Chu Xingye

Biodata

Background / History

Original-novel role

In the original novel known to Jiang Xun, Chu Xingye is the first male lead in the romantic entanglement surrounding Lin Jian. He is a wealthy, domineering young master whose deceased first love remains deeply important to him; he once spends an entire night standing in the rain outside that person’s grave. His initial interest in Lin Jian comes from Lin Jian’s resemblance to this lost love 3.

The Jiang and Chu families are longtime friends who arranged a marriage between their children. Jiang Zixing was originally intended to become Chu Xingye’s fiancé. After the original Jiang Xun returned to his birth family and demanded the match, both families agreed to transfer the arrangement to him, with Jiang Zixing’s consent 4.

Hostility toward Jiang Xun

Chu Xingye first appears searching an old university teaching building because he is worried about Lin Jian. Frightened by the building’s atmosphere, he mistakes the mop-wielding Jiang Xun for something terrifying before recognizing him. He immediately insults Jiang Xun and declares that he will never agree to their engagement 2.

Jiang Xun subsequently pursues him to satisfy a system side mission requiring Chu Xingye’s love and an engagement before university graduation. Unaware of that motive, Chu Xingye treats Jiang Xun’s attention as an unwanted nuisance. At the Ji Group charity gala, Fu Sang reprimands him for openly insulting Jiang Xun 4.

His pursuit of Lin Jian also suffers because Jiang Xun spreads embarrassing falsehoods about his hygiene and behavior. Chu Xingye suspects Jiang Xun’s involvement but cannot understand why Lin Jian keeps avoiding him 18.

Living at Fu Yanli’s apartment

The families arrange for both young men to stay at Fu Yanli’s apartment near their university, hoping they will become closer and learn from him. Chu Xingye protests, having expected to live there alone, but neither his mother nor his uncle supports his objection 13.

Their shared household exposes his growing insecurity over Jiang Xun’s place in his uncle’s life. He resents Fu Yanli making breakfast for Jiang Xun and giving him an expensive watch, and attempts to warn his uncle against being deceived by him 16 17 18.

Despite his continued complaints, his behavior becomes more protective. After believing Jiang Xun’s account that Ji Yuntian imprisoned him with snakes, he becomes angry on Jiang Xun’s behalf. Later, he criticizes Jiang Shiyuan’s favoritism following the death of Jiang Xun’s puppy and awkwardly offers Jiang Xun someone to confide in 26 37 40.

Jealousy and changing feelings

Chu Xingye begins reacting possessively when Jiang Xun spends time with other men. After seeing a photograph of Jiang Xun with Bai Lian, he initially pretends indifference, then turns back to find them. At a later restaurant encounter, he orders both Bai Lian and Ji Yuntian to stay away from his fiancé, defending his jealousy as a matter of dignity 44 62.

Learning about Jiang Xun’s childhood abuse and hearing loss forces him to reconsider his earlier contempt. He regrets looking down on Jiang Xun, seeks Fu Yanli’s advice, and waits outside Jiang Xun’s classroom to offer reassurance. He subsequently begins seeking him out and bringing him food 65 69.

Although increasingly convinced that Jiang Xun likes him best, Chu Xingye remains embarrassed by direct romantic advances. He refuses an immediate engagement and flees when Jiang Xun proposes dating and holding hands. Fu Yanli then encourages him to postpone engagement for another three to five years—advice Chu Xingye accepts without realizing that his uncle and Jiang Xun are already involved 95 96.

Breakup and failed confession

After Jiang Xun moves out, Chu Xingye grows distressed when the daily messages stop. He initially interprets the silence as a new tactic to attract his attention. When Jiang Xun explicitly asks to end their engagement arrangement, Chu Xingye turns to his father, who advises him to pursue Jiang Xun rather than merely talk tough 117 118.

Jiang Xun later insists that he has fallen for someone else. Chu Xingye hires followers to investigate, but their surveillance uncovers no lover. Taking that absence as proof that Jiang Xun still likes him, he plans a surprise confession and researches first-kiss advice online 126 129.

He hires professionals to prepare a seaside confession with roses, balloons, and fireworks at sunset. Before he can bring Jiang Xun to the venue, however, he finds a shirtless Fu Yanli in Jiang Xun’s hotel room. Fu Yanli confirms that their relationship began before New Year. Feeling betrayed by both his intended partner and his most trusted uncle, Chu Xingye abandons the confession and flies home that night in tears 133 134.

Accepting the relationship

When the family confronts Fu Yanli, Chu Xingye acknowledges that he failed to appreciate Jiang Xun and asks his relatives to stop scolding his uncle. He accepts the loss, though his heartbreak does not immediately disappear 135.

He later drinks heavily at a club and cries in front of Bai Lian, then wakes mortified by his behavior. An attempted confrontation with Fu Yanli ends when he walks in on the couple kissing. Instead of fighting, he flees with Sangbiao and refuses to return the dog unless Jiang Xun comes to ransom him 139 140.

By Jiang Xun’s graduation, Chu Xingye reluctantly takes photographs of the couple. After his own graduation, he joins the family company. Seeing Fu Yanli’s devoted care during Jiang Xun’s illness finally persuades him to abandon any attempt to win Jiang Xun back; he grudgingly addresses Jiang Xun as “Auntie” 158 169.

Appearance

• Build: Tall and lean, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long limbs, and defined six-pack abdominal muscles 2 14 15.
• Face: Handsome, striking features that retain a youthful quality; Jiang Xun notices a resemblance to Fu Yanli 2 6.
• Complexion and hair: Fair skin and short hair, sometimes tousled or disheveled 15 69.
• Clothing: Often wears casual shirts, jeans, and jackets during university; later appears in a bespoke suit and tie at his family’s company 2 69 169.
• Visible reactions: His ears redden when flustered, and his eyes readily become red or tearful when he feels hurt 45 95 118.

Personality

Chu Xingye is arrogant, foul-mouthed, and quick to take offense. Early in the story, he repeatedly belittles Jiang Xun’s rural background and appearance. His vanity also makes him easy to provoke: after being called a “scrawny mutt,” he tries to display his abdominal muscles at dinner, then later wakes Jiang Xun to prove that he has a six-pack 2 4 14 15.

His romantic inexperience contrasts with his domineering manner. At eighteen, he has never dated, and even a suggestion of holding hands leaves him flustered. He repeatedly assumes Jiang Xun’s behavior must revolve around attracting him, overlooking evidence that Jiang Xun’s affections lie elsewhere 56 95 117 129.

Beneath his bluster, he is emotionally sensitive and capable of remorse. Learning about Jiang Xun’s abuse genuinely upsets him and changes how he treats him. Although losing Jiang Xun leads to tears, jealousy, and drunken embarrassment, he eventually admits his own mistakes and recognizes the sincerity of Jiang Xun and Fu Yanli’s relationship 65 135 139 169.

He greatly admires—and is intimidated by—Fu Yanli. Unlike his usual unrestrained behavior, he knocks properly before entering his uncle’s study and readily accepts his advice. Ghosts are his other pronounced fear, enough to make him scream in the university’s dim teaching building 2 5 16 96.

Abilities & Skills

Driving

• Regularly drives a flashy sports car and later gives Jiang Xun rides 18 71.
• Enjoys showing off behind the wheel and becomes irritated when Jiang Xun pays more attention to a stress toy than to his driving 71.
• His driving is not consistently smooth; Fu Yanli reprimands him after sharp braking wakes Jiang Xun 40.

Photography

• Takes photographs of Jiang Xun and Fu Yanli at graduation, despite resenting the assignment 158.
• The results turn out well enough for Jiang Xun to praise him; even some blurred shots have an atmospheric quality 158.

Combat Limitations

• Willing to throw punches when jealous, but his aggression exceeds his demonstrated fighting ability 91 128.
• Bai Lian catches his punch and restrains him within seconds during one confrontation, and pins him to a table in another 91 129.

Relationships

• Jiang Xun — Former arranged fiancé and later unrequited love. Chu Xingye shifts from contempt to protectiveness and jealousy, recognizes his feelings too late, and eventually accepts Jiang Xun as his uncle’s partner 4 65 118 135 169.
• Fu Yanli — Maternal uncle, idol, and eventual romantic rival. Discovering his relationship with Jiang Xun deeply wounds Chu Xingye, but he later acknowledges his uncle’s devotion 5 134 169.
• Fu Sang — Mother. She regularly corrects his rudeness, arranges his stay at Fu Yanli’s apartment, and offers advice when Jiang Xun withdraws from him 4 13 117 126.
• Chairman Chu — Father. He comforts Chu Xingye after Jiang Xun asks to end their arrangement and urges him to actively pursue the person he likes 118.
• Lin Jian — Original canonical love interest and early object of pursuit. Jiang Xun’s rumors cause Lin Jian to avoid him; Chu Xingye later realizes he has gone a long time without seeking Lin Jian out 3 18 65.
• Bai Lian — Perceived romantic rival and frequent target of hostility. Bai Lian physically overpowers him during confrontations and later witnesses his drunken heartbreak 91 129 139 140.
• Ji Yuntian — Romantic rival who repeatedly provokes his jealousy. Their clashes include arguments over Jiang Xun’s attention and a competitive drinking session 62 90 91.
• Jiang Zixing — Original intended fiancé before the families reassigned the match to Jiang Xun. Chu Xingye shows him little warmth when he visits the apartment 4 18.
• Sangbiao — Puppy he plays with and helps clean up after. He briefly takes the dog following a failed confrontation with Fu Yanli and demands Jiang Xun come to retrieve him 71 96 140.

Notable Quotes

“Uh, if you’re really upset, you can talk to me. Don’t bottle it up.” 40

“He’s still my fiancé in name. If he goes around hooking up with other people, where does that leave my fucking dignity?” 62

“It was all my fault. I didn’t appreciate him. I accept my loss.” 135