Zhang Jue

Biodata

Background

Zhang Jue entered A Heartbeat Is an Action as a former professional gamer working as a gaming streamer. Introduced under the alias “Keyboard,” he became Tan Yaya’s temporary partner after the other guests formed their pairs 3 5.

Original Novel Timeline

In the original novel known to Xie Yuan, the assault on Tan Yaya ended their budding romance. Zhang Jue felt guilty over the incident, while Tan Yaya developed an aversion to him. Neither married, and both experienced substantial career declines. Xie Yuan’s intervention changes this outcome: after the rescue, Tan Yaya remains willing to accept Zhang Jue’s help and physical closeness 39.

Personality

Zhang Jue is attentive to Tan Yaya’s preferences. After noticing her fascination with Xie Yuan’s phoenix drawing, he offers to ask for a painting on her behalf. When planning dinner, he initially suggests prioritizing her favorite dishes and readily accepts her proposal that they each choose one 11 12.

His protectiveness becomes especially apparent during the bar incident. He speaks gently to the frightened Tan Yaya, gives her space rather than forcing contact, and calls a woman to comfort her. Once she is safe, his restraint gives way to anger, and he repeatedly kicks her restrained attacker 38 39.

Despite his confidence in games, Zhang Jue is easily flustered by romantic attention. He blushes during an eye-contact challenge and becomes visibly anxious when marriage comes up on his livestream. Nevertheless, he tells Tan Yaya directly that he wants to marry her and is willing to wait until she agrees 83 97.

Abilities & Skills

Competitive Gaming

• Assassin and jungle specialization: Plays jungle with an assassin during the guests’ first team match 14.
• Carrying inexperienced teammates: Helps secure a victory despite Xie Yuan and Tan Yaya repeatedly dying; Mu Ze’s strong mid-lane performance also contributes 14.
• Gameplay advice: Recommends simpler heroes to beginners and explains Baili’s range, damage, and positioning threats 14 21.
• Recognition of other players: Identifies Cheng Jiu on the opposing team; Cheng Jiu likewise recognizes Zhang Jue’s jungling style 21.
• Limits: His professional experience does not guarantee wins; a later session with Xie Yuan and Tan Yaya ends in five consecutive losses 97.

Performance and Practical Tasks

• Drawing-and-guessing: Scores seven points with Tan Yaya, identifying most drawings within two or three guesses 11.
• Bar performance: Joins Tan Yaya onstage during their temporary bar-singer assignment, though her singing is the focus of the performance 25 37.
• Cooking limitations: Neither he nor Tan Yaya cooks well; their dinner remains unappetizing despite staff guidance 17 18.
• Crafting limitations: Struggles alongside Tan Yaya to build a child’s requested flying toy rocket, even with online tutorials 52.

Relationships

• Tan Yaya — Dating-show partner and eventual girlfriend. Their mutual rose exchange preserves their pairing, and his final confession makes them one of the show’s successful couples. They later announce that they are dating with marriage in mind 43 59 98.
• Xie Yuan — Friend and gaming teammate. Zhang Jue offers to play games in exchange for a painting for Tan Yaya. Xie Yuan later saves him from a knife attack and prompts the conversation that leads to his public marriage intentions 14 38 97 98.
• Mu Ze — Fellow guest and regular gaming teammate. Mu Ze helps restrain Tan Yaya’s attacker, and Zhang Jue recognizes his romantic interest in Xie Yuan early on 21 38 40.
• Cheng Jiu — Gaming acquaintance familiar enough with Zhang Jue to recognize his playstyle during a match 21.
• Liu Yan — Fellow contestant whose rose he declines because he already likes Tan Yaya 43.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Dating-Show Activities

• Partners with Tan Yaya and earns seven points in the drawing-and-guessing game 5 11.
• Secures Xie Yuan’s agreement to paint for Tan Yaya by offering to play games with him, bringing the two pairs together as a gaming group 14.
• Chooses the rooftop for dinner with Tan Yaya. After their cooking disappoints them, they bargain the production team down to five yuan per bowl of rice 16 18.
• Accepts half of Tan Yaya’s roses and tells her that he likes them very much 19.

Bar Assignment and Rescue

• Draws a three-day bar-singer assignment with Tan Yaya. Their work runs late enough that they return to the villa after three in the morning 25 31.
• Leads Xie Yuan and Mu Ze to the restroom when Tan Yaya fails to return. After Xie Yuan kicks open the locked entrance, Zhang Jue rushes inside and encounters her attacker 38.
• Is targeted with a fruit knife, but Xie Yuan pulls him out of its path and disables the assailant. Zhang Jue then reassures Tan Yaya while Mu Ze binds the man 38.
• Entrusts the attacker’s removal to Xie Yuan and carries Tan Yaya outside. The group protects her privacy by telling the cameras that she fainted from low blood sugar 39.

Final Show Challenges and Confession

• Rejects Liu Yan’s rose and asks Tan Yaya to remain his partner; she accepts and gives him her own rose 43.
• Works with Tan Yaya to fulfill children’s wishes at a remote children’s home, struggling particularly with a flying toy rocket 45 52.
• Offers to carry Xie Yuan to King rank in exchange for help identifying the veiled Tan Yaya. Xie Yuan refuses, explaining that a wrong answer is acceptable but faked sincerity is not; Zhang Jue accepts the correction 56.
• Chooses the wrong participant in the identification challenge and is disappointed, although Tan Yaya reassures him 57.
• Confesses after they have known each other for five days, asking for a chance to know her more deeply rather than claiming unwavering love. She accepts his roses 59.

Relationship After the Show

• Completes a thirty-second eye-contact punishment with Tan Yaya after they fail an obstacle-course challenge; both blush under the audience’s teasing 83.
• Admits during a livestreamed gaming session that he seriously wants to marry her. Her departure without an immediate answer leaves him dejected 97.
• Later thanks Xie Yuan privately. He and Tan Yaya publish matching posts confirming that they are dating with marriage in mind, dispelling viewers’ assumptions that she rejected him 98.
• Returns with Tan Yaya for the second season’s invitation to the first season’s successful couples. Asked when they will marry, she answers, “Soon” 181.

Notable Quotes

“Teacher Tan, I can't promise I'll be able to find you. I'll try my best. My feelings are genuine.” 56

“But I'm serious about wanting to marry you. You don't have to answer me now. I'll wait until the day you're willing.” 97