Character Relationship Map: Keep Cool

Characters

• Zhao Xiaoshuai (played by Jiang Wen) — protagonist

  A bookseller obsessed with his ex-lover An Hong. His persistent but clumsy pursuit leads to a beating by nightclub owner Liu Delong, a forced compensation dispute with Mr. Zhang, and a failed revenge...

• An Hong (played by Qu Ying) — supporting

  Zhao Xiaoshuai's volatile ex-lover. She alternates between rejecting and accepting his advances, temporarily invites him over for a tryst that is ruined by a megaphone interruption, and later becomes...

• Liu Delong (played by Liu Xinyi) — supporting

  A nightclub owner and An Hong's new boyfriend. He hires thugs to assault Zhao Xiaoshuai, later agrees to compensate Mr. Zhang, and appears at a restaurant where he is unexpectedly injured by a falling...

• Junk Peddler (played by Zhang Yimou) — supporting

  A vendor initially hired by Zhao Xiaoshuai to publicly declare his love for An Hong. He later absconds and employs a poet to interrupt Xiaoshuai and An Hong's private encounter, highlighting the chaot...

• Restaurant Customer (played by Zhang Weiping) — minor

Canonical Relationships

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

• Zhao Xiaoshuai → Junk Peddler (Professional Hirer) — The peddler temporarily serves Zhao's romantic campaign.

  Zhao hires the junk peddler to call out An Hong's name and declare Zhao's love from outside her high-rise apartment.

• An Hong → Liu Delong (New Romantic Partners) — Liu's relationship with An Hong creates the central romantic rivalry.

  Liu Delong's thugs warn Zhao not to attach himself to An Hong because Liu is presented as her new flame.

• Zhao Xiaoshuai → An Hong (Romantic Former Lovers) — Their unresolved breakup drives Zhao's persistent pursuit and emotional instability.

  The plot identifies An Hong as Zhao Xiaoshuai's ex-lover and shows him persistently following her after their unhappy, one-sided breakup.

Story Dynamics

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

• Restaurant Customer → Liu Delong (Alliance Emergency Helper) — The customers respond to Liu's unexpected injury rather than supporting Zhao's attack.

  After the loudspeaker falls and badly injures Liu, the restaurant owner and customers carry him to the nearest hospital.

• Zhao Xiaoshuai → Restaurant Customer (Social Deceiver) — Zhao manipulates bystanders to protect his revenge plan.

  During the restaurant disturbance, Zhao convinces nearby people that the person causing trouble is a mad relative.

• Zhao Xiaoshuai → Liu Delong (Conflict Personal Rivals) — Their rivalry escalates from romantic interference to physical retaliation.

  Liu's hired thugs beat Zhao and warn him away from An Hong; Zhao later attacks Liu and plans to sever his right hand.

Story Analysis

A volatile pursuit spirals into accidental violence before Zhao attempts responsibility and restraint.

Plot Progression

1. An Unwanted Pursuit — Zhao Xiaoshuai follows his ex-lover An Hong through Beijing after their unhappy breakup. He hires the Junk Peddler to stage a public declaration of love outside her apartment.
2. A Brief Reconciliation — An Hong is impressed enough to invite Zhao upstairs, but a megaphone performance interrupts their encounter. Her angry departure leaves Zhao unable to understand their unstable relationship.
3. The Cost Of Rivalry — Liu Delong's hired thugs assault Zhao and warn him away from An Hong. A laptop compensation dispute draws Zhao and a middle-aged stranger toward Liu's nightclub and another violent outburst.
4. Revenge At The Restaurant — Zhao uses a compensation meeting as cover for a plan to sever Liu's hand. Confusion, failed warnings, and restaurant disorder prevent anyone from controlling the situation.
5. Accidental Reckoning — Liu is badly injured by a falling loudspeaker before Zhao can attack him. The upstairs violence brings another detention, followed by Zhao's apology, repayment, and promise to change.