Gu Junxing

Biodata

Background / History

Return from Abroad

Junxing returns to China and attends a family gathering with his older brother, Gu Wenze, and sister-in-law, Qiao Hua. He has habitually mocked Qiao throughout her three-year marriage and is surprised when his mother, Weng Fenghua, now defends her and demands that he show respect 17 18.

He introduces Tan Ruiyu as his girlfriend of three months. Their relationship began abroad after he intervened when several people appeared to be harassing her near a restaurant in Chinatown. Qiao’s thoughts reveal that Ruiyu allegedly arranged the encounter after learning he was wealthy 18.

Break with the Gu Family

During Ruiyu’s introduction, Junxing begins hearing Qiao’s unspoken thoughts about the gift Ruiyu brings, her past, and her financial motives. Although Qiao knows details of their first meeting, he suspects she investigated them rather than accepting her warnings 18.

When Weng refuses to approve the relationship, Junxing accuses her of looking down on the poor and chooses Ruiyu over his family. Weng freezes his cards and orders the family-owned house and cars reclaimed. He accepts the loss and moves with Ruiyu into a rented two-bedroom apartment, confident that he can find work and provide for her 18 19 20.

At a later encounter in a market, he again insults Qiao and boasts that he and Ruiyu are happy without money. He hears Qiao predict that Ruiyu will leave him and that he will eventually discover he has advanced AIDS, but dismisses the warning 21.

Breakup and Reconciliation

Ruiyu ends the relationship and admits that she pursued him solely because he was the Gu family’s second son. Devastated, Junxing visits Wenze’s home, where Qiao correctly identifies the reason for his distress. He regrets rejecting his family, and Wenze offers to speak to their mother on his behalf 23 24.

During the visit, Junxing repeatedly restrains Qiao from leaving and accuses her of meeting a lover. His interference, followed by Wenze’s refusal to let her leave, causes her to miss her planned hospital appointment 24 25.

Junxing subsequently obtains a medical report showing that he is not sick. Qiao nevertheless advises further testing because of the disease’s long incubation period. His predicted illness is therefore a warning about the original storyline, not a confirmed diagnosis in the events shown 21 26.

Reconsidering Qiao Hua

After the breakup, Junxing becomes less hostile toward Qiao and privately feels grateful for her warnings. He awkwardly suggests that having a child with Wenze would secure her position in the family, unaware that she is already pregnant 25 26 28.

He recognizes Jiang Nan’s attempt to get closer to Wenze and warns Qiao against leaving them alone together. When Qiao insists that she genuinely wants a divorce, he privately admits that he no longer wants Jiang Nan as his sister-in-law and urges Wenze to preserve the marriage 27 28.

After apologizing to Weng, Junxing tells Wenze that Qiao helped their mother avoid a dangerous cosmetic clinic, whereas Jiang Nan knew of the danger and failed to warn her. He also questions whether Qiao was wrongly blamed for the drugging incident that led to the marriage; Wenze rejects that possibility 34.

When Qiao later runs away from home, Junxing criticizes Wenze’s closeness to Jiang Nan, arguing that no wife would tolerate it. Wenze tells him that Jiang Nan has been fired and that he has promised to end contact with her. Junxing’s question about how Qiao escaped without leaving traces prompts Wenze to suspect outside assistance 67.

Workplace Contact and Growing Attraction

Junxing is working at the Gu Group when Qiao arrives to complete her onboarding as Wenze’s new secretary. He is delighted that they will be coworkers and blushes when she covers his mouth to stop him from publicly calling her his sister-in-law. At her request, he switches to addressing her by name at work 94.

Over lunch, Qiao confirms that she still wants a divorce but that Wenze refuses. Junxing now appears eager for the marriage to end, a reversal of his earlier position. Qiao mistakenly interprets this as renewed support for Jiang Nan. He also gives Qiao the Old Master’s phone number and promises not to tell Wenze, without knowing that she intends to discuss arrangements for leaving 95.

After Qiao resigns, Junxing anxiously questions Wenze about her departure and whether she will return. His visible disappointment makes Wenze question why he cares so much about her, prompting Junxing to conceal his feelings behind concern about her absence from work 100.

Helping Qiao Hua Escape

While Qiao is hospitalized and facing a return to confinement in Wenze’s basement, Junxing secretly arranges an escape. He rents the adjoining hospital room so she can cross between balconies, change clothes, and leave with assistance waiting outside. He plans to distract Wenze and take his phone to prevent him from receiving an alert from Qiao’s electronic ankle shackle 106.

Junxing invites Wenze out drinking and uses a story about Ruiyu returning as a pretext for apparent heartbreak. Although he privately wants to pursue Qiao, he pretends to remain distressed over his former girlfriend. He feigns drunkenness, steals Wenze’s phone, and slips away after Wenze leaves him in a guest room 107.

A blond friend collects Qiao from the hospital and drives her to a vacant apartment that Junxing has borrowed from him. Junxing stocks the apartment with food and water and waits there to receive her. His friend assumes Qiao is his girlfriend; Junxing verbally denies this but is secretly pleased by the misunderstanding 108.

Junxing visits Qiao after work, shares meals with her, and supplies news about Wenze’s search. His friend’s route avoids useful surveillance footage, initially preventing Wenze from locating her. Junxing tells Wenze that he has fallen for another woman without identifying Qiao, then urges him to grant her a divorce. Wenze refuses and warns him not to raise the subject again. Fearing suspicion, Junxing temporarily stops visiting Qiao 110.

Wenze eventually learns that Junxing repeatedly visited Qiao in the hospital and rented the adjoining room on the night she escaped. He orders Junxing followed. When Junxing resumes visiting Qiao, the surveillance leads Wenze directly to her hiding place 111.

Confession and Forced Transfer to Haicheng

At the apartment, Qiao tells Junxing that she intends to leave because she fears being found and imprisoned again. Junxing asks whether he could protect her and finally declares his love, unaware that Wenze has arrived outside and overheard him 111.

Wenze bursts in and confronts Junxing after finding him holding Qiao’s hand. Junxing admits his feelings and insists that he would cherish her. The brothers fight; Junxing strikes back but is overpowered and left bruised and bleeding. Wenze has him taken home. Qiao defends Junxing while making clear that she has not accepted his confession 112.

Junxing subsequently asks Wenze to let him be with Qiao, condemning his refusal to grant her a divorce. When Wenze reveals that she is pregnant with his child, Junxing says he would care for both her and the baby. Wenze counters that Junxing’s assistance exposed Qiao’s hiding place, then orders him to manage a Gu Group subsidiary in Haicheng and forbids him from returning without permission 113.

Junxing refuses to go and demands fair competition, but Wenze invokes his marriage to Qiao and openly declares his own love for her. Bodyguards forcibly take Junxing to the airport. Weng initially worries that he lacks the skills and ambition to run a company, but accepts Wenze’s explanation that he needs experience and hardship; she is unaware of the romantic conflict behind the transfer 114.

Developing Independence and Continuing His Pursuit

During a secret call made from a borrowed phone, Junxing promises to return and rescue Qiao. She asks him to stay out of her affairs, but he refuses to give up and vows to surpass Wenze so he can challenge him 127.

When Qiao is later abducted, Wenze initially checks whether Junxing might be involved. Reports that Junxing has been occupied in meetings all morning, without taking calls or meeting anyone unusual, rule him out 130.

Junxing returns after hearing that Jiang Nan kidnapped Qiao. He and Wenze accuse each other of failing to protect her. Qiao notices that managing the subsidiary has made Junxing more mature and given him some of Wenze’s commanding presence, although he admits that difficult directors and his lack of management experience remain obstacles. He again proposes running away together despite Qiao reminding him of her earlier refusal 139.

Junxing leaves the hospital after Wenze interrupts, inviting Qiao to visit him at the Old Residence 140. At a subsequent family gathering, Weng credits his increased maturity to the subsidiary assignment, not understanding the brothers’ rivalry. Junxing says he must return to the company and become strong enough to reclaim what he believes belongs to him 141.

Qiao and Wenze see him off at the airport. Junxing has concluded that he must first become powerful enough to stand against his brother. Before departing, he offers Qiao a place to turn if Wenze mistreats her and warns Wenze to treat her well 142.

After Qiao gives birth prematurely, Junxing flies back overnight to check on her. He again confesses his feelings and offers to take her and the baby away to form a family. Wenze interrupts and orders him to leave. Junxing responds that he can now run the company independently and will return if Wenze fails to care for her properly 207.

Revealing His Secret and Letting Go

Junxing flies back overnight after Wenze is shot while protecting Qiao and comforts her outside the operating room. When she directly asks whether he can hear her thoughts, he initially evades the question, then admits that the ability began when he brought Ruiyu home. He says he never told anyone because he feared being considered crazy and had selfishly wanted to learn about his own future 255.

Junxing believes that he alone can hear Qiao’s thoughts, revealing that he does not know other Gu family members share the ability. His explanation helps Qiao understand that her exposed thoughts allowed the family to change their original fates and disrupted the storyline she expected 255.

Seeing Qiao’s distress over Wenze’s injury, Junxing acknowledges that he no longer has a chance with her. He suggests that Wenze may be her best match and admits that he might not have been able to protect her in the same situation 256.

After Wenze awakens, Junxing visits with chicken soup prepared by Weng. Wenze acknowledges that the Haicheng branch’s revenue has steadily increased and that it is now running smoothly. Junxing says that he once intended to build his strength to compete for Qiao, but has given up 261.

Junxing tells Wenze that Qiao demonstrated her devotion by remaining beside him day after day following the shooting. He urges Wenze to stop bullying her and treat her well; Wenze sincerely promises to care for her. Junxing accepts Qiao’s love for his brother and returns to the company, ending his pursuit 262.

New Relationship

By Gu Jinyang’s first-birthday celebration, Wenze is less hostile toward Junxing because he has abandoned his pursuit of Qiao 288.

Junxing attends the celebration with a new girlfriend and a gift. He shyly confirms the relationship when Qiao asks. Wenze approves of his choice and urges him to take the relationship seriously rather than repeat his earlier mistakes; Junxing accepts the advice and takes his girlfriend to see Jinyang 289.

Appearance

• Tall build: Uses his height to shield Ruiyu during the confrontation with his mother 18.
• Handsome: Qiao’s compliment about his looks provokes Wenze’s jealousy 17.
• Disheveled after the breakup: Arrives at Wenze’s home looking unkempt and visibly defeated 23 24.
• Office attire: Wears a pristine white shirt and dress pants when greeting Qiao at the Gu Group 94.
• Injured during the brothers’ fight: Has blood at the corner of his mouth and a battered, bruised face after fighting Wenze 112.
• More mature bearing: After his transfer to Haicheng, Qiao observes that he has acquired some of Wenze’s commanding presence while retaining a boyish manner around her 139.

Personality

Junxing is proud, impulsive, and intensely protective of the woman he loves. He interprets Ruiyu’s apparent modesty as proof of sincerity and treats family opposition as prejudice, even when Qiao’s thoughts contradict his beliefs 18 20.

His early treatment of Qiao is openly contemptuous and marked by double standards: he mocks her employment as evidence that Wenze no longer wants her while praising Jiang Nan’s employment as independence. His concern for family reputation persists after the breakup, when he criticizes Qiao for working outside the home 21 26.

Betrayal makes him more receptive to Qiao’s judgment, but he disguises gratitude and concern with arrogance. Even as he begins defending her, he continues making intrusive assumptions about her marriage and fertility 26 28 34.

His affection for Qiao exposes a bashful side: physical contact makes him blush, and ordinary opportunities to work or dine with her leave him visibly delighted. He initially conceals his romantic intentions even when she regards him as a trusted friend 94 106 110.

Junxing also becomes capable of calculated deception. To help Qiao escape, he stages drunken heartbreak, steals Wenze’s phone, and coordinates outside assistance. His concern for her freedom conflicts with his loyalty to his brother, while his repeated pursuit after her refusal shows that his protectiveness remains mixed with stubborn romantic ambition 107 108 139.

His forced assignment in Haicheng encourages greater maturity and ambition, though he initially sees professional success as a means to challenge Wenze for Qiao. Ultimately, witnessing her devotion to Wenze leads him to respect her feelings, abandon the rivalry, and begin another relationship 139 142 261 262 289.

Abilities & Skills

Hearing Qiao Hua’s Thoughts

Junxing can hear Qiao’s internal commentary without her speaking aloud 18.

• First recognizes the phenomenon during Ruiyu’s introduction to the family 18.
• Receives information about Ruiyu’s motives and warnings about his own future 18 21.
• Initially wonders whether he alone can hear Qiao and considers whether she investigated his relationship 18.
• Initially keeps the ability concealed; Qiao remains unaware that he can hear her during their early interactions 26.
• Hearing a warning does not compel him to believe it, as demonstrated by his continued defense of Ruiyu 18 20 21.
• Eventually admits the ability to Qiao when she confronts him after Wenze’s shooting 255.
• Says he concealed it because he feared his family would think him crazy and wanted advance knowledge of his own future. He remains unaware that other members of the Gu family can also hear Qiao 255.

Planning and Concealment

Junxing coordinates Qiao’s hospital escape by renting the adjacent room, preparing a change of clothes and transport, arranging a hiding place, and distracting Wenze. His staged drunkenness allows him to take Wenze’s phone without immediate discovery 106 107 108.

His concealment is imperfect. Wenze connects the missing phone and hospital visits to the escape, confirms Junxing’s room rental, and has him followed to Qiao’s apartment 111.

Business Management

Junxing initially lacks experience managing a company, and Weng doubts whether he can handle the Haicheng assignment. He encounters resistance from directors and subordinates after being appointed to the subsidiary 114 139.

He later states that he can run the company independently. Wenze subsequently confirms that the branch is operating smoothly and steadily increasing its revenue. During Junxing’s hospital visit, a vice president handles its affairs in his absence 207 261.

Power Progression

Equipment / Items

• Family-provided assets — His house, cars, and credit cards are reclaimed after he renounces the Gu family 19 20.
• Black card — Given to him by Wenze for temporary financial support after Ruiyu leaves 25.
• Medical report — Shows Qiao the results of his examination to establish that he is not sick 26.
• Rented adjoining hospital room — Provides the route for Qiao to leave her guarded ward by crossing between balconies; its rental record later exposes his involvement 106 111.
• Wenze’s phone — Steals it during his staged drunkenness to prevent Wenze from immediately receiving Qiao’s ankle-shackle alert 106 107.
• Borrowed safe apartment — Obtains a vacant apartment from his blond friend and stocks it with food and water for Qiao’s stay 108.
• Sports car — Drives it to Qiao’s hiding place when he resumes visiting, unknowingly leading Wenze’s surveillance there 111.
• High-quality supplements — Brings expensive supplements when visiting Qiao after her premature delivery; Wenze refuses to keep them and says he will send them to Young Master Zhou’s mother 207 208.

Relationships

• Gu Wenze — Older brother; comforts him after the breakup, provides money, and mediates his reconciliation with Weng 24 25 26. Their relationship deteriorates when Junxing secretly helps Qiao escape and declares his love for her. Wenze beats him and forcibly transfers him to Haicheng, while Junxing seeks the independence needed to challenge him 111 112 113 114 142. Junxing eventually abandons the rivalry, asks Wenze to cherish Qiao, and accepts his advice about a new relationship 261 262 289.
• Weng Fenghua — Mother; cuts off his financial privileges over his defiance, then accepts his apology 19 20 34. She worries about his ability to manage the Haicheng subsidiary but accepts Wenze’s explanation that the assignment will give him experience, remaining unaware of the romantic conflict behind it 114 141.
• Qiao Hua — Sister-in-law; initially a target of his ridicule, later someone whose warnings earn his gratitude and whose marriage he advocates preserving 17 28 34. He develops romantic feelings, helps her escape confinement, and repeatedly offers to protect her and care for her child 94 106 111 113 207. Qiao values his help but does not accept his initial confession and later reminds him that she has refused his pursuit 112 139. He ultimately recognizes her love for Wenze and steps aside 256 262.
• Tan Ruiyu — Former girlfriend; he abandons family support for her before learning that her affection was motivated by his wealth and status 20 24. He later uses supposed lingering heartbreak over her to distract Wenze, but explicitly states that he has not reconciled with her and will have nothing further to do with her 107 110.
• Jiang Nan — Initially his preferred sister-in-law; he later distrusts her intentions and no longer wants her to replace Qiao 21 28 34. He criticizes Wenze’s closeness to her and later condemns his failure to prevent her from kidnapping Qiao 67 139.
• Gu Jinman — Sister; presents a birthday gift to the Gu patriarch alongside Junxing at the family gathering 88.
• The Old Master — Grandfather and Gu family patriarch; Junxing attends his birthday gathering and later secretly provides Qiao with his phone number 88 95.
• Gu Jinyang — Nephew, the son of Wenze and Qiao; Junxing attends his first-birthday celebration with a gift and brings his new girlfriend to see him 288 289.
• Blond friend — Helps Junxing arrange Qiao’s escape, collects her from the hospital, and lends an apartment for her to hide in. He mistakes Qiao for Junxing’s girlfriend 107 108.
• Unnamed new girlfriend — Accompanies Junxing to Jinyang’s first-birthday celebration after he has relinquished his pursuit of Qiao. Junxing acknowledges the relationship shyly and agrees to approach it seriously 289.

Notable Quotes

“Take them back. I don't care about anything the Gu family owns.” 20

“I don't want Jiang Nan to be my sister-in-law anymore.” 28

“Let me protect you from now on.” 112

“One day, I'll surpass my brother. Then I'll have what it takes to fight him. Sis, just give me a little more time.” 127

“If my brother treats you badly, you can come to me anytime.” 142

“So treat her better from now on. Stop bullying her.” 262

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