Xie Zhitan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xie Zhitan (谢知潭)
Alias(es)	Eric; Professor Xie; Second Brother; the Xie family’s second young master 14 151 238
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xie family; Imperial University, formerly; his unnamed alma mater in Fog City, Y Country 14 235 237
Occupation/Role	Finance professor and academic researcher; temporarily manages Xie Corporation affairs 14 128 235 237
Residence	Apartment 1702 in Fog City, previously his student residence 237
Relationship Status	In a committed relationship with Qin Ci; expresses willingness to marry him, but no marriage is documented 252
First Appearance	Chapter 14; his support of Xie Zhiyan is referenced collectively with their eldest brother in Chapter 2 2 14

Background / History

Xie Zhitan is the second of the Xie family’s three sons, younger than Xie Zhiwei and older than Xie Zhiyan. Hua Jian becomes his stepbrother through Hua Yingrou’s marriage into the family. Zhitan and Zhiwei indulge Zhiyan materially, including donating a building to secure his admission to a film academy, but also shoulder responsibility for his reckless behavior 2 15 42.

An exceptional student, Zhitan attends elementary and middle school with Qin Ci, then takes the college entrance examination during his first year of high school. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he pursues a master’s degree and doctorate at a prestigious university in the overseas city where Qin Ci is studying. Zhitan finishes his doctorate while Qin Ci takes two additional years to complete his undergraduate degree; both return to China at the same time 14.

Zhitan joins Imperial University and becomes its youngest finance professor. His teaching position suits his preference for a quiet life: he can share his knowledge without extensive social obligations while remaining close to his family. Although capable of handling Xie Corporation business, he finds the work exhausting and has no desire to make it his career 14 128 235.

Appearance

Xie Zhitan has a refined, handsome appearance and an intellectual bearing that draws attention even when he is unaware of it 230 237.

• Build: Tall, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and firm but not bulky abdominal muscles 231 238 239.
• Clothing: Favors neat shirts and tailored trousers; one airport outfit combines a white shirt, beige sweater, blue suit trousers, and a matching jacket 230 234.
• Winter attire: Wears a thick overcoat and gray scarf after returning to Fog City 237.
• Voice: Gentle and pleasant, though his manner often keeps others at a polite distance 14 252.
• Expression: His smile gives him a gentle air; without it, he can appear markedly cold and intimidating 22.

Personality

Zhitan is courteous but emotionally reserved. He maintains polite contact with classmates without seeking a large social network, and prefers relationships that do not bring unexpected demands. Academic work and familiar surroundings give him more satisfaction than business entertaining or elaborate social connections 90 235 237.

He values fairness and personal boundaries. When Shu Yao asks for preferential access to his course, Zhitan insists that he meet the same requirements as other students. He similarly tells Qin Ci that increased familiarity does not excuse disrespect, careless assumptions, or intrusive behavior 14 15 171 232.

His restraint does not mean he lacks a temper. Suspicion that Qin Ci is involved in a malicious complaint drives him to physically attack Qin and damage his car. He also violently rejects Jack’s advances in Fog City. These incidents expose a forceful side sharply at odds with his composed public image 234 239.

Zhitan often expresses affection through practical care rather than direct admissions. He protects Hua Jian, investigates threats to him, and later cooks for Qin Ci and buys ointment after their first night together. His refusal to acknowledge his attachment clearly nevertheless leaves Qin feeling unwanted. By their reconciliation, Zhitan recognizes that his delayed responses have encouraged Qin’s doubts and begins expressing love openly 150 171 243 250 252.

Abilities & Skills

Hearing Hua Jian’s Thoughts

Zhitan can hear Hua Jian’s unspoken inner monologue, including warnings about events that have not occurred in the current storyline 14 22 173.

• Learns that Qin Ci would accuse him of seducing a student and cost him his job in the plot Hua Jian knows 14.
• Responds to private information Hua Jian never says aloud, including his thoughts about Qin Ci 22.
• Continues to hear Hua Jian’s teasing about his relationship with Qin 173.
• Believes this knowledge has helped avert the disastrous future he later experiences in a dream 236.
• No ability to read people’s thoughts generally is established in the supplied chapters.

Finance and Academic Research

Zhitan completes his doctorate unusually early and becomes a prominent finance professor at Imperial University 14 169.

• Teaches a sought-after course with admission requirements involving prior grades and a paper 14.
• Represents his undergraduate mentor at a studio recording and receives warm recognition from senior professors 18.
• Advises Qin Ci to commission a risk assessment before investing in a music ensemble, while acknowledging his limited knowledge of that industry 170.
• Participates in a month of academic discussions at Ancheng University 232.
• Takes an interest in a proposed investment product using a cutting-edge algorithm at his Fog City alma mater 237.

Investigation and Strategic Judgment

Zhitan notices inconsistencies in behavior and gathers information before confronting potential threats 150 161 173.

• Connects Hua Yingrou’s alarm over Hua Jian’s childhood possessions with her earlier suppression of his painting 150.
• Delays confronting her, preferring to let her expose a weakness, and asks Qin Ci to investigate her background 150 151 156.
• Questions whether her claimed arm injury adequately explains her abandonment of painting when she still rides horses and plays golf 161.
• Investigates Zhang Xiaoran’s background, uncovering his connection to Xue Pan and attempts to obtain work near Hua Jian and Bo Lin 173.

Corporate Management

Zhitan can manage substantial business responsibilities despite disliking them 128 235.

• Handles most Xie Corporation affairs while Zhiwei is occupied with helping Li Chenglan seize power 128.
• Receives an offer from Bo Lin to evaluate venture-capital projects with assistants handling administration and social obligations; his acceptance is not documented 235.

Relationships

• Hua Jian — Younger stepbrother. Zhitan is protective of him, offers access to his business-school lectures, and supports investigations concerning his past and safety. Hua Jian later helps mediate between Zhitan and Qin Ci 22 52 150 235 247.
• Qin Ci — Childhood classmate, overseas neighbor, and eventual romantic partner. Their relationship develops through conflict, persistent pursuit, intimacy, separation, and reconciliation 14 242 244 252.
• Xie Zhiwei — Eldest brother. Zhitan assists with family business but resists Zhiwei’s attempt to order him into the corporation after his resignation 128 235.
• Xie Zhiyan — Younger brother. Zhitan helps deal with his troubles and strongly rebukes his hostility toward Hua Jian and fixation on Shu Yao 15 22 42.
• Xie Cheng — Father. Following the end of Cheng’s marriage to Hua Yingrou, Zhiwei increasingly assumes household authority 235.
• Hua Yingrou — Stepmother and the woman who brought Hua Jian into the Xie family. Zhitan investigates her suspicious behavior and treatment of Hua Jian 150 156 161.
• Cui Lengyun — Longtime friend and head of the Xie family’s legal team. He recognizes Zhitan’s distress, offers investigative help, and later challenges his denial of his feelings for Qin 52 234 245.
• Bo Lin — Hua Jian’s boyfriend. Zhitan initially worries that Bo’s ruthlessness makes him dangerous for Hua Jian, but later advises Hua Jian not to let suspicion damage their relationship 93 173.
• Shu Yao — Student who seeks access to Zhitan’s course and influential social connections. Zhitan rejects preferential treatment and eventually refuses even to acknowledge his greeting 15 156.
• Huo Bing — Former middle-school classmate whom Zhitan helped avoid bullying twice. Huo later files a false accusation naming Zhitan as a bully 234 236.
• Zhang Xiaoran — Pianist whom Zhitan regards as a possible threat because of his resemblance to Hua Jian and suspicious employment choices 171 173.
• Ross — Fog City colleague with whom Zhitan shares an easy rapport; Ross asks about his romantic preferences and waits for him after the restaurant confrontation 239 241.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Shu Yao and the Break with Qin Ci

• First warning: At a private restaurant, Zhitan hears Hua Jian’s prediction that Qin Ci will report him for seducing a student. Qin then introduces Shu Yao, confirming part of what Zhitan has just heard 14.
• Academic dispute: Zhitan refuses to waive his course requirements. Qin insults him, and Zhitan later questions whether the lunch invitation was merely a means of securing Shu Yao a place 14 15.
• Severed friendship: After another confrontation involving Hua Jian, Zhitan tells Qin that they were only classmates, not friends, and warns Hua Jian to contact him if Qin causes trouble 19.
• Attempted settlement: Zhitan gives Qin a Class Attendance Pass for Shu Yao, hoping the concession will end their conflict 28.
• Restored contact: Qin later apologizes for a restaurant incident and persuades Zhitan to unblock him while warning him about Fu Ruan’s powerful backing 90.

Protecting Hua Jian and Investigating Family Secrets

• Childhood belongings: Zhitan has servants collect Hua Jian’s old possessions so Hua Jian can take them away. Hua Yingrou’s subsequent frantic search makes him suspect the box contains something significant 150.
• Background inquiry: He asks Qin to investigate Hua Yingrou and receives the resulting file at Hua Jian’s recognition banquet 151 156.
• Sharing suspicions: He discusses Hua Yingrou’s inconsistencies with Zhiwei after information concerning Liu Anping emerges 161.
• Zhang Xiaoran inquiry: Zhitan seeks Zhang’s contact information to arrange an investigation, not to flirt. He later reveals Zhang’s ties to Xue Pan and their shared origin in a county under Sea City 171 173.

Huo Bing’s Complaint and Departure Abroad

• Ancheng conflict: During Zhitan’s academic visit, Qin repeatedly appears around him and takes food from his fork despite being refused. Zhitan calls his behavior annoying; Qin leaves and does not return during the remaining visit 232 233.
• False complaint: After returning to the Imperial Capital, Zhitan receives an accusation of unprofessional conduct and middle-school bullying. He suspects Huo Bing but is especially troubled by the possibility of Qin’s involvement 234.
• Violent confrontation: Zhitan attacks Qin in a nightclub restroom, threatens him against approaching again, and smashes his sports car’s windshield and dents its hood 234.
• Resignation: He refuses the university director’s offer of paid leave and resigns. Rather than enter the family corporation, he arranges to finish academic projects in Y Country 235.
• Exoneration: The university investigation clears him; Huo himself submitted the false report despite having received Zhitan’s help 236.

Dream of an Avoided Future

• During his flight abroad, Zhitan dreams of teaching Shu Yao, Qin’s jealousy, the Xie family’s bankruptcy, and a car crash leaving Zhiwei’s fate uncertain 236.
• In the dream, Qin offers to fund Zhiwei’s treatment in exchange for Zhitan staying with him and avoiding Shu Yao 236.
• Zhitan interprets the dream as the future that might have occurred without Hua Jian’s thoughts. These events are not presented as the current storyline’s actual history 236.

Fog City Intimacy and Separation

• Return to academic life: Zhitan moves back into apartment 1702 and resumes work at his alma mater. Qin occupies the neighboring apartment 237.
• Restaurant reunion: Qin confronts him and denies conspiring with Huo Bing. Zhitan continues rejecting his attention, while their argument exposes attraction beneath their hostility 239 240.
• First intimacy: Qin initiates a kiss while restraining Zhitan in the hallway. Zhitan initially resists, then reverses their positions and returns the kiss; they spend the night together 241 242.
• Trial cohabitation: Zhitan lets Qin move in under rules: return by nine, do not come home drunk, do not smoke or drink at home, invite no guests, and do not interrupt his work 243.
• Separation: Repeated rejection of Qin’s attempts at intimacy leads Qin to leave and block him. Four months later, Zhitan returns to the Imperial Capital and anxiously watches for Qin at his welcome dinner 244.

Reconciliation and Commitment

• Reunion rejection: Zhitan seeks a conversation at their middle-school reunion, but Qin refuses. Seeing Qin’s familiarity with another companion intensifies Zhitan’s jealousy 245 246.
• Roadside misunderstanding: Zhitan rushes to Qin after a collision but wrongly accuses him of drunk driving. Qin rejects Zhitan’s hurried offer of a relationship as pity; a breath test subsequently proves Qin was sober 246 247.
• Hawaii reunion: Zhitan finds Qin in Hawaii, apologizes for his accusations, and initiates a kiss after his jealousy over the unwanted suitor Lah becomes evident 248.
• Acknowledging harm: Qin’s tearful confession reveals how deeply Zhitan’s withdrawal hurt him. Zhitan releases him, apologizes, and admits that he likes him 250.
• Explicit commitment: Zhitan asks Qin to be with him, offers marriage if Qin wants it, and openly reciprocates his declaration of love 252.

Notable Quotes

“If you want to take my class, follow Imperial University's regulations. That's fair to both you and the other students.” 15

“We were only ever classmates, not friends. We have nothing in common. Please leave.” 19

“I'm sorry. I'm always a step behind, and it makes you overthink things. Qin Ci, let's be together. If you want to get married, I'm willing to do that too.” 252

Trivia

• Prefers lightly seasoned food and cannot tolerate spicy dishes by the time he teaches at Imperial University 14.
• Develops low blood sugar after skipping breakfast during the restaurant dispute with Qin and Shu Yao 15.
• Enjoys reading and watching opera 15.
• Dislikes cigarette smoke, though he occasionally smokes himself 232 244.
• Maintains his running habit on a treadmill because running outside at night in Fog City is risky 238.
• His first late arrival for work breaks a punctuality record maintained from kindergarten; he is an hour late after his first night with Qin 243.