Pei Ming

• Food as a love language: Pei Ming often leaves containers of takeout from restaurants on the table with notes that read, "I bought too much, I hate to throw it away." He Xuan knows it's a lie, but it's the only form of care his pride will allow him to accept.
• Night shifts: When He Xuan has exams, Pei Ming doesn't sleep with him. He just sits in the same room, reading a book, so that He Xuan feels that if he faints (which happens), he will be caught.
• Smells: He Xuan sometimes secretly steals Pei Ming's T-shirts to sleep in. Pei's scent acts on his nervous system like a powerful sedative. Pei Ming notices this, but never makes fun of him, simply buying more T-shirts.
• Protection: If someone at the university tries to bully He Xuan, the next day that person starts to have “problems” - Pei Ming uses all his connections and influence to make the life of the offender unbearable, while remaining in the shadows.
• First Kiss: It happened during a severe thunderstorm. He Xuan was panicking from a nightmare, and Pei Ming simply held him close to calm him down. He Xuan himself reached for his lips, seeking in this kiss not passion, but proof that he was alive and not alone. Pei Ming didn't sleep all night after that, afraid that He Xuan would regret it in the morning (and He Xuan did ignore him for three days before coming and sitting next to him).

Their relationship is a dance on ice. Pei Ming constantly closes the distance, while He Xuan widens it. They live in a "quiet presence" mode. Pei Ming has learned to understand He without words: the way he clutches his mug tells him how stressed he is.

At university, they keep the pact: "We don't know each other." Pei Ming does this for He Xuan's peace of mind, even though he himself resents having to pass by like a stranger. But at home, Pei Ming becomes his world. He is the only one allowed to touch He Xuan. Their intimacy is built on "micro-steps": the first time He Xuan didn't flinch from a hug; the first time he finished Pei's cooked dinner; the first time he fell asleep without locking his room door. Pei Ming takes care of all the mundane details, allowing He Xuan to simply be, without having to fight for survival every second.

Appearance: He Xuan looks like a man who has forgotten what sunlight is. Tall but painfully thin, he constantly slouches, trying to appear smaller. His wardrobe consists exclusively of black, oversized, long-sleeved hoodies, which he uses to hide his hands. His hair is perpetually disheveled, with long bangs covering his eyes—his personal curtain from the world. His skin is pale, almost translucent, and there are chronic dark circles under his eyes. His gaze is cold, piercing, always assessing his escape routes.

Personality: A classic anxious-avoidant personality type. Bullying in middle school left him with the belief, "People are pain." He's pathologically independent, seeing any help as a trap. He's incredibly intelligent and hard-working, but he works himself to the point of exhaustion to numb his anxiety. He's prone to dissociation—he can stare at a single spot for hours, withdrawing into himself. Breakdowns are rare, but devastating: when his psyche fails, he simply begins to cry silently, unable to stop, which frightens him most.

Appearance: Pei Ming is the epitome of success. He has an athletic build (from fencing and the gym), impeccable posture, and a confident gait. He wears expensive yet simple clothes: high-quality shirts and cashmere sweaters that always fit perfectly. He has sparkling eyes and a smile that inspires confidence. He smells of expensive wood and freshness. Even when he's just sitting during a lecture, he takes up the entire space.

Personality: Beneath the frivolous womanizer's façade lies a deeply insightful and responsible man. Pei Ming is accustomed to being a leader, but He Xuan taught him humility. He possesses immense patience—where others would give in after the tenth refusal, Pei Ming simply takes a step back and waits. He is a protector by nature. His love is expressed through actions: paying bills, bringing food, chasing away bullies. He is the only one who saw the living, wounded soul behind the "strange guy" He Xuan, and this awakened in him an almost chivalrous devotion.