Ji Xiangyi

Biodata

Background / History

Ji Xiangyi lost her parents in a car accident during childhood. Her eldest brother, Ji Xiangnian, took responsibility for the family and its business at eighteen, while their uncles and cousins fought for control of the company. His responsibilities left little time for emotional care, and Xiangyi grew up materially privileged but distant from her siblings 9 121.

Her grandmother briefly helped care for the younger children. Xiangyi nevertheless remembered her primarily for bringing lawyers and relatives to claim management of the Ji Group before her parents had even been buried. She believed her grandmother valued her sons’ interests above those of her grandchildren 79 81.

After Xiangyi graduated, Ji Xiangnian entrusted part of the family business to her. Within a little over a year, she had established herself as the family’s second-in-command, at the cost of working late almost every day. Her responsibilities included acquisitions, market expansion, and major manufacturing projects 11 21 33.

Appearance

• Face and bearing: Exquisitely beautiful, with a cool expression and an intimidating, unapproachable air; Fang Ning compares her to a thorny rose 10.
• Posture and mannerisms: Sits very straight and eats or drinks tea at an unhurried pace 10 19.
• Banquet appearance: Wears a long dress, red lipstick, and loosely waved hair, projecting a commanding presence while accompanied by senior executives 101.

Personality

Xiangyi is reserved, aloof, and difficult to read. She initially shows little warmth even toward her family, and Ji Xiangnian regards her as resembling their reserved father—except that their father was openly affectionate at home. Her brothers are accustomed to her sharp criticism and apparent indifference 3 19 75 86.

At work, she is rational, decisive, and exacting. Her assistant recalls spending more than a month revising a proposal before she approved it. She dislikes being interrogated or challenged in an accusatory tone, particularly by Ji Xiangchen 20 21 34.

Her composure conceals a desire for dependable affection. She valued Zhao Cheng because he comforted her when she was tired, and his betrayal reinforced her expectation of a lonely life. Fang Ning gradually becomes an exception: Xiangyi smiles around her, makes time for shared meals, and eventually turns to her when she needs both practical help and someone to lean on 11 19 62 63.

Her refined public manner also contrasts with her temper around her brothers. As a child, she retaliated when Xiangchen hid her homework by tearing up his, then chased him through the villa complex with a feather duster until she caught and beat him 70.

Abilities & Skills

Hearing Fang Ning’s Thoughts

Xiangyi can hear Fang Ning’s unspoken inner voice. She initially wonders whether she is hallucinating, but later reacts to information and commentary Fang Ning has not said aloud 10 11 36.

• Fang Ning’s thoughts alert her to Zhao Cheng’s infidelity, prompting her to reconsider suspicious incidents during their calls 11.
• She hears Fang Ning compare her favorably with Ji Xiangchen during the police-station dispute 36.
• The demonstrated ability concerns Fang Ning’s thoughts; the supplied chapters do not establish that Xiangyi can read other people’s minds 10 36 105.

Business Management

Xiangyi helps Ji Xiangnian expand into new markets and manages substantial portions of the Ji Group’s operations 21 101.

• Reviews documents and discusses acquisitions with her assistant while traveling 21.
• Takes full responsibility for a manufacturing supply-chain expansion in City B while Ji Xiangnian is abroad 33.
• Maintains relationships with business partners at corporate receptions 101.
• Later absorbs Ji Xiangnian’s workload and recruits Ji Xiangchen to help when it becomes unmanageable 125.

Verbal Confrontation and Authority

Xiangyi uses blunt criticism and a commanding presence to challenge relatives and business opponents 21 36 81.

• Makes an initially aggressive lawyer adopt a respectful tone 36.
• Openly challenges her grandmother’s sexist objections to women managing the family business 81.
• Identifies the occasions when Xia Qing used their friendship to obtain information about Ji Xiangnian 105.
• Struggles against the Zhao family’s persistent, shameless harassment; she recognizes that she cannot outcurse them and seeks Fang Ning’s help 62 63.

Relationships

• Fang Ning — Sister-in-law and increasingly trusted companion. Xiangyi’s gratitude for exposing Zhao Cheng develops into open affection and protectiveness. She offers transport, intervenes when Fang Ning is confronted, and arranges a thorough hospital examination after her injury 20 21 37 51 52.
• Ji Xiangnian — Eldest brother, former guardian, and business superior. She resents his interference in her romantic life: he transferred her to another school after a high-school relationship and later forced her to break up with two college boyfriends. Their professional trust does not erase their personal distance 11 82.
• Ji Xiangchen — Younger twin brother, born only minutes after her. She considers his acting career an irresponsible escape from the family business and helped pressure his agency. Their antagonism later includes competition over Fang Ning’s attention 18 20 25 26.
• Ji Xiangzhou — Younger brother. Their relationship is distant and argumentative; he sees her as absorbed in work, while she criticizes his gaming and school misconduct 40 67 70.
• Zhao Cheng — Former boyfriend. She ends their relationship after learning of his cheating and withdraws the Ji family’s investment in his family’s business. He and his parents subsequently pressure her to reconcile or restore the funding 11 39 62.
• Xia Qing — Former friend whose interest in Ji Xiangnian undermines their relationship. Xiangyi eventually refuses to remain an intermediary between them 16 105 106.
• Old Madam Ji — Grandmother and a source of lasting resentment. Her attempts to influence the company, opposition to Xiangyi’s authority as a woman, and criticism of Fang Ning lead Xiangyi to confront her openly 81.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Discovering Zhao Cheng’s Infidelity

• Brings Zhao Cheng to the family villa, where Fang Ning questions him over dinner and privately exposes his dishonesty 10 11.
• Slaps him, orders him out, and threatens to withdraw the Ji family’s investment. Her assistant subsequently confirms that two women had left his home that morning 11.
• Initially investigates Fang Ning as well, but the inquiry finds nothing unusual 11 12.

Becoming Fang Ning’s Protector

• Begins returning home specifically to eat with Fang Ning and offers to drive her to the production set, surprising Ji Xiangchen with her warmth 18 19 20.
• Answers Fang Ning’s call during a shareholders’ meeting after ignoring Xiangchen’s calls, then helps resolve their police-station dispute 33 34 35 36.
• Takes Fang Ning to the Ji family’s private hospital after she is struck during the twins’ quarrel 37.
• Intervenes when Yu Qin and his companions confront Fang Ning at a company event, identifying her publicly as her sister-in-law 51 52.

Accepting Help from Fang Ning

• Faces repeated visits from Zhao Cheng and his parents after withdrawing their investment 39 57 62.
• Calls Fang Ning during a late-night confrontation, trusting her to handle the harassment. Fang Ning arrives with Ji Xiangzhou and drives the Zhao family away 61 63 64 66.
• Joins the siblings for barbecue afterward and reluctantly accepts a skewer from Fang Ning despite her usual distrust of street food 69 70.

Challenging Exploitative Relationships

• Returns home to protect Fang Ning from Old Madam Ji and rejects the claim that her sister-in-law is an outsider 81.
• Confronts Xia Qing for treating their friendship as access to Ji Xiangnian, then leaves after addressing her distantly as “Miss Xia” 105 106.

Taking Over Ji Xiangnian’s Work

• Continues seeking Fang Ning’s company, including inviting her to shop for a newly released bag, despite Ji Xiangnian’s attempts to secure time alone with his wife 124.
• Becomes overburdened when Ji Xiangnian follows Fang Ning on filming trips. She brings Xiangchen into the business workload and repeatedly asks Fang Ning to make her brother return, but his hands-off arrangement continues for more than a year 125.

Notable Quotes

“You're asking whether I consider you a friend. What about you? Are you friends with me because I'm Ji Xiangnian's sister, or simply because I'm Ji Xiangyi?” 105

“You just said I could come to you if anything came up. Does that offer still stand?” 61