Chu Xinghui

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and Relationship with Pei Hanmo

Chu Xinghui grew up at an orphanage, where he describes himself as something of a delinquent. When Pei Hanmo was bullied at school, Chu waited outside the school gates to intimidate the bullies. At the time, Chu was in eleventh grade and Pei was in ninth grade. He later says they have known each other for twenty years 51 71.

Before entering the entertainment industry, Chu sang at a bar. During one performance, customers sexually harassed him and tried to strip off his clothes while the owner initially stood by. Chu fought back and injured several attackers. After leaving with Pei, he experienced hyperventilation and stopped Pei from returning to retaliate, fearing the consequences of using his venom against them 119 120.

Their early relationship developed while Chu was encouraging Pei to concentrate on his college entrance examination. Pei confessed during a birthday celebration Chu had prepared for him; later scenes show them navigating their relationship as a couple 120 122.

The relationship eventually broke down. Following Zuo Ying'an's advice to cut off Pei's hopes, Chu blocked him despite being privately distressed. When Gu Kai subsequently contacted him about joining an entertainment agency, Chu accepted while wondering whether becoming successful would make him worthy of Pei 126.

Online Notoriety and Agency Exploitation

At the beginning of the main story, Chu is a little-known actor whose notoriety exceeds the recognition of his work. His habit of blocking mentions of Pei on Weibo is interpreted as jealousy, although he privately objects to seeing his ex-boyfriend's name beneath his posts. A variety-show phone dare exposes their connection and brings further accusations of clout-chasing 1.

His agency treats the backlash as a marketing opportunity and pressures him to apologize. Its exploitation extends beyond publicity: Chu reveals that the company nearly sent him to a businessman's bed a year earlier, after which he began carrying a suppressant or blocker daily 1 18.

While appearing on Let's Travel Together, Chu faces false allegations from fellow agency artist Gong Wenxuan. A photograph of Chu slumped against an older man is presented as evidence of a supposed boyfriend or financial backer. Chu and Gu Kai begin researching legal action, while supporters offer help finding another agency and raising termination fees 20.

Pei directs Gu Chupei to expose the agency's misconduct and negotiate Chu's release. The company publicly retracts Gong's allegations, apologizes, and terminates Chu's contract. Chu then accepts Pei's offer to join his company, resolving to succeed through his own ability 21 22.

Career Recovery

After joining Universal Entertainment, Chu begins preparing scripts more seriously and becomes less affected by hostile comments. Gu Kai notices the improvement in both his confidence and his mental state 27.

His supporting role as Hui in Please Love Me a Little More demonstrates a stronger performance than his earlier school-romance roles. During Hui's death scene, the crew becomes so absorbed that it forgets to activate the rain effect 11 28 29.

A lively fan dance on Let's Travel Together becomes a major turning point in his public reputation. The performance trends positively, Gu Kai circulates a recording to attract genuine fans, and the popularity of Chu and Pei's pairing surges. The web drama's director brings forward its release to capitalize on the attention; viewers praise Chu's acting, and his Weibo following reaches one million 39 40.

The dance also attracts Director Guo, who considers Chu suitable for the opera performer Wen Qinglin in Sovereign's Arrival. Chu chooses the demanding role over a more familiar alternative. After failing to produce a usable character photograph, he asks Pei for acting help and begins studying opera movements under Elder Zhong 51 54 56 57.

Stalking Incident and Reconciliation

A fan using the name Xiongxiong sends Chu teddy bears containing hidden cameras, recording equipment, and disturbing notes. Chu discovers the devices while speaking to Pei, who contacts the police and comes to help. The intruder is arrested, and Pei accompanies Chu to give a statement 61 62.

Chu also discovers that his treasured white MP3 player has been stolen. He briefly collapses at the police station and subsequently cannot remember the incident. Pei later returns the player to him 62 65 68.

As their relationship grows closer, Chu sleeps safely in Pei's arms and later shares a kiss with him on a Ferris wheel. He publicly reveals that he owned the old Weibo account pH Test Paper, establishing that their connection predates the current clout-chasing accusations 71 87 90.

Chu eventually reassures Pei that he loves his present self, not merely the younger boy he remembers. He also quietly arranges a confession of his own through Gu Kai 94.

Fox Immortal Revelations and Later Success

An old fox claims that Chu is the reincarnation of Wen Qinglin, who escaped after being chosen to receive the Fox Immortal's favor. According to him, Chu was chosen again as a baby, but his mother hid him at the orphanage rather than surrender him 99.

The old fox presents a little fox bearing glowing marks that match Chu's own and offers to restore his memories. Chu refuses both the offer and the demand to return. After leaving, the old fox identifies Pei as the Snake God protecting Chu and concludes that their bond has endured across two lifetimes 99.

In a later awards appearance, Chu wins Best Supporting Actor. The host describes his rise from a minor actor with almost no fans as taking just over a year. Chu wears a ring matching Pei's and begins his acceptance speech by acknowledging someone who helped him along the way 117.

Appearance

• White hair: A conspicuous natural feature, visible even in the blurry photograph used against him 20.
• Fox ears and tail: His ears emerge when he is upset, while both ears and tail appear when he is drunk. His ears also become part of his fan-dance performance 1 3 39.
• Fair skin: Noted by the makeup artist preparing him to play Hui 26.
• Matching body marks: The old fox shows him a little fox whose glowing marks correspond to marks on his body 99.

Personality

Chu is proud and reluctant to depend on Pei after their breakup. Even when facing his agency's smear campaign, he initially regards them as coworkers and questions what right he has to ask Pei for help. On accepting a new professional opportunity, he insists that he will reach the top through his own ability 21 22.

His increasingly irreverent online behavior marks a return to his earlier cheerfulness. He answers abuse with absurd jokes, exaggerated affection, and deliberately ridiculous edited photographs. Pei explicitly says that Chu used to be this cheerful before the experiences that made him withdrawn 27 30 56.

Chu is fiercely protective of people close to him. He defended Pei from school bullies and later confronts Gu Chupei over his treatment of Lan Xiangxian, shielding Lan and helping him leave. His protectiveness also includes restraint: he stops the younger Pei from seeking violent revenge after the bar incident 51 52 53 120.

He values his supporters without becoming entirely comfortable with their enthusiasm. He initially accepts only fan letters, later carefully stores their gifts, and promises to read their letters. He is often bewildered by shipping culture despite repeatedly encountering fanworks about himself and Pei 14 45 48 50.

Abilities & Skills

Acting

Chu's acting improves when he begins preparing seriously, but he initially relies heavily on personal experience rather than a broad command of technique 27 57.

• His delinquent background helps him understand Hui's personality 51.
• His performance in Hui's death scene absorbs the crew and impresses Gu Kai 28 29.
• Wen Qinglin exposes gaps in his technique, prompting him to seek coaching 56 57.
• His later work earns him Best Supporting Actor 117.

Singing

Chu has a relatively thin voice and selects a higher-register song for his variety-show performance. Listeners find his voice soothing, although the narration distinguishes it from professional-level singing 12.

• He previously performed at a bar 119.
• He has barely practiced for several years by the time of the televised performance 12.
• Anxiety under scrutiny causes trembling, unstable singing, and a hyperventilation attack 12.

Dance and Opera Movement

His fan dance combines light footwork, expressive gestures, turns, ribbon work, and playful use of his fox features. It directly leads to consideration for Wen Qinglin 39 51.

• Elder Zhong teaches him opera postures and movements, including demanding flexibility exercises 57 60.
• The production assigns the singing portions to Elder Zhong's apprentice; Chu's instruction focuses on movement 57.
• He practices privately during variety-show filming and later performs the opera scene smoothly 94.

Practical Skills

• Cooking: Teaches Wen Liangtian how to cook fish and prepares meals for Pei 48 68.
• Farm work: Uses harvesting tools proficiently during a three-hour task, contrasting with guests who require instruction 10.
• Fighting: Intimidates Pei's school bullies and fights off several attackers during the bar incident 51 119.
• Puzzle-solving: During a classroom challenge, connects a floor pattern to coordinates on the board and locates a hidden box 82.
• Livestreaming: Builds broadcasts around fan conversations, visits to other streamers, snacks, games, and room tours 31 77 78 97.

Health and Limitations

• Hyperventilation: Experiences attacks during a televised song and in the earlier aftermath of harassment at the bar. Pei helps him through both episodes 12 119.
• Alcohol intolerance: Becomes markedly different when drunk, seeks Pei's soothing pheromones, and commonly blacks out afterward 3 4.
• Heat: An unexpectedly early heat leaves him feverish and too weak to stand. A suppressant injection and Pei's soothing pheromones relieve the symptoms 17 18.
• Memory loss following the intrusion: Wakes confused after briefly collapsing at the police station and later has no recollection of discovering the hidden cameras 62 65.

Filmography

Equipment / Items

• White MP3 player: A worn, treasured player containing a song Pei sang for him. Chu listens to it when upset; it is stolen during the stalking incident and later returned by Pei 1 62 68.
• Matching couple's pajamas: Clothing retained from his relationship with Pei. Their appearance during filming becomes material for the show's suggestive editing 8 15 26.
• Ring from Xiaotu: A fan gift that Chu carefully stores in a locked drawer 45 48.
• Teddy bears from Xiongxiong: Gifts he keeps on his bed before discovering that they contain surveillance devices 48 61.
• Matching ring with Pei: Worn during his Best Supporting Actor acceptance appearance 117.

Relationships

• Pei Hanmo — Childhood companion, former boyfriend, and renewed romantic partner. Their relationship spans school-day protection, estrangement, professional support, and reconciliation 1 22 51 87 94.
• Gu Kai — Manager and loyal supporter. Handles moderation, promotes Chu's dance, helps with scripts, and privately participates in the Xinghan shipping community 22 31 39 51 91.
• Wen Liangtian — Fellow variety-show guest who becomes a concerned friend. Chu recognizes the vulnerability beneath his prickly persona and teaches him to cook 11 12 45 48.
• Lan Xiangxian — Friend whom Chu defends during his conflict with Gu Chupei 52 53.
• Gu Chupei — Helps secure Chu's contract termination at Pei's direction, but later clashes with Chu over his treatment of Lan 21 52 53.
• Elder Zhong — Opera teacher who supervises Chu's physical training, corrects his movements, and personally applies his makeup for the opera scene 57 60 68 94.
• Director Guo — Director of Sovereign's Arrival. Casts Chu after seeing his dance and challenges him to understand Wen Qinglin beyond surface expressions 51 56 57.
• Fan Weicai — Jealous co-star whose insinuations about Chu's connections repeatedly provoke mocking responses from Chu and his fans 27 30 46.
• Xiaotu / Xiao Tu — Longtime fan-group owner who encourages Chu and sends him a ring without attending the fan meeting 45 48.
• Xiongxiong — Supposed supporter whose teddy-bear gifts conceal surveillance equipment; exposed during the stalking incident 45 61 62.

Notable Quotes

“All right. I'll reach the top through my own ability. Just you wait.” 22

“We don't have any relationship right now. At most, we're coworkers. In what capacity would I come to you?” 21

“I hate self-proclaimed devoted assholes like you the most.” 53

Trivia

• His Huanyu Live room number is 73442666, chosen because it is his usual password 31.
• Fans recognize the initials in pH Test Paper as linking Pei Hanmo and Chu Xinghui 91.
• His pairing with Pei is called Xinghan. Following his fan dance, its Super Topic surpasses the “Wolf and Sheep” pairing 39.
• While drunk, he calls himself White Cloud and Pei Black Soil, prompting Pei to end the livestream and carry him away 91.