Character Relationship Map: Endgame

Characters

• Zhou Quan (played by Andy Lau) — protagonist

  A professional hitman who suffers head trauma and amnesia. His identity is stolen by broke actor Chen Xiaomeng, leading to a chaotic swap of lives. After regaining his memory, he reveals his true natu...

• Chen Xiaomeng (played by Xiao Yang) — protagonist

  A deeply in debt and suicidal extra actor who accidentally takes over a hitman's life after an accident. He initially enjoys the luxury but is terrified upon discovering his new identity's dangerous p...

• Li Xiang (played by Wan Qian) — supporting

  A single mother and media CEO researching an amnesiac for her new project. She provides shelter and emotional support to Quan, helping him rebuild his life. She later orchestrates a plan with Quan to...

• Zeng Jiurong (played by Cheng Yi) — supporting

  The lover of the initial victim who becomes the next target in a series of staged assassinations. She collaborates in a death-faking fraud scheme and evades capture, prompting her friend to step in an...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Li Xiang → Zhou Quan (Romantic Interest) — Their emotional connection develops into mutual romantic intimacy.

  Li Xiang encourages Quan, shares her personal life with him, declares her love, and kisses him after their celebration.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Chen Xiaomeng → Zeng Jiurong (Alliance Protective Ally) — Xiaomeng rejects the killing assignment and protects Jiurong.

  After becoming close to Jiurong, Xiaomeng abandons the assignment to kill her, gives her cash, and warns her to flee.

• Zhou Quan → Chen Xiaomeng (Narrative Identity Swap) — Their accidental identity exchange drives the central plot.

  After Chen Xiaomeng takes Zhou Quan's belongings, Quan becomes amnesiac and mistakes Xiaomeng's identity for his own.

Story Analysis

An accidental identity exchange forces two damaged men to confront deception, moral choice, and the possibility of redemption.

Plot Progression

1. A Stolen Second Life — Chen Xiaomeng survives a suicide attempt and accidentally takes Zhou Quan's belongings after Quan loses consciousness. The stolen cash gives Xiaomeng temporary relief from his debts.
2. Amnesia Behind Closed Doors — Quan awakens with amnesia and mistakes Xiaomeng's identity for his own. Xiang offers practical and emotional support while both men continue living distorted versions of each other's lives.
3. The Costumed Killer — Xiaomeng discovers Quan's disguises, weapon, and apparent assassination career. He receives a contract against Jiurong but cannot carry it out after developing sympathy for her.
4. Memory and Intimacy — Xiang and Quan grow emotionally close while helping with the astronaut speech. A filmed killing scene restores Quan's memory and abruptly breaks their fragile connection.
5. The Staged Final Escape — Quan reveals that his killings are elaborate frauds rather than genuine murders. He and Xiaomeng join forces to protect Xiang and her son, culminating in a staged theatre confrontation and police inte...