You Gui

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	You Gui (尤瑰)
Alias(es)	Little You; Gui; “Rose,” used by Shen Duo 11 12 16
Gender	Female 6 14
Affiliation	Wei Corporation, formerly; Magic Cube Technology 11 16
Occupation/Role	Former Publicity Department employee; Human Resources employee at Magic Cube Technology; romantic lead of the in-universe novel Thorn 6 11 57
Residence	S City; Bixin Garden, Building 6, Entrance 1, Apartment 802 66 67
Status	Alive; has left the Wei Corporation and declined reconciliation with Shen Duo 14 16 67
First Appearance	Mentioned in Shi Yuan’s recollection of Thorn; first appears in person when leaving work with Wei Zelin 1 6

Background / History

Childhood and relationship with Shen Duo

You Gui grew up in an ordinary family with two salaried parents. Her androgynous appearance made her a target of ostracism in elementary school, although some girls remained willing to play with her. In high school, the bullying escalated into harassment and an attempt to strip her in a bathroom to determine whether she was a boy or a girl 6.

Her family also failed to protect her. After her aunt’s husband molested her, she told her parents, only for relatives to condemn her for supposedly ruining her aunt’s marriage. The experience taught her to endure mistreatment rather than expect support 12.

Shen Duo transferred to her school and rescued her from the bathroom attack. She fell in love with him and came to regard him as her salvation. They later dated, but separated after a painful relationship; by their reunion through a Wei Corporation–Rose collaboration, they had been apart for three years 3 6 7 14.

Shen Duo later recognized that he had treated her as a possession during his youth. You Gui’s insecurity also kept her anxious about abandonment and ready to withdraw rather than trust their relationship 7 14.

Original role in *Thorn*

In the original novel, Wei Zexuan pursued Shen Duo and targeted You Gui after discovering Shen Duo’s feelings for her. His schemes included having the original Shi Yuan frame her and eventually arranging her kidnapping. Wei Zelin helped her on several occasions, but also deliberately allowed and encouraged Wei Zexuan’s hostility to push Shen Duo into opposing the Wei Family 1 3 30.

Shen Duo and Wei Zelin ultimately joined forces to bring down the Wei Family. Although Thorn had a happy ending, Shi Yuan remembered You Gui’s journey as exceptionally painful. Her decision to leave Shen Duo and Capital City after his transmigration departs from that original storyline 1 6 14 15.

Appearance

You Gui has cool, finely shaped, androgynous features and a striking beauty that draws attention even in a crowd 6 35.

• Height: 180 cm; Shi Yuan initially estimates her at approximately five feet eleven 6 64.
• Build: Tall and slender, with fair skin 6.
• Hair: Medium-length and light-colored at her first in-person appearance 6.
• Distinguishing feature: A beauty mark at the corner of her eye 6.

Personality

You Gui initially appears cold and difficult to approach, but has a warm heart and wants friends. Repeated bullying and betrayal make her wary of kindness, particularly from people attracted to her appearance. She is sensitive to public scrutiny and fears discovering that someone’s words do not match their intentions 7 9 11.

She values recognition of her work more than attention to her beauty. Learning that Shen Duo had defended her proposal moves her, but she refuses to accept a position at Rose or resume their relationship merely because he offers help. She wants a quiet life rather than another painful romantic entanglement 8 14.

Her friendship with Shi Yuan and new workplace gradually bring out a livelier side. She jokes more freely, develops friendships with coworkers, and learns to care for others as he does. She remains reserved with strangers and avoids prying into matters that do not concern her 16 45 64 66.

Abilities & Skills

Publicity writing

• Wrote a proposal for the Wei Corporation’s collaboration with Rose that Lu Ying plagiarized. Shen Duo exposed the plagiarism and pressured the Wei Corporation to dismiss Lu Ying 7 8.
• Shi Yuan’s claim that Shen Duo wanted to recruit her purely for her abilities was matchmaking deception, which You Gui later recognized 8 14.

Human Resources work

• Secures employment at Magic Cube Technology despite its strict hiring standards and her limited experience 16.
• Works in Human Resources under Yang Mingcheng, who praises her work after Wei Zelin reprimands him 57.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Friendship with Shi Yuan and the birthday banquet

• Shi Yuan approaches her after witnessing Wei Zexuan threaten her over a proposed meeting with Shen Duo. Their WeChat exchanges gradually develop into friendship 7 9.
• Before Wei Zexuan’s birthday banquet, Shi Yuan repeatedly warns her to be careful and asks Wei Zelin to watch over her 9.
• Shen Duo intervenes when a Donggang tycoon and Wei Zexuan’s associates corner her. Remembering Shi Yuan’s warning, she leaves a glass of juice untouched, but is nevertheless drugged later 9 10.
• Shen Duo rescues her from a wealthy businessman’s attempted sexual assault. She is hospitalized, undergoes stomach pumping, and remains physically weak two days afterward 10.

Protecting Shi Yuan and choosing independence

• During Shi Yuan’s hospital visit, he explains that Wei Zexuan is pursuing Shen Duo and urges her to leave the Wei Corporation 12.
• Wei Zexuan slaps her and abducts Shi Yuan. She tries to intervene, but his bodyguards restrain her 12.
• Despite the Wei Family’s influence, she reports the abduction to the police. When they refuse to act, she immediately calls Shen Duo, who subsequently rescues Shi Yuan 13 14.
• At her apartment, she acknowledges Shi Yuan’s good intentions but asks him to stop matchmaking. She rejects Shen Duo’s offer of employment and reconciliation; he agrees to help process her resignation and stop intruding on her life 14.

New life in S City

• Considers applying for work in S City, then joins Magic Cube Technology. Friendly coworkers and a healthier workplace visibly improve her mood 15 16.
• Invites Shi Yuan to the company’s tenth-anniversary celebration. During his visit, she warns him about the risks of trusting Wei Zelin as his power grows 28 35.
• Spends the celebration with Shi Yuan, Xiao Ying, and Xiao Wen, attending the concert and joining their craft outing 37 39 41.
• Says she probably will not return to Capital City because of its painful associations 45.
• Rejects Yang Mingcheng’s romantic interest and declines Shi Yuan’s offer to arrange a transfer, deciding to avoid the manager instead 57.

Birthday and new home

• Attends Shi Yuan and Wei Zelin’s housewarming at Cloud Peak, where Shi Yuan quietly celebrates her birthday with longevity noodles, cake, and friends 64 66.
• Discovers that Shi Yuan has given her an apartment in Bixin Garden. His birthday card and wishes for her future move her to tears 66.
• Visits the apartment with Shi Yuan, who hands over the deed and spare keys. He leaves her alone to take in her new home, recognizing that she has escaped the tragic life prescribed for her in Thorn 67.

Equipment / Items

• Mini car — A coworker’s former car, acquired to practice driving after she obtains her license 64.
• Bixin Garden apartment — A birthday gift from Shi Yuan, close to Magic Cube Technology Park. The eighth-floor apartment has unobstructed sunlight and floor-to-ceiling windows; its finishing is complete, but furniture has not yet arrived when she first visits 66 67.
• Birthday card from Shi Yuan — Addresses her as his best friend and wishes her a smooth future surrounded by warm people 66.

Relationships

• Shi Yuan — Best friend and closest confidant. His encouragement helps her reconsider her self-blame and choose a life outside her relationship with Shen Duo. She reciprocates his care by seeking help after his kidnapping and worrying about his romantic future 13 14 35 66.
• Shen Duo — Former boyfriend and the person she once considered her salvation. He rescues her, defends her work, and remains attached to her, but she explicitly refuses to reunite with him 6 8 10 14.
• Wei Zelin — Former coworker who showed her kindness; later her highest-ranking boss at Magic Cube Technology. He intervenes when Yang Mingcheng berates her, though his earlier manipulation of Wei Zexuan’s hostility also exploited her suffering 12 30 57 64.
• Wei Zexuan — Former direct supervisor and persecutor. His pursuit of Shen Duo motivates threats and schemes against her; she escapes his immediate reach by leaving the Wei Corporation 9 12 24.
• Yang Mingcheng — Manager at Magic Cube Technology. His stern treatment and jealousy initially seem like dislike, but he admits romantic interest. She does not reciprocate 45 57.
• Lu Ying — Former coworker who plagiarized her proposal out of jealousy and was fired following Shen Duo’s intervention 7 8.
• Fangfang — Friendly Magic Cube Technology coworker who shares fruit and snacks with her 16.

Notable Quotes

“I can tell right from wrong. I also know you were genuinely trying to help me.” 14

“I'm just an ordinary person. All I want is a quiet life. I don't want to go through all those hardships again.” 14

“I really don't want to be with you again.” 14