu as her sister-in-law 451.
• Mu Yunning — Friend and colleague whom Wen Leyu helped protect from Yu Lichen’s harassment 468.

Notable Quotes

“I am not a princess, nor do I wish for Li Ye to treat me as one. Li Ye and I are like this: he protects me, and I protect him. We are an ordinary couple who will face life’s storms together and grow old together.”
— Wen Leyu 713