Zhang Xiaotong

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and Changed Fate

Zhang Xiaotong is the only daughter of parents who travel for supply and sales work. During her childhood, they leave her at the extended family’s old house during the day, and she stays with her paternal grandmother at night. She is not quite seven when Zhou Xingwen returns to his childhood around 1986 2 3.

In Xingwen’s previous life, Xiaotong became distant from him after turning sixteen, following the breakdown of his family. By the time of his rebirth, she had married and had a baby. These events belong to his remembered life, not her circumstances in the altered timeline 2.

After returning, Xingwen persuades her to conceal his unusually fluent speech by promising her stories. Their companionship becomes a mixture of friendship and tutoring: she obtains books for him, while he teaches her writing, mathematics, and his views on literature and popular culture. She enters the city’s best primary school, repeatedly ranks first in her class, and becomes class monitor 3.

By 1990, she has joined her school’s Young Pioneers committee. At Xingwen’s suggestion, she reduces her involvement rather than spending too much energy on school positions 5.

Public Writing Career

Xingwen asks Xiaotong to serve as the public author of his work, safeguard their writing income, and earn enough parental trust to act independently. She accepts the arrangement and submits his science-fiction manuscript to the first Galaxy Cup Youth Science Fiction Writing Contest, becoming known as a young writer shortly afterward 6.

Her reputation grows through The Day the Black Hole Came, serialized simultaneously in Youth Science and Technology News and Youth Literature Times. Xingwen deliberately fuels debate about the novel through an anonymous critical essay. When a teacher demands a public apology, Xiaotong refuses under his coaching 7.

The dispute becomes an opportunity to establish her independence. She shows her parents a bankbook containing 60,000 yuan in royalties, plus her saved pocket money, and asks to support herself through writing. Impressed by both her earnings and her continued first-place academic standing, they agree to obtain an ID card for her and allow her an independent account 7.

Her fame brings extensive fan mail, criticism, romantic letters, and invitations to write scripts. Although much of her reputation rests on Xingwen’s manuscripts, she also begins accepting short-story commissions and writing about her reading and writing habits herself 8.

Business Expansion

Running these ventures repeatedly conflicts with school. Xiaotong takes business calls between lessons and uses leave to handle shop openings and company work. Guaranteed admission to No. 1 High School eventually reduces her examination pressure, though classmates resent the arrangement 11 17 21 29.

When rival children’s writers complain to the Ministry of Culture, Crimson Youth is ordered to suspend publication. Xiaotong and Xingwen work to secure its registration while treating the controversy as a publicity opportunity 37.

Relationship with Xingwen

Their childhood partnership gradually becomes romantic. During an early seaside trip, Xiaotong asks Xingwen to let her accompany him in realizing his dreams. He promises, while emphasizing that they have time and need not rush their relationship 8.

On Christmas Eve 1993, they attend church together. Xingwen gives her silver-and-crystal earrings as a birthday present, and she kisses his cheek 22. On the following Christmas Eve, they acknowledge their feelings and become a couple. Xingwen asks her to marry him in the future, but both recognize that relatives and outsiders may oppose the relationship 41.

In early 1995, Xiaotong gives him a wallet containing his ID, bank cards, and PINs as a Valentine’s Day gift. The cards provide access to approximately US$700 million, representing 75% of their readily available funds, rather than her personal fortune alone. She explains that stocks and futures trades have greatly increased their resources and that most of the money has been deposited overseas through different channels. They agree to keep their romance private from their families for several more years 44.

Appearance

• Childhood features: A smiling face with dimples and a few soft, yellowish strands of hair across her forehead 2.
• Later appearance: Long hair extending past her shoulders, a high, straight nose, and a youthful face 6.
• Height: Described as well over 165 cm during the Christmas Eve scene in which she and Xingwen become a couple 41.
• Style: Becomes increasingly skilled at dressing herself, maintaining a restrained school appearance while dressing more strikingly outside school 29.
• Change from Xingwen’s memories: Xingwen notices that she grows prettier and happier than the adult cousin he remembers from his previous life 22.

Personality

Xiaotong is cheerful, affectionate, and deeply loyal to Xingwen. She credits him with giving her knowledge and confidence, supports his decisions even when they disappoint her, and repeatedly assures him that she will remain beside him 4 9 17.

Her early dependence on his guidance develops into composure and practical judgment. She calmly negotiates greater freedom with her parents, learns to deflect unwanted attention, and tolerates classmates’ hostility over her guaranteed admission. Xingwen increasingly recognizes that her shrewdness is no longer merely something she displays under his coaching 7 29 46.

Her loyalty does not prevent disagreement. She teases Xingwen about his secrecy and manipulative habits, questions his frequent reliance on friends to settle disputes, and warns that employing former thugs could create serious management problems 6 25 46.

Abilities & Skills

Writing and Literary Knowledge

Xiaotong develops her writing through extensive reading and Xingwen’s instruction 3 8.

• Handles correspondence, commissions, and public attention associated with her literary career 7 8.
• Writes some short fiction and personal articles independently 8.
• Has substantial experience with science fiction and popular fiction, which she draws on when addressing Crimson Youth’s editors 17.
• Limit: Many of the works credited to her—including the novels admired by Liu Mingyao—are actually written by Xingwen 7 18.

Financial Management

Xiaotong manages the money that Xingwen cannot openly handle as a child 4 6.

• Maintains separate visible and private funds while still under parental supervision 4.
• Tracks company and personal resources precisely; at one point, she immediately distinguishes 12 million yuan in company funds from eight million available for private use 17.
• Checks shop accounts and helps restrain relatives who have been pocketing business money 11.
• Organizes access to substantial domestic and overseas funds 44.

Management and Diplomacy

Xiaotong serves as the visible representative of ventures whose underlying plans often come from Xingwen 6 33.

• Interviews staff, delegates responsibilities, and coordinates editorial and commercial work 16 18.
• Uses profit-sharing to reward business contacts and employees, including Liu Mingyao and Wan Bochen 13.
• Builds relationships with media workers and provincial officials 18 19.
• Recognizes operational risks, particularly the difficulty of managing recruits with criminal backgrounds 46.

Equipment / Personal Items

• Silver-and-crystal earrings — A birthday gift from Xingwen on Christmas Eve 1993; she wears one during their later Christmas Eve together 22 41.
• Personal bankbook and account — Central to convincing her parents that her writing could support her independence 7.

Relationships

• Zhou Xingwen / Zhou Ran — Older cousin through a non-blood family connection, childhood companion, teacher, business partner, and eventual boyfriend. She handles public responsibilities and finances while he supplies many of their manuscripts and business plans 2 6 8 29 41.
• Her parents — Initially supervise her money and question her business ambitions, but grant her increasing independence after seeing her royalties and results. Her mother supports her assistance to Xingwen’s family 7 9 29.
• Xingwen’s parents — Receive her financial help, practical advice, and assistance with housing. During their factory’s production suspension, she discreetly sends 500–800 yuan twice monthly through Xingwen 28 29 44.
• Liu Mingyao — Sun Electronics associate and enthusiastic admirer of the novels published under her name. Her decision to share computer-assembly profits strengthens his commitment 13 18.
• Lu Wei — Senior business associate involved in recruitment, the appliance center, and school-site planning 16 18 46.
• Dong Qinghua — Media and business intermediary who assists with promotion, staffing, magazine arrangements, and financing 9 17 18.
• Guo Zhen — Treats her with affection and respect and helps Xingwen deal with Wang Bin’s unwanted pursuit of her 28 39.
• Third Brother — Publicly recognizes Xiaotong, Xingwen, Yang Yuanzhe, and Ge Jinqiu as friends and family after returning from treatment 33.
• Wang Bin — An unwanted admirer whose persistent love letters lead her to ask Xingwen to intervene 39.

Notable Quotes

“Whatever you choose, I’ll support you.” 4

“Promise me, no matter what dreams you have, you’ll let me accompany you to make them all reality.” 8

“You gave me my confidence and my knowledge, so you’re the only person I support.” 9

“The most important thing in a person’s life is having someone who understands them.” 44