Bian Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Bian Yan (边延)
Gender	Male
Hometown	Wu Village, a rural community that grows green jujubes 73 83 98
Education	University accounting major; shares Yu Nian’s major and class 9 19
Affiliation	Wu Village; restaurant venture with Yu Nian and Fang Xu 84 168
Occupation/Role	University student and part-time worker; later appointed restaurant manager 9 168
Relationship Status	Single at the time of Yu Nian and Qin Yuheng’s wedding 171
First Appearance	Chapter 6, “Beneath Him,” in the provided passages 6

Background

Bian Yan comes from a countryside family with limited money. He and Yu Nian used to arrange part-time work together before Yu Nian became financially independent through game streaming. Bian Yan congratulated him without resentment, which helped make their friendship comfortable and close 9.

His family’s green jujube orchard helped pay for his university education. He is one of the few people from his village to attend university; many younger residents have left for work, leaving middle-aged and elderly farmers dependent on a narrow range of produce buyers 73 84.

His previous jobs include summer renovation work with a relative and employment at a cake shop. During the renovation job, two men taught him to install windows; learning that they were a couple helped him recognize same-sex relationships as ordinary rather than something difficult to accept 11 56.

Personality

Bian Yan is boisterous, easygoing, and fond of exaggerated jokes. He readily joins mock dramas with his roommates, jokes about calling Yu Nian “Dad,” and trades insults with Fang Xu. His emotions are also easy to read: Yu Nian immediately notices his awkwardness after he overhears the conversation with Qin Yu 10 20 56 84.

Behind his carefree manner, he is protective and considerate. He waits outside when Yu Nian speaks privately with Qin Yu, checks whether Qin Yu hurt him, and insists that Yu Nian has no obligation to disclose his sexuality. Later, he speaks up for his friend even while frightened of Qin Yuheng’s influence 9 10 11 59.

He appreciates help but dislikes imposing on others. He initially tries to return expensive earbuds, worries that selling jujubes could burden Yu Nian’s unrelated streaming career, and repeatedly thanks his friends for supporting his village. The harvest crisis exposes a more sensitive side of him, including self-reproach over his inability to reach buyers 39 73 84.

Skills

Orchard Work

Bian Yan regularly helps harvest his family’s green jujubes and assists neighboring families when they are short-handed 84.

• His family harvests at least a thousand jin annually, taking him two or three days to help pick 84.
• He promotes the fruit through Moments posts and university group chats 73.
• Before Qin Yuheng’s inspection, he promises to warn villagers against passing off rotten fruit 74.

Practical Work

His part-time jobs give him experience with basic renovation tasks and bakery work 11 56.

• Two coworkers taught him to install windows during a summer job 11.
• His good relationship with a cake-shop manager allows him and Yu Nian to borrow the kitchen for Fang Xu’s birthday cake 56.
• His baking knowledge is incomplete: he relies on memory and an online tutorial, producing a three-tier chocolate cake with a disastrous appearance 56 57.
• He takes over lighting the kitchen fire when Qin Yuheng struggles to heat bathwater 87.

Restaurant Management

Yu Nian places Bian Yan in charge of the restaurant despite his inability to contribute investment money. Bian Yan prepares to leave his existing job and commits to making the business succeed 168 169.

Items

• Bluetooth earbuds — A gift from Yu Nian, chosen because Bian Yan’s old earbuds sounded poor and frequently disconnected. Bian Yan initially refuses them after realizing they cost over a thousand yuan, but accepts after Yu Nian reassures him 39.
• Royal-blue flying-fish robe and hat — His custom Ming-dynasty-style groomsman outfit. Its patterns and details differ from those worn by Fang Xu and Xie Zhou 171.

Relationships

• Yu Nian — Close friend, classmate, and former dorm roommate. Bian Yan continues saving him classroom seats after he moves out, supports his relationships, and later manages their restaurant venture 9 93 168.
• Fang Xu — Roommate, friend, and restaurant partner. Their friendship features frequent teasing; Bian Yan remembers his birthday and proposes making him a cake 19 56 168.
• Qin Yuheng — Initially an intimidating wealthy figure, later a benefactor to Bian Yan’s village and Yu Nian’s partner. Bian Yan’s approval grows after witnessing his concern during Yu Nian’s illness 59 75 93 94.
• Qin Yu — Yu Nian’s ex-boyfriend, whom Bian Yan distrusts. He dislikes Qin Yu’s persistence after the breakup and criticizes his subsequent behavior toward Tao Yan 11 21.
• Cen Xiaoqiao — His mother. She helps host Yu Nian, Qin Yuheng, and Uncle Zhang during their village visit and later sends food for Yu Nian’s recovery 76 93.
• Father — Works in the family orchard; Bian Yan describes him as a great cook. Both parents warmly welcome the visiting group 76 84.
• Tao Yan — A friend in the group chat whom he invites to play Divine Call with him and Yu Nian 30.
• Lucky — His family’s dog, who plays with Spike during the countryside visit 76 81.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Supporting Yu Nian After the Breakup

Bian Yan warns Yu Nian that Qin Yu may be the Azure Group heir and repeats an allegation about Qin’s family bankrupting another business. When the warning leaves Yu Nian anxious, he apologizes and acknowledges that the story may be fabricated 7.

He later waits outside Yu Nian’s conversation with Qin Yu and overhears enough to learn they dated. Rather than demanding an explanation, he defends Yu Nian’s privacy and reassures him that having a gay roommate does not make him uncomfortable 9 10 11.

Fang Xu’s Birthday and the Karaoke Confrontation

Bian Yan suggests making a cake for Fang Xu’s twentieth birthday. He and Yu Nian spend most of the day on it, but its appearance makes Fang Xu gag and confuses restaurant staff. The friends nevertheless complete the birthday celebration before going to karaoke, where all three prove to be poor singers 56 57.

When Yu Nian fails to return from the restroom, Bian Yan and Fang Xu go looking for him. Bian Yan shoves aside the men confronting his friend and challenges their claim that his group started the trouble. Despite fearing punishment from Qin Yuheng, he asks him not to accept the opposing account without hearing theirs 58 59.

Wu Village’s Unsold Harvest

Bian Yan becomes unusually quiet after the exam results, then repeatedly posts advertisements for his hometown’s green jujubes. When Yu Nian calls, he reveals that the village’s usual buyers withdrew without sufficient warning. Government assistance has moved only a small portion of the harvest, and his online promotion has failed to reach enough people 71 73.

Yu Nian’s efforts bring Qin Yuheng and professionals to investigate. Bian Yan welcomes them, introduces his parents, and helps show them the orchards. Qin Yuheng’s team eventually signs a purchase contract; Bian Yan later reports that Qin Yuheng has offered to buy future harvests or introduce other buyers if he cannot 74 75 76 83 94.

Yu Nian also promotes the village’s fruit through a livestream shopping-cart feature and sends Bian Yan the resulting order list 98 100.

Accepting Yu Nian and Qin Yuheng’s Relationship

Bian Yan notices Yu Nian’s attraction to Qin Yuheng before Yu Nian admits it. Although he teases him about staring, he seriously warns that Qin Yuheng’s wealth, influence, and complexity could leave him vulnerable 85 86.

His reservations soften after Qin Yuheng carries an ill Yu Nian downstairs and insists on staying with him overnight. Bian Yan supports the relationship while still encouraging Yu Nian to remain cautious 93.

Restaurant Venture and Wedding

During a later wave of negative publicity, Bian Yan refuses to quietly watch Yu Nian being slandered, even after Yu Nian asks his friends to avoid becoming targets themselves 161.

Yu Nian subsequently brings him and Fang Xu into a restaurant venture. Unable to invest money, Bian Yan becomes its manager. He thanks Yu Nian for including him in the opportunity and promises to make the restaurant successful 168 169.

At Yu Nian and Qin Yuheng’s traditional Chinese wedding, Bian Yan serves as a groomsman alongside Fang Xu and Xie Zhou. The three challenge Qin Yuheng to cherish Yu Nian before letting him approach 171.

Notable Quotes

“It's your private business. Whether you tell us is up to you. Why should you apologize?” 10

“It's not a fortune, but these trees paid my way through college.” 84

“Don't worry. Since you've left it to me, I'll make it a success.” 169