Ji Ran

Biodata

Background / History

Early Life and the Merged Worlds

Ji Ran grew up without parents or siblings. An accomplished student, he began working on projects with his supervisor in his second university year and won awards in national and provincial competitions. When the story begins, he has finished his classes but has not yet graduated 2 3.

He initially believes he has transmigrated into a novel after discovering that Pingchuan Technology—the company whose job offer he accepted—has entered bankruptcy liquidation. His memories, education, and personal history nevertheless remain intact in the new setting. He later explains that his experience is closer to two worlds merging than conventional transmigration 1 2 41.

Before meeting Zhao Pingchuan, Ji Ran already knows him through the novel and admires him. Recognizing that Zhao has lost both his company and his younger sister, Zhao Xiaoran, he sets out to change his fate 1 2.

Taking Zhao Pingchuan Home

Ji Ran searches the company’s surroundings until he finds Zhao Pingchuan drinking alone in a shabby tavern. He offers to take him home and support him, even if Zhao never rebuilds his career. When Zhao passes out, Ji Ran brings him back to his rented apartment 1.

The following morning, Zhao tries to leave rather than burden him. Ji Ran refuses, then sincerely asks him to become his family. Zhao agrees to stay temporarily and allows Ji Ran to call him “big brother” 2 3.

Ji Ran supports their household through programming work, buys Zhao clothes and necessities, and encourages him to reconnect with everyday life. After securing an internship at Yusheng Technology, he continues caring for him while beginning his own career. Zhao gradually reciprocates by cooking, doing housework, and accompanying him on his commute 2 3 4 5.

Their bond becomes increasingly familial. Ji Ran brings Zhao to his graduation ceremony and later accompanies him to Zhao Xiaoran’s grave. There, he challenges Zhao’s belief that he caused his sister’s death and promises to remain beside him 5 9.

Supporting Hengtu

Ji Ran’s defense of Zhao leads to a workplace fight when Zhang Tao mocks Zhao’s bankruptcy and insinuates that their relationship is improper. Afterward, Zhao admits that he fears failing again and losing Ji Ran’s admiration. Ji Ran reassures him that failure would not diminish his worth 11.

When Zhao decides to start another business, Ji Ran borrows 200,000 yuan from four colleagues. Combined with his own money, he offers approximately 350,000 yuan in support. The colleagues later choose to convert their loans into Hengtu shares 12 15.

Ji Ran subsequently recommends investing in short-video platforms, drawing on memories of a boom in his original world. Hengtu invests a quarter of its available funds but loses almost the entire investment after an abrupt market reversal. Ji Ran blames himself, while Zhao maintains that the proposal was reasonable and had passed the company’s evaluation. Both come to suspect that an unseen force is obstructing Zhao’s recovery; Ji Ran privately identifies it with the original novel’s plot 16.

Alongside his regular job, Ji Ran helps solve Hengtu’s technical problems and learns from Zhao’s guidance. His professional growth contributes to his promotion to team leader at Yusheng Technology 19 25.

Becoming Zhao Pingchuan’s Boyfriend

Ji Ran gently rejects Lu Zhaozhao’s confession, and they agree to remain friends. Later, on the first snowy day, Zhao confesses his romantic feelings. Ji Ran reciprocates, kisses him, and agrees to become his boyfriend 20 21 27.

The couple announces their relationship to friends and colleagues, receiving their acceptance and congratulations. Ji Ran continues calling Zhao “brother”: to him, Zhao is both his chosen family and his lover, and those roles do not conflict 29 30.

Zhao also encourages Ji Ran’s independence. By bringing him to receptions and openly introducing him as his boyfriend, he helps Ji Ran gain confidence, demonstrate his abilities, and establish professional connections of his own 32.

Gu Xingye’s Threats

Ji Ran repeatedly tries to keep Zhao away from Gu Xingye and Jiang Jinyue, whose encounters resemble events from the original novel. His dislike of Gu is rooted in the harm Gu caused Zhao, though he also becomes concerned about Jiang’s treatment 15 17 22 29.

When Ji Ran discovers that Jiang’s apartment across the hall has been broken into, he avoids attracting the bodyguards’ attention and contacts Zhao. Despite their precautions, Gu targets Hengtu and later plots to make Zhao lose the person he loves 22 23 32.

Ji Ran escapes a planned car crash after Jiang calls to warn him, instructing him to leave his car behind and find Zhao. Jiang takes the car and is injured in the collision instead. Ji Ran reunites with Zhao at the scene and comforts him through the terror of believing Ji Ran had died 34.

Later Life

Ji Ran and Zhao adopt a white Shiba Inu named Little White and choose a home with a yard for him. They discuss obtaining a marriage certificate abroad as a keepsake; Zhao privately begins planning a proposal and wedding 38.

After Hengtu goes public, Zhao transfers twenty percent of the company’s shares to Ji Ran, making him its second-largest shareholder. Although Ji Ran jokes about retiring, he chooses to keep working because his career matters to him beyond its income 40.

Following the opening ceremony for Hengtu’s new building, Ji Ran finally reveals his knowledge of the novel and the merging of their worlds. Zhao accepts his explanation, and they agree to keep the truth between them 41.

Appearance

Ji Ran is good-looking, with softer features than Zhao Pingchuan 6.

• Eyes: Round and expressive, repeatedly compared to puppy-dog eyes 9 43.
• Height: Approximately a head shorter than Zhao Pingchuan when they first begin living together 3.
• Clothing habits: Initially content with inexpensive, serviceable clothes for himself while buying Zhao the best he can afford 5.

Personality

Ji Ran is cheerful, affectionate, and attentive to everyday comforts. He makes his modest home lively through cooking and small personal touches, such as decorating a breakfast egg with a ketchup smile. Even when Zhao barely responds, he shares stories about his day to help draw him back into ordinary life 2 4.

His care is not conditional on success. Although he admires Zhao’s business talent, he is willing to support him indefinitely as an ordinary person and avoids pressuring him to rebuild his career. Zhao’s health and happiness matter more to him than recovering wealth or status 1 5 9.

Normally good-tempered, Ji Ran becomes stubborn and confrontational when Zhao’s well-being is threatened. He refuses to let him leave while in despair and punches Zhang Tao for insulting him. Conversely, when his own investment advice causes losses, he is intensely self-critical and struggles to accept reassurance 3 11 16.

He also values having a life and career of his own. Even after becoming wealthy through Hengtu shares, he rejects the idea of simply staying home and living off Zhao 40.

Abilities & Skills

Programming and Software Engineering

Ji Ran has a strong academic foundation and develops practical expertise through work at Yusheng and informal contributions to Hengtu 2 19.

• Writes code and small programs as a flexible, home-based source of income 2.
• Helps Hengtu address technical problems involving high concurrency, attack defense, and system architecture 19.
• Learns to connect technical decisions with client requirements and broader business needs 19.
• Earns strong workplace evaluations and is promoted to team leader 9 25.

Knowledge of the Original Novel

Ji Ran remembers Zhao’s background and recognizes events involving Gu Xingye and Jiang Jinyue 1 15 17.

• Uses that knowledge to find Zhao after Pingchuan Technology’s collapse and anticipate dangerous entanglements 1 15.
• Recognizes that some apparently irrational developments resemble the novel’s plot 16 17.
• Limit: His memories do not guarantee successful predictions. His short-video investment suggestion fails, and later events diverge from the original story 16 34 41.

Cooking and Baking

Ji Ran is a capable home cook whose skills are evident even in simple meals 2 4.

• Makes handmade longevity noodles colored with carrot juice for Zhao’s birthday 7.
• Bakes and decorates a fruit-and-cream birthday cake, including homemade jam 8.
• Prepares meals and sobering soup while caring for Zhao 4 21.

Professional Communication

With Zhao’s mentorship, Ji Ran becomes more comfortable participating in business discussions 19 32.

• Progresses from nervous small talk at receptions to contributing to substantive conversations 32.
• Builds his own professional network rather than remaining solely Zhao’s companion 32.

Possessions

• Black car — A New Year’s gift from Zhao Pingchuan, purchased using his stock-trading earnings 10.
• Original apartment — Initially Ji Ran’s rented home; Zhao later buys it, preserves its furnishings, and places the deed in Ji Ran’s name 1 32.
• Shared home with a yard — Chosen partly for Little White; both Ji Ran’s and Zhao’s names appear on the property deed 38.
• Wristwatch — An expensive watch with blued-steel hands. Ji Ran likes it but initially hesitates to wear it daily because of its value 33.
• Hengtu shares — A twenty-percent holding transferred from Zhao after the company goes public 40.

Relationships

• Zhao Pingchuan — Idol, chosen older brother, mentor, and boyfriend. Ji Ran first supports him through bankruptcy and grief; their relationship develops into mutual care and romance 1 3 19 27.
• Zhao Xiaoran — Zhao’s deceased younger sister in the main timeline. Ji Ran regards her as family and promises to visit her grave with Zhao every year 9.
• Lin Lin — Teammate and supportive colleague. Ji Ran reassures her that she is not responsible for Zhang Tao’s insults 6 12.
• Li Xuan, Zhou Jianghua, Li Chang, and Lin Lin — His close work team. Their financial support helps Zhao launch Hengtu, and they later celebrate Ji Ran’s promotion and relationship 9 12 15 25 37.
• Lu Zhaozhao — Friend who confesses romantic feelings. Ji Ran declines without agreeing to a trial relationship, and they remain friends 20 21.
• Jiang Jinyue — Initially someone Ji Ran tries to avoid because of the original plot. Ji Ran nevertheless feels sympathy for him; Jiang later saves his life by warning him of the planned crash 17 22 34.
• Gu Xingye — Antagonist whom Ji Ran distrusts for hurting Zhao. Gu eventually targets Ji Ran as a means of making Zhao suffer 22 32 34.
• Little White — The white Shiba Inu he names and raises with Zhao 38.

Alternate Timeline: “If Route”

The extra chapters present a separate route in which Ji Ran successfully joins Pingchuan Technology and Zhao Xiaoran is alive 43 46.

Notable Quotes

“Even if you can't, I'll stay by your side. You can just live as an ordinary person from now on, all right?” 1

“Even if you're utterly defeated and never get back on your feet, you won't mean any less to me.” 11

“I don't know if I like men. I only know that I like you. No one else will do.” 27