Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Yao Tao (姚桃) |
| Alias(es) | Little Peach, Peachy; Qin Zhen's Toxic Solo Stan (university-forum username) 8 19 |
| Gender | Female |
| Age | 19 44 |
| Affiliation | X University, Class 7; shares He Zhen’s major and class 1 9 36 |
| Occupation/Role | University student; photographer and photo/video editor; underground boxer in her previous life 8 36 49 |
| Family | Daughter of deceased heroes; has powerful military uncles 40 44 |
| Status | Alive; reincarnated into the world of a novel she read 49 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 1 1 |
Background / History
Yao Tao was an underground boxer in her previous life. After reincarnating, she initially enjoyed a happy life with her new parents and later discovered that her world was the setting of a novel she had read 49.
Her parents died as heroes, leaving her with relatives whose military connections continue to protect her. Granny’s Soup House became a source of comfort after her loss; its proprietress and regular customers know her well and treat her affectionately 40 44 48 49.
At university, Yao Tao initially appears quiet and solitary to He Zhen, sitting behind him to his left. He first begins hearing her thoughts during his sophomore year. Outside that reserved classroom image, she maintains a profitable photography business and a close friendship with Bai Jianai 1 8.
Appearance
Yao Tao is small and slender, with sweet, innocent “little sister from next door” looks. Her unassuming appearance causes both admirers and aggressors to underestimate how outspoken and physically capable she is 7 38 44.
- Demure presentation: Carefully controls her voice, expressions, and posture to appear quiet and well-behaved 14 16.
- Understated clothing: He Zhen finds her outfits pleasing and comfortable-looking, though not especially memorable 2.
- Glittering hair clip: Leaves one at He Zhen’s home; he keeps it in his pocket afterward 28.
Personality
Yao Tao deliberately cultivates a shy, considerate public persona. Her private thoughts are loud, irreverent, flirtatious, and frequently contradictory. She uses her innocent appearance to soften pointed remarks, win affection from older women, and improve her chances when bargaining 7 15 16. Around Bai Jianai and familiar customers at the soup house, more of her unfiltered personality emerges 8 48.
She is strongly attracted to handsome people but equally enthusiastic about making money. She treats fan attention as a business opportunity, including attention from people who insult her publicly before privately requesting edits. Her rationalization that conspicuous students invite commercial photography is challenged by Bai Jianai 8 11 36.
Despite her fascination with campus drama, Yao Tao values sincere, mutual romance. She enthusiastically supports Han Qinglu and Cheng Yu, warns Bai Jianai away from an unreliable serial dater, and worries about the tragic futures she remembers for He Zhen and Wei Fang 8 17 34.
Her romantic bravado conceals a fear of rejection. She enjoys He Zhen’s attention but hesitates to confess, believing his role as the novel’s second male lead may eventually draw him back to Fu Xin 41. Under hostile questioning, her defiance can overwhelm her usual composure; afterward, she recognizes how much He Zhen’s steadiness helped her 45.
Abilities & Skills
Original-Story Knowledge
Yao Tao remembers characters, relationships, and future events from the novel, giving her information unavailable to most people around her 2 9 34.
- Recognizes the foreshadowing of He Zhen’s future stomach perforation and wants to prevent his health from deteriorating 2 9.
- Anticipates romantic developments involving Qin Zhen’s supposed fiancée and a younger student interested in Fu Xin 9.
- Remembers Wei Fang’s father’s affair, Wei Fang losing a leg while protecting his mother, and their eventual move abroad 34.
- Notices when events occur earlier or unfold differently from the original story 20 27.
- Limit: Her knowledge is incomplete. She did not know the extent of He Zhen’s childhood connection to Han Qinglu’s group and blames the author for leaving it out 19.
- Limit: She sometimes interprets genuine changes in He Zhen’s behavior as tactics to win Fu Xin rather than evidence that he is moving on 10 41.
He Zhen can hear this knowledge through her inner monologue. By Chapter 19, he realizes she is a reader who knows his world as a story; her recollections later prompt him to investigate whether the predicted tragedies are real 19 34 37. The mind-reading ability belongs to He Zhen, not Yao Tao.
Fighting Ability
Her previous life as an underground boxer provides a background for the combat ability concealed by her delicate appearance 38 49.
- Twists Zhong Shengtai’s arms behind his back and kicks behind his knees when he tries to grab her chin 38.
- Overpowers Zhong Shengtai, Zhang Rui, and Wang Qingsong during their attempt to intimidate her 38.
- Uses photographs, recorded threats, and apology videos to preserve evidence and discourage further harassment 38.
- Warns the group against targeting other girls connected to He Zhen 38.
- Her actions include continued blows and a demand for a thousand push-ups after gaining control of the confrontation 38 39.
Photography, Editing, and Sales
Yao Tao photographs attractive students, edits images and video, and sells commissions through online accounts and chat groups 8 36.
| Business detail | Documented example |
|---|---|
| Photo sales | Sells an edited Qin Zhen photograph for 30,000 yuan, bundled with three unpublished images 8. |
| Copying precautions | Uses coded, high-resolution images and exclusive sales rights to reduce copying 8. |
| Experience | Says she has operated for almost a year and a half without being reported successfully 8. |
| Audience | Her separate editing account has several million followers; Qin Zhen is only a side-income source 36. |
| Promotional editing | Removes Fu Xin from a photograph of Qin Zhen beside the river and posts the retouched image to attract customers 29. |
| Expansion | Takes orders for Guan Xingchen images and creates another group to handle demand 36. |
| Personal boundary | Keeps He Zhen’s photographs for her private collection rather than selling them 6. |
Bai Jianai admires her editing enough to suggest a job at her family’s company. Yao Tao declines because she wants to run her own business 36.
Art and Design
- Produces many of the posters for the university’s open day; Zhang Yuan praises both her work and her helpfulness during preparations 33.
Singing
- Performs Mayday’s “Contentment” at karaoke. Her natural, heartfelt voice impresses the group and moves He Zhen 18.
- Chooses a restrained performance to preserve her shy persona; Zeng Rou mistakenly interprets the song as a romantic message to He Zhen 18.
Relationships
- He Zhen — Classmate and romantic interest. She knows him as her favorite second male lead and worries about his health. His initial discomfort with her fixation develops into curiosity, attentiveness, and growing attraction; she still says they are not dating in Chapter 41 1 2 9 12 41 42.
- Bai Jianai — Close friend, dormmate, and confidante who knows her blunt personality and business activities. Frequently warns her about risks while bringing her food and encouraging her to confess to He Zhen 8 36 41.
- Zeng Rou — Senior, friend, and enthusiastic supporter of a Yao Tao–He Zhen relationship. Brings her into the group, shares gossip, and becomes a lively party-game rival 17 22 27.
- Han Qinglu — Admired senior who welcomes and reassures her. Yao Tao hopes Qinglu’s relationship with Cheng Yu can escape its original tragic course 12 19 20.
- Cheng Yu — One half of Yao Tao’s favorite couple. Yao Tao eagerly watches Cheng Yu and Han Qinglu together and celebrates their relationship becoming official ahead of the original schedule 13 17.
- Wei Fang — Invites her to the lunch that draws her into He Zhen’s social circle. Her later recollection of his tragic future brings out serious concern for him 4 19 34.
- Fu Xin — The novel’s heroine and the focus of He Zhen’s former devotion. Yao Tao is jealous of her, increasingly critical of her behavior, and unwilling to help her locate He Zhen 1 27 28.
- Qin Zhen — The original male lead and a profitable photography subject. Her public devoted-fan identity is principally a business tactic 8 19.
- Aunt Zhang — Quickly befriends Yao Tao after caring for her during her drunken overnight stay at He Zhen’s home; washes and returns her clothes 26 27.
- Old A-Tang / Aunt Tang — Proprietress of Granny’s Soup House. Remembers Yao Tao’s tastes, protects her from affectionate teasing, and gives her extra food 48 49.
- He Xiangnuan and He Xiangyang — Twin dormmates whom she makes plans to visit; Bai Jianai later reminds her of a hospital visit to them 33 49.
- Parents and military uncles — Her deceased parents remain emotionally important to her. Their legacy and her uncles’ connections provide support when she is threatened or accused 40 44 49.
Story Role / Major Arcs
| Arc | Yao Tao’s involvement |
|---|---|
| First contact and shared meals | Offers He Zhen a durian pastry using knowledge from the book, then blocks Fu Xin from giving him spicy food. Her hidden familiarity both concerns and intrigues him 2 4. |
| Basketball and online sales | Photographs the players, keeps He Zhen’s smiling image, and monetizes the others. His improved performance differs from the loss she remembers 6 8. |
| Tree-planting outing | Teams up with He Zhen, calls their jointly named sapling a “love tree,” and gains access to Han Qinglu’s friendship group 11 12 14 16. |
| Karaoke gathering | Witnesses Han Qinglu and Cheng Yu becoming a couple ahead of schedule. He Zhen grows more playful and attentive toward her while choosing not to abandon the gathering for Fu Xin 17 20. |
| Drunken overnight stay | Becomes extremely intoxicated on fruit wine and kisses He Zhen. He takes her home; afterward, she mistakenly assumes they slept together, although he explains that Aunt Zhang changed her clothes after she vomited 23 26 27. |
| “He Tao” goes viral | Tries to catch Fu Xin during a cafeteria disturbance and is pulled off balance. He Zhen catches Yao Tao instead, and photographs of the embrace create a popular campus shipping thread before they have defined their relationship 32 33. |
| Warnings about future tragedies | Remembers Wei Fang’s family troubles and eventual injury. He Zhen takes her distress seriously and seeks investigative help 34 37. |
| Campus intimidation | Defeats Zhong Shengtai and his companions, records their apologies, and sends He Zhen her location. He arrives worried while she privately plans a frightened “rescue” performance 38 39. |
| False accusation | Is blamed for Zhong Shengtai’s later severe injuries. She admits her earlier assault but provides video showing his condition afterward; He Zhen supplies a verifiable alibi, and Zhong Wen apologizes 44 45. |
| Dessert and the soup house | Continues spending time with He Zhen. Their visit to Granny’s Soup House exposes her familiar community and grief for her parents; she ends the outing early to visit her twin dormmates in hospital 46 48 49. |
Notable Quotes
“Can you hear it? The decadent scent of money!”
— Celebrating incoming WeChat payments 8
“My upbringing would never let me lie about something like this, nor would it permit me to.”
— Refusing blame for Zhong Shengtai’s later injuries 44
“What if he rejects me? … I’d rather keep things the way they are. It’s already pretty great!”
— Explaining why she will not confess to He Zhen 41
Trivia
- Frequently interprets time with He Zhen as collectible otome-game “date cards” or rare SP cards, framing real affection through game terminology 21 27 41.
- Spends 648 yuan on a disappointing gacha top-up; He Zhen then pulls two rare SP cards and completes her collection 22.
- Has exceptionally low alcohol tolerance despite drunkenly claiming she can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk 23.
- On her first visit to Granny’s Soup House, ate five extra-large bowls of noodles and drank half a case of cola 48.
- Orders seventeen mostly chocolate cakes during a dessert outing. He Zhen’s suggestion that they split the bill immediately turns her affectionate thoughts into insults, though he does not actually intend to let her pay 46 47.