Ruan Mei

Biodata

Appearance

Ruan Mei is an elegant woman with short blue hair. She wears low heels and carries a faint plum blossom fragrance mixed with the scent of laboratory reagents 1 4 6.

Personality

Ruan Mei combines a gentle manner with a detached approach to research. Although she initially considers it a shame to dissect Lin Feng, she accepts the procedure as a possible necessity and later observes his distress during an experiment 1 3.

Lin Feng’s unusual reactions draw her curiosity and a faint trace of affection. She comforts him and promises to protect him from Herta, though he initially suspects that her kindness is another test 4. After his departure from the station, she remains fascinated by him while keeping her other creations at a distance 22.

Research and Creations

Experimental life-forms

Ruan Mei creates Cat Cakes and other life-forms, including a jellyfish-like creature and a dumpling-shaped creation. Their temporary habitat in the Seclusion Zone contains cushions, temperature controls and a robot that distributes nutrient paste 2.

• Subject CN-01: The Cat Cake inhabited by Lin Feng, whom Ruan Mei calls an accidental creation and names Ruan Mei Ultimate Creation 3 4.
• Social behavior test: Ruan Mei observes CN-01’s confrontation with Dumpling Boss from behind a one-way screen. She records low aggression, strategic behavior and unconventional countermeasures 3.
• Simulated Universe: After watching CN-01 interact with Peppy, she remarks that sending him into the Simulated Universe might have yielded distinctive life-form data 10.

Story Role

Testing Lin Feng

Ruan Mei and Herta initially prepare to dissect Lin Feng in his Cat Cake body, but Herta spares him after he passes her tests. Ruan Mei then places him among her creations in the Seclusion Zone 1 2.

After observing his response to Dumpling Boss, Ruan Mei faces another proposal from Herta to dissect him. Once Herta leaves, Ruan Mei comforts the frightened Cat Cake, promises not to let Herta cut him open and gives him a name 3 4.

Allowing the Cat Cake to roam

When Asta finds Lin Feng near energy-monitoring equipment, Ruan Mei describes his behavior as safe autonomous exploration and suggests leaving him with Peppy. She later watches the pair interact and smiles as Peppy performs backflips at the Cat Cake’s direction 8 10.

Departure on the Astral Express

After Lin Feng stows away on the Astral Express, Stelle asks whether he should be returned. Ruan Mei says he may stay and asks the crew to care for him while her experiment is at a critical stage 21 22.

In her laboratory, she repeatedly watches footage of his boarding, focusing on his unusually intent eyes. She reflects on the fascination of life and expresses hope that he will not disappoint her when they meet again 22.

Relationships

• Lin Feng — Her accidental Cat Cake creation and experimental subject. She studies his unusual intelligence, promises to protect him and permits him to remain on the Express 3 4 22.
• Herta — A fellow researcher who repeatedly proposes dissecting Lin Feng; Ruan Mei later promises to prevent it 1 3 4.
• Asta — Consults Ruan Mei about Lin Feng after finding him near the station’s energy equipment and later brings her to see him playing with Peppy 8 10.
• Stelle and March 7th — Astral Express passengers whom Ruan Mei entrusts with looking after Lin Feng 22 23.

Notable Quotes

“You’re different from the others, little one.” 4

“Don’t worry. I won’t let Herta slice you up.” 4

“The next time we meet... don’t disappoint me.” 22