Tang Xianqi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Tang Xianqi (唐贤齐)
Alias(es)	A-Qi; Qi; Brother Qi; Tang Tang’s “Big Brother” or eldest cousin 15 65 95
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Tang family; Tang family company after graduation 102 152
Occupation/Role	Eldest cousin of his generation; former children’s clothing model; eventual company employee and intended successor to Tang Beichen 66 102 152
Parents	Tang Dongcheng and Li Qixian 15 16
Sibling	Tang Xiancheng, his younger brother by four years 15
Age at Introduction	Twelve 12
Birthday	January 6 65
Status	Alive in the current lifetime; died at twelve in each of Tang Tang’s previous ten lives 65 152
First Appearance	Chapter 12, “The handsome big brother” 12

Background / History

Family and upbringing

Xianqi is the eldest son of Tang Dongcheng, an art museum director and freelance photographer, and Li Qixian, a ballet dancer. His parents have a devoted marriage, with Dongcheng attending and photographing every one of his wife’s performances 14.

As the oldest child of his generation, Xianqi was singled out by Tang Zhilin for intensive heir training. The family’s educational program combined schoolwork with etiquette, hobbies, and increasingly advanced study of finance, economics, and management. After Tang Beichen stripped the patriarch of power, the parents stopped imposing this training on their children. Xianqi nevertheless continued reading business-related books and reports independently 102.

Death in the previous lifetimes

In all ten lives Tang Tang remembers, Xianqi died in an accident at twelve, during the year she was born. She never met him as an adult and learned about him only after returning to the Tang family. Tang Zhilin forbade relatives from discussing his death, ostensibly to avoid upsetting his parents 12 21 65 138.

The circumstances remained unclear to Tang Tang until the current lifetime’s accident. She then suspected that Xiancheng’s severe adult withdrawal might have resulted from witnessing Xianqi die—or seeing him die while saving him. This is her inference rather than a confirmed account of the earlier accidents 63.

Meeting Tang Tang

Xianqi accompanies his father to take photographs for Tang Tang’s one-month birthday. His gentle manner immediately wins her affection. He later gives her his treasured diamond watch as a welcome gift; remembering his recurring early death, she begins crying and reaches for him 12 14.

Su Xiajing and Dongcheng encourage the children to spend more time together, hoping Tang Tang’s thoughts will reveal enough to prevent his death. Xianqi returns with Xiancheng and becomes a reassuring intermediary between his shy brother and their outspoken baby cousin 14 15 16 21.

Surviving the car accident

Dongcheng obtains a Peace Talisman from Taoist Master Yunlong after hearing warnings about Xianqi’s fate. Xianqi follows the instruction to keep it close at all times, removing it only briefly to bathe and using a waterproof pouch when swimming 19 21 64.

During a winter outing, an out-of-control car rushes toward Xianqi and Xiancheng after they go to buy milk tea. Xianqi pushes his brother to safety and is struck himself. His injuries are painful but superficial, and examinations reveal no serious damage. The talisman breaks during the accident; his family believes it absorbed the potentially fatal harm 63 64 65.

Xianqi and the other affected children receive counseling and recover. His approaching thirteenth birthday becomes a milestone: surviving beyond twelve would break the pattern repeated in Tang Tang’s earlier lives 65.

Education and company succession

In his final year of high school, Tang Beichen asks Xianqi to consider studying abroad and eventually succeeding him at the company. Beichen regards him as the strongest candidate because he is intelligent, steady, respected by the younger cousins, and not opposed to inheriting the business. Xianqi questions whether overseas study is necessary, and Beichen agrees to respect his choice and teach him regardless 102 103.

Xianqi chooses university in China and accepts guaranteed admission. He still takes the college entrance examinations because he enjoys a challenge and wants to test his performance. By the finale, he has graduated, joined the company, and decided to take over from Beichen 129 152.

Appearance

Xianqi is introduced as a handsome twelve-year-old with delicate features, gentle eyes, and brows and eyes resembling his father’s. His face is softer than Dongcheng’s, leading Tang Tang to imagine that he would become a handsome adult 12.

• Gentle expression: His friendly, tender gaze helps Tang Tang feel comfortable at their first meeting 12.
• Tall stature: At fifteen, the 180-centimeter Tang Jian is described as almost catching up to Xianqi’s height 66.
• Early growth spurt: He outgrows children’s clothing modeling after only one or two sessions 66.

Personality

Xianqi is patient, considerate, and unusually dependable among the cousins. He comforts Xiancheng without treating his dependence as a failing, and helps younger children navigate awkward interactions without embarrassing them. When Tang Tang refuses a pinky promise with Youzhen, he tactfully claims she needs a nap rather than exposing her deliberate avoidance 19 21 29 30.

His gentleness includes teasing and humor. He jokes about Xiancheng’s dreaded bowl-cut future, promises to keep it secret, and reassures him through affectionate gestures. He also finds Tang Tang’s elaborate attempt to acquire a godmother amusing, while reminding her to consult Su Xiajing 73 77.

Xianqi recognizes that knowing Tang Tang’s thoughts does not mean understanding her suffering. After observing her warmth toward Tang Xia and Xiao Xiang, he questions whether the Tang cousins truly matter to her. He later resolves to offer affection without expecting repayment or demanding that she accept it 76 133.

He can become stern when worried about her safety. Tang Tang’s detailed discussion of suicide prompts him to question where she learned it and ask her not to read material that could harm her mood 90.

Abilities & Skills

Hearing Tang Tang’s Thoughts

Xianqi can hear Tang Tang’s unspoken thoughts, including recollections of her previous lives. He has possessed this ability since their first meeting 76 133.

• Responds to requests she cannot express aloud as an infant, including her wish to be held 28 58.
• Learns about his own recurring early death and parts of his relatives’ remembered futures 14 77.
• Initially assumes the ability is unique to him, then discovers Xiancheng shares it 77.
• Helps confirm that Jian, Xingya, Yiyi, Ziyang, and the twins can also hear her 133.
• Keeps the ability concealed from Tang Tang and cautions the twins against revealing it 133.
• Acknowledges that these glimpses do not give him a complete understanding of her experiences or feelings 76.

Childcare and Mediation

Xianqi frequently takes responsibility for the younger cousins’ comfort and interactions 16 29 86.

• Holds and comforts Tang Tang when Xiancheng is too frightened to do so 16.
• Guides Tang Tang’s hand toward Xiancheng’s to reassure him that she accepts him 21.
• Explains to Youzhen that Tang Tang is too young to play, then helps them make peace 29 30.
• Clarifies the cousins’ relationships to Xiao Xiang and redirects tense conversations toward subjects everyone can share 86 88.
• Organizes a private cousins’ meeting to discuss supporting Tang Tang 133.

Academic and Business Preparation

Xianqi combines strong academic performance with an enduring interest in business, even after compulsory heir training ends 29 102.

• Independently reads relevant books and reports outside his schoolwork 102.
• Understands Beichen’s argument that education offers professional connections as well as knowledge 103.
• Receives guaranteed university admission while choosing to sit the entrance examinations anyway 129.
• Enters the family company after graduating and commits to succeeding Beichen 152.

Protective Reflexes

• Pushes Xiancheng out of an approaching car’s path, saving him at the cost of being struck himself 63.
• Survives with superficial injuries; the family attributes his escape from worse harm to Yunlong’s talisman 64 65.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Peace Talisman — Obtained by Dongcheng from Taoist Master Yunlong to avert Xianqi’s calamity. Worn around his neck or secured in a waterproof pouch during swimming; breaks in the car accident 21 64.
• Diamond watch — A treasured possession he gives Tang Tang as a welcome gift. Su Xiajing subsequently stores it in a box inside her safe 14 15.

Relationships

• Tang Dongcheng — Father. Seeks protection against Xianqi’s predicted death and helps ensure the children receive care after the accident 19 21 65.
• Li Qixian — Mother. Supports his recovery and assures him that his parents will respect his educational and career choices 65 102.
• Tang Xiancheng — Younger brother. Xianqi welcomes his reliance, saves him from the car accident, and later thanks him for worrying about his survival 19 63 77.
• Tang Tang — Younger paternal cousin, who calls him her big brother and consistently favors his gentle company. Her warnings help the family seek the protection credited with saving his life 12 21 28 64.
• Tang Beichen — Fifth uncle and prospective business mentor. Offers Xianqi the company succession while leaving his choice of education to him 102 103 152.
• Tang Jian — Younger cousin and childhood companion. Jian envies Tang Tang’s preference for Xianqi, but remains affectionate and physically familiar with him 29 66 78.
• Su Xiajing — Aunt. Trusts him to care for Tang Tang and encourages their continued contact 15 29.
• Taoist Master Yunlong — Provides his protective talisman. Xianqi subsequently makes repeated visits to White Cloud Temple and invites Tang Tang to accompany him 21 95 124.
• Xiao Xiang — Tang Tang’s godbrother. Xianqi welcomes him and sincerely praises his achievement in earning enough to pay for surgery 86 88.

Notable Quotes

“I love that you rely on me.”
— Reassuring Xiancheng 19

“I've never expected Tangtang to accept all my kindness, either. I'm doing this of my own free will.”
— Explaining his approach to caring for Tang Tang 133

“I just... want to spend as much time with Tangtang as I can and give her as much warmth as possible. Hopefully, if she feels tired one day, she'll remember us ‘annoying’ older cousins and stay a little longer.”
— Addressing the cousins’ shared concern for her 133

Trivia

• Unlike several of the boys, Xianqi escapes Tang Tang’s embarrassing nickname list. He privately wonders whether his respectable image survived only because he died before she could see him “at his worst” in her previous lives 133.
• His brief modeling career ends because he grows too tall, but he continues accompanying the younger models and occasionally helping in exchange for a junk-food meal 66.