Lin Ran

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Lin Ran (林然)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	B University; Xue Chen's factory ventures
Occupation/Role	University student; prospective company and factory manager
First Appearance	5

Background / History

Lin Ran grew up alongside Xue Chen and lives near him. After Xue Chen's parents die and his relatives isolate him, Lin Ran searches for him late at night out of concern. He also reveals that he secretly placed a camcorder in Xue Chen's home, producing recordings that could expose the relatives' hostility toward Xue Chen and his parents 5.

After the college entrance examinations, Lin Ran spends much of his free time playing games at home. His mother prepares Xue Chen's university-registration necessities while Xue Chen is away, reflecting the Lin family's continued care for him 38.

Lin Ran enters B University with Xue Chen and becomes his roommate alongside Wu Liang, Kong Hui, Xu Le, and others 43. During military training, he struggles with the physical demands but gradually adapts, accepts Xue Chen's practical advice, and develops a more positive view of the experience 47 51 56.

Xue Chen later asks Lin Ran to manage a company he intends to acquire. Although Lin Ran doubts his own ability, he agrees after Xue Chen invokes his long-running rivalry with Li An. Xue Chen subsequently entrusts him with responsibility for a new factory building, prompting Lin Ran to study business seriously so he can keep pace 148 188 190.

Personality

Lin Ran is outspoken, emotional, and highly loyal to those he considers friends. He is quick to defend Xue Chen, worries about his mood, and repeatedly offers support even when he does not fully understand Xue Chen's circumstances 5 43 161.

He is also competitive to a fault, especially where Li An is concerned. Their rivalry began when they pursued the same girl and expanded into competition over grades, sports, and appearance; Lin Ran refuses to accept being surpassed by him 39.

Despite his bravado, Lin Ran recognizes his limitations. He initially hesitates at the prospect of business management because he lacks experience, but chooses to learn rather than remain dependent on Xue Chen's protection 148 190.

Skills & Competencies

Athletic Ability and Leadership

Lin Ran improves through military training and later leads a team to victory in a military-training basketball match. Teacher Wang considers him capable enough to recommend for the national team, though Lin Ran declines due to his mother's emphasis on academics 161.

• Served as an assistant within the instructor group and organized team formations during the match 161.
• Has an interest in police work and firearms, though family concerns led him away from pursuing a police career 56 58.
• Was offered a special-forces position by Li Instructor but declined in favor of becoming a scientist 57.

Business Management

Lin Ran has no formal business experience when Xue Chen recruits him, but he is willing to undertake responsibility and educate himself 148 190.

• Agrees to manage Xue Chen's acquired company after initially questioning whether he is capable 148.
• Is assigned oversight of a new factory building rather than the VCD operation 188.
• Studies business operations firsthand and resolves to read more so he will not be left behind 190.

Persuasion and Caretaking

Lin Ran successfully convinces the dorm manager to allow him to keep a cat, Meimei, in the dormitory 110.

• Takes responsibility for Meimei's care after being warned that keeping the cat means raising it properly 110.
• Notices Xue Chen's low mood and organizes basketball as a way to help him decompress 161.
• Assists Yu Ling and Liao Yaya after they are rescued from an attempted robbery and assault 46.

Equipment / Items

• Camcorder — Gift from his aunt; Lin Ran secretly installs it in Xue Chen's home and records conversations that may implicate Xue Chen's relatives 5.
• Meimei — A cat kept in the dormitory under Lin Ran's care; Xue Chen provides the name 110.
• Sanitary-pad foot cushions — Initially rejects Xue Chen's military-training advice out of embarrassment, then adopts the method after experiencing its comfort 47 51.

Relationships

• Xue Chen — Childhood friend, neighbor, roommate, and eventual business partner. Lin Ran is fiercely protective of him, while Xue Chen mentors him in business and entrusts him with factory management 5 43 148 190.
• Li An — Longtime rival and former romantic rival. Their relationship carries unresolved romantic tension after Li An asks Lin Ran not to get a girlfriend before he returns from France; years later, Li An continues pursuing an answer from him 39 40 201.
• Lin Ran's parents — Supportive parents who care for Xue Chen as well as Lin Ran. His mother opposes his earlier interest in police work and prioritizes his academic future 5 38 58 161.
• Liu Neng — Friend and former classmate who accompanies Lin Ran and Xue Chen during their graduation period 39 41.
• Wu Liang — Dormmate and friend. Wu Liang cautions Lin Ran against drawing instructors' attention during training, while Lin Ran later supports him during his decision to become a live-in son-in-law 55 167.
• Kong Hui and Xu Le — B University dormmates and members of Lin Ran's friend group 43.
• Yu Ling — Friend within Xue Chen's circle. Lin Ran teases her protective behavior toward Xue Chen and attends her birthday banquet 166 167.
• Liao Yaya — One of the women Lin Ran helps rescue; her parents later thank him and Xue Chen for intervening 46 167.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Evidence Against Xue Chen's Relatives

Lin Ran's secret recording gives Xue Chen potentially crucial evidence against relatives who have been cursing Xue Chen and his deceased parents. His concern also provides Xue Chen with one of his earliest reminders that he is not entirely alone 5.

Graduation and Li An Rivalry

Lin Ran attends a class gathering hosted by Li An determined to outshine him. Their feud stems from years of competing over the same girl and subsequently over nearly everything else, but Li An's later confession-like remarks leave Lin Ran confused and guarded 39 40.

B University and Military Training

Lin Ran travels to B City with Xue Chen, enters B University, and shares an eight-person dormitory with him. Military training exposes his lack of endurance, but he learns to prepare practically, endure punishment runs, and respect the discipline he once resented 41 43 47 55 56.

Factory Management

Xue Chen recruits Lin Ran to manage an acquired company because he does not trust others with the role. Lin Ran accepts, largely refusing to let Li An become successful while he remains stagnant, and later takes charge of an adjacent factory project 148 188.

Future with Li An

After Li An spends years building his career and repeatedly trying to reconnect, classmates press Lin Ran to give him an answer. Lin Ran responds that he will consider it if he catches Anna's bouquet—only for the bouquet to land in his arms 201.

Trivia

• Lin Ran initially calls Xue Chen's sanitary-pad foot-cushion method embarrassing, but later advocates buying more once he realizes it works 47 51 54.
• His rivalry with Li An is strong enough that Xue Chen can use it to motivate him into accepting business responsibility 148.
• Lin Ran jokes that Xue Chen might have a “special” interest in men, only to be struck on the head for it 161.