Gu Chen

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Gu Chen (顾沉)
Alias(es)	President Gu 1 421
Gender	Male
Affiliation	A University; Great Zhou World (former); Tiansui Capital; Street Stall Network; his data company 93 107 250 421
Occupation/Role	A University student; former real-estate salesperson and Sales Team One leader; Professor Xing's assistant; entrepreneur, investor, and later senior partner/shareholder of Tiansui Capital 93 107 421
Status	Alive 436
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

In his original life, Gu Chen was widely derided as vain, profit-driven, and eager to curry favor with powerful people. After graduating, he worked for Ling Group, later founded a company of his own, went bankrupt, and ultimately died by suicide after prolonged mockery and torment. Only after death did he learn that he was a disposable supporting character in a Mary Sue novel, created to contrast with his adopted younger brother, Gu Xiu, the story's protagonist. 1 6 9

Gu Chen awakens ten years earlier, just as he and Gu Xiu enter A University. Determined not to repeat his former life, he initially tries to avoid the plot characters and support his parents through his own efforts. 1 9

His attempts to deviate from the original story trigger severe physical “rejection” from the plot halo. By observing altered events—including his basketball victory over Huo Mingzhang and the Qiao Family confrontation—he concludes that personal strength, reputation, and subtly changing other characters' choices can weaken the halo's control. 35 36 75

Appearance

Gu Chen is repeatedly noted to be handsome, with a fair face and a reserved, cold impression that earns him the campus nickname of the business department's “iceberg.” 85 233 387

• Considered more handsome than many entertainers by Mu Tianming. 387
• Often appears composed and mature beyond his age, to the point that others mistake him for a seasoned professional. 250
• His intense work habits can leave him visibly exhausted, including severe dark circles after sleepless nights. 233

Personality

Gu Chen is reserved, highly self-reliant, and intensely driven. Having been humiliated and exploited in his previous life, he initially believes that only relentless work and personal achievement can earn him safety and respect. He avoids claiming credit, prefers action over explanation, and remains calm in public even when facing rumors or social contempt. 1 85 219

Despite his restraint, Gu Chen is fiercely protective of people he considers his own. He defends Cheng Yi against Huo Mingzhang, advises Gao Haiyang against joining an unethical company, and takes responsibility for his employees' wellbeing. 110 168 345

His greatest flaw is a tendency toward extreme retaliation when threatened or emotionally overwhelmed. Professor Xing recognizes that Gu Chen can turn to underhanded solutions in a crisis, while Gu Chen himself fears slipping back into the impulsive and self-destructive mindset of his first life. 159 160

Gu Chen also struggles with insecurity over his rebirth. He worries that his accomplishments come primarily from foreknowledge rather than personal ability, though Zhongli Sui reminds him that many of his successes were created through his own choices. 360 162

Abilities & Skills

Rebirth Foreknowledge and Plot Analysis

Gu Chen retains memories of roughly ten additional years of life, including future business developments, investment cases, and the original novel's major plot points. 1 13 360

• Uses future knowledge to identify investment opportunities, market trends, and potential corporate crises. 70 129
• Analyzes the plot halo's behavior and discovers that fame, ability, and changed interpersonal dynamics reduce its influence. 35 36 75
• Recognizes that foreknowledge is incomplete and that the present has diverged from his previous life through a “butterfly effect.” 95 360
• Cannot reliably predict every event once his actions begin changing the timeline. 95 348

Memory and Academic Ability

Gu Chen possesses exceptional recall, which becomes markedly stronger after his rebirth. 10 177

• Recites a sales manual of more than seventy pages backward under pressure. 10
• Creates widely used mind maps for Tax Law and Economic Law; his materials are used by senior and graduate students. 35 85
• Produces data-analysis work impressive enough for Professor Xing to arrange publication in The Economist. 36 82
• Receives professor-level access to A University's internal database through Professor Xing's laptop. 123

Business, Investment, and Public Relations

Gu Chen combines sales experience, financial analysis, strategic planning, and public-opinion management.

• Helps Liao Chunhua close eight sales in a single morning while interning at Great Zhou World. 16
• Resolves a reputational crisis involving Great Zhou Group's sales department and is later promoted to leader of Sales Team One. 90 93
• Detects Great Zhou Group's funding gap and the risk of a cash-flow crisis if its Hong Kong listing fails. 129
• Uses stock investments to build capital and becomes known for his investment proposals. 70 251 273
• Designs commercial and publicity strategies for the Western Old City District Commercial Street, including folk-culture events, livestream shopping, and the Dragon Head-Raising Market. 89 195 203

Entrepreneurship and Technology

Gu Chen founds Street Stall Network and later establishes a large-scale big-data analytics company. 250 421

• Builds an early, unstable version of Street Stall Network himself before seeking to improve his programming knowledge. 102
• Studies Python and plans to learn Java after finding C language too difficult. 125
• Responds directly to user feedback, promising updates to Street Stall Network's Circle feature. 116
• Later becomes a senior partner and shareholder of Tiansui Capital while managing Street Stall Network and the data company. 421 423

Basketball

Gu Chen is an exceptionally capable basketball player.

• Defeats Huo Mingzhang in a one-on-one game, scoring with ease while drawing the attention of watching students. 3
• Is particularly skilled at three-pointers and fadeaway jumpers. 11
• Uses his performance and reputation within the basketball club to gain support against plot-driven conflicts. 36

Culinary and Knife Skills

Gu Chen learned various social skills in his first life while attempting to fit into wealthy circles, including food preparation and decorative knife work. 170

• Carves fruit rinds into flowers and prepares elaborate fruit platters. 170
• Cooks cold noodles, sliced beef in chili sauce, hand-shredded beef, and homemade meat sandwiches. 326

Items & Works

• Professor Xing's laptop — Issued for confidential work; grants Gu Chen professor-level access to A University's internal database. 53 123
• Succubus Phantom model car — A sports-car model gifted by Zhongli Sui after Tiansui Capital acquires XD Company. 95
• Mind-map books — Published study materials that become bestsellers. 72
• Street Stall Network — Gu Chen's website and entrepreneurial project. 102 107

Relationships

• Zhongli Sui — Business partner, confidant, and romantic partner. Zhongli supports Gu Chen's projects, reassures him after he reveals his rebirth secret, and becomes the person Gu Chen trusts with his deepest fears. 95 160 162 188
• Professor Xing Changlian — Mentor and academic advisor. He recognizes Gu Chen's potential, makes him his assistant, guides his research and professional ethics, and remains one of Gu Chen's most important benefactors. 36 107 159 420
• Gu Xiu / Ling Xiu — Gu Chen's adopted younger brother. Their relationship becomes increasingly strained after Gu Chen's rebirth, particularly over the misunderstandings surrounding Gu Xiu's adoption and Gu Chen's reputation. 1 75 181
• Gu Family — Gu Chen remains devoted to his parents and extended family, working to provide them with security and later earning their pride through his accomplishments. 9 190 225 116
• Gao Haiyang, He Qingchen, and Zhao Shu — Gu Chen's roommates and close friends. They support his studies, defend his character, and are influenced by his work ethic. 123 148 157
• Cheng Yi — Friend and basketball-club associate. Gu Chen defends Cheng Yi against Huo Mingzhang, strengthening their friendship. 110 123
• Liao Chunhua — Former mentor at Great Zhou World. She trains Gu Chen in sales and later supports his leadership initiatives. 10 16 93
• Zhou Xiaoting — Classmate and professional ally. Gu Chen assists Great Zhou Group through multiple crises, while Zhou Xiaoting repeatedly defends and supports him despite her family's reservations. 70 90 110
• Huo Mingzhang — Initial basketball rival and recurring antagonist. Their conflicts are closely tied to the plot halo, though Huo later seeks cooperation and expresses regret over past harm. 3 110 123 396

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rebirth and Resistance to the Plot

Gu Chen begins as a supporting character attempting to escape a predetermined life of humiliation and death. His discovery that the plot halo can be resisted through reputation and self-improvement becomes the foundation of his second life. 1 35 36

Great Zhou World and Academic Rise

While studying at A University, Gu Chen interns at Great Zhou World, proves himself as a salesperson and crisis manager, and gains Liao Chunhua's mentorship. In parallel, his analytical work earns Professor Xing's attention and publication in The Economist. 10 16 36 82

Western Old City District Development

As Professor Xing's assistant, Gu Chen becomes involved in the redevelopment of the Western Old City District. He researches cultural preservation, produces a major proposal, develops a commercial-street strategy, and helps secure support through events and partnerships. 48 53 72 89 195

Street Stall Network and Public Recognition

Gu Chen establishes Street Stall Network, builds his public reputation through entrepreneurship and televised appearances, and becomes known for connecting commercial success with practical opportunities for students and ordinary workers. 102 107 251 252

Conflict with the Huo, Ling, and Zhou Families

As the original plot's larger corporate outcome becomes clearer, Gu Chen stops merely avoiding the plot and begins actively confronting the forces attempting to manipulate Great Zhou Group, Ling Group, and his family. He must balance his desire for revenge against Professor Xing's insistence that he preserve his integrity. 155 159 176

Trust and a New Life

Gu Chen eventually tells Zhongli Sui about his rebirth and fear that his success is undeserved. Zhongli's acceptance allows him to release some of the pressure that has defined his second life and to recognize the value of choices he made himself. 360 162

Notable Quotes

“No one liked me, and no one recognized my talent. I could only work hard on my own.” 1

“I just wanted to let more people study with peace of mind, within the limits of what I can do.” 252

“Because you've been pretty good to me too.” 231