Cheng Dongxue

Biodata

Background and History

Cheng Dongxue stood by Zhang Yang during the years when her family treated him as an unpaid cook and servant. She defended him against her parents’ insults, though she also wanted him to regain his confidence and find work 9 76. As he began displaying unexpected wealth and skills, she questioned how he had changed but remained committed to him 18 76 130.

When Cheng Company faced a five-million-yuan shortfall, her mother Yang Su arranged for Xu Mingxian to provide the money if Dongxue divorced Zhang Yang and married him. Dongxue rejected Xu’s advances, yet worried about what bankruptcy would do to her parents 43 45. Zhang Yang later supplied six million yuan—five million for the company and one million to cover Cheng Hai’s loss on jade—and Dongxue confronted her parents for crediting Xu instead 87.

Dongxue was promoted to department manager, taking Yang Qintian’s former position 66. Continued pressure over her marriage eventually led her and Zhang Yang to leave the Cheng home for their newly purchased place at Wolong Villa 150. As relations with her parents improved, she helped care for Liu Mei and began speaking about family travel and her own career ambitions 233 236 260.

Appearance

Dongxue is described as beautiful, with a resemblance to her elder sister Cheng Dongyu 19 21.

• Fair-skinned 130.
• Has no children as of the family’s discussion of her marriage 10.

Personality

Dongxue is loyal to Zhang Yang but does not accept every decision he makes without question. She challenges his unemployment, worries when he provokes powerful opponents, and asks him to avoid reckless or illegal action 60 76 160. Her concern also extends to her parents, even when their attempts to control her marriage leave her hurt and angry 45 87.

She grows more willing to assert her own choices: she refuses Xu Mingxian, resists Yang Su’s later matchmaking plans, and publicly defends Zhang Yang when he is insulted 43 86 149 238.

Relationships

• Zhang Yang — Husband. She supported him through years of family ridicule; their marriage becomes closer as they build a home apart from the Cheng household 9 150 164.
• Yang Su and Cheng Hai — Parents. Dongxue cares about them and their company but resists their repeated demands that she divorce Zhang Yang 45 87.
• Liu Mei — Mother-in-law. Dongxue calls her “Mom,” visits her in Long’ao, and later shops with her 44 233.
• Lin Xiaofei — Best friend and confidante. Lin supports Dongxue during the marriage crisis, though Dongxue becomes uneasy about Lin’s closeness to Zhang Yang 36 44 45.
• Xu Mingxian — Unwanted suitor whose offer to fund Cheng Company was tied to marrying her 43 45.
• Jiang Chi — Childhood friend whose later romantic advances she rejects 138.

Notable Quotes

“Whatever else you think, Zhang Yang is my husband.” 43

“Without him, the Cheng Family would have gone bankrupt.” 87