He Jinyun

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	He Jinyun (贺谨昀)
Alias(es)	Teacher He; Best Actor He; Director He
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Starlight Entertainment; a controlling shareholder in his family’s company 205
Occupation/Role	Actor, filmmaker, director, screenwriter, and Era Idol mentor/guest performer 2 54 120
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background

He Jinyun was raised as the He family’s only eldest son and was expected to inherit its business. He instead developed a passion for the performing arts, a choice his father, He Xiu, repeatedly tried to suppress by taking away his toys, friendships, and other interests. This taught Jinyun to conceal what mattered to him. 131 132

At eighteen, He Jinyun came out to his family. He Xiu reacted harshly and considered sending him to a psychiatric hospital; Zhuang Lan protected her son by initiating a divorce, allowing Jinyun to debut publicly and gain independence from his father’s control. He later cut contact with He Xiu. 132

He publicly disclosed his sexual orientation shortly after debuting. His father’s rejection and intention to use his marriage for business were among the reasons for his parents’ divorce. 205

Appearance

He Jinyun is a tall, striking man with a broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted build, long legs, and defined musculature. His aggressive, heroic features are softened by a manner that puts others at ease. 5 69

• Deep-set, dark eyes described as resembling “deep pools.” 5
• A high nose, sharp facial contours, and a handsome, heroic brow line. 5
• Frequently wears tailored dark suits in public appearances. 5 196
• Has sleek, well-defined abdominal muscles. 69

Personality

He Jinyun is composed, perceptive, and exceptionally patient. He recognizes Ye Zexi’s evasions and guarded behavior without forcing explanations, preferring to wait until Ye is ready to speak honestly. 59 240

Professionally, he is serious and exacting. As a director, he demands repeated takes when a performance does not meet his standard, maintains strict casting criteria, and prepares extensively for his productions. 234 235 236

In private, he is teasing, attentive, and quietly indulgent—particularly toward Ye Zexi. He expresses care through practical gestures such as cooking, arranging comfort on set, bringing drinks, and monitoring Ye’s wellbeing. 55 58 78 102

His outward calm conceals lasting insecurity from his childhood. He fears losing the people he values because He Xiu repeatedly removed his friends and interests from his life. 258

Career

Project / Position	Role and significance
Era Idol	Appeared as a mentor/guest performer and first noticed Ye Zexi’s unusual behavior and stage potential. 2 23
The Famous General	His first self-directed and self-starred film; he played Shan Chenzhou opposite Ye Zexi’s Azi. 54 59
Food Journal	Participated as Ye Zexi’s recurring partner; their synchronized strategies and natural rapport became a major source of public attention. 54 65 69
After the Rain	Directed without acting, casting Ye Zexi as the male lead and Tang Jing as second male lead. 119 120
Era Idol 2	Returned as a mentor and agreed to perform a finale duet dance with Ye Zexi despite having no prior dance experience. 133 134

Abilities & Skills

Acting

A three-time Golden Award Best Actor, He Jinyun is known for a commanding screen presence that can overshadow even veteran co-stars. 59 60

• Played Shan Chenzhou in The Famous General, portraying the character’s trauma, restraint, and devotion. 59 69
• Adapted seamlessly to Ye Zexi’s performance during an Era Idol stage, turning Ye’s solo into an effective duet. 19
• Earned a Best Actor nomination at the Golden Bird Awards for The Famous General. 120

Directing and Screenwriting

He Jinyun is an ambitious filmmaker who moved from acting into directing while continuing to value his acting career. 119 120

• Wrote The Famous General, whose script deeply impressed Ye Zexi. 49
• Personally pushed for Ye Zexi’s casting as Azi and defended the decision until Ye proved himself on set. 53 58
• Directed After the Rain independently, using rigorous auditions and detailed scene explanations to lead the production. 119 120
• Intends to pursue a Best Director award while helping Ye Zexi pursue Best Actor recognition. 119

Dance and Performance Adaptation

Although inexperienced in dance, He Jinyun learned a difficult duet routine for the Era Idol 2 finale through focused practice. 134

• Recorded Ye Zexi’s demonstrations and rehearsed alone when Ye was occupied. 134
• Modified and learned choreography originally designed for a male-female pairing. 134
• Treated the performance as a shared project with Ye rather than mere fan service. 134

Cooking and Caretaking

He Jinyun is an accomplished cook whose dried fish and boxed lunches are repeatedly noted for their quality. 78 102

• Prepares dried fish and vacuum-packed dishes specifically suited to Ye Zexi’s tastes. 102
• Makes meals and provides comfort items for Ye during demanding filming schedules. 78 237
• Uses practical care—heat packs, warm water, ice packs, air coolers, and ginger tea—to look after Ye’s health and comfort. 55 62 237 256

Relationships

• Ye Zexi — Partner and frequent creative collaborator. He first became intrigued by Ye during Era Idol, persistently recruited him for The Famous General, and later openly pursued him. Their relationship became public after they had already begun living and working closely together. 2 5 76 104 118
• Zhuang Lan — Mother. She protected him from He Xiu, supported his debut, and warmly accepted Ye Zexi. 91 126 132
• He Xiu — Father. Their estrangement stems from He Xiu’s controlling upbringing, rejection of Jinyun’s sexuality, and attempt to separate him from Ye Zexi. 130 132
• Shan Zeyu — Childhood friend and trusted confidant. Shan recognized He Jinyun’s feelings for Ye early and often teases the couple. 76 95
• Chen Zhengtian — Longtime colleague and creative associate. Chen initially doubted Ye Zexi’s casting, but Jinyun insisted he judge Ye by performance. 53 61
• Tang Jing — Actor under Starlight and former admirer. Jinyun casts and evaluates him strictly while also urging him to take responsibility for himself and others. 63 73
• Yu Ye — Assistant. Yu Ye manages Jinyun’s schedule and frequently witnesses the effects of his relationship with Ye Zexi. 83 132
• Ye Jianbin and Yan Man — Ye Zexi’s parents. Jianbin comes to approve of Jinyun after spending time with him, while Yan Man formally welcomes him with red envelopes. 118

Story Role / Major Arcs

*Era Idol*

He Jinyun observes Ye Zexi’s theatrical confrontation with other contestants and becomes intrigued by his unexpected personality. He later approaches Ye with a film offer, but Ye rejects him by claiming he intends to inherit the family fortune instead. 2 5 6

He continues watching Ye’s performances closely, confidently predicts that Ye will survive elimination, and recognizes that Ye was “born for the stage.” 23

*The Famous General*

He Jinyun arranges a lucrative Bvlgari endorsement in part to secure Ye Zexi for the role of Azi. His faith in Ye clashes with Director Chen’s doubts about casting a newly debuted idol. 29 53

On set, he balances directing responsibilities with quiet support for Ye. Their first scene together is completed in one take, and Chen praises Ye for matching Jinyun without being overshadowed. 59 60

Pursuit of Ye Zexi

He Jinyun permits the HeXi pairing to grow publicly, partly to assess Ye Zexi’s response to his hints. His efforts initially fail because Ye interprets his special treatment as ordinary thoughtfulness. 76 78

After misunderstandings about their compatibility, He becomes increasingly direct. He travels to Ye’s hotel immediately after returning from the United Kingdom because he missed him, then later kisses Ye and openly calls him his boyfriend. 83 90

Family Conflict and Reconciliation

When He Xiu pressures Ye Zexi to end their relationship, He Jinyun intervenes and removes Ye from the confrontation. Ye’s decision to meet He Xiu in secret triggers Jinyun’s fear of abandonment, but the pair reconcile after Jinyun explains his past. 130 131 132

He later gains acceptance from the Ye family through a dinner with Ye Jianbin and Yan Man. 118

Directorial Career

He Jinyun chooses to direct After the Rain rather than act in it, casting Ye Zexi as male lead and building the project around both Ye’s potential and his own ambition to win Best Director. 119

As director, he is strict with the cast but notably never needs to reprimand Ye, whose performances consistently meet his standards. 120 121

Notable Quotes

“It’s only a matter of time.” 69

“Then don’t film anymore. I can support you.” 103