Shi Xiaomeng

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Shi Xiaomeng (石小猛)
Gender	Male
Occupation/Role	Advertising designer; later employee in Wang Yan's company, manager of Pin-Yi-Dao, and addressed as “President Shi” 138 170 176
Affiliation	Formerly Hu's Advertising; later Wang Yan's company 138 154
Status	Alive; married to Shen Bing and father of a son 176 178
First Appearance	Chapter 138

Background

Shi Xiaomeng is an advertising designer from a poor hometown who comes to Jingcheng seeking stability through his own efforts. Despite graduating from a prestigious university, he struggles with the cost of establishing a life in the city and is deeply invested in buying a home with his girlfriend, Shen Bing. His upbringing leaves him highly conscious of pride, debt, and the humiliation of relying on others. 139 147 148

When Wang Yan arrives in December 2010, Shi saves a child frozen in the path of an oncoming bus. He suffers an arm injury but still rushes to work, where he successfully presents a design proposal and earns a promised bonus. 138

Appearance

Shi Xiaomeng is initially presented as an ordinary, plainly dressed young professional rather than someone who stands out by appearance. 138 154

• Carries a messenger bag and a tube containing design drawings on his first appearance. 138
• Is described by Wang Yan's receptionist as plain-looking and ordinary. 154
• Injures his right arm while rescuing Zhang Zilong, leaving him unable to raise it during his client presentation. 138

Personality

Shi is fundamentally kind-hearted and responsible. He acts without hesitation to save a child, refuses to exploit the accident for compensation, and remains determined to meet his work obligations even while injured. 138

His strongest trait is pride. Financial hardship does not make him passive; instead, it makes him reluctant to ask for help, fearful of owing favors he cannot repay, and determined to secure a future through his own work. This pride also makes him vulnerable to Hu Rongqiang's manipulation when his apartment plans are threatened. 141 147 148

He is devoted to Shen Bing and ultimately rejects both Cheng Feng's attempt to buy her away and Cheng Sheng'en's offer of ten million yuan to leave her. Though wealth tempts him, he continues to treat Shen Bing and their shared life as more important than material advancement. 149 161 162

Shi can be stubborn, suspicious, and overworked. Wang Yan repeatedly warns him that his drive to prove himself may damage both his health and his relationship with Shen Bing. 154 160 167

Skills and Career

Advertising Design

Shi is Hu's Advertising's most promising designer. Even after arriving late and injured, he presents a proposal successfully enough to secure a client bonus. 138

• Produces design drawings with Wu Di that satisfy a client and result in a signed contract. 142
• Is capable enough that Wang Yan considers his eventual advancement into high-level corporate management plausible. 137

Management and Work Ethic

Under Wang Yan's mentorship, Shi transitions from design work to management. His determination and willingness to work long hours make him effective, though Wang Yan worries that he lacks delegation skills and may overwork himself. 154 164

Position / Development	Chapter	Notes
Advertising designer at Hu's Advertising	138	Successfully presents a design proposal despite an injured arm.
Resigns from Hu's Advertising	151	Wang Yan forces Hu Rongqiang to process the resignation and pay Shi in full.
Joins Wang Yan's company	154–155	Receives a high salary, benefits, and operational mentorship.
Annual salary of 240,000 yuan after tax	161	Cheng Sheng'en learns that Shi's compensation already rivals some Dade Group middle-management positions.
Selected to manage Pin-Yi-Dao	170	Nervously accepts Wang Yan's plan to place him in charge of the new project.
“President Shi”	176	Holds authority over employees and has become wealthy and professionally successful.

Relationships

• Shen Bing — His girlfriend, later wife. Their shared goal of buying a home drives much of Shi's early hardship; they marry in their thirty-eight-square-meter apartment and later have a son. 145 176 178
• Wang Yan — Benefactor, employer, and mentor. Wang Yan pays for Shi's medical care, protects his interests against Hu Rongqiang, lends him money for the apartment, and builds his career within the company. Shi considers him his greatest benefactor. 139 144 151 154 161
• Cheng Feng — Former friend whose obsession with Shen Bing ends their relationship. Shi rejects Cheng's offer to trade wealth for Shen Bing and later defends himself and his family against Cheng's attack. 149 177
• Wu Di — Former close friend. Shi initially relies on Wu Di for advice, but their relationship becomes strained after Wu Di withholds information about Cheng Feng's stalking and Cheng Sheng'en's offer; they eventually cease contact. 140 168 178
• Hu Rongqiang — Former boss. Hu repeatedly withholds or reduces Shi's promised bonus and pressures him to secure Dade Group business; Shi ultimately leaves the company. 145 147 151
• Cheng Sheng'en — Cheng Feng's father, who offers Shi first five million and then ten million yuan, plus a Dade Group position, to leave Shen Bing. 161 162

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rescue and First Meeting

Shi saves Zhang Zilong from an oncoming bus, injuring himself in the process. Wang Yan retrieves his lost project tube, arranges medical care, and becomes impressed by Shi's character and potential. 138 139

The Apartment and Hu Rongqiang's Exploitation

Shi's plan to buy a home with Shen Bing depends on an eighty-thousand-yuan bonus. Hu Rongqiang cuts the promised amount to thirty thousand yuan, then pressures Shi to use Cheng Feng's family connection to secure a Dade Group advertising contract. 145 147

Though Shi initially refuses to seek aid due to pride, he ultimately borrows from Wang Yan to protect the apartment deposit. 148 149

Break with Cheng Feng

After learning that Cheng Feng wants Shen Bing, Shi confronts him and ends their friendship. Cheng Feng's attempt to place a price on Shen Bing disgusts Shi, who rejects him outright. 149 150

Shi also cuts ties with Hu Rongqiang after drunkenly vomiting on him at a company gathering. Wang Yan intervenes to secure Shi's resignation and outstanding payment, then leaves one hundred thousand yuan in cash for him. 151

Career Under Wang Yan

After paying the down payment on his apartment, Shi joins Wang Yan's company. He commits himself to learning quickly, works long hours, and becomes Wang Yan's intended manager for Pin-Yi-Dao. 154 167 170

Cheng Sheng'en tries to remove Shi as an obstacle to Cheng Feng by offering him vast wealth and a senior Dade Group role in exchange for leaving Shen Bing. Shi is tempted but does not accept the offer. 161 162

Marriage, Success, and Cheng Feng's Final Attack

Shi becomes a successful executive, marries Shen Bing in their small apartment, and later learns that Cheng Feng has been imprisoned. 176

After Cheng Feng's release, he stalks Shi and Shen Bing, then attacks Shi outside their home. Shi is badly beaten but refuses to conduct a public feud; his priority is Shen Bing, whose pregnancy is endangered by the shock. 177

Shi recovers from the attack, returns to work, and welcomes a son with Shen Bing the following February. 178

Notable Quotes

“Cheng Feng, from this day on, I don't know you.” 149

“My good buddy, my brother... actually likes my Shen Bing, my girl.” 150