Zhou Zeyu

Biodata

Background / History

Zhou Zeyu comes from a wealthy family and was raised with good manners. Despite his comfortable circumstances, he wants to establish himself through music. He tells Yun Xiaoran that if he cannot make something of his music soon, he will have to return home to manage the family company—a claim Xiaoran initially dismisses as bragging 3 10.

He meets Xiaoran in a VA Site group where novice singers band together to avoid being taken advantage of. Their online conversations develop into a friendship, although they initially keep their addresses and private lives separate despite living in the same city 3.

Zeyu introduces Xiaoran to a woman willing to enter a sham marriage. Xiaoran instead mistakes Shen Jin for the intended match and registers a marriage with her. When the original woman complains to Zeyu, he asks Xiaoran what happened, then treats the mistaken match as unimportant so long as it relieves Xiaoran’s family pressure 1 3.

An enthusiastic admirer of Lone Cloud, Zeyu does not initially realize that the creator is Xiaoran. A screenshot of Xiaoran’s profile exposes the connection, leaving him stunned. His joking accusations of deception quickly turn into praise and persistent requests to meet for songwriting advice. They finally meet near a roadside café, where Xiaoran discovers that his online friend is a polished, wealthy young man 9 10.

Appearance

• Build: Tall and slim 10.
• Looks: Handsome, with a well-dressed appearance 9 10.
• Bearing: Confident and courteous in person, contrasting with his goofy manner in online conversations 10.

Personality

Zeyu is outgoing, talkative, and playful. His conversational energy complements Xiaoran’s reserved nature: during their first meal, he keeps their discussion going for another half hour after they finish eating. His humor includes extravagant club invitations and teasing Xiaoran about Zhou Yanqi’s attention, though he accepts Xiaoran’s refusal to participate 10 11 13.

His admiration for musical talent is mixed with practical ambition. After discovering Lone Cloud’s identity, he immediately recognizes the value of learning from an accomplished friend. He later requests lyrics, music, and promotional writing from Xiaoran because he wants his own video to attract attention 10 29.

He is also generous and responsive to Xiaoran’s boundaries. He apologizes for Yanqi’s behavior, helps Xiaoran buy better clothes, and makes his recording equipment freely available in exchange for continuing to make music together. By their later sessions, he stops routinely offering rides because Xiaoran usually refuses, while remaining willing to drive him if asked 13 38 46 47.

Abilities & Skills

Music Creation

• Publishes his own songs on VA Site and actively seeks songwriting advice 3 10.
• Suggests that Lone Cloud’s early song would sound better with piano accompaniment 3.
• Recognizes the quality of Xiaoran’s compositions, reacting especially strongly to “Preface to the Orchid Pavilion” 33 46.

Recording Support

• Provides a dedicated home recording room containing numerous instruments and recording devices 33 46.
• Assists Xiaoran through repeated takes of “Preface to the Orchid Pavilion” 46.
• Remains beside Xiaoran throughout a day-long recording session, monitoring the process 47.

Equipment / Items

• SU7 electric car — A new silver-gray sports car that reveals the extent of his wealth when he first meets Xiaoran 10.
• Home recording studio — A room filled with recording equipment and instruments, used for sessions involving Xiaoran and Zhou Yanqi 33 44 46.
• Handwritten love-poem card — Requests that Xiaoran copy the commissioned poems onto a physical card rather than simply send them electronically 32.

Relationships

• Yun Xiaoran / Lone Cloud — Online friend, songwriting adviser, and recording collaborator. Xiaoran trusts him to protect his creator identity and later writes “Gentleman” for him 3 12 29 30.
• Zhou Yanqi — Younger cousin. Zeyu recognizes her flirtatious tactics, dismisses her when she interrupts his music discussion, and later supplies her contact information so Xiaoran can recruit her to sing 11 13 29.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Seaview Restaurant Meeting

• Hosts Xiaoran at Seaview Western Restaurant, choosing it for its scenery, food, and relatively private seating 11.
• Introduces Zhou Yanqi, then sends her away to continue discussing songwriting. Her return while he is in the restroom leads Shen Jin to witness an apparently intimate exchange with Xiaoran 11 12.
• Keeps Xiaoran’s Lone Cloud identity from Yanqi and offers Xiaoran a ride after lunch 13 14.

“Gentleman” Collaboration

• Exchanges Yanqi’s contact information for a love poem and a sad song intended for his own video 29.
• Receives “Gentleman,” which Xiaoran selects because its style suits him, and enthusiastically offers payment upon seeing the finished lyrics and score 30 33.
• The video credits Yun Xiaoran, Zhou Yanqi, and Zhou Zeyu. Xiaoran allows his real name to appear but withholds the Lone Cloud name from the credits, instead using that account’s comments to draw traffic 36.
• The video goes viral; “Gentleman” remains on VA Site’s trending list for an entire day and reaches its weekly must-watch list 36 46.

“Preface to the Orchid Pavilion”

• Helps Xiaoran practice and record his entry for the Huaxia Rongchuang Gu Feng Song Contest, allowing unrestricted use of his studio’s instruments and equipment 44 46.
• Supports repeated recordings when Xiaoran finds the first take insufficiently expressive, then monitors a full day of further recording 46 47.

Notable Quotes

“I want to make something of my music soon, too. Otherwise, I'll have to go home and manage the company.” 3

“Sure, Xiaoran. As long as you let me make music with you, you can use any of the instruments or equipment here.” 46