Zhu Ying

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhu Ying (朱樱)
Species/Race	Human; Beta
Gender	Female
Occupation/Role	Former dance teacher; mother of Er-Er
Status	Deceased
First Appearance	Chapter 52

Background / History

Zhu Ying was raised in a well-off, loving family and inherited her parents’ home. Gentle by nature, she came from a background that left her unprepared for the manipulation of Xu Zhihua, whom she married despite relatives’ disapproval. Xu spent years isolating her from her social circle, persuaded her to leave her dance-teaching job during pregnancy, transferred her assets into his own name, and fled overseas after embezzling funds and accruing debts. 55 65

Left alone with her infant daughter, Er-Er, Zhu Ying lived in her parents’ apartment on the thirty-second floor of Tianshui City Residential Complex. Debt collectors repeatedly harassed the household, vandalized the door, and frightened both Zhu Ying and her neighbors. 52 54

Li Mao was assigned to collect Xu Zhihua’s debt of 1.64 million yuan from her. He initially intimidated Zhu Ying with threats against her body and moved into her home to monitor her, while she tried to keep herself and Er-Er safe by remaining calm and cooperative. 53 54 55

Unable to raise the debt, Zhu Ying prepared to abandon the apartment and leave with Er-Er and her cat, Millet. Li Mao’s protection from rival debt collectors gave her and her daughter a brief period of peace, and she gradually responded to him with gratitude rather than fear. 76 78

During the seizure of her home, rival collectors assaulted Zhu Ying, killed Millet, and used Zhu Ying as a hostage against Li Mao. Li Mao agreed to pay 300,000 yuan for her release, but Zhu Ying fell from the thirty-second floor before he returned with the money. 93 94 95 96 97

Appearance

Zhu Ying is a young woman in her early twenties with a slender figure, soft features, and a gentle, maternal presence heightened by her recent childbirth. Stress and hardship leave a persistent sorrow between her brows. 53 55

• Soft brows and eyes; bright black eyes. 55 78
• Long hair. 96
• Shallow dimples that give her a girlish air when she smiles. 57
• Pale, cracked lips and disheveled hair during periods of fear and exhaustion. 53
• Favours cherry blossom-scented products, seemingly because her name contains the character for “cherry blossom.” 57

Personality

Zhu Ying is gentle, reserved, and compassionate. Even while threatened by Li Mao, she notices his discomfort, cooks according to his preferences, tends his injured hand, and refuses to reduce people to simple labels of “good” or “bad.” 58 76 77

Her kindness does not mean passivity. When she believes Er-Er may be in danger, she arms herself with scissors and searches her home despite being terrified. Later, she tries to negotiate for a chance to escape with her child rather than surrender to hopelessness. 53 78

Zhu Ying is deeply devoted to Er-Er. Her decisions throughout the debt crisis are guided by protecting her daughter, culminating in her attempt to secure Er-Er’s safety during the hostage crisis. 54 97

Abilities & Skills

Dance Teaching

Before her marriage and pregnancy, Zhu Ying worked as a dance teacher. 55

Homemaking and Cooking

Zhu Ying is an accomplished cook and attentive homemaker, able to prepare meals to Li Mao’s specific preferences.

• Remembers that Li Mao eats spicy food but avoids garlic. 76
• Prepares four dishes and a soup with ease. 58
• Uses her home and cooking to provide moments of safety and comfort for Er-Er and Li Mao. 57 76

First Aid

Zhu Ying treats Li Mao’s injured hand with iodine, gauze, and bandaging despite their creditor-debtor relationship. 77

Relationships

• Er-Er — Her infant daughter and the person Zhu Ying prioritizes above all else. 54 55
• Xu Zhihua — Husband who manipulated and isolated her, transferred away her assets, and fled after embezzling money. 54 65
• Li Mao — Initially her debt collector and intimidator; he later protects Zhu Ying from other collectors and becomes deeply affected by her suffering and death. Later accounts describe her as his lover. 54 76 118
• Millet — Her tabby cat, given to her by her parents for her eleventh birthday; Millet is killed when thugs throw her from Zhu Ying’s window. 77 93 94
• A-Qiang — Li Mao’s associate; arrives with backup during the conflict over Zhu Ying’s home. 94 96

Story Role / Major Arcs

Debt Collection

Zhu Ying first appears as Xu Zhihua’s abandoned wife, exhausted from evading collectors while caring for a one-month-old Er-Er. Li Mao approaches her under the guise of a helpful neighbor before revealing that he has come to collect the debt. 52 53

Uneasy Coexistence

After Li Mao gives her one week to produce at least one million yuan, he stays in her apartment. Zhu Ying adapts to the danger by treating him cautiously but civilly, while Li Mao’s actions around Er-Er increasingly contradict his threats. 54 55 57

Brief Sanctuary

Li Mao prevents other collectors from entering Zhu Ying’s home. Zhu Ying repays this protection with hospitality, food, and concern for his injuries, allowing mutual respect to develop between them. 65 76 77

Home Seizure and Death

Rival collectors invade Zhu Ying’s apartment, beat her, destroy her home, and kill Millet. They seize Zhu Ying as a hostage during a brawl; although Li Mao agrees to meet their ransom demand, she falls to her death from the building. 93 94 95 96 97

Legacy

Zhu Ying’s death becomes a central motivation for Li Mao’s revenge against those involved, including Xu Zhihua. Li Mao later chooses Er-Er’s name, Wan Erduo, in part to preserve Zhu Ying’s memory. 118 119 122 139

Trivia

• Zhu Ying explains that Li Mao’s name can refer to the Mao hour, from five to seven in the morning, which she calls the most important part of the day. 55
• She also tells Li Mao a character riddle for his name: removing the left “ear” component from the character for “boredom” produces “Mao.” 55
• Her apartment was both her parents’ inheritance and her final shelter after Xu Zhihua’s betrayal. 54