Xie Zhaolong

Biodata

Background / History

Xie Zhaolong never attended middle school. He became one of Dongji County’s most feared local tyrants through connections on both sides of the law, with his cousin Xie Bingkun providing the backing on which his position depended. Xie Bingkun was publicly a Provincial People’s Congress Representative, prominent entrepreneur, and chairman of the Kunning Group, but privately a crime boss involved in prostitution, gambling, organized crime, and drugs 10 12 13 29.

Before his confrontation with Zhou Yi, Xie Zhaolong’s influence allowed him to assault officials without suffering ordinary consequences. When Forestry Bureau Director Deng Ke failed to offer him the first toast at a dinner, he hurled a wineglass at Deng’s head. Deng subsequently visited Xie’s home with gifts to apologize while still wearing bandages 12.

After discovering that his girlfriend had slept with Xie Bingkun, Xie Zhaolong raped his cousin’s wife, Li Ruoyun, out of lust and resentment. A continuing sexual relationship followed, and they had a son together. Zhou Yi’s knowledge of this secret gave him leverage over Xie, who feared his cousin’s retaliation 11 29.

Previous Timeline

In Zhou Yi’s previous life, Xie Zhaolong was crushed beneath a train in early 2007. Zhou Yi expects that death to recur only if events follow their original course; it is not an established death in the current timeline. He initially plans to exploit Xie’s influence before then, but later resolves to bring him down himself if Xie Bingkun does not 13 32.

Appearance

• Release-day clothing: An undershirt, baggy shorts, flip-flops, and oversized sunglasses 26.
• Habitual bearing: Lounges with crossed legs and an openly arrogant posture when receiving visitors in the Dragon suite 29.
• Visible fear: His lips tremble when Zhou Yi first exposes his secret; a later confrontation leaves his back soaked with sweat 11 29.

Personality

Xie Zhaolong is domineering, vindictive, and intensely concerned with public respect. He treats rejection as an insult, uses underlings to force compliance, and responds violently to perceived slights. His contempt extends to officials who lack sufficient power to restrain him 10 12.

His bravado disappears when his safety or patronage is threatened. He submits to Zhou Yi’s demands rather than risk exposure, while inventing explanations to preserve his reputation. He similarly accepts Xie Bingkun’s reprimands with complete deference, venting his anger only after the call ends 11 12 29.

Xie interprets political ambition through his own expectations of corruption. When Zhou Yi says he wants to rise to a top county leadership position, Xie assumes they can become partners in collusion between officials and gangsters. He imagines that investing in Zhou could eventually free him from dependence on his cousin, failing to recognize Zhou’s intention to eliminate him 29 32.

Abilities & Skills

Criminal Influence and Political Connections

• Commands underlings who intimidate, restrain, and assault people on his behalf 10.
• Can directly contact Executive Deputy Public Security Bureau Director Song Chengquan to seek intervention or issue threats 11 37.
• Retains privileges even in detention: staff provide good food and drink and bring in his girlfriend to keep him company 26.
• Limit: His standing ultimately depends on Xie Bingkun, whose discovery of the affair could destroy him 13 29 44.

Leverage and Proxy Operations

• Possesses compromising information on numerous people and can act through telephone calls and expendable intermediaries 29.
• Completes Zhou Yi’s assignment against Tao Guozheng while confined in the detention center, helping bring Tao down through a corruption report 28 29 32.
• Limit: Zhou Yi uses Xie’s own secret to compel this cooperation; Xie’s influence does not protect him from that leverage 11 29.

Deception and Reputation Management

• Conceals the real reason for his surrender by claiming Zhou Yi has “unfathomable” connections confirmed by Xie Bingkun 12.
• Invents a “Seed Plan” linking Zhou Yi to powerful Capital City families, Municipal Party Secretary Zhou, and deliberately arranged commendations 29.
• Limit: Sun Mei notices that his explanations change, and Fu Pingjiang rejects the Seed Plan story as fabrication. Xie nevertheless begins believing parts of his own invented account 29.

Relationships

• Xie Bingkun — Cousin and principal backer. Xie Zhaolong relies on his protection but resents his subordinate position; Bingkun threatens to break his leg over his harassment of Jian Shuyue and Tian Tian 12 13 29.
• Li Ruoyun — Xie Bingkun’s wife. Xie Zhaolong initially rapes her, later continues a sexual relationship with her, and fathers their secret son 11 29.
• Zhou Yi — Adversary and coercive controller. Zhou forces him to accept detention and perform an assignment, while Xie mistakenly hopes their arrangement can become a lasting alliance 11 26 29 32.
• Sun Mei — Golden Years Entertainment City owner and associate. She visits him in detention, questions his submission to Zhou Yi, and initially accepts his explanation of Zhou’s powerful backing 12 29.
• Xie Yongming — Distant relative whose Cultural Bureau Enforcement Brigade captaincy and social influence are tied to Brother Long. Xie slaps him after blaming his elaborate release celebration for another week of detention 25 26.
• Song Chengquan — Senior police contact. Xie first seeks his help against Zhou Yi, then later threatens him against releasing Zeng Yuqiang 11 37.
• Fu Yu — Fellow influential underworld figure and County Party Secretary Fu Pingjiang’s son. Xie warns him not to underestimate Zhou Yi but is reluctant to become involved in his conflict with the police 29 47.
• Zeng Xuehua — Another figure Xie considers his equal in Dongji County; receives Xie’s fabricated account of Zhou Yi’s background alongside Fu Yu 29.
• Zeng Yuqiang — Rival whose arrest delights Xie because it shares out the humiliation he previously suffered. Xie insists that Zeng should remain detained longer than he was 35 37 40.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Notable Quotes

“Nothing. I'm just doing Zhou Yi a favor!”
— His explanation to Sun Mei for accepting detention 12.

“I'm warning you, Song. If you dare let Third Zeng out, don't blame me for what happens!”
— Threatening Song Chengquan over Zeng Yuqiang’s detention 37.

“I'd advise you not to let your guard down. Zhou Yi has powerful connections...”
— Warning Fu Yu shortly before police enter his birthday party 47.