Chi Ye

Biodata

Background / History

Chi Ye comes from the Chi Family, one of S City’s earliest wealthy merchant families. His father, Chi Chuan, previously managed the family company. Chi Ye had no interest in taking over Chi Corporation and established his own business instead; his older cousin Chi Lin became the corporation’s CEO 49 86.

An exceptionally gifted programmer, Chi Ye created a game independently while attending college. He subsequently founded Blazing Fire Technology and expanded into artificial intelligence. Within a few years, the company became S City’s AI industry leader, working in firewalls, games, animation, and voice technology. Although outsiders credited his success to his family, he acknowledged their support while continuing to establish his own professional reputation 8.

After reaching adulthood, Chi Ye moved into Heavenly Domain Villa. He fiercely guarded his privacy: his relatives did not have his door code, and he initially resisted having a housekeeper. His family spent more than a year persuading him to accept domestic assistance 2.

Appearance

• Height: 188 centimeters 2.
• Complexion: Naturally pale, cool-toned skin, on which red marks are particularly noticeable 7.
• Eyes: Jet-black, frequently described with an angry or unrestrained expression 14 35.
• Voice: Deep and resonant 2.
• Clothing and accessories: Prefers comfortable, fashionable casual clothes and wears black ear studs; he also wears formal suits when required 37 44 50.
• Hair: Dyes his hair blue-gray-purple to match Shen Zhiyi’s 76.
• Family resemblance: Strongly resembles his father, though their bearing differs 56.

Personality

Chi Ye is proud, sharp-tongued, and impatient with incompetence. His criticism can be severe: he once reduced an intern to tears, and as a student he corrected a typo-filled love letter as though grading homework. He considers much of his mockery a statement of fact rather than an argument, an attitude his childhood friend Chu Yanqing recognizes immediately 28 35 37.

Despite his abrasive reputation, he can be sociable and considerate. While accompanying Shen Zhiyi in a small town, he easily befriends elderly neighbors and observes ordinary social courtesies. He dislikes wealthy social cliques and has little patience for heirs whose status conceals neither their idleness nor their transparent schemes 15 76.

His attachment to Shen Zhiyi exposes an anxious, emotionally vulnerable side. He becomes jealous, seeks reassurance, and fears overlooking signs that she may harm herself. His care is genuine, but his persistence also crosses boundaries: he kisses her without permission, resists the end of their contract, and initially assumes he can change her circumstances and emotional state through his efforts. Their separation forces him to confront those limits; afterward, he respects her request for distance while continuing to support her indirectly 29 54 66 81 84.

His protectiveness can turn violent. He repeatedly fought Chu Yannan when they were younger and later severely beats Fang Yue over his treatment of Shen Zhiyi. His mother nevertheless describes him as tenderhearted, morally discerning, and unlikely to abandon someone he loves 37 82 86.

Abilities & Skills

Mind Reading

Chi Ye discovers that he can hear Shen Zhiyi’s unspoken thoughts when she is brought to his villa 3.

• Exclusive target: He can hear Shen Zhiyi, not the thoughts of everyone around him 49 54.
• Practical uses: Her thoughts reveal otherwise hidden distress, clarify misunderstandings, and expose her references to “protagonists,” “villains,” and “cannon fodder” 38 41.
• Limitations: Her frequent mental silence leaves him with little information. Even after a month, he considers the ability nearly useless for understanding her and still relies on guesses 7 32 51.
• Later understanding: By Chapter 89, he recognizes what she is thinking without needing the inner voice. The narration connects the ability to his sensitivity toward her emotions and fear of failing to notice her needs 89.

Computing and Business Management

Chi Ye combines exceptional computing talent with hands-on management of Blazing Fire Technology 8.

• Creates a game independently during college and develops a business spanning AI, cybersecurity, and entertainment technology 8.
• Tests programs personally, identifies necessary changes, and directs development teams 8.
• Continues managing software problems, collaboration meetings, and the Q7 project while staying outside the city 15 21.
• Expects employees to solve routine problems rather than depend on him for every bug 67.

Physical Ability and Emergency Response

• Swimming and rescue: Jumps into a river, reaches Shen Zhiyi, and brings her back to shore 21.
• Resuscitation: Performs chest compressions and rescue breaths after the river rescue 21.
• Fighting: Consistently overpowers Chu Yannan, even after Chu Yannan takes combat, taekwondo, and boxing lessons 37.
• Protective intervention: Stops Hao Qiulan from pushing Shen Zhiyi into a lake 81.

Cooking and Dessert Making

Chi Ye’s cooking develops unevenly: his ordinary meals remain disastrous, while sustained practice produces good desserts 70 71 76.

• Cooks noodles for Shen Zhiyi during their first night together 4.
• Studies a dessert master’s ingredient notebook after seeking help through Chu Yanqing 71.
• Approaches baking with measuring cups, test tubes, and other equipment resembling a laboratory setup 71.
• Practices because he has read that sweets can improve someone’s mood; his desserts eventually earn praise 76.
• Remains poor at general cooking, ruining enough pans that Xu Housekeeper bars him from the kitchen 76.

Residence & Personal Items

• Heavenly Domain Villa: His private residence, chosen for its proximity to work. Shen Zhiyi’s presence eventually makes it feel like a home to him rather than merely his personal territory 2 32 56.
• Shen Zhiyi’s workspaces: Equips a carving station in his office and a fully supplied workshop at home 66 71.
• Imoo Phone Watch: A new product from his company that he uses as a prop when pretending to be underage to discourage women seeking his contact details 2.
• Dessert notebook: Receives a master’s ingredient notes and later accumulates his own notes while practicing and planning a trip with Shen Zhiyi 71 76.

Relationships

• Shen Zhiyi — Initially his proposed fake girlfriend and contractual partner, later his genuine romantic partner. He repeatedly supports her through psychological crises, but their relationship also requires him to recognize the limits of his intervention 32 74 81 90.
• Ye Nianliu / Madam Ye — His mother. Her enthusiasm for matchmaking motivates his fake-relationship plan; she later befriends Shen Zhiyi and supports their relationship 6 60 86.
• Chi Chuan — His father. Their exchanges are teasing and familiar; Chi Chuan helps arrange Shen Zhiyi’s visit to the Old Residence 54 55.
• Grandpa Chi — His grandfather and the original advocate for pairing him with Shen Zhiyi. He later challenges Chi Ye to distinguish lasting love from a desire to conquer a difficult challenge 6 56 59.
• Chu Yanqing — Childhood friend and confidant who notices his growing emotional investment in Shen Zhiyi. Chi Ye also approaches him for help learning dessert making 37 38 71.
• Xu Housekeeper — Long-serving family housekeeper whose gossip, romance-fiction references, and teasing frequently irritate him. Xu nevertheless provides practical help and supports his courtship 31 55 70.
• Special Assistant Fang — His assistant at Blazing Fire Technology. Handles business matters, offers advice on approaching Shen Zhiyi, and receives instructions to investigate her circumstances 8 23 41.
• Liu Muyan — A younger acquaintance who initially fears his temper. After becoming close to Shen Zhiyi, she openly challenges his suitability as her boyfriend 34 35 68.
• Chu Yannan — Chu Yanqing’s younger brother, whom Chi Ye has repeatedly disciplined physically. Chi Ye threatens him for mistreating Shen Zhiyi, though he later entrusts him with practical instructions for looking after her during their separation 37 38 84.
• Chi Lin — Older cousin and CEO of Chi Corporation. Helps Chi Ye arrange Fang Yue’s return from abroad 59 82.
• Fang Yue — Shen Zhiyi’s abusive uncle. Chi Ye first confronts him with recorded evidence and the threat of legal action, then later has him restrained and violently retaliates against him 9 82.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Notable Quotes

“Why can't I choose you? Shen Zhiyi, I have to choose you!” 51

“Shen Zhiyi, say something else. Just one more sentence, please?” 54

“I might as well put a few dogs at the entrance to watch over the company. Who knows? After watching long enough, even the dogs might learn to code.” 67

Trivia

• His claim to be under eighteen is a deliberately absurd rejection tactic, not his actual age; he has lived independently since adulthood 2.
• He hates cilantro 55.
• He keeps the toys he requested as a child and still plays with them occasionally 86.
• His relatives accuse him of making the family’s children cry over games. He defends himself by saying they were poor players who nevertheless wanted to become professionals 56.
• He changes Shen Zhiyi’s contact name to “Remember to message Chi Ye” after complaining that she never messages him 38.