Fang Yu

Biodata

Background / History

Fang Yu had previously crossed paths with Shen Ranxin when Shen was still working as an extra, making him Shen's senior in the entertainment industry 2.

At twenty-nine, Fang joined Instant Heartbeat after several exhausting months of filming, publicly framing the dating show as a chance to rest 3. He is nevertheless a highly active participant, treating the show’s games, work tasks, and staged romantic scenarios with a mixture of professionalism, humor, and skepticism.

After the show, Fang recommended Shen Ranxin for a supporting role in a major production in which Fang was starring. Shen’s performance on the project later earned him another major supporting role, demonstrating Fang’s willingness to use his professional standing to support a junior colleague 129.

Fang has Pheromone Dysregulation Disorder, which causes recurrent and severe pheromonal instability. Following his lifelong marking by Jiang Ye, he initially considered removing the mark and retiring from the entertainment industry, but the procedure would be medically risky and require a prolonged recovery period 162 163.

Appearance

Fang Yu is a classically handsome omega with strikingly upright features, peach-blossom eyes, and a physique that initially makes his secondary gender difficult to guess 2.

• Slightly wheat-colored skin and an excellent, leanly muscular build 2 12.
• Peach-blossom eyes that give him the impression of smiling even when expressionless 2.
• Maintains an “old cadre” public persona despite his playful behavior 2.
• His age is frequently exaggerated into a running joke by viewers and fellow guests, though he is twenty-nine 3 21.
• His pheromones carry a cherry-like fragrance, a contrast to his heroic and traditionally masculine appearance 37 161.

Personality

Fang Yu is composed and polished in front of cameras, with the easy charm and professionalism expected of an established actor 3. He frequently calls himself an “old man” for comedic effect, but he is energetic, physically capable, and fond of teasing the younger contestants 5 12 21.

Beneath his confident exterior, Fang can become visibly flustered when his feelings are involved—especially around Jiang Ye. He initially reacts defensively to his pheromonal response and to Jiang’s attachment to toys, but immediately apologizes after learning about Jiang’s lonely childhood 22. He is also observant: he quickly recognizes when Lu Zhi is deliberately provoking others and often acts to prevent a situation from becoming more embarrassing 23.

Although Fang can be sarcastic and outwardly detached, he is deeply protective of people he cares about. He mediates conflicts among the guests, accepts responsibility when Gu Yifei’s disappearance causes trouble, and comforts Gu after he realizes the sentimental value of Lu Zhi’s Paperbush tree 51 66 76.

Fang is emotionally guarded regarding Jiang Ye. Despite repeatedly indulging Jiang’s affection, he initially attempts to end their relationship because he fears their ten-year age gap, Jiang’s youth, and the possible damage public attention could cause to Jiang’s esports career 53 162. His apparent indifference is ultimately revealed to be insecurity and self-protection rather than a lack of feeling 162 166.

Abilities & Skills

Acting and Public Performance

Fang Yu is an experienced, award-winning actor able to maintain composure under livestream scrutiny and perform romantic material professionally.

• Joined a restaurant Valentine’s Day promotion with Jiang Ye, posing as a couple for promotional posters and filming an angled kiss 36.
• Treats intimate or suggestive scenes as ordinary professional work, though Shen Ranxin’s misunderstanding of this leaves him embarrassed 36.
• Attracts a large livestream audience through lively commentary and his established celebrity appeal 10.
• Recognized Shen Ranxin’s suitability for a supporting role and personally recommended him to the director of Fang’s subsequent production 129.

Physical Fitness

Despite describing himself as old, Fang maintains a fit physique and regularly exercises.

• Took over Gu Yifei’s digging work so Jiang Ye could finish planting his own Paperbush tree 12.
• Danced enthusiastically to “Love Like Fire” on his balcony before the production crew interrupted him 21.
• Participated in physically demanding work tasks and the show’s fantasy role-play activities 12 47.
• Defended himself from President Wang’s attempted coercion by breaking the Alpha’s wrist, demonstrating that he is not easily overpowered despite being an omega 164.

Pheromonal Traits

Fang’s cherry-scented pheromones have a pronounced effect on Jiang Ye, while Jiang’s mint pheromones can provoke an intense physical response in Fang 22 37.

• His Pheromone Dysregulation Disorder causes periods of heightened pheromonal instability and physical discomfort 162 163.
• Jiang Ye’s lifelong mark makes Fang resistant to other Alphas’ inducing pheromones, allowing him to resist President Wang’s attempted pheromonal coercion 164.
• Fang’s illness and intensified pheromones later lead Shen Ranxin to suspect that Fang may be unexpectedly pregnant, with Jiang Ye strongly implied to be the father 130 131.

Social Perception

Fang is perceptive about interpersonal tension and often understands implications that other guests miss.

• Avoided choosing Shen Ranxin or Lu Zhi in the first red-string game because he sensed that something was unusual between them 5.
• Recognized Lu Zhi’s attempt to bait Jiang Ye into asking about his hickey and removed Jiang from the room instead 23.
• Helped Gu Yifei understand that Shen’s frightening behavior toward him was partly motivated by Gu’s treatment of Jiang Ye 16.
• Forced Jiang Ye to apologize after he deliberately hit Gu Yifei with a water gun, then helped resolve the resulting dispute 51.
• Defended Gu Yifei after his disappearance and near-drowning, while also acknowledging that the group had collectively failed to keep track of him 66.

Relationships

• Jiang Ye — Fellow contestant, lifelong-marked Alpha partner, and Fang’s central romantic interest. Fang chose Jiang for the first red-string hide-and-seek round, was drawn to his hands, and later defended him from Gu Yifei’s excessive demands 5 12. Their relationship deepened after Jiang helped him through a pheromone-induced episode and honestly explained his attachment to toys 22. They later posed as a couple and shared a conscious kiss, while Fang knowingly teases Jiang over his growing feelings 36 37. Fang continues to indulge Jiang’s increasingly direct affection, though he initially refuses to publicize or define their relationship because he fears harming Jiang’s career 53. After the dating show, Jiang marks Fang for life; Fang then distances himself out of insecurity, while Jiang persistently seeks reconciliation 161 162. Following Jiang’s defense of Fang from President Wang and his sincere insistence that his love is not temporary, Fang accepts Jiang and agrees to rebuild their relationship gradually 164 166.
• Shen Ranxin — Junior colleague and fellow contestant. Fang knew Shen from Shen’s days as an extra and often acts as a concerned observer of Shen’s volatile behavior 2 13. He is willing to tease Shen, particularly over Shen’s romantic obliviousness, but also helps manage the consequences of Shen’s haunted-house breakdown 37 41. Fang later recommends Shen for a supporting role in one of his productions and remains concerned when Shen notices Fang’s deteriorating health 129 130.
• Gu Yifei — Fellow omega contestant. Fang intervened when Gu repeatedly pressured Jiang into digging holes, then later explained Shen’s motives after Gu became frightened of him 12 16. He frequently acts as a mediator for Gu, defending him after his disappearance and comforting him when he finally regrets damaging Lu Zhi’s Paperbush tree 66 76.
• Lu Zhi — Fellow contestant. Fang recognizes Lu’s deliberate provocations and possessive behavior toward Shen, including his calculated display of a hickey 23.
• Cheng Cheng — Fellow contestant. Fang readily agreed to pay for Cheng’s cooking and later helped redirect Cheng’s attempt to have Shen inspect his suppressant patch 14. Fang values Cheng’s cooking and helps him prepare dinner during the show 53.

Story Role / Major Arcs

*Instant Heartbeat* Introduction

Fang introduces himself as a veteran actor seeking rest after intensive filming 3. During the first hide-and-seek game, he selects Jiang Ye as his red-string partner, finds him in three seconds, and earns priority in choosing an omega room 5 7.

Paperbush Garden

When Gu Yifei exploits Jiang Ye’s unwillingness to refuse requests, Fang takes over the difficult digging work and urges Jiang to plant his own tree 12. He later helps Gu understand that Shen planted Gu’s Paperbush in fertile soil after trying to correct Gu’s treatment of Jiang 16.

Jiang Ye’s Pheromone Episode

While waking Jiang, Fang is startled by a toy and accidentally falls onto him. Jiang’s mint pheromones trigger a powerful reaction in Fang, leaving him weak and embarrassed 21 22. Jiang nevertheless returns to help him recover, and Fang’s harsh reaction softens into remorse when Jiang explains his childhood 22.

Couple Poster Task

Fang and Jiang earn thousands of points by appearing as a couple in a restaurant’s Valentine’s Day promotion 36. Their staged kiss becomes emotionally meaningful to Jiang, while Fang understands Jiang’s accidental “Want to kiss” confession and playfully lets Shen misinterpret it 37.

Princess, Dragon, and Warrior Game

Fang draws a warrior role in the fantasy cosplay task 47. He teases Jiang—assigned to an oversized dragon mascot costume—by calling him the “cutest little evil dragon” before emphasizing that warriors and dragons are natural enemies 50.

During the subsequent challenges, Fang serves as Jiang Ye’s social guide, making Jiang apologize to Gu Yifei after the latter is deliberately hit with a water gun and helping the two complete the zip-line portion of the game 51.

Developing Relationship with Jiang Ye

Fang continues to tease Jiang while recognizing the sincerity behind Jiang’s feelings. When Jiang nervously asks whether he may kiss Fang, Fang grants him a brief kiss, but later rejects his agent’s suggestion to capitalize on the couple’s popularity because he does not want to endanger Jiang’s esports career 53.

As their relationship becomes more intimate, Fang remains unable to fully accept Jiang’s devotion. He refuses Jiang’s offers of help at times, avoids accepting public rituals of commitment, and maintains emotional distance even while sharing a suite with him 54 95 112.

Marriage Temple

During the final Instant Heartbeat activity, Fang and Jiang take down each other’s red strings from their Paperbush trees before climbing the mountain to the Marriage Temple 109. Fang ultimately chooses not to burn Jiang’s red string, then contacts the other guests during the descent while conspicuously not messaging Jiang, revealing his growing fear of public commitment and emotional uncertainty 112.

Post-Show Separation and Reconciliation

After the dating show concludes, Fang becomes drunk and spends an emotionally charged night with Jiang. Jiang marks him, but Fang disappears the following morning and refuses Jiang’s calls, believing that separation is kinder than allowing Jiang to become tied to an older omega 161 162.

Jiang searches for Fang, buys a villa in Fang’s neighborhood to reach him, and waits outside Fang’s home for a week before returning to training 162. Fang secretly keeps Jiang’s contact information and eventually realizes that the separation has only intensified his longing for him 162.

Their reunion occurs when Jiang intervenes during President Wang’s attempted harassment of Fang. After Jiang openly confronts Fang about being abandoned, Fang begins accepting Jiang’s devotion and agrees to give their relationship another chance rather than deciding its future for him 164 166.

Trivia

• Fang’s square dance to “Love Like Fire” became an unexpected livestream spectacle when the production crew entered his room to wake him 21.
• He jokingly refers to himself as an old man despite being only twenty-nine 3 5.
• Fang’s initial attraction to Jiang Ye centers on Jiang’s notably beautiful hands 5.
• Jiang Ye’s teammates discover that Jiang has Fang’s photographs displayed throughout his training base 163.
• Jiang Ye repeatedly calls Fang by his full name after their reconciliation, while Fang insists on being addressed more respectfully as “Brother Yu” or “Teacher Fang” 165 166.