Zhang Ru
Reborn: Who Needs to Fake Being a Socialite?
Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Zhang Ru (张茹) |
| Gender | Female |
| Age | 18 at the start of university 16 |
| Affiliation | Haida University; Dormitory 319 14 38 |
| Occupation/Role | First-year university student; Jin Xia’s roommate 14 43 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 14 |
Background / History
Meeting Her Roommates
Zhang Ru comes from the same hometown as Meng Ya, with whom she is particularly close. The two go shopping together before meeting their new roommates at Dahui City. Zhang Ru arrives carrying a large rolling suitcase, explaining that she has been spending time at internet cafés and has not yet left her luggage at school 14.
During the gathering, she is impressed by Song Li’s BMW and iPhone 6. Her admiration shifts toward Jin Xia when Jin Xia exposes a driver’s attempt to extort 20,000 yuan from Zhang Niannian 15.
After their first meal together, Zhang Ru offers to contribute all the money she has left—515 yuan—toward the unexpectedly expensive 4,600-yuan bill. School supplies and overnight internet-café sessions have depleted her funds, but Jin Xia has already paid for everyone 16 17.
Conflict with Liu Yan and Liu Rui
When Liu Yan and several older students enter the dormitory to accuse Jin Xia of pursuing Yan An, Zhang Ru immediately challenges their hostile behavior. After they leave, she proposes reporting Liu Yan to her adviser, then suggests finding her off campus. Jin Xia stops her from pursuing the matter 27 28.
The conflict later reaches Zhang Ru directly. Senior girls corner her outside a restroom and demand damaging information about Jin Xia. When she says there is none, they slap her. Jin Xia finds her crying in an alley and identifies Liu Rui and Liu Yan as the perpetrators. Zhang Ru initially wants to conceal the assault, fearing humiliation and retaliation from Liu Yan’s influential family 37.
Jin Xia brings her to confront Liu Yan and slaps Liu Yan in response. Zhang Ru apologizes for drawing Jin Xia into the dispute, but Jin Xia refuses to back down. After Liu Yan summons her uncle, Lin Yi, Jin Xia tells him that her lawyer will contact him about Zhang Ru’s medical expenses and emotional distress 38.
Treatment and Campus Attention
The next morning, Jin Xia takes Zhang Ru to Hualun Shengmei International Plastic Surgery Hospital for two scratches left by Liu Yan’s nails. Zhang Ru considers the injuries too minor to justify expensive treatment and tries to leave after seeing the prices. When a patient coordinator mocks them as poor students, however, she steps forward to argue 39 40.
The visit becomes the occasion for Jin Xia’s proposed 20-million-yuan investment in the hospital. While Jin Xia negotiates with Wang Ping, Zhang Ru receives skin-booster injections. Initially frightened by online warnings about facial paralysis, she returns delighted that the injections were painless; her doctor tells her to expect recovery in a week 40 41.
Before they leave, Wang Ping gives her a silk face covering, which Jin Xia helps her put on. Jin Xia also provides luxury skincare products for her recovery. Zhang Ru is so moved that she kisses Jin Xia on the cheek 42 43.
Her treatments subsequently attract upperclasswomen seeking details, making her a small celebrity within the dormitory. She also asks whether she could complete her senior-year internship at Jin Xia’s company, but Jin Xia postpones the decision 43 45.
During a later shopping trip, Zhang Ru joins the other roommates in removing items from their purchase after hearing the 86,035-yuan total. Jin Xia instead encourages them to choose more 50.
Appearance
- Eyes: Described as sparkling and almond-shaped 43.
- General presentation: Song Li immediately recognizes her from her photograph and calls her a tomboy 15.
- Clothing: Her early university wardrobe appears youthful and unfashionable beside Liu Yan’s stylish group; she later wears a gray polka-dot dress 27 37.
- Temporary injuries: The assault leaves vivid finger marks, swelling, and two thin facial scratches 37 39.
Personality
Zhang Ru is straightforward, excitable, and openly affectionate. She expresses admiration through exaggerated gestures, including kneeling beside Jin Xia and hugging her leg in gratitude for the dormitory’s faster internet. Her enthusiastic response to receiving skincare products is similarly unrestrained 23 43.
She is protective of her roommates and quick to confront perceived bullying. She rolls up her sleeves when Zhang Niannian is threatened by the driver, challenges Liu Yan’s intrusion, and refuses to invent accusations against Jin Xia even under pressure 15 27 37.
Despite that boldness, being assaulted leaves her ashamed and afraid of powerful families. She worries that others will look down on her and initially minimizes her injuries. Her concern about treatment costs also reflects the limited money she has available rather than indifference to her appearance 17 37 39.
Abilities & Skills
Gaming
- Regularly plays computer games and spends nights at internet cafés before settling into university 14 17 23.
- Benefits from the faster dormitory internet Jin Xia purchases partly with her gaming in mind 23.
- Reports winning ten games consecutively and offers to buy Jin Xia dinner in thanks; the game and her competitive rank are not specified 25.
Relationships
- Jin Xia — Roommate and close friend. Zhang Ru defends her against harassment, while Jin Xia intervenes after the assault and supports her treatment. Her request for a future internship remains undecided 27 37 38 43.
- Meng Ya — Roommate and friend from the same hometown. They are described as practically inseparable; Meng Ya applies ointment to her injured face 14 39.
- Zhang Niannian — Roommate. Zhang Ru rushes to help during the driver’s extortion attempt, and Zhang Niannian later joins the others in comforting her 15 39.
- Song Li — Roommate whose apparent wealth initially impresses her. Song Li declares the entire dormitory opposed to Liu Yan and Liu Rui after Zhang Ru’s assault 15 39.
- Liu Yan and Liu Rui — Hostile upperclasswomen involved in bullying her for refusing to provide damaging information about Jin Xia 37 38.
Equipment / Items
- Gaming headset — Used while playing on her dormitory computer 25 27.
- Silk face covering — Given by Wang Ping after treatment to protect her face from sunlight; embroidered with the hospital’s logo and normally reserved for high-spending clients 42.
- Luxury skincare products — La Mer and Estée Lauder products supplied by Jin Xia during her recovery 43.
Notable Quotes
“What do you mean? Even if we don't have money, can't we come here to find out more?” 40