Zhong Fanrui

Biodata

Appearance

• Build: Tall and slender, with a gentle outward bearing 186.
• Features: Delicate, attractive features and alluring eyes; he bears a noticeable resemblance to Jian Ran 23 64.
• Expressions: Frequently uses sweet smiles, affectionate looks, and tearful vulnerability to maintain his cultivated image 64 125.

Personality

Zhong Fanrui cultivates the image of a refined, courteous, talented young man. Behind that presentation, he deliberately keeps wealthy admirers interested without committing to them. He treats courtship as a means of advancement, particularly when pursuing Lu Yuhuan, whom he regards as a route into the powerful Lu family 64 66 111.

His composure depends heavily on remaining the center of attention. He dismisses Jian Ran as an imitation, resents his growing popularity, and becomes openly hostile when former admirers begin choosing Jian Ran instead. At the cruise gala, his gentle manner gives way to insults, an attempted slap, and threats invoking the Zhong family 23 64 128 129.

Qin Hong’s treatment of him exposes the transactional nature of his upbringing: she values his ability to attract powerful men and threatens to discard him when he fails. Although Zhong Fanrui recognizes that he has been used as a pawn, he later resumes cooperating with her schemes and prioritizes protecting his assets after her arrest 176 184 196.

His eventual change centers on abandoning the competition rather than winning it. By the finale, he can view Jian Ran’s happiness without jealousy and recognizes that affection obtained through manipulation was never secure 204 212.

History

Family and overseas studies

Jian Ran’s original body owner lived with the Zhong family for several years after entering Kyoto University. Envious of Zhong Fanrui’s wealth, popularity, and social polish, he copied his posture, expressions, and behavior. Their resemblance led Yu Fengyi, Ji Yuanming, and Bai Jingchuan to pursue Jian Ran as a substitute for Zhong Fanrui 29 66.

While studying overseas, Zhong Fanrui maintained contact with his admirers but often withheld his time and attention. Bai Jingchuan found excuses blocking both planned visits and unannounced appearances at his school. Meanwhile, Zhong Fanrui concentrated on cultivating Lu Yuhuan, hoping to become his lover and enter the Lu family 27 64 111.

Jian Ran’s rise and the cruise gala

Zhong Fanrui first becomes uneasy when Yu Fengyi sounds distracted during a call and Ji Yuanming joins Jian Ran’s variety show. He initially reassures himself that Jian Ran is merely a poor imitation, but learning that the Lu family is watching the show specifically because of Jian Ran deepens his concern 23 64.

At the cruise gala, he publicly emphasizes his familiarity with Lu Yuhuan and tries to embarrass Jian Ran over his previous boyfriend. His later attempt to portray Jian Ran as disruptive backfires when a manager warns Zhong Fanrui himself to stop causing trouble 124 125.

The decisive confrontation occurs when Yu Fengyi overhears Zhong Fanrui describing him as “leftovers” and merely one of many suitors. Jian Ran challenges Zhong Fanrui’s practice of neither accepting nor rejecting confessions. Zhong Fanrui attempts to slap him, but Jian Ran blocks the blow and strikes first 128 129.

Losing his admirers

Lu Yuhuan explicitly rejects Zhong Fanrui’s ambitions to enter the Lu family. Zhong Fanrui then calls Ji Yuanming, who admits that he has fallen for someone else, leaving Zhong Fanrui sobbing against a hospital wall. Bai Jingchuan likewise finds that his former attachment has been displaced by his feelings for Jian Ran 140 141.

An attempt to reconcile with Yu Fengyi ends with security escorting Zhong Fanrui from his office. Seeking another prospect, Zhong Fanrui contacts Liu Qi and attends a gathering he would previously have considered beneath him. There, his attempt to humiliate Jian Dan by ordering him to pour a drink provokes Lu Yuhuan’s intervention 155 156.

Qin Hong’s pressure and Sheng Le’s possession

After discovering that Zhong Fanrui’s admirers have turned away, Qin Hong slaps him and threatens to stop supporting him. Zhong Fanrui subsequently warns Jian Ran that she may target Jian Ran’s mother and claims to regret his earlier behavior. Jian Ran does not believe that this apparent remorse represents a genuine change 175 176.

Zhong Fanrui’s increasingly detached behavior also has a supernatural dimension. He strikes Qin Hong to stop her hospital outburst, briefly falters when Jian Ran calls him “Sheng Le,” and later asks Jian Ran to tell an unnamed pursuer that he has reincarnated 176 177 178.

At the Zhong residence, the Prince of Zhennan identifies him as Sheng Le by scent. Zhong Fanrui denies the name but then speaks of their ill-fated relationship and the deaths it has caused. The prince restrains him and demands that he return. Zhong Fanrui later explicitly recalls having been possessed by a ghost and having his actions controlled 179 188.

During the encounter with Qin Hong’s summoned infant ghost, Zhong Fanrui also claims that he is adopted and refuses her shelter. Because this occurs within the possession-related sequence, the statement is not independently established as Zhong Fanrui’s own account 179.

Renewed pursuit of Lu Yuhuan

Zhong Fanrui and Qin Hong celebrate when the Master’s intervention makes Lu Yuhuan contact him affectionately. Qin Hong credits the Master with his earlier popularity as well, revealing that his romantic success was not solely the product of personal charm 178 184.

Zhong Fanrui travels overseas, has Lu Yuhuan collect him from the airport, and moves into the dormitory shared with Jian Dan. He deliberately presents himself as Lu Yuhuan’s partner to provoke Jian Dan into leaving. Lu Yuhuan, meanwhile, recognizes that his words and actions are being compelled against his wishes 186 187.

Following Jian Ran’s instructions, Jian Dan puts burned talisman ashes into Lu Yuhuan’s beer. Lu Yuhuan gains enough resistance to refuse Zhong Fanrui’s request to share his room. Zhong Fanrui asks Qin Hong to strengthen the curse, only to learn that the Master is missing 187 188.

Zhong Fanrui then suspects that Jian Ran’s changed personality and abilities also result from possession. He hopes that restoring the former Jian Ran would restore his own advantage 188.

Withdrawal and a new relationship

When Qin Hong is detained, Zhong Fanrui returns to Kyoto and visits her. Rather than devote himself to securing her release, he leaves planning to transfer the family assets before her trial. He later offers Lu Yuhuan evidence of Qin Hong’s misappropriation of the Jian family’s property in exchange for a way out, insisting that he was not involved 193 196 203.

After one final unsuccessful effort against Jian Ran, Zhong Fanrui concludes that he needs a path of his own and sends the promised email to Lu Yuhuan 204.

By the finale, he encounters Jian Ran and Lu Yanting’s wedding announcement while working on his thesis and feels calm rather than jealous. Top Rapper then arrives with flowers after winning a championship. When Zhong Fanrui asks whether he ever considered using Jian Ran as a substitute, Top Rapper assures him that he is irreplaceable. Zhong Fanrui embraces him in tears, grateful for love he regards as genuine 212.

Abilities & Skills

Social manipulation

Zhong Fanrui sustains an appealing public image while encouraging several potential partners at once 66 129.

• Uses selective attention, delayed meetings, flirtation, and apparent vulnerability to keep admirers invested 23 27 64.
• Publicly displays connections to influential people to improve his standing 124.
• Quickly recasts confrontations as family disputes or emotional lapses when his reputation is threatened 125.
• Loses leverage when admirers recognize the performance or develop genuine feelings for someone else 129 140 155.

Curse-assisted romantic influence

His supernatural romantic advantage depends on Qin Hong and the Master, rather than any demonstrated spellcasting ability of his own 178 184 188.

• Qin Hong previously sought supernatural romantic luck for him and cursed his suitors with yin-attracting constitutions 178.
• A later curse compels Lu Yuhuan to answer calls, speak affectionately, and accommodate Zhong Fanrui despite consciously rejecting him 186 193 203.
• Talisman ashes help Lu Yuhuan resist, but some involuntary behavior persists afterward 188 203.

Relationships

• Jian Ran — Publicly treated as his cousin and initially dismissed as an inferior copy. Their rivalry ends with Zhong Fanrui relinquishing the contest rather than displacing him 64 66 204 212.
• Qin Hong — His mother and principal enabler, who cultivates his image and arranges supernatural assistance. Their relationship deteriorates when his usefulness declines and her crimes threaten his interests 176 184 196.
• Yu Fengyi — Former admirer who withdraws after overhearing Zhong Fanrui demean him, later openly declaring his love for Jian Ran 128 129 155.
• Ji Yuanming — Former admirer whose admission that he has fallen for someone else confirms Zhong Fanrui’s loss of influence 125 140.
• Bai Jingchuan — Former devoted admirer whom Zhong Fanrui repeatedly kept at a distance; eventually loses his romantic attachment to him 27 111 141.
• Lu Yuhuan — A coveted route into the Lu family, but not a willing romantic partner. Zhong Fanrui later exploits a curse to interfere with his relationship with Jian Dan 111 140 186 188.
• Jian Dan — Jian Ran’s younger brother and Zhong Fanrui’s rival for Lu Yuhuan. Resists his provocations and administers the talisman ashes that weaken the curse 155 186 188.
• Prince of Zhennan / Sheng Le — A possession-linked relationship: the prince recognizes Sheng Le within Zhong Fanrui’s changed appearance and forcibly demands his return. It is not presented as Zhong Fanrui’s ordinary courtship 179 188.
• Top Rapper — The suitor whose assurance that Zhong Fanrui is unique finally wins his trust and an affectionate embrace 212.

Notable Quotes

“I've never accepted anyone's confession. What gives you the right to make me sound so despicable?!” 129

“On the stairway to wealth, anyone can be.” 176

“He had his way of blossoming, and I had my own path to walk.” — Internal reflection 204