Ren Tingting

Biodata

Background

Ren Tingting is the daughter of Master Ren. She studied in the West while young and had only recently returned to Ren Family Town when Uncle Nine and Qiusheng met her at a Western restaurant 14 15.

She initially spends time with Qiusheng over their shared interest in cosmetics, visiting his aunt's Rouge Shop and purchasing rouge and powder to use while teaching others makeup 15 16 19. Their friendship quickly deepens as Qiusheng protects her from Qiang San's harassment, while Tingting helps him avoid further trouble with her possessive cousin, Ren Wei 17.

Appearance

Ren Tingting is a pure and lovely young woman whose Western-style fashion distinguishes her in Ren Family Town 15.

• Wears fashionable Western dresses 15.
• Is described as barefaced rather than heavily made up 15.
• Has a refined, well-mannered bearing that impresses Qiusheng's aunt and Master Ren 14 16.
• Her smile is noted as especially radiant 16.

Personality

Tingting is polite, warm, and socially considerate. She thanks Qiusheng's aunt for her hospitality, worries about inconveniencing Uncle Nine's group, and readily defends Qiusheng when Ren Wei unfairly accuses him of improper intentions 16 19.

After Master Ren's death and the threat from Ren Weiyong, Tingting becomes more vulnerable but also more mature. She accepts the need to confront the future of her family, remains near the Public Mortuary for protection, and later reviews the estate's account books rather than abandoning her responsibilities 28 34 49.

She is deeply concerned for Qiusheng's safety. This concern leads her to tend to him after the zombie battle, seek instruction in self-defense, and reluctantly agree to remain in Ren Family Town while he escorts Taoist Four Eyes 43 46 47.

Skills & Activities

• Makeup — Has learned makeup and purchases rouge and powder to teach others its application 15 16 19.
• Estate accounts — Reviews the Ren family's account books after Master Ren's death, while Steward Huang continues overseeing the household business 34 49.
• Caregiving — Helps treat Qiusheng's corpse poison by spreading sticky rice around him and preparing sticky-rice water for his bath 44.
• Self-defense training — Requests Daoist instruction so she can protect herself from ghosts and monsters; Qiusheng arranges to invite Aunt-Master Zhegu as a prospective teacher after Uncle Nine declines to take a female disciple 46 47.

Relationships

• Qiusheng — Romantic partner. Their relationship grows from friendly outings and mutual protection into a confession beneath the moon; Tingting accepts his request to become his girlfriend 16 17 28 38.
• Master Ren — Father. His death at the hands of Ren Weiyong leaves Tingting grieving and forces her to confront the Ren family's future 27 28 34.
• Ren Weiyong — Grandfather, later transformed into a zombie. Because she is his blood relative, she becomes one of his intended targets 27 35 42.
• Ren Wei — Cousin and Security Corps captain. He is possessive of Tingting and hostile toward Qiusheng, though Tingting repeatedly rebukes him for his behavior 17 19.
• Uncle Nine — Qiusheng's master and a protector during the zombie crisis. He accepts Tingting's stay at the Public Mortuary and supports the plan to find her a suitable Daoist teacher 34 35 47.
• Wencai — Qiusheng's junior brother. Tingting is initially frightened by his appearance and mannerisms, but later shares a friendly, teasing dynamic with him 19 38.
• Qiusheng's Auntie — Owner of the Rouge Shop. She becomes close to Tingting and openly approves of her relationship with Qiusheng 16 48 49.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Ren Family Town and the Exhumation

Tingting meets Qiusheng at the Western restaurant and accompanies him to the Rouge Shop, where their mutual interest becomes apparent. She later joins the party traveling to her grandfather's grave for the exhumation, trusting Qiusheng and seeking his explanations of the Taoist rites 15 16 19 20.

Ren Weiyong Zombie Crisis

After Ren Weiyong escapes as a zombie and kills Master Ren, Tingting turns to Qiusheng in grief. She stays close to the Public Mortuary because Ren Weiyong is targeting his surviving blood relatives, burns paper offerings for her father, and relies on Qiusheng and Uncle Nine for protection 27 28 34 35.

During Ren Weiyong's final attack, the zombie lunges toward Tingting and Wencai. After Qiusheng kills it at great cost, Tingting disregards her own safety to rush to his side and help him 42 43.

Relationship with Qiusheng

Tingting and Qiusheng formally become a couple after he confesses to her on the Public Mortuary rooftop 38. She later sleeps in his room after emotional exhaustion, is introduced to Uncle Nine as Qiusheng's girlfriend, and learns more about Qiusheng's orphaned childhood from his aunt 48 49.

Before Qiusheng departs with Taoist Four Eyes, Tingting prepares him a meal, audits the family accounts, and promises to wait for his return 46 49.

Notable Quotes

“Brother Sheng, I am willing.” 38

“I will wait for your return in Ren Family Town.” 46