Xiao Nan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Nan (肖南)
Alias(es)	Brother Nan; Young Master Xiao Nan; Director Xiao; Deputy Director Xiao
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Modu Banking Regulatory Bureau
Occupation/Role	Xiao Family third-generation political strategist; former Director of Modu’s Administration for Industry and Commerce; Deputy Director of the Banking Regulatory Bureau
First Appearance	98

Background / History

Xiao Nan is Xiao Di’s eldest son and Xiao Dong’s older brother, making him Xiao Bei’s older cousin. The Xiao Family originally expected the continuation of its power and strategic affairs to rest with Xiao Nan, whose political path was already well established. 350 351

Before meeting Xiao Bei, Xiao Nan provided support to Liu Siping in Modu to repay a favor from university. He allowed her to use his connections within limits, creating the public impression that they were dating. 98

Xiao Nan first encountered Xiao Bei during the conflict with the Liu siblings. After learning from Xiao Xuan that he was to locate Xiao Bei, he immediately treated him as family and publicly revealed that Xiao Bei held an even more important position within the Xiao Family. 99

As Xiao Bei’s temporary guardian before his formal return to the family, Xiao Nan investigated possible forces behind him and sought to ensure his safety. He became one of Xiao Bei’s closest political advisers, while Xiao Bei increasingly supported his career through business projects and intelligence. 104 131 245

Appearance

Xiao Nan presents himself as a gentle, refined, and elegant young master in social settings, often greeting acquaintances with a smile. His polished public manner masks a calculating political temperament. 355

• He formerly maintained a low profile in Modu, including driving an Audi while working in the system. 242 677
• Upon becoming Deputy Director of the Banking Regulatory Bureau, he deliberately abandoned that low-profile image and arrived in a Mercedes-Benz S63 gifted by Xiao Bei. 677
• Xiao Ling jokingly describes him as having a somewhat “effeminate vibe” compared with Xiao Bei. 322

Personality

Xiao Nan is witty and teasing with family, particularly Xiao Bei and Xiao Dong. He frequently jokes about Xiao Bei’s relationships, yet becomes focused and serious when discussing family interests, political risks, or business strategy. 131 245 611

In public, he maintains composure and a courteous demeanor. Privately, he is notably cautious, suspicious, and adept at indirect retaliation; Chen Shaoming considers him an “old fox” because embarrassing Xiao Nan often leads to unexplained repercussions later. 355 358

He is fiercely protective of Xiao Bei. Xiao Long’s assassination attempts on Xiao Bei in Modu turn Xiao Nan’s concern into open hostility, prompting him to deploy surveillance, secret guards, and the Red Wolf Squad against Xiao Long. 262 268 292

Political Career

Position / Development	Chapter	Notes
Director, Modu Administration for Industry and Commerce	246	His position gives him a potential political achievement if Xiao Bei’s shared-bicycle company is headquartered in Modu.
Resigns and leaves Modu for Hangcheng	625	Publicly appears to concede his Modu post during the Xiao Family’s negotiations with the Qin Family.
Deputy Director, Modu Banking Regulatory Bureau	677	Returns to Modu with authorization from above and immediately begins work.
Investigates the Administration for Industry and Commerce	678 679	Uses the Banking Regulatory Bureau’s authority to target Qin Huai for suspected insider trading and illegal operations.
Standing FS leader in Modu	683	Promoted after the Qin Family’s downfall and the resolution of the Bao Xia Clan conflict.
Second-in-command in Modu	741	Reaches the position with Uncle Qiu holding the top post, aided by Xiao Bei’s intelligence and commercial projects.

Abilities & Skills

Political Strategy

Xiao Nan understands how business achievements, family influence, and bureaucratic authority can be converted into political capital.

• Immediately recognized both the potential and the risks of Xiao Bei’s shared-bicycle project. 245 246
• Correctly assessed that a nationwide project based in Modu could greatly strengthen his political record. 246
• Followed Xiao Bei’s instructions to reject the Qin Family’s demands repeatedly before bargaining for greater concessions. 611 622 623
• Began his Banking Regulatory Bureau tenure by investigating a high-ranking official rather than limiting himself to routine internal matters. 677 678

Network Management and Command

Xiao Nan can mobilize Xiao Family resources in Modu and coordinate personnel across political and security spheres.

• Ordered Xiao Ce to protect Xiao Bei after learning that he was the Xiao Family’s Tycoon Lord. 262
• Directed the Red Wolf Squad to arrest Xiao Long and transport him to the Imperial Capital. 292
• Ordered continuous surveillance of Xiao Long through the Imperial Capital’s secret guards. 268
• Used Xiao Ce and his men to intercept Xiao Long’s operatives and manage the aftermath of the Liansheng Plaza attack. 260 264

Strategic Caution

Xiao Nan habitually considers hidden motives, long-term consequences, and threats to the Xiao Family.

• Suspected that Xiao Bei’s unusual knowledge and capabilities indicated an unknown force operating behind him. 131
• Worried that Xiao Bei’s overwhelming combat ability might have originated from an outside organization rather than the Xiao Family. 264
• Identified the compromising photograph sent to him as likely part of a premeditated attack on either himself, the Xiao Family, or Xiao Bei. 494

Combat Limitations

Xiao Nan possesses basic combat training but is primarily a strategist rather than a fighter.

• He trained in simple combat techniques under Xiao Xuan. 357
• Chen Shaoming, already a Special Forces soldier at the time, defeated him in three moves during a previous sparring match. 357
• His rivalry with Chen Shaoming stems partly from Chen’s ability to force direct physical confrontations that bypass Xiao Nan’s strengths in strategy and influence. 355 358

Relationships

• Xiao Bei — Older cousin and closest younger-family ally. Xiao Nan acts as his temporary guardian, adviser, and protector, while Xiao Bei helps advance his political career. 99 131 523
• Xiao Di — Father; a leading Xiao Family second-generation figure and the father of both Xiao Nan and Xiao Dong. 350 351
• Lin Yanran — Mother; a direct descendant of the Lin Family. 350 351
• Xiao Dong — Younger brother. Their interactions are marked by constant banter, with Xiao Nan openly complaining about Xiao Dong’s cold demeanor. 350 354
• Xiao Ce — Trusted Xiao Family bodyguard and operative. Xiao Nan entrusts Xiao Bei’s protection to him and later sends him to investigate Xiao Bei’s possible backers. 262 264
• Xiao Long — Intra-family adversary. Xiao Nan becomes determined to eliminate him after Xiao Long repeatedly targets Xiao Bei. 268 292
• Chen Shaoming — Longstanding rival and personal nemesis. Chen repeatedly exploits Xiao Nan’s weaker combat ability to humiliate him, while Xiao Nan retaliates through strategy. 357 358
• Liu Siping — University acquaintance whose past assistance Xiao Nan repays through limited protection; their apparent romance is largely a public assumption. 98
• An Ruobing — Xiao Bei’s partner, whom Xiao Nan addresses as his sister-in-law and protects from pressure by the An Family. 292
• Qin Xia — Political negotiator and adversary. Their alliance over the Xiao Family’s apparent crisis is part of a larger struggle involving the Qin and Xia families. 622 623

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Liu Family conflict — Arrives in Hangcheng, meets Xiao Bei for the first time, and removes the Liu siblings’ protection after their misconduct. 98 99
• Xiao Bei’s guardian and adviser — Explains the demands of elite-family politics, advises Xiao Bei to eliminate future threats, and investigates unknown influences around him. 104 130 131
• Shared-bicycle project — Recognizes the project’s political value and seeks to establish its headquarters in Modu, though Xiao Bei withholds the full plan. 245 246
• Conflict with Xiao Long — Mobilizes Xiao Family forces to protect Xiao Bei, arrests Xiao Long, and openly asserts Xiao Bei’s status as the Xiao Family’s Tycoon Lord. 262 268 292
• Chen Shaoming rivalry — Faces renewed humiliation attempts from Chen Shaoming until Xiao Bei defeats Chen and reverses the social balance of the confrontation. 355 357 360
• Qin Family political scheme — Accepts a seemingly disadvantageous transfer and resignation arrangement as part of Xiao Bei’s plan to draw out the Qin Family. 584 611 625
• Banking Regulatory Bureau campaign — Returns to Modu as Deputy Director and uses financial-regulatory authority to investigate Qin Huai and help bring down the Qin Family. 677 678 683

Notable Quotes

“Cut the grass and eliminate the roots.” 130

“No matter what, you must rescue Xiao Bei, because he is our Xiao Family’s—TZ!” 262