Zheng Shiyue

Biodata

Background

Zheng Shiyue was Li Mu Chuan's college girlfriend and first love. She confessed to him at a beach that remained one of their most meaningful shared memories. Their relationship ended because of the sharp disparity between their families' financial standing, despite Zheng having met Li's parents and being well liked by his mother. 197 202

She resisted her family's disapproval through measures including hunger strikes and running away from home, but could not change their position. The breakup remained a lasting regret for her, and Li's later success initially led her to question whether their future could have been different. 200 222

When Zheng encountered Li again while he was dirty and disheveled after a training exercise, she pretended to mistake him for someone else and left quickly rather than risk embarrassing him. She then contacted Gu Mingqiu to ask about Li's circumstances and helped arrange a class reunion as a way to see him again. 190

Appearance

Zheng is consistently described as a striking woman with long black hair, a delicate oval face, and a polished sense of dress.

• Often wears professional attire, including high heels, a skirt, and a women's suit while managing her company. 222
• Took particular care with her hair and makeup for the class reunion; her black hair was intricately styled and coiled. 200
• At the Ice Dragon Phone launch, she adopted a colder, more heroic look: a ponytail decorated with colored ribbons, long boots, and neutral-toned styling. 243
• Her public appearance at the launch drew immediate attention from reporters and viewers. 243

Personality

Zheng is notably considerate of other people's dignity. During her relationship with Li, she bought him gifts without naming their price, selected inexpensive meals, and would insist that he treat her only to low-cost outings so he would not feel burdened. Her reaction to seeing him in an apparently humiliating state years later reflected the same instinct. 190

She is persistent in love but does not treat that persistence lightly. Zheng continued to care for Li long after their separation, yet eventually came to believe that reconciliation was unlikely because he had changed and their broken relationship could not simply be restored. 272 432

In business, Zheng remains composed under pressure. When creditors confronted her company, she distinguished between the parent company's obligations and those of an indebted subsidiary, challenged an unclear contract, and tried to negotiate despite being intimidated. 222 Her later public work also shows confidence, ambition, and a genuine interest in advancing future technology rather than merely accumulating wealth. 243 436

Business Career

Relationships

• Li Mu Chuan — Former boyfriend and first love. Their relationship ended over family-status differences, but Zheng continues to care for him and repeatedly considers whether they might reconcile. 197 200 222
• Gu Mingqiu — Former classmate and mutual friend. He helps organize the class reunion, encourages Zheng to pursue Li again, and later shares a playful, sibling-like dynamic with her. 190 200 436
• Zheng Shiyue's parents — Their opposition to Li's family background caused the breakup. After Li clears the company's debts, they are left awkward and grateful toward him. 197 222
• Xiao He — In an alternate-timeline depiction, Zheng is Li Mu Chuan's wife and Xiao He's mother. 321 323

Alternate-Timeline Appearances

In one timeline, Zheng visits Li after hearing that he has returned, only to learn that they still have not ended up together. She tells him that he had once promised to choose her if he ever settled down; when he explains that he cannot stop traveling while China needs him, she declares that she is willing to wait for him for her entire life. 272

Another timeline depicts Zheng as Li's wife and the mother of Xiao He. She worries for him whenever he returns from dangerous journeys and immediately recognizes when he is concealing distress from their daughter. 321

A later scenario depicts an aged Zheng posthumously through a holographic recording left at her tombstone, her hair having turned partly white. 421

Notable Quotes

“Then if I lose everything in the future, do you think we still have a chance to be together?” 222

“If it were before, I would have thought there was some chance, but now it’s impossible.” 432

Trivia

• The author described Zheng Shiyue as a female supporting character intended to leave readers with a lingering sense of regret, while later acknowledging dissatisfaction with how her role was handled. 476