Ji Shi

Biodata

Background / History

Ji Household

Ji Shi grows up protected by the Ji Household’s wealth and influence. His family holds considerable power in both business and politics, allowing him to resolve the trouble he causes with little lasting consequence. He later recognizes that much of his apparent independence rests on advantages his parents provided 37 122.

Although his family is relatively open-minded, Ji Shi believes they would not accept him bringing home a male spouse. When he proposes taking Xie Ji into the Ji Household, Zhou Heyu’s question about parental approval immediately makes him hesitate 90.

Young Field

Ji Shi joins the wealthy-family variety show and shares a speedboat with Zhou Heyu. Xie Ji tampers with his drinking water, then exploits his resulting stomach trouble to obtain his watch, worth tens of millions. After reaching the island, Xie Ji directs him to a secluded grove and also obtains his stud earrings. These disruptions prevent Ji Shi and Mu Yao’s planned sexual encounter with Lu Xunji in the original storyline 7 8.

Embarrassment over the outdoor bathroom incident becomes a shared secret between Ji Shi and Xie Ji. Ji Shi insists that nobody else learn about it, but their private conversation also reveals his growing attraction. Unable to tolerate sleeping on the floor, he subsequently follows Xie Ji into Lu Xunji’s room—only to be expelled while Xie Ji is allowed to stay 12 13 15.

Ji Shi confesses that seeing Xie Ji makes his exhausting work feel worthwhile. Xie Ji rejects a romantic relationship, explaining that he believes he already likes someone whose identity he cannot remember. Despite the rejection, the two continue joking and playing games together 25 26.

His spending habits cause a practical crisis when he uses his points to furnish his room, leaving insufficient funds to borrow planting machinery. He remains in the rice paddy late into the night until Xie Ji and Lu Xunji come to help. Their assistance prompts him to acknowledge how poorly his family-backed confidence has prepared him for working without those advantages 35 36 37.

Ji Shi later contributes ideas about branding, publicity, visitor routes, and startup funding for the group’s farmstay. On opening day, he leads arriving guests toward the courtyard residence 73 91.

Unrequited Romance

After his failed confession, Ji Shi notices that Xie Ji maintains a clear boundary between friendship and romance. Xie Ji’s willingness to make sacrifices for Lu Xunji particularly hurts him, because those concessions differ from his usual concern for his own interests 73.

While holding a sleepy Xie Ji, Ji Shi nearly kisses his cheek. Xie Ji stops him without opening his eyes and asks “Lu Xunji” to wait until he wakes up. Ji Shi finally understands that Lu Xunji occupies a place in Xie Ji’s heart that he cannot replace 88.

He nevertheless continues hoping for an opportunity. When Xie Ji and Lu Xunji quarrel, he proposes bringing Xie Ji home and promises to gain power of his own so he can protect him 90.

Imperial Military Academy

Ji Shi attends the Imperial Military Academy alongside Lu Xunji, Mu Yao, and Zhou Heyu. He initially tries to dissuade Xie Ji from taking its dangerous special entrance examination, then gives him a compact ion pistol before the practical assessment 96 99 105.

After Xie Ji emerges from the examination carrying the injured Lu Xunji, Ji Shi watches over him during seven days of unconsciousness. He also skips class to remain beside him after he wakes, hoping to be the first person Xie Ji sees 113 114.

Fifth War Zone and Black Hole Rescue

Ji Shi is selected for frontline deployment amid reports of an unidentified alien species near the empire’s borders. Before departure, he learns that Xie Ji and Lu Xunji are officially together. Xie Ji also examines his destiny chart and discovers that it has shattered 145.

During the journey, Xie Ji inscribes a protective talisman on Ji Shi’s palm. Ji Shi tests its communication function by silently declaring that he is willing to be Xie Ji’s “side piece,” prompting another firm rejection 147.

As commander of the Fifth War Zone, Ji Shi faces rapidly increasing monster attacks and dwindling personnel. After repeated encounters leave his starship badly damaged, he abandons it in an escape pod with Shen Ting. Following the war zone’s collapse and Shen Ting’s sacrifice, he becomes trapped inside the black hole 151.

Severely weakened by blood loss, Ji Shi uses the talisman to transmit what he believes will be his final report. He describes the monsters’ birthplace and hopes his observations will help the empire resist them, rather than expecting Xie Ji to rescue him 151 154.

Xie Ji, Mu Yao, and Zhuang Huan find him alive in a safety capsule behind the enormous tree at the black hole’s center. After being removed from the capsule, he temporarily struggles to speak. Once aboard the damaged rescue mech, he breaks down over the deaths he witnessed and the danger his friends undertook to reach him 154.

Appearance

• Build: A roughly six-foot frame 17.
• Face: Described as handsome, with normally reddish-orange lips 7 23.
• Accessories: Initially wears a valuable wristwatch and stud earrings, both obtained by Xie Ji during their arrival on the island 7 8.
• Expressions: Frequently blushes around Xie Ji, especially at the ears; openly becomes red-eyed when distressed or moved 12 25 37 145.

Personality

Ji Shi is proud, impulsive, and accustomed to being served. He initially prioritizes bedroom comforts over the equipment needed for his farm work, and his jealousy can turn ordinary interactions into competitions. He even pays Xie Ji with a large gold bead to serve him braised pork after seeing Xie Ji give food to Lu Xunji—despite disliking fatty meat himself 35 52.

His affection is also generous and attentive. He offers to support Xie Ji, notices unusual changes in his appetite, and stays beside him through a prolonged hospitalization. Xie Ji privately recognizes that Ji Shi gives both material gifts and affection freely, without considering that generosity cheap 25 56 114.

The battlefield exposes both his fear and his sense of responsibility. Though terrified by the deaths around him, Ji Shi uses what may be his last opportunity to communicate useful intelligence to the empire. His rescue marks a painful recognition of the cost of survival 151 154.

Abilities & Skills

Farmstay Planning and Work

• Raises branding, publicity, visitor-route, and funding considerations during the farmstay’s development 73.
• Helps manage the rice paddies with Zhou Heyu and guides visitors on opening day 91 92.
• Plants rice quickly, though his early seedlings are crooked and his technique is less efficient than Lu Xunji’s 35 36.

Military Training and Command

• Studies at the Imperial Military Academy and finds opportunities to take mecha-piloting classes 114 152.
• Commands the Fifth War Zone and personally leads a team against the invasion when personnel become scarce 151.
• Relays observations from inside the black hole for use in the empire’s research and resistance efforts 151.
• Has no demonstrated medical qualification; his attempts to care for a feverish Xie Ji include mistakenly copying Xie Ji’s supposed “Qiong Yao shaking” treatment 26 56 57.

Equipment / Items

• Protective talisman — Inscribed on his palm by Xie Ji. Closing his hand tightly and silently forming a message allows Xie Ji to hear him; communication is one-way. It becomes crucial to locating him after the Fifth War Zone falls 147 151.
• Compact ion pistol — Gives it to Xie Ji before the special practical combat assessment 105.
• Luxury wristwatch — Worth tens of millions; surrendered to Xie Ji during the speedboat incident 7.
• Stud earrings — Obtained by Xie Ji after he helps Ji Shi find a secluded place to relieve himself 8.

Relationships

• Xie Ji — Close friend and unrequited first love. Xie Ji rejects his confession but preserves their friendship, later insisting on rescuing him because Ji Shi was the first person to treat him kindly in this world 25 26 88 151.
• Lu Xunji — Fellow student and romantic rival. Ji Shi initially likes him, then grows hostile over his closeness to Xie Ji. Lu Xunji nevertheless helps finish Ji Shi’s rice planting 15 17 33 36 37.
• Mu Yao — Fellow participant and rival for Xie Ji’s attention. Their arguments repeatedly become personal, but Mu Yao later helps recover Ji Shi from the black hole 46 50 154.
• Zhou Heyu — Farm-work partner and fellow military academy student. Their shared responsibilities create friction when Ji Shi delays work or lacks funds for machinery 19 35 92 96.
• Shang Yan — More authoritative member of the group who reprimands Ji Shi, restrains his outbursts, and challenges his reliance on family power 19 50 90.
• Shen Ting — Third-year Individual Combat Department student and escape-pod partner. Her sacrifice protects Ji Shi during the Fifth War Zone disaster 151 154.

Affection Tracking

• Little Black instructs Xie Ji to return Ji Shi’s affection to zero or below before the worldline ends to repair the plot’s trajectory 24.

Notable Quotes

“Don’t be afraid. Even if the Xie Household doesn’t want you, this young master does!” 25

“Sooner or later, I’ll have power of my own. I’ll be able to protect Xie Ji.” 90

“That’s everything I can say as a battlefield commander. I hope it can be of some use to the Empire’s research into resisting the black hole monsters.” 151

“One last thing, as Ji Shi... I can’t bear to let go.” 151