Cheng Zitao

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and Name

Cheng Zitao’s mother loved eating peaches while pregnant with him. His father wanted to name him Cheng Taozi, but his mother chose Cheng Zitao instead. Relatives and neighbors nevertheless called him “Peach” throughout his childhood 44.

His mother frequently dressed him in girls’ clothes, and people around him did not realize he was a boy until he cut his hair short in middle school. His parents’ affectionate marriage later became the model for the lasting relationship he wanted for himself 44 76.

As a child, he encountered Lin Yufan near a roasted sweet potato stall after Lin had run away from his orphanage. Cheng offered him a sweet potato, clung to him, and begged him to come home as his older brother. His mother eventually took Cheng home, while Lin returned to the orphanage. Cheng did not clearly remember the encounter when they reunited as adults 78 104.

Styling Career

Initially an obscure stylist accustomed to living frugally, Cheng gained considerably more business after styling Huo Chuyun. Their repeated work together also developed into a friendship 47 77.

By the time he met Han Lu, Lu Xingchen described him as a well-known entertainment-industry stylist. Han admired his widely discussed styling for Song Anran and understood that his sessions cost tens of thousands of yuan 107.

Appearance

• Build: Slim and small-framed, standing 172 cm tall 77.
• Hair: Long, pink hair; he ties it into a high ponytail while playing basketball 44 105.
• Makeup: Wears lipstick and extra-long false eyelashes 45.
• Presentation: His beauty and long hair lead Song Anran to initially mistake him for a woman 45.
• Exercise preferences: Practices yoga and exercises for his buttocks, but says building large muscles does not suit his aesthetic 44.

Personality

Cheng is theatrical, flirtatious, and openly confident about his appearance and professional work. He exchanges exaggerated romantic banter with Lu Xingchen and boasts that none of his styling looks have ever been ugly. His humor does not prevent him from asserting boundaries: he rejects harassment and tells Jiang Haoran that even a current boyfriend would have no right to control his friendships 44 45 46 107.

Despite his extensive dating history, Cheng places feelings above appearances of experience. He ends relationships decisively when they feel wrong, leaving him without even a first kiss before dating Lin Yufan. His hopes for lasting love make him anxious before their first meeting, while his frugal habits leave him uncomfortable accepting a gift he cannot afford to reciprocate 76 77.

He is generous toward people who help his friends. After learning that Han Lu helped Lu Xingchen, he offers her a free styling session as his own expression of thanks 107.

Abilities & Skills

Hairdressing and Styling

Cheng works with prominent entertainment-industry clients and creates looks that attract public attention 47 107.

• Regularly styles Huo Chuyun and trims Lu Xingchen’s hair 47 104.
• Creates a popular look for Song Anran that Han Lu praises for emphasizing her commanding, mature charm 107.
• Negotiates two free styling sessions in exchange for borrowing Lu Xingchen’s sports car 47.

Gaming

Cheng plays competitive online games both socially and as a way to meet people 44 125.

• Meets his future boyfriend while playing mid lane; Lin Yufan, playing marksman, defends him against an antagonistic jungler 44.
• Plays Lawyer alongside Lu Xingchen’s Enchanter, using pallets and vaulting routes during a chase 125.
• His team wins that match with three escapes, although Cheng’s character is sacrificed 125.

Basketball

Cheng contributes to a winning three-on-three team with Lu Xingchen and Gu Zichu 105 106.

• Evades Gu Lingchuan’s defense and screens Pei Xuan, helping create a scoring opportunity for Lu Xingchen 105.
• Declines to make a personal request after winning the game’s wager, leaving the choice to his teammates 106.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Nightfall Bar

• Goes drinking with Lu Xingchen and encounters his ex-boyfriend Jiang Haoran, who is accompanying Lu Yichen 45.
• Rejects a drunken man’s proposition. When the man escalates to insults and grabbing his hair, Lu Xingchen intervenes and Song Anran strikes the harasser with bottles before having bodyguards remove him 45.
• Befriends Song Anran after correcting her assumption that he is a woman 45.
• Reveals that his relationship with Jiang lasted less than a week and that he dumped him over his poor hygiene. He also identifies Jiang’s attachment to Lu Yichen as another reason for the breakup 45 46.
• Arranges to borrow Lu Xingchen’s Lykan for his upcoming date, hoping not to appear outclassed by his apparently well-off online boyfriend 47.

Meeting His Online Boyfriend

• Initially calls his online boyfriend “Little Puppy” and believes he is younger. He is won over by his defense during a game, attentive messages, bedtime stories, and considerate behavior 44 76.
• Receives an unsolicited transfer of 10,000 yuan to his Alipay on the night they become official 44.
• Meets him at a dessert shop and learns that he is Lin Yufan, actually one year older. Lu Xingchen and Huo Chuyun secretly observe the meeting 76 77.
• Accepts a 500-gram gold bar worth over 300,000 yuan after unsuccessfully trying to choose a much cheaper gift; Lin also buys him a plush toy 77.
• Shares his first kiss with Lin outside his residential complex, then reveals that his teasing claims of romantic experience did not extend to kissing 78.

Later Relationship and Family Acceptance

• Tells Lu Xingchen that his relationship with Lin is going well and recounts their childhood encounter after Lin brings it up 104.
• Introduces Lin to his parents earlier than planned after his mother unexpectedly catches them together. Both parents become very fond of Lin, prompting Cheng to joke that Lin now outranks him at home 125.
• Worries about Lin working late and developing dark circles. Lu Xingchen speculates that Lin may be earning extra money to propose, but no proposal is confirmed 125.

Relationships

• Lin Yufan — Boyfriend and childhood acquaintance. Cheng calls him “Little Puppy” online and later “Gege” and “Brother Yu.” Lin is his first kiss and earns his parents’ enthusiastic approval 44 77 78 125.
• Lu Xingchen — Close friend, styling client, and gaming companion, whom Cheng calls “Little Xingxing.” Lu protects him at Nightfall Bar, lends him a car, and reassures him about meeting his boyfriend 45 47 76 104 125.
• Huo Chuyun — Regular styling client turned friend. Cheng knows something of Huo’s position and relationship with Lu Xingchen before those matters become public 47.
• Song Anran — Friend and styling client. She intervenes when he is harassed at Nightfall Bar; his later styling for her receives praise online 45 107.
• Jiang Haoran — Ex-boyfriend. Cheng rejects his attempts to police his friendships and disputes Jiang’s claim that he initiated their breakup 46.
• Han Lu — New friend who admires his work. Cheng offers to style her for free in thanks for helping Lu Xingchen 107.
• Parents — A loving couple whose marriage shapes his hopes for romance. They know his sexual orientation and welcome Lin Yufan into the family 76 125.

Gifts & Borrowed Items

• Gold bar: A 500-gram bar purchased by Lin Yufan during their first in-person date 77.
• Plush toy: Bought by Lin after Cheng points to a stuffed panda as a more suitable first-date gift 77.
• Dior scarf: A vintage-style winter gift from Lu Xingchen and Huo Chuyun 107.
• Borrowed Lykan: Lu Xingchen’s limited-edition sports car, borrowed for the meeting with Lin in exchange for two styling sessions 47 76.

Notable Quotes

“Even if we were still dating, you wouldn't have the right to interfere.” 46

“Darling, I gave you my first kiss.” 78

“What matters most is living each happy day to the fullest.” 125