Ji Wuqiu

Biodata

Background / History

Family and business struggles

Ji Wuqiu grew up as a pampered young master and became a businessman accustomed to contracts and negotiations rather than combat. His first marriage produced three sons—Ji Wangchen, Ji Wangyun, and Ji Wangyan—and ended before Xie Zhuzhou was conceived 1 308 309.

His position within the Ji Family was threatened by violent inheritance disputes. Master Elder Ji trusted Ji Wuqiu’s siblings and attempted to force him out of the company, while assassination attempts and kidnappings endangered his household. Ji Wangchen alone was kidnapped three times in one year. Ji Wuqiu sent his three older sons to their mother’s family, the Sheng Family, for protection 308.

Ji Wangchen later helped him consolidate control of the family businesses. By the time Xie Zhuzhou returned, the eldest branch controlled the Ji Family’s economic lifeline, and Wangchen had established himself as its next head 30 45.

Meeting Xie Guanxia

While negotiating a deal in Country P, Ji Wuqiu inexplicably woke up in Country H and became stranded in a combat zone. He suspected that someone had deliberately transported him there. Xie Guanxia encountered him standing over what he believed was a land mine, which proved to be a cookie tin. She agreed to take him with her after he offered twenty million 307 308.

Guanxia found him shelter and investigated the people searching for him. Both were being hunted, and they spent a month fleeing together. Their relationship became intimate, but she disappeared one morning, leaving a farewell letter before he could take her home with him 308.

Keeping his youngest son apart

Ji Wuqiu learned about Xie Zhuzhou in the sixth year after parting from Guanxia. With his own household still under threat, he decided against bringing the boy into the Ji Family’s struggles. Instead, Zhuzhou was supported in a separate villa with a nanny and driver 1 308.

He gave Zhuzhou an address when the child was five and expected him to seek him out if he wanted more. When Zhuzhou never came, Ji Wuqiu treated that silence as a choice to remain outside the family. He had never met his youngest son when Master Elder Ji discovered the boy’s existence 18.

Appearance

• Youthful face: Upon their first meeting, he looks young enough to be mistaken for Xie Zhuzhou’s older brother 24.
• Refined bearing: He has a scholarly air, an elegant manner, and a few white strands at his temples 18 88.
• Maintained physique: Despite being nearly fifty, skincare and exercise help him retain the appearance of a handsome man around thirty 309.
• Casual clothing: At home, he is shown wearing a pale cyan, Zen-inspired outfit rather than a business suit 252.

Personality

Ji Wuqiu initially appears cold and emotionally reserved. Even with four sons, he has little experience expressing paternal affection and tends to compensate with money. His concern for Zhuzhou is stiff at first, and he privately regrets the distance created by his absence 24 25 47.

He becomes openly indulgent toward his youngest son. Zhuzhou’s respectful manner delights him, even when he recognizes that the boy is putting on an act. He defends Zhuzhou’s confrontations, admires his courage and strength, and resents outsiders who criticize him. His other sons repeatedly notice the difference between his leniency toward Zhuzhou and their own upbringing 64 88 92 231 271.

His refined exterior conceals a vindictive and mischievous streak. He remembers offenses against his children, deliberately gives Zhuzhou opportunities to retaliate, and enjoys his hostile relatives’ embarrassment. Nevertheless, as a chairman, he usually preserves appearances and avoids giving outsiders grounds to attack his conduct 74 122 154 171.

With Xie Guanxia, his authoritative manner gives way to insecurity and clinginess. He hesitates to contact her despite his feelings, asks for reassurance, and sulks under a quilt when she calls him an old man. Guanxia considers him formidable in business but unusually timid and innocent elsewhere 309.

Abilities & Skills

Business leadership

• Leads Aurora Future Group and works with Ji Wangchen to secure the eldest branch’s business position 45 171.
• Recognizes Chu Yanzhang’s commercial talent from his success in turning the Chu Group’s fortunes around and considers recruiting him 78.
• Understands the importance of reputation, maintaining public family decorum despite his private hostility toward his father and siblings 171.
• Hands full authority over company affairs to Ji Wangchen when he retires 270.

Financial resources and personal protection

• Supports Zhuzhou’s separate upbringing and later gives him five million in spending money 1 36.
• Checks that protection accompanies Zhuzhou when he visits a friend 30.
• Gives Zhuzhou and Chu Yanzhang New Year red envelopes containing checks for twenty million each 125.
• Offers a fifty-million bounty on the remaining Black Lizard fugitive threatening Guanxia; the fugitive is captured within a week 309.

Information gathering

• Keeps track of his sons’ activities despite not always being physically present during their childhoods 231.
• Uses his assistant to verify what happened when Ji Wangyun is hospitalized, rather than accepting Zhuzhou’s incomplete explanation 231.
• Locates Guanxia’s overseas base using clues from their conversations 309.

Limitations

• Has no experience navigating a war zone when he first meets Guanxia and depends on her for evacuation and protection 308.
• Struggles to communicate affection directly and is frustrated that Zhuzhou usually approaches Ji Wangchen for help instead of him 25 52 252.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Relationships

• Xie Zhuzhou — Youngest son with Xie Guanxia. Ji Wuqiu keeps him outside the dangerous family struggle during childhood, then tries to make up for their estrangement through material support and protection. He wishes Zhuzhou would call him “Dad” rather than the more distant “Father” 18 25 47 308.
• Xie Guanxia — Romantic partner and Zhuzhou’s mother. He mistakenly believes she has started another family, later reconnects through their son, and retires to pursue her. Although he calls her his wife, she points out that she has not agreed to that designation 252 309.
• Ji Wangchen — Eldest son, business partner, and successor. Wangchen helps consolidate the family’s businesses and receives full authority over Aurora Future after Ji Wuqiu retires 45 270 309.
• Ji Wangyun — Second son. Ji Wuqiu knows his history of school mischief and his childhood connection to Li Yankai. He warns Wangyun not to let his romantic feelings interfere with work 64 231 270.
• Ji Wangyan — Third son. Ji Wuqiu recalls being startled by Wangyan dressing as a woman when younger; by the retirement side story, Wangyan’s company is doing well 64 309.
• Master Elder Ji — Father and frequent adversary. Ji Wuqiu opposes his exploitation of descendants and protects his sons from his demands, while retaining outward filial propriety because of his public position 18 122 171.
• Ji Wuqiu’s ex-wife / Ms. Sheng — Mother of his three older sons. Her powerful family protects the boys during the Ji Family’s internal conflict. Ji Wuqiu agrees to stay away when she visits to meet Zhuzhou 18 47 308.
• Chu Yanzhang — Zhuzhou’s friend and eventual romantic partner. Ji Wuqiu values his business ability, welcomes him into the household, and considers making him a godson 78 122 139 176.
• Ji Wuwei — Younger brother and hostile rival. Ji Wuqiu once slammed his head against a pool edge after he made the young Wangchen retrieve something from the water, leaving a permanent scar 90.
• Ji Wulin — Younger brother. Ji Wuqiu rejects his attempt to discipline Zhuzhou and later conceals his amusement while hearing about Wulin’s marital humiliation 122 154.

Notable Quotes

“I’ve never given him anything, and I ask that you don’t demand anything of him either. I can bring him back, but I absolutely won’t allow anyone to try ordering him around.” 18

“Ji Wulin, Zhouzhou is my son. It’s not your place to discipline him!” 122

“To be honest, I’m a businessman. I usually deal with contracts and negotiating tables, not hails of bullets.” 308