Shi Zhou

Biodata

Background / History

After entering the Interstellar First Academy, Shi Zhou lost control of his body to the novel’s plot for nearly two years. During that period, “he” repeatedly caused trouble for fellow Arts Department student Xie Jiali. Reports from Xie Jiali’s admirers reached the School Committee, and Shi Zhou ultimately received a one-year leave pending observation. Upon regaining control, he apologized to Xie Jiali and cut ties with his disreputable associates 1 2 11.

The plot-controlled period also left his family near bankruptcy, burdened him with debt, and damaged his relationships. His parents nevertheless continued to care for him, interpreting his behavior as a rebellious phase. He has no memories of those two years and feels particularly distressed by what his family endured 1 26.

The system recruited him to help finish an abandoned novel whose readers wanted more melodrama and romantic rivalries. His assignment was to bring the three male leads together with suitable partners through Heart-Pounding Expedition. He accepted primarily because he needed money and a chance to change his circumstances—not because he felt obligated to secure the protagonists’ endings 1 10 12.

Appearance

• Face: Exceptionally beautiful, with features a hovercar driver compares to an AI-rendered face. The production team finds his face particularly effective on camera 2 12.
• Skin and eyes: Fair, nearly flawless skin, long curled lashes, and bright, expressive eyes 1 5.
• Build: A slender waist and graceful neck-and-shoulder lines; he considers his chest insufficiently firm and decides to exercise 12 33.
• Expressions: Often looks sweet and well-behaved when lowering his lashes, but his smile gives him a lively, carefree appearance. His ears readily redden when embarrassed 5 11.
• Clothing: Usually favors uncomplicated casual clothes. Outfits shown include a white T-shirt and a pale yellow sweater with light-colored jeans and a crocheted wrap 5 20 27.
• Fragrance: Asta notices a faint scent during their good-night hug, finds it soothing, and later dreams about it 17.

Personality

Shi Zhou is warm, playful, and good at making others comfortable. The production staff describe him as a “little sun,” noting that he can be childish while still taking responsibility. He brings humor into tense conversations, reassures distressed friends, and cares more about everyone enjoying a game than about winning it 12 22 28 30.

His easygoing manner does not mean he lacks independence. He checks his revised contract for legal loopholes, develops painting as a backup career, and refuses to depend entirely on system rewards. He also rejects attempts to provoke him into resuming his harassment of Xie Jiali: other people’s accomplishments are not a reason for envy, and he would rather concentrate on doing his own best 12 13 16.

He is notably oblivious to romantic interest directed at him. Because he regards himself as a supporting matchmaker, he interprets flirtation as friendship and repeatedly imagines pairings between other guests. He mistakes Su Yue’s jealousy for interest in Yu Manman and assumes Xie Jiali and Lin Yuxi might be growing closer 5 18 39.

Shi Zhou has never been in a relationship. In his interviews, he says he likes women, but his first interview also includes a conditional willingness to consider a suitable same-sex partner. The broadcast omits that qualification. His descriptions of an ideal partner are largely improvised, although he emphasizes accepting and properly loving the person he chooses 35.

Abilities & Skills

Painting and Design

Shi Zhou resumes painting after regaining control of his body and treats it as a practical route toward financial independence 13.

• Sells three paintings through Pace Gallery for 260,000 interstellar credits 13.
• Works and practices in a gallery studio accessible through fingerprint authentication 13.
• Paints a scene from the show’s first day that Yu Manman praises for its emotional quality 41.
• Answers Bai Shen’s increasingly difficult questions about layout, art licensing, and brand identity; Bai Shen praises his quick thinking and offers further guidance 42.

Cooking and Edible Art

His cooking becomes one of the first skills to distinguish him from an ordinary supporting guest 11 12.

• Prepares most of an elaborate eight-dish dinner, including fried shrimp balls, pork ribs with corn and peppers, dry-pot chicken, and seasonal vegetables 11.
• Demonstrates impressive knife skills while preparing the meal 11.
• Paints a garden scene on chilled Mud-Mud Fruit using fruit juices and cream, then makes cookie blossoms to accompany it 43.
• Creates a dessert platter whose traditional Chinese-style artwork impresses both the guests and livestream viewers 49.

Dancing and Reassurance

Shi Zhou combines practical guidance with emotional support when helping Lin Yuxi return to dancing 22 23.

• Listens to her account of being mistreated after becoming ill during a school rehearsal and tells her it was not her fault 22.
• Invites her to dance and patiently guides her through several songs until she enjoys herself again 23.

Social Mediation

He can restore conversation and ease tension, although his interpretation of the resulting romantic dynamics is often mistaken 28 39.

• Revives a stalled kitchen conversation between Bai Shen and Yu Manman through humor and questions about AI research 28.
• Rephrases technical discussion so Yu Manman can engage with it 28.
• Receives four heart-fluttering texts but interprets all of them as friendly encouragement 37.

Learning and Recreation

• Enjoys motorcycles, mechs, and surfing 6.
• Recognizes Asta’s motorcycle model and assembles the kit with him 17.
• Begins pool as a novice, learns the rules from Asta, and quickly picks up stance fundamentals from Su Yue. With Su Yue guiding his shot, he pockets a ball 44 47 48.
• Uses exercise to improve his mood after the media incident, but no mecha-piloting proficiency is established in the provided chapters 15 16.

System Missions & Rewards

The system tracks the three male leads through “Romance points” or attraction progress bars. These measure romantic development, not Shi Zhou’s combat power or cultivation level 10 36.

• The system promises a corresponding reward whenever a progress bar reaches a milestone, tailored to what Shi Zhou needs most at that moment 10.
• Its assistance has limits: it can help him be selected during open auditions, but passing the screening and interviews still depends on his own performance 12 13.
• Shi Zhou initially finds numerical attraction tracking unnatural because he regards the other characters as living people with changing thoughts 36.

Equipment / Items

• Show-issued lightbrain/smart terminal — Used while his personal device is held by the production team; he temporarily retrieves his own device to call his family 13 26.
• Crocheted scarf/wrap — A handmade gift from Yu Manman in Bogu Star style, suitable for wearing around his neck, over his collar, or around his waist 13 27.
• Custom motorcycle model kit — Brought by Asta and assembled together during an evening visit 17.
• Su Yue’s jacket — Temporarily lent to him at the gym; it is too large for him 16.

Relationships

• Xie Jiali — Fellow Arts Department student and former target of Shi Zhou’s plot-controlled harassment. Shi Zhou feels both guilt and closeness toward him; Xie Jiali joined the show specifically to pursue him and regards him as an anchor in his life. Shi Zhou sends his first heart-fluttering text to Xie Jiali without understanding the romantic stakes 2 37 38 39.
• Su Yue — Academy committee chair and fellow guest whose presence initially embarrasses and intimidates Shi Zhou. They select rooms on the same floor, cook together, and gradually become more familiar. Su Yue’s attraction produces jealousy and an impulsive party-game encounter in which he pins Shi Zhou down and presses his mouth against his neck, rather than kissing his lips 3 10 11 18 33.
• Bai Shen — A businessman Shi Zhou admires for his composure and ability to protect others. Bai Shen rescues him from reporters, comforts him after the interview replay, and advises him on art-related business matters. Shi Zhou calls him “Brother Shen” and considers him someone close 14 15 36 42.
• Asta — Fellow guest who connects with Shi Zhou through motorcycles, model-building, and pool. Asta openly flirts with him and becomes jealous of his closeness to other guests, while Shi Zhou generally treats the attention as teasing between friends 7 17 20 30 45 48.
• Yu Manman — A supportive guest who gives him food and a handmade scarf, appreciates his paintings, and offers him an opportunity. Shi Zhou tries to help her connect with Bai Shen; the production team later places her among the guests interested in Shi Zhou 13 28 39 41 42.
• Lin Yuxi — A friend he helps overcome anxiety about dancing. She learns his food preferences and offers to cook for him; the production team considers, but does not confirm, whether she has romantic feelings for him 22 23 39.
• Zheng Yu — Initially jealous because the person he likes has feelings for Shi Zhou. That jealousy fades as he comes to admire Shi Zhou’s talent, particularly the decorated dessert platter 49.
• Parents and younger sister — His close family and principal motivation for earning money. His parents urge him to keep some earnings for himself after reopening their shop, but he insists on helping them 1 26.
• Director Zhang — Recognizes Shi Zhou’s unexpected chemistry with the guests, revises his contract, and moves him toward the center of the show’s romantic planning. He chooses not to explain the rivalry to Shi Zhou, preferring to let him act naturally 9 12 39.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Notable Quotes

“Don't worry, System. I'll definitely be a good plot device and do my best to get the novel's couples together.” 1

“There are so many outstanding people in the world. If I had to envy every single one, how could I possibly keep up?” 16

“Ah, sometimes people aren't afraid of knowing what they've done wrong. They're afraid of not knowing.” 36

“Just now, I was Mr. Shi. Now, I'm Little Shi Zhou. I don't have to be composed around people I'm close to.” 42