Zhao Pingchuan

Biodata

Background / History

Zhao Pingchuan lost both parents during childhood and grew up depending on his younger sister, Zhao Xiaoran. Despite excellent grades, he chose an ordinary university for its scholarship and proximity to home, allowing him to continue caring for her. He started a business while studying and became a prominent young entrepreneur. His university later displayed his photograph, invited him to speak, and received substantial donations from him for teaching buildings 5.

He built Pingchuan Technology from scratch and became chairman of a publicly listed company. Its collapse was not attributed to poor management: operations were stable, cash flow was sufficient, and its previous quarterly report showed profit growth. Within twenty-four hours, banks recalled loans and froze accounts, financing agreements were terminated, partners breached contracts, and institutional investors withdrew. His own shares were forcibly liquidated 1 2.

On the same day, Xiaoran was killed by a truck while delivering an important document to him. Zhao Pingchuan was trapped in a meeting with shareholders and creditors when the police called. Gu Xingye’s company subsequently absorbed Pingchuan Technology’s core clients, prime assets, technical personnel, and a major project. In the original novel, Zhao Pingchuan’s ruin and death served to advance Gu Xingye’s success 1 2.

Appearance

Zhao Pingchuan is notably handsome, with a calm, approachable bearing rather than the cold, domineering appearance Ji Ran associates with fictional CEOs 3.

• Build: A head taller than Ji Ran, with a tall, upright posture 3 20.
• Features: Deep-set features and sharp, clean facial lines 9.
• At his lowest point: Disheveled hair, stubble, a rumpled expensive white shirt, and a vacant expression 1.
• After his comeback: Well-tailored dark suits and a composed manner; the earlier sharpness of his expression gives way to greater maturity 28.

Personality

Zhao Pingchuan is reserved and accustomed to keeping his emotions hidden. After losing his company and sister, he withdraws from others, resists leaving home, and initially tries to push Ji Ran away through coldness. Beneath this behavior, he considers himself a burden and fears that another failure would destroy Ji Ran’s admiration for him 3 4 11.

His affection is usually practical: cooking, taking over housework, collecting Ji Ran after work, and quietly advising him on professional problems. He respects the effort behind Ji Ran’s earnings and is willing to haggle over groceries despite once handling contracts worth tens of millions. During Hengtu’s financial crisis, he grows quieter under pressure rather than blaming employees or taking his frustration out on Ji Ran 5 6 16.

His attachment to Ji Ran also exposes a strong fear of abandonment. Before confessing, he briefly considers whether preventing Ji Ran from meeting women could keep him nearby, but does not act on the thought. Later, the apparent loss of Ji Ran in a crash leaves him terrified and suffering recurring nightmares. Ji Ran’s reassurance gradually helps him feel secure again 21 34 36 37.

Abilities & Skills

Business Strategy

Zhao Pingchuan builds two technology companies and adapts his management principles after his first company’s collapse 1 28 40.

• Identifies demand among small and medium-sized businesses for simple, affordable digital tools covering inventory, orders, and customer management 28.
• Prioritizes cash flow and profitability before expansion, rejecting indiscriminate spending and inflated valuations 28.
• Maintains Hengtu’s prices during Gu Group’s undercutting campaign, relying on product quality and user experience to retain and recover customers 23 25.

Financial Analysis and Investment

He retains confidence in his financial judgment even after bankruptcy and uses stock trading to rebuild his available funds 7.

• Begins with 50,000 yuan borrowed from Ji Ran, returns the principal, and continues investing the profits 7.
• Recognizes that investment returns are not guaranteed and that managing larger sums can allow emotion to interfere with rational decisions 10.
• Negotiates alongside Hengtu’s shareholders to reduce Liu Chengxi’s requested stake from 20% to 18% for a five-million-yuan investment 17.

Leadership and Communication

His authority rests on competence and personal loyalty rather than intimidation 13 16.

• Former colleagues remain willing to invest in and work with him after his bankruptcy and prolonged disappearance 13.
• Can guide a dinner conversation across technology, markets, and workplace issues without making less-experienced participants feel excluded 9.
• Encourages Ji Ran’s professional growth by offering advice and introducing him to business contacts as his boyfriend 5 32.
• In the what-if route, employees describe him as a considerate boss who maintains discipline without shouting or humiliating subordinates 47.

Cooking and Domestic Care

Zhao Pingchuan cooks for Xiaoran before her death and later assumes much of the cooking and housework in his shared home with Ji Ran 4 5.

• Prepares late-night food when Ji Ran returns from overtime 4.
• In the what-if route, cooks lighter meals suited to Ji Ran’s postoperative recovery without sacrificing flavor 46.

Relationships

• Ji Ran — His rescuer, chosen younger brother, and eventual boyfriend. Zhao Pingchuan explicitly credits him with saving his life and supports his independence and career after recovering 13 27 32.
• Zhao Xiaoran — His younger sister and only surviving biological family before her death. He treasures their shared meals and blames himself for the circumstances surrounding her accident. She remains alive in the what-if route 4 9 43.
• Chen Qi — Former Pingchuan Technology project manager, trusted friend, and business partner. She searches for him after the collapse, helps organize his reunion with former colleagues, and contributes 200,000 yuan to the new venture 13.
• Lin Zhou — Loyal former colleague who supports his comeback and invests 250,000 yuan in the new business 13.
• Chen Mo — Former colleague who remains eager to work with him again and contributes 250,000 yuan in startup funding 13.
• Gu Xingye — Business rival and antagonist. Gu benefits from Pingchuan Technology’s collapse and later attacks Hengtu’s financing and customer base. Zhao Pingchuan does not initially know whether Gu directly engineered the earlier collapse 2 22 23.
• Jiang Jinyue — Gu Xingye’s partner and Zhao Pingchuan’s temporary neighbor. Gu’s suspicion about their connection helps trigger renewed retaliation; Jiang later warns Ji Ran of a planned attack and takes his place in the targeted car 20 22 34.
• Liu Chengxi — Investor whose five-million-yuan investment supports Hengtu’s expansion 17.
• Sheng Qingyun — Ally in the coordinated campaign against Gu Group 30.
• Jiang Ping — Colleague in the what-if route who helps develop Ji Ran’s abilities and shares responsibility for protecting him from overwork after surgery 43 47.
• Little White — The couple’s white Shiba Inu. Zhao Pingchuan is drawn to the puppy because its eyes and expression remind him of Ji Ran, but consults Ji Ran before bringing it home 38 39.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rescue and Recovery

Ji Ran recognizes Zhao Pingchuan’s impending fate after learning that his job offer has been canceled by Pingchuan Technology’s bankruptcy. He finds Zhao Pingchuan drinking alone, takes him home after he collapses, and cares for him 1.

• Becoming family: Zhao Pingchuan initially intends to leave, but agrees to stay when Ji Ran, an orphan, asks him to become his family. He accepts being called “big brother” 2 3.
• Returning to daily life: Ji Ran’s companionship gradually draws him outside again. Zhao Pingchuan begins shopping, cooking, and participating in Ji Ran’s life, including his graduation ceremony 4 5.
• Confronting his grief: At Xiaoran’s grave, he admits that he considers himself responsible for her death. Ji Ran reminds him of the happy years he gave her and promises to remain beside him 9.
• Choosing to rebuild: After Ji Ran fights a colleague who insults him, Zhao Pingchuan confesses his fear of failing again. Ji Ran’s reassurance helps him resolve to become someone who can protect him 11 12.

Hengtu Technology and Business Comeback

Romance with Ji Ran

• Unspoken attraction: Zhao Pingchuan struggles with the prospect of becoming only an observer in Ji Ran’s future life. While carrying the sleeping Ji Ran to bed, he resists the urge to kiss him 21 23.
• Confession: On the first snowy day, he tells Ji Ran that his feelings are romantic. Ji Ran reciprocates, and they officially become boyfriends 27.
• Public acknowledgment: He confirms their relationship to Chen Qi and hosts a dinner for their friends and colleagues. He continues to recognize Ji Ran as both his chosen younger brother and his boyfriend 29.
• Preserving their first home: He secretly purchases the apartment where Ji Ran first sheltered him, keeps its furnishings unchanged, and places the deed in Ji Ran’s name 32.
• Building a shared future: They choose a new home together with both names on the deed. For their anniversary, Zhao Pingchuan gives Ji Ran ninety-nine red roses 36 39.

Crash Aftermath and Changed Fate

• Apparent loss: Zhao Pingchuan watches a truck strike Ji Ran’s car and believes he has lost him. Ji Ran returns unharmed because Jiang Jinyue warned him and diverted him from the vehicle 34.
• Recovery from renewed fear: Zhao Pingchuan assures Ji Ran that his earlier wish to give up on life belongs to the past. His fear of abandonment nevertheless persists through nightmares until further reassurance and intimacy allow him a peaceful night’s sleep 34 36 37.
• Learning the truth: Ji Ran eventually explains the book and the merging of their worlds. Zhao Pingchuan takes the revelation seriously and suggests that Ji Ran’s arrival may have changed the plot through a butterfly effect. He is especially relieved that Ji Ran is not simply a visitor who might disappear without warning 41.

What-If Route

The extra storyline presents a separate continuity in which Pingchuan Technology is operating and Xiaoran is alive when Ji Ran joins the company 43.

• Zhao Pingchuan recognizes Ji Ran’s work and, with Jiang Ping, gives him opportunities to develop beyond purely technical assignments 43.
• When Ji Ran develops acute appendicitis, Zhao Pingchuan drives him to the hospital and promises to wait outside the operating room 45.
• He cares for Ji Ran after surgery, prepares a guest room, and invites him home to recover 46.
• At Xiaoran’s suggestion, he welcomes Ji Ran as a younger brother. He allows extra recovery time and keeps him away from business engagements involving alcohol until his wound heals 47.
• The three celebrate New Year together as a family 47.

Notable Quotes

“It's okay, Ranran. Man can conquer heaven. We'll fight it to the end.” 16

“That low point was indeed a valuable asset. It taught me to respect the market, respect risk, and respect every bit of trust placed in me.” 28

“I don't know about anyone else, but you completely changed me.” 41

Trivia

• He rarely drinks and normally has a good alcohol tolerance, although business negotiations sometimes leave him heavily intoxicated 18.
• As a child, he could not afford birthday celebrations; later, Xiaoran learned to bake and made him a cake each year 6.
• His birthday outing with Ji Ran introduces him to the enjoyment of arcade games and his first cinema-going experience 7 8.
• Ji Ran continues calling him “brother” after they become a couple; neither considers their chosen-family bond incompatible with romantic love 30.