Zhang Liang

Biodata

Background

Zhang Liang entered Jinghai University through his athletic talent and came from a family of modest means. Zhou Zihao recruited him into his entourage through two heavy drinking sessions; Zhang Liang followed him for free meals, drinks, and other benefits 15 16.

The counselor appointed him class sports representative shortly before military training. This position allowed him to arrange the class formation and later made him responsible for recording fitness-test results 16 17 31.

Appearance

• Build: Tall, muscular, and sturdily built; his imposing presence is compared to a black iron tower 15 17.
• Eyes: Described as small and mung-bean-sized 50.
• Injuries: Dislocated his shoulder during his first attack on Lin Bei, then lost two front teeth when his second attack sent him face-first into the track 17 18.

Personality

Zhang Liang is opportunistic and openly flattering toward Zhou Zihao. He tolerates Zhou’s anger to pursue material rewards, including a promised pair of reverse-swoosh Air Jordans worth nearly ten thousand yuan. He also values his reputation: when students ridicule Zhou outside the girls’ dormitory, Zhang Liang quietly distances himself rather than share the humiliation 15 16.

He takes pride in his physique and minor authority, swaggering while carrying the fitness-test clipboard and mocking Fatty Wang’s weight. His confidence makes him slow to recognize his limits: after injuring himself against Lin Bei, he blames faulty footing and attempts an even stronger attack. Nevertheless, Zhou’s dismissive treatment after his punishment leaves him humiliated and in tears 18 19 31.

Abilities & Skills

Athletic Training

Zhang Liang has a basketball background, years of practice, and strong control over his center of gravity 17 18.

• Uses his body weight, waist rotation, and shoulder to deliver forceful body checks; he has practiced this movement as a dirty basketball tactic intended to injure opponents 17.
• Has sufficient running conditioning to hold a place near the front of the three-kilometer fitness test alongside Zhou Zihao 31 32.
• Cannot overcome Lin Bei’s enhanced physique: his first collision leaves Lin Bei unmoved and dislocates his own shoulder 17.
• Is overtaken by Fatty Wang, Liu Chen, and Chen Mo after they drink Lin Bei’s Spirit Water; Fatty Wang subsequently laps him 32.

Underhanded Planning

Zhang Liang devises schemes that exploit supervision gaps and opportunities to embarrass Lin Bei publicly 16 50.

• Plans to use his authority over military-training formations to place Lin Bei within reach, knock him down, and make the instructor punish him for breaking discipline 16.
• Times his attacks for moments when Zhao Tianlong is looking elsewhere 17 18.
• Proposes disguising hired thugs as haunted-house ghosts and filming Lin Bei’s frightened reaction for the university forum 50.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Confrontation Outside the Girls’ Dormitory

• Accompanies Zhou Zihao and three other followers to confront Lin Bei 15.
• Threatens to attack when Lin Bei and Fatty Wang mock Zhou’s earlier bathroom accident 15.
• Backs away as the crowd’s ridicule intensifies, then flees with the other followers after Zhou runs off 15.

Military-Training Scheme

• Volunteers to sabotage Lin Bei during training in exchange for the expensive sneakers Zhou promises him 16.
• Places Lin Bei in the third row and positions himself behind him, slightly to the right 17.
• Rams Lin Bei’s back while the instructor is distracted. Lin Bei withstands the blow through physical toughness alone; Zhang Liang rebounds onto the track with a dislocated shoulder and receives a public scolding 17.
• Attacks again after another half hour. This time, Lin Bei uses spiritual energy to absorb and reverse the impact, sending Zhang Liang flying past him and knocking out two front teeth 18.
• Accuses Lin Bei of hitting him, but Zhao Tianlong rejects the accusation, sends him to the infirmary, and orders five laps before lunch 18.
• Completes the two-thousand-meter punishment in severe exhaustion. Zhou throws him several hundred-yuan notes for treatment and leaves without offering further concern 19.

Freshman Gala

• Helps Zhou Zihao retreat backstage after Zhou falls and breaks a front tooth 24.
• Later tries to help Zhou up when Lin Bei’s guqin performance leaves him overwhelmed, but Zhou pushes his hand away 26.

Fitness Test

• Mocks Fatty Wang before the three-kilometer run and takes a favorable starting position beside Zhou Zihao 31.
• Initially runs among the leaders, only to be overtaken by Lin Bei’s three roommates and lapped by Fatty Wang 32.
• Finishes exhausted, supporting Zhou as they cross the line. He backs Zhou’s accusation that the roommates used performance-enhancing drugs, which Zhao Tianlong dismisses 32.

Lakeside Incident and Haunted-House Plot

• Witnesses Orange Treasure roll its eyes at Zhou Zihao. When Zhou slips into Weiming Lake, Zhang Liang and the other followers scramble to pull him out 49.
• Later overhears Lin Bei accepting Ruan Qingwu’s invitation to a Saturday haunted-house trip and immediately reports it to Zhou 50.
• Suggests hiring men to frighten Lin Bei while disguised as ghosts and recording the encounter. Zhou hires Brother Biao and promises Zhang Liang a share of the rewards; the scheme’s outcome is not shown in the provided chapters 50.

Relationships

• Zhou Zihao — Patron and leader. Zhang Liang supplies intimidation, flattery, and revenge schemes in return for benefits, despite Zhou’s contempt when those schemes fail 15 16 19 50.
• Lin Bei — Target of repeated sabotage. Both military-training attacks backfire, but Zhang Liang later devises another plot against him 17 18 50.
• Fatty Wang — Rival whom Zhang Liang mocks for his weight and presumed lack of stamina. Fatty reverses their positions by overtaking and lapping him during the fitness test 31 32.
• Zhao Tianlong — Military-training instructor. Entrusts Zhang Liang with arranging the ranks, then reprimands and punishes him for his apparent misconduct 17 18.