Gu Xingye

Biodata

Background and History

Childhood and Romance

Gu Xingye grew up in one of Li City’s wealthy, long-established families. The Gu and Jiang estates stood beside each other, making him and Jiang Jinyue childhood neighbors. Chosen early as the Gu Family’s heir, he was indulged by those around him and became known as the arrogant golden boy of their social circle 42.

At fifteen, he became captivated by Jiang Jinyue after seeing him sitting alone beneath a wisteria arbor during a Jiang Family gathering. He began treating Jiang with patience and consideration he showed no one else. His persistent attention eventually won Jiang’s affection, and Jiang accepted his confession 42.

Their early relationship included mountain outings, shared earphones on the villa rooftop, seaside trips, and walks through the snow. However, Gu’s jealousy gradually became intrusive: he checked Jiang’s communications, demanded reports of his activities, and restricted friendships. After taking on the family business, his controlling behavior intensified. Their repeated arguments ended in apologies and reconciliation without lasting change; he sometimes hurt himself while begging Jiang for forgiveness 42.

Rise Through Pingchuan Technology’s Collapse

When Pingchuan Technology went bankrupt, Gu Xingye’s company immediately took over its core clients, prime assets, technical team, and a major partnership. The resulting rise in Gu Group’s market value strengthened his position as the family heir. In the original novel’s plot, Zhao Pingchuan’s downfall served as a stepping stone for Gu’s success 2.

The extent of Gu’s involvement in causing that collapse remains uncertain to Zhao. He cannot establish whether Gu interfered directly or merely benefited, but recognizes that Gu absorbed the ruined company’s resources. Gu also suppresses Zhao’s former colleagues Lin Zhou and Chen Mo before their involvement in Zhao’s comeback 13 22.

Jealousy, Separation, and Jiang Jinyue’s Disappearance

Gu forcibly takes Jiang Jinyue away from a café meeting with a childhood friend who has returned from abroad. He refuses Jiang’s explanation and orders him to avoid the friend. Ji Ran recognizes the incident as an event from the original novel, where it creates the couple’s first unbridgeable rift 15.

Members of the Gu Family’s side branches later target Jiang to undermine Gu’s position. Forged photographs supposedly showing Jiang with a business executive provoke Gu into accusing him of betrayal. Jiang refuses to defend himself against the accusation, and they enter a six-month cold war. Gu secretly suppresses the rumor-makers but initially refuses to tell Jiang that he believes him; the couple later reconciles 17.

After Jiang is assaulted by an arranged-date partner, Gu threatens retaliation against the Jiang Family. Jiang subsequently disappears, and Gu and the Jiangs publicly accuse each other of hiding him. Gu searches for three months before locating his rented apartment—and discovering that Zhao Pingchuan lives directly opposite 18 21.

Gu has a bodyguard break the apartment’s lock and waits inside. When Jiang returns, he asks to be left alone, but Gu refuses to accept the separation and takes him back to the villa 21 22.

Campaign Against Hengtu

Convinced that Zhao helped Jiang escape, Gu pressures Hengtu’s prospective investors into withdrawing. He then uses Gu Group’s subsidiaries to offer a competing product at seventy percent of Hengtu’s price. Hengtu loses forty percent of its customers but refuses to lower its prices 23 25.

Jiang discovers Gu’s investigation files and explicitly tells him that Zhao had nothing to do with his disappearance. Gu treats the explanation as further evidence of collusion and insinuates a romantic connection between them. Although he briefly recognizes that he is displacing his anger onto others, he chooses to keep targeting those he believes stand between him and Jiang 24.

Within two months, customers begin returning to Hengtu because of its superior product. Gu’s campaign instead gives Hengtu favorable publicity. Furious at the failure, he blames Zhao and rejects his secretary’s explanation that the competing product was rushed 25.

Abuse and Corporate Retaliation

Gu confines Jiang in the villa under guard. Following Hengtu’s recovery, he accuses Jiang of siding with Zhao, physically attacks him, and sexually assaults him. Jiang loses consciousness and develops a high fever. Gu takes him to hospital and repeatedly apologizes, but Jiang remains emotionally unresponsive 24 26.

Zhao and Sheng Qingyun subsequently coordinate a campaign against Gu Group. Prosperous Age Venture Capital and allied institutions attack its stock, while Hengtu takes clients from its digital business. Reports of security vulnerabilities and data-compliance risks bring regulatory intervention and a suspension of core business operations. Gu is left managing a falling share price, cash-flow pressure, and frightened shareholders 30.

During this crisis, Jiang attempts suicide by swallowing pills he has hidden. Gu finds him and obtains emergency treatment. After doctors warn that Jiang has severe depression, Gu becomes unusually gentle and attentive, but Jiang does not respond to his efforts. Gu also brings home a kitten, which Jiang refuses because he does not want it confined with him 30 31.

Attempt on Ji Ran’s Life

After seeing Zhao and Ji Ran kiss, Gu becomes fixated on testing how important Ji Ran is to Zhao. At a later reception, their affectionate relationship sharpens his resentment over Jiang’s rejection of him 31 32.

Gu arranges for a truck to strike Ji Ran’s car when Zhao will be present to witness it. His subordinate tracks Ji Ran’s movements, and Gu orders the collision to occur at the designated place and time. Meanwhile, he continues monitoring Jiang through a phone tracking app 33.

Jiang evades his bodyguards, takes Ji Ran’s car, and is caught in the staged crash instead. He survives with multiple fractures and a moderate concussion. Seeing the consequences, Gu finally understands that Jiang’s desire to leave has nothing to do with Zhao or Ji Ran: Jiang has never betrayed him and no longer wants their life together 35.

Police accept the truck driver’s account of negligence. Zhao and Ji Ran lack evidence tying Gu to the attempted murder, though Zhao warns him that he will settle the score if given the opportunity. Gu offers neither an apology nor a promise to accept responsibility 35.

Letting Jiang Jinyue Go

After Jiang leaves hospital, Gu finally agrees to end his surveillance and let him go. He asks only that Jiang retain his contact information, promising not to bother him. He also prevents the Jiang Family from searching for Jiang 40.

Jiang never returns to the villa. Gu initially struggles to sleep anywhere except Jiang’s former room, then stops entering it while ordering the servants to keep its contents unchanged. Six months later, he learns that Jiang’s depression has improved with treatment and that he has gone abroad to continue his studies 40.

The extra chapter establishes that Jiang eventually regards Gu as someone from his past. Although Gu remains on his contact list, Jiang has no intention of contacting him again 42.

Personality

Gu Xingye is proud, domineering, and accustomed to having his wishes accommodated. His privileged upbringing leaves him intolerant of refusal, while his response to Hengtu’s success shows his difficulty accepting failure or criticism. He lashes out at subordinates rather than acknowledge flaws in his decisions 25 42.

His affection for Jiang Jinyue is initially patient and attentive, but becomes inseparable from jealousy and fear of abandonment. He interprets independence as rejection and explanations as evidence of deception. Even when he recognizes that he is taking his anger out on others, he convinces himself that removing outside interference will restore their relationship 15 24 42.

His eventual decision to release Jiang follows the realization that keeping him could destroy him. This change does not extend to accepting responsibility toward Zhao and Ji Ran: after the crash, he still refuses to apologize for the attempt on Ji Ran’s life 35 40.

Resources and Methods

Corporate Influence

Gu uses Gu Group’s capital, subsidiaries, and business connections against rivals 23.

• Pressures prospective investors to abandon Hengtu’s funding negotiations.
• Funds a competing product and undercuts Hengtu’s pricing by thirty percent.
• Works to stabilize Gu Group during the coordinated financial and regulatory crisis 23 30 31.
• Cannot sustain customer loyalty through price alone when Hengtu’s product offers a better user experience 25.

Investigation and Surveillance

Gu employs subordinates and bodyguards to locate people, collect information, and restrict Jiang’s movements 21 24.

• Obtains residential records to find Jiang’s rented apartment.
• Compiles information on Zhao’s company, associates, and movements, including secretly taken photographs.
• Tracks Jiang’s location through a phone app.
• Uses a follower’s reports to coordinate the attack on Ji Ran 21 24 33.

Relationships

• Jiang Jinyue — Childhood neighbor and former lover. Their youthful romance deteriorates into coercion, abuse, and confinement before Gu finally permits him to leave 40 42.
• Zhao Pingchuan — Business rival whose first company’s collapse benefits Gu Group. Gu later attacks Hengtu and attempts to murder Zhao’s boyfriend; Zhao explicitly refuses to forgive the latter offense 2 23 35.
• Ji Ran — Zhao’s boyfriend and the intended victim of Gu’s staged truck crash. Ji Ran distrusts Gu because of his treatment of Zhao and Jiang 22 29 33 35.
• Gu Family side branches — Rivals for the family succession who use forged photographs of Jiang to provoke him. Gu later suppresses those responsible 17.
• Jiang Family — Wealthy neighboring family with whom Gu clashes over Jiang’s disappearance. After the separation, Gu stops them from pursuing Jiang 18 40.

Notable Quotes

“I'm just afraid you'll leave.” 15

“Impossible! I won't let you leave me!” 22

“A-Yue, you're free from now on. I won't send anyone to follow you anymore. I'll talk to the Jiang Family.” 40