Cheng Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cheng Yan (程烟)
Age	17 at the time of her college entrance examinations 1
Gender	Female 1
Affiliation	Anju Hotel; Yizhou University, History Department freshman group 6 50
Occupation/Role	University student; assists Cheng Yun with Anju Hotel’s front desk, purchasing, renovation, and promotion work 6 26 41
Status	Alive 50
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Cheng Yan completed her college entrance examinations on June 8. The following day, her parents, professors Cheng Jianye and An Lan, died in a traffic accident. Though she initially appeared emotionally detached, with only reddened eyes betraying her grief, she silently accompanied Cheng Yun through the aftermath. Their parents’ homes were left to her, while Cheng Yun became her guardian and managed her share of the compensation and inheritance. 1

She scored 669 on the college entrance examination, a result Cheng Yun believed was sufficient for admission to Tsinghua University or Peking University. Despite previously considering universities in Yanjing, Cheng Yan independently applied to Yizhou University and later joined its History Department freshman group. Her refusal to discuss the decision led to a major argument with Cheng Yun. 3 20 21 50

Following their parents’ deaths, Cheng Yan found it difficult to sleep alone in the family home, where memories of them kept her awake. She began staying at Anju Hotel more often and agreed to assist Cheng Yun at the front desk after noticing his exhaustion from managing the new business alone. 6 14

Appearance

Cheng Yan is a 1.7-meter-tall young woman with long legs, fair skin, black hair, and a cool, delicate face. Her composed expression and striking appearance frequently draw attention from hotel guests and gym-goers. 2 11 21

• Often dresses casually in shorts, T-shirts, and athletic wear. 2 21
• Maintains a fit physique, including a slim waist and defined arms. 21
• Wears running shoes and boxing gloves while training at the gym. 21
• Has a notably cold and self-assured demeanor, even when surrounded by attention. 11 42

Personality

Cheng Yan is independent, sharp-tongued, and strongly resistant to Cheng Yun treating her as a child or subordinate. She insists that he is her brother rather than her parent, rejects his attempts to control her academic choices, and makes decisions without seeking approval. 2 21 22

Her outward indifference conceals concern for the people around her. She notices Cheng Yun’s exhaustion, agrees to help at the hotel when he is overwhelmed, brings him food and an umbrella during the storm, and checks on his health after his intense training sessions. 6 32 46

She is also pragmatic and detail-oriented. While helping renovate the hotel’s dormitory rooms, she takes charge of selecting furnishings, comparing vendors, arranging decorations, and repurposing Cheng Yun’s photographs as wall art. 26 41

Abilities & Skills

Academic Ability

Cheng Yan is exceptionally intelligent and academically accomplished.

• Earned a score of 669 on the college entrance examination. 3
• Was considered capable of entering Tsinghua University or Peking University. 1 3
• Chose to enroll at Yizhou University despite having stronger options available. 20 21
• Reads English-language material and joins Yizhou University’s History Department freshman group. 38 50

Athleticism and Self-Defense

Cheng Yan is physically fit, trains at a gym, and is capable of defending herself.

• Practices boxing and can strike a punching bag with force. 21
• Was described as having trained before and believed she could handle two men of Lu Hetong’s build. 10
• Stopped Lu Hetong’s harassment by striking him with a thick copy of Atlas Shrugged. 10
• Slapped a drunken classmate who repeatedly pressured her to become his girlfriend. 24
• Ran 8 kilometers in under 50 minutes, performed pull-ups, and completed more than a dozen dips. 42

Hotel Operations and Design

Cheng Yan contributes extensively to Anju Hotel despite initially resisting the work.

• Covers front-desk shifts and handles guest check-ins. 6 8
• Takes photographs and writes reviews to support the hotel’s online presence. 6
• Purchases groceries, meals, and hotel supplies. 13 26
• Helps plan the youth-hostel dormitory renovation and selects items from online vendors. 26 41
• Directs the placement of shelves, ornaments, photographs, books, and other decorative items. 41

Relationships

• Cheng Yun — Her older brother and legal guardian after their parents’ deaths. They argue constantly over her independence, but she quietly helps him run Anju Hotel and worries about his health. 1 6 22 46
• Cheng Jianye and An Lan — Her deceased parents. Their deaths deeply affect her, contributing to her insomnia and reluctance to leave Cheng Yun alone. 1 14
• Yu Dian — A colleague at Anju Hotel. Cheng Yan advises Yu Dian not to be overly soft toward others and later empathizes with her loneliness. 14 50
• Yin Dan — Anju Hotel’s cleaner and Cheng Yun’s unusual acquaintance. Cheng Yan initially questions Yin Dan’s age and background, then works alongside her during the dormitory renovation. 26 40
• Pan Shimeng — A gym receptionist whom Cheng Yan meets through Cheng Yun. Cheng Yan is suspicious of Pan Shimeng’s interaction with her brother and teases him about it. 21

Notable Quotes

“You're my brother, not my dad or mom!” 22

“If you can't, I can help you, but don't you manage me.” 6

Trivia

• Cheng Yan’s name, along with Cheng Yun’s, came from their father’s indecisive naming choice; he had selected “Yun” for a boy and “Yan” for a girl. 21
• She ordered a flower basket for Anju Hotel’s opening that cost 25 yuan, while telling Cheng Yun it cost 200 yuan. 1 5
• She regularly asks Cheng Yun to reimburse her for food and grocery purchases. 6 31