Gu Cheng

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Gu Cheng (顾城)
Alias(es)	Young Master Gu; “Boss Gu” in Bai Chen’s commentary 47 74
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Gu Family; Gu Group; G University, Room 704; the student circle called the “Campus F4” 37 41 74
Occupation/Role	University student and prospective Gu Family heir; initially identified by Bai Chen as an original-novel male lead 3 34 45
Family	Son of Gu Zhengde and Xiao Muling; paternal half-brother of Gu Yun 44 106 129
Status	Previously imprisoned; later returns as Bai Chen’s kidnapper. Last seen burned beyond recognition at the explosion site; his death is not explicitly confirmed in the supplied passage 92 157 159
First Appearance	Chapter 3, “Another Male Lead” 3

Background / History

Gu Cheng grows up under Xiao Muling’s plans for his inheritance. She dictates activities he dislikes and even chooses his university studies. Although he privately does not want the Gu Family’s wealth, he feels obligated to inherit because his mother has devoted her life to securing it for him. Becoming family head also represents a way to stop his father from hurting her 45.

His parents’ marriage is tied to business and family power. Gu Zhengde later tells Gu Yun that he never loved Xiao Muling and regards Gu Cheng as merely a link between two companies. Gu Yun’s recognition as another son consequently threatens the inheritance Gu Cheng has been raised to expect 79 106.

Appearance

Gu Cheng is handsome, tall, and imposing, with a well-trained physique; one student admires his commanding presence and roguish air 30 35 81.

• Muscular build: He openly flaunts his body and mocks Bai Chen’s comparatively thin frame 30.
• Later deterioration: During the final kidnapping, his hair is tangled and his face covered in stubble, sharply contrasting with his former appearance as a high-spirited young master 157.
• Severe injuries: Lin Jingchen has his legs broken and drives a knife through his palm. After surgery, a doctor warns of possible lasting complications that could limit how long he can walk 47 86.

Personality

Gu Cheng is arrogant, hotheaded, and accustomed to deference. When Gu Yun ignores him, he treats the silence as an intolerable slight rather than considering his own rude approach. He also judges potential friends by their looks, preferring attractive company and finding Lin Sen below his standards 3.

His attraction is possessive rather than respectful. Gu Yun’s rejection prompts threats and eventually an attempted sexual assault. Gu Cheng resents Bai Chen because even someone he dismisses as an idiot can become Gu Yun’s friend while he cannot 8 15 37.

His bravado weakens when someone more powerful confronts him. He panics over Lin Jingchen’s threat to the Gu Group’s bid, begs for release after being injured, and fears Gu Zhengde’s anger. Nevertheless, his attachment to his mother is genuine: he comforts her and urges her to divorce his father 38 44 45 47 49.

As he loses status, resentment increasingly governs his actions. He threatens his father’s other son, targets Bai Chen to hurt Lin Jingchen, and ultimately accepts his own destruction if it will make Lin suffer 79 86 157.

Abilities & Skills

Physical Strength

• Can restrain Gu Yun despite prolonged resistance 15.
• Is strong enough that several security guards struggle to subdue him at the Lin residence 45.
• His strength does not establish fighting expertise: Bai Chen judges him to be an unimpressive fighter and later overpowers him during an escape attempt 81 157.

Family Influence and Business Involvement

• Participates in business discussions with Lin Jingchen and is involved in the Gu Group’s bidding proposal 38 44.
• His family connections make Bai Chen fear retaliation against both himself and his family’s business 81.
• His position offers no guaranteed protection: the failed bid brings scrutiny from his father, the board, and the Gu Family, while police later arrest him despite his threats 44 86.

Coercion and Hostage-Taking

• Arranges an attempt to capture Bai Chen, intending to abuse him and send a recording to Lin Jingchen 86.
• Later uses Bai Chen as a hostage to demand Lin’s life and the liquidation and transfer of his assets 157.
• Prepares explosives as a contingency and detonates them when Bai Chen takes him hostage 157.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Phone — Used to record the captive Bai Chen and contact Lin Jingchen during the final kidnapping 157.
• Explosives and oil drums — Hidden throughout the kidnapping site; triggered by a button Gu Cheng carries in his pocket 157.

Relationships

• Xiao Muling — Mother and principal protector. She shields him from Gu Zhengde, seeks help from the Xiao Family after his injuries, and insists that the Gu inheritance belongs to him. He wants to become family head to protect her 44 45 49.
• Gu Zhengde — Father. Blames him for the failed bid, attempts to beat him, and later demands that he apologize to the Lin Family or lose his place in the Gu Family 44 49.
• Gu Yun — Roommate, unwanted romantic target, and later-confirmed paternal half-brother. Gu Cheng attempts to assault him and subsequently fears losing shares and inheritance to his father’s other son 15 79 129.
• Bai Chen — Roommate and recurring target. Gu Cheng’s hostility escalates from insults and public humiliation to attempted kidnapping, hostage-taking, and an effort to kill him in an explosion 30 37 86 157.
• Lin Jingchen — Business rival and primary target of revenge. Lin retaliates for Bai Chen’s mistreatment through business pressure and physical violence; Gu Cheng later exploits Lin’s love for Bai Chen to demand money and his life 38 45 47 157.
• Li Ping — Friend from his previous school who introduces him to the dorm’s occupants 3.
• Lin Sen — Roommate who fears his temper and informs Bai Chen about his family connections 26 41.
• Shi Long, Mu Congnan, and Yu Wen — Members of his “Campus F4” circle. Their families have connections to the Gu and Xiao families; Yu Wen, unlike the others, does not join in Bai Chen’s humiliation 37 41.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arrival and Pursuit of Gu Yun

• Li Ping introduces Gu Cheng as a new roommate. Gu Yun recognizes him as the arrogant man who bumped into him earlier; Gu Cheng immediately finds Gu Yun attractive 3.
• Bai Chen initially assumes Gu Cheng and Gu Yun are the original novel’s destined couple. Observing Li Xingzhu’s devotion later makes him question whether Gu Cheng is actually the best partner for Gu Yun 3 7.
• At a student ceremony, Gu Cheng confronts Bai Chen over a public confession and posted photograph. Gu Yun intervenes, and Gu Cheng answers his rejection by declaring that Gu Yun will never escape him 8.
• Gu Cheng later restrains Gu Yun in the dorm and prepares to sexually assault him. Bai Chen interrupts with a fabricated phone call and escorts Gu Yun away 15.

Humiliation and Business Retaliation

• At the teahouse, Gu Cheng and his companions mock and humiliate Bai Chen. Lin Jingchen intervenes and warns that the Gu Group may lose its bid 37 38.
• The Lin Group wins the contested plot. Gu Zhengde blames Gu Cheng for the loss and serious flaws in the proposal that attract official attention 44.
• Gu Cheng forces a confrontation at the Lin ancestral home. Lin explains that his retaliation is personal because Gu Cheng harmed someone he cares about 45.
• After Gu Cheng mocks Bai Chen and threatens to assault him, Lin has his legs broken and stabs his palm. Gu Cheng submits, but subsequently vows revenge from his hospital bed 47 49.

Attempted Kidnapping and Imprisonment

• Bai Chen escapes men following him by calling the police and heading to a police station. He names Gu Cheng among the possible organizers 79.
• Gu Cheng’s private thoughts confirm that he is awaiting Bai Chen’s capture and plans to film his suffering for Lin Jingchen. Police arrest him in the hospital on suspicion of kidnapping 86.
• The investigation exposes extensive Gu Group misconduct. Lin later reports that Gu Cheng and his associates have been punished, and Assistant Wang confirms Gu Cheng’s imprisonment 87 92.
• His detention prevents him from disrupting Gu Yun’s public recognition as Gu Zhengde’s son. Later, Bai Chen and Lin Sen hear that Gu Cheng has gone abroad; the circumstances of his release are not provided 113 132.

Final Kidnapping and Explosion

• After three years, Gu Yun controls the Gu Group, while Gu Zhengde and Xiao Muling are imprisoned. Gu Cheng abducts Bai Chen after a meeting with Gu Yun 157.
• He strangles and beats Bai Chen, then sends Lin Jingchen a hostage video. Lin agrees to surrender his life and transfer his wealth in exchange for Bai Chen’s release, although Gu Cheng privately intends both men to die 157.
• Bai Chen cuts his bindings, overpowers Gu Cheng, and holds a blade to his throat. Gu Cheng detonates the hidden explosives, drags Bai Chen down, and pins him beneath falling debris 157.
• Lin enters the burning site and finds Bai Chen motionless beside a collapsed storage rack, with Gu Cheng burned beyond recognition at his feet 159.

Notable Quotes

“From now on, you'll never escape my grasp. Understand?”
— To Gu Yun after being rejected 8

“Even if I go to hell, I'm taking you with me... Let him regret it. Let Lin Jingchen learn what happens when he crosses me...”
— While holding Bai Chen down during the explosions 157