Chen Rui

Biodata

Power Progression

Recorded Attributes

Xin Jiu reveals his player panel using Monkey’s Eye 21.

Appearance

• Handsome face: Xin Jiu considers his appearance attractive enough that he hardly needs Heart Flutter to make a favorable impression 21.
• Worn clothing: When they reunite near the ancient ruins, his clothes have several tears and his trouser cuffs are stained with blood 32.

Personality

Chen Rui admires strong players rather than being romantically interested in Xin Jiu. He speaks proudly of her achievements, carries her merchandise for luck, and encourages cooperation because she has told her fans to help one another in dungeons 21.

He accepts responsibility when his decision to follow Xin Jiu puts his teammates in danger. He is also more cautious than the other newcomers, having watched her tutorials, and repeatedly warns players about rune-marked stones 22 32.

His loyalty to teammates leads him to protect people who have endangered others. Although he stops Li Tao’s assassination attempt and opposes Doudou’s calls to murder Xin Jiu, he later pleads for both of their lives. After Xin Jiu leaves, he recognizes that expecting her to forgive someone who tried to kill her was unreasonable 24 26 33.

Abilities & Skills

Heart Flutter

Heart Flutter is a permanent B-rank skill that causes its target to develop an extremely favorable impression of its owner 21.

• Influences players: Xin Jiu experiences its effects and uses Monkey’s Eye to identify the cause 21.
• Apparently affects NPCs: Niuniu stops pursuing Chen Rui and the teammates he is helping escape, seemingly because Chen Rui has used Heart Flutter on him 22.
• Can remain active unintentionally: Xin Jiu suspects Chen Rui has forgotten to switch it off while his party follows her through the labyrinth 21.

Dungeon Awareness

• Recognizes a rune-marked floor tile as a likely trap, though his warning comes too late to prevent its activation 22.
• Chooses to keep following Xin Jiu after the Navigation Card fails, reasoning that her willingness to enter the labyrinth indicates she knows how to survive it 22.
• Warns his later party not to touch rune-covered stones at the ancient ruins 32.

Equipment / Items

• Xin Jiu merchandise: Carries several pieces into the game in the hope that his idol’s merchandise will bring him luck 21.
• Pin badge: Considers taking it out to remember Xin Jiu when he believes Anubis has killed her 26.
• Watch: Uses it to check how long the group must endure the night after moonlight makes their ordinary food disappear 24.

Background / History

Livestream Fan Activities

Before meeting Xin Jiu in the game, Chen Rui is known in her livestream community as Chen Yuyuer. He rarely speaks but frequently sends gifts and has organized several successful online events. His username leads other fans, including Xin Jiu, to assume he is a woman 21.

Entering the Forest Labyrinth

Chen Rui’s party follows Xin Jiu because she resembles his favorite streamer and they are concerned about her entering danger alone. He fails to recognize her even while praising Xin Jiu to her face. She refuses his invitation to join the party, but he elects to follow her into the miniature labyrinth 21.

A teammate activates a trap that separates Xiao Ling and Brother Zhao Fei from the group. When the Navigation Card stops working, Chen Rui takes responsibility for their predicament and decides that following Xin Jiu offers a better chance than wandering blindly. He subsequently helps teammates escape Niuniu and learns Xin Jiu’s method for increasing agility through dodging 22 23.

Li Tao’s Attacks and the Separation

During the night, Chen Rui intercepts Li Tao as he attempts to stab Xin Jiu. He disarms him and warns him against further attacks, pointing out both her strength and their dependence on her knowledge of the labyrinth 24.

The next morning, Chen Rui unknowingly hands Xin Jiu mushrooms poisoned by Li Tao. When Li Tao summons Anubis’s Avatar against her, Chen Rui confronts him in fury and subsequently beats him. Believing Xin Jiu dead, he is devastated until she returns 24 25 26.

Despite this, Chen Rui joins Doudou and Jiamin in asking Xin Jiu to spare Li Tao, arguing that another teammate would improve their chances of survival. He reveals that he has recognized her, but she kills Li Tao and forbids them from following her. Chen Rui stops the others from pursuing her and acknowledges why she will no longer help them 26.

Reunion at the Ancient Ruins

After Jiamin dies saving Doudou from a black bear, Chen Rui encounters Xin Jiu again with Doudou and five unfamiliar players. He explains Jiamin’s death and understands that Xin Jiu is not responsible, despite Doudou’s accusations 32.

When Doudou urges the party to kill Xin Jiu for her skills and Bubu, Chen Rui protests and attempts to stop the attack. After Xin Jiu defeats the attackers, he shields Doudou and begs her to spare him. He then persuades Doudou to surrender his Navigation Card rather than be killed 33.

Once Xin Jiu leaves, Chen Rui warns Doudou to avoid her. He notices that the wounded players’ blood—and the blood from Doudou’s small neck wound—has turned green, realizing that her blade is poisoned 34.

Death

Chen Rui is killed while searching for medicinal herbs for Doudou. Doudou has an opportunity to save him but instead takes the herbs and flees, later claiming that Chen Rui abandoned him. Xin Jiu doubts this accusation because it contradicts his character; livestream viewers uncover a saved recording that reveals what happened 43.

Relationships

• Xin Jiu — His idol and temporary guide. She initially intends to help her devoted fan leave the instance, but abandons that plan after he asks her to spare Li Tao 21 26.
• Doudou — A younger teammate whom he comforts and repeatedly protects. Doudou ultimately leaves him to die and falsely accuses him of abandonment 22 33 43.
• Li Tao — A teammate whose attacks on Xin Jiu Chen Rui tries to prevent. Despite his anger at Li Tao, he later argues against killing him 24 25 26.
• Jiamin — A teammate whose death while protecting Doudou visibly grieves him 32.

Notable Quotes

“She’s right. We chose to follow her. I’m the one to blame.” 22

“If you don’t want to die, stay out of her way next time you see her. Otherwise, no one will be able to save you!” 34