Dai Ying

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Dai Ying (戴盈)
Alias(es)	President Dai; Vice President Dai
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Penguin Video; later associated with Xunying Group and the jointly registered Laughing Proudly company 193 282
Occupation/Role	Senior Vice President of Penguin Video; Original Content Production Center executive; board member; production and investment decision-maker 76 153 154
First Appearance	Chapter 4 4

Background / History

Dai Ying was already a senior executive at Penguin Video when Li Xun joined the Screenwriting Department. Initially cold, controlling, and openly skeptical of him, she imposed a half-month deadline to test whether he could create another quality script rather than rely on a work polished years earlier. She also intended his success to silence veteran screenwriters who questioned her judgment; failure would have consequences. 4

As Young Bao Qingtian entered development, Dai Ying became deeply involved in its creative and production work. She researched Bao Zheng and challenged historical inconsistencies in Li Xun's script, then accepted his revised explanation and couplet. She recruited Huang Ting’s assistance for the project and brought Li Xun’s lyrics to him for evaluation despite not understanding music herself. 11 21

Her confidence in Li Xun developed through the success of Young Bao Qingtian. After reading the second arc, “Blood Altar,” she was disturbed and moved by its tragic resolution but became certain it would succeed. Though she initially saw no flaw in Xia Qing’s casting for Chang Yu, she deferred to Li Xun’s understanding of his own character and contacted Kong Teng to facilitate Cao Shiyu’s casting instead. 35

Dai Ying helped shape Penguin Video’s suspense-drama strategy after Young Bao Qingtian proved the genre’s ability to attract subscribers. She proposed a dedicated Mist Theater, intended to launch at least five high-quality suspense web dramas over one to two years, while acquiring novel rights and encouraging internal experimentation. 81

Her achievements in original-content production earned her a 20% annual salary increase and placement on Penguin Video’s board-candidate list. She later attended her first formal board meeting as a board member and advocated for Li Xun’s admission to the board. 76 153 154

Dai Ying and Li Xun jointly registered the company Laughing Proudly. Penguin Video chairman Ma Mingyuan subsequently proposed cross-shareholding between Penguin Video and the new company, recognizing their continuing business relationship. 193

Personality

Dai Ying is assertive and highly competitive in professional settings. Early in Li Xun’s employment, she used pressure and strict deadlines to test his ability, and she consistently challenges assumptions rather than accepting them at face value. 4 11

She is practical, analytical, and financially literate. When Penguin Video needed Li Xun to finish a follow-up script quickly, she rejected a proposed “honey trap” and designed a declining bonus structure that she believed would motivate him more effectively. She later explained investment percentages, profit-sharing, fund returns, and repayment periods to him. 62 129

Despite her professional composure, Dai Ying is emotionally expressive in private. She experiences embarrassment over her family’s assumptions about Li Xun, worries about their relationship charade becoming real, and is occasionally jealous or insecure about other women around him. 29 108 396 425

Abilities & Skills

Content Evaluation and Script Development

Dai Ying can assess scripts both for historical grounding and audience potential.

• Researched Bao Zheng’s biography and questioned the route taken by the Goryeo envoy delegation in Young Bao Qingtian. 11
• Recognized the emotional and commercial strength of “Blood Altar” after reading the arc in full. 35
• Expressed confidence in Detective Dee after reading Li Xun’s first completed case and identified its market advantages in discussions with Ma Mingyuan. 85
• Continued to review Li Xun’s work directly, including reading the script for his romance animation project. 420

Production and Casting Management

Dai Ying coordinates production decisions and supports casting choices.

• Participated in arranging Young Bao Qingtian’s crew, filming location, and casting alongside Kong Teng and Tang Jiahe. 15
• Worked with Kong Teng when Li Xun objected to Xia Qing’s casting as Chang Yu, allowing him to recommend Cao Shiyu. 35
• Suggested Chen Jiaqi for Xiaoqing in New Legend of Madame White Snake; the two had become close friends after Detective Dee 2. 178
• Supported Li Xun’s proposal for The Voice when Xunying management was seeking a variety-show concept. 282

Business Strategy and Negotiation

Dai Ying combines market judgment with operational planning.

• Advocated airing a Young Bao Qingtian arc against a competing drama’s finale, arguing that fan demand and the series’ quality should not be dismissed. 73
• Proposed the Mist Theater as a long-term suspense-content initiative for Penguin Video. 81
• Negotiated broadcast cooperation for Detective Dee 2, selecting Xiang Province TV after comparing offers and network resources. 129
• Used her market intuition to make a box-office prediction for Wolf Warrior 2 that closely matched its eventual result. 332

Relationships

• Li Xun — Initially her subordinate and a screenwriter she tests harshly; they become romantic partners, later live together, marry, jointly establish Laughing Proudly, and have a daughter, Li Xinning. 4 126 138 193 200 425
• Liu Fang — Her mother, who repeatedly presses Dai Ying about marriage, Li Xun, and later having children. 15 126 179 199
• Dai Qingshan — Her father; a chess enthusiast who later bonds with Li Xun over the plot of Detective Dee 2. 126 151
• Ma Mingyuan — Penguin Video chairman who recognizes Dai Ying’s contributions, places her on the board-candidate list, and later consults her on Laughing Proudly’s cooperation with Penguin Video. 76 193
• Chen Jiaqi — Her close friend after Detective Dee 2; they regularly shop and spend time together. 178
• Qiu Ting — Her assistant, entrusted with confidential work, including arranging Xia Qing’s signing with Xinyu Culture without informing Li Xun or Xia Qing. 15 260
• Xia Qing — Li Xun’s former girlfriend and Dai Ying’s former casting candidate for Chang Yu; Dai Ying later quietly helps arrange Xia Qing’s signing with Xinyu Culture. 35 59 260

Story Role / Major Arcs

*Young Bao Qingtian*

Dai Ying serves as the executive driving the project’s early development. She tests Li Xun, scrutinizes his historical details, consults specialists, coordinates production, and supports the casting adjustment that places Cao Shiyu in the role of Chang Yu. 4 11 15 21 35

Penguin Video’s Suspense Expansion

After Young Bao Qingtian succeeds, Dai Ying pushes the company toward sustained suspense production through the Mist Theater plan. She oversees discussions of rewards, broadcast strategy, compensation, and investment structures surrounding Li Xun’s projects. 49 81 119 129

Relationship with Li Xun

Their relationship begins amid professional friction and family-created misunderstandings. Dai Ying initially edits a group photo to make it appear that she and Li Xun are together, then becomes entangled in a fake-dating arrangement that both families take seriously. Li Xun eventually confesses and kisses her; they later live together and marry. 15 38 108 126 138 200

Xunying and Laughing Proudly

As Li Xun’s influence grows, Dai Ying remains a central executive and collaborator. She supports new projects across drama, film, and variety programming, jointly establishes Laughing Proudly with Li Xun, and continues managing major strategic matters within Xunying. 193 282 366

Family

Dai Ying and Li Xun’s marriage remains strong despite her occasional insecurity over Xia Qing. In the finale, Dai Ying becomes pregnant and later gives birth to their daughter, Li Xinning. 425