Ding Jiafang

Biodata

Background / History

Ding Jiafang is one of Chen Xiao’s university classmates and consistently ranks among the class’s top students. Chen Xiao considers sports about the only area in which he can outperform him. After graduation, Ding prepares to attend Shenzhou Nova Academy, while Chen Xiao alone among their classmates declines enrollment 22.

His family background is unremarkable, but his reserved place at Nova Academy provides meaningful protection: when the Gao family considers him during its investigation into Gao Chen’s downfall, its representative acknowledges that the family cannot simply target an incoming academy student 38.

Appearance

Ding has a nerdy air, with the following distinguishing features 22:

• Tall, thin build.
• Black-framed glasses.
• A large backpack when he encounters Chen Xiao.

Personality

Ding is affectionate and helpful toward his friends. He greets Chen Xiao with a delighted hug and openly regrets that their different educational choices will reduce their chances to meet. Their familiar crude banter survives the reunion, but both become subdued when they acknowledge the approaching separation 22. When Chen Xiao needs to move a bulky computer order, Ding supplies his car and helps carry the equipment into the villa 23 24.

His enthusiasm for anime fandom contrasts with his anxiety about public performance. Missing a rehearsal sends him into a panic, and he repeatedly begs Chen Xiao to find a replacement singer. He is also embarrassed by his fandom-heavy online profile and tries to stop Chen Xiao from looking it up 23 25 28.

Ding’s curiosity often centers on Chen Xiao’s concealed personal life. Although he investigates the villa’s shared spaces for evidence of a girlfriend, he refuses to intrude into private rooms. His comic jealousy over Chen Xiao’s attractive companions gives way to genuine concern about complicated relationships 24 27 35.

Abilities & Skills

Academic Performance

• Consistently one of the top students in his class 22.
• Secures admission to Shenzhou Nova Academy despite not yet having awakened a superpower 38.

Observation and Deduction

• Notices that Chen Xiao’s spotless villa does not fit his usual cleaning habits 24.
• Uses a pink apron, a recently used stove, and a refrigerator full of ingredients to infer that someone else lives there 24.
• Connects Chen Xiao’s interest in Gao Chen, prolonged absence, and tired appearance with Gao Chen’s subsequent confession, leading him to suspect hidden supernatural abilities 35.

Singing

• Practices for a convention appearance but lacks confidence in his performance 22 23.
• Chen Xiao remembers his singing as poor even in his previous life and doubts that sending him onstage would end well 23.

Relationships

• Chen Xiao — Close university friend. Ding helps transport his equipment, relies on him to arrange a convention singer, and tries to protect his private life. He later suspects that Chen Xiao has secretly awakened a power 22 23 24 35 50.
• Lin Qi — Their class representative. Ding knows she witnessed Black Rock Shooter’s public appearance; his later advice about Chen Xiao’s relationships makes Chen think of her. He disbands a group chat when news of Chen’s apparent romance reaches her 24 35 50.
• Ikuyo Kita — The replacement singer Chen Xiao brings for Ding’s convention slot. Ding initially doubts her suitability, then celebrates the band’s performance as concert-quality 28 31.
• Nijika Ijichi, Ryo Yamada, and Hitori Gotoh — Kita’s bandmates. Nijika’s friendly introduction defuses Ding’s jealousy, and Ding later escapes the venue with all four performers when new fans crowd backstage 28 35.
• Gao Chen / Today’s Flower City Rich Boy — Online rival whose fandom niche overlaps with Ding’s. Their repeated clashes and audience comparisons fuel Gao’s resentment, culminating in sabotage and an attempted rat attack 32 38.
• Black Rock Shooter — A figure Ding enthusiastically admires through online videos. He does not know that Chen Xiao has met her personally 24.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Reunion and Convention Request

• Encounters Chen Xiao while preparing for an anime convention and learns that his refusal to attend Nova Academy is final 22.
• After missing a rehearsal, asks Chen Xiao to find a replacement singer and promises that the performer will be paid 23.
• Helps transport and carry Chen Xiao’s new computer equipment. During the visit, he concludes that Chen is hiding a live-in girlfriend and resolves to keep the supposed secret 23 24.
• Sends the convention address and promises backstage passes, repeatedly stressing that Chen must attend 25 26.

Kessoku Band’s Convention Debut

• Is startled when Chen Xiao arrives with four girls rather than the amateur or novelty singer he expected 27 28.
• Introduces Kita to backstage staff as his invited singer, though he remains surprised that the girls belong to a band 28.
• Investigates the failed backing-track equipment with the others. A rat has chewed through a cable for which the venue has no spare 29.
• Celebrates Kessoku Band’s successful performance, calling it concert-level, while privately wondering whether Chen Xiao is romantically involved with all four members 31.
• Becomes a target alongside the performers when Gao Chen sends rats backstage out of resentment 32.
• Leaves through the back exit with the band after their sudden popularity overwhelms the backstage area 35.

Suspicions and Secrecy

• Learns that Gao Chen has publicly confessed and surrendered. The timing, combined with Chen Xiao’s unexplained absence and fatigue, makes Ding suspect his friend was responsible 35.
• Is briefly considered as a suspect by the Gao family. Its representative dismisses him because his test records show no awakened power and his Nova Academy admission places him beyond easy retaliation 38.
• Later dissolves a classmate group chat after someone reports seeing Chen Xiao holding hands with a blonde woman and Lin Qi asks whom he is dating 50.

Notable Quotes

“You’re the only one in our whole class who isn’t going. Everyone’s pretty bummed... After all, we won’t have as many chances to see each other anymore.” 22

“Not disappoint? That’s an understatement... A-Xiao, that was a concert-level performance. I still feel like I’m dreaming!” 31

“Fine, I’ll let you off this time. But remember, A-Xiao... if you don’t make a clean break when you should, you’ll only invite trouble.” 35