Zhao Qiushui

Biodata

Background / History

Rise within Zhao Group

After graduating from university, Zhao Qiushui entered her family’s company as an intern and gradually took over its operations. When her father, chairman Zhao Yongbin, withdrew behind the scenes, she became Zhao Group’s nominal head as executive director and president 193 521.

She managed the legitimate side of the business, while her brother Zhao Xuanwen handled its criminal activities. Zhao Yongbin chose her as his successor because he considered her more capable, farsighted, resourceful, and restrained than either of his sons 200 201.

Attempts to Win Over Zhou Yi

Qiushui’s interest in Zhou Yi began after she read a novel written by her younger cousin, Xia Mingyue. She persistently sought a meeting with him and arranged Sun Xiang’s apology to his relatives to improve his opinion of her. Zhou refused to meet until he had solved the arson case 193.

She nevertheless approached him during a hot-spring visit. Their encounter included close-quarters sparring, in which Zhou subdued her. He deliberately used the resulting commotion to make Zhao Xuanwen suspect that his sister was secretly cooperating with him 196 197.

Qiushui asked whether Zhao Group could still become legitimate, citing its taxes, charity work, employment of more than a thousand people, and unrealized plans to go public. Zhou refused to help. She later admitted to her family that winning him over—and corrupting him—had indeed been her intention 198 201.

Break with the Zhao Family

Zhao Xuanwen accused Qiushui of involvement with the informant “Some Jiang.” She denied the accusation but acknowledged bribing Wang Jiang, describing it as retaliation for Xuanwen planting people among her own staff. She then redirected his suspicions toward their elder brother, Zhao Xuanwu 200.

As the investigation intensified, Zhao Yongbin also began doubting her loyalty and placed her under surveillance. Qiushui recognized his suspicions and criticized his inability to abandon the family’s criminal dealings decisively 204 208.

She began supplying Zhou Yi with information against her family. A note passed beneath a dinner table identified the locations and managers of Zhao Xuanwen’s three casinos; she subsequently provided Kim Nam-joo’s whereabouts. She openly characterized her cooperation as “borrowing” Zhou’s knife to eliminate an opponent 206 209 210.

Qiushui also approached her secretary, Qiu Guoguo, after revealing that she knew Guoguo’s identity was false. Rather than expose her, she sought cooperation. When Xie Chenglin offered protection from the Zhao family’s impending collapse in exchange for submitting to him, Qiushui rejected him outright 208 219.

Escape from Prosecution and Business Reconstruction

As police moved against Zhao Group, Qiushui prepared to leave her former position behind. She secured an opportunity to protect herself by contacting authorities two levels above the local administration, though she initially remained out on bail pending trial 220 241 242.

Her eventual exemption was not a finding that she had committed no offense. Zhou Yi later explained that she had been an accomplice, but her offenses were minor and she rendered major meritorious service after surrendering. The Changtian City People’s Procuratorate therefore decided not to prosecute 532.

Following Zhao Group’s collapse, Qiushui and Li Ruoyun established Yunshui Group together. Their company grew into a recognized property-development brand in Jiangnan Province 521.

Cooperation with Zhou Yi

Qiushui sought partners for Longwan District’s Old Housing District Phase Two Demolition Project, considering Xinhai Real Estate and Li Ruoyun’s Cloudrise Group. Zhou declined to advise her on the commercial arrangement and warned her to stop making suggestive jokes if she wanted to remain his friend 242.

She and Li Ruoyun later used a demolition crisis to pressure Qingfa Real Estate and Xie Chenglin. Zhou credited their initiative with supplying the means to win that confrontation; Xie was subsequently transferred to Danqing City 279 283.

Her assistance extended beyond property disputes. Using the Zhao family’s old connections and pharmaceutical business contacts, she located Shi Xinya in less than half a month and secured evidence before investigators sent by Chen Qingyan and Xu Qinglan could obtain it 330 340.

Qiushui and Li Ruoyun each offered five hundred million yuan in investment for Shaohua City. Their combined one-billion-yuan investment later earned substantial, dependable returns in the automobile-engine industry, while Zhou continued to regard their support as a personal debt of gratitude 460 471.

Exposure of Zhou Shiyuan

When Zhou Yi investigated Deshun Real Estate, Qiushui offered to help. Deshun was competing with Yunshui Group for land in Listening Waves Ancient Town, and Ganquan’s executive vice mayor, Zhou Shiyuan, had used his authority to obstruct Yunshui after she rebuffed him 515 516 517.

At a dinner arranged through Deshun’s owner, Zhu Li, Qiushui pretended to seek reconciliation. Zhou Shiyuan demanded an “equivalent” price for the land and invited her to his room. She recorded the conversation through a pinhole camera concealed in a rose brooch, left without meeting him privately, and instructed Qiu Guoguo to deliver the footage to Zhou Yi 520 521.

The recording was subsequently used to question Zhou Shiyuan under Shuanggui. Zhou Yi thanked Qiushui but reprimanded her for putting herself through the encounter when he could have investigated the official by other means 522 524.

Investigation into Alleged Improper Ties

An accusation later alleged sexual relationships and bribery involving Zhou Yi, Qiushui, and Wen Wan. Zhou denied the allegations and openly acknowledged Qiushui as a good friend whose criminal case had already been resolved 532.

Investigators questioned Qiushui about romantic feelings and favors in government projects. She praised Zhou but denied being romantically involved with him, maintaining that she had obtained the Longwan and Shaohua projects through standard competitive bidding. After two telephone calls, the interviewer abandoned her confrontational approach and invited Qiushui to lunch 534.

Appearance

• Build and complexion: Tall, long-legged, and fair-skinned, with a prominently described curvaceous figure 192 197 242.
• Hair: Initially described as chestnut; later shown as naturally curly burgundy hair, worn loose or in a high updo 192 206 219.
• Eyes and features: Brown eyes, a straight nose, finely sculpted features, and full, slightly upturned lips 196 206.
• Styling: Frequently wears carefully chosen clothing and accessories; her purple gown and rose brooch feature prominently at the dinner with Zhou Shiyuan 520.

Personality

Qiushui is calculating, ambitious, and quick to recognize a changing balance of power. She is willing to turn against her own family when its conduct threatens her future, but her decisiveness is accompanied by restraint: both her father and Zhou Yi distinguish her judgment from her brothers’ recklessness 197 201 208.

Her provocative humor and persistent advances toward Zhou earn her the nickname “Female Hooligan.” She treats beauty as a weapon, yet strongly rejects officials who try to coerce her through their positions. Her refusal of Xie Chenglin’s protection and her recording of Zhou Shiyuan demonstrate that flirtation does not mean submission 201 219 521.

Over time, she becomes more considerate of others’ circumstances. After Zhou marries Jian Shuyue, she behaves more formally and avoids overly frequent meetings. Qiu Guoguo explicitly observes that she now thinks more about other people; Qiushui later skips a visit because she fears she would not restrain her attraction to Zhou 471 522 590.

Abilities & Skills

Business Management

• Progressed from intern to head of her family’s business 193 521.
• Co-founded Yunshui Group and helped develop it into a recognized provincial property brand 521.
• Has more than a decade of experience dealing with officials and navigating government-business relations 521.

Intelligence Gathering and Networking

• Uses inherited business connections to locate people and evidence, notably Shi Xinya 340.
• Identifies concealed loyalties: she knew Qiu Guoguo’s identity was false and withheld that knowledge during family investigations 208.
• Supplies actionable information, including casino locations, Kim Nam-joo’s whereabouts, and covertly recorded official misconduct 209 210 521.

Manipulation and Negotiation

• Uses flattery, apparent vulnerability, and flirtation to influence conversations 242 517 520.
• Redirects suspicion within her family and coordinates pressure against commercial and political opponents 200 279 283.
• Her methods fail to corrupt Zhou Yi, whose self-control she comes to admire 242 521.

Physical Activity

• Is an accomplished swimmer, repeatedly depicted moving easily through her pool 192 272.
• Attempts close-quarters sparring against Zhou Yi, but he catches her kick and subdues her 197.

Equipment / Properties

• Rose brooch camera — Conceals a pinhole camera used to record Zhou Shiyuan’s coercive remarks 520 521.
• Qiushui Garden — Her retreat on Changtian’s outskirts, featuring an indoor swimming pool, hot springs, and a private villa. It is valued at more than one hundred million yuan even after most Zhao family assets are frozen 192 241 242.

Relationships

• Zhou Yi — Initially an investigator targeting her family, later a trusted friend and frequent recipient of her assistance. Her attraction remains unfulfilled despite persistent advances, including a forceful kiss; no sexual relationship is established 243 521 532.
• Li Ruoyun — Like-minded close friend and Yunshui Group co-founder; they cooperate in business, investments, and action against Xie Chenglin 283 460 521.
• Zhao Yongbin — Father and former chairman. He selected her as his successor but later suspected disloyalty and monitored her 201 204 208.
• Zhao Xuanwen — Brother and manager of the family’s criminal operations. Their rivalry includes mutual infiltration, accusations, and her disclosure of his casinos 200 209.
• Zhao Xuanwu — Elder brother. Qiushui redirects Xuanwen’s suspicions toward him during the family dispute 200 219.
• Qiu Guoguo / Xiao Mei — Secretary whom Qiushui treats as a younger sister. Guoguo saved her life; Qiushui protected Guoguo’s concealed identity, and Guoguo later returned to work for her after resigning from her former role 208 521 522.
• Xia Mingyue — Younger cousin whose novel first sparked Qiushui’s interest in Zhou Yi 193.
• Wen Wan — Close social companion who introduces potential business partners and regularly joins meals and hot-spring visits with Qiushui and Zhou 242 243 273.
• Xie Chenglin — Unwanted suitor who attempts to exchange protection and projects for sexual access. Qiushui rejects him and helps undermine his position 219 273 283.
• Zhu Li and Zhou Shiyuan — Business rival and obstructive official respectively; their attempt to pressure Qiushui becomes the subject of her covert recording 517 520 521.

Notable Quotes

“You could also think of it this way, Director Zhou: I'm borrowing your knife to do the killing.” 209

“I don't need anyone to protect me!” 219

“I'm a woman you will never have as long as you live!” 219

Trivia

• Her name is repeatedly linked to the phrase about “autumn waters” merging with Changtian’s “boundless sky,” emphasizing her former dominance in the city 192 196 220.
• She plays Go with Li Ruoyun at Qiushui Garden 330.
• She stopped drinking alcohol after a drunken farewell encounter in which she took Zhou Yi’s hand and sang, “My love for you is as deep as the sea” 473.