Gu Lianyin

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Gu Lianyin (顾怜音)
Alias(es)	Xiao Ke 10
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Senior-year student; Lin Yuan's deskmate
Occupation/Role	Transfer student; singer in the Campus Singing Competition
Status	Active 49
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Before transferring, Gu Lianyin was highly admired at her former school. A persistent wealthy suitor repeatedly harassed her, prompting her to move schools and conceal her appearance to avoid similar attention. 2

Her “ugly” appearance began as a contest with her best friend, Ling Wanqing: both would attend school in unattractive disguises, and the first to reveal her real face would have to fund nightly Michelin restaurant dinners for half a month. 2

Gu's distrust of others is also shaped by family conflict. Hostile relatives have allegedly sabotaged gifts intended for her grandfather and spread malicious rumors about her mother, leaving her sensitive to manipulation and deception. 40

Appearance

At school, Gu Lianyin initially presents herself as a deliberately unattractive, withdrawn girl. Privately, she is an exceptionally beautiful and athletic young woman. 1 2

• Disguise — Messy hair, thick black-rimmed glasses, painted freckles, sallow makeup, and oversized clothing worn even in summer. 1 44
• Natural features — Delicate features, flawless fair skin, large gemlike eyes, and a radiant, noble temperament. 2 5
• Build — Tall, long-legged, physically fit, and defined from regular exercise. 2
• Date outfit — For her planned confession date, she wears a white slip dress, light makeup, and a ponytail rather than her school disguise. 46
• Public reveal — She resolves to stop disguising herself after becoming jealous of the attention Lin Yuan receives, then reveals her true appearance at their restaurant date. 44 47

Personality

Gu Lianyin is lively, cheerful, and playful once she becomes comfortable with someone. She is generous with both money and affection, treating Lin Yuan to meals, bringing him breakfast, and trusting him with her savings when he asks to invest. 5 8 18

She is deeply affected by appearance-based cruelty despite choosing to wear her disguise. Being publicly rejected by Shen Mingjie hurts her, while Lin Yuan's willingness to sit beside her leaves a lasting impression. 1 2

Her feelings for Lin Yuan make her possessive, easily embarrassed, and openly jealous of girls who approach him. She nevertheless struggles to state her feelings directly, often interpreting teasing or small gestures as indirect confessions. 18 23 35

Her previous family experiences make her wary of deception. This insecurity drives her and Ling Wanqing to repeatedly test Lin Yuan's motives, a decision she later regrets after he confronts her over the disguise and manipulation. 38 40 48

Abilities & Skills

Academic Improvement

Under Lin Yuan's intensive tutoring, Gu rapidly improves from struggling with lessons to placing second in her class during the mock exam.

• Scored 136 points and ranked second in class in the first mock examination. 6 7
• Continues studying with Lin Yuan to maintain her second-place standing. 27
• Listens attentively and responds well to detailed explanations and practice-based tutoring. 6

Singing

Gu is a capable singer who enters the Campus Singing Competition voluntarily.

• Passed the school performance audition with unanimous approval after singing a popular song. 27
• Advanced through the competition alongside Lin Yuan, reaching the final three. 36 37
• Finished third place in the competition final. 45

Honor of Kings

Gu enjoys playing Honor of Kings and favors the hero Da Qiao.

• Her favorite hero is Da Qiao, which leads Lin Yuan to select a White Crane Ridge Goddess Da Qiao figurine as her birthday gift. 20 23
• Plays enthusiastically but poorly; Lin Yuan notes that she frequently misuses Da Qiao's skills in ranked games. 20
• Excitedly watches Lin Yuan play Hou Yi and celebrates his victory with him. 31

Equipment / Items

• Ugly-disguise makeup and clothing — Used to hide her real appearance throughout most of the school term. 1 2
• Bank card — Contained more than one million yuan in personal savings; she entrusted it to Lin Yuan for his Tianhua Biotech investment. 8
• Da Qiao figurine — A personalized birthday gift from Lin Yuan, treasured more than Ling Wanqing's expensive necklace. 23
• Lin Qingyue autograph and album — Obtained after meeting her idol; Gu considers them precious keepsakes. 33

Relationships

• Lin Yuan — Deskmate, tutor, investor, and mutual romantic interest. His kindness toward her disguised appearance begins their bond; he later tutors her to second place, invests her savings successfully, and becomes the person she wants to pursue. Their relationship fractures when he rejects her deception after her true-appearance reveal. 1 6 8 17 47 48
• Ling Wanqing — Best friend, roommate, and fellow participant in the ugly-disguise bet. Ling supports Gu emotionally but also encourages and helps conduct tests of Lin Yuan's sincerity. 2 20 39 49
• Lin Qingyue — Celebrity idol whom Gu meets through Lin Yuan. Gu is overwhelmed by the meeting, cherishes their photos and autograph, and later agrees to attend Lin Qingyue's concert with Lin Yuan. 27 33
• Shen Mingjie — Classmate who publicly refused to share a desk with Gu because of her disguised appearance. 1
• Xue Hongyun — Class monitor whose scheme to spread dating rumors leaves Gu humiliated and tearful; Gu later appreciates Lin Yuan's protection. 14 17
• Gu Lianyin's relatives — A source of anxiety due to their past sabotage and the possibility that they leaked news of her transfer to former pursuers. 38 40

Story Role / Major Arcs

Transfer and Disguise

Gu transfers into Lin Yuan's class while disguised as unattractive. After her classmates reject her, Lin Yuan volunteers to become her deskmate, giving her an early reason to trust and admire him. 1 2

Tutoring and Academic Rise

After discovering Lin Yuan's academic ability, Gu asks him to tutor her. Their daily study sessions turn them from desk mates into close friends, and she rises to second place in the mock exam. 5 6

The Tianhua Biotech Investment

Gu lends Lin Yuan her bank card without demanding security, allowing him to invest more than one million yuan in Tianhua Biotech. She briefly believes he has defrauded her, but his messages and the stock's rapid gains restore her trust. 8 10 11

Growing Romance

Gu gradually realizes she likes Lin Yuan, though she repeatedly denies it aloud. Her feelings are expressed through breakfast, jealousy, birthday wishes, hand-holding, and anxiety whenever other girls show interest in him. 18 23 33 35

Campus Singing Competition

Gu enters the Campus Singing Competition and advances with Lin Yuan through multiple rounds. Although she places third in the final, Lin Yuan's popularity intensifies her determination to stop hiding her appearance and stand beside him openly. 27 36 45

Reveal and Fallout

Gu attends a candlelit dinner in her true appearance, expecting the reveal to lead to Lin Yuan's confession. Instead, he condemns the dishonesty of her disguise and repeated tests, leaving her devastated. She begins making pastries in an effort to demonstrate her remorse and earn forgiveness. 47 48 49

Trivia

• Gu's birthday gift from Lin Yuan costs far less than Ling Wanqing's necklace, but she values it more because it reflects her love of Da Qiao. 23
• She initially expects Lin Yuan's request after winning their singing bet to be romantic, only for him to ask for a twenty-yuan phone top-up. 45 46
• Her desire to reveal her true appearance means she is prepared to lose the disguise bet and pay for Ling Wanqing's Michelin dinners. 46