Chi Baichuan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Chi Baichuan (池百川)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Chongning Group / Chongning Pharmaceutical
Occupation/Role	Chairman; head of the Chi family
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

Chi Baichuan is a prominent Yangcheng businessman and the father of Chi Yang and Chi Ning. Publicly, he is known as an exceptionally strict parent, particularly because tabloids repeatedly report his apparent conflicts with Chi Yang over street racing and other scandals 2 3.

His severe treatment of Chi Yang is later revealed to be part of a long-running performance: father and eldest son have pretended to be hostile before the media for over three years as part of a corporate strategy. Chi Baichuan had concealed the plan from Chi Ning to spare him the company’s complicated affairs and the stress they caused 8. The family uses stock-price manipulation to buy back shares and remove obstructive shareholders, with Chi Baichuan quickly adopting Chi Ning’s proposal to redirect public attention toward Jiu Pharmaceutical’s heir 9.

After Chi Ning’s return home with blood on his ankles, Chi Baichuan’s feared sternness gives way to immediate concern. He arranges ten days of leave before the national competition training camp, promises to replace Chi Ning’s lost Golden Needle Hoops, and consistently protects him from public scandal 3. His unequal treatment of his sons becomes a recurring source of confusion for Chi Ning: Chi Baichuan expels and punishes Chi Yang over tabloid incidents, but responds to Chi Ning with comfort, legal advice, and a lawsuit against the publisher 5.

As Chi Ning becomes more involved in family affairs, Chi Baichuan begins treating him as a trusted contributor rather than merely a sheltered student. He supports Chi Ning’s plan to use media pressure for motorcycle restrictions, thereby steering Chi Yang toward legal racing tracks, and hires a kickboxing coach at Chi Ning’s request 8. He later listens to Chi Ning’s proposals on recruiting Ye Xinran and expanding into information technology and real estate 12.

At Chi Yang’s birthday banquet, Chi Baichuan and Chen Mingxian publicly reveal the family’s inheritance arrangement: Chi Yang receives roughly 80% of the shares, 15% remains marital property, and Chi Ning receives 5% in dividends 27. The announcement reverses the Chi family’s public disadvantage and damages the Shen family’s position.

When Sun Boxing’s theft threatens Chongning’s research, Chi Baichuan replaces the genuine materials with falsified data and uses the incident to expose internal spies. He gives Old Sun—his longtime friend and former colleague—a painful choice between sending Sun Boxing away or having him surrender 37. He refuses to endanger patients for a business victory, insisting that Chi Ning’s formula undergo proper verification and clinical testing before release 45. The resulting treatment is approved at a two-yuan price, covered by medical insurance and free of side effects 46.

Appearance

Chi Baichuan is described as refined and easygoing in demeanor, though his temper becomes formidable when his family is threatened 17 32.

• Usually presents himself as a composed, polished businessman.
• Can become visibly furious, including smashing a teacup after learning of Shen Minyi’s targeting of Chi Ning 32.
• Appears notably energetic even while Chi Yang is exhausted by company work 44.

Personality

Chi Baichuan combines sharp business instincts with intense paternal protectiveness. He is capable of maintaining a years-long public deception, orchestrating stock strategies, and setting traps for corporate infiltrators, yet he is emotionally transparent whenever Chi Ning is upset or endangered 8 33 37.

His parenting is unconventional. He teaches Chi Yang suspicion by arranging a staged test involving an assistant and sleeping pills, while teaching Chi Ning to use legal action rather than endure tabloid slander 5 32. Although he insists this unequal discipline has a reason, he is plainly indulgent toward Chi Ning and often softens immediately when his younger son appears distressed 5 16.

He places ethical limits on his business decisions. Even while trapping the Shen family with false research, he ensures the substituted product is harmless, and he prioritizes valid clinical trials over being first to market 37 45.

Abilities & Skills

Corporate Strategy

Chi Baichuan is an experienced corporate strategist who uses public perception, share ownership, and controlled leaks to defend Chongning Group.

• Maintained a staged father-son feud with Chi Yang for years to support a larger business plan 8.
• Coordinated a strategy to lower Chongning’s stock price, repurchase shares, and remove troublesome shareholders 9.
• Publicly disclosed the family’s inheritance structure to turn a scandal into a strategic victory 27.
• Used stolen fake data to identify laboratory spies and mislead the Shen family without putting anyone in physical danger 37.

Crisis Management

He responds rapidly when his family or company faces reputational, legal, or security threats.

• Contacted a publishing house to pursue legal action after a tabloid targeted Chi Ning 5.
• Accepted Chi Ning’s proposal to use media pressure in support of a motorcycle ban, aiming to protect Chi Yang from dangerous street racing 8.
• Organized allies after learning of Sun Boxing and Shen Minyi’s activities against Chongning’s research 32.
• Managed the reporter presence outside Mingshan Private Hospital while Xu Jiahao’s bodyguards protected the family 46.

Medical Research Oversight

Although not the scientist behind Chi Ning’s formula, Chi Baichuan understands the responsibility attached to pharmaceutical development.

• Immediately called Lab Group A’s chief director to review Chi Ning’s proposed formula 45.
• Required careful clinical testing, stressing that patient safety mattered more than gaining credit or market advantage 45.
• Approved the treatment’s low-cost release and medical-insurance coverage after successful trials 46.

Relationships

• Chi Ning — Younger son. Chi Baichuan is intensely protective and openly indulgent toward him; he supports Chi Ning’s independence, scientific work, and eventual relationship with Qin Heng despite his reservations 3 8 45 53 54.
• Chi Yang — Elder son. Their public hostility is a calculated act, but Chi Baichuan trusts Chi Yang in business and relies on him as Chongning’s primary heir 8 27.
• Chen Mingxian — Wife. Their affectionate, equal partnership is visible in both family life and corporate decisions; Chi Baichuan openly defers to her at home 27 46.
• Qin Heng — Chi Ning’s classmate and later partner. Chi Baichuan initially views him as a possible threat to Chi Ning, but gradually acknowledges his competence, consideration, and sincere care 40 46 53 54.
• Xu Jiahao — Business ally and Qin Heng’s father figure. Their relationship is marked by mutual respect, rivalry, and repeated arguments over who gets to claim Chi Ning as a son 40 54 92 94.
• Old Sun — Longtime friend and former laboratory colleague. Their friendship fractures after Sun Boxing steals Chongning’s research materials 33 37.
• Shen Zongze — Corporate rival and adversary. Chi Baichuan becomes openly furious upon learning of the Shen family’s schemes against Chi Ning and Chongning’s research 32 33.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Protecting Chi Ning

Chi Baichuan’s earliest role is as the intimidating father Chi Ning expects to punish him. Instead, he repeatedly shields Chi Ning from scandal, worry, and danger, revealing that his stern public image conceals deep affection 2 3 5.

Chongning Share-Recovery Plan

He and Chi Yang stage their public conflict while maneuvering against shareholders. With Chi Ning’s strategic input, Chi Baichuan expands the plan by using Jiu Pharmaceutical’s publicity to influence market perceptions 8 9.

Conflict with the Shen Family

Chi Baichuan leads Chongning’s response to the Shen family’s attacks, including the inheritance announcement, the investigation into Sun Boxing, and the false-data trap. His actions protect both the company’s research and its personnel 27 32 37.

Formula Verification and Public Treatment

He recognizes Chi Ning’s reconstructed formula as promising but refuses to rush it. After proper testing, he helps bring an affordable treatment to market for workers and other low-income patients 45 46.

Acceptance of Qin Heng

Chi Baichuan initially tries to discourage Qin Heng’s closeness with Chi Ning through pointed remarks and social pressure. Qin Heng’s practical care, thoughtful gifts, financial independence, and Chi Ning’s open support gradually force him toward reluctant acceptance 33 46 53 54.

Notable Quotes

“Ning, crying can't solve problems. Dad will teach you.” 5

“We can choose not to take the lead, but we can't harm people with bad medicine.” 45

“Friendships formed when you're young last longer. The people you meet after growing up... those relationships aren't as pure.” 46

Trivia

• Chi Baichuan’s favored childhood ornament for Chi Ning is a pair of Golden Needle Hoops, which he replaces after Chi Ning loses them 3.
• He becomes so worried before Qin Heng’s first formal visit that he repeatedly changes his clothes and waits for more than seven hours 53.
• He privately thinks of Chi Ning as his “little moss” when worrying whether Qin Heng can care for him properly 52.
• His arguments with Xu Jiahao eventually become so petty that they debate whether Chi Ning should call one of them “Dad” and the other “Daddy” 94.