Pei Nanman

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Pei Nanman (裴南曼)
Alias(es)	Sister Man; Queen Pei; “Man Man”
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Pei household; Li Family through her late elder sister; Ju Li Company
Occupation/Role	Business executive; operator of a security company; owner of a Combat Club; investor
Status	Active 742
First Appearance	Chapter 51, initially encountered by Qin Ze near the Huangpu River 51 695

Background / History

Pei Nanman grew up in a small northern town with her elder sister and a nanny. Her mother died from complications after giving birth to her, while her two older brothers were killed in gang vendettas. She first met her father at age three; impressed by her fierce reaction to him, he began training her in martial arts. 453

Her father was a powerful northern underworld figure whose businesses spanned both legitimate and illicit industries. His death in the 1990s left Pei Nanman with a vast but precarious inheritance and a fractured power base. 78 453

At sixteen, she sought help from Cao Bing, one of her father’s disciples. She promised to marry him at twenty if he helped preserve her family’s remaining interests. With his assistance, she stabilized the family business, but the changing times forced them to abandon much of its gray-industry foundation. 454

Pei Nanman later relocated to Hu City with loyal followers and substantial capital. Despite having average academic performance in childhood, she educated herself, rebuilt the business on legitimate ground, and used support from the Li Family to complete the transition. 454

Her elder sister married into the Li Family but later died. Pei Nanman took in her sister’s children, Pei Ziqi and Li Donglai, who chose to live with her rather than their father and stepmother. 78

Her marriage to Cao Bing ended after he pursued another marriage for political and business advancement. Pei Nanman also disclosed that infertility was part of the pain surrounding their relationship and divorce. 328 454

Appearance

Pei Nanman is a tall, mature woman whose imposing presence often draws attention before people notice her beauty. Her demeanor combines the authority of a seasoned executive with a cold, alluring elegance. 198 451

• Approximately 1.70 meters tall. 451
• Fair skin with a healthy rosy complexion. 95
• Long black hair, often pinned up while cooking. 697
• Slender but athletic build, maintained through long-term exercise and martial-arts training. 451 452
• Usually dresses simply, though her luxury accessories reveal her wealth; she owns a limited-edition Cartier rose-gold watch worth several million RMB. 95
• Her commanding aura makes many younger men feel restrained or intimidated around her. 198 542

Personality

Pei Nanman is strong-willed, sharp, independent, and difficult to intimidate. Her history forces her to remain self-reliant, and she approaches both conflict and business with a firm sense of boundaries. When Cao Bing attempts to pressure her into reconciliation, she refuses outright and threatens to fight back rather than yield. 328

Despite her formidable exterior, she is deeply protective of the people she accepts as family. She raises Pei Ziqi and Li Donglai with a mixture of strict authority and maternal concern, and Old Madam Li values her ability to bring stability to the Li household. 70 543

She distinguishes friendship from business. Though willing to help people she trusts, she insists that investments must be based on ability, results, and clear principles rather than sentiment. 200

Pei Nanman has a softer domestic side that appears around her home and family.

• Loves cooking, especially Hunan cuisine, despite initially being a poor cook. 93 451
• Retained an interest in tea ceremony after abandoning many childhood pursuits. 232
• Maintains a disciplined routine: she avoids cigarettes and alcohol, values cleanliness, and normally returns home before midnight. 451
• Has a habit of threatening to “sink” people in the Huangpu River when annoyed. 277 555
• Watches Zhen Huan Zhuan because Qin Ze wrote its script and she is interested in its plotting and understanding of women’s motivations. 665

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts

Pei Nanman has trained in martial arts since childhood. Her father recognized her talent early and personally taught her moves during his visits. 453

• Began horse-stance training at age three. 453
• Developed enough skill as a child to consistently defeat boys her age. 453
• Can perform powerful kicks, close-range strikes, grappling holds, and flexible evasive maneuvers. 452
• Owns a Combat Club and is familiar with formal combat training. 208 551
• Can pressure Qin Ze in a sparring match through locks, wrist pressure, and leg techniques, though she is ultimately outmatched when he uses his superior strength. 700

Business and Investment

Pei Nanman rebuilt her family’s power into legitimate business interests after relocating to Hu City. She is a wealthy, experienced investor with a practical view of capital, connections, and risk. 454 516

• Runs a security company and initially considered hiring Qin Ze because of his fighting ability. 68 136
• Holds shares in Ju Li Company. 165
• Sets strict investment terms, including a minimum monthly repayment of twenty million RMB for Qin Ze’s Tianfang Film and Television investment plan. 277
• Invests 100 million RMB into Qin Ze’s VR-device project while protecting Su Yu’s equity interests. 516
• Advises Qin Ze not to become dependent on the Wang Family, stressing that cooperation is preferable to reliance. 742
• Uses personal due diligence when necessary, including investigating Qin Ze’s background before employing him as Li Donglai’s tutor. 73

Household Management

Pei Nanman maintains a highly organized household and expects order from those around her. Her home is treated as a controlled private space, particularly her kitchen. 446 451

• Forbids most people from using her kitchen. 446
• Entrusts Qin Ze with domestic responsibilities because she considers him reliable. 451
• Takes responsibility for disciplining younger relatives when they behave improperly. 557 558
• Has a particular weakness around her earlobes, which Qin Ze discovers while cooking with her. 697 698

Assets & Enterprises

• Security Company — A business Pei Nanman operates; she originally intended to recruit Qin Ze for it. 68 136
• Combat Club — A combat-training club under her ownership. 208 551
• Ju Li Company Shares — She is a shareholder and maintains a close business relationship with Su Yu. 165
• Villa — Her residence, where Pei Ziqi and Li Donglai live with her. 277 451
• Maserati — Used to drive Qin Ze during his tutoring period. 73
• Investment Capital — She is capable of making investments worth tens or hundreds of millions of RMB. 200 516

Relationships

• Qin Ze — Initially hires him as Li Donglai’s tutor after he demonstrates exceptional academic ability. Their relationship expands into cooking, family matters, combat sparring, and business cooperation; she later invests in his projects and becomes a confidante who gives him blunt advice. 68 93 277 516 634
• Su Yu — Her closest friend. Pei Nanman is protective of Su Yu, worries about her relationship with Qin Ze, and supports her interests in business dealings. 166 236 516
• Cao Bing — Her ex-husband and her father’s former disciple. He helped preserve her family’s business after her father’s death, but later betrayed their marriage; she firmly rejects his attempts at reconciliation. 277 328 454
• Pei Ziqi — Her niece and ward. Pei Nanman acts as Ziqi’s guardian, disciplines her behavior, and receives her affection as a maternal figure. 70 451 698
• Li Donglai — Her nephew and ward. She hires Qin Ze to tutor him, supports his improvement, and retains authority over him despite his rebellious behavior. 68 70 697
• Old Madam Li — A maternal elder within the Li Family who treats Pei Nanman like a daughter and values her role in keeping the family peaceful. 543 560
• Her elder sister — Deceased sister who married into the Li Family; Pei Nanman took responsibility for her children after her death. 78

Story Role / Major Arcs

Hiring Qin Ze

Pei Nanman employs Qin Ze as Li Donglai’s tutor after he completes a difficult mock examination in under twenty minutes and earns a perfect score. Though initially detached, she recognizes his ability and approves his detailed study plan for her nephew. 68 69 70

Cooking and Piano Club

Her pride in cooking is challenged when Qin Ze prepares several Hunan dishes in her kitchen. Though angered by his criticism, she acknowledges his skill. She later brings Qin Ze and Pei Ziqi to a piano club to evaluate teachers for Ziqi. 93 94 95

Business Connection with Qin Ze and Su Yu

Pei Nanman’s status as a Ju Li shareholder reveals her deeper connection to Su Yu’s business world. She later becomes an investor and adviser to Qin Ze, while continuing to protect Su Yu’s interests. 165 200 516

Conflict with Cao Bing

When Cao Bing returns seeking reconciliation, Pei Nanman refuses to become his mistress or tolerate his possessiveness. She uses Qin Ze as a shield at a dinner meeting, then openly threatens Cao Bing when he targets Qin Ze. 277 328 329

Family and Li Family Affairs

Pei Nanman accompanies Qin Ze to gatherings involving the Li Family, where she mediates disputes among the children and is recognized by Old Madam Li as a stabilizing presence. 542 543 546

Qin Ze’s Business Partner

Pei Nanman agrees to finance Qin Ze’s VR project with 100 million RMB, though she initially criticizes the proposal as costly and risky. Her decision is motivated partly by trust in Qin Ze and partly by concern for Su Yu’s stake. 516

Birthday and Changing Feelings

Qin Ze gives Pei Nanman a wooden spinning top for her birthday, unknowingly touching a memory of the first gift she received from her father. The gift moves her more deeply than the expensive presents she receives from others. 695 698

After a confrontation with Qin Ze, she is left contemplating his confession, his business-integration proposal, and the possibility of no longer carrying every burden alone. 700

Notable Quotes

“If you want to play, I'll play with you.” 328

“Business can't be about personal feelings, or you'll be dragged down by all sorts of messy personal relationships sooner or later.” 200

“As long as it doesn't involve murder, I can handle it.” 277

Trivia

• Her first birthday gift from her father was a wooden spinning top because he had wanted a son. 695
• Qin Ze’s spinning-top birthday gift becomes the most meaningful gift she has received. 698
• Her sensitive spot is her earlobe. 697 698
• She dislikes being called an “old woman” and responds aggressively when Qin Ze teases her about her age. 742
• She has a slight preference for attractive men, though she also values maturity, independence, and long-term potential. 546 706