Gu Lianyin

Biodata

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

Her relatives' knowledge of her transfer leaves Gu afraid that they may have exposed her whereabouts to her former pursuers. This fear is partially realized when Li Mao, an unwanted former suitor, transfers into her class specifically to pursue her again. 38 67

Gu is the cherished young daughter of the wealthy Gu Family. Although her parents and grandfather initially question whether Lin Yuan can provide for her, her mother eventually permits their relationship under conditions, and her grandfather later accepts Lin Yuan as her future husband. 53 98

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At school, Gu Lianyin initially presents herself as a deliberately unattractive, withdrawn girl.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
• Traditional dress — During a trip to an ancient water town, she wears a flowing green traditional-style dress that makes Lin Yuan compare her to a fairy. 86
• Enhanced complexion — Su Yan's face masks further refine her already extraordinary natural beauty, leaving her bare-faced appearance noticeably more radiant and ethereal. 95
• University appearance — She begins university without returning to her ugly disguise, immediately attracting widespread attention from students. 107 122

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

Gu is deeply devoted once she accepts her feelings. After their conflict, she exhausts herself making pastries, porridge, and handmade gifts to seek Lin Yuan's forgiveness; later, she openly confesses to him and works hard to attend university with him. 49 51 70 91

Although normally soft-hearted and shy, Gu has a fierce protective streak. She offers money to protect Lin Yuan from hired thugs, warns him when one draws a knife, and personally confronts and repeatedly slaps her second sister-in-law after learning that the woman arranged the attack. 65 66

At university, she remains mischievous and emotionally dependent on Lin Yuan, sometimes deliberately provoking his jealousy when she misses him. She is nevertheless increasingly mature in viewing their relationship and future together seriously. 113 140

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
• Remains second in class despite a later decline in her results and resumes one-on-one tutoring with Lin Yuan. 65
• Studies diligently through senior year's final term in order to attend the same university as Lin Yuan. 91
• Scores above 600 points on the Gaokao, allowing her to pursue university plans with Lin Yuan. 91

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

Traditional Dance

Gu can perform traditional-style dance gracefully despite being embarrassed by public attention.

• Performs a traditional dance in a green dress before tourists at an ancient water town, earning enthusiastic applause. 86
• Her willingness to perform is motivated primarily by Lin Yuan's encouragement and desire to earn his admiration. 86

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
• Also plays support heroes such as Yao and has reached Diamond rank largely through teammates carrying her. 56
• Joins Ling Wanqing and Lin Yuan in mischievous Da Qiao and Zhong Kui combinations, including repeatedly disrupting an enemy jungler with teleportation traps. 58

Livestreaming

Gu becomes a popular university livestreamer through casual, unfiltered broadcasts.

• Streams primarily from her dormitory and earns several hundred yuan per day, with occasional larger gifts from wealthy viewers. 132
• Her natural appearance and lack of beauty filters make her a standout streamer, but her popularity also exposes her to invasive attention and the leakage of her contact information. 132 135

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
• Mysterious metal sphere — A future-technology medical sphere Lin Yuan asks her to carry after it reacts beneath her navel despite inconclusive hospital examinations; its warmth is comfortable against her lower abdomen. 91
• Physique-Enhancing Potion — Given to her by Lin Yuan during a painful period; after drinking it, her pain disappears and she feels markedly healthier. 131

Relationships

• Lin Yuan — Former deskmate and tutor, investment partner, boyfriend, and future husband acknowledged by her family. 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 initially fractures when he rejects her deception after her true-appearance reveal, but her remorse and illness lead to reconciliation. Gu later confesses to him directly, and the pair become an openly affectionate couple whose relationship is approved by her parents and grandfather. They attend university together and eventually consummate their relationship during a trip to Lin Yuan's private island. 1 6 8 17 47 48 53 70 98 107 143
• 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. Though they quarrel over Ling's test at Gu's birthday, they reconcile; Gu later loses their disguise bet and agrees to treat Ling to Michelin meals for a month. 2 20 39 49 58
• 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
• Li Mao — A handsome but unwanted former suitor who recognizes Gu beneath her disguise and transfers schools to pursue her. Gu firmly rejects sharing a desk with him and is disturbed by his persistent presence around her and Lin Yuan. 67 68
• Qin Liyun — Gu's protective, formidable mother. She initially scrutinizes Lin Yuan after Gu's hospitalization, then conditionally permits their relationship and gradually accepts him as someone extraordinary and sincere. 52 53 95
• Gu Hai — Gu's father, whose work commitments have sometimes made him inattentive to her circumstances. He is initially angered by Lin Yuan's affection for Gu but becomes less hostile after witnessing Lin Yuan's care and receiving his gifts. 53 95
• Gu Tianlong — Gu's grandfather. Though he initially pressures Lin Yuan to leave Gu and later tests him with an impossible strength challenge, he honors his promise after Lin Yuan succeeds and accepts their future marriage. 97 98 140
• Gu Lianyin's second sister-in-law — A hostile relative who first attempts to humiliate Lin Yuan with money, then hires thugs to attack him. Gu confronts and slaps her after discovering her responsibility, while Lin Yuan uses recorded evidence to secure one million yuan in compensation. 62 65 66
• 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

Her efforts to reconcile become excessive: she stays up folding heart-shaped notes and preparing food, falls seriously ill, and is hospitalized. Lin Yuan cares for her throughout the crisis, regrets his harshness, and tells Qin Liyun that they are dating, beginning their reconciliation. 51 52 53

Li Mao and the Confession

Li Mao's arrival as a transfer student revives Gu's fear of unwanted pursuit from her former school. Gu refuses to sit beside him, while Lin Yuan covertly manipulates Li Mao into exposing his own violent behavior and leaving the school. Afterward, Gu openly confesses to Lin Yuan and asks him to be her boyfriend. 67 68 70

Family Conflict and Approval

Gu stands beside Lin Yuan when her second sister-in-law hires thugs to attack him, personally confronting the woman after the scheme is exposed. 65 66

Her parents gradually accept Lin Yuan after observing his sincerity and growing success. When Gu Tianlong attempts to separate them by demanding that Lin Yuan destroy a granite table with one punch, Lin Yuan fulfills the condition and obtains Gu Tianlong's promise to allow their marriage. 95 97 98

University Life

Gu studies hard enough to score above 600 on the Gaokao and enrolls at the same university as Lin Yuan. She becomes popular among students and begins livestreaming from her dormitory, while she and Lin Yuan publicly establish themselves as a couple despite the unwanted attention her beauty attracts. 91 107 122 132

When she suffers severe menstrual pain, Lin Yuan brings her medicine, necessities, and specially prepared meals. She accepts his Physique-Enhancing Potion without hesitation, and its effects leave her pain-free and healthier, deepening her gratitude and trust in him. 131

Sweet Journey

After learning that Lin Yuan once refused her grandfather's demand to leave her, Gu realizes how close she came to losing him and becomes even more grateful for his devotion. She later joins him on a trip to his private resort island, where their relationship progresses from affectionate restraint to full consummation. 140 142 143

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
• After ultimately losing the “who can look uglier” bet, she agrees to treat Ling Wanqing to Michelin meals for a month. 58
• Her Honor of Kings in-game name is “Bad but Still Loves Playing,” which accurately reflects her enthusiasm despite her poor gameplay. 56
• She once wears a shirt reading “Lin Yuan's Little Baby” while preparing to meet Lin Yuan's mother, unintentionally making her relationship conspicuous. 99