Zhang Zhichen

Biodata

Background / History

Family and Early Career

Zhang Zhichen comes from the wealthy family behind Zhang Group. Before entering the survival show, he already had a substantial following through his social-media account and appearances on various programs. Viewers knew him for his violin performances, Chinese-style dancing, and gentle manner; they also credited him with helping a separated mother and daughter reunite 2 93.

Entering *Idol Charm*

Director Yu Yang assigns Zhang Zhichen contestant number seventeen and places Shang Shujue immediately after him, intending to exploit the contrast between their public reputations. Zhang Zhichen helps Chen Ruijia explain Shang Shujue’s absence, then offers Shang the empty seat beside him when he arrives 2 3.

Hearing Shang Shujue’s thoughts overturns several of Zhang Zhichen’s assumptions. Shang identifies him as the novel world’s gentle “protagonist shou” and hints that he ends up with the wrong person. Zhang is bewildered, initially thinking that he is attracted to girls, but also becomes curious about Shang’s apparent ability to uncover people’s futures 3.

Discovering His Original Fate

Shang Shujue’s leaked thoughts reveal that Su Youchuan has a secret crush on Zhang Zhichen and chooses the nearly identical Bai Zhiyi as a substitute. They also reveal that Zhang Zhichen and Bai Zhiyi eventually become lovers. Their resemblance initially makes Zhang suspect a family connection; despite hearing that they are unrelated, he decides to visit Bai in hospital and arrange a DNA test. No test result is supplied in the provided passages 5 7 11.

The original future is far darker than the initial romantic revelation suggests. Zhang’s family is destroyed, and he is imprisoned. After Su Youchuan tortures Bai Zhiyi and severs the tendons in his wrists and ankles, Bai begs Zhang to end his suffering. Zhang kills his lover and later dies by suicide, having previously wanted to kill Su Youchuan 46.

Zhang recognizes Su Youchuan’s conduct as a betrayal of someone who had helped him. A later revelation adds that Zhang’s childhood friend Li Qingxu would attempt to avenge him and be shot dead. These events are disclosed as the original future, not the outcome Zhang ultimately reaches 46 108 166.

Supporting Shang Shujue

When Su Youchuan’s insinuating post provokes online attacks against Shang Shujue, Zhang joins the trainees defending him through alternate accounts. He also identifies Song Yanqing’s likely connection to the Songhui Great Aristocratic Family and explains the clan’s background to the others 27.

After Shang survives a knife attack, Zhang obtains news about the incident and explains the attacker’s motive to the training camp. He publicly supports Shang against accusations that ignore his actions in self-defense. Zhang’s manager consults Li Kui about the response, and Li approves the support 92 93.

Zhang also recognizes Shang’s attachment to Song Yanqing before Shang admits it himself. He points out how strongly Song’s emotions affect Shang, later questions their supposed “buddy” relationship, and helps keep Yu Zeqi from interrupting them while Song is ill 39 69 70.

Growing Closer to Bai Zhiyi

Watching Bai Zhiyi perform, Zhang privately acknowledges that falling in love with him would be easy. His restrained spoken praise—“He’s very talented”—misleads Shang Shujue into thinking there is no romantic interest 46.

His concern becomes more visible when Su Youchuan summons Bai to the director’s office. Zhang immediately offers to accompany him, agreeing to wait ten minutes only after the staff member and Bai ask him to do so. After the confrontation, Bai finds Zhang watching the rain with unusual melancholy and draws him back into conversation 81 86 87.

Zhang later invites Bai to join a commercial performance as his backup dancer, telling him that he is special and that he wants to dance alone with him. Their mutual embarrassment and flirting become apparent to the other trainees, although they do not formally begin dating at this stage 92 93 94.

Their closeness continues through shared confidences and small gestures. Zhang welcomes Bai’s questions about his private life, introduces Li Qingxu as his childhood friend, and becomes jealous when Bai studies Li’s photograph. Nevertheless, he still has not dared confess his feelings by the hospital visit in Chapter 131 107 131.

Marriage

Ten years after their idol group disbands, Zhang Zhichen and Bai Zhiyi officially become a couple. They register their marriage the following day and move in together. Although they experience arguments and friction, neither considers separating, and they build a stable life together 166.

Appearance

• Overall appearance: A handsome young man with a refined, jade-like bearing and a gentle smile 2.
• Debut outfit: Pale-blue hanfu decorated with ink-painting patterns, with his name tag attached to the left side of his chest 2.
• Resemblance to Bai Zhiyi: Their faces are nearly identical from certain angles, although Shang Shujue’s gossip identifies them as unrelated 5 7.
• Resemblance to Yu Zeqi: Su Youchuan observes that Zhang’s features are sharper, while Yu’s are softer; softening Zhang’s features would make the resemblance particularly strong 49.

Personality

Zhang Zhichen is considerate without relying on a person’s public reputation to decide how to treat them. He assists Chen Ruijia and welcomes Shang Shujue despite the hostility surrounding Shang. Bai Zhiyi describes him as consistently gentle and good-tempered, with the polished bearing of someone raised in privilege 2 3 86.

His calm expression does not always reveal his feelings. While viewers interpret him as unaffected during Bai Zhiyi’s performance, he is privately processing both admiration and disturbing revelations about their future. His anger is more apparent when discussing the attack on Shang Shujue or Su Youchuan’s treatment of Bai 46 81 92.

He also enjoys gossip and teasing. He joins Bai in seeking opportunities to hear Shang’s thoughts and mischievously offers Lin Jinhao Li Qingxu’s contact information during an embarrassing discussion. In romance, however, he is markedly bashful: his ears redden after flirting, and he hesitates to confess 32 93 108 131.

His protectiveness does not entirely override Bai’s choices. When Bai enters the boxing ring with Shang Shujue, Zhang worries but refrains from deciding for him, instead offering silent encouragement 141.

Abilities & Skills

Violin

• Regularly plays the violin on social media before joining the show, contributing to his reputation as a talented contestant 2.

Dance and Stage Performance

• Performs Chinese-style dance and has an established interest in ancient-style aesthetics 2.
• Takes outside performance engagements during the training-camp period 70 92.
• Prepares a duet with Bai Zhiyi for a commercial performance, privately resolving to rehearse more because he is nervous 93.

Hearing Shang Shujue’s Thoughts

• Can hear Shang Shujue’s leaked inner voice, including revelations about personal secrets and possible futures 3 7 46.
• Uses that information to reassess Su Youchuan and anticipate danger to Bai Zhiyi 46 81.
• Does not independently predict the future; his information comes from what Shang’s thoughts disclose 3 46.

Leadership

• Leads trainees who have finished styling to the recording studio 41.
• Is explicitly described as a capable captain and reassures Qiao Ze during a tense discussion 135.

Relationships

• Bai Zhiyi — Fellow trainee, eventual lover, and husband. Their feared original tragedy is replaced by a lasting marriage after their idol careers 46 166.
• Shang Shujue — Friend and fellow contestant whose leaked thoughts reveal Zhang’s original fate. Zhang repeatedly defends him and notices his feelings for Song Yanqing 3 27 39 92.
• Su Youchuan — A man who secretly desires Zhang and uses Bai as his substitute. Zhang’s distrust hardens after learning of Su’s cruelty and the future destruction of his family 7 46 81.
• Li Qingxu — Childhood friend. In the original future, Li dies attempting to avenge Zhang 107 108.
• Li Kui — His mother’s younger brother, though not related to Zhang by blood. Zhang has never met him at the time Li is shown approving his public support for Shang and asking his manager to watch over his affairs 93.
• Manager — Oversees his public career and consults Li Kui about his activities. The narration identifies his large fan following as a source of professional pressure against dating 93.

Trivia

• His fans are called Oranges 93.
• Before accepting candy from Shang Shujue, he had avoided sweets for years to control his sugar intake 52.