Zhou Yang

Biodata

Background / History

Trainee Years and Relationship with Chi Li

Zhou Yang and Chi Li entered Starlight Entertainment in the same trainee intake. Zhou Yang first confessed after they had known each other for three months, but Chi Li rejected him as frivolous. They began dating six months later and remained together for approximately three months—91 days by Zhou Yang’s count 7 12.

During their relationship, they practiced late into the night, shared instant noodles, and discussed their ambitions outside the dormitory. Chi Li initially considered Zhou Yang mature, dependable, and someone he could build a future with. Because the trainees’ allowances were small and Chi Li’s family was better off, Chi Li paid for practically all their dates 1 7.

Breakup and Entry into Raising House

Zhou Yang’s attitude toward BL fanservice changed after a substitute appearance at Raising House gained him 100,000 followers. Although he had previously claimed to despise selling romantic pairings, he accepted the prospect of joining the show and participating in its staged relationship drama. Chi Li refused to remain his boyfriend under those circumstances 1.

When Chi Li ended the relationship, Zhou Yang declared that he never returned to exes, then demanded breakup sex. Chi Li threw coffee in his face and left. Zhou Yang subsequently celebrated his likely casting with friends and claimed that Chi Li opposed his success out of jealousy 1.

He officially moved into Raising House two days later. His initial commercial success was substantial: fewer than ten minutes after appearing, his personal channel had 5,597 concurrent paying viewers, representing nearly 280,000 yuan in membership revenue, half of which would go to him 1 2.

Failed Attempts at Reconciliation

When Chi Li joined Raising House, Zhou Yang assumed that his ex had come to reconcile. He repeatedly interpreted Chi Li’s hostility as jealousy or concealed affection, even after Chi Li publicly mocked him 6 7 12 31.

His pursuit escalated into physical coercion. After finding Gao Yuan in Chi Li’s room, Zhou Yang shoved Gao Yuan aside, pulled Chi Li inside, and attempted to force a kiss. Chi Li stopped him by kneeing him in the crotch 15 16.

During a later nighttime visit, Zhou Yang proposed promoting pairings with both Chi Li and Xie Weishui, arguing that criticism would still generate publicity. He then exposed himself without consent and dismissed Chi Li’s refusal as insincere. Chi Li had summoned Shen Xunye as a precaution and used the possibility of recorded evidence to make Zhou Yang leave 34 35.

Alliance with Xie Weishui

Zhou Yang’s fixation on Chi Li strained his working partnership with Xie Weishui, who reprimanded him for neglecting their on-camera interactions. Zhou Yang nevertheless remained deferential because Xie Weishui had secured his opportunity to join Raising House 34 49.

The two later agreed to break up Chi Li and Shen Xunye’s pairing. Zhou Yang wanted both reconciliation and the earnings associated with Chi Li’s growing popularity. After he disclosed their former relationship, Xie Weishui requested photographs, chat logs, and other evidence of their past closeness 55.

Their first staged hint involved Zhou Yang’s phone: he changed its passcode to Chi Li’s birthday, while Xie Weishui deliberately allowed viewers to see a photograph of Chi Li on its lock screen. Zhou Yang then agreed to reveal their dating history outright 59.

Exposure and Removal

During a truth-or-dare game, Zhou Yang presented himself as a heartbroken ex-boyfriend, claiming that Chi Li had opposed his participation in the show and subsequently treated him cruelly. The performance faltered when he forgot his lines and failed to maintain his supposed drunkenness 64.

Chi Li countered that Zhou Yang had harassed him after the breakup and offered to show viewers the explicit photographs and messages. Zhou Yang immediately panicked and tried to stop him. Xie Weishui had not known about the harassment 64 65.

By Chapter 69, Zhou Yang had been removed from the show. Chi Li sent evidence to his manager, Li Ming, for publication through the company account. Zhou Yang later began livestreaming to capitalize on his former relationship with Chi Li 69 100.

Appearance

• Tall, muscular build: At 185 cm, Zhou Yang was taller than the existing Raising House residents before Shen Xunye arrived. He frequently tried to attract Chi Li’s attention through his physique 6 30 35.
• Less striking beside the newcomers: Viewers unfavorably compared his looks with Shen Xunye’s, while Chi Li acknowledged his performance skills but repeatedly disparaged his face after their breakup 6 9.

Personality

Zhou Yang initially maintains a convincing image of maturity and reliability. Chi Li later notes that most trainees from their intake had spoken well of him, but that even modest popularity made him excessively confident and convinced of his own exceptional prospects 1 100.

He is opportunistic about publicity. His stated contempt for BL fanservice disappears once it brings followers and income, and he later treats hostile attention as commercially useful. His willingness to follow Xie Weishui’s instructions coexists with private resentment of the senior’s control 1 27 35.

His behavior toward Chi Li is possessive and dismissive of boundaries. He treats rejection as playing hard to get, becomes jealous of Chi Li’s friendships, and regards unsolicited sexual messages as demonstrations of his appeal rather than harassment 15 22 35 65.

Abilities & Skills

Singing

Zhou Yang’s singing receives genuine acknowledgment despite his conflict with Chi Li 9.

• Performs a love song at the newcomers’ welcome ceremony.
• Chi Li considers his technical skills difficult to fault.
• His singing is described as better than Jiang Lele’s during their respective performances 9.

Dancing and Rap

Zhou Yang introduces himself as proficient in singing and dancing, with some ability to rap 9.

• Practices partner choreography with Xie Weishui 25 26.
• Participates in boy-group choreography and learns short-form Douyin dances with other residents 27.

Livestream Performance

Zhou Yang participates in scripted romantic rivalry and suggestive fanservice to build an audience 1 5 20.

• Plays the deliberately ingratiating third party in Xie Weishui and Fang Jin’s relationship storyline; Xie Weishui explicitly assigned him this persona 20.
• Can attract substantial initial subscription revenue 2.
• Struggles to sustain coordinated performances under pressure, notably forgetting his lines during the planned relationship reveal 64.

Relationships

• Chi Li — Former boyfriend and Chi Li’s first love. Their shared trainee background gives way to a hostile post-breakup relationship marked by Zhou Yang’s harassment and unsuccessful attempts to reunite 1 7 31 65.
• Xie Weishui — Senior colleague, fanservice partner, and eventual co-conspirator. Zhou Yang depends on his support while resenting his control; their alliance does not prevent Zhou Yang from pursuing Chi Li 27 34 49 55.
• Shen Xunye — Romantic and professional rival. Zhou Yang resents his looks, audience appeal, and closeness to Chi Li; Shen Xunye intervenes during Zhou Yang’s nighttime harassment of Chi Li 19 35 49.
• Fang Jin — Rival within the staged love triangle involving Xie Weishui. Zhou Yang also becomes suspicious when Fang Jin develops a friendly rapport with Chi Li 20 22.
• Gao Yuan — Frequently antagonistic fellow resident. Gao Yuan seeks Shen Xunye’s help after Zhou Yang forces his way into Chi Li’s room 6 15 16.
• Gu Nan — Recipient of Zhou Yang’s invitation to his celebration dinner. Unaware that Gu Nan was Chi Li’s cousin, Zhou Yang badmouthed Chi Li in his presence; Gu Nan sent Chi Li a recording 1.

Trivia

• He likes cilantro, fish mint, and stinky tofu 13.
• Chi Li’s welcome gift to him is an old cucumber and a miniature bucket of green paint, presented as “an old cucumber painted green” 7.
• One circulating name for his pairing with Xie Weishui is translated as “Impotence.” Both dislike the name 55.
• During mahjong punishments, he ends up wearing a black mask, a down jacket, and sunglasses after repeatedly failing to win a hand 30 31 32 33.