Pei Jingshu

Biodata

Background / History

Pei Jingshu grew up in Daegu with her parents and younger sister, Pei Enshu. Her childhood friend Kim Su-a lived in the next alley, and they attended the same classes from elementary school through high school. Jingshu earned good grades but sometimes slipped into her school’s music room to play the piano, getting caught by teachers several times 298 299 300.

She moved to Seoul to study vocal music at Korea University, where she became known as a campus beauty. Despite attracting numerous suitors, she showed little interest in romance before meeting Cheng Che. By her later appearances, she is training at SM; the supplied chapters do not specify when that training began 143 149 343.

Appearance

• Campus beauty: Described as a “school belle with a divine face.” Her appearance draws attention even when she is sitting quietly in public 143.
• Slender build: Her forearms and ankles are specifically described as slender, and her skin as fair 143 173.
• Everyday style: Often wears sweatshirts and jeans, with her hair loose or tied in a ponytail. She meets Cheng Che without makeup during his visit to Korea University 195 201.
• Expressive smile: Her eyes repeatedly curve into crescents when she is happy, particularly around Cheng Che 173 200 201.

Personality

Before meeting Cheng Che, Jingshu was cool and aloof, keeping prospective suitors at a distance. Her best friend is surprised by how decisively she pursues him: she publicly declares her love, attends his matches without disguising herself, and makes little effort to conceal their closeness. That confidence coexists with frequent blushing and embarrassment when he reciprocates her affection 143 146 149 201.

She is straightforward about wanting his company but also considers the consequences of her actions. When offered another television appearance, she insists on asking Cheng Che first because she does not want to cause him trouble. She is courteous toward his parents, thanking Jiang Xue for looking after her before leaving South Korea-bound 176 200.

Her affection can become possessive. She grows annoyed at an image of Cheng Che kissing Ning Qing onscreen and refuses to let Kim Su-a meet him after hearing her enthusiastic praise. Academically, she takes detailed notes and marks important points, although her pursuit of Cheng Che also leads her to skip classes 195 201 295 300.

Abilities & Skills

Music

• Studies vocal music, including vocal theory, sight-singing, and ear training 143 201.
• Played piano during high school, sometimes sneaking into the music room to practise 298.
• Trains at SM in South Korea 343.
• Modestly tells Cheng Che that many students in her department sing better than she does 143.

Languages

• Korean: Her usual language when first speaking with Cheng Che 143 173.
• Chinese: Initially limited to halting phrases and prone to pronunciation mistakes. By her Paris visit, she can speak complete sentences with noticeably improved fluency, though she retains an accent 150 170 284.

Cooking

• Prepares a Korean-style Boston lobster dish in their Paris hotel suite, earning Cheng Che’s praise 289.

Gaming

• Has played Ezreal in League of Legends and describes herself as a capable support player, particularly with Sona 331.
• Invites Cheng Che to play together after watching his performance at a gaming celebration; he agrees 331.

System Connection

Jingshu is a binding target and beneficiary of Cheng Che’s system. The recorded buffs belong to him, not to her 170 235.

Relationships

• Cheng Che — Boyfriend. She initiates their courtship, travels internationally to support his tennis career, and openly calls him her boyfriend. He reciprocates her affection and later quietly accepts her assertion that a boyfriend counts as family 146 201 284 300.
• Jin Zhixiu — Best friend and university classmate. Helps her find Cheng Che in Seoul, accompanies her to Melbourne, and teases her about putting romance before friendship 195 201 219 222.
• Kim Su-a — Childhood friend and classmate from elementary through high school. Provides a sleepover alibi so Jingshu can leave home to visit Cheng Che’s hotel 300.
• Pei Enshu — Younger sister, newly enrolled in high school. Enthusiastically calls Cheng Che “brother-in-law” and celebrates his tennis victories 298 299 318.
• Mother Pei — Supports the relationship, wants to meet Cheng Che, and jokingly worries whether Jingshu can hold on to such an accomplished boyfriend 298 299.
• Father Pei — Initially opposes bringing Cheng Che home and disapproves of Jingshu staying at a hotel. After Wimbledon, he acknowledges Cheng Che’s talent while maintaining a stern manner 298 299 318.
• Jiang Xue and Cheng Jianguo — Cheng Che’s parents. Jingshu greets them warmly, shares Korean snacks, and thanks them when departing. Jiang Xue takes a liking to her 170 176 215.
• Su Miaoyin and Yan Ruanning — Fellow romantic interests of Cheng Che. Jingshu’s directness makes both jealous; her limited Chinese leaves her largely outside their conversation during a shared dinner 170 171 215.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Magic City Masters: Meeting and Public Confession

• Meets Cheng Che beside the river at the Bund. After blurting out that he is handsome and twisting her ankle, she accepts his help to a bench. She learns about his academic and tennis achievements only after her friend recognizes him 143.
• Watches his matches despite initially knowing little about tennis. During his match against Berrettini, she stands and shouts her love in Korean 144 146.
• Her confession video and photographs of their riverside meeting trigger the trending topic #ChengChePeiJingshuDating#. She continues attending openly despite spectators photographing her 147 149.
• Exchanges WeChat contacts with Cheng Che and kisses his cheek before an intended departure for South Korea 151.
• Following a flight delay, joins Cheng Che, his parents, Su Miaoyin, and Yan Ruanning for dinner. Later, she visits his hotel room and hides in his wardrobe when Su Miaoyin arrives; Miaoyin subsequently hides beside her when Yan Ruanning knocks 169 170 173.
• Leaves for South Korea after saying goodbye to Cheng Che and his family 176.

Seoul Reunion and Television Appearance

• Learns from a viral airport photograph that Cheng Che is in South Korea. Hurt that he did not tell her, she leaves class with Jin Zhixiu to look for him at Gwangjang Market 195.
• Joins a group recruited as food tasters for Walking the Flower Road Together, arranging a surprise reunion during filming. When Director Liu proposes another appearance, she says she must consult Cheng Che first 197 200.
• Spends his final day in Seoul attending classes with him and visiting Bukchon Hanok Village. They exchange cheek kisses, embrace, and promise to meet again at the Australian Open 201.
• Her televised expression of how much she misses him wins substantial support from his fans, while prompting jealousy and self-reflection among his other romantic interests 215.

Australian Open

• Flies to Melbourne with Jin Zhixiu to watch Cheng Che. His wave toward her in the stands leaves her excitedly calling him her “husband” 219 221.
• Meets him at a café before returning to South Korea, asking to attend the final if he qualifies 222.
• Is among the four women present for his championship run. Cheng Che declines a post-final meeting because of the surrounding reporters and fans, instead messaging them about reimbursing travel costs 232.

Paris and the French Open

• Surprises Cheng Che by calling from Charles de Gaulle Airport, proudly demonstrating her improved Chinese. She uses annual leave to extend their time together 284.
• Cheers him through his French Open campaign. Away from the court, they abandon an unsatisfying tasting menu for McDonald’s and later cook lobster together in their hotel suite 285 286 287 289.
• Celebrates his championship with a kiss, then becomes jealous after finding a production still of his onscreen kiss with Ning Qing 295.

Daegu and Her Family

• Travels with Cheng Che to South Korea and takes him around Daegu, including her favorite childhood restaurant and former high school 297 298.
• A neighbor reports seeing them holding hands. Her father summons her home without Cheng Che, and her entire family witnesses their farewell kiss outside the gate 298.
• When Cheng Che must leave early for endorsement business, she recruits Kim Su-a to provide an alibi and spends the night with him at his hotel 300 301.
• Her family later celebrates his Wimbledon title, with even her initially resistant father praising him 318.

Later Contact

• Maintains their long-distance connection through messages and video calls. During one call, she quietly watches Cheng Che work on mathematics after he tells her that hearing her voice gives him more ideas 344.

Notable Quotes

“Cheng Che—I love you—!” 146

“I don’t want to cause him trouble.” 200

“It doesn’t count as lying. A boyfriend counts as family too.” 284

“You’re on my turf now. I can do whatever I want.” 297