Guo Zhen

Biodata

Background / History

Family and original timeline

Guo Zhen lived with Third Brother before the adoptive parents mentioned in Zhou Xingwen’s memories entered his life. He regards Third Brother as his family, telling Xingwen that he has no other family of his own. Xingwen later describes Third Brother as Guo Zhen’s guardian 27 34.

In Xingwen’s original life, the two first met at a department-store electronics counter. Both were examining a widescreen television: Xingwen wanted it but could not afford it, while Guo Zhen recognized that the supposedly Sony-made set used a domestic picture tube. Their second meeting took place in an arcade, where they were the only customers playing strategy games 14.

Xingwen remembers Guo Zhen repeatedly helping him through difficulties. On one occasion, Guo Zhen pawned a prized knife for 5,000 yuan and lent him the proceeds for a year; they later redeemed it. Xingwen also concludes that Third Brother died of heart disease in the original timeline, explaining a loss that the adult Guo Zhen had never fully discussed 27 46.

Renewed friendship

In 1992, Xingwen encounters Guo Zhen earlier than planned in Ximiaokou. Their introduction includes a discreet contest of grip strength, followed by a best-of-three snooker match. Xingwen wins both frames, and Guo Zhen accepts the defeat without resentment 14.

Xingwen subsequently introduces him to Yang Yuanzhe and Ge Jinqiu. The four spend time gaming, drinking, and discussing subjects ranging from music and film to future careers. Xingwen deliberately cultivates these friendships, hoping to give his capable but underused friends opportunities to develop 15 19.

Technical interests and ambition

A visit to the Sun Red Tea production line helps motivate Guo Zhen and the others to attend extracurricular classes. Guo Zhen later says he wants to leave the conventional academic track, attend a vocational college, and study machine repair and computers 21 26.

His interest in computers dates to 1989, when Third Brother briefly possessed a monochrome machine taken from someone else’s boat. Guo Zhen only understood how to use it after reading more about computers later. Xingwen offers him a computer for his birthday, which he chooses over an all-expenses-paid trip to a Cui Jian concert; the computer subsequently arrives 26 27.

Third Brother’s heart surgery

In early 1994, Guo Zhen asks Xingwen to lend him 50,000 yuan by the following afternoon. The money is for Third Brother’s heart treatment, although Guo Zhen does not initially disclose the reason. He has kept the illness from Third Brother’s other associates at Third Brother’s request 26 27 34.

After learning the truth from Zhang Xin, Xingwen finds Guo Zhen at City Hospital and proposes treatment at Beijing 301 General Hospital. Guo Zhen initially hesitates to accept more help, but agrees after Xingwen emphasizes saving Third Brother’s life and declares that he and Zhang Xiaotong are Guo Zhen’s family too. Lu Wei arranges the hospital appointment, travel, and an escort 27.

When Third Brother returns after successful surgery, Guo Zhen showers, styles his hair, and changes into a white jacket for the reunion. He trembles with anticipation on the way to the station and cries when they meet 32.

Business liaison and local interventions

After Third Brother establishes a transport company, Guo Zhen becomes his regular intermediary with Xingwen. He reports on the creation of sales channels, dealings with customs, and efforts to unite scattered underworld operators through shared profits 37.

Guo Zhen also helps Xingwen drive Wang Bin away from Zhang Xiaotong. He gathers local men, arranges cooperation from the school gatekeeper, and uses a forged IOU to threaten Wang Bin into leaving No. 1 High School. Wang Bin transfers within a week 39 40.

Later, Guo Zhen resolves the threats keeping Xingwen’s politics teacher away from work. His intervention allows the teacher to return within a week and indirectly discourages Xingwen’s homeroom teacher from continuing to trouble him 46.

Russian trade and commitment

Guo Zhen accompanies Xingwen to request light industrial goods and food from Lu Wei for a Russian trade venture intended to obtain military supplies. He also spends two months working with Yang Yuanzhe and the others on the sailing-game project 42 46.

Following Third Brother’s return from Russia, Guo Zhen explains the weapons acquired through the trade. At the hidden arsenal, Xingwen questions whether he should follow Third Brother into such dangerous work. Guo Zhen chooses to join, arguing that practical cooperation can change circumstances and expressing confidence despite Third Brother’s warning that the decision may be irreversible 49 50.

A separate narrative flash-forward confirms that Guo Zhen eventually becomes a CEO, without identifying the company or explaining his route to the position 27.

Appearance

Guo Zhen is handsome, with thick eyebrows and large eyes. His appearance can shift sharply between a well-groomed young man and an intimidating gang figure 26 32 40.

• White jacket and carefully styled hair: Worn to welcome Third Brother home; Xingwen compares him to a wealthy family’s young master 32.
• Military overcoat: Worn during the confrontation with Wang Bin 39 40.
• Black trench coat: Appears in Xingwen’s recollection of Guo Zhen going out at night carrying a shotgun 32.

Personality

Guo Zhen is receptive to learning despite disliking traditional education. He accepts superior skill without bitterness, studies what others do well, and continues enjoying games even when Xingwen repeatedly defeats him. Xingwen attributes his earlier aimlessness to laziness and a lack of opportunity rather than a lack of ability 14 19.

His loyalty is strongest toward Third Brother and his close friends. He is uncomfortable asking for help or feeling indebted, but becomes deeply grateful when Xingwen helps save Third Brother. He also keeps confidences: although he already knows Third Brother’s family history, he refuses to identify the person who told him 27 34.

Toward outsiders, Guo Zhen can be calculating and cruel. Xingwen describes psychological games as his chief amusement, and his treatment of Wang Bin relies on humiliation, staged evidence, and threats rather than a straightforward fight. Nevertheless, Xingwen remembers him as someone who was not easily tempted by money, recalling that even several kilograms of heroin failed to interest him 19 40.

Abilities & Skills

Intelligence and technical aptitude

Xingwen places Guo Zhen’s IQ close to 190 and repeatedly remarks on his quick understanding 19 32.

• Grasps unfamiliar ideas quickly during conversations with Xingwen 21.
• Recognizes the misleading branding and domestic components of a television 14.
• Suggests adding Super Famicom consoles and computers to the pool hall, sourcing them through Lu Wei’s Electronics City 32.
• Takes part in preliminary work on the sailing-game project 46.

Fighting ability

Guo Zhen’s reputation extends beyond his school: middle-school bosses across the city fear “Blackhand Guo” 32.

• Tests Xingwen’s strength through their first handshake 14.
• Reports sending a visiting martial-arts challenger from Nanshan City away on a stretcher 42.
• Xingwen remembers him defeating a martial-arts instructor and other visiting challengers 14.

Connections and intimidation

Guo Zhen has contacts among school-area gang figures, older underworld associates, and people in ordinary local jobs 27 39.

• Arranges background inquiries into the Yulin County factory through Third Brother’s contacts 20.
• Mobilizes a group outside No. 1 High School while securing the gatekeeper’s cooperation 39.
• Finds a seal carver to help reproduce Wang Bin’s fingerprint for the forged IOU 40.
• Settles the threats against Xingwen’s politics teacher without a reported fight 46.

Firearms knowledge

Xingwen calls Guo Zhen a firearms fanatic and “half an expert.” His explanations help Xingwen understand the scale and nature of Third Brother’s Russian weapons stockpile 49.

Games and snooker

• Snooker: Plays well enough to impress Xingwen, but loses their first match after a cue-ball positioning mistake gives Xingwen an opening 14.
• Video games: Enjoys strategy games, fighting games, and computer games; repeatedly challenges Xingwen at Street Fighter 14 19 46.
• Limit: He is not portrayed as the group’s strongest fighting-game player; Yang Yuanzhe surpasses Xingwen while Guo Zhen continues losing to him 19.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Xinjiang knife: Exceptionally sharp; Guo Zhen says it can cut through a small dagger without damaging its edge. Xingwen remembers it slicing through a thick wooden stool leg and notes that blood is unusually difficult to clean from its metal 46.
• Computer: A birthday gift from Xingwen, chosen over Cui Jian concert tickets. After it arrives, Guo Zhen plays until midnight while continuing to meet his friends during the day 26 27.
• Shotgun: Carried during a nighttime confrontation recalled by Xingwen; no model is given 32.
• Zippo lighter: Used while confronting Wang Bin outside No. 1 High School 39.

Relationships

• Zhou Xingwen — Close friend and sworn-brother-like companion from both timelines. Xingwen helps save Third Brother, encourages Guo Zhen’s technical interests, and brings him into his business plans 14 26 27 42.
• Third Brother — Guardian and chosen family. Guo Zhen raises money for his surgery, serves as his liaison with Xingwen, and ultimately chooses to join his operation 27 34 37 50.
• Zhang Xiaotong — A trusted older-sister figure whom Guo Zhen regards with affection and respect. She helps fund and arrange Third Brother’s treatment 26 27 28.
• Yang Yuanzhe and Ge Jinqiu — Friends introduced by Xingwen; fellow gaming companions and later collaborators on the sailing-game project 15 19 46.
• Lu Wei — Helps arrange Third Brother’s Beijing treatment and supplies electronics used in the pool hall’s expansion 27 32.
• Wang Bin — Target of Guo Zhen’s forged-debt intimidation scheme, intended to stop his unwanted pursuit of Zhang Xiaotong 39 40.

Notable Quotes

“Actually, I don't have any family either. Third Brother is my family.” 27

“What you are doesn't matter. What matters is what you can do.” 50

“I've always thought I made the right choice not robbing him when we first met.” 50