Jiang Yao

Biodata

Background / History

Before the Crash

Jiang Yao was Lu Zhe’s high-school deskmate before attending the same university and becoming his figure skating partner. Their routines required handholding and waist contact, but her insistence on cleanliness meant he regularly had to wash his hands several times before touching her 3 16.

She was one of five finance-class students selected to represent their university at an international academic summer camp. A flight issue separated them from the other student representatives: they departed on June 10 rather than June 9 and were the only five passengers upgraded to first class. After the crash, she suggested that their seating might explain why their group had survived, though the other passengers’ fate remained unknown 27.

Rescue and Recovery

Jiang Yao was the fifth survivor found by the group. She lay unconscious on the beach, severely dehydrated and dangerously overheated after prolonged exposure to the sun. Lu Zhe carried her into the shade while the girls loosened or removed her clothing, cooled her with a seawater-dampened sock, and fanned her 4 5 6.

The group gave her an emergency fluid supply later identified as Ning Shu’s and Tang Xiaoguo’s urine. Her condition improved, but she remained unconscious while the others established camp. During this period, Tang Xiaoguo was bitten by a cobra while trying to drive it away from Jiang Yao and Lin Qianqian 6 7 11 16.

She fully awoke after Lin Qianqian carefully gave her water. Learning that it came from a muddy puddle triggered vomiting and panic. Lu Zhe responded by physically restraining her, revealing the improvised measures used to save her, and confronting her with the resources and risks her classmates had expended. He threatened to make her swallow anything she vomited rather than waste it 16.

Afterward, Jiang Yao thanked him and promised to try to adapt. Ning Shu formally welcomed her into the survival team. When told that her bra had been used to filter water, she accepted the explanation and expressed satisfaction that she had contributed even while unconscious 17.

The First Night

Jiang Yao made more than ten hot-water bottles in half an hour, helping warm the group’s sand-pit sleeping area. When Tang Xiaoguo’s condition worsened overnight, she volunteered to help Lu Zhe heat stones and replace the warming bottles rather than continue resting 25 27.

Watching everyone care for Tang Xiaoguo moved her to tears. She recognized that they had worked just as hard to save her and expressed gratitude for Tang Xiaoguo’s attempt to protect her from the snake. Later, she and Lu Zhe held Tang Xiaoguo between them to provide warmth after Ning Shu and Lin Qianqian became chilled 27 28.

Ankle Injury and Camp Work

While gathering coconuts, Jiang Yao stood on Ning Shu’s shoulders above Lu Zhe and knocked several fruits down with a long branch. The human tower subsequently collapsed, and her foot landed on a rock. Lu Zhe diagnosed a severe ankle-ligament sprain rather than a fracture, estimating that it would require at least a week of rest and daily treatment with medicinal herbs 30 31.

Her inability to travel helped prompt the decision to move camp to the coconut grove, which also offered more varied plants and rocks. She continued working within her limits, helping make tools and weaving leaves for the new shelter 31 35 40.

The injury also caused her to lose her balance while squatting, leaving her soiled and nauseated. Lin Qianqian helped her wash, while Lu Zhe recovered dragon fruit seeds from her waste and used the remainder as bait for a stocking fish trap. The trap caught twenty or thirty small fish the following morning 40 43.

Preparing to Relocate

Jiang Yao agreed to Lu Zhe’s proposal to move to Volcano Island because their existing freshwater sources could not sustain them long-term. She was assigned to strip abaca stalks for raft-lashing material and help prepare meals. Following his advice, she wrapped her hands in rags before diligently separating the fibers 48 49.

Appearance

• Build: Approximately 1.64 meters tall and around ninety jin in weight, with a slender waist and a figure Lu Zhe notices after she swims 30 31.
• Face and complexion: Very fair skin, slightly baby-fat cheeks, and large eyes 5 16.
• Distinguishing features: Long, pale calves and slender feet; her calves are reddened by sun exposure when she is found 5.
• Initial clothing: A black sailor-style school uniform, lace-trimmed princess socks, and small leather shoes 5 7.

Personality

Jiang Yao’s germophobia initially conflicts sharply with island survival. Before the crash, she demanded meticulous cleanliness from her skating partner; after waking, even the explanation that her drinking water came from a muddy puddle made her vomit. Her adjustment is not immediate or complete: she accepts improvised supplies and unfamiliar food, including roasted rat, but later becomes nauseated after falling into her own waste 16 17 40 42.

She is playful and openly flirtatious with Lu Zhe, calling him “Xiao Zhe,” inviting him to sleep beside her, and imagining them as parents caring for Tang Xiaoguo. Her teasing extends to the others, including a nighttime joke that their sand shelter resembles a grave 17 25 28.

Despite frequent bickering with Tang Xiaoguo, she cares deeply about her companions. She volunteers for overnight work, acknowledges the danger Tang Xiaoguo faced protecting her, and later chooses to tend the fire rather than burden a foraging trip with her injured ankle 27 41.

Abilities & Skills

Figure Skating

• Partners with Lu Zhe in the university figure skating club and participates in routines involving handholding and waist contact 5 16.
• Takes the top position in the three-person tower used to reach coconuts, bracing against the trunk while handling a long branch 30.
• Is described as physically weaker than Ning Shu, a tennis-club member 30.

Swimming

• Dives into the sea and swims to wash mud and sand from her body on the second morning 29.

Survival and Camp Craft

• Heating: Collects seawater and uses heated stones to produce hot water for warming bottles 25.
• Toolmaking: Participates in making stone tools and takes pride in completing useful wilderness equipment 35.
• Shelter construction: Weaves leaves into coverings used as windbreaks 40.
• Camp maintenance: Volunteers to remain behind and tend the fire while others forage 41.
• Food and raft preparation: Roasts coconut meat and extracts abaca fibers for rope 48 49.

Equipment / Items

• Water-damaged phone — Cannot be switched on after the crash and provides no usable battery for fire-starting 5 7.
• Tingmei bra — Taken by Lu Zhe while she is unconscious and repurposed to filter muddy freshwater; Jiang Yao later accepts its use for the group 15 17.
• Protective hand rags — Worn while separating abaca fibers to prevent injury 49.

Relationships

• Lu Zhe — Her former high-school deskmate, university classmate, skating partner, and rescuer. She develops an openly affectionate interest in him, leaning against him for warmth and taking his hand. He recognizes her feelings but avoids choosing between the girls because of the consequences for their friendships and survival 3 5 17 27 28.
• Tang Xiaoguo — A close companion and romantic rival. They compete for Lu Zhe’s attention and frequently trade barbs, but Jiang Yao is deeply grateful that Tang Xiaoguo risked herself against the cobra and helps nurse her through the cold night 11 17 27 28 32.
• Ning Shu — Her class monitor and survival teammate. Ning Shu helps save her, welcomes her into the team, and cares for her after the ankle injury. Jiang Yao reassures her rather than blaming her for the fall 6 17 31.
• Lin Qianqian — A classmate who helps cool her, carefully gives her water when she awakens, checks her swollen ankle, and assists her with washing after her later accident 6 16 32 40.

Notable Quotes

“I like being clean, so my dance partner has to be squeaky-clean too.” 16

“I thought I was completely useless, but it turns out I contributed to the team even while unconscious!” 17

“Guo’er can be a real handful and so willful sometimes... but she’s honestly a really, really good girl!” 27