Su Shangting

Biodata

Background

Su Shangting grew up in a prominent, wealthy family that had been friends with Zou Yuxing’s family for generations. Despite that connection, the two disliked each other from childhood and became entertainment-industry rivals 5.

As a child, Su Shangting wore dresses and pretended to be a girl. Zou Yuxing later revealed that a tree-climbing mishap on Su Shangting’s fifth birthday exposed him as a boy. During high school, Su Shangting once became stuck on a rising barrier gate while skipping class 8 9.

After filming Forward All the Way, Su Shangting’s career rose. He worked with a major international director, gave an outstanding performance and won a best newcomer award 198.

Appearance

Su Shangting has a pretty, fair face and a refined appearance. He cares deeply about how he presents himself, especially in public 9 22 30.

• His curved brows and eyes give him a softer look when his temper is restrained 22.
• His skin is described as having the texture of white porcelain 54.

Personality

Proud, sharp-tongued and easily offended, Su Shangting often says the opposite of what he feels. He likes the wildflowers Wen Feiran offers him but denies it, then becomes upset when Wen Feiran takes him at his word 22 23. He is also particular about his image, reluctantly choosing warmth or comfort over appearance when circumstances force him to 28 43.

Beneath his prickliness, he worries that people favor Zou Yuxing and only pretend to like him because of his family background. He values Wen Feiran as a genuine friend and can be protective of him, even if he struggles to express affection directly 25 27 100 101. He is willing to take responsibility for his mistakes, as shown when his misuse of a skill card puts the castle-game group at risk 91.

Skills and Interests

Performing arts

Su Shangting was exposed to the arts from childhood and is described as highly skilled with various instruments. He selects a violin for an individual instrument competition 122.

• He has acted in films and later won a best newcomer award for a performance with a major international director 5 198.
• He appeared in a childhood stage play, where he unexpectedly had his evil-dragon character defeat the prince 130.

Gaming

Su Shangting plays an online game with Wen Feiran and Zou Yuxing, using a marksman character during one match 24 25.

• Before recognizing Wen Feiran in person, he praised him as a top-player friend and gave him a skin after each match 24.
• He initially lets his rivalry with Zou Yuxing interfere with teamwork, but joins forces with him after their opponents ambush him 25 26.

Flowers

Su Shangting likes flowers despite initially denying his interest in the wildflowers Wen Feiran offers him 22 26.

• At Cloud Dream Inn, he arranges flowers in the first guest’s room 153.
• In a later investment challenge, he proposes a flower-picking project and carefully searches for an aesthetically pleasing bloom 188 191.

Relationships

• Wen Feiran — A close friend whom Su Shangting initially approaches awkwardly. Their misunderstandings over flowers are followed by the discovery that Wen Feiran is his admired gaming teammate. Su Shangting later welcomes him warmly, protects him during the castle challenge and offers to swap instruments with him 22 24 26 37 100 122.
• Zou Yuxing — A childhood acquaintance and bitter rival whose family has known Su Shangting’s for generations. They constantly bicker and wrestle, though they occasionally cooperate and show concern for one another 5 26 30 189 194.
• Su Shangting’s older sister — She has enough authority over him that he becomes subdued after spending time on the phone with her 10.
• Ning Tingyu — A fellow guest who calls himself a fan of Su Shangting’s acting and offers to earn points for him when Su refuses to go out at night 5 6.
• Meng Zizheng — A fellow cast member. Su Shangting is angered by what Meng has endured and wants to confront Meng Jingxiu on his behalf 101.

Story Role

Early variety-show filming

At Dreamy Cottage, Su Shangting refuses to go out at night to earn points for his room fee, prompting Ning Tingyu to offer to earn them for him 6. His arguments with Zou Yuxing expose several embarrassing childhood stories, while Wen Feiran’s attempt to mention Su Shangting’s sister ends in confusion 8 9 10.

Su Shangting tries to draw closer to Wen Feiran but feels rejected when Wen misunderstands him. After their quarrel over wildflowers, Wen discovers that he is the gaming friend Su Shangting has been praising. The three play together, and Wen later leaves flowers on Su Shangting’s windowsill 22 24 25 26.

Island and “true friends” filming

Su Shangting is delighted when Wen Feiran unexpectedly appears on the island, but is frustrated when Wen is paired with Zou Yuxing. After falling into mud, Su reluctantly changes into Zou’s T-shirt bearing an embarrassing news photo of himself 37 41 43.

For the “true friends” theme, Su Shangting hosts the others at home and cooks lunch after two days of preparation. Zou Yuxing develops food poisoning, and his accusation that Su poisoned him becomes an online scandal 60 61.

Castle challenge

In the castle game, Su Shangting uses a skill card to trap Gu Suian, believing the detective is the group’s enemy. He overlooks the card’s time limit and offers to take responsibility when he realizes his mistake 90 91.

Later, he worries when he is separated from Wen Feiran and shields him on their reunion. Su reveals that his hidden role is a police officer and eliminates Song Lindi, but Song’s witch curse eliminates Su in return 100 104.

Cloud Dream Inn and later filming

At Cloud Dream Inn, Su Shangting helps prepare for guests and unexpectedly enjoys Zou Yuxing and Nie Lixin’s banana-stewed pig trotters 153 164. In a later project challenge, he pitches flower picking to Wen Feiran, recalling Wen’s earlier gift as a symbol of their friendship 188 190 191.