Cheng Zhen
Transmigrated Into a Book? Get Lost, Jerk! I'll Have Some Fun With an Heir
Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Cheng Zhen (程祯) |
| Alias(es) | Zhen; “Mama Cheng,” Li Shu’s teasing nickname for him 4 33 |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Cheng family; university Dynamic Club 95 137 |
| Occupation/Role | University student; club logistics organizer 95 101 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 4 4 |
Background / History
Cheng Zhen is the original Li Shu’s friend and dormitory roommate. He shares responsibility for their missing CET-4 registration during the first semester of freshman year after getting the date wrong. Despite his unreliability, he is one of the few people outside Li Shu’s family who opposes Li Shu’s pursuit of Chen Yannan, reasoning that years of acquaintance have given Chen ample opportunity to reciprocate 4.
He comes from a wealthy family involved in property development. His father later tells him that Pei Song’an helped the family obtain development rights to another plot of land 137.
Appearance
- Blond hair is his clearest identifying feature 4.
- He wears visibly expensive clothing; the street punks he and Li Shu confront notice their outfits before demanding their belongings 82.
Personality
Cheng Zhen is outgoing, mischievous, and uninhibited in conversation. He readily joins unfamiliar social circles and persistently teases Li Shu about his love life, often interpreting ordinary encounters through romantic novels and explicit comics. His curiosity leads him to follow Li Shu and Pei Song’an to the library, where he discovers that their English tutoring really does involve dictation and punishment copying 29 42 81.
Beneath the jokes, he is protective without usually making decisions for Li Shu. He warns him against returning to Chen Yannan, objects when Xue Chen tries to turn him against Pei Song’an, and voices concern about Pei’s possessiveness. Although easily intimidated by Pei and Shen Muwen, he can act decisively in an emergency: when street punks threaten him, Li Shu, and a cornered girl, he strikes their leader with a brick 33 63 82 115 116 119.
Abilities & Skills
Socializing
Cheng Zhen is particularly comfortable meeting people and entering established groups 29 83.
- Joins an unfamiliar circle at a manor gathering with little difficulty 29.
- Quickly becomes popular with Zhu Sichun’s friends at the pajama party 83.
- Recognizes when Li Shu needs privacy and draws Shen Muwen away so Li Shu can speak with Xie Jin 115.
Logistics and Driving
- Organizes pre-show preparations for a joint performance involving several university clubs; recruits Li Shu when another helper becomes unavailable 95.
- Drives to collect Li Shu for the pajama party 82.
Gaming
Cheng Zhen plays Honor of Kings enthusiastically, but his poor performance is a recurring joke among his friends 4 42 72 83.
- Records a notorious 0–25 match and hides his match history 42.
- Performs even worse during the beach outing, leaving Zhu Sichun unwilling to keep teaming with him 72.
- Persuades curious partygoers to try playing with him; after experiencing his play firsthand, they unanimously postpone further games 83.
Limitations
- Academic difficulties: misses CET-4 registration with Li Shu and fails College Chinese the previous semester 4 33.
- Poor stamina: does not exercise and cannot catch Li Shu during their nighttime dormitory chase 102.
Story Role / Major Arcs
| Arc | Cheng Zhen’s involvement |
|---|---|
| Li Shu abandons his crush | Initially mistakes Pei Song’an’s coat for evidence that Li Shu plans to make Chen Yannan jealous. He warns against pursuing either man, but later acknowledges that Pei is more responsible than Chen 4 33. |
| Camping and the police-station aftermath | Pitches a tent with Li Shu and questions him about Pei. After Li Shu encounters danger, Cheng looks after Zhaocai and accompanies them away from the police station and to lunch 42 44 45. |
| Birthday party and illness | Reveals that Li Shu talks about Pei in his sleep, objects to Xue Chen’s accusations, and later calls Pei when Li Shu becomes ill after their snack outing 62 63 66. |
| Cheng Qi’s claims | Tells Li Shu that his distant relative disrupted a family dinner and declared their world a novel. Later reports that Cheng Qi has died 75 104. |
| Street intervention | Stops with Li Shu to help a girl cornered by street punks. Hits their leader with a brick, then flees with Li Shu and the girl toward the police station 82. |
| Club performance and Xie Jin | Recruits Li Shu to help with performance preparations. Later invites him to a dance competition using tickets supplied by Xie Jin 95 104 106. |
| Private meeting with Xie Jin | Accompanies Li Shu at Shen Muwen’s invitation, discreetly gives Li Shu his phone when alarmed, and creates an opportunity for Li Shu and Xie Jin to speak alone 115. |
| Male-model outing | Learns that Li Shu used Pei’s card to book male models, fears Pei’s reaction, and answers a call from Li Qinshi that brings Li Shu’s brother to the bar 127 128 130. |
| Family benefit and suspected abduction | Reveals Pei’s assistance with his family’s development rights. While walking Zhaocai with Li Shu, notices a man apparently attempting to abduct a child 137. |
Relationships
- Li Shu — Roommate, close friend, and frequent target of teasing. Their friendship includes snowball fights, shared outings, mutual insults, and pranks. Cheng calls Pei when Li Shu is hospitalized and offers to take Li Shu’s side even when doing so would go against his conscience 8 66 95 101.
- Pei Song’an — Li Shu’s partner, whom Cheng both fears and cautiously supports. He comes to prefer Pei over Chen Yannan but remains troubled by Pei’s intense monitoring of Li Shu. Pei later helps Cheng’s family obtain development rights 33 45 116 119 137.
- Chen Yannan — The object of Li Shu’s former crush. Cheng doubts Chen’s interest from the outset and specifically warns Li Shu not to resume pursuing him if he returns 4 33.
- Zhu Sichun — Gaming companion and mutual friend. Zhu suffers through Cheng’s disastrous matches, though the two also watch gaming-tournament replays together 71 72 106.
- Cheng Qi — Distant relative whose declaration that their world is a novel reaches Li Shu through Cheng. Cheng also recalls Qi pouring soup over his head 75 104 115.
- Xie Jin — Fellow Dynamic Club member and accomplished dancer. Gives Cheng two competition tickets that allow him to invite Li Shu 95 104.
- Shen Muwen — Intimidating acquaintance who brings Cheng and Li Shu to meet Xie Jin. Cheng cooperates with him but is frightened by his remarks and behavior 115.
- Zhaocai — Li Shu’s dog, whom Cheng accompanies on outings and handles during the police-station incident. Accidentally tugging the leash earns him tooth marks on his ankle 42 44 137.
Notable Quotes
“Shu, at your age, it’s fine if love comes a little late. But you really can’t leave me hanging in Honor of Kings. My first tower and crystal can’t take much more.” 4
“The Crown Prince is much better than Chen Yannan. At least he takes responsibility and dares to answer for his own actions.” 33
“From now on, you take care of Pei Song’an, and I’ll take care of you.” 137
Trivia
- Despite his interest in gay comics and frequent jokes about men’s relationships, Cheng describes himself as “probably straight” after declining an unfamiliar man’s request for his contact information 124.
- Li Shu compensates him for taking his umbrella with nama chocolate egg tarts and SpongeBob SquarePants blind boxes. Cheng accepts the gifts without withdrawing his threat to retaliate 76 77.
- He claims that placing study materials under a pillow lets knowledge enter the sleeper’s head automatically; Zhu Sichun later tries the method 115.