Xie Jinghui

Biodata

Background

Xie Jinghui grew up under his grandfather’s close supervision. His decisiveness, business talent, strategic judgment, and ability to withstand pressure made him the preferred successor to lead the Xie Family. His grandfather kept him nearby until his death, and Jinghui’s eventual succession met no opposition. Even his older brothers found it difficult to assert seniority over him 56.

His parents’ arranged marriage deteriorated while they were still young. Disappointed by their lack of devotion, his grandmother passed her sapphire ring to Jinghui instead, asking him to bring someone he loved to meet her when he grew up. Jinghui later questioned why she had trusted him, believing he had inherited his parents’ coldness 155.

Before pursuing Shen Shuangjian, Jinghui rarely appeared in public or attended banquets. Despite his prominence, meeting him was difficult even for people within wealthy social circles 16 23.

Appearance

• Build: Tall, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and defined but not exaggerated muscles maintained through years of disciplined exercise 131 144.
• Features: Strikingly handsome, with deep-set features, dark eyes, and thin lips 53 99 105 131.
• Formal clothing: Bespoke suits and expensive leather shoes emphasize his controlled, authoritative bearing 51 131.
• Casual clothing: A loose gray knit sweater softens his imposing appearance; he also wears fitted loungewear and sleeveless tops 26 144.
• Family resemblance: Xie Qingchi resembles him, particularly around the brows and eyes, though Qingchi initially presents a more carefree and unrestrained appearance 6 159.

Personality

Jinghui’s refinement conceals a cold, ambitious, and sometimes ruthless temperament. He acknowledges that he has previously pursued opponents without leaving them room to recover, stopping only after driving them to ruin. His composure and courtesy do not prevent him from calculating several possible outcomes before acting 107 115 125.

With Shen Shuangjian, that confidence gives way to apprehension. Jinghui studies small changes in his expressions and behavior, fears crossing his boundaries, and becomes deeply vulnerable to rejection. When Shuangjian publicly says they have “no relationship,” Jinghui maintains his outward composure while privately feeling that their months together have amounted to nothing 23 69 85 107.

His devotion also becomes possessive and demanding. He is jealous of other suitors, sometimes treats reluctant acquiescence as reassurance, and repeatedly pushes physical intimacy beyond Shuangjian’s comfort. After a serious quarrel, he recognizes that his insecurity and demands have hurt Shuangjian, apologizes, and promises to listen rather than disregard his voice 58 76 122 123 127.

Abilities & Skills

Business Leadership

• Inherits his grandfather’s business talent, decisiveness, and ability to manage pressure 56.
• Commands extensive wealth and connections as head of the Xie Family 36 76.
• Participates in cooperation between the Xie and Shen families, including property development outside the Capital 44.
• Later leaves most work on their joint projects to Shen Sixian so he can spend more time at home with Shuangjian 155.

Strategy and Social Maneuvering

• Considers himself skilled at judging when to advance or retreat in social situations, though Shuangjian makes him unusually uncertain 23.
• Uses recordings and misleading reassurances to evade Shen Sixian’s supervision and obtain time alone with Shuangjian 114.
• Anticipates the consequences of conflict and is willing to endure humiliation or punish himself to regain an opportunity to make amends 124 125.

Go

• Plays an apparently reckless attacking game against Shuangjian, repeatedly placing his white stones inside black’s territory 39.
• Offers what appears to be a decisive capture, then reverses the position once Shuangjian commits to taking it 39.

Caregiving and Logistics

• Carries Shuangjian when he is drunk or exhausted, watches over him during the night, and helps with washing, clothing, and hair care 42 43 61 141.
• Privately hires a medical team and desert-survival convoy, arranging for both to accompany the production crew 53.
• Urges Shuangjian to stop filming and recuperate after his hospitalization for anemia, malnutrition, and low blood sugar 64.
• His practical attentiveness does not always extend to respecting boundaries: an attempt to treat Shuangjian’s bruises becomes invasive and frightens him into tears 58.

Notable Items and Properties

• Grandmother’s sapphire ring — An heirloom he has worn since childhood. Turning or rubbing it becomes a recurring gesture when he thinks about Shuangjian; he eventually understands it as an expression of his unsettled heart 155.
• Matching sapphire ring — Made using a sapphire cut from his own ring, polished and set into a narrower band. Jinghui kneels beside Shuangjian and places it on his finger at the Xie Residence 155.
• Vermilion drop earrings — Purchased at auction for fifteen million after competitive bidding with Shen Sixian; later brought out for Shuangjian to wear in Moscow 71 108.
• Moscow estate — Houses Jinghui and Shuangjian during the Russia filming period 105 107.
• Shared house — Purchased and furnished with Shuangjian’s participation. Shuangjian contributes a small portion of the cost with Jinghui’s enthusiastic approval 149.

Relationships

• Shen Shuangjian — Husband. Jinghui pursues him through rejection, reconciliation, and conflict, eventually establishing a shared home and registering their marriage in the Netherlands 88 99 127 149 167.
• Shen Sixian — Business associate and eventual brother-in-law. Their families cooperate commercially, but Sixian distrusts Jinghui’s intentions and repeatedly intervenes to protect Shuangjian 44 119 158.
• Xie Qingchi — Nephew and romantic rival. Qingchi admires and fears his uncle, but begins openly defying him over Shuangjian and later interferes with their opportunities to be alone 56 113.
• Yu Sheng — Rival for Shuangjian’s attention. Jinghui resents his apparent ease with Shuangjian and intervenes when Yu Sheng tries to inspect Shuangjian’s injured wrist 36 38.
• Grandfather — Mentor who raised him as the Xie Family’s successor 56.
• Grandmother — Entrusted him with her ring and encouraged him to bring home someone he loved 155.
• Chris — A later suitor whose interest in Shuangjian renews Jinghui’s jealousy after marriage 176.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Joining the Livestream

Jinghui offers Shuangjian a ride to the next filming location, carefully taking over his suitcase rather than forcibly removing it from his hand. During the drive, he worries about overstepping but still wants to become closer 23.

He subsequently arrives at the filming villa as a surprise guest. His status unsettles the other participants, and the director assigns him and Shuangjian to share a room. Jinghui greets the arrangement with, “What a coincidence, Shuangjian” 26 27.

Protection and Overstepping

When Shen Sixian attempts to take Shuangjian home against his wishes, Jinghui intervenes and insists that Sixian acknowledge his refusal. He later cares for a drunken Shuangjian overnight; a confused message about being undressed brings Sixian to Donglin, where he checks his brother for signs of harm 36 42 43.

During desert filming, Jinghui’s attentiveness crosses into unwanted contact while he is applying medicine. He stops after Shuangjian begins crying, but Shuangjian tells him not to touch him again and leaves the tent. On a later occasion, Jinghui applies the medicine promptly and waits outside while Shuangjian dresses 58 61.

Rejection and Reconciliation

At the end of filming, Shuangjian publicly states that they have no relationship. Jinghui later asks him directly what they are and confesses that he wants to care for him and remain beside him for life. When Shuangjian avoids his reaching hand, Jinghui leaves without blaming him 85 88.

Their distance persists through Jinghui’s visits to Shen Sixian. Eventually, Shuangjian calls him back instead of allowing him to leave. Jinghui holds his hand while explicitly giving him the option to move away; Shuangjian accepts an embrace, shares his nickname “Zhizhi,” and allows a kiss. Jinghui tells him he fell in love at first sight 94 95 99.

Moscow and Their First Quarrel

Their growing intimacy in Moscow brings increased interference from Shen Sixian and Xie Qingchi. Jinghui resorts to secret meetings and deception to circumvent Sixian’s supervision 105 110 113 114.

After Jinghui’s excessive physical demands leave Shuangjian distressed, Sixian takes his brother away. Jinghui admits fault, then comes to understand that Shuangjian has been enduring aspects of their unfamiliar relationship rather than freely welcoming every demand. He apologizes and promises not to lie to him, bully him, or ignore what he says 123 124 125 127.

Shuangjian remains upset afterward, but agrees to a movie date. Their appearance together attracts public attention and exposes the romance 128 131 133.

A Shared Home and Marriage

Jinghui explains the depth of his feelings to Shen Sixian, saying he loves Shuangjian regardless of whether that love is returned. He later announces that he and Shuangjian have prepared a house and intend to move out together 136 149.

At the Xie Residence, he shares his grandparents’ history and places the matching sapphire ring on Shuangjian’s finger. Although Sixian subsequently bans him from visiting after another incident, Shuangjian brings him home for New Year. The three prepare dinner together, and Sixian eventually gives Jinghui a red envelope 155 158.

Jinghui takes Shuangjian to the Netherlands, persuades him to register their marriage, and posts their rings and marriage certificate to both of their Moments. Sixian initially takes Shuangjian away and threatens divorce, but turns back after seeing his brother’s tears and reluctance to leave 167.

Married-Life Extra

At thirty, Jinghui becomes insecure about Chris, a younger, accomplished suitor welcomed by Shen Sixian. After Jinghui disrupts Shuangjian’s plans to go out three times, Shuangjian realizes that his husband suspects infidelity. Chris eventually asks Sixian to help break up their marriage and support his own pursuit instead 176.

Alternate Timeline

“What If He Grew Up in the Shen Family?”

• Jinghui formally introduces himself to Shuangjian at the Shen Residence while Sixian watches their interaction warily 170.
• Shuangjian later asks Jinghui to marry him, explaining that he was drawn to his gentle, refined appearance while reading in the garden—and, more directly, to his good looks 172.
• Jinghui reveals that he actually first saw Shuangjian crying at a funeral two years earlier. His immediate wish was to wipe away the tear rather than admire his beauty 174.
• In this continuity, Jinghui was 23 and Shuangjian 18 at that first sighting. They reunite when Jinghui is 25, on the 754th day of his longing 174.

Notable Quotes

“Loving him would hurt terribly. I’d cry, I’d beg him, and I’d use every means I could think of to make him stay.” 75

“Love fell like snow. By the time I noticed, my world was already a boundless expanse of white.” 136

“I love Shen Shuangjian, even if he doesn’t love me.” 136

Trivia

• Jinghui is five years older than Shuangjian 152.
• He has never had an ex when the cast questions him during their beach game 75.
• He quits smoking because Shuangjian dislikes the smell, eventually losing the habitual urge to reach for cigarettes while working 152.
• Viewers revisit his earlier statements about remaining unmarried, avoiding publicity, and refusing to waste time on others after his behavior contradicts all three 133.