Pei Ye

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and Family Conflict

After his parents died, Pei Ye was raised by his older brother, Pei Zheng, and sister-in-law, Fang Lin. An academically successful student, he regularly received love letters from girls but rejected them. A boy’s confession prompted him to research same-sex attraction and begin understanding his own orientation 107.

During this period, he noticed Gu Zichu, who had just entered middle school and regularly accompanied his nephew, Pei Xuan. Living nearby, Pei Ye became fond of Gu Zichu’s studious habits and gentle appearance. He kept his feelings to himself, believing he could not come between the two childhood friends 107.

When Pei Ye came out, Pei Zheng slapped him and demanded obedience because he depended on the family financially. Pei Ye refused to take any more money from him. Fang Lin persuaded him not to leave their jointly inherited home, but throughout high school he supported his studies through work and financial aid while preparing for recommended university admission 107.

Military Service and Independent Career

Pei Ye earned recommended university admission and enlisted after graduating. He initially chose military service partly for its discharge payment, but went on to serve on the battlefield and earn military honors twice. After leaving the service, he pursued further studies and started a business in Country A 106 133.

Financial independence allowed him to resist his family’s attempts to control his romantic life. Although he remained reluctant to abandon the relatives who had raised him, he explicitly described his education, service, and career as efforts to secure the right to choose whom he loved 106.

After meeting Gu Zichu again in the Capital, his old feelings returned. They became project partners, and Pei Ye’s company collaborated with Gu Corporation and Huo Corporation on the Banana Phone 104 107 127.

Pursuing Gu Zichu

At the basketball gym, Pei Ye initially teamed up with Gu Zichu and objected when Pei Xuan demanded a change. After the six players reshuffled teams, Pei Ye’s side lost. He made Pei Xuan honor Gu Zichu’s request to stop disrupting his life until New Year, then took his nephew home 104 105 106.

During the drive, Pei Ye openly acknowledged pursuing Gu Zichu. He rejected Pei Xuan’s claim that their past sexual encounter made Gu Zichu his possession, and challenged his nephew to consider whether he could resist parental opposition 106.

Pei Ye later attended the Lu family banquet specifically to see Gu Zichu. Recognizing that Gu Zichu was still recovering from his previous attachment, he pursued him cautiously rather than demanding an immediate answer 113 128.

New Year Fight and Relationship

At the Song family’s New Year gathering, Pei Xuan followed Pei Ye and Gu Zichu to a lakeside pavilion and attacked Pei Ye after mistakenly believing they were kissing. The confrontation escalated when a phone call exposed how Pei Xuan had mocked his encounter with Gu Zichu to friends. Pei Ye smashed the phone and beat his nephew; Gu Zichu twisted his ankle while attempting to intervene 127 128.

After being pulled away by Huo Chuyun and Lu Xingchen, Pei Ye apologized to Gu Zichu and carried him inside. While treating his ankle, he disclosed that his family was still pressuring him to marry a woman and have children. He then admitted that he had shared the story hoping Gu Zichu would feel for him. Gu Zichu subsequently agreed to try a relationship 127 129 130.

When Pei Zheng and Fang Lin demanded that he apologize to Pei Xuan, Pei Ye refused. He revealed that he knew his father had made Pei Zheng’s inheritance conditional on raising him to adulthood. Their confrontation ended with his exclusion from the Pei family, which left him relieved rather than distressed 130.

Cohabitation and Recovery of His Inheritance

Gu Zichu invited Pei Ye to spend New Year with the Gu family. After the holiday, Pei Ye bought the building beside Gu Corporation, relocated his company there, and moved into Gu Zichu’s home. He later gave Gu Zichu a proposal ring, and the couple informed Gu Zichu’s parents about their relationship 131 134 137.

For their three-month anniversary, Gu Zichu recovered the ten percent of Pei Corporation shares belonging to Pei Ye by exchanging a project he had spent three months developing. Pei Ye initially protested the sacrifice, but Gu Zichu insisted that he was worth it 135 136.

During the same period, Pei Ye investigated the men who had mocked Gu Zichu and joined Lu Xingchen and Huo Chuyun in beating and intimidating them. He injured his hands and initially tried to conceal the cause from Gu Zichu 136.

With Gu Lei and Su Qin’s support, Pei Ye decided to sell the recovered shares, avoiding further ties to the Pei family. He also discussed the upcoming Banana Series tablets with them 138.

Appearance

Pei Ye is tall and powerfully built, with rugged, handsome features and a commanding presence 104.

• Muscular physique: Tall and sturdy even as a child; his adult build reflects his military background 105 127.
• Icy expression: His stern face and unapproachable bearing intimidate Gu Lingchuan 105.
• Bear-like impression: Gu Zichu privately compares his awkward tenderness to a large bear exposing its vulnerable side 128 130.

Personality

Pei Ye is disciplined, self-reliant, and uncompromising about his freedom to choose a partner. He accepts the basketball defeat without excuses and insists that Pei Xuan honor the wager. He also repeatedly rejects the idea that intimacy gives someone ownership over another person 106 127.

Around Gu Zichu, his stern manner gives way to nervous glances, affectionate teasing, and open vulnerability. He can deliberately seek sympathy, admitting that his account of family conflict was intended to move Gu Zichu. His care is practical as well as romantic: he cooks, monitors Gu Zichu’s rest, and worries about his lack of exercise 129 130 134.

His protectiveness can become violent. Despite normally being disciplined, he loses control when confronted with Pei Xuan’s humiliation of Gu Zichu and later retaliates against the men involved 128 136.

Abilities & Skills

Military Training and Combat

Pei Ye is a decorated veteran with battlefield experience 106 133.

• Can overpower Pei Xuan through strength and close-range fighting 127 128.
• His full-force beating requires Huo Chuyun and Lu Xingchen to intervene 127.
• Fighting barehanded leaves his own hands badly bruised and wounded 136.

Business Management

Pei Ye builds a career independent of the Pei family’s resources 106.

• Establishes a business after further study in Country A 106.
• Collaborates on the Banana Phone with Gu Corporation and Huo Corporation 127.
• Relocates his company beside Gu Corporation after buying the neighboring building 134.

Basketball

• Coordinates smoothly with Gu Zichu during their initial game 104.
• Strong basket defense forces the opposing team to seek long-range scoring opportunities 106.

Cooking and Caregiving

• Prepares Gu Zichu’s preferred dishes, including sweet-and-sour pork and steamed pork with rice flour 134 137.
• Starts making daily office lunches after noticing Gu Zichu dislikes the company’s boxed meals 134.
• Uses ice to ease Gu Zichu’s swollen ankle and helps him move while injured 129 130.
• Encourages regular meals, exercise, warm milk, and afternoon naps 134.

Assets & Significant Items

• Pei Corporation shares — Ten percent of the company, inherited but withheld by his family; recovered through Gu Zichu’s agreement with Pei Xuan. Pei Ye later decides to sell them 133 135 138.
• Company building — Purchases the building next to Gu Corporation to relocate his business 134.
• Proposal ring — Gives Gu Zichu a ring before they formally discuss their relationship with the Gu family 137.

Relationships

• Gu Zichu — Longtime secret crush, business partner, and eventual romantic partner. Their relationship develops into cohabitation and a proposal 107 130 134 137.
• Pei Xuan — Biological nephew and romantic rival. Pei Ye condemns his possessiveness toward Gu Zichu and later hospitalizes him during their fight 106 128 135.
• Pei Zheng — Older brother and former guardian. Their conflict involves Pei Ye’s sexuality, financial control, and withheld inheritance; they ultimately sever ties 107 130 133.
• Fang Lin — Sister-in-law and former guardian. Initially persuades him to remain at home, but later demands an apology to Pei Xuan and declares him unwelcome 107 130.
• Gu Lei and Su Qin — Gu Zichu’s parents. They support the couple and the recovery of Pei Ye’s shares; Su Qin explicitly welcomes him into the Gu family 137 138.
• Gu Lingchuan — Gu Zichu’s younger brother. Intimidated by Pei Ye since childhood, he later complains about being kept out of his brother’s room 105 133.
• Lu Xingchen and Huo Chuyun — Help stop his fight with Pei Xuan and later assist his retaliation against Gu Zichu’s tormentors. Huo Chuyun is also a business collaborator 127 136.

Notable Quotes

“Everything I've done has been to defend my right to choose whom I love.” 106

“Gu Zichu, do you pity me? If what I just said made you feel for me, then I've achieved my goal.” 129

“Zichu, I'll treat you well. I... I promise I won't let you down.” 130