Song Yu

Biodata

Background

Original World

Song Yu grew up in a military compound as a third-generation descendant of a revolutionary family. After he encountered kidnappers as a child, his family placed greater emphasis on self-defense training. He studied martial arts for years, later using those skills during his rebellious school-bully phase 13 21.

While hospitalized, he read Gentle Control at the recommendation of his younger cousin, Song Lan, because one of its supporting characters shared his name. He was infuriated by the abuse inflicted on its protagonist, Xie Sui, and by the novel’s treatment of coercion as romance. After going to sleep, he woke inside the book as the sickly supporting character Song Yu 1.

Assigned Role in *Gentle Control*

The novel’s original Song Yu was Xie Sui’s childhood companion before the age of six, after which he went abroad to recuperate. His brief role was to meet Xie Sui overseas, explain part of their past, and tell him that his mother had loved him, helping him reconcile with that history 1.

System 008 appeared in the original Song Yu’s form and identified itself as that world’s Song Yu. It explained that the character had unexpectedly died in the hospital, requiring a replacement from a parallel world. The transmigrated Song Yu was supposed to remain for five years and complete the missing storyline; time in his original world would remain frozen 2.

Song Yu rejected the arrangement, but 008 admitted it could not immediately return him. Rather than wait for his assigned appearance, he decided to use those five years to change Xie Sui’s fate 2.

Appearance

• Face and complexion: Exceptionally delicate features, very pale skin, large clear eyes, and naturally pale lips. His new body’s face closely resembles his own at fifteen 2 41.
• Eyes: Described in later scenes as light tea-colored 40 48.
• Hair: Soft hair, described as black upon his initial appearance and light brown or light-colored in later scenes 2 10 12.
• Overall impression: Looks frail, clean-cut, and well-behaved—an appearance that repeatedly causes opponents to underestimate his strength 10 21 22.

Personality

Song Yu is outspoken, combative, and quick to intervene when someone is being bullied. His anger at Gentle Control becomes direct action after transmigration: he confronts harassers, challenges abusive authority figures, and refuses to treat Xie Sui’s suffering as something necessary for the plot 1 5 34 48.

His protectiveness is tempered by concern for other people’s dignity. After forcing Zhu Zhixing to address his mistreatment of Xie Sui, Song Yu worries that revisiting the past may have hurt Xie Sui and apologizes. When he discovers another student’s account of abuse, he submits the evidence privately rather than exposing her suffering to renewed public scrutiny 22 34.

He is boastful and easily provoked, especially about his intelligence, grades, and reputation. His exaggerated confidence and sarcastic replies make him a school-forum celebrity. Nevertheless, he has no airs around Ma Xiaoding despite their different family backgrounds, and his academic posturing eventually develops into sustained effort 15 16 17 43.

Song Yu initially identifies himself as straight and interprets his devotion to Xie Sui as friendship. Romantic speculation irritates him, particularly when he feels it casts doubt on the sincerity of his kindness. He frequently misses Xie Sui’s deliberate flirtation 36 46 48.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts and Improvised Fighting

Song Yu retains the combat experience developed in his original world 13 21.

• Reverses a thug’s grip, throws him down, and pins his arm before striking him with a rolled-up mathematics book 10.
• Fights multiple opponents with a pool cue, using fast, forceful blows that intimidate the remaining attackers into holding back 21.
• Recognizes when retreat or outside help is preferable: he calls Uncle Ma during an armed ambush and runs from a larger group rather than immediately fighting 10 12.
• Is afraid of dogs and somewhat afraid of heights; both become problems during his attempted escape over a wall 13.

Knowledge of the Original Plot

Having read Gentle Control, Song Yu knows many of the dangers awaiting Xie Sui 1 2.

• Anticipates the summer attack that would leave Xie Sui’s fingers permanently injured 2 3.
• Remembers Wang Ci’s planned harassment and attempts to sabotage Xie Sui’s education 6.
• Uses his knowledge to oppose threats rather than preserve the prescribed storyline 2 48.
• Does not possess complete or infallible knowledge: he skimmed parts of the novel, questions his recollection of Song Yu’s illness, and increasingly faces events that have diverged from the book 20 43 48.

Verbal Sparring and Online Presence

Song Yu’s sharp replies turn “Your Husband Brother Yu” into a popular forum identity before classmates connect the account to him 15 16.

• Uses sarcasm and absurd suggestions to ridicule boastful or provocative posts 15.
• Publicly defends Xie Sui and challenges people threatening him 22 28.
• Bets forum detractors that he will place among the top hundred students in his grade 42.

Family Connections

Song Yu draws on his family’s influence when informal confrontation is insufficient 19 23 36 37.

• Calls the principal to resist Ou Yilian’s attempt to move him away from Xie Sui 19.
• Asks Meng Guang to intervene when Wang Ci takes Xie Sui’s freshman-representative speech slot; Meng Guang contacts the education bureau 23.
• Summons his aunt Wen Yuan during the confrontation involving Wang Ci’s mother and Ou Yilian 36 37.

Academic Development

Story Role / Major Arcs

Moving to Jing City

After recognizing that the novel’s inhabitants are real people rather than disposable characters, Song Yu asks to leave City A and stay with his maternal grandmother. His immediate goal is to reach Xie Sui before the summer injury described in the novel. He departs three days after leaving the hospital 2.

008 refuses to provide Xie Sui’s address and warns him against disrupting the plot. Song Yu nevertheless encounters Xie Sui while accompanying Meng Guang to Linshui. He intervenes against Wang Beidan’s harassment, gives Xie Sui medicine, and obtains his address directly 3 4 5.

Protecting Xie Sui over the Summer

Song Yu helps Xie Sui at the police station, takes him for treatment, and accompanies him home. There he meets Grandma Chen and promises that Xie Sui will no longer be alone. Xie Sui initially distrusts the apparent kindness, while Song Yu already considers him an important friend 8.

He helps Xie Sui obtain a cheap phone and a SIM card, then becomes involved in repeated confrontations with Red Hair’s gang. After witnessing Xie Sui defeat the attackers with unexpected ruthlessness, he begins to question how well he understands the boy he came to protect 10 12 13 14.

Becoming Xie Sui’s Deskmate

At Jingcheng No. 1 High School, Song Yu asks Xie Sui to save the seat beside him. Their days become a mixture of tutoring, teasing, shared meals, and increasingly enthusiastic speculation from classmates 16 17 19 27.

Song Yu confronts the people involved in Xie Sui’s middle-school bullying, defeats the group at the pool hall, and makes Zhu Zhixing erase insulting graffiti and explain himself to their former class group. He subsequently helps restore Xie Sui’s place as freshman representative after Wang Ci takes the speech slot 21 22 23.

Confronting School Abuse

After reading a former student’s diary, Song Yu reports Ou Yilian’s mishandling of harassment to the principal and Meng Guang. Meanwhile, his scheduled fight with Gao Feng draws widespread forum attention; by its aftermath, his identity as “Your Husband Brother Yu” is public knowledge 34 39.

When Wang Ci’s mother accuses Xie Sui and insults him despite evidence of Wang Ci’s attempted sexual assault, Song Yu slaps her and calls Wen Yuan. The resulting confrontation exposes Ou Yilian’s protection of Wang Ci and reveals that Song Yu’s uncle is the mayor 36 37.

Examinations and Memory Discrepancies

Song Yu studies under Xie Sui’s guidance and finishes his monthly examinations with an eighty-first-place result. During this period, his dreams repeatedly show scenes involving Xie Sui, including an adult Xie Sui and a banquet 40 43 45 46.

His father and sister explain that he was healthy before nearly drowning at six on his third uncle’s island. This conflicts with his recollection that the novel’s Song Yu was born ill. His own early memories are blank, 008 has remained unresponsive for months, and a conversation with Xie Sui reveals that their shared childhood is unclear to both of them 45 48.

Relationships

• Xie Sui — Childhood companion in the novel’s backstory and Song Yu’s closest friend and deskmate after transmigration. Song Yu actively tries to prevent his suffering. Xie Sui’s distrust gradually gives way to affection; he tells the sleeping Song Yu that he is the one pursuing him, but Song Yu has not recognized that courtship 1 8 17 38 43.
• System 008 / original Song Yu — The entity responsible for bringing him into the novel. Their relationship is adversarial because Song Yu refuses to preserve the plot. Its prolonged disappearance leaves him without answers about his memories and illness 2 3 48.
• Grandma Meng — His affectionate maternal grandmother and host in Jing City. She arranges his school accommodation and worries about his health 2 3 16 39.
• President Song — His protective, short-tempered father. Threatens to bring him back to City A and makes examination performance a condition of his independence 15 24.
• Mother — A businesswoman associated with the Song Group. Her genuine affection helps Song Yu begin treating the novel’s world as real; she supports his move and initially helps conceal it from his father 2 15.
• Song Wanying — His older sister. Exchanges teasing messages with him, warns him when their father discovers his transfer, and clarifies the childhood accident behind his illness 2 15 48.
• Meng Guang — His older cousin. Brings him to Linshui, intervenes against Wang Beidan, and helps him restore Xie Sui’s speech appointment 3 5 23.
• Wen Yuan — His aunt, whom he calls for support during the school-office confrontation. She defends him and demands accountability for Wang Ci’s actions 36 37.
• Ma Xiaoding — The family driver’s son, school friend, and enthusiastic supporter. Initially mistakes Song Yu for a sheltered academic achiever before witnessing his fighting ability 6 17 21.
• Xi Bowen — Classmate and study-oriented friend who helps spread Song Yu’s supposed top-student reputation 17 42.
• Grandma Chen — Xie Sui’s grandmother. Song Yu treats her gently and promises that her grandson will no longer be alone 8.
• Song Lan — His younger cousin in the original world, whose recommendation introduces him to Gentle Control 1.

Items

• Mints — A childhood favorite that he carries and shares with Xie Sui 12 13 19 22.
• Mathematics book — Used as an improvised weapon during his first fight with Red Hair 10.
• Old phone — Offers it to Xie Sui for one hundred yuan, presenting the assistance as a cheap sale 10.
• Watch intended for Xie Sui — Requests a watch from President Song for a friend, then earmarks it for Xie Sui’s winter birthday 45 47.

Notable Quotes

“He won't be alone anymore.” 8

“I took it upon myself to bring you here. Maybe you didn't want to come back. I'm sorry.” 22

“Does friendship where you'd take a knife for your buddy without expecting anything in return just not exist anymore?” 36