Lou Qing

Biodata

Background

Lou Qing is considerably older than his younger brother, Lou Second, and their adopted sister, Lou Hua. Having matured early, he occupied an almost parental role toward them. His decision to give up the chance to become family head for Bai Yan opened the succession contest to Lou Second 239.

According to family rumors, Lou Qing refused the position because it would require obligations such as a political marriage and producing descendants to strengthen the family. Despite declining the title, he retained standing no lower than the formal head’s 235.

Marriage and estrangement

Lou Qing confined Bai Yan in the Lou Family home and fathered Lou Yu to bind her to him. When Lou Hua tried to help Bai Yan leave, Lou Qing noticed, prompting Lou Hua to reduce their contact 202 235.

At fourteen, Lou Yu carried out a year-long plan to help his mother escape. They remained outside for two months before being caught and returned. Lou Qing nearly beat his son to death; Bai Yan’s intervention prevented him from killing Lou Yu 69 202.

Lou Yu later insisted that his parents divorce and remained estranged from his father. When Lou Yu faced retaliation for exposing the Shen Family’s awakening experiments and killing Fourth Young Master Shen, Lou Qing showed no intention of saving him. Bai Yan instead appealed to the Lou Family’s leaders, who intervened for both personal and political reasons 159.

After the divorce, Lou Qing redirected his attention from watching Bai Yan to his career. His growing power and ruthlessness made even the Lou Family elders wary of opposing him 214.

Personality

Lou Qing is cold, calculating, and fiercely protective of the Lou Family’s reputation and interests. He does not allow his conflicts with its elders over Bai Yan to damage the family as a whole. His protection is also transactional: after defending Lou Yu’s household at Yong’an Base, he demands compensation for the main family 235 238.

His attachment to Bai Yan contrasts sharply with his lack of affection for Lou Yu. He gathers news about their son chiefly to obtain opportunities to speak with her, and invokes Lou Yu when warning her to protect herself. His possessiveness persists after their divorce 202 214 239.

Lou Qing is reserved rather than entirely unfeeling. Eldest Cub and Second Cub’s resemblance to Bai Yan, affectionate behavior, and clear understanding of their own interests gradually soften his manner. He recognizes that their initial enthusiasm is a strategy for securing protection, but approves of their resourcefulness rather than resenting it 237.

Abilities & Skills

Political authority

• Holds enough influence to deter the Shen, Bai, and Zheng families from immediately seizing Yong’an Base’s leadership and resources 235.
• Can suppress opposition from Lou Family elders through his subordinates 235.
• Can negotiate protection for Lou Yu and Lou Quan against punishment by the main family 238.

Negotiation

• Defends Tao Qiu’s position by recognizing him as the Lou Family’s son-in-law and exposing the rival families’ desire to exploit his ability 236.
• Uses the threat posed by Third Cub’s abductor to argue that Tao Qiu must enter Central Base, challenging opponents to explain whether they are protecting the monster 237.
• Secures special crops and research cooperation in return for Lou Family protection 238.

Story Role

Protecting Bai Yan

Lou Qing blocks the elders’ proposal to threaten Bai Yan’s life to force Lou Yu back to Central Base. His opposition remains an obstacle even after the elders argue that they would only pretend to endanger her 159 205.

He later visits Bai Yan with three photographs showing Lou Yu, Tao Qiu, and their children. Seeing her happiness softens his expression, but she returns the photographs and refuses to prolong their meeting. Before leaving, he warns her that publicly opposing the awakening experiments could put her in danger 201 202.

Delivering Tao Qiu’s seeds

After learning about the improved seeds traded to the Lou Family, Lou Qing takes a portion to Bai Yan as an excuse to see her. She insists on buying them rather than accepting them as a gift 214.

The seeds become the subject of Bai Yan’s private research. After seven days of testing, she detects a fleeting, active energy in a shoot and conceals the discovery because she fears others would target Tao Qiu 216.

Negotiations at Yong’an Base

When the Shen, Bai, and Zheng families secretly head for Yong’an Base, Lou Qing prevents the Lou elders from following and goes himself. During the journey, Bai Yan contacts him voluntarily for the first time since their divorce. She demands that he protect Lou Yu, Lou Quan, Tao Qiu, and the children, threatening to stab him and expose the family’s secrets if he fails 235.

Lou Qing sits beside Lou Yu’s household at the negotiations. His presence prevents the rival families from simply taking control, while he rejects their attempt to punish his children and claim Tao Qiu and the cubs as public property 235 236.

Eldest Cub and Second Cub call him Grandpa at Lou Quan’s prompting. Lou Qing accepts Second Cub’s candy, thanks her, and allows Eldest Cub to hold his clothes. Later, he strokes their hair and promises to take them to Central Base to rescue their little sister 235 237.

Return to Central Base

In a private meeting, Lou Qing offers to settle the brothers’ dispute with the main family in exchange for benefits at least equal to those promised to each rival family. Tao Qiu agrees to supply special crops and cooperate with experiments that do not threaten his life. Lou Qing then promises to put Bai Yan in charge of the research to ease their concerns 238.

He accompanies the group to Central Base by helicopter. On arrival, he gives the elders only a brief greeting before going directly to Bai Yan 238.

Lou Qing houses the visitors in the home where he once lived with Bai Yan and Lou Yu, considering the Lou Family’s protection necessary while Third Cub remains missing. He also invites Bai Yan, citing the risk that others might seize her as leverage. When she chooses a guest room far from his bedroom, he moves into the neighboring room that evening 239.

Relationships

• Bai Yan — Ex-wife and the central object of his personal attachment. He protects her from the elders’ coercion but continues seeking access to her despite her rejection of him 159 202 214 239.
• Lou Yu — Biological son. Their relationship is marked by severe abuse and estrangement; Lou Qing’s later defense of him does not erase his stated lack of paternal affection 69 159 202 235.
• Tao Qiu — Son-in-law. Lou Qing accepts his mutated-monster identity, judging the benefits he brings sufficient to outweigh damage from gossip, while negotiating access to his crops and research cooperation 236 237 238.
• Eldest Cub and Second Cub — Grandchildren whose affection gradually wins a gentler response from him. He accepts their requests for protection and promises to help rescue Third Cub 235 237.
• Third Cub / Yuanyuan — Missing granddaughter. Lou Qing supports the journey to Central Base to find her abductor 237 239.
• Lou Quan — Nephew. Lou Qing protects him during the negotiations, both as a representative of Lou Family interests and in accordance with Bai Yan’s demand 235 238.
• Lou Family elders — Political associates whose authority does not prevent him from overruling them. They resent his protection of Bai Yan but fear his power 159 214 235.