Jiang Zixing

Biodata

Background / History

Jiang Zixing and Jiang Xun were born on the same day, month, and year. Zixing's biological mother, Zhou Xiulan, secretly switched the babies so that her son would grow up in the wealthy Jiang household. Zixing received the family's affection and extensive artistic education, while Jiang Xun grew up with Zixing's biological parents and suffered abuse 3 4 55.

Three years before his secret was exposed, Zhou Xiulan privately visited Zixing and told him his true parentage. He refused to acknowledge his birth parents, forbade her from visiting again, and concealed the truth from the Jiang family. The switch came to light only when Jiang Shiyuan caught another meeting between them after Zhou Xiulan developed terminal cancer 79 110.

The Jiang family brought their biological son home but continued treating Zixing as their own child. The original Jiang Xun resented him and damaged his belongings, including instruments and plush toys. Zixing was also widely believed to have been pushed down the stairs by Jiang Xun, breaking his leg and missing a dance competition; that accusation was later disproved 3 21.

Appearance

• Build: Slender and graceful from regular dance training 4.
• Complexion and features: Fair, smooth skin and delicate facial features 4.
• Relative height: Two or three centimeters taller than Jiang Xun 51.
• Later condition: Becomes noticeably thinner and more haggard while worrying about his concealed dealings with Jiang Yongqiang 97.

Personality

Zixing initially appears cheerful, confident, academically successful, and attentive to his family. He greets his brothers warmly, tries to soothe Jiang Shiyuan's anger, and brings Jiang Huaijin late-night food. He regards Deng Shu as his only mother and rejects any emotional bond with his biological parents 3 4 43 58.

His attachment to the Jiang family is accompanied by a strong fear of losing his place. As their concern shifts toward Jiang Xun, he becomes jealous and repeatedly seeks reassurance. He even conceals that his sprained ankle has nearly healed because he wants his parents and brother to continue caring for him 39 59 68.

Zixing frequently considers himself another victim of the baby swap, but conceals his own knowledge of it and resists accountability when exposed. His outward modesty also contrasts with his private competitiveness: after performing well at a piano competition, he reassures himself that he is far better than Jiang Xun and hopes his excellence will attract Fu Yanli 20 105 106 110.

Abilities & Skills

Piano and Music

Zixing began learning piano in kindergarten and received instruction from a renowned domestic teacher 105.

• Worked as a part-time piano teacher during a summer break 24.
• Plays multiple musical instruments 3.
• Wins first place in a piano competition after performing better than usual 106 110.

Dance

Zixing trains regularly in dance and had been scheduled to enter a competition before his broken leg prevented him from participating 3 4.

• Continues practicing dance alongside piano and academic study later in the story 105.

Academics

• Places third in his class in the examinations following his first college semester 75 105.

Equipment / Items

• Private practice room: A lavish birthday gift from Jiang Huaijin, furnished with Chinese and Western instruments, including a guzheng, pipa, violin, cello, and three pianos 105.
• Anime figurines: Receives a set from Jiang Xun and says he will display them prominently in his bedroom 12.
• Mobility aids: Uses crutches and an electric wheelchair while recovering from a sprained ankle 51 52 53.

Relationships

• Jiang Xun — The Jiang family's biological son, whose identity Zixing received through the baby swap. Zixing calls him “second brother” despite their identical birth date. Their rivalry centers on family affection, Zixing's concealed knowledge, and Fu Yanli 4 110 120.
• Jiang Huaijin — His older brother in the household that raised him. Huaijin initially favors and protects him, but loses trust after discovering his financial transfers and deception about his parentage 4 76 110.
• Jiang Shiyuan — The father who raised and pampered him. Shiyuan initially defends Zixing even after the staircase accusation is disproved, but ultimately orders him to leave the family home 21 115.
• Deng Shu — The mother Zixing recognizes as his own. She repeatedly reassures him that he belongs to the family, but is deeply disappointed when his longstanding concealment is revealed 43 59 110.
• Jiang Yongqiang — His biological father and Jiang Xun's abusive adoptive father. Yongqiang blackmails Zixing over his prior knowledge of the swap, treating him as a source of money rather than a son 52 75 79.
• Zhou Xiulan — His biological mother and the person responsible for switching the babies. Zixing rejects her after learning the truth and tells her not to visit him again 79.
• Fu Yanli — His unrequited love interest. Zixing addresses him as “Maternal Uncle Fu,” although Fu is Chu Xingye's uncle, not his own. Fu rejects his advances and helps expose his concealed knowledge 4 70 79 119.
• Chu Xingye — His originally intended fiancé under the Jiang and Chu families' marriage arrangement. Zixing agrees to let Jiang Xun take his place in the engagement 4.
• Li Wenhao — A close friend who confronts Jiang Xun on Zixing's behalf. Zixing later calls him to request an unspecified favor 88.

Story Role / Major Arcs

The Staircase Accusation

Jiang Xun confronts Zixing about having fallen down the stairs himself. Zixing maintains that he explained this at the time but that their parents did not believe him. The family driver, Uncle Wang, subsequently confirms Jiang Xun's innocence. The family accepts that it wrongly accused Jiang Xun without assigning blame to Zixing 20 21.

The Puppy Incident

Zixing's allergy to dog fur becomes a reason the family will not allow Jiang Xun to keep a puppy at home. After the puppy dies, the household employee Liu Ma confesses that she deliberately released it and kicked it to death 29 37 38.

Under Fu Yanli's questioning, Liu Ma also admits that she told Zixing about her plan and instructed him to pass the puppy in the hallway. Zixing denies cooperating and says he refused her proposal. The family comforts him, while he later resents their growing concern for Jiang Xun 38 39.

Blackmail and Financial Transfers

While playing hide-and-seek, Jiang Xun overhears Zixing arguing with Jiang Yongqiang. Zixing says he has recently transferred fifty thousand and threatens to stop paying if Yongqiang tells the Jiang parents their secret 52 53.

Yongqiang's demands escalate to three million to cover gambling debts. Zixing says he has exhausted his savings and cannot meet the demand. Jiang Huaijin eventually obtains records of the repeated transfers and confronts him with the family 75 76.

Zixing admits sending money but attributes it to pressure, threats of a public disturbance, and pity. Huaijin tells him that supporting Jiang Xun's abuser is not kindness and that Jiang Xun is the person he owes an apology. After Zixing later faints from low blood sugar and apologizes again, Jiang Shiyuan agrees to let the matter rest, warning him against further concealment 76 80.

Exposure and Expulsion

Fu Yanli obtains a recorded confession from Jiang Yongqiang revealing that Zixing knew his parentage three years earlier. Jiang Xun receives the recording and later passes it to Jiang Huaijin 79 81 106.

After Zixing's piano competition victory, Huaijin questions him about Zhou Xiulan's earlier visits and plays the recording for their parents. Zixing calls it fabricated and accuses Jiang Xun of framing him. Jiang Shiyuan condemns his decision to remain silent, which left Jiang Xun suffering for two additional years 110 111.

Shiyuan orders Zixing to move into a family-owned apartment near his school and transfer his household registration out of the Jiang family. His belongings are removed that afternoon, and the family later assures Jiang Xun that Zixing will not return to the home 115 116.

Pursuit of Fu Yanli

Zixing's crush on Fu Yanli begins before Fu's marriage to Ye Jing and continues for three years afterward. He repeatedly uses opportunities involving Jiang Xun to approach Fu, including visits to Fu's apartment and a coffee delivery to Zhongyu Group 13 19 27 70.

Fu refuses to add him on WeChat and later rejects his homemade cookies, telling him not to seek him out again. After leaving the Jiang household, Zixing nevertheless visits Fu's office, confesses his love, and offers to become his lover despite believing him married. Fu rejects him again; Jiang Xun, who has been hiding behind Fu's chair, reveals himself when Zixing begins undressing 19 70 119.

Humiliated by Jiang Xun's apparent intimacy with Fu, Zixing decides to obtain photographic evidence to discredit him before the Jiang family. He later presents photographs to Huaijin, who responds by questioning what Zixing hopes to achieve 120 147.

Encounter After Jiang Xun's Graduation

Zixing unexpectedly encounters the Jiang and Fu families at a hotel during Jiang Xun's graduation celebration. Apparently having been drinking, he tearfully asks whether his estranged family wants to know how he has been doing 158.