Chu Zeshen

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and Family

Chu Zeshen lived next door to the Gu Family until he was seven. His mother and Gu Bai’s mother were close, and their joking promise to become in-laws eventually became the basis of his marriage. He visited Gu Bai after the newborn returned from the hospital, but retained no clear memory of his appearance. After moving to the Old Residence, their seven-year age difference and separate social circles kept them from growing close 221 233.

His grandparents shaped different sides of his upbringing. His grandmother taught him calligraphy, Chinese chess, and literary cultivation, while his grandfather taught him management and business tactics. At his grandmother’s instruction, he spent much of elementary school deliberately letting his grandfather win at chess 77 79.

Chu Zeshen lost his parents overseas. Uncle Li recalls that the bereavement left him increasingly reserved and unsmiling, showing warmth mainly around familiar people. He and Elder Chu supported one another afterward, with Chu Zeshen shouldering responsibilities from a young age 72.

Taking Over the Chu Group

After returning from postgraduate studies, Chu Zeshen assumed full responsibility for the Chu Group. Work consumed nearly all his time: even vacations ordered by Elder Chu involved bringing the secretarial staff along and continuing to work. Eventually, he stopped taking vacations altogether 34.

His position did not result from a prolonged inheritance struggle. He stood sufficiently above the Chu Family’s other younger members in ability that their resentment did not translate into an open challenge to his leadership 152.

Appearance

• Bearing: Imposing but restrained, with a cold sharpness that contributes to his intimidating public image 7 13 128.
• Hair: Usually styled to expose his forehead. Wearing his bangs down makes him appear younger and softens his expression 128.
• Physique: Well-conditioned through martial-arts training 74.
• Formal dress: Attends the Gu Family funeral in an appropriate black suit, without unnecessary accessories or elaborate hairstyling 7.
• Cologne: Wears a woody fragrance with Sichuan pepper in its top and middle notes, which Gu Bai likes 22 23.

Personality

Chu Zeshen is quiet, controlled, and protective of his privacy. He dislikes crowds and noise, keeps a small live-in household, and discourages gossip about other families. Outsiders commonly describe him as arrogant, cold, and heavy-handed, although Cheng Huansi finds him unexpectedly considerate during an informal outing 7 19 143.

His marriage reveals a more attentive and playful side. He serves Gu Bai food, cares for him through illness, and becomes visibly embarrassed by his praise. He also willingly submits to Gu Bai photographing him in a face mask with his bangs tied into a tiny tuft, finding unexpected warmth in being called “cute” 30 40 58 133.

Although he respects Gu Bai’s decisions, he is not indifferent to their relationship. Zhang Wenzhen’s past connection with Gu Bai makes him jealous, and the prospect of divorce is a firm emotional boundary. When Gu Bai investigates Jiang Yi, however, Chu Zeshen leaves the decision about further meetings to him rather than taking control of the investigation 107 152 195.

His restraint has limits when relatives attack his family. After Chu Peiwen insults his deceased parents and later troubles Elder Chu and Gu Bai, Chu Zeshen abandons his earlier discretion and exposes the affair behind his uncle’s transfer 71 190.

Abilities & Skills

Business Management

Chu Zeshen runs the Chu Group and commands extensive professional influence 30 34.

• Offers to teach Gu Bai business personally 148.
• Has the resources and connections to support Gu Bai against Gu Ruilin or the wider Gu Family 152.
• Becomes Gu Bai’s intended safeguard against approving unfavorable company projects by checking documents brought to him 228.
• Remains receptive to Gu Bai’s judgment: the introductory passage describes him rejecting a flawed proposal on Gu Bai’s advice and securing an international partnership through an alternative 1.

Martial Arts and Sports

• Karate: Switched from fencing at Elder Chu’s direction in middle school and trained for three years in high school. Practiced during university holidays, but work later restricted his training 74.
• Fencing: An earlier sporting interest 74.
• Basketball: Occasionally plays with Lu Shengfan and their friends 74.
• Running: Maintains a morning routine that Mocha begins joining 30.

Calligraphy and Chinese Chess

His grandmother taught him both disciplines 77 79.

• Teaches Gu Bai brush grip and stroke techniques through hands-on guidance 79.
• Practices calligraphy as his own way of remembering his grandmother 78.
• Is rusty at Chinese chess after a long absence from the game and loses two consecutive matches to Gu Bai 77 78.

Cooking and Baking

• Learns baking while secretly preparing Gu Bai’s birthday café 275.
• Makes coffee and serves a cream puff and chocolate lava egg tart at The Love 275.
• Personally cooks Gu Bai’s private birthday dinner and makes his birthday cake 277.

Games and Pet Care

• Helps Gu Bai clear a game level and regularly plays games with him at home 74 155 210.
• Shares responsibility for Mocha’s exercise, veterinary visits, and daily care 27 69 74.
• Understands Mocha’s behavior well enough to negotiate with treats, including persuading him to cooperate during the family portrait session 129.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Contract Marriage and Domestic Life

Chu Zeshen agrees to the marriage alliance and personally drafts almost the entire private agreement. By the time he introduces Gu Bai to Xie Wen and Lu Shengfan, they have been legally married for a week 25 27 62.

Gu Bai moves into his villa with Mocha but initially occupies a separate bedroom. Their arrangement gives each partner protection against difficult relatives: Gu Bai helps face the Chu collateral branch, while Chu Zeshen’s standing shields Gu Bai within the Gu Family 17 31.

Their shared home begins changing Chu Zeshen’s work-centered routine. Gu Bai’s casual greeting when he returns home visibly moves him, contrasting with the dark entrance he had become accustomed to. He later takes a vacation without bringing his secretarial staff, granting them genuine paid leave instead 18 19 34.

From Legal Partners to Lovers

• Early intimacy: Looks after Gu Bai during the island vacation, including staying overnight when he develops a fever 41 58.
• Growing attraction: A calligraphy lesson ends with an accidental brush of Gu Bai’s cheek against his lips 79.
• Shared bedroom: Gu Bai brings him into the bedroom to reassure Elder Chu; they subsequently spend the night with Mocha between them 114 116.
• Courtship accepted: Gu Bai explicitly accepts Chu Zeshen’s courtship, turning their legal partnership into an acknowledged romantic relationship 205.
• Established domestic relationship: Chu Zeshen promises to keep Gu Ruilin and Jiang Yi away when Gu Bai says he no longer wants to see them 249.

Public Recognition of the Marriage

At Elder Xie’s birthday banquet, Chu Zeshen identifies Gu Bai as his spouse to business acquaintances and remains hand-in-hand with him while handling their questions 84.

Later, a trending photograph links him romantically with Kat, a business contact. He explains the circumstances, apologizes for not discussing the photograph sooner, and asks Gu Bai to accompany him to future banquets. They agree to publicly confirm their marriage and have wedding rings custom-made 156.

Gu Haisheng formally announces their marriage at the joint Gu–Chu project banquet 181.

Family Conflicts and Inheritance Schemes

• Chu Peiwen’s affair: Refuses to reverse his uncle’s transfer to T City, explaining that his return depends on ending the affair that angered Elder Chu 71 73.
• Threat to the corporation: Recognizes that Chu Peiwen intends to use his own scandal as leverage before a product launch 74.
• Disclosure: Reveals the affair to Chu Ningwei and Chu Hanjin after Chu Peiwen continues blaming him and harassing his household 190.
• Jiang Yi’s approach: Reviews evidence with Gu Bai that Jiang Yi and Gu Ruilin are secretly involved and attempting to engineer a scandal around him 195.
• Gu Bai’s business responsibilities: Supports Gu Bai during the Gu Family crisis and helps him prepare for his first day as executive president of Gu Corporation 228 256.

Gu Bai’s Birthday

Chu Zeshen spends more than a month preparing The Love, a café that opens as Gu Bai’s birthday present. Its decorations incorporate the necklace design he gave Gu Bai. The surprise culminates in a private dinner, a homemade cake, a birthday song, and an overnight stay in a presidential suite 275 277.

Relationships

• Gu Bai — Husband and later reciprocating romantic partner. Chu Zeshen promises unconditional support while respecting Gu Bai’s right to decide how to handle his family and inheritance 183 205.
• Mocha — Gu Bai’s dog and part of their shared family. Chu Zeshen also becomes his accomplice, promising a chicken drumstick after Mocha helps arrange an opportunity for the couple to share a room 197 284.
• Elder Chu — Grandfather, business mentor, and surviving parental figure. Their affection includes frequent teasing and Elder Chu’s enthusiastic support for the marriage 72 79 83.
• Grandmother — Deceased teacher of calligraphy and Chinese chess. Chu Zeshen continues remembering her through calligraphy 77 78.
• Xie Wen and Lu Shengfan — Childhood friends who attended school with him from kindergarten through high school. Both notice and tease him about the changes marriage brings 25 27 37.
• Uncle Li — Long-serving household caretaker who understands his bereavement and upbringing; intervenes when Chu Peiwen insults him 71 72.
• Assistant Feng — Professional assistant who has worked beside him for several years and witnesses his changing attitude toward vacations 34.
• Chu Peiwen — Older relative addressed as “Second Uncle,” from the collateral branch. Resents Chu Zeshen’s control of the corporation and blames him for his transfer 71 189.
• Chu Ningwei and Chu Hanjin — Younger cousins who initially believe he is unfairly targeting their father; he eventually tells them the truth 20 73 190.
• Gu Ruilin and Jiang Yi — Participants in a scheme to undermine his marriage and Gu Bai’s inheritance position 195.
• Kat — Business contact whose photograph with him becomes the subject of unfounded romantic speculation 156.

Notable Quotes

“If you need my help with anything, just ask. I’m yours.” 24

“You don’t need to tell me. He’s my husband. I’ll stand by him no matter what.” 183

“Mm. Everything I have will be yours sooner or later.” 216

Trivia

• Despite his family’s enthusiasm for tea, he cannot go a day without coffee; he nevertheless enjoys savoring tea himself 164.
• The childhood-betrothal paper bears his footprint, stamped when he was one month old 285.
• The closing childhood chapters depict him eagerly anticipating a “little sister.” He is upset to discover that the baby is a boy after choosing pink clothes for him 285 287.
• At the Old Residence, Mocha claims the seat beside Elder Chu while Chu Zeshen sits beyond Gu Bai. He accepts his diminished household standing without complaint because everyone at the table is family 284.