Professor Xing

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Professor Xing (邢教授); Xing Changlian
Alias(es)	Elder Xing
Gender	Male
Affiliation	A University; Western Faction
Occupation/Role	Economist; professor; Gu Chen's mentor and teaching-assistant supervisor
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 28

Background / History

Professor Xing is a highly authoritative economist in China whose research and consulting work bring him into contact with economic seminars, corporate guidance, and confidential business data. He advocates for the real economy, technological innovation, and responsible industrial development, while opposing speculative capital practices detached from an industry's actual condition. 36 40

His connection with Gu Chen begins after catching the freshman skipping a major course. Rather than impose an ordinary punishment, Xing assigns him an academic paper to teach him rigor and respect for knowledge. Gu Chen's unusually forward-looking, finance-based industry analysis exceeds Xing's expectations and becomes the basis of their mentor-student relationship. 28 36

Xing later becomes a leading advocate for redevelopment of City A's Western Old City District. He supports the West District because its renovation could improve housing, living conditions, and quality of life for existing residents, despite its greater demolition, resettlement, and restoration costs. 48 109

Personality

Professor Xing is principled, intellectually demanding, and deeply committed to public welfare. He values learning, practical competence, integrity, and breadth of mind over quick success or raw intelligence. He is willing to publicly confront powerful companies when their conduct harms the public interest. 72 73 159

He has a teasing, mischievous side, particularly with Gu Chen. Although he often mocks his student's procrastination, cleverness, or lack of historical knowledge, he notices Gu Chen's sensitivity and avoids pushing him too far. 36 40 68

Xing is protective of Gu Chen but not blindly indulgent. He repeatedly corrects Gu Chen when he considers revenge, blackmail, or other unlawful methods, prioritizing his student's character and future over any immediate victory. 72 159

He is also stubborn about his independence and health. He resists hospitalization after a traffic accident and frequently argues with Teacher Qi over dietary restrictions, particularly his inability to eat rich meat dishes. 156 151

Abilities & Skills

Economics and Research

Professor Xing is an eminent economist with extensive experience in economic research, corporate reform data, industrial development, and policy discussions.

• Reviews and improves academic work at a high level; he substantially revised Gu Chen's paper before facilitating its publication in The Economist. 40
• Handles sensitive corporate data and research materials through his academic and consulting work. 36
• Advocates for real-industry development and rejects blind speculation in concept stocks and hot money. 40
• Evaluates development proposals for feasibility, including relocation, demolition, restoration, and investment costs. 52

Urban-Development Advocacy

Xing is a central figure in the Western Faction's campaign to develop the Western Old City District rather than construct a new commercial center in the East District.

• Frames West District redevelopment as a livelihood issue rather than a pursuit of visible political achievements. 48 109
• Mobilizes experts and Western Faction supporters against Great Zhou Group after its renovation-material scandal. 72
• Helps secure the vote that tentatively selects West District for the new commercial district. 73
• Promotes preservation of local culture through essay competitions, documentaries, folk-culture streets, and cultural-relics outreach. 58 62 67

Mentorship

Professor Xing actively cultivates Gu Chen's academic ability, professional judgment, and moral character.

• Recognizes Gu Chen's talent for Python-based data visualization and assigns him decades of corporate-reform data to organize into accessible charts. 36
• Has Gu Chen's paper published in The Economist to encourage wider discussion of big-data analysis in real industries. 40
• Replaces graduating assistant Qi Yue with Gu Chen and grants him a laptop containing confidential meeting materials and professor-level database access. 53
• Gives Gu Chen reading lists spanning architecture, cultural-relic restoration, and other fields relevant to the Western Old City District project. 84 188
• Limits Gu Chen's responsibilities on major projects while ensuring his name and contribution are formally recognized. 84

Charitable Education

Xing personally supports students from disadvantaged mountain areas and encourages educational access beyond simple financial donations.

• Visits mountain communities during school breaks, bringing textbooks and extracurricular reading to children. 96
• Sponsors students' education; one former recipient later entered City A Normal College. 96
• Guides Gu Chen to establish a scholarship and sponsorship program focused on helping students study effectively and access learning resources. 96

Equipment / Items

• Confidential-work laptop — Provided to Gu Chen for meetings, project materials, and restricted academic access. 53
• Blue floral thermos — Lent to Gu Chen while caring for him during illness. 67
• Reading lists — Prepared for Gu Chen's winter break and later academic development. 84 188

Relationships

• Gu Chen — Prized student, teaching assistant, and mentee. Xing develops Gu Chen's academic ability, brings him into professional projects, shields him from unsuitable requests, and treats him with paternal concern. 36 53 124 188
• Teacher Qi — Wife. They share a long-standing, playful relationship; she closely manages his diet and health. 151 156
• Xing Lü — Son, who studies abroad. Xing worries that Xing Lü may become disconnected from local customs and asks Gu Chen to guide him after his return. 89
• Professor Qin — Fellow professor and friend. They collaborate to build public support for preserving the Western Old City District and share an appreciation for good food. 58
• Shen Xingzhou — Old classmate and editor-in-chief of The Economist. Shen reviewed Gu Chen's paper and helped bring attention to its ideas. 40 46
• Director Sun — Urban Construction Bureau director and participant in the West-versus-East District planning dispute. 46 73
• Zhongli Sui — Business leader who publicly supports Xing's call for corporate social responsibility and later develops mutual respect with him. 72 73

Story Role / Major Arcs

Discovering and Training Gu Chen

After assigning Gu Chen a paper as punishment for skipping class, Xing discovers his student's talent for data analysis and practical economic thinking. He edits and promotes Gu Chen's work, gives him increasingly demanding research assignments, and eventually makes him his teaching assistant. 28 36 40 53

Western Old City District Development

Xing brings Gu Chen into City A's commercial-district planning discussions and continues to champion the Western Old City District against East District interests. He supports Gu Chen's proposals, helps build public backing through competitions and cultural-media projects, and secures Gu Chen's participation in the eventual development project. 46 52 58 73 84

Defending Integrity and Public Interest

When Gu Chen considers retaliating against Great Zhou Group over accusations and defamation, Xing stops him from escalating through extreme means. At the economic symposium, Xing publicly argues that Great Zhou Group's poor reputation and disregard for public interests make it unfit for a major urban-development project. 72

Continuing Guidance

As Gu Chen becomes an entrepreneur and increasingly prominent public figure, Xing remains his academic anchor. He protects Gu Chen's time from excessive corporate requests, challenges him to maintain theoretical grounding, and invites him to continue studying under him as a teaching assistant. 124 188

Injury and Recovery

Professor Xing is struck by a car and suffers a mild waist sprain and scrapes. He refuses hospitalization, and Gu Chen arranges temporary accommodation for him and Teacher Qi while he recovers. 156 157

Trivia

• Professor Xing initially expected Gu Chen's punishment paper to be broadly competent at best; he was surprised by its foresight and professional-quality data analysis. 36
• He considers Gu Chen's tendency to work until deadlines a transparent attempt to avoid being assigned more work. 40
• He mistakenly calls Gu Chen's carved mandarin ducks “little ducks,” then immediately insists they look alike. 84
• Despite advocating healthy habits, he is notably fond of braised pork, braised eggs, and other rich foods forbidden by Teacher Qi. 151