Zhao Yifan

Biodata

Background / History

Family and upbringing

Zhao Yifan is a core member of the wealthy Zhao Family of Ji Province. His family’s extensive business interests give him access to information circulating among elite social circles, including knowledge of Shen Zhiyi’s identity as the only daughter of Guangdong’s leading tycoon family 31 35.

His upbringing emphasizes discretion, composure, and carefully managed exchanges of favors. When faced with an embarrassing secret, his instinct is to negotiate a private understanding rather than react publicly 34 35.

Lu Chuan’s previous life

In Lu Chuan’s original timeline, Zhao Yifan was his university roommate and repeatedly hinted that his attempts to pass as a wealthy heir were unsustainable. Unlike the more ostentatious members of their circle, Zhao Yifan kept a low profile and did not flaunt his wealth on social media 1.

At the gathering where Lu Chuan’s deception was exposed, Zhao Yifan stopped the others’ mockery with a quiet intervention. He then presented a chronological account of Lu Chuan’s spending, approaching eight figures, and explained that buying others’ approval was not the same as gaining useful connections. His final advice was to stop before losing any more 1.

During that timeline, Lu Chuan also depended on Zhao Yifan’s platinum membership card to enter an invitation-only hot spring club, repeatedly accompanying him while pretending to be a regular guest 46.

Arrival in Room 504

In the reborn timeline, Zhao Yifan is the last of the four roommates to arrive. A silent middle-aged driver accompanies him, efficiently arranging his bed and belongings before leaving. Zhao Yifan introduces himself without mentioning his family’s wealth and readily accepts Han Dong’s homemade provisions 18.

He immediately notices that Lu Chuan is difficult to assess: his relaxed behavior and well-coordinated Aethel clothing do not fit Zhao Yifan’s expectations of an ordinary student. At the roommates’ first dinner, Zhao Yifan supports splitting the bill rather than accepting Chen Ziang’s offer to treat everyone; each ultimately pays thirty yuan 18 19 20.

Growing curiosity about Lu Chuan

Zhao Yifan becomes increasingly curious after Lu Chuan accurately discusses confidential changes to a luxury watch’s movement and purchasing rules. He can verify the information because his mother received an apology and compensation from the brand’s headquarters 20.

His suspicions deepen when he sees Lu Chuan following live international commodities data and later hears him speak of Shen Zhiyi without awe. Zhao Yifan interprets these details as evidence of an unusually powerful background, although he does not know about Lu Chuan’s rebirth 22 31.

The bookmark exchange

Lu Chuan discovers that Zhao Yifan’s supposedly scholarly English reading is actually an erotic novel. When Lu Chuan quietly translates a passage aloud, Zhao Yifan conceals the book before Han Dong and Chen Ziang notice, then begins planning a discreet arrangement to protect his reputation 27 34.

The next day, Zhao Yifan offers Lu Chuan a rare Maison Charvet bookmark, both to secure his silence and to test his knowledge of exclusive luxury goods. Lu Chuan recognizes it immediately and reciprocates with an even rarer handmade Aethel leather charm 35.

Zhao Yifan is embarrassed by how calculating his own approach now seems. Interpreting the return gift as acceptance rather than a transaction, he puts aside his guarded attitude and resolves to become Lu Chuan’s genuine friend 35.

The hot spring outing

After military training, Zhao Yifan playfully punctures Chen Ziang’s plan to transport all four roommates in a two-seat Porsche 718. When Chen Ziang offers a chauffeured Mercedes-Benz S-Class as an alternative, Zhao Yifan instead chooses Lu Chuan’s purportedly ordinary secondhand car, valuing the person over the vehicle 38 39.

He waits at the university gate after the others leave and recognizes Lu Chuan’s arriving white Bentley Continental GT. During the drive, he notices its Jiang A·54321 license plate and privately doubts Lu Chuan’s claim that he obtained it through a lucky random draw 42 43 44.

At the club, Zhao Yifan observes both Lu Chuan’s familiarity with the premises and his deliberate restraint in allowing Chen Ziang, the host, to lead. Later, when Lu Chuan leaves the group to greet someone, Zhao Yifan keeps his questions to himself 46 47 49.

Appearance

• Build and bearing: Tall, with an upright posture, neatly trimmed hair, and a mild expression 18 43.
• Clothing: Favors understated solid-colored T-shirts, casual trousers, and clean shoes rather than conspicuous branding 18 42.
• Glasses: Wears black-framed, nonprescription blue-light-blocking glasses while reading. His eyesight is excellent; he is not nearsighted 34.

Personality

Zhao Yifan is quiet, observant, and socially restrained. He establishes boundaries without openly distancing himself from others: Han Dong finds him approachable, but instinctively becomes less boisterous around him. Lu Chuan remembers him as the roommate who spoke least and understood situations earliest 17 18.

His wealth does not make him disdainful of inexpensive food or practical solutions. He enjoys Han Dong’s sausage and pine nuts, eats comfortably at a small back-street restaurant, and immediately adopts Lu Chuan’s suggestion of using sanitary pads as shoe cushioning after checking their material and effectiveness 18 20 32.

His composure also conceals vanity and a mischievous streak. He is deeply concerned about preserving his “aloof academic ace” image when his reading habit is discovered, yet enjoys briefly catching Chen Ziang out over the Porsche’s seating capacity. Once Chen Ziang repairs the plan, Zhao Yifan lets the joke end 34 38.

Abilities & Skills

Social observation and discretion

• Quickly assesses Han Dong’s openness, Chen Ziang’s competitiveness, and Lu Chuan’s unusual self-possession during their first meeting 18.
• Notices subtle changes in Lu Chuan’s expression and movement that the other roommates miss 46 47.
• Avoids public confrontation when a private understanding is possible, using the bookmark exchange to resolve his embarrassment 34 35.
• Limit: His observations do not reveal Lu Chuan’s rebirth; he instead attributes much of Lu Chuan’s knowledge to powerful family connections or an extensive information network 31 40.

Luxury goods and elite-circle knowledge

• Identifies Aethel clothing through fabric, tailoring, and coordination rather than conspicuous logos 18.
• Recognizes the Aethel charm through distinctive stitching and a concealed handmade code 35.
• Identifies the Porsche 718’s Miami blue paint and Bordeaux red interior at a glance 42.
• Has access to information about prominent wealthy families through his own family’s business connections 31.

English reading

• Reads original English-language popular fiction containing obscure slang and elaborate metaphors 34.
• Recognizes the fluency and contextual accuracy of Lu Chuan’s translation of a passage from his novel 34.

Equipment / Items

• Black-framed blue-light-blocking glasses — Nonprescription reading glasses that contribute to his scholarly appearance 34.
• English-language erotic novel — A thick original-edition book that Han Dong and Chen Ziang mistake for serious academic reading 27 34.
• Maison Charvet bookmark — An understated brass-and-leather bookmark with hidden luxury value; given to Lu Chuan in exchange for discretion 35.
• Handmade Aethel leather charm — A rare, non-sale item received from Lu Chuan. Zhao Yifan carefully stores it in his drawer instead of displaying it 35.
• Platinum hot spring club membership card — Used to bring Lu Chuan into the exclusive club in the previous timeline 46.

Relationships

• Lu Chuan — Roommate in both timelines. In the original life, Zhao Yifan warned him against ruinous status-seeking; after the rebirth, guarded curiosity develops into sincere friendship 1 18 35.
• Han Dong — Roommate whose food and enthusiasm Zhao Yifan accepts warmly. He nevertheless fears that Han Dong’s talkativeness would spread news of his secret reading throughout the finance department 18 34.
• Chen Ziang — Roommate whose conspicuous displays of wealth Zhao Yifan understands without being impressed. He occasionally teases him, but also offers informed compliments and accepts his hospitality 31 38 42 48.
• His mother — Received an apology and compensation from a luxury watch brand, allowing Zhao Yifan to confirm Lu Chuan’s insider information 20.
• Unnamed driver — Accompanies him to university and quietly handles the practical work of moving into the dorm 18.

Notable Quotes

“You're not fitting into the circle. You're spending your life on it at a loss.” 1

“Every sum you spend now is just to make other people think more highly of you. But that so-called regard isn't worth a thing.” 1

“Very practical. The support and moisture absorption are better than ordinary insoles.” 32