Xingyao

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xingyao (星遥)
Gender	Male 49
Secondary Gender	Omega 36
Affiliation	Ore Department, General Affairs Office of White Sand Star 36 47
Occupation/Role	Deputy Minister responsible for ores other than sand gold; initially introduced as a deputy division head 36 37
Education	Royal Military Academy graduate, majoring in mecha engineering 37
First Appearance	Chapter 36 36

Background / History

Xingyao studied mecha engineering at the Royal Military Academy, making him a junior alumnus of Shen Que. Rather than joining the Seven Fleets or a mecha research center, he entered White Sand Star’s Ore Department 37.

As a student under Professor Lan, also known as Blue Crane, Xingyao pursued unconventional light-mecha designs. He proposed combining speed, ranged attacks, and assassin-like close combat, rejecting the assumption that close-range fighting necessarily meant absorbing damage. His teacher praised his talent and diligence but encouraged him to focus on medium and heavy mecha for more practical results 49.

Xingyao nevertheless vowed to create the first 3S light mecha capable of both ranged and close combat and name it Cold Glow. Years later, photographs of a crystalline sand gold–aquamarine symbiotic stone revive his memories of those ambitions 49.

Appearance

• Hair: Long, slightly wavy blond hair, often arranged in elaborate braids. One braid reaches his waist; as a student, he wore his hair short 39 47 49.
• Features: A beautiful profile, alluring eyes, long pale eyelashes, and carefully manicured nails 36 37.
• Jewelry: Frequently wears gemstone ornaments in his hair. His accessories include a sapphire-dangling hairpin, an emerald at his bow tie, and vivid green cloud pine earrings 36 39 47.
• Office clothing: A wide-sleeved robe over a neat shirt and suit trousers 39.
• Grooming: Spends considerable effort on his appearance, including an hour and a half developing a braid resembling intricate mechanical circuitry before work 47.

Personality

Xingyao is anxious, easily flustered, and habitually apologetic. During his first meeting with Shen Que, his attempt to smooth over a confrontation results in him knocking sorted ore onto the floor. He privately calls himself stupid and untalented, particularly when comparing himself with Shen Que or worrying about Jin Yi’s opinion 36.

His insecurity does not prevent professional stubbornness. When he believes an ore batch is incorrectly classified, he continues objecting despite repeated instrument tests, dismissive appraisers, and Gabi’s threats. His insistence contrasts with his weak managerial presence: colleagues regard him as erratic, and he tends to beg subordinates rather than issue orders 37 39 41.

Xingyao strongly desires Jin Yi’s attention and praise. He uses appraisal games, new hairstyles, coffee, and invitations to work overtime as opportunities for closeness. Jin Yi’s interest in Shen Que makes him jealous, although he still sincerely appreciates Shen Que’s support 36 40 41 47.

Abilities & Skills

Exceptional Ore Appraisal

Xingyao can identify an ore’s grade, purity, and hardness by observation with precision that initially surprises Jin Yi 41.

• Correctly identifies a sample as A+ grade, 98.5% purity, and 4.5 hardness, matching the instrument’s subsequent readings exactly 41.
• Regularly spot-checks batches and has caught appraisal problems more than once 41.
• Maintains that at least half of a larkstone shipment falls below A+ grade even after eight rounds of testing indicate otherwise 39 41.
• Conceals the full extent of his ability from the department. Jin Yi knows about it and protects his secret; the reason for Xingyao’s secrecy remains unexplained 41.

Mineral Knowledge and Recall

• Remembers the constituent minerals, ratios, and individual purities of two symbiotic stones from the previous month’s appraisal records 47.
• Knows that crystalline sand gold occurs only in the asteroid belt near White Sand Star, allowing him to challenge Gabi’s claim that a stone came from the Eden Star System 47 48.
• Recognizes that exceptionally pure symbiotic stones are extraordinarily rare and potentially worth hundreds of millions of Starcoins 48.
• Understands that an Ore Department representative must attend the seizure of an extremely rare symbiotic stone to identify it 48.

Mecha Engineering

Xingyao’s engineering education informs his interest in minerals as functional mecha materials, rather than merely decorative gemstones 37 49.

• As a student, proposes color-changing gemstone coatings and considers symbiotic stones as a way to compensate for material instability 49.
• Advocates light mecha that approach enemies rapidly, strike at close range, and retreat before taking damage 49.
• Recognizes that crystalline sand gold coatings can resonate with sand gold to form a highly resistant protective layer; symbiosis with aquamarine could add concealment and color-changing properties 49.
• His ideas face practical constraints, including unstable coatings, scarce materials, and prohibitive expense 49.

Administrative Work and Limitations

• Reviews all 172 smuggled-ore appraisal reports from the preceding month, including reports Jin Yi signs when Xingyao falls behind 47.
• Produces accurate, complete data despite writing explanations so poorly that Shen Que struggles to understand the report 38.
• Keeps the confiscated-stone investigation confidential after Shen Que instructs him not to discuss it 49.
• Is vulnerable to Alpha pheromone suppression: Gabi’s threatening pheromones leave him trembling and physically weak 37.

Relationships

• Jin Yi — Fellow deputy minister and the focus of Xingyao’s romantic interest. Jin Yi supports his requests for retesting, adjusts his hairpin, protects his appraisal secret, and helps with paperwork. Xingyao seeks his praise, but no romantic relationship is confirmed 37 40 41 47 49.
• Shen Que — Senior alumnus and superior in the General Affairs Office. Initially intimidated by him, Xingyao becomes grateful when Shen distinguishes poor writing from bad data and accepts responsibility for delaying the disputed shipment 37 38 40.
• Gabi — Department superior who dismisses Xingyao’s judgment and uses pheromones to intimidate him. Xingyao later challenges Gabi’s explanation of the confiscated symbiotic stone during the investigation that leads to Gabi’s suspension 37 39 48.
• Ai Fan — Administrative authority familiar with his education and work record. She questions why his work never produces errors despite his poor workplace reputation; Jin Yi answers without revealing his hidden ability 37 41.
• Professor Lan / Blue Crane — Mecha-engineering teacher whom Xingyao admired and trusted. He recognizes Xingyao’s talent but questions the practicality of his proposed innovations 49.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Disputed Larkstone Shipment

Xingyao challenges the classification of larkstone intended for Messiah’s Advanced Mecha Research Center, where it will coat three S-grade mecha designed by Blue Crane. Appraisers dismiss his concerns after repeated tests, and Gabi orders him away to prepare reports. Xingyao secures Jin Yi’s help to continue the review 37.

The dispute escalates when Xingyao requests a shipment delay despite eight successful instrument tests. Shen Que authorizes the delay, undertakes to explain it to the client, and accepts responsibility for any contractual penalty. Xingyao then recruits experienced appraisers to help sort replacement ore 39 40.

Jin Yi’s recollection of Xingyao’s exact appraisal results establishes why his warning deserves attention. The disagreement also prompts scrutiny of the Ore Department’s reports and testing procedures 41.

Confiscated Symbiotic Stone Investigation

Shen Que summons Xingyao to review smuggled-ore reports while investigating the seizure of Pei Ji’s wedding gift. Xingyao confirms that none of the records describes the exceptionally pure crystalline sand gold–aquamarine stone 47.

At the Trade Department, Xingyao exposes procedural failures and contradicts Gabi’s account of the stone’s origin. After Gabi’s suspension, Shen Que asks Xingyao to estimate the missing stone’s value for criminal proceedings. Shen also warns that he may need Xingyao frequently and arranges for Jin Yi to cover his ordinary workload 48 49.

Notable Quotes

“No. There is a problem!” 39

“Shouldn’t you praise me?” 41

“I’ll definitely design a light mecha that can handle both ranged attacks and close combat. It’ll become the first 3S light mecha and usher in a new era for light mecha!” 49

Trivia

• Shen Que borrows Xingyao’s name when introducing himself to Ling Yu as an ore appraiser during a jewelry-shop visit. Xingyao himself is not present at that meeting 43.
• Xingyao prepares coffee for Jin Yi with the planned excuse that the café offered a buy-one-get-one-free promotion. After the investigation interrupts his plans, he returns to find the intended cup empty and learns that Jin Yi has taken some of his paperwork to complete 47 49.