Cuicui

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cuicui (翠翠)
Gender	Female
Species/Race	Human
Affiliation	Xikou County Public Middle School, Elite Class; Zhao Estate servants’ quarters
Occupation/Role	Student; tutors classmates for extra money
Status	Alive; remains living near the Zhao Estate as of Chapter 87
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Background / History

Cuicui is Mother Wang’s daughter and grew up in the Zhao Estate’s servants’ quarters alongside Fang Shuwen. Her mother continually presents her as the more diligent and promising child, emphasizing Cuicui’s early study schedule, tutoring work, and prospects of joining the Elite Class and marrying well 3 11.

She enters the Public Middle School’s Elite Class, ranking fortieth in the assessment. Although she is initially assumed to be the recipient of Steward Chen’s congratulatory gifts, the gifts are revealed to be for Fang Shuwen, who ranked ninth; Cuicui reacts with visible awkwardness rather than accepting what was not hers 38.

Cuicui secretly dates Li Tong despite her mother’s ambitions for her. Fang Shuwen first sees the pair kissing, then later witnesses Li Tong drugging and carrying Cuicui away. After following him, Fang discovers that Li Tong is involved in trafficking people and is willing to sell Cuicui to save himself 11 31 32.

Fang warns Cuicui to stay away from Li Tong, but she takes the warning as an intrusion into her private life and resolves to leave Xikou with Li Tong before Fang can expose their relationship 37. Li Tong subsequently persuades her to invite Fang to dinner as part of a plot against him. When Fang does not come, Li Tong abandons Cuicui to two accomplices, who seize and assault her before Fang intercepts the group 47 48 49.

Afterward, Cuicui is traumatized, withdrawn, and fearful of Fang Shuwen. She worries over a delayed period and believes she may have become pregnant during the incident, though she does not tell Mother Wang 50 56. Rather than recognizing Li Tong’s role in her suffering, she comes to resent Fang for failing to attend the arranged dinner, believing his presence would have prevented the assault 59.

By the time Fang Shuwen and Old Fang move away, Cuicui remains pale, listless, and unwilling to socialize with Fang despite Mother Wang’s attempts to push them together 87.

Appearance

Cuicui is a schoolgirl usually recognized by her thick, dark braid and Public Middle School uniform. Following her ordeal with Li Tong and his accomplices, she is repeatedly described as haggard and disheveled.

• Oval face and a youthful, delicate appearance 16.
• Commonly wears a light-blue school uniform and keeps her hair in a long braid 31 48.
• Later wears a worn floral cloth shirt with her hair loose or disheveled 47 59 84.
• Becomes noticeably thinner, pale, red-eyed, and dark-circled from trauma and sleeplessness 50 56 87.

Personality

Cuicui is initially portrayed as hardworking and capable. She studies diligently, tutors classmates, and earns small amounts of money through that work, suggesting both academic ability and initiative 11.

However, she is also naive and defensive in her relationship with Li Tong. Her fear of parental disapproval makes her conceal the relationship, and when Fang warns her, she responds with anger and suspicion rather than caution 37. She also feels envy toward Fang Shuwen’s unexpected academic success and the recognition he receives from the Zhao Estate 20 47.

Following Li Tong’s betrayal, her fear, shame, and resentment increasingly define her behavior. She avoids Fang Shuwen but later directs her hatred toward him, treating his absence from the dinner as the cause of her suffering 50 59.

Relationships

• Mother Wang — Her overbearing mother, who takes pride in Cuicui’s academic work and hopes she will marry into wealth; she remains unaware of Cuicui’s trauma and pregnancy fears 3 17 56.
• Li Tong — Secret boyfriend who drugs Cuicui, participates in trafficking, uses her to lure Fang Shuwen out, and ultimately betrays her to his accomplices 31 32 47 48.
• Fang Shuwen — Childhood neighbor. He warns her about Li Tong and later saves her from Li Tong’s group, but she avoids him afterward and ultimately blames him for not coming to the dinner trap 37 49 50 59.
• Old Fang — Neighbor and Fang Shuwen’s father; Mother Wang repeatedly compares Cuicui’s achievements with Fang Shuwen’s in his presence 3 11.
• Hu Da — Fellow Zhao Estate worker who witnesses Mother Wang’s pride in Cuicui and later sees Cuicui’s withdrawn condition 38 87.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Elite Class Assessment

• Studies intensely and gains admission to the Elite Class, placing fortieth 38.
• Is embarrassed when Mother Wang tries to accept rewards intended for Fang Shuwen rather than her 38.

Relationship with Li Tong

• Secretly dates Li Tong despite her mother’s expectations 11 37.
• Is drugged by Li Tong and nearly sold through his trafficking contacts 31 32.
• Rejects Fang Shuwen’s warning that Li Tong is dangerous 37.

Dinner Trap and Betrayal

• Invites Fang Shuwen to dinner at Li Tong’s request, unaware that Li Tong intends to target him for money 47.
• Realizes Li Tong’s betrayal after Fang fails to arrive and Li Tong allows his accomplices to take her 48.
• Is rescued when Fang Shuwen confronts Li Tong and the traffickers 49.

Aftermath

• Becomes traumatized, physically unwell, and fearful after the incident 50 56.
• Develops hatred toward Fang Shuwen, blaming him for not appearing at the dinner 59.
• Remains withdrawn and distressed even as Fang Shuwen’s household prepares to leave the Zhao Estate 84 87.

Notable Quotes

“That day... why didn't you come!” 59