Wen Zhao

Biodata

Appearance

Wen Zhao is described as good-looking, with a muscular physique and a striking stage presence 187 277.

• Build: Defined chest muscles and well-developed abs, revealed when Pei Zeyan tears his shirt and later shown in a selfie 187 282.
• Performance appearance: After an energetic dance, his sweat-covered face is described as intensely seductive 129.

Personality

Wen Zhao initially takes a pragmatic approach to criticism of his acting debut. He expects backlash, accepts that poor work deserves criticism, and tells Lu Chiyan that his priority is learning to perform well rather than worrying about public opinion 173. That composure has limits: after his filming injury, online attacks contribute to his refusal to take the two days of rest offered by the director 200.

With Pei Zeyan, Wen Zhao combines affectionate care with dry humor. He complains about Pei Zeyan’s drunken behavior but still keeps him away from paparazzi, prevents him from driving, gives him honey water, and brings him back to stay with him 177 181 186. He also quietly arranges meals suited to Pei Zeyan’s tastes throughout his time on set 193.

Wen Zhao dislikes being treated as merely another friend once his feelings become clear. Pei Zeyan’s repeated efforts to deny their rumored romance hurt him, and he eventually states directly that friendship was never the relationship he wanted 130 273. Although he enjoys teasing Pei Zeyan, he also recognizes that feelings cannot be forced and gives him room to think after confessing 189 192.

Abilities & Skills

Singing and Dancing

Wen Zhao is already a leading star in singing and dancing before entering acting 172.

• Identifies singing and dancing as his useful skills when the group discusses earning money 41.
• Performs street dance in a public plaza, drawing a crowd despite his embarrassment at Lu Chiyan and Pei Zeyan’s loud promotion 112.
• Rehearses a dance duet with Pei Zeyan and also performs a solo singing-and-dancing act at the kindergarten variety show 122 129.
• Delivers the final headline performance at a fashion gala, captivating Pei Zeyan despite his determination to remain expressionless 277.

Acting

Wen Zhao begins acting with no previous experience, taking the male lead role of Lin Yi in Strange Tales of Luo City 172 174.

• Asks Lu Chiyan and Gu Xia'an for guidance when joining the production 172.
• Films an overnight fight scene opposite Lu Chiyan 174.
• Sustains a leg injury while filming a leap between elevated positions 195.
• No later assessment of his finished performance is provided in the supplied chapters.

Badminton

Lin Xu recognizes Wen Zhao as a skilled badminton player during their hospital recreation session 273.

• Participates while using a wheelchair during his recovery 273.
• Appears to play poorly, but Lin Xu later thanks him for going easy; Wen Zhao replies that he genuinely cannot match Lin Xu while playing seated 273.
• Retrieves shuttlecocks with his electric wheelchair after Pei Zeyan excludes him from the match 273.

Story Role / Major Arcs

*We Live Together*

During the show’s money-making tasks, Wen Zhao joins Pei Zeyan and Lu Chiyan in turning to Qin Sili for advice. His proposed contribution is singing and dancing, though the group initially finds no clear way to turn their skills into income 41. Later, after exhausting amusement-park assignments, Lu Chiyan proposes a ticketed kindergarten variety show. Pei Zeyan volunteers Wen Zhao for three acts, and Wen Zhao promptly insists that Pei Zeyan perform three as well 91.

His closeness with Pei Zeyan attracts viewers’ attention well before either publicly acknowledges romantic feelings. Wen Zhao peels shrimp for him at dinner and later drags him away by the collar to leave Lu Chiyan and Qin Sili alone, prompting viewers to ship them 50 102. A genuine mosquito bite on Pei Zeyan’s neck becomes another source of suspicion, even though Wen Zhao personally killed the mosquito and sought treatment for the itching 111 122.

“Good Buddies” and Dating Rumors

Before the variety show, Pei Zeyan posts a photograph of Wen Zhao on Weibo to establish that they are “bros.” Wen Zhao is delighted to learn that Pei Zeyan has singled him out and reciprocates with a secretly taken photograph of Pei Zeyan watering the villa garden. Fans interpret the exchange as a public relationship announcement rather than a denial 122 123.

During their dance, Wen Zhao catches Pei Zeyan by the waist when he loses his balance. The resulting images intensify the rumors, and Pei Zeyan’s explanation only encourages more shipping 128 129. Wen Zhao becomes upset when Pei Zeyan proposes further clarifications, asking whether he is that eager to distance himself 130.

Acting Debut and Confession

Wen Zhao joins Strange Tales of Luo City out of an interest in trying acting. His casting as the inexperienced male lead generates both support and skepticism, while footage of a scripted fight with Lu Chiyan is misrepresented online as a genuine on-set dispute. Production restrictions prevent them from revealing the scene’s context 172 173 174.

While Pei Zeyan is visiting the production, Wen Zhao repeatedly looks after him when he drinks too much 177 181 186. One night, a drunken Pei Zeyan tears Wen Zhao’s shirt while trying to photograph his abs. Wen Zhao pins him to the sofa and kisses him, but discovers that Pei Zeyan has fallen asleep before the encounter goes further 187.

The next morning, Wen Zhao confirms that he was sober and admits his attraction 188. When Pei Zeyan protests that he considers him a brother, Wen Zhao asks him to see him instead as someone who likes him. He later leaves Pei Zeyan space to process the confession 189 192. After Pei Zeyan finishes filming, Wen Zhao sends a carload of flowers, joking that they will help with the pollen allergy Pei Zeyan had invented to avoid accepting a bouquet from him 193 194.

Filming Injury and Lin Xu

Wen Zhao falls while filming a leap and rolls down a small slope, leading to hospitalization and the use of an electric wheelchair 195 197. He dismisses the injury as a slight sprain, but Pei Zeyan discovers a heavy cast on his right leg 199. Under pressure from online criticism, Wen Zhao refuses the director’s offer of two days off, prompting Pei Zeyan to defend him angrily on Weibo 200.

At the hospital, Pei Zeyan mistakenly believes that an amputee undergoing emergency treatment is Wen Zhao. The patient is actually Lin Xu, a dancer injured while saving a girl 196 197 198. Wen Zhao knows Lin Xu’s teacher and contacts them so that Lin Xu’s family can be reached 198 199.

ZhaoYan Side Stories

The ZhaoYan side stories resume around the meal where Lu Chiyan leaves early to accompany Qin Sili to the imperial capital 233 270. During this period, Wen Zhao and Pei Zeyan help Lin Xu regain interest in eating and exercise. Their wheelchair badminton session contributes to Lin Xu’s decision to pursue a prosthesis and continue living well 271 272 273.

Wen Zhao again tells Pei Zeyan that he does not want a merely friendly relationship 273. Their subsequent red-carpet appearance, Wen Zhao’s gala performance, and Pei Zeyan’s conspicuous reactions revive public interest in the pairing 276 277. Privately, their courtship develops through WeChat messages, a Moments post visible only to Wen Zhao, and exchanged photographs 278 280 281 282.

At a later dinner, Wen Zhao reiterates that Pei Zeyan has never been an ordinary friend to him. Pei Zeyan initiates a kiss to test his own feelings, and Wen Zhao reciprocates 287. Wen Zhao then gives him three days to process what has happened while he returns to the capital to record songs 288. The side stories end with the two becoming intimate and exchanging declarations of love 290.

Relationships

• Pei Zeyan — Close friend who becomes his romantic partner. Wen Zhao’s affection develops through practical care, jealousy over being treated as “just a friend,” and increasingly direct confessions 123 130 193 273 290.
• Lu Chiyan — Variety-show companion and acting co-star. Lu Chiyan offers reassurance during the backlash to his casting and later encourages Pei Zeyan to recognize Wen Zhao’s feelings 173 174 275.
• Gu Xia'an — Fellow We Live Together participant and co-star in Strange Tales of Luo City. Wen Zhao formally asks for her guidance when he joins the cast 172 173.
• Qin Sili — Variety-show companion whom Wen Zhao consults about earning money. Impressed by Qin Sili’s grilling, Wen Zhao asks to call him “Brother Sili” 41 64.
• Lin Xu — Dancer whom Wen Zhao helps contact family after hospitalization and supports during rehabilitation activities with Pei Zeyan 198 199 273.
• Jiangjiang — His assistant; helps coordinate transport, communicates with Pei Zeyan’s assistants, and lends Wen Zhao her phone when he investigates Pei Zeyan’s restricted Moments post 186 189 280.

Notable Quotes

“Since this is what I want to do, what I need to think about is how to do it well.” 173

“Then starting today, stop seeing me as a brother. See me as someone who likes you.” 189

“Pei Zeyan, listen carefully. Being good friends has never been the relationship I wanted.” 273