Yao Xuan

Biodata

Background / History

Acting Career

Yao Xuan works in both television dramas and films. Tang Keni has followed his career for years and watched every drama and movie he appeared in. Before their relationship, Yao Xuan had carefully maintained a reputation free of romantic rumors and scandals 241.

His acting work continues beyond Ultimate Roaming: as filming approaches its end, he expects to head directly onto a film set 274.

Joining the Roaming Group

During the island trip, Yao Xuan quickly joins Tang Keni in praising Xie Huan after he restores the villa’s electricity. Both are described as extroverted, and the three chat easily together 5.

He and Tang Keni soon notice the intimacy developing between Xie Huan and Pei Tingyun. They exchange knowing looks over the pair’s kitchen conversations and whispered exchanges, becoming frequent spectators to their developing romance 9 13 79.

Yao Xuan also joins the group’s resistance to the director’s schemes. When difficult check-in tasks threaten their dinner reward, he suggests abandoning the challenge because he prefers Chinese food anyway. Later, he proposes finding the diving equipment themselves to avoid completing another production task 28 44.

Pursuing Tang Keni

Yao Xuan’s interest in Tang Keni becomes increasingly open. He offers to share his scarf, regrets being unable to share clothes because of their different sizes, and unsuccessfully volunteers to exchange their twin room for a king room 145 160 162.

During a blindfolded ingredient-collecting challenge, he protests that Xie Huan and Pei Tingyun are allowed to walk together while he must direct Tang Keni from a distance. Rather than separating the other pair, he takes Tang Keni’s hand and demands equal treatment 186.

Despite these advances, Tang Keni’s apparent rejection leaves him uncertain. After Gu Lin tells him a legend that couples who cross every bridge in the city hand in hand will remain together, Yao Xuan immediately takes Tang Keni across a bridge under the excuse of completing a check-in 238 239.

On the flight home, he finally asks why Tang Keni treats everyone else kindly but acts fiercely toward him. Unknown to Yao Xuan at that point, Tang Keni has long reciprocated his feelings. His hostility is a cover: he fears that a relationship with a comparatively minor internet celebrity would damage Yao Xuan’s standing 241.

Secret Relationship

A later account reveals that Yao Xuan cornered Tang Keni against a wall and forcibly kissed him, after which Tang Keni confessed his feelings. Tang Keni agreed to a relationship on the condition that they not go public. Although Yao Xuan wants to make their relationship official, he accepts that restriction 267.

Their public bickering continues, but Gu Lin repeatedly catches them leaving the same room. Yao Xuan also looks for excuses to be physically affectionate on camera, claiming that the famously fearless Tang Keni needs support because he is afraid of the dark 260 267 269.

As the show nears its end, Yao Xuan becomes insecure about their future. Both have work waiting, and he fears that their few days together will give way to prolonged separation. Tang Keni reassures him by secretly slipping a ring into his pocket 274.

On the final livestream day, Yao Xuan helps prepare the farewell meal and gives each group member a personal letter to read later. The extras show that he and Tang Keni remain together, including a visit during which Xie Huan discovers them kissing on the sofa 279 284.

Notable Show Challenges

Appearance

• Taller and larger-built than Tang Keni; the size difference prevents them from sharing clothes 160.
• Usually appears bare-faced during the trip because the production team does not allow personal styling teams 36.

Personality

Yao Xuan readily joins group banter and practical jokes. He laughs at Tang Keni’s confusion over peeling garlic and reassures Pei Tingyun that any stomach trouble from their cooking would hardly be the fault of his vegetable washing. His teasing can also backfire: an attempt to explain a wrong answer in a guessing game manages to offend both Xie Huan and Pei Tingyun 15 172.

His willingness to socialize does not make him constantly talkative. When Tang Keni receives a mission requiring him to include praise in every remark to Yao Xuan, Yao Xuan becomes unusually chatty to hear more compliments. He recognizes the mission but deliberately avoids exposing it 251.

With Tang Keni, he is attentive, persistent, and eager for reassurance. He offers to buy him pork trotters during the glacier hike and hands him water at the wedding feast. Beneath his playful advances, however, he worries about whether Tang Keni wants a future with him and later fears the separation their careers will bring 124 137 238 274.

Abilities & Skills

Acting

Yao Xuan applies professional acting methods even to variety-show tasks 71.

• Uses focused listening, observation, and emotional engagement to sustain his assigned stutter 71.
• Becomes so immersed that the speech pattern persists beyond the challenge 71.

Limits and Mishaps

• Makeup: Depends on professional makeup artists and does not know how to apply the products himself 36.
• Kitchen communication: Cannot understand Xie Huan’s Northeastern instruction to “bēn” the potatoes, even after a mime demonstration 15.
• Improvised tools: Suggests a discarded food can’s sharp lid for cutting meat, to Xie Huan’s dismay 21.
• Partner coordination: Repeatedly fails the key-ring relay with Tang Keni despite trying to copy Pei Tingyun’s successful technique 216.

Equipment / Items

• Death-exemption token — A blind-box reward allowing its holder to refuse one production-team demand. He offers it to help Xie Huan avoid the down-jacket punishment, but Xie Huan and Pei Tingyun decline 56 57.
• Ring from Tang Keni — Secretly placed in his pocket near the end of filming; reassures him about their relationship 274.
• Farewell letters — Personal letters given to the other Roaming Group members, with instructions to read them later 279.

Relationships

• Tang Keni — Boyfriend and longtime fan. Their relationship develops through constant bickering, increasingly direct advances, and a private confession. Yao Xuan honors Tang Keni’s request to keep it secret 241 267.
• Xie Huan — Friend and fellow guest, whom he calls “Big Brother.” He offers his exemption token to help him, praises his versatility, and asks him to arrange a chance to sleep on a kang bed 57 137 274.
• Pei Tingyun — Fellow guest and frequent target of his romantic teasing. Yao Xuan helps arrange Xie Huan’s meowing penalty and later discusses intimate relationship advice with him 190 270.
• Gu Lin — Fellow guest who helps his pursuit of Tang Keni by sharing the bridge legend. Gu Lin also becomes an unwilling witness to the couple’s secret room-sharing 238 267.

Notable Quotes

“If they get to walk together, we want to walk together too. Director, you have to treat everyone equally!” 186

“Why are you so nice to everyone else, but so fierce with me?” 241

“Bridges are for walking across. It only counts as a proper check-in once you’ve crossed the bridge!” 238