Cheng Shao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cheng Shao (程绍)
Alias(es)	A-Shao 5
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Cheng Family; C&C Jewelry; later Tianguang Network and DM Digital Music Website 141 276
Occupation/Role	Student; C&C Jewelry shareholder; trader; gaming-company founder and chief CFO of Tianguang Network and DM Digital Music Website 112 141 276
First Appearance	Chapter 1 1

Background / History

Accounts of the prior timeline portray Cheng Shao and Cheng Yu as bitterly opposed brothers. Cheng Yu drove Cheng Shao from the Cheng Family, suppressed his career, and fought him over inheritance; after recovering his position, Cheng Shao had Cheng Yu admitted to a sanatorium for treatment rather than punish him. During that period, Cheng Shao established a gaming studio with classmates, and one of its games earned tens of billions, giving him the means to challenge Cheng Yu. 2 9

In the novel's main timeline, Cheng Shao remains devoted to Cheng Yu despite his brother's volatility. After Cheng Yu's accident, he bandages his hands, brings him favorite food, and promises to stay by his side for life. 1 2 He later arranges Cheng Yu's dormitory move, supplies bedding, clothes, drawing tools, and late-night congee, and makes sure the room is comfortable for him. 57

Cheng Shao initially doubts Cheng Yu's claims of remembering the future, particularly his prediction that international crude oil would fall sharply. He nevertheless opens a futures account, monitors the risks of leveraged trading, and urges Cheng Yu not to reveal verifiable predictions to others. Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy subsequently confirms one of Cheng Yu's warnings. 59 63 108

During the Cheng Family's corporate crisis, Cheng Shao receives 20% of C&C Jewelry's shares—5% from Cheng Kaiyun and 15% from Chen Lingyun—under Cheng Yu's pressure. He entrusts the share documents to Cheng Yu and supports him through the shareholders' meeting and the company's public-relations crisis. 141 144 151

As he matures, Cheng Shao develops his own financial and technical path. He finds trading engaging, considers a double degree in computer science and finance, is accepted by Stanford, establishes a gaming company, and becomes chief CFO of Tianguang Network and DM Digital Music Website. 112 223 276

Appearance

Cheng Shao is described as handsome, gentle, and elegant, with a warm, enduring temperament and long, nimble fingers. 204

• Carries himself with a refined, approachable demeanor. 204
• Contrasts with Cheng Yu's sharper and more imposing presence; a director characterizes Cheng Shao as “gentle and elegant.” 204
• Is capable of a firm, unyielding expression when protecting Cheng Yu or handling serious matters. 58 144

Personality

Cheng Shao is patient, protective, and exceptionally tolerant of Cheng Yu. He regards his brother as willful and wounded rather than inherently bad, and consistently responds to him with practical care instead of resentment. 2 He is attentive to small details, from Cheng Yu's food preferences and sleeping habits to medication, lighting, wet hair, and the type of hot pot he can comfortably eat. 57 63 108 204

Beneath his mild manner, Cheng Shao can be subtle and calculating. When speaking with Zhu Jianxin, he uses the possibility of C&C Jewelry sponsorship and brand ambassadorship as both incentive and pressure while presenting it as encouragement. 58 He is more cautious than Cheng Yu in financial matters and values loyalty and character when selecting people to manage the company. 59 180

He is also self-aware about his inexperience. Witnessing Cheng Yu resolve the Cheng Family's crises makes him determined to study, become independent, and someday protect his younger brother rather than remain behind him. 213 256

Abilities & Skills

Financial Analysis and Trading

Cheng Shao develops an interest in trading while working with Cheng Yu's crude-oil futures plan. 112

• Assesses the legal and financial risks of leveraged short-selling rather than accepting Cheng Yu's predictions blindly. 59
• Opens a futures account for Cheng Yu and helps manage the international crude-oil position. 63 109
• Calculates the brothers' profits from their short position overnight before the shareholders' meeting. 141

Programming and Game Development

Cheng Shao is recognized as a mathematical talent and programming prodigy. 136

• Founded a gaming studio with classmates in the prior timeline; a successful game gave the company a market value approaching one hundred billion. 9
• Establishes his own gaming company in the main timeline. 276
• Takes responsibility for developing a secure online payment tool for a financial-transaction website. 256

Corporate Judgment

Although less experienced than Cheng Yu in direct corporate confrontations, Cheng Shao steadily learns to manage business interests. 144 147

• Holds 20% of C&C Jewelry shares and entrusts their safekeeping to Cheng Yu. 141 151
• Advises that loyalty and character matter alongside competence when selecting a professional manager. 180
• Serves as chief CFO of Tianguang Network and DM Digital Music Website. 276

Relationships

• Cheng Yu — His biological younger brother. Cheng Shao remains protective despite their prior-timeline conflict, caring for Cheng Yu's health, living arrangements, finances, and career; Cheng Yu later safeguards Cheng Shao's inheritance and business interests. 2 57 108 140
• Cheng Kaiyun — Father. Cheng Shao receives 5% of C&C Jewelry shares from him during the family crisis. 141
• Chen Lingyun — Mother. Their relationship is restrained; Cheng Shao avoids openly criticizing her even when he cannot understand her treatment of Cheng Yu. She transfers 15% of her C&C Jewelry shares to him. 21 141
• Chen Simiao and Lin Sufen — Maternal grandparents. Cheng Shao helps care for Chen Simiao during his hospitalization and supports Cheng Yu's relationship with them. 35 57
• Pei Yan — Classmate and childhood friend. They play basketball together, and Cheng Shao is frequently bewildered by Pei Yan's efforts to use their friendship to please Cheng Yu. 42
• Yu An'an — Cheng Shao informs Cheng Yu that An'an is pregnant with his child. 2
• Mu Weiyang — A prospective C&C Jewelry executive whom Cheng Yu specifically brings Cheng Shao to meet; Mu Weiyang expresses admiration for Cheng Shao. 180 181

Story Role / Major Arcs

Cheng Yu's Caretaker

Cheng Shao acts as Cheng Yu's most consistent source of support. He looks after his injuries, food, sleep, medication, dormitory needs, and public image while attempting to guide him without provoking his temper. 2 57 108 115

Crude-Oil Futures Plan

Cheng Yu entrusts Cheng Shao with his claim of foreknowledge and asks him to help short international crude oil. Cheng Shao approaches the plan cautiously, demands discretion, and ultimately helps administer the trade after events begin validating Cheng Yu's predictions. 59 63 108

C&C Jewelry Crisis

When Cheng Kaiyun's affair threatens C&C Jewelry, Cheng Shao stands with Cheng Yu against hostile shareholders. Though initially outmatched by Feng Guangxu's provocation, he gains a 20% stake in the company and becomes the beneficiary of Cheng Yu's efforts to secure the family's future. 140 141 144

Independent Growth

Cheng Shao shifts from relying on Cheng Yu's protection to building his own capabilities through finance, programming, and entrepreneurship. His long-term goal is to become strong enough to support Cheng Yu when the family faces another crisis. 213 256 276

Notable Quotes

“I'm your brother. We're family. I'll always stay by your side and take care of you for the rest of your life.” 2

“I think character and loyalty are also important.” 180

Trivia

• Cheng Shao successfully gets Cheng Yu to accept a chinchilla by threatening to return it. 116
• He keeps a wooden comb in his backpack and offers to repair Cheng Yu's hair after ruffling it. 63
• Cheng Yu considers Cheng Shao more difficult to reconcile with through ordinary affection than “any girl.” 151