Yan Ningke

Biodata

Background / History

Previous life

Yan Ningke was abandoned outside a remote orphanage, wrapped in a floral quilt. His only identifying possession was a plastic wristband bearing a December 24 date; he never knew his actual birthday or origins 138.

He began living independently in middle school. Although his middle- and high-school tuition could be waived, he still had to earn money for daily expenses, supplies, and miscellaneous fees. Poverty left him intensely cautious about spending, even after transmigration gave him access to wealth 2 8.

His work experience included restaurant-kitchen apprenticeship, online-marketplace modeling, and employment at a taekwondo school. He learned cooking, basic styling, and a few fighting moves through these jobs 7 27 49.

The original Yan Ningke

The original owner of his body was born into wealth, abducted at three, and recovered at ten. During captivity, he was made to live in a pigpen and perform household and agricultural labor while enduring beatings. By the time he returned, his parents had another son, Yan Zhen, three years younger than him 1 35.

Returning home did not end the abuse. His family built a punishment room specifically for him, where his parents, brother, and even servants could mistreat him. He attended boarding school through middle and high school and was sent away when he entered university 29 37.

A small kindness from Shao Yang—handing him a plastic bag during a rainstorm—became his emotional lifeline. Shao Yang later benefited from repeatedly appearing as his rescuer after others bullied him. The original Yan Ningke followed him into entertainment and accepted a caregiver position in Shao Ke’s household to help steal documents 1 7 11.

Transmigration

After reading the novel, Yan Ningke rejected its treatment of both his namesake and Shao Ke as disposable cannon fodder. He transmigrated at the moment the original owner was applying to become Shao Ke’s caregiver, a turning point in their original tragic storyline 1.

Rather than carry out Shao Yang’s scheme, he chose to protect Shao Ke. His immediate attraction to the supposed villain accompanied a genuine refusal to accept the fate the novel had assigned them 1.

Appearance

• Face: Fair and clean-cut, with rosy lips, white teeth, and long, thick eyelashes 12 20.
• Smile: His eyes curve when he smiles, transforming an otherwise unremarkable expression into something bright and striking. His host’s eyes and brows resemble those of his previous body by roughly seventy to eighty percent 4.
• Build: Initially pale, frail, and extremely thin. After settling into Shao Ke’s household, he gains weight and develops a healthier complexion 20.
• Hair: A shorter haircut ordered by director Zheng De exposes his features and gives him a fresher, more mature appearance 21.
• Styling: Draws on his previous modeling experience when choosing clothes and accessories 27.

Personality

Yan Ningke is playful, outspoken, and deliberately shameless when flirting with Shao Ke. He uses jokes and exaggerated confidence to turn tense situations into exchanges he can manage. His boldness does not mean he is fearless: after confronting Yuan Qirui’s group, he privately admits that he was terrified 1 7 18.

His friendliness is practical but not merely performative. He understands how smiles, courtesy, and humor can make difficult work easier, yet he also treats people sincerely and knows when to step forward or give others space. These qualities help him win over crew members, fans, and Shao Ke’s friends 12 28 53 146.

His financial caution comes from deprivation rather than an inability to enjoy life. He mentally compares a ten-yuan snack with the staple foods it could buy, but will spend on comfort when circumstances allow 8 26.

He is especially protective of Shao Ke and the original owner. Insults toward Shao Ke repeatedly provoke him to retaliate, while the original owner’s traumatic emotions can intensify his anger. He nevertheless recognizes that destroying his own future over an abuser is not worthwhile 7 29 30.

Yan Ningke does not consider himself morally spotless. He acknowledges having begged, scavenged, and sought small advantages to survive, but distinguishes those compromises from crossing his own boundaries, such as stealing 149.

Abilities & Skills

Acting

His strongest early performances draw on lived experience rather than polished professional technique 13 93.

• Earns praise for instinctively protecting vulnerable body parts during a staged beating as a newspaper seller 13.
• Portrays Cheng Yin’s terror turning into violent resistance by drawing on his own experience of extreme fear 92 93.
• Studies other actors’ marks and camera placement while learning on set 22.
• Prefers suitable roles over fame or billing, particularly supporting characters whose ordinary lives interest him 110.

Cooking

Cooking began as a way to save money and later became a hobby and source of stress relief 2.

• Specializes in everyday home cooking rather than elaborate presentation 3.
• Has restaurant-apprentice experience, including peeling and finely julienning potatoes 49.
• Organizes group kitchen work by assigning preparation tasks instead of doing everything himself 48.
• Cooks for Shao Ke, Uncle Zhong, and fellow variety-show guests 3 21 48.

Self-defense

He knows a small number of practical moves learned informally from an instructor while working at a taekwondo school 7.

• Can surprise and subdue an individual opponent 7.
• Uses painful holds and strikes against Yan Zhen 29.
• Explicitly acknowledges that he lacks formal training and cannot reliably handle multiple attackers 7.

Social Skills

He uses courtesy, humor, and a disarming smile to negotiate and build rapport 4 12.

• Negotiates a cleaning fee by promising to help with the work 5.
• Quickly wins favorable treatment from makeup and wardrobe staff 12.
• Responds warmly to fans, poses for photographs, and promises to share future appearances on Weibo 53 59.

Pool and Styling

• Pool: Defeats Wen Shaoyu repeatedly, then teaches him without withholding advice 28.
• Styling: Knows basic outfit coordination from his previous modeling work 27.
• Limitations: Has no prior knowledge of Texas Hold’em and struggles when Wen Shaoyu introduces it; also knows nothing about tea ceremony 21 28.

Health

Entertainment Career

Story Role / Major Arcs

Protecting Shao Ke

Yan Ningke begins changing his relationship with Shao Ke through daily care and open affection rather than covertly serving Shao Yang. At Muse Bar, he demands Yuan Qirui’s repayment and challenges the group’s mockery of Shao Ke. He later climbs the villa’s spiked gate because he fears Shao Ke may be in danger, only to strand himself at the top 7 8.

When Shao Yang approaches him during filming, Yan Ningke explicitly rejects their supposed friendship. He confronts Shao Yang over his willingness to watch bullying, encourage misplaced affection, and manipulate others’ opinions 25 26.

Romance with Shao Ke

An impulsive, drunken kiss makes Yan Ningke’s attraction unmistakable. Their relationship develops through teasing, affection, and increasing intimacy until Shao Ke calls him his boyfriend and introduces him as such to their friends 33 43 65 77 83.

At Shao Ke’s parents’ grave, Yan Ningke promises to remain with him forever. Later, his detailed understanding of Shao Yang’s manipulation leads Shao Ke to question whether he will leave, frightening Yan Ningke with the possibility that his changed identity has been recognized 96 101.

Rejecting the Yan Family

After Yan Zhen repeatedly insults him and Shao Ke, Yan Ningke fights back. The original owner’s accumulated resentment briefly pushes his anger toward murderous intent, though he subsequently recognizes the danger of sacrificing his future for revenge 29 30.

At the Yan villa, he refuses his father’s punishment, destroys the family’s possessions, and turns their own methods of abuse against them. He exposes the hypocrisy behind their treatment of the original owner rather than accepting another forced reconciliation 35 36 37.

He later asks Shao Ke to bankrupt the Yan family. When Yuan Qi eventually begs him to save Yan Zhen, he refuses to resume the role of the obedient eldest son and tells her that they should no longer bother one another 111 119 156.

Abduction and Confrontation with Shao Yang

Yan Ningke is abducted at knifepoint after his historical drama’s wrap party. He cooperates while under threat, is restrained, and has his phone switched off 146.

The encounter reverses when Shao Yang’s hired men bind Shao Yang instead. Yan Ningke confronts him over his treatment of both Shao Ke and the original owner, burns his hand with a cigarette, and strikes him with an ashtray in the original Yan Ningke’s name 147 148.

The episode exposes a side of him far removed from his usual warmth. Lin Yechen later describes the sight as demonic despite its outwardly angelic guise 149 151.

A Home and a Younger Brother

Shao Ke gives Yan Ningke a flower-filled courtyard that belongs solely to him, twenty-three birthday presents, and a blue-diamond key necklace. Yan Ningke then welcomes Yan Yiheng as his younger brother, embracing the boy as well as his own “past self” 153.

Uncle Zhong moves into the courtyard with Yan Yiheng, and a new household registration booklet is delivered to Yan Ningke. He continues living at the hillside villa, balancing acting work with domestic life and Lunar New Year preparations 153 160.

Equipment / Items

• Worn pinkish-purple electric scooter — Acquires it after helping an elderly scrap collector; later remembers it while urgently trying to reach an overpass 8 72.
• Protective charm — A temple charm Zheng Yan Che gives him with wishes for his safety and success 88.
• Expensive watch — A gift from Shao Ke that attracts his kidnappers’ attention 146.
• Blue-diamond key necklace — Part of Shao Ke’s birthday gifts accompanying the private courtyard 153.
• Household registration booklet — Newly issued after Yan Yiheng joins his family; contains two pages that Yan Ningke repeatedly rereads with delight 153.

Relationships

• Shao Ke — Initially his employer and intended target of the original owner’s espionage; becomes his boyfriend, protector, and emotional home. Yan Ningke is equally determined to defend him and avert his original fate 1 7 83 96.
• Lars — Shao Ke’s husky and Yan Ningke’s affectionate companion. They play together, appear on a pet show, and share daily walks; Yan Ningke praises the dog’s restraint after a frightening incident 27 43 56 160.
• Yan Yiheng — The boy he names and welcomes as his younger brother, creating a family distinct from the abusive Yan household 153.
• Uncle Zhong — Helps establish his place in Shao Ke’s household, notices his improving health, and later lives with Yan Yiheng in the courtyard 2 20 153.
• Aunt An — Household cook with whom he shares easy jokes and affection; helps care for his diet during recovery 60 160.
• Wen Shaoyu — Becomes friendly with him over pool and card games. Their bond includes playful “big brother” familiarity 28 96 151.
• Zheng Yan Che — A friend Yan Ningke helps by exposing coworkers’ plans against him. Their friendship develops through meals, gifts, and mutual concern 70 80 88 126.
• Xiao Jingzhan — Pet-show acquaintance who later offers him a valuable audition opportunity 45 56 91.
• Shen Qianyue — Actress he saves from a falling roof tile. She responds with sincere gratitude, professional support, and script recommendations 142 145 146.
• Yu Ping and Liao Hai — His manager and assistant. Yu Ping discusses his career preferences, while Liao Hai accompanies him on work and discreetly updates Shao Ke’s side about his condition 110 119 160.
• Shao Yang — The original owner’s beloved “savior,” whom the transmigrated Yan Ningke rejects as manipulative and hypocritical 1 26 148.
• Yan Zhipeng, Yuan Qi, and Yan Zhen — The original owner’s abusive family. Yan Ningke confronts them, rejects their authority, and ultimately refuses further involvement 36 37 156.
• Yuan Qirui — Exploits and threatens the original owner; Yan Ningke forces him to repay two hundred thousand yuan 5 7 8.

Notable Quotes

“With the real moon beside me, how could there be any room for a fake?” 27

“All right. I’ll stay with you forever.” 96

“I am Yan Ningke, and I am not.” 149

“Let’s leave it here. Let’s not bother each other again.” 156