Cheng Yu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cheng Yu (程余)
Alias(es)	A-Yu; “Princess Qianqian” (a derogatory nickname used by Wu Zhengtao); “the nation’s CEO” 59 159
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Cheng Family; C&C Jewelry; Tianguang Entertainment; TOP; AYU Jewelry; Yan-Yu Capital 49 162 195 277
Occupation/Role	Jewelry designer and founder of AYU; executive president of C&C Jewelry; performer and creative lead of TOP; investor and entertainment-industry executive 162 195 277
First Appearance	Chapter 2 2

Background / History

Cheng Yu was born ten months after his older brother, Cheng Shao. His mother, Chen Lingyun, had intended to abort him but was unable to do so because the procedure endangered her health. She named him Yu—“superfluous”—because she regarded him as an unwanted burden, then left him in his hometown with his maternal grandparents for over six years. 4

Raised by Chen Simiao and Lin Sufen, Cheng Yu became deeply dependent on them. When his parents first brought him to Yanjing for elementary school, he secretly bought a train ticket and returned to his hometown; after being found, he remained there through elementary school and moved back to Yanjing only for middle school. 4

His relationship with Chen Lingyun and Cheng Kaiyun remained hostile. Cheng Yu sees their judgments of him as dismissive and hypocritical, while they view his suspicion, bluntness, and schemes as evidence of a difficult temperament. 8 19

Cheng Yu has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and experiences hallucinations involving deceased relatives. In his previous life, losing C&C Jewelry to Cheng Shao led to a mental breakdown and confinement in a sanatorium. 5 22 He takes medication, though he sometimes neglects it when focused on work or performances. 49 108

He claims to be reliving events from eleven years earlier in a dream while retaining memories of his prior life. This knowledge includes future business developments and economic events, allowing him to make unusually precise plans and predictions. 34 108 Though physically a teenager at the beginning of this period, Cheng Yu considers himself mentally twenty-eight. 101

Appearance

Cheng Yu is exceptionally fair-skinned and refined-looking, with a beauty frequently described as initially difficult to distinguish from feminine delicacy. His severe expression, explosive temper, and overpowering presence prevent others from viewing him as delicate or meek. 4

• Cool, pale complexion that marks easily. 4
• Exquisite, soft facial features; long phoenix eyes and thick lashes. 4 59
• Lean waist, broad shoulders, and long limbs. 119
• Tall, reaching at least 182 cm as he continues growing. 262
• Carries an aloof, intimidating aura that often silences rooms or draws attention before he speaks. 24 144

Personality

Cheng Yu is proud, stubborn, calculating, and intensely unwilling to be controlled. He openly accepts being called scheming and regards the fear of those he defeats as proof of his competence. 2 He has little patience for people he considers incompetent, negative, or insincere, and his sharp tongue is notorious among peers, trainees, and business rivals. 59 103

He is also a perfectionist with obsessive-compulsive tendencies and a strong need for control. If he commits to something, he pushes himself and everyone around him toward the highest possible standard. 65 He expects subordinates to carry out his decisions rather than demand explanations for every plan. 98

Despite his hostile exterior, Cheng Yu is responsible toward people he recognizes as his own. He protects Cheng Shao’s interests, supports Qing Chen and Ling Yi’s long-term careers, cares deeply for his grandparents, and is willing to solve problems for others when doing so serves a meaningful purpose. 84 98 107 Those who know him well consider him sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. 159

Abilities & Skills

Jewelry Design and Production

Cheng Yu is an elite jewelry designer with extensive training in meticulous brush painting, visual communication design, and jewelry design. His hand-drawn drafts are considered world-class, and he can rapidly turn concepts into finished styling, accessories, and jewelry pieces. 28 65

• Designed anniversary rings for his grandparents and later created the “Dawn and Dusk” entry for the DMI World Jewelry Design Competition. 38 40
• Won the DMI World Jewelry Design Competition finals and established AYU Jewelry. 195
• Created the “Undead Kingdom” collection, whose completed set sold at auction for three million euros. 195
• Designs with a versatile but characteristically lavish, bold, story-driven aesthetic. 103 104
• Can redesign garments and create accessories under pressure, as when he transformed Zhao Ji’s torn stage outfit into a punk-style jacket with matching leather jewelry. 61 108
• Became Cici Caroline’s final disciple and gained recognition among F Country’s jewelry masters. 103

Performance, Styling, and Creative Direction

Cheng Yu possesses exceptional dance ability, commanding stage presence, and a highly developed sense of visual branding. His performances frequently overwhelm other trainees even when he deliberately restrains himself. 59

• Formed and named TOP, selecting Ling Yi and Qing Chen as his teammates. 27 28
• Personally established TOP’s styling direction and demanded high-quality music and training for its debut. 28 29
• Directed photoshoots, lighting, styling, and visual concepts with professional precision. 31 53
• Led Shining Stars performances from center position because his skill and presence made other arrangements visually unbalanced. 59
• Is notably poor at performing cheerful facial expressions; mentors criticized him for dancing an upbeat theme song without visible emotion. 55
• Earned a large fanbase known as Jade Seal, whose support color is bright yellow. 89

Business Strategy and Investment

Cheng Yu combines future knowledge, aggressive planning, and a willingness to exploit opponents’ weaknesses. He values competence over conventional morality and believes capable people should be judged by results. 40 180

• Investigated Zhao Jinchui and Feng Guangxu while developing plans to protect C&C Jewelry. 19
• In his previous life, collected Pei Mining’s secrets, allied with Pei Zhennan’s enemies, and acquired Pei Mining in reverse. 4
• Took control of C&C Jewelry’s decision-making authority and suppressed hostile shareholders and directors. 93
• Uses C&C Jewelry’s resources while building AYU as an independent luxury brand. 159 195
• Refuses short-term endorsements or commercial deals when they conflict with his long-term plans for TOP and its members. 98
• Later became a partner of Yan-Yu Capital and a major shareholder in Tianguang Entertainment, Tianguang Network, and DM Digital Music Website. 165

Martial Arts

Cheng Yu has trained in martial arts since childhood and is a capable close-range fighter. His physical ability repeatedly surprises people who judge him only by his appearance. 14 22

• Skilled in Xingyi Boxing, Tai Chi Fan, and the Taiyi Mysterious Gate Sword. 39
• Defeated a group of older students alone during middle school while carrying a butterfly knife. 14
• Became student-council president at his overseas school after repeatedly proving his kung fu skills in fights and sparring. 22
• Practices swordsmanship and Tai Chi with his grandfather. 5 19
• Has not developed internal energy despite training for over a decade. 39

Languages and Academic Training

• Studied abroad in F Country and learned F language. 32
• Attended F Country’s Higher Institute of Visual Communication before graduating from BJOP Jewelry College in his previous life. 34
• His fluency and accent are convincing enough that Cici Caroline believed he had lived in Paris for years. 101

Relationships

• Cheng Shao — Older brother. Their previous-life inheritance conflict was vicious, but Cheng Yu’s later actions focus on protecting Cheng Shao’s future and preparing him for business. 2 84
• Chen Simiao and Lin Sufen — Maternal grandparents and Cheng Yu’s primary emotional anchors. He is gentler around them, practices martial arts with Chen Simiao, and designs jewelry with their anniversaries in mind. 5 37 59
• Chen Lingyun — Mother. Their relationship is defined by abandonment, resentment, and clashes over Cheng Yu’s autonomy and ambitions. 4 18
• Cheng Kaiyun — Father. Cheng Yu distrusts his judgment and later strips him of authority within C&C Jewelry after his affair is exposed. 8 198
• Pei Yan — Childhood acquaintance, business partner, and later boyfriend. Pei Yan persistently seeks Cheng Yu’s recognition; Cheng Yu eventually acknowledges the relationship publicly to Zhu Jianxin. 87 167 172
• Zhu Jianxin — Talent scout, agent, and manager. Cheng Yu initially calls him “Zhu Strong,” later chooses him as TOP’s manager because he is “fat and easy to bully.” 32 31
• Qing Chen and Ling Yi — TOP teammates. Cheng Yu personally chose, styled, trained, and later secured opportunities for both of them. 27 29 144
• Cici Caroline — Renowned jewelry master and Cheng Yu’s mentor. She names him her final disciple and introduces him to the F Country jewelry and fashion world. 103
• Sophia Caroline — Cici Caroline’s daughter and Cheng Yu’s friend. She helps him expand his network; rumors of romance between them are false. 103
• He Chengye and He Taijin — Friends and business contacts who involve Cheng Yu in martial arts exhibitions, the DMI competition, and cultural-creative projects. 69 159

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Return to the past — Cheng Yu awakens in an earlier period with memories of his prior life, reconnecting with his grandparents while trying to prevent past disasters and outmaneuver future enemies. 34 40
• TOP’s formation — He signs with Tianguang Entertainment, rejects existing trainee groups, selects Ling Yi and Qing Chen, and builds TOP around his own visual and performance standards. 27 29
• Shining Stars — Cheng Yu enters the survival show as a trainee, becomes its dominant center performer, and develops a national following despite rumors of arrogance and bullying. 48 59
• C&C Jewelry crisis — He gathers evidence against corrupt shareholders, protects Cheng Shao’s inheritance interests, and becomes C&C Jewelry’s acting executive president. 76 80 93
• DMI and Paris — Cheng Yu wins the DMI finals, becomes Cici Caroline’s disciple, promotes AYU internationally, and develops the “Undead Kingdom” collection. 103 115
• Expansion of his business empire — He launches AYU products, develops entertainment-industry infrastructure, and becomes a major figure across jewelry, entertainment, digital media, and capital investment. 115 159 165

Notable Quotes

“There are two kinds of people in this world: those who speak through strength, and those who speak through connections.” 59

“At the very least, you have no right to spout nonsense.” 59

“I’m not that casual about making friends.” 265

Trivia

• Cheng Yu’s birthday is November 11. 165
• He dislikes hot milk but will drink it if it has enough cocoa mixed in. 110
• Cheng Shao gives him a chinchilla to soften his public image; Cheng Yu initially dismisses it as a mouse but becomes gentle with it. 65 115
• He keeps his public outings private enough that Jade Seal fans struggle to encounter him outside recordings and official events. 89
• Cheng Yu’s standards for a potential partner are “smart, tactful, and capable” people who will not hold him back at work. 117