Li Ping

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Li Ping (黎凭)
Alias(es)	Senior Brother (used by Zhao Danshi) 11
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Li family group (formerly); Zhao Danshi’s farming, retail, and rural-media ventures 27 30 48
Occupation/Role	Former corporate general manager; farmer, business partner, videographer, and co-parent 14 27 30
Status	Alive 48
First Appearance	Chapter 1: “Drunken Night”

Background

Li Ping was two years ahead of Zhao Danshi at university. They occasionally attended meals, gatherings, and club activities together; Li knew Zhao had feelings for him, but maintained a polite distance because he was not seeking a boyfriend at the time. 14 31

After university, Li entered his family’s business from the bottom and rose to general manager. He was highly familiar with company affairs, kept a strict exercise routine, and was trusted to lead difficult projects. His professional success did not ease his conflict with his father, Li Suilun, who continued to control his career and pressure him into blind dates and a conventional marriage. 14 27

Following an argument with his family over marriage, Li drank alone at a bar. Zhao brought him to a hotel after the bartender called the most recent number in Li’s phone history. Li later revealed that he had not been unconscious; aware of Zhao’s care and attraction, he impulsively kissed him, and they spent the night together. 1 14

Appearance

Li Ping is a tall, imposing man with a distinctly masculine appearance. Even while drunk, Zhao notes that his bearing remains striking. 1

• Tall, long-limbed build with lean, solid musculature. 1 14
• Sharply defined facial features and low body fat. 1
• Commonly described as exceptionally handsome and refined. 14 43
• Maintains his fitness through regular workouts and running. 14
• Retains an authoritative presence even after leaving corporate work for farming. 36

Personality

Li is disciplined, efficient, and intensely capable under pressure. He approaches work methodically, rapidly organizes people and plans during crises, and dislikes being treated as incapable or controlled by others. His decision to leave the family group comes from years of resentment over his father managing both his professional and personal choices. 14 17 27

He initially avoids defining his feelings for Zhao, responding to their night together with guilt, jealousy, and indirect investigation rather than honesty. Once he learns of the pregnancy, however, his concern becomes increasingly direct: he travels to Zhao’s village, assumes responsibility for the child’s welfare, and gradually chooses Zhao over his former life and family support. 14 18 19 28

Li expresses affection through practical care. He can become overprotective—restricting Zhao’s farm work, diet, and exposure to cold during the pregnancy—but learns to compromise when Zhao insists on retaining his independence. 20 21

Abilities & Skills

Corporate Leadership

Li is an experienced executive with strong crisis-management skills.

• Rose from an ordinary employee to general manager within the Li family group. 14 27
• Took charge of a failing Q Country cooperation project worth approximately 130 million US dollars when Li Sheng could not travel. 17
• Formed multiple contingency plans before reaching the airport and led an elite team through more than a week of negotiations to restore the partnership. 17
• Managed company work remotely while staying in the countryside with Zhao. 22

Negotiation and Business Judgment

Li applies his corporate experience to the household’s agricultural business and dealings with Watcher.

• Negotiated the price of Lower-grade Spirit Spring Water from 100 to 25 Bio-Energy per jin. 33
• Helped establish an equal Bio-Energy-sharing arrangement when Watcher sought to profit from Zhao’s cooking videos. 34
• Ended the strawberry partnership with Boss Li when the buyer attempted to reduce both purchase volume and price. 48
• Supported the decision to open a direct vegetable shop rather than remain dependent on an intermediary. 48

Photography and Editing

Li has experience with a photography association and becomes Zhao’s cameraman and editor for their rural-life videos. 30

• Films farm work, cooking, scenery, and family outings with a carefully constructed pastoral atmosphere. 30 33
• Edits ordinary chores into visually appealing footage that even Zhao finds idealized and beautiful. 33
• Deliberately limits direct shots of Zhao’s face, partly because he is possessive of Zhao’s appearance. 30
• Keeps Dou Dou off-camera to protect the child’s privacy. 30

Farming and Domestic Care

Li adapts from executive work to rural labor and shared household responsibilities.

• Helps plan crops, hire labor, prepare fertilizer, rent land, and develop the family’s farm. 29
• Works in the fields, chops wood, builds fencing, drives produce to market, and assists with harvests. 21 29 43
• Learns pregnancy nutrition and cooking techniques to care for Zhao before Dou Dou’s birth. 24
• Shares childcare, feeding, travel arrangements, and medical care for Dou Dou. 24 26

Equipment / Items

• Car — Used for long-distance travel, transporting farm products, and taking Zhao and Dou Dou to appointments. 18 21 26
• Filming equipment — Camera and related equipment purchased for the rural-life video project. 30
• Work gloves — Gives Zhao gloves to prevent him from working in the cold with bare hands. 22

Relationships

• Zhao Danshi — Former university junior, long-time admirer, business partner, co-parent, and eventual boyfriend. Li initially hesitates to confront his feelings, but leaves his corporate career and family support to build a life with Zhao. 14 28 44
• Dou Dou / Ning Xi — His biological son with Zhao Danshi. Feeling the unborn child move becomes a turning point in Li’s acceptance of fatherhood; he later shares daily childcare with Zhao. 19 24 25
• Li Sheng — Older brother. Li Sheng covers company matters during Li’s absences, mediates during his conflict with their father, and supports his decision to pursue his own life. 17 27 28
• Li Suilun — Father. Their relationship is defined by a long-running struggle over Li’s education, career, assets, and relationship with Zhao. 27 28
• Chen Yuxue — Mother. She worries about Li’s future and opposes his relationship with Zhao, though she is less openly hostile than Li Suilun. 24 28
• Zhao’s grandfather — Zhao’s grandfather warmly receives Li as a guest and gradually accepts him as part of the household. 18 28
• Ran Yuanyao — Zhao’s childhood friend and Dou Dou’s godfather. Li and Ran initially interact cautiously, but develop mutual respect while preparing for Zhao’s delivery. 24
• Watcher — The extraterrestrial entity responsible for Zhao’s Gestation Sac and agricultural resources. Li is initially astonished by Watcher, then becomes Zhao’s chief negotiator in dealings with it. 23 33 34
• Yao Jingming — Friend who bluntly challenges Li’s indecision and warns him not to interfere with Zhao’s life unless he is serious. 14

Story Role / Major Arcs

Drunken Night and Delayed Realization

Li’s drunken encounter with Zhao begins their relationship, but he fails to contact Zhao promptly after Zhao leaves the hotel and resigns from the city. When Zhao blocks his number, Li’s concern turns into jealousy and investigation, forcing him to acknowledge that Zhao matters to him. 1 11 14 15

Pregnancy Revelation

After misinterpreting rumors of Zhao’s “pregnant girlfriend,” Li travels to Zhao’s village and eventually learns that Zhao himself is carrying Li’s child through an implanted Gestation Sac. Although shocked, Li immediately focuses on Zhao’s health and the risks of childbirth. 15 18 19

Becoming a Father

Li stays in the countryside to support Zhao through the pregnancy, taking over strenuous tasks, monitoring Zhao’s diet, and helping sell the farm’s produce. He later rents an apartment in W City, learns prenatal cooking, assists Ran Yuanyao and Watcher during the delivery, and becomes an active father to Dou Dou. 20 21 24

Breaking from the Li Family

When Li Suilun insults Zhao and rejects their relationship, Li openly defends Zhao and resigns from the family group rather than submit to his father’s authority. He accepts the loss of family-provided assets and chooses to move to Zhao’s village as his practical partner and co-parent. 26 27 28

Rural Partnership and Romance

Li helps expand the farm, develop direct retail channels, produce online videos, and raise Dou Dou alongside Zhao. He eventually asks Zhao to move beyond a business partnership and become a couple; Zhao accepts, making their relationship explicit. 29 30 44 48

Notable Quotes

“I am an independent person. Even if I'm your son, I'm not some game for you to control.” 27

“You and Dou Dou are here—how could I feel unaccustomed?” 44

Trivia

• Li’s life was highly regimented before moving to the countryside; he worked out for forty minutes at noon and an hour and a half at night. 14
• He initially refused blind dates by telling Li Sheng that he was “not a breeding stallion.” 14
• Li’s personal phone was accidentally left in his car during the Q Country business trip, causing him to miss Zhao’s urgent messages. 17
• He is unusually skilled at making Zhao’s everyday farm life appear picturesque through the camera. 33