Gu Zhiyue

Biodata

Background / History

Gu Zhiyue was entrusted to Lin Xiang and Bai Qinglan when he was approximately three or four years old, while his biological parents, Gu Jiangfeng and Zhao Wanling, faced a dangerous business war. He was supposed to return at four, but an accident severed contact between the families. Bai Qinglan believed his biological parents had died; they continued searching for him for roughly fourteen years 1.

Raised lovingly by Lin Xiang and Bai Qinglan, Zhiyue did not realize they were not his biological parents despite having a different surname. When the Gu family found him, he worried about fitting into a household he barely remembered and agreed to try living with them for one month 1.

He returned to the Gu estate on his eighteenth birthday. That night, he fell down the stairs and was hospitalized with superficial injuries. His family’s concern helped him feel that he belonged, and he instinctively called Zhao Wanling “Mom” upon waking. System No. 9 subsequently bound to him with a mission to prevent the Gu family’s future destruction 2 3.

His return did not end his relationship with his adoptive parents. He maintained frequent calls, sent them money, and later visited their home in Yunxiang during the National Day holiday. Both sets of parents supported these continuing ties 12 15 22 38.

Appearance

• Face: Handsome, with soft facial contours, slightly rounded cheeks, and bangs resting across his forehead 17.
• Eyes and brows: Inherited Zhao Wanling’s features, including upturned phoenix eyes; these make his resemblance to Gu Shen Ci especially noticeable 17 25.
• Nose: Resembles Gu Jiangfeng’s, with a straight bridge and upturned tip 1.
• Expression: Frequently smiles; a classmate describes his eyes as lighting up when he does 25.
• Overall impression: Described as a gentle, soft beauty, contrasting with Gu Shen Ci’s cooler, more aloof appearance 17.

Personality

Zhiyue is affectionate and attentive to both family and friends. He rejects the idea that returning to his biological parents should require abandoning the people who raised him. His care also appears in practical gestures: sending money for Lin Xiang’s health and a replacement car, remembering Xie Zhen’s favorite dishes, and arranging food around Luo Yunhe’s medical restrictions 12 22 31 32.

He enjoys gossip and exchanges irreverent jokes with Xiao Jiu, sometimes unknowingly making his listening relatives laugh. He is also openly susceptible to handsome faces, admitting that Xing Yisheng’s looks first attracted his attention 7 8 9 36.

Although friendly, Zhiyue is confrontational when someone threatens his family. He refuses to defer to Gu Jiangli’s attempts to belittle him and sharply rejects the Tong family’s request for leniency after Tong Ziyi’s sabotage 8 42.

His adjustment to wealth is uneven. He jokes about becoming one of the family’s spenders, yet questions whether he bought too many washcloths and pens during a shopping trip costing only 207 yuan. He also declines an elaborate reunion banquet because he dislikes occasions that become excessively lively 12 14 22.

Abilities & Skills

System No. 9 / Xiao Jiu

Zhiyue communicates mentally with Xiao Jiu, a newly appointed system tasked with saving the Gu family 3.

• Information gathering: Xiao Jiu supplies personal histories, concealed motives, gossip, and warnings about future disasters 4 7 26 37.
• Evidence support: It compiles harmful online remarks concerning Gu Shen Ci and his fans 19.
• Limits: Xiao Jiu cannot automatically resolve every threat; it tells Zhiyue that the developing online scandal must be handled by the family themselves 19.
• Visible avatar: After Xiao Jiu levels up, Zhiyue selects an avatar resembling a small figurine in a panda onesie 25.

Audible Thoughts

Members of Zhiyue’s biological family can hear his thoughts and his unspoken conversations with Xiao Jiu after his hospitalization 3 18 35 36.

• His parents and all three older brothers use this information to recognize threats and coordinate countermeasures 5 18 35 36.
• Zhiyue remains unaware of their access to these conversations; Gu Shuoyan nearly reveals the secret while thanking him for helping Gu Shen Ci 20.
• Zhao Wanling states that outsiders cannot hear him, while acknowledging that the family does not know whether this will remain unchanged 36.

Hacking

Xiao Jiu identifies Zhiyue as a capable hacker, though not on the level of the top hackers 36.

• In the original future, he independently traces Gu Tingchuan’s death back to the Fu family’s eldest young master 36.
• This investigative achievement belongs to the forecasted future, rather than an investigation he has already completed in the present storyline 36.

Memory and Gaming

• Memory: Remembers friends’ food preferences after hearing them only once or twice. Gu Shuoyan also recalls him noticing that two candies had disappeared from his bag 32.
• Gaming: Skilled at aiming, selecting weapons, and directing teammates in shooting games; Luo Yunhe and Xie Zhen rely on him to lead their attacks 29 32.

Other Skills

• Driving: Learned from Lin Xiang before becoming eligible for a license. He practices cautiously at a privately booked racetrack, initially maintaining 40 km/h despite Gu Shuoyan’s encouragement 2 6.
• Guzheng: Can play the instrument, although he admits he was reluctant when he first began learning 6.
• Emergency response: Calls emergency services and administers Luo Yunhe’s own medicine after Gu Shuoyan breaks the window of Luo’s car 13.

Equipment / Items

• Gaming setup: Prepared by Zhao Wanling before his arrival; later used for games with Luo Yunhe and Xie Zhen 2 29.
• Limited-edition models and games: Welcome gifts sent by Gu Tingchuan, including a model airplane capable of flying 2.
• Concert tickets and albums: Gifts from Gu Shen Ci; Zhiyue distributes tickets among friends and invites Xing Yisheng 17 18.
• Allowance: Has more than ten million yuan remaining by Chapter 28 and receives another twenty million from his biological parents in Chapter 43 28 43.

Relationships

• Zhao Wanling — Biological mother. Chose his name and welcomes him without demanding immediate recognition as his mother 1 22.
• Gu Jiangfeng — Biological father. Protects Zhiyue’s place in the family and acts on the warnings overheard through his thoughts 5 8 13.
• Lin Xiang — Adoptive father, whom Zhiyue calls “Lin Dad.” Taught him to drive and remains an important part of his life 6 12 38.
• Bai Qinglan — Adoptive mother, called “Mom Qinglan.” Encourages him to accept his biological parents while reassuring him that he can always return home 1 3.
• Gu Tingchuan — Eldest brother. Sends welcome gifts before they meet; Zhiyue later warns him about suspicious people surrounding his business collaboration 2 35 37.
• Gu Shen Ci — Second brother, an actor. Their resemblance attracts public attention, and Zhiyue helps provide evidence during his online scandal 17 20 25.
• Gu Shuoyan — Third brother and fellow Jinghong College student. Takes him driving, spends time gaming with him, and works with him to expose the racing sabotage 2 6 40.
• Xing Yisheng — Friend whom Zhiyue initially wants to meet because of his looks. They exchange GreenChat details, arrange to attend a concert, and watch the National Day performance together 9 12 23 33.
• Luo Yunhe — Friend and fellow student whose life Zhiyue saves. Zhiyue subsequently helps him seek medical care and accommodates his dietary needs 13 21 23 32.
• Xie Zhen — College friend and regular gaming teammate; appreciates Zhiyue remembering his favorite dishes 22 29 32.
• Gu Jiangli — Paternal uncle and concealed enemy of the household. Zhiyue learns of his plans through Xiao Jiu and deliberately challenges his attempts to assert authority 4 5 8.
• Gu Jinghuan — Older cousin whom Zhiyue regards favorably after learning that he would try to warn the family about Gu Jiangli 8.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Forecasted Death

In Xiao Jiu’s account of the original future, Zhiyue dies four or five years after returning to the Gu family, one month after Gu Tingchuan’s death. With his father paralyzed and his mother reduced to begging, he investigates his eldest brother’s fatal “accident” and identifies the Fu family’s eldest young master as responsible 36.

After half a month of planning and observation, Zhiyue deliberately crashes his car into the vehicle carrying Fu Yanting and Wu Jiaojiao on a rainy day. All three die before reaching the hospital. On hearing this forecast, his first reaction is pride that he successfully uncovered the perpetrators 36.

Notable Quotes

“Five hundred million?! No, I won't allow it! Forget five hundred million—not even five yuan!” 4

“I just came back to my biological parents. It's not like I cut ties with my adoptive parents. Why wouldn't I be in touch?” 22

“Do we look like fools to you? Does my third brother look like a fool to you?” 42

Trivia

• Zhao Wanling chose his name hoping he would understand right and wrong and possess a calm, clear mind 22.
• He cannot eat lamb, dislikes cilantro, and favors spicy and sour food 2 15.
• He declines Gu Shen Ci’s suggestion of becoming an actor but considers becoming a director and casting his brother instead 17.
• He saves Xing Yisheng’s GreenChat contact as “Professional Brain Repair” 12.