Shi Ruohe

Biodata

Background / History

Shi Ruohe was introverted from childhood and had few friends. He used to follow his older brother, Shi Ruocheng, everywhere and was livelier around him. After Ruocheng disappeared, he became even less willing to speak to other people. He lives with his grandfather in an old residential compound 3 7.

At eighteen, Shi Ruohe signed a three-year contract with an entertainment company. Despite his acting ability, he received few opportunities: he struggled at business dinners, could not flatter influential people, and inadvertently offended several of them. After two unsuccessful auditions, Sister Wan stopped contacting him about further auditions 1 15.

With two months remaining on his contract, his grandfather became seriously ill and urgently needed money. Shi Ruohe planned to leave the entertainment industry and take enough ordinary jobs to pay the medical bills. Tong Zhao’s arrival persuaded him to keep pursuing acting instead 1.

Appearance

• Described as good-looking by Tong Zhao and by a tourist who meets the pair near Stone Bay Mountain 22 25.

Personality

Shi Ruohe is shy, socially anxious, and uncomfortable speaking to strangers. Away from the camera, he tends to sit alone reading scripts rather than approach his colleagues. His initial belief that he is on set “to act, not to make friends” clashes with Tong Zhao’s insistence that professional relationships create opportunities, though he listens and tries to follow that advice 4 15.

He is sensitive to rejection and easily interprets hostility as evidence that he is unlikeable. Bullying from the cast and Shu Sizhuo’s intimidating behavior deepen his loneliness. He recognizes his tendency to overthink and dislike himself, but eventually resolves to become stronger, work harder, and stop relying on Tong Zhao to comfort him constantly 28 29.

His grandfather’s welfare takes priority over his career. He is willing to endure exhausting work to cover the medical expenses and personally looks after him during a hospital stay 1 13.

Abilities & Skills

Acting

Shi Ruohe’s confidence and ability change markedly when the camera starts rolling 15.

• Enters character almost immediately after the director calls action 15.
• Outperforms male lead Bai Yue in their shared scenes 15 22.
• Identifies weaknesses in Bai Yue’s performance, although his social anxiety prevents him from discussing them with him 15.
• Receives additional scenes when the director revises the drama’s focus 22.

Reading Expressions

Shi Ruohe is particularly sensitive to changes in people’s eyes and microexpressions 11.

• Notices Tong Zhao’s subdued mood during an otherwise cheerful evening 11.
• Recognizes tension between Tong Zhao and Shu Sizhuo and offers to exchange hotel rooms with Tong Zhao 27.
• Perceives Shu Sizhuo’s hostility toward him, even when Tong Zhao dismisses it as the man’s usual stern expression 28.

Limitations

• Social anxiety: Makes auditions, networking, and approaching fellow actors difficult despite his performance skills 1 15.
• Poor alcohol tolerance: Becomes severely ill at the investors’ dinner and later gets drunk quickly while drinking on the beach 1 2 30.

Acting Work

Story Role / Major Arcs

Tong Zhao’s Assignment

Shi Ruohe is the target of Tong Zhao’s current assignment. His intended trajectory is to remain in entertainment and become a great Best Actor, but his decision to quit threatens that future. Tong Zhao joins Zilai Entertainment to support him directly, seeking enough acting achievements to complete a five-star mission within one year. These stars measure Tong Zhao’s assignment, not Shi Ruohe’s personal power or rank 1 4.

Securing a Drama Role

Tong Zhao arranges an investors’ dinner through President Lu to obtain roles for both of them. Shi Ruohe drinks despite his poor tolerance, becomes ill, and ultimately needs help getting home 1 2 3.

Their prospective drama roles are subsequently canceled because Shu Sizhuo wants to pressure Tong Zhao. Tong Zhao confronts him and agrees to a kiss in exchange for restoring the opportunity. Unaware of that bargain, Shi Ruohe signs the contract with overwhelming gratitude and embraces Tong Zhao 13 14 15.

Joining the Production

On the set of Falling into My Heart, Tong Zhao helps Shi Ruohe navigate relationships with the crew, including buying everyone milk tea in his name. Shi Ruohe’s performances establish his talent, and the director later expands his part. His commercial also brings him a small, enthusiastic following on Weibo 15 22 24.

Stone Bay Beach

During location filming, Shi Ruohe and Tong Zhao unexpectedly receive separate single rooms, provoking resentment from other actors. At lunch, Qiaozi keeps desirable dishes out of Shi Ruohe’s reach until Tong Zhao fills his bowl for him. The pair later visit Wanqi Temple, where Tong Zhao proposes praying for Grandpa Shi’s health and Ruocheng’s return 25.

Bai Yue injures Shi Ruohe during a staged fight, leaving him with a swollen eye and a split mouth. After the assistant director asks him not to blame Bai Yue, Shi Ruohe brings liquor to Tong Zhao and admits how lonely he feels. Tong Zhao reassures him and renews his encouragement to become a Best Actor 29.

Shi Ruohe becomes heavily intoxicated on the beach. While Tong Zhao briefly leaves him to use the restroom, Shu Sizhuo intercepts and incapacitates Tong Zhao 30.

After Tong Zhao’s Disappearance

During his confinement, Tong Zhao tries unsuccessfully to obtain news of Shi Ruohe through the robot Xiaoguang. He later reasons that the drama should provide Shi Ruohe with money and further opportunities, making another attempt to quit less likely. His belief that Shi Ruohe will become a film emperor within a year or two remains a prediction, not an achievement shown in these chapters 48 50.

Relationships

• Tong Zhao — Close friend and principal supporter. Finds work opportunities, helps care for Grandpa Shi, protects him from mistreatment, and encourages his acting ambitions. Shi Ruohe considers him his only friend 1 13 25 29.
• Grandpa Shi — Grandfather and housemate. His illness motivates Shi Ruohe’s plan to leave acting for more dependable work 1 3 13.
• Shi Ruocheng — Missing older brother. His disappearance contributed to Shi Ruohe becoming more withdrawn; finding him remains an important hope 7 25.
• Su Wan / Sister Wan — Manager who becomes frustrated with his difficulty securing work, but later arranges his commercial and drama contract 2 6 13 15.
• Shu Sizhuo — Powerful executive whose jealousy over Tong Zhao produces hostility toward Shi Ruohe. Blocks his drama role as leverage against Tong Zhao before restoring it 14 22 28.
• Bai Yue — Co-star and male lead whom Shi Ruohe outperforms. Injures him during a fight scene despite instructions to fake the blows 15 22 29.

Notable Quotes

“Why waste the money? I'm here to act, not to make friends.” 15

“But I'm not outstanding, and I'm lonely too.” 29