Yi Zeng (aka HeartStrings) is a self-taught composer and music producer who began exploring music composition and production during his high school years. He entered the professional music industry shortly after graduating from university in 2008, starting his career as a composer and sound designer at KONAMI Shanghai and Giant Network. With exceptional talent and a solid musical foundation, Yi has created works across a wide range of genres, including orchestral, jazz, ambient, and traditional Chinese music.

In 2014, Yi founded his first music studio in Shanghai, providing music production services for top-tier internet companies such as Tencent Games and NetEase Games. He has contributed to numerous mainstream titles, including Honor of Kings, AFK Journey, Ash Echoes, NARAKA: BLADEPOINT, and Call of Duty: Mobile. In addition to games, he has also composed music for well-known Chinese animations, such as The Outcast (Seasons 3 and 5) and The King's Avatar SP.

In 2023, Yi began his Master's studies in Composition for Screen at the Royal College of Music in London. He graduated in July 2025 with the highest final mark in his major and was nominated by the college for the Joseph Horovitz Prize.

Yi's work has earned a strong reputation in the game music industry. In 2019, his score for The Outcast received the Silver Medal for Game Music at the Global Music Awards. His compositions for Honor of Kings won the 2022 G.A.N.G. Award for Best Music in a Social/ Casual Game, and earned a nomination for Best Original Dramatic Score by the National Academy of Video Game Trade in 2021. His recent work on Honor of Kings also won recognition at the 2022 Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Additionally, his piece “Deer of Nine Colours” won the 2023 Jerry Goldsmith Award in the Promotion & Advertising category.