Pei Ran

Biodata

Background / History

Pei Ran's parents are both artists. During his childhood, they preferred taking him to exhibitions rather than places such as arcades. They have many gay friends and recognized his sexuality when Luo Qingshan was hospitalized during high school 12 26.

In high school, a classmate discovered Pei Ran's sexuality through his computer search history. Several boys subsequently bullied him: they tore his textbooks, cut his uniform while he slept, discarded his stationery, and wrote insults on his back. After Luo Qingshan confessed to him, replacement supplies began appearing in his desk. Pei Ran attributed these gifts to Luo Qingshan, and this apparent kindness helped his romantic feelings develop 29.

Luo Qingshan also helped drive away the people harassing him, suffering a broken finger. While Luo Qingshan was hospitalized, Pei Ran agreed to give their relationship a try. They began dating in their second year of high school and later entered the same university in different departments. Their relationship had lasted nearly three years when the story began 1 6 7.

Appearance

• Build and posture: Tall and slender, with a straight back. Lin Xuhuan compares his bearing to a crane, while his roommate initially doubts his ability to complete a distance race because he looks frail 13 17.
• Face: Long, narrow eyes and thick lashes give him a gentle appearance 4.
• Complexion: Fair-skinned; embarrassment and nervousness show readily in his cheeks and ears 5 28.
• Hair: Soft and black 32.
• Hands and voice: Slender, fair fingers and a pleasant, readily recognizable voice 17.

Personality

Pei Ran is reserved and courteous. He rarely initiates conversations, but usually responds gently when approached. His politeness can nevertheless create distance: acquaintances feel as though there is a pane of glass between them. He dislikes discussing relationship problems or exposing his hurt to others, preferring to process difficult feelings alone 5 8 10 30.

His quietness does not mean he lacks anger or boundaries. After Luo Qingshan's cheating, he chooses to leave without causing a public scene, then ends the relationship and repays the value of Luo Qingshan's gifts. Although he usually considers correcting misunderstandings unnecessary, he publicly explains the breakup when rumors accuse Yan Zhun of interfering. He later acknowledges acting impulsively but does not regret defending him 5 6 8 30 31.

Pei Ran expresses care through practical gestures. He brings Yan Zhun milk after learning about his stomach condition, washes his cap, and buys him a massager. Romantic teasing from Yan Zhun, however, often leaves him visibly flustered and struggling to respond 18 19 21 28.

Abilities & Skills

Art

• Excels in his university major; instructors use him as a positive example, and a teacher asks him to enter a competition 15 30.
• Accepts illustration commissions, including an 800-yuan request to draw Lin Xuhuan 19.
• Posts artwork under Fei Yu Yi on Weibo, primarily to preserve images and memories rather than attract engagement 27.
• Draws Yan Zhun in a TZG uniform before Yan Zhun returns to competition. The recognizable portrait later attracts extensive speculation after Yan Zhun becomes famous 24 27 42.

Gaming

• MOBA games: Skilled at the genre, including League of Legends 1 3.
• PUBG: Initially struggles with shooters and rarely secures kills. Playing regularly with Yan Zhun helps him learn parachuting techniques, earn multiple kills at Bootcamp, and begin getting used to recoil control 1 9 11.
• Practice and limitations: Enters the training ground because he does not want to burden teammates. Yan Zhun teaches him attachments, recoil patterns, and firing positions, but Pei Ran's distraction during the lesson limits his immediate improvement 31.
• Arcade games: Has little prior experience; Yan Zhun guides him through a zombie shooter and motorcycle racing game 26.

Distance Running

• Goes on morning runs with his father and completes a practice three-thousand-meter run before the university sports meet 15.
• Maintains steady breathing into the fifth lap of the actual race, though he is near the back of the field. A collision with a spectator ends his participation 15.

Personal Items

• Drawing tablet and computer — Kept on his neatly arranged dormitory desk. After he accidentally damages the computer's keyboard, Lin Xuhuan takes it to TZG's repair technician 17 18 25.
• Gray insulated mug and sneaker charm — Attaches the small white sneaker charm Yan Zhun gives him to his mug 20 25.
• White Rabbit milk candy — His favorite milk candy; he normally keeps some beside his computer. Yan Zhun repeatedly gives it to him, and Pei Ran later returns the gesture 5 14 22 26.

Relationships

• Yan Zhun — Boyfriend and former paid gaming companion. Initially known to Pei Ran as Luo Qingshan's roommate, he becomes a source of support after the breakup, confesses his feelings, and eventually begins dating Pei Ran 1 5 12 33.
• Luo Qingshan — Former boyfriend of nearly three years. Pei Ran acknowledges having liked him, but rejects reconciliation after witnessing his cheating with Su Nian. He ultimately also refuses friendship 1 4 29 33.
• Su Nian — Luo Qingshan's classmate and the person involved in the cheating. Pei Ran blocks him, refuses further overtures, and later names him when correcting rumors about the breakup 1 10 21 30.
• Lin Kang — Friend who keeps him informed about gossip and offers to confront Su Nian. At Pei Ran's request, he adds him to the group chat where Pei Ran clears Yan Zhun's name 8 11 30.
• Lin Xuhuan — Gaming friend and TZG player. Helps arrange Pei Ran's computer repair, includes him in team activities, and offers to teach him recoil control 17 18 27 31.
• Parents — Both artists who exposed him to exhibitions from childhood. His mother later confirms that she knows about his relationship with Yan Zhun 12 26 42.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Breakup with Luo Qingshan

• During a PUBG match, Pei Ran notices Luo Qingshan prioritizing Su Nian's equipment and rescue over his own. Yan Zhun revives Pei Ran just before his health runs out and gives him medicine and an M416 1.
• At Luo Qingshan's birthday party, Pei Ran discovers that he and Su Nian have bought Luo Qingshan the same replacement phone. He later witnesses Su Nian embracing and kissing Luo Qingshan in the corridor; Yan Zhun covers his eyes and helps him leave 4 5.
• Pei Ran formally ends the relationship despite Luo Qingshan invoking his past sacrifices. He offers repayment for medical expenses and gifts rather than treating gratitude as a reason to remain together 6.
• He packs away Luo Qingshan's gifts and deletes their intimate photographs, retaining only their photograph outside the university gates 10.

Growing Close to Yan Zhun

• Believing Yan Zhun needs money for food, Pei Ran books ten hours of gaming companionship. After their sessions become enjoyable, he makes a late-night purchase of another fifty hours 7 10.
• Their games become a regular part of his holiday. Yan Zhun later admits that the companion arrangement was a pretext to spend time together and tells Pei Ran that he likes him 11 12.
• After Pei Ran suffers scrapes and a sprained ankle during the sports meet, Yan Zhun takes him to the infirmary and treats his injuries 15 16.
• Pei Ran initially says he does not want to date anyone. Yan Zhun continues pursuing him, while Pei Ran increasingly reciprocates through small gifts, concern, and a drawing of him 21 26 27 28.
• When called to a club to help the drunken Luo Qingshan, Pei Ran instead shares a kiss with Yan Zhun and later takes Yan Zhun back to his dorm to care for him 24 25.

Defending Yan Zhun and Beginning a Relationship

• Following Yan Zhun and Luo Qingshan's fight, Pei Ran visits the hospital and asks Luo Qingshan about a settlement. He firmly states that reconciliation is impossible 29.
• When a group chat blames Yan Zhun for the breakup, Pei Ran joins it and states that Luo Qingshan cheated with Su Nian. He explicitly clears Yan Zhun of involvement and then leaves the group 30.
• While sheltering from rain outside a convenience store, Pei Ran initiates a kiss. He subsequently admits that he likes Yan Zhun and accepts his request to date 32 33.
• The following morning, Luo Qingshan reveals that he never supplied the replacement textbooks and uniform in high school. Pei Ran searches his old class group for the anonymous helper but finds no answer 33.

Open Relationship and Tournament Support

• Pei Ran offers to keep their relationship private if Yan Zhun prefers, but Yan Zhun says he has never wanted to hide it. Pei Ran then invites him to his high school reunion as his partner 37.
• As Yan Zhun considers returning to professional play, Pei Ran remains involved in his life at the TZG base and follows the team's matches 35 39 40.
• At the end of the main story, Pei Ran rushes to Yan Zhun's tournament venue despite travel and phone difficulties. Before Yan Zhun enters the arena, Pei Ran kisses him as the requested “BUFF” 40.
• In the second extra, Pei Ran travels to Cologne for the PUBG Global Invitational, identifies himself to another spectator as a fan of TZG's GOD, and reunites with Yan Zhun after the match 42.

Notable Quotes

“Let's break up, Luo Qingshan.” 6

“I just don't want this to end too badly.” 12

“I bought it. But he isn't Su Nian, and I'm not you.” 29

“This has nothing whatsoever to do with Yan Zhun.” 30