Shen Ding

Biodata

Background / History

High School and Graduation

Shen Ding comes from a family with some money in a small county town in Northern Jiangsu. During high school, he attached himself to the clique originally formed by Chen Rongrong, Dong Xue, and Shi Zhenzhen. He liked Chen Rongrong for three years without confessing, devoting so much attention to her that he had not developed independent friendships 8 11 12.

When class monitor Sun Yue demanded Chen Rongrong’s unpaid 420-yuan textbook and miscellaneous fees, Shen Ding tried to defend her. He fell silent after Sun Yue challenged him to pay on her behalf. Zhou Yuwen supplied the money instead, prompting Shen Ding to resentfully call him a “show-off” 4 5.

Chen Rongrong’s growing interest in Zhou Yuwen intensified his jealousy. Although Shen Ding brought his DSLR specifically to photograph her at graduation, she asked him to take pictures of her with Zhou Yuwen. He later accused Zhou Yuwen of choosing Nanjing because of her and mocked his decision to treat their rice-noodle outing as a graduation farewell meal 8 9.

Friendship with Zhou Yuwen

After the entrance examination, Shen Ding invited Zhou Yuwen to play League of Legends. Regular matches brought them closer, and Shen Ding began confiding in him about Chen Rongrong. He asked Zhou Yuwen for help pursuing her, but Zhou Yuwen refused 11.

Their friendship also involved romantic calculation. Shen Ding privately investigated Zhou Yuwen’s family and felt reassured by his apparently poor circumstances, believing Chen Rongrong would not choose him. He nevertheless praised Zhou Yuwen’s university admission, called him a good brother, and shared detailed information about his parents’ divorce with the girls 12 13.

Shen Ding was accepted into Jinken College, allowing him to study in Nanjing alongside several members of the group 12.

Birthday Rejection

As Chen Rongrong became distant during the summer, Shen Ding sought Zhou Yuwen’s advice. He planned to confess at his birthday gathering, presenting flowers when she closed her eyes to blow out the candles. Before the party, however, Chen Rongrong explicitly warned him not to confess, saying she regarded him only as a friend. He abandoned the plan but then convinced himself that her wish to preserve their friendship meant he still had a chance 29 30.

At the KTV party, Shen Ding repeatedly tried to attend to Chen Rongrong while she avoided conversation by singing. When Zhou Yuwen arrived with a present, Shen Ding welcomed him enthusiastically 32 33.

Chen Rongrong then sat on Zhou Yuwen’s lap and publicly revealed their relationship. Nearly in tears, Shen Ding pretended he had known about them all along. He drank heavily, toasted Zhou Yuwen, and insisted that he treat her well. Later, he sang A Du’s “He Must Love You Very Much” alone 34 35.

After settling the bill, Shen Ding offered to take the intoxicated Chen Rongrong home by taxi. Discovering that Zhou Yuwen owned a new Mercedes-Benz E320 undermined the financial advantage he had believed he possessed. Overwhelmed by insecurity, he declined Zhou Yuwen’s offer of a ride and hurried home on foot 35 36.

Remaining with the Group

After a few unhappy days, Shen Ding resumed joining the group’s outings and willingly ran errands for Zhou Yuwen and Chen Rongrong. His acceptance of their relationship did not end his idealization of her: when Dong Xue and Shi Zhenzhen suggested that the couple had slept together, he refused to believe them and angrily accused them of speaking disloyally about their friend 37 38.

Appearance

• Build: Slightly chubby; the narration repeatedly describes him as a chubby boy 2 8.
• Self-image: Insecure about his looks and physique, he initially relies on his family’s better circumstances to feel more confident around Zhou Yuwen 36.

Personality

Shen Ding is devoted but timid in romance. Despite spending three years beside Chen Rongrong, he never directly confessed during high school. He interprets her attention optimistically, even recasting an explicit rejection as evidence that she might have feelings for him 30 35.

His jealousy coexists with genuine attachment to Zhou Yuwen. He initially belittles him as a rival, later values their gaming friendship, and is visibly delighted by his birthday present. At the same time, he uses information about Zhou Yuwen’s family to reassure himself that he remains the stronger romantic prospect 5 11 12 33 36.

When hurt, Shen Ding tries to preserve appearances rather than confront others. At his birthday party, he conceals his distress behind smiles, claims of happiness, and repeated drinking. He remains protective of Chen Rongrong even after learning she has chosen Zhou Yuwen 34 35 38.

Abilities & Skills

Gaming

Zhou Yuwen considers Shen Ding a reasonably skilled League of Legends player 11.

• Plays several matches even after high school classes finish at 10:30 p.m. 25.
• Spends much of his summer vacation playing and regularly invites Zhou Yuwen to join him 25 29.

Photography

Shen Ding photographs his classmates during graduation with his DSLR camera 8.

• Takes Chen Rongrong and Zhou Yuwen’s pictures at her request.
• Proudly credits his own photography when she compliments the results; no professional training is established 8.

Equipment / Items

• DSLR camera — Brought to graduation specifically to photograph Chen Rongrong 8.
• Birthday gift from Zhou Yuwen — Presented in a black box; its contents are not identified in the supplied passages 32 33.

Relationships

• Chen Rongrong — Classmate and unrequited love of three years. She explicitly regards him as a friend, while he continues defending and idealizing her after her relationship with Zhou Yuwen becomes public 11 30 34 38.
• Zhou Yuwen — Classmate, gaming companion, confidant, and perceived romantic rival. Their friendship grows through League of Legends, though Shen Ding’s jealousy and feelings of inferiority complicate it 11 12 36.
• Dong Xue and Shi Zhenzhen — Friends within Chen Rongrong’s clique. They know about his crush and give him opportunities to speak with her at his birthday party; later, his refusal to hear their gossip about the couple amuses them 8 32 38.
• Father — Planned to take Shen Ding on a trip to the Capital after the entrance examination 9.

Notable Quotes

“Old Zhou, I really do consider you a friend, so you have to come to my birthday!” 30

“You'd better treat Chen Rongrong well. If you ever mistreat her, I won't let you off!” 34

“Chen Rongrong treats you like sisters. How can you talk about her like that behind her back!?” 38