Li Wanyin

Biodata

Background / History

Li Wanyin grew up in the countryside and attended high school and college in the city. During her final year of high school, her parents were involved in a car accident. Her father died, and she took more than half a year away from school to care for her hospitalized mother while her younger sister was still a child. Unable to catch up after returning, she earned an entrance-exam score sufficient for a third-tier university but chose a vocational college because university tuition was too expensive 20.

She studied business administration on her relatives' advice, later finding that the qualification offered few practical advantages in the job market. After graduating, she struggled to find employment because she lacked experience, connections, and a bachelor's degree. She took promotional work to cover immediate expenses and prepared to pursue a bachelor's-degree upgrade examination once she found a job and settled down 16 21.

Her mother recovered enough to perform handwork at a small factory in their town, but remained unable to do heavy labor. Wanyin's goal is to find stable work and save 200,000 yuan, helping support her mother and pay for her sister's education. She also dreams of eventually building a small mountain home, raising chickens, and growing vegetables 20.

Appearance

• Face: Delicate features, almond-shaped eyes, and a softly tapered jawline; she wears no makeup when first introduced 16.
• Skin: Naturally fair, with her legs particularly pale because she usually wears long trousers outdoors 41.
• Build: Described as graceful and shapely 20.
• Hands: Soft hands with rounded knuckles and neatly trimmed, pinkish-white nails 42.
• Everyday clothing: Often wears a T-shirt, shorts, and slippers at home 19 41.

Personality

Wanyin is hardworking and frugal without being careless toward others. She chooses outdoor flyer distribution for 100 yuan per day rather than the air-conditioned mall's 80 yuan, avoids running the air conditioner while cleaning alone, and distributes flyers conscientiously rather than discarding them. Despite her financial strain, she offers Chen Shi'an the use of her toiletries and household supplies 16 17.

She is considerate and attentive to boundaries: she does not intrude while Chen Shi'an unpacks, encourages him when she learns about his interrupted schooling, and offers to pay a larger share of the utilities because she expects to use more. She also remembers kindness, making sweet soup after he shares dinner and watermelon with her 17 20 21 41.

Since her family's accident, she has regarded complaining as unhelpful. Once an active participant in her classmates' group chat, she becomes quieter after graduation because she neither wants to burden others with her problems nor knows how to help with theirs. Although lonely, she remains determined to improve her circumstances through her own work 42 49.

Abilities & Skills

Cooking

Wanyin began learning to cook at thirteen or fourteen during summer vacation 42.

• Makes mung bean sweet soup with slab sugar, which Chen Shi'an praises 41.
• Prepares simple meals such as egg noodles and proposes cooking shared meals with her roommate 20 49.

Household Care

She keeps the aging apartment exceptionally clean and organized 16.

• Removes stubborn stains left by previous tenants in the kitchen and bathroom 16.
• Cleans the vacant balcony-side bedroom before Chen Shi'an moves in 16.
• Brings in his dry laundry to protect it from nighttime dew and her wet clothes 42.

Smartphone Assistance

She helps Chen Shi'an navigate unfamiliar phone features 20 21.

• Connects his phone to the apartment's Wi-Fi.
• Helps him download and register WeChat, change his profile picture, and add contacts.
• Explains Moments, privacy settings, and payment functions 20 21.

Relationships

• Chen Shi'an — Roommate and increasingly close friend. His politeness and composure make her comfortable with sharing the apartment despite initially preferring a female roommate. She becomes his first WeChat contact. He experiences attraction toward her, while she becomes flustered during their palm-reading session; neither is established as the other's romantic partner 17 20 21 42.
• Wan Yue — Her fifteen-year-old younger sister. Wanyin is proud of her excellent grades and wants to keep financial worries from interfering with her preparation for the high school entrance examination 17 20.
• Mother — Wanyin cared for her after the accident and continues working toward supporting her because her health limits the work she can do 20.
• Father — Died following the car accident during Wanyin's last year of high school 20.
• Lin Ming / Principal Lin — Landlord and benefactor, whom she calls “Uncle Lin.” He provides inexpensive accommodation and arranges for Chen Shi'an to share the apartment, relieving her rent burden 16.
• Shi Mo / Fat Ink / Black Cat — Chen Shi'an's cat. Initially avoids her attempts to pet it, but gradually tolerates her company. She feeds it, watches television beside it, and eventually succeeds in stroking it after sharing most of her breakfast egg 16 18 41 42 49.
• Senior Ou — An unwanted college suitor, nicknamed “Candle Bro” after staging a candle-heart confession outside her dormitory. She had already blocked him and later firmly refuses permission for friends to share her contact details with him 42.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Notable Quotes

“So, as her big sister, I need to work harder too. My mom isn't in good health, and my sister's at a crucial point preparing for her exam. I don't want them worrying about anything else.” 20

“I still have to work hard for my own future!” 49