Shu Yao

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Shu Yao (舒尧)
Alias(es)	Young Master Yao; Young Master Shu 22 121
Gender	Male 14
Affiliation	Shu family; Imperial University, journalism department 14 18
Occupation/Role	University sophomore; television-station trainee; protagonist of the original novel known to Hua Jian 14 18 40
First Appearance	Mentioned in Hua Jian’s thoughts 2; appears at UP 8

Background / History

Shu Yao is the Shu family’s biological son and “true young master.” Before being welcomed back into the family, he spent years at the bottom of society. Shu Yan, who had occupied his place for twenty years, remained hostile toward him after the truth about their parentage emerged 14.

His return did not bring equal treatment. Shu Yan retained the family’s support and received an entertainment company, while Shu Yao received no comparable business. Xie Zhiyan consequently tried to finance a talent agency for him 22 40.

Shu Yao was also a target of drugging and a hotel honey trap. Hua Jian suspects that drugs used against him in the original story passed through the original Hua Jian, Feng Qian, and Shu Yan. Bo Lin’s later investigation establishes that the Haiping Hotel trap targeted both Hua Jian and Shu Yao; Hua Jian’s accidental entry into the wrong room disrupted it 9 45.

Appearance

• Build: Not tall; slightly shorter than Li Chengbai 14 66.
• Face: Refined, handsome features, also described as delicate and soft 14 18 66.
• Eyes: Large and expressive; he deliberately uses trembling lashes and a vulnerable gaze to appeal to men such as Cui Zhao and Tan Xilin 66 77.
• Voice: Gentle and sometimes timid; Li Chengbai finds his voice attractive even while losing interest in his appearance 41 66.

Personality

Shu Yao presents himself as shy, respectful, and easily embarrassed. His early caution is linked to his impoverished upbringing and Shu Yan’s hostility. He initially finds Xie Zhitan’s gentleness refreshing compared with the domineering men around him 14.

His private thoughts reveal pronounced social ambition. He wants access to Xie Zhitan’s influential business circles rather than merely a place in his lectures, and privately dismisses Qin Ci and Xie Zhiyan as foolish despite accepting their assistance. Classmates’ envy also makes his television-station placement more attractive to him 15 40.

He carefully manages how others perceive his relationships. He resists being labeled as belonging to Qin Ci and uses affection, apologies, and indirect remarks to solicit favors or undermine Hua Jian. His claim that he avoids suitors’ gifts to maintain an innocent image contrasts with his acceptance of Cui Zhao’s car 22 24 40 76.

His vulnerability is not entirely an act. Cui Zhao’s coercion leaves him frightened, humiliated, and privately hateful. Later, abandonment and detention in F Country intensify his fixation on money and power, which he increasingly associates with Bo Lin 24 100.

Abilities & Skills

Social Maneuvering

• Uses admiration and intimate forms of address to encourage Xie Zhiyan to help him, including calling him “Brother Zhi Yan” when requesting a renewed television-station pass 41.
• Disparages Hua Jian through apparent compliments, telling Candy-Poulton that Hua Jian is admired and kind while implying that he is spoiled and temperamental 76.
• Suggests closeness with powerful men without making explicit claims that can easily be challenged, as when he credits Bo Lin for his return from F Country 99 100.
• His approach has limits: Li Chengbai rejects his attempt to exchange contact details, while Qin Ci eventually refuses his explanations 66 156.

Painting and Journalism

• Studies journalism and expresses interest in practical media work; Qin Ci arranges a television-station visit and subsequent training opportunity 18 40.
• In the original novel, livestreams his painting and befriends a resourceful admirer who understands art 13.
• Also interviews the Poulton family head about scholarships in the original storyline 53 133.

Relationships

• Shu Yan — Rival within the Shu family. Shu Yan retains his favored position, participates in schemes against Shu Yao, and publicly humiliates him over his finances and relationships 14 22 66.
• Shu family parents — Biological parents whose support is conditional. They freeze Shu Yao’s cards after Cui Zhao comes under investigation and abandon him during his detention abroad; later, they expect him to facilitate Poulton Group cooperation 66 100 121.
• Xie Zhiyan — Devoted suitor who fights for him and purchases access to a television-station internship. Shu Yao does not intervene when Cui Zhao beats Zhiyan. Zhiyan eventually realizes that he no longer has feelings for him 5 45 46 129.
• Qin Ci — Former pursuer and source of useful connections. Shu Yao considers his affection possessive rather than understanding. Qin Ci grows distant after the leaked photographs and later rejects Shu Yao outright 23 28 40 156.
• Xie Zhitan — Professor whom Shu Yao admires and hopes to use as an entry into higher social circles. Zhitan refuses to waive academic requirements and remains distant after Shu Yao apologizes 14 15 18.
• Cui Zhao — Intimate but coercive associate. He gives Shu Yao a car, orders him to lure Qin Ci to Moyan, and violently attacks Xie Zhiyan after finding them together 24 45.
• Tan Xilin — Another intimate associate, photographed taking Shu Yao into a restroom. His family later sends him abroad, removing another person Shu Yao could approach for support 27 66.
• Lu Zexi — Predicted suitor in the original plot. After hearing Hua Jian’s thoughts about falling for Shu Yao, Lu leaves before the anticipated encounter can develop 12.
• Bo Lin — The powerful man Shu Yao increasingly pursues. Bo Lin repeatedly prioritizes Hua Jian, states that Shu Yao is not his type, and denies having a close relationship with him 44 67 100.
• Hua Jian — Rival whom Shu Yao envies and blames for his reversals. Shu Yao cooperates with Xue Pan to separate Hua Jian from Bo Lin 44 100 129 156.
• Li Chengbai — Travel companion who brings Shu Yao abroad partly to provoke Xie Zhiyan, then loses interest when Zhiyan does not respond 75.
• Candy-Poulton — Powerful acquaintance Shu Yao approaches abroad. Shu Yao offers to monitor Hua Jian for him, but does not understand the language Candy uses with his subordinate 76 77.
• Cang Shu, the Poulton family head — Patron who secures Shu Yao’s release on bail. Shu Yao mistakenly believes that Cang Shu intends to adopt him and later loses contact with his entourage 100 113 121.
• Xue Pan — Strategic partner: Xue Pan wants Hua Jian, while Shu Yao wants Bo Lin. Their unsuccessful attempts to break up the couple lead to threats, insults, and mutual blame 129 143 156.
• Chun Lin — Seeks information about Shu Yao’s whereabouts and current intimate associate, offering Qin Ci information in exchange for an investigation. His motive remains unexplained 192.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Original-Novel Role

The following events belong to the original plot described by Hua Jian, rather than necessarily occurring in the altered storyline:

Plot thread	Documented role
Xie Zhiyan’s devotion	Hua Jian describes Zhiyan as a backup suitor whose spending and reckless behavior contribute to disaster for the Xie family 2 4 22.
Xie Zhitan’s career	Hua Jian recalls that Zhitan falls for Shu Yao and Qin Ci reports him for seducing a student, costing him his job 14.
Lu Zexi’s romance	Lu is supposed to fall for Shu Yao immediately and become a devoted suitor 12.
Anonymous online friend	An art-loving friend helps Shu Yao obtain evidence against the original Hua Jian and bring down the Xie family 13.
Poulton connection	Shu Yao interviews the family head about scholarships associated with a woman he once loved and Imperial University 53 133.
Conflict among suitors	Hua Jian recalls Shu Yao’s suitors eventually killing one another, while Bo Lin remains unaffected 26.

Early Encounters and Academic Ambitions

• Tan Xilin publicly humiliates Shu Yao at a gathering. Xie Zhiyan intervenes, and the ensuing fight becomes a threatened police case until Xie Zhiwei obtains evidence of the setup 4 5.
• Hua Jian encounters a drunk-looking, disheveled Shu Yao at UP and avoids involvement; a tall man carries Shu Yao away 8.
• Qin Ci introduces Shu Yao to Xie Zhitan. Shu Yao’s attempt to obtain special access to Zhitan’s course fails, and a later apology at the television station does not repair the professor’s impression of him 14 15 18.

Photographs and Declining Support

• Andy’s secret photographs show Shu Yao entering a restroom with Cui Zhao and Tan Xilin. After Hua Jian sends some photographs to Shu Yan, intimate images appear anonymously in the journalism department’s group chat 27.
• Xue Pan forwards photographs to Qin Ci, provoking anger and jealousy. Qin Ci subsequently becomes less responsive to Shu Yao 28 40.
• With his training access about to expire, Shu Yao turns to Xie Zhiyan. Hua Jian predicts the request, but Zhiyan still agrees to obtain the pass 40 41.

Cui Zhao’s Assault and Its Aftermath

• Zhiyan presents Shu Yao with the internship access card, and they embrace. Cui Zhao bursts into the room and attacks Zhiyan while Shu Yao stands aside, reasoning that Cui will leave him alone after venting his violence 45.
• When Cui Zhao’s men arrive, Shu Yao identifies Hua Jian as the person who struck Cui Zhao. Zhiyan begins questioning his attachment after realizing Shu Yao has not checked on him 46.
• Cui Chengming publicly frames the assault as Cui Zhao defending his boyfriend. Hua Jian challenges that account with surveillance showing Shu Yao initiating the embrace with Zhiyan 52.
• After Cui Zhao’s investigation, frozen cards and absent associates leave Shu Yao seeking new support. His approaches to Li Chengbai and Bo Lin fail, and UP’s security guards restrain him after Bo Lin orders him away 66 67.

F Country and Poulton Patronage

• Li Chengbai takes Shu Yao abroad but treats him chiefly as a means of provoking Zhiyan. During an opera visit, Shu Yao leaves their box and approaches Candy-Poulton 75 76.
• Shu Yao offers to watch Hua Jian for Candy. He later becomes implicated in a terrorist-attack case and is detained in F Country; the Poulton family head secures his release on bail 77 100 121.
• Back in China, Shu Yao insinuates that Bo Lin helped him and enjoys provoking Hua Jian’s jealousy. Bo Lin clarifies that the Poulton family head arranged the release 99 100.
• Shu Yao’s belief that he might be adopted becomes uncertain when he sees Cang Shu meeting members of Hua Jian’s family. After Cang Shu departs, Shu Yao cannot reach him even as the Shu family expects him to arrange business talks 113 121.

Alliance Against Hua Jian and Bo Lin

• Shu Yao and Xue Pan search for someone they believe possesses evidence capable of breaking up Hua Jian and Bo Lin. Xue Pan threatens to end their partnership if Shu Yao makes no progress 129.
• Xie Zhiyan sees Shu Yao’s familiar admiring expression and feels nothing, marking the end of his former devotion 129.
• At Hua Jian’s family-recognition banquet, Qin Ci dismisses Shu Yao’s claims that his relationships with Song Jiahui and Zhiyan are innocent. Shu Yao and Xue Pan then blame each other for their failed schemes 156.
• Chun Lin later commissions Qin Ci to locate Shu Yao and obtain proof of his current relationship. Qin Ci agrees but warns that Shu Yao is dangerous 192.