Li Zhiqun

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Li Zhiqun (黎志群)
Alias(es)	“Cheater Li”; “Deadbeat Li”
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Class 2, Grade 10; Dongchuan Middle School football-team tryouts
Occupation/Role	Student; trial-match forward
First Appearance	3

Personality

Li Zhiqun is an outspoken football fan and a devoted follower of Luo Kai. He readily praises Luo Kai’s talent, argues that Luo should have been admitted directly to the school team, and treats criticism of Luo as a personal affront. 3 7 17

He repeatedly belittles Hu Lai, framing him as untalented, lucky, and unworthy of a place on the team. Hu Lai’s hat trick and subsequent selection intensify Li Zhiqun’s resentment, especially after Li Zhiqun is forced out of the trial by injury and fails to make the roster himself. 20 23 26 31 36

His pride makes him unwilling to concede defeat publicly. After losing a 100-yuan bet to Hu Lai, he denies having made it rather than pay, despite numerous classmates having witnessed the agreement. 30 32 33

Football

Forward Play

Li Zhiqun plays as Team One’s forward during Dongchuan Middle School’s recruitment trial. He actively seeks shooting chances, but becomes frustrated when Hu Lai’s goals draw attention away from him. 20 21 23

• Was assigned as Team One’s forward during the trial match. 20
• Struggled to control a pass while under defensive pressure, ending one of Team One’s attacks. 21
• Attempted to score after Hu Lai’s first goal but made poor decisions out of desperation; his missed shot later rolled to Hu Lai for another goal. 23
• Left the match injured before scoring, leaving Team One short a forward. 24 25
• Believed his injury had significantly harmed his chances of being selected for the school team. 36

Football Knowledge

Li Zhiqun identifies himself as a football fan and joins debates about famous players, though Hu Lai mocks him for not recognizing Cristiano Ronaldo. 3

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Classmate Rivalry

Li Zhiqun is established as one of Hu Lai’s regular mockers and as Luo Kai’s lackey. He backs Luo Kai’s pursuit of Li Qingqing and enthusiastically celebrates Luo’s popularity and football ability. 5 7

Before the school-team assessment, he dismisses Hu Lai’s ambitions and looks forward to watching him fail. During team selection, he undermines Hu Lai’s claim to be a forward by recounting Hu Lai’s past mistakes, helping push him into the left-fullback role instead. 17 20

Recruitment Trial

Li Zhiqun plays forward for Team One while Hu Lai, initially assigned to left fullback, repeatedly joins the attack. Annoyed by Hu Lai’s incursions into the penalty area, Li Zhiqun dismisses him as a defender playing out of position. 21 22

Hu Lai’s first two goals are viewed by Li Zhiqun as pure luck. Trying to match Hu Lai, Li Zhiqun becomes increasingly impatient and misses chances. He is then injured and leaves the field before the trial ends, while Hu Lai is moved to forward and completes a hat trick. 23 24 25

Afterward, Li Zhiqun argues that Hu Lai’s goals cannot be replicated and should not earn him a place on the school team. 26

Failed Selection and Lost Bet

Confident that he will make the school team, Li Zhiqun agrees to a bet: if Hu Lai is selected, Li Zhiqun must pay him 100 yuan; if Hu Lai fails, Song Jiajia will pay Li Zhiqun 100 yuan. 30

Li Zhiqun’s name is absent from the final sixteen-player roster, while Hu Lai is the last player selected. 31 32 When Hu Lai demands payment, Li Zhiqun attempts to deny that the wager happened. Li Qingqing intervenes by claiming to have a video of the agreement, leaving him unable to respond. 32 33

Continued Resentment

After Hu Lai begins training with the school team, Li Zhiqun continues to mock his soreness and basic-training struggles. Hu Lai counters by bringing up Li Zhiqun’s injury and unpaid debt, silencing him. 36

Li Zhiqun later watches Hu Lai’s special training with anticipation, hoping Hu Lai will fail publicly and become a laughingstock. 48 49

Relationships

• Hu Lai — Classmate and principal rival. Li Zhiqun routinely mocks Hu Lai’s football ability, obstructs his preferred position in the trial, loses a bet over Hu Lai’s selection, and refuses to pay the 100 yuan. 20 30 32 36
• Luo Kai — Admired classmate and “Brother Kai.” Li Zhiqun promotes Luo Kai’s ability, supports his interest in Li Qingqing, and follows him closely. 5 7 17 20
• Li Qingqing — Classmate who publicly challenges Li Zhiqun when he tries to deny the bet with Hu Lai; he does not retaliate against her because of Luo Kai’s feelings for her. 32
• Song Jiajia — Hu Lai’s friend and the proposed payer if Hu Lai lost the bet. Song confronts Li Zhiqun when he attempts to deny the agreement. 30 32 33

Trivia

• Li Zhiqun’s injury during the recruitment trial prevents him from finishing the match and becomes a major source of resentment after he is not selected. 24 26 36
• Song Jiajia and Hu Lai decide that Li Zhiqun’s refusal to honor the bet gives them grounds to call him “Cheater Li.” 33