Tang Keni

Biodata

Background / History

Internet Career and *Ultimate Roaming*

Tang Keni began as an internet celebrity and became known as an internet-famous singer. His comparatively low standing in the entertainment industry made his inclusion in a travel show alongside major stars controversial; online abuse began when the guest lineup was announced 13 210.

On Ultimate Roaming, he joins Xie Huan, Pei Tingyun, Yao Xuan, and Gu Lin in the Roaming Group. When the production team leaves them without travel funds on their island stop, he supports staying indoors and eating instant noodles rather than attempting the director’s challenge 4.

He soon becomes one of the group’s most vocal opponents of the production team’s restrictions. After the staff confiscate their knives before dinner, he confronts the director, then searches for a substitute and returns with rusty pruning shears 21. Despite these clashes, he recognizes that earning money through production challenges is essential to surviving the show’s budget rules 56.

White Clouds and Black Soil

Tang Keni becomes an early, enthusiastic supporter of Xie Huan and Pei Tingyun’s pairing, White Clouds and Black Soil. Using the production-provided phone, he secretly browses Weibo and joins the pairing’s newly established supertopic through an alternate account 13 59.

His enthusiasm develops into active matchmaking. He openly calls their horseback outing a date, notices their shared catchphrase, and encourages Xie Huan to participate in an intimate biscuit-transfer challenge by offering to take his place beside Pei Tingyun 50 73 170. At the castle stop, he even requests a room-swap challenge so he can stay next door to them 230 231.

Relationship with Yao Xuan

Tang Keni and Yao Xuan initially appear to have a combative friendship. They argue throughout a kayaking trip, retaliate against each other by emptying suitcases, and repeatedly fail to coordinate during a key-ring transfer game 207 216 227.

Tang Keni’s perspective later reveals that he has liked Yao Xuan for years and watched every film and drama in which he appeared. He recognizes Yao Xuan’s interest but disguises his own feelings as disdain, fearing that association with a small-time internet celebrity would damage his idol’s reputation 241.

A later account reveals that Yao Xuan cornered him in his room and forcibly kissed him, after which Tang Keni confessed his feelings. Tang Keni agreed to a relationship on the condition that they not announce it publicly. They subsequently maintain their argumentative manner on camera while behaving as a couple in private 267.

Near the end of filming, their impending work commitments leave Yao Xuan anxious about separation. Tang Keni quietly slips a cloth pouch containing a ring into his pocket, offering reassurance without making a public declaration 274.

Career Growth and the Temple Vow

By the end of Ultimate Roaming, Tang Keni’s profile has risen, and his agency has arranged substantial new work. After returning to Xihong City, he leaves to learn about those commitments 274 280.

On the final day of the livestream, he visits a mountain temple with Yao Xuan. Skeptical of its power, he declares that he will return and kneel to fulfill his vow if it can get him a male lead role. Xie Huan’s master later watches the temple’s surveillance footage and decides to intervene 282.

Tang Keni receives an audition invitation for the male lead in a hugely popular drama—not a confirmed casting. He tells his livestream viewers about the wish and returns to kneel at the temple. The resulting publicity brings crowds of wish-makers, eventually prompting Xie Huan’s master to conceal the temple with an illusion 282.

Personality

Tang Keni is outspoken, quick-tempered, and eager to join the group’s mischief. He protests directly when the director obstructs their meals or imposes retaliatory punishments; Yao Xuan sometimes has to restrain him. He also enjoys celebrating their victories, insisting that winning without gloating is practically the same as not winning 21 31.

His enthusiasm for food makes him one of Xie Huan’s strongest culinary supporters. Nevertheless, he notices the burden of cooking for an exhausted group and initially feels bad about asking Xie Huan to prepare dinner after their glacier hike. Later, he buys him a waffle in appreciation for serving as both guide and chef 126 168.

Although perceptive about other people’s attraction, Tang Keni is guarded about his own. His hostility toward Yao Xuan is partly a deliberate cover for affection and concern about their unequal professional standing. Once they become partners, he continues expressing love through discreet actions rather than public declarations 241 274.

Abilities & Skills

Photography and Video

• Finds a suitable angle and lighting for the group’s windmill photograph 168.
• Proposes a short video featuring Xie Huan and Pei Tingyun on a palace terrace; Pei Tingyun enthusiastically approves the idea 211.
• Brings a tripod to record an entire sunrise 273.
• Quietly photographs the group’s final gathering after the livestream ends 276.

Matchmaking and Social Observation

• Recognizes romantic implications in Xie Huan and Pei Tingyun’s interactions and follows their pairing online 13 16.
• Uses Xie Huan’s reluctance to let someone else partner with Pei Tingyun to push him into the biscuit challenge 170.
• Spots the faint red mark on Xie Huan’s neck after the hot-spring visit 152 153.
• Understands that Yao Xuan is attracted to him, despite pretending not to reciprocate 241.

Budgeting and Negotiation

• Argues that containers collected during an ingredient challenge should also count toward the group’s earnings 64.
• Selects a village with free admission when the group runs out of money, then asks the director to arrange a challenge that will pay for a boat ride 171.
• Supplies Gu Lin’s interview video as evidence when the group invokes his privilege to demand additional funding 253.

Cooking Limitations

• Repeatedly produces half-raw rice and undercooked dishes; his cooking has landed him in the hospital ten times 15.
• Subsequently limits himself to instant noodles because they reliably cook through 15.
• Is initially assigned the wok because he has at least boiled noodles without a kitchen disaster 14.

Relationships

• Yao Xuan — Longtime idol and eventual boyfriend. Their public bickering conceals mutual attraction and, later, a private relationship. Tang Keni gives him a ring before their post-show separation; Yao Xuan buys him an enormous Siberian tiger plush after their tiger-park visit 241 267 274 275.
• Xie Huan — Fellow traveler whose cooking he enthusiastically supports. Tang Keni calls him “big bro” and helps encourage his relationship with Pei Tingyun. His exhausted declaration of love is explicitly clarified as admiration for Xie Huan’s cooking 126 170.
• Pei Tingyun — Fellow traveler and one half of Tang Keni’s favorite pairing. Tang Keni respects his management of the travel budget while frequently teasing him about Xie Huan 50 117.
• Gu Lin — Fellow traveler and playful sparring partner. They chase and tease each other, cooperate in passing covert signals, and work together against the director’s funding restrictions 13 32 253.
• The director — Frequent target of his protests, bargaining, and mock threats. Tang Keni challenges rules that interfere with meals or spending, but also willingly requests new games when they offer a way to fund activities 21 64 171.

Notable Quotes

“You have to gloat when you win. If you win and don't gloat, isn't that the same as not winning?” 31

“Romance is always better when it's someone else's! It stops being fun when it's your own.” 210

“If you can get me a male lead role, I'll definitely come back and get on my knees to fulfill my vow!” 282

Trivia

• Despite Yao Xuan claiming he needs support because he fears the dark, Tang Keni is described as famously fearless and privately considers the excuse absurd 269.
• He complains that Yao Xuan’s tiger plush is something “only girls like,” but never lets go of it 275.
• Even the prospect of separating from his new boyfriend fails to keep him miserable for long: on the flight home, his seat directly behind Xie Huan and Pei Tingyun lets him enjoy their interactions up close 280.