Ming Yu

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood

Ming Yu’s parents lived next door to the Chen family in a row of townhouses. She lived with her grandmother and returned to her parents’ home on weekends. During one visit, she followed her father next door and witnessed the aftermath of Chen Lüli’s father holding his head underwater. Her father repeatedly intervened against the abuse, which Ming Yu recalls easing around their second year of high school 37.

High School

Ming Yu and Chen Lüli attended Class One together. Jiang Zao was Ming Yu’s deskmate and introduced Lin Yu to their circle during their second year. Ming Yu regularly watched Chen Lüli’s basketball games from the front row and offered him water afterward; their closeness led classmates to regard them as a natural couple 1 6 37.

Their friendship group shared outings to the beach, watched fireflies, and drank together around graduation. Ming Yu’s family then sent her abroad in a rush, leaving Chen Lüli to collect her diploma 6 12.

Life in France

Ming Yu continued her studies in France while keeping in touch through group chats, video calls, and online games. Chen Lüli sometimes visited her during overseas trips and delivered gifts at her parents’ request. On one Christmas visit, Jiang Yingshan accompanied him from Italy 6 14.

Her returns home could involve disputes with her family. On one occasion, she took refuge overnight at Chen Lüli’s home after an argument. On another, she returned secretly but could not enter his apartment because he had changed the passcode, so she stayed with Lin Yu instead 7 27.

Appearance

• Hair: Long, wavy hair, described as light-brown curls during her return from France 6 25.
• Features: A radiant face and visible dimples when she smiles 10 25.
• Height: Slightly taller than Lin Yu and Jiang Zao 25.
• Clothing: Favors French-style dresses, lace, coats, and hats. At Wenxing Tower, she wears a white cape coat, a long lace skirt, and a round-brimmed hat 37.
• Fragrance: Wears a distinctive perfume familiar to her friends; her scent attracted compliments even during school 25 27.
• Reputation: Lin Yu and Jiang Zao describe her as a “goddess,” a reputation she already held in high school 1 6.

Personality

Ming Yu is sociable, playful, and comfortable drawing others into conversation. She teases Lin Yu about breaking their supposed vow to remain single, eagerly asks to meet her boyfriend, and congratulates her on dating him. When Lin Yu’s relationship ends, Ming Yu visits with Jiang Zao to keep her company 2 11 12 25.

She values independence and repeatedly presents herself as content without romance. Privately, however, she admits that she has not determined whether her feelings are affection or a desire to possess someone. Her irritation when Chen Lüli protects Lin Yu contrasts with her public enthusiasm for remaining single 26 37 39.

Ming Yu also has considerable pride. Although distressed by Chen Lüli’s distance, she refuses his father’s offer to arrange a relationship, objecting to the implication that she would be throwing herself at him 48.

Skills & Interests

Academics

• Ming Yu and Chen Lüli consistently occupied the first two places in their high-school class 1.
• Lin Yu remembers her as both an outstanding student and someone with an especially good personality 4.
• She remains enrolled abroad and obtains her advisor’s permission to return home a few days early for the holiday 25.

Online Gaming

• Plays the game referred to as Dream Fiend and Mengsha with Chen Lüli and Lin Yu 2 3.
• Primarily collects cosmetic skins and dislikes routine daily check-ins 13.
• Obtains and equips a fiery-red Fire Phoenix skin, with Chen Lüli contributing coins toward her collection 3.
• Suggests prolonging an arena match so Lin Yu and Li Yin can earn more points 13.
• Wins their 2v2 encounter after both male players are defeated. The passage attributes her victory over Lin Yu to her larger health bar rather than strong gameplay 13.
• Finds the skull-filled collection map frightening despite initially agreeing to enter it 3.

Story Role / Major Arcs

The Childhood-Sweetheart Assumption

• Lin Yu initially treats Ming Yu as the person Chen Lüli will ultimately choose. Seeing them together in games recalls her position in high school, watching the pair from a distance 1 3.
• Jiang Zao likewise assumes they might have become a couple in college if Ming Yu had not gone abroad 6.
• Chen Lüli later denies that they were in love. He explains that Ming Yu’s father asked him to look after her, and that Ming Yu asked him to help fend off admirers. He accepted because the arrangement also spared him from dealing with his own admirers 27.

Return Home and Lin Yu’s Breakup

• Ming Yu returns a few days earlier than planned and goes directly from the airport to Lin Yu’s home with Jiang Zao. Her luggage remains in Jiang Zao’s car during the visit 25 26.
• She comforts Lin Yu after Li Yin’s betrayal and cites unreliable men she has encountered in France as a reason she avoids dating 26.
• During dinner, she notices that Chen Lüli and Lin Yu have both disappeared and searches for them. They return from a private conversation outside, explaining that they were discussing Li Yin 27.
• She offers to visit Chen Lüli’s company, but he tells her to come another time with Lin Yu and the others 28.

Lunar New Year

• Ming Yu initially organizes a countdown at Lin Yu’s shop, then proposes moving it to Chen Lüli’s suburban villa. Chen Lüli cancels the gathering, saying his family is using the property 26 31.
• While shopping in Hong Kong with her mother, she asks Lin Yu to help choose motorcycle gloves for Chen Lüli 31.
• She posts photographs taken at the Chen family home during the holiday. Lin Yu suspects the photographs and the glove conversation may be intended to signal Ming Yu’s closeness to him, though Ming Yu does not state that intention 33.

Conversation at Wenxing Tower

• Ming Yu invites Lin Yu to the tower’s rooftop and recounts Chen Lüli’s abusive childhood 36 37.
• She distinguishes liking someone from wanting to possess them and admits that she has not resolved that distinction in her own feelings 37.
• Lin Yu gives her a commissioned brooch as a New Year’s return gift. They part warmly, with Ming Yu saying she is glad they met 37.
• Her comments subsequently shape Lin Yu’s doubts about whether Chen Lüli’s interest represents lasting love or temporary possessiveness 40 41.

Growing Distance from Chen Lüli

• At the celebration at Nine Harmony Residence, Ming Yu notices Chen Lüli protecting Lin Yu during a drinking game and feels irritated. She hopes nothing has developed between them but remains suspicious 39.
• During a later family visit, Chen Lüli goes upstairs without greeting her. Chen Songlin offers to arrange a relationship between them, but Ming Yu refuses, while her father argues against family interference 48.
• Her father sets a date for her return to school within the next few days. The family’s visit to the Chens also serves as a farewell call 49.

Relationships

• Chen Lüli — Childhood friend and presumed romantic match. Their apparent courtship partly served to discourage admirers; Ming Yu later struggles to define her feelings as affection or possessiveness 27 37.
• Lin Yu — Close friend introduced by Jiang Zao in high school. They exchange gifts and support one another, although Ming Yu does not know how long Lin Yu has loved Chen Lüli 25 37 38.
• Jiang Zao — Former deskmate and longtime friend. Jiang Zao brings Lin Yu into their circle and collects Ming Yu from the airport during her early return 1 26.
• Jiang Yan'an — Member of their school friendship group; joins Ming Yu in planning the villa gathering for Lunar New Year 6 31.
• Ming Huaixian — Father. Intervenes against Chen Lüli’s childhood abuse and later insists that the younger generation’s relationships should not be arranged by their parents 37 48.
• Li Wenqing — Mother. Encourages Ming Yu to consider Chen Songlin’s matchmaking offer and questions her refusal 48.
• Tan You — Chen Lüli’s mother, whom Ming Yu addresses affectionately as “Auntie.” They remain in contact during the New Year holiday 33 36.
• Jiang Yingshan — Acquaintance through Chen Lüli. Their banter includes her reminder that he accidentally sat on and broke a birthday gift Chen Lüli had given her 6 26.