Zhang Yunchen
The Stunning Top Star's Inner Thoughts Leak Out, Turning Everyone's Least Favorite into the Group's Darling
Contents
Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Zhang Yunchen (张云琛) |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | Seventeen; his identification lists him as eighteen 24 |
| Affiliation | Jinyuan Media 26 |
| Occupation/Role | Musically gifted trainee and composer; initially an independent trainee, later a signed artist 24 25 26 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 24 24 |
Background / History
Family circumstances
Zhang Yunchen lost his father at a young age. His mother uses a wheelchair, and his younger brother is five years old. With little money and family members dependent on him, he hopes to help his mother regain the use of her legs and give his brother a better life 24.
When he encounters Shang Shujue, he is returning to the training camp after spending the night checking on his hospitalized brother. His mother has difficulty caring for the child from her wheelchair 24.
Original destined future
The tragedies revealed through Shang Shujue’s thoughts are events from Zhang Yunchen’s original future, not experiences he has already undergone. Su Youchuan’s younger brother would steal his composition, and Su Youchuan would advise the thief to accuse Zhang Yunchen of plagiarism. Unable to obtain redress, Zhang Yunchen would become suicidal 24.
His mother would discover his intentions and crawl upstairs to save him, only to fall from the building and die. His brother would witness her death and develop a severe intellectual disability, losing the promise of his own exceptional musical talent. Zhang Yunchen would be left overwhelmed by guilt 24.
In that same future, Zhang Yunchen would arrange for the cremation and burial of Xu Jiaqiao’s unclaimed remains despite having only 5,000 yuan. On hearing this, he is surprised but acknowledges that he would help anyone in those circumstances 25.
Joining Jinyuan Media
After learning about Zhang Yunchen’s talent and circumstances, Shang Shujue decides to recruit him before another company can. Xu Jiaqiao and the other trainees also offer financial assistance. Zhang Yunchen refuses their money but accepts their friendship and practical support 25.
Shang Shujue’s introduction secures him a place at Jinyuan Media, explicitly changing the course of his fate. The contract gives him a stable income and benefits that make supporting his family more manageable 26 33.
| Contract benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Base salary | 6,000 yuan 33 |
| Employment benefits | Five social insurances and a housing fund 33 |
| Music income | Song royalties and copyright revenue shares 33 |
Appearance
- Build: Thin enough that Shang Shujue notices he does not look like an adult 24.
- Expressions: His ears redden when his love of plushies is exposed, and he blushes when Xu Jiaqiao thanks him 24 25.
- Clothing: Wears a beret while holding a notebook during Song Yanqing’s departure 98.
Personality
Zhang Yunchen is compassionate without expecting recognition. When told that he would have buried Xu Jiaqiao, he insists that Xu need not thank him for something he has not yet done and says he would have acted the same way for someone else 25.
He is self-reliant and cautious about becoming indebted to others. Although deeply moved by the trainees’ offers of money, he refuses because he does not know how he could repay them. He nevertheless learns to accept help in other forms, recognizing the value of mutual support 25 33.
Initially shy and easily embarrassed, he becomes more spirited after joining Jinyuan Media. He takes his opportunity seriously, promising to justify Shang Shujue’s investment rather than merely relying on his generosity 33 41.
His gratitude extends beyond his career. After Shang Shujue suffers a frightening health episode, Zhang Yunchen visits him and repeatedly asks whether he is truly well. He suspects that Shang has borne the karmic consequences of the tragedies he prevented, though this is Zhang Yunchen’s interpretation rather than an established fact in the scene 71.
Abilities & Skills
Musical Composition
Shang Shujue identifies composition as Zhang Yunchen’s outstanding talent. His work is valuable enough to become the target of theft in his original future 24.
- Continues writing music while training for the survival show 93.
- Xu Jiaqiao wants to team up with him for the group-performance stage and urges him to concentrate on his music 93.
Dance and Stage Performance
Zhang Yunchen has limited formal training but works to improve his performance skills 33.
- Practices with Xu Jiaqiao and Yu Zeqi, who help him polish details 33.
- Is praised by Xu Jiaqiao as a better dancer than Bai Xiaoze despite being younger 28.
- Successfully advances after his solo performance 47.
Hearing Shang Shujue’s Thoughts
Zhang Yunchen can hear Shang Shujue’s leaked inner voice. His first documented experience occurs within the voice’s twenty-meter broadcast range 24.
- Learns about the planned theft, false plagiarism accusation, and danger to his family 24.
- Hides his reactions by repeatedly tying his shoelaces, then pretending to listen to music on his phone 24.
- Hears Shang Shujue’s intention to sign him before the recruitment takes place 25.
Story Role / Major Arcs
| Arc | Chapters | Role and outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery of his original fate | 24 25 | Learns who would steal his music and destroy his family; the revelation of his future kindness toward Xu Jiaqiao draws the trainees closer to him. |
| Recruitment and training | 26 28 33 | Joins Jinyuan Media, gains financial stability, and trains with support from his friends. |
| Solo performance | 41 47 | Receives professional styling at Shang Shujue’s insistence and advances in the competition. Shang privately notes that recruiting him was not intended specifically to secure an idol-group debut. |
| Supporting Shang Shujue | 71 93 | Checks on Shang’s health and later joins the trainees in publicly defending him online. |
Relationships
- Mother — Uses a wheelchair and requires monthly medication. Her welfare is one of his main reasons for pursuing a successful career 24 25.
- Younger brother — A five-year-old with exceptional musical promise. Zhang Yunchen helps care for him and worries about his education and future 24 25.
- Shang Shujue — Benefactor and president of Jinyuan Media. Gives him a professional opportunity, directs resources toward his performance, and finds excuses to help him financially 25 26 33 41.
- Xu Jiaqiao — Friend and training partner. Feels profound gratitude for Zhang Yunchen’s kindness in the original future, offers him help, and hopes to perform in a group with him 25 33 93.
- Yu Zeqi — Friend who helps him refine his dancing alongside Xu Jiaqiao 33.
- Su Youchuan and his younger brother — Responsible for the composition theft and false accusation in his original future. Zhang Yunchen clenches his fists upon learning their involvement 24.
Notable Quotes
“Thank you. Thank you, everyone. I accept your kindness, and once I’m able to, I’ll definitely repay it. But I can’t take your money. Thank you.” 25
“Thank you, Brother Jue. I won’t disappoint you with this performance. I won’t forget what you’ve done for me. I’ll prove to you that you made the right investment.” 41
Trivia
- Loves plushies and needs to hug one to sleep 24.
- Suggests getting a statue of Shang Shujue to worship at home after learning that accumulated merit might allow Shang to become a guardian deity 56.
- Notices romantic tension among the trainees: he questions Xu Jiaqiao about Zhang Zhichen and Bai Zhiyi, and argues that Qi Tianlin’s daily responsiveness has encouraged Bai Luxing’s attachment 76 93.
- Watches Shang Shujue and Song Yanqing’s farewell embrace with the others, asking which of them is more reluctant to part 98.