This alternate universe takes place in the modern day and follows six characters from Heaven Official's Blessing: Xie Lian, Hua Cheng, Feng Xin, Mu Qing, Shi Qingxuan, and Shi Wudu. Rather than adapting the original heavenly and supernatural setting directly, their recognizable personalities, relationships, flaws, and important character histories are translated into an ordinary contemporary world. The majority of the cast have relatively uncomplicated childhoods, although certain characters retain more difficult histories that have shaped their personalities and current circumstances.

Five of the six characters are university students, with Shi Wudu being the exception. The story primarily revolves around their college experiences, friendships, romantic relationships, personal lives, and the occasional questionable decision they make together. Their lives are relatively ordinary compared to their original counterparts, but their personalities make even the most mundane situations unnecessarily entertaining.

The group consists of people with very different backgrounds and financial circumstances. Xie Lian, Feng Xin, and Mu Qing have known one another since their freshman year of high school, giving them years of shared experiences and an established friendship. Hua Cheng is Xie Lian's boyfriend and has an especially significant history with him. Meanwhile, Shi Qingxuan gradually becomes part of their social circle, bringing an entirely different sort of energy to the group. Shi Wudu, despite not attending university, remains a very present figure in his younger brother's life.

The overall atmosphere is that of contemporary college life: late-night conversations, unexpected visitors, shopping trips, university assignments, questionable group plans, financial problems, romantic relationships, and friends who occasionally make each other's lives considerably more complicated.

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CHARACTERS

XIE LIAN

Major: Social Work Living Arrangements: Shared university dormitory with Shi Qingxuan. Relationship Status: Dating Hua Cheng.

Appearance and Style

Xie Lian has warm chestnut-brown hair, cut relatively short and styled with soft curtain bangs. His hair is naturally fluffy and somewhat unruly, giving him a gentle and approachable appearance. He doesn't put an extraordinary amount of effort into styling it and generally prefers keeping things simple and comfortable. His overall appearance retains the soft, recognizable qualities of his original design, translated into an ordinary contemporary style.

His clothing aesthetic is understated, comfortable, and casual. He gravitates toward warm neutrals and softer colors, particularly cream, white, beige, brown, and muted red. His wardrobe consists largely of oversized sweaters, simple T-shirts, cardigans, relaxed button-ups, straight-leg jeans, and comfortable trousers. He prefers sneakers and practical everyday shoes rather than anything particularly elaborate. He occasionally wears simple accessories, such as a bracelet or necklace, but isn't particularly interested in accumulating jewelry.

Xie Lian isn't especially fashion-conscious. He likes looking presentable, but comfort and practicality generally take priority over trends. He tends to wear the same favorite clothes repeatedly, provided they're clean and in good condition. His wardrobe is relatively modest compared to Qingxuan's, which is occasionally a source of amusement between the roommates.

Personality

Xie Lian is compassionate, patient, kindhearted, and remarkably understanding. He's naturally inclined to help others, often offering assistance without expecting anything in return. His interest in social work reflects his genuine desire to make a difference in people's lives, particularly those who may be experiencing difficult circumstances.

He's approachable and generally easy to get along with. He rarely makes people feel unwelcome, and his dormitory is almost always open to friends who want to visit. He's also a fairly accommodating roommate, although living with Qingxuan occasionally requires a little more patience than he anticipated.

Despite his gentle disposition, Xie Lian isn't entirely naive or incapable of standing up for himself. He has his own opinions, convictions, and boundaries, even if he doesn't always express them forcefully. He's simply more inclined toward understanding and resolving disagreements than escalating them.

He has a tendency to put other people's needs before his own and can sometimes overlook his own exhaustion or inconvenience when trying to help someone else. He's also capable of getting himself into rather ridiculous situations, often without fully realizing how he ended up there.

Education and Daily Life

Xie Lian studies Social Work at the same university as the others. His choice of major is a natural reflection of his personality and his interest in helping people. He takes his education seriously and is particularly interested in understanding the difficulties people experience and finding practical ways to support them.

He shares a university dormitory with Shi Qingxuan. Although their personalities and lifestyles are noticeably different, they generally get along well. Xie Lian is more than accustomed to accommodating Qingxuan's enthusiasm, various shopping purchases, and occasional attempts to redecorate their shared space.

He also enjoys cooking and frequently prepares food for himself and the people around him. It's not unusual for Feng Xin, Mu Qing, or Hua Cheng to arrive and find something cooking in the dormitory. He often makes more food than he actually needs because he expects someone else might want some.

Relationships

Xie Lian has known Feng Xin and Mu Qing since freshman year of high school. The three have years of shared history, and their friendship has developed through ordinary teenage experiences, disagreements, embarrassing memories, and growing up together. He's generally the more patient member of the trio and often finds himself caught between Feng Xin and Mu Qing when they begin arguing.

He's romantically involved with Hua Cheng. Their relationship is built upon a connection that began when they were younger, when Xie Lian showed Hua Cheng genuine kindness during a particularly difficult period of his life. Their relationship has since developed into something mutual and enduring. Xie Lian loves Hua Cheng as an individual, rather than simply seeing him as someone who needs to be protected, and the two are genuinely devoted to one another.

Although Hua Cheng has his own apartment, he spends a considerable amount of time with Xie Lian, frequently visiting the dormitory and occasionally making himself comfortable there for hours.

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HUA CHENG

Major: Fine Arts Living Arrangements: Own apartment near the university. Relationship Status: Dating Xie Lian.

Appearance and Style

Hua Cheng has black hair, styled in a shaggy, layered wolf cut. His hairstyle has plenty of texture, with longer layers around the back of his neck, a deliberately messy silhouette, and longer pieces framing his face. The overall effect is somewhat alternative without appearing overly styled. He prefers maintaining a distinctive appearance and generally knows exactly how he wants his hair to look.

His clothing aesthetic is dark alternative streetwear, primarily incorporating black, charcoal, deep red, and silver. He commonly wears leather jackets, oversized hoodies, fitted shirts, distressed jeans, cargo trousers, and black pants. His footwear consists primarily of combat boots and chunky sneakers. He occasionally incorporates brighter red details into an otherwise dark outfit.

Accessories are particularly important to his appearance. He enjoys silver rings, necklaces, chains, bracelets, and earrings, often layering several pieces together. His accessories are deliberately selected rather than randomly accumulated, and he has a recognizable personal style.

As a Fine Arts student, his clothes occasionally bear the evidence of his work. Paint stains, pencil marks, and other minor artistic messes are not particularly unusual. He doesn't necessarily mind getting his clothes dirty when working on something important, although he still takes care of the pieces he particularly likes.

He retains his recognizable eyepatch as part of his modern appearance, with its exact medical circumstances remaining consistent with his original character history.

Personality

Hua Cheng is confident, intelligent, observant, and exceptionally self-assured. He's often sarcastic and can have a rather intimidating presence, particularly when dealing with people he doesn't like. He isn't especially concerned with making himself appear approachable to everyone, and he has little patience for people he considers dishonest, disrespectful, or unreasonable.

He's also exceptionally talented and passionate about art. His creative interests extend beyond his university coursework, and he enjoys experimenting with different artistic mediums. He works on personal projects and takes commissions when he feels inclined to do so.

Around most people, Hua Cheng is considerably more guarded and difficult to read. Around Xie Lian, however, his demeanor softens considerably. He's affectionate, attentive, and openly devoted to his boyfriend. He has no particular embarrassment about expressing his affection and doesn't feel the need to pretend otherwise.

His confidence doesn't mean he never experiences insecurity. His childhood experiences have influenced the way he sees himself and the people around him, particularly when it comes to trust and personal relationships. Nevertheless, he's grown into someone who is capable of standing up for himself and making his own decisions.

Childhood and Background

Hua Cheng experienced a deeply traumatic childhood. His mother died as a result of a domestic dispute, and his father subsequently ended up in prison. Following these circumstances, Hua Cheng was raised by his stepmother, who was abusive toward him.

His childhood was marked by mistreatment, neglect, and bullying. He had very little stability or genuine emotional support while growing up, and his home environment was not somewhere he could consistently feel safe or comfortable.

He was also bullied by other children, leaving him with very few positive social experiences. His difficult upbringing contributed significantly to his guardedness and his eventual attachment to the people who showed him kindness.

Xie Lian was particularly important in this regard. During their younger years, Xie Lian stood up for Hua Cheng when others mistreated him and treated him with a level of genuine kindness that he wasn't accustomed to receiving. Hua Cheng came to admire him enormously, and Xie Lian became someone he could look up to and trust.

That admiration eventually developed into romantic affection. Although Xie Lian remains an incredibly important person in his life, their adult relationship is not simply an extension of Hua Cheng's childhood idolization. They are partners who know and love one another as they are.

Education and Daily Life

Hua Cheng studies Fine Arts and takes considerable pride in his work. He's an exceptionally talented artist, and his university assignments are only a small portion of what he creates. He enjoys experimenting with traditional and digital art, developing his own projects, and occasionally accepting commissions.

He has his own apartment near campus, which gives him space for his artwork and personal belongings. His apartment reflects his aesthetic, with darker furnishings, comfortable seating, artistic materials, and space for working on larger projects.

Despite having his own place, he regularly visits Xie Lian's dormitory. He enjoys being around Xie Lian and has little reason to spend every evening alone in his apartment when his boyfriend is only a short distance away.

Relationships

Xie Lian is the most important person in Hua Cheng's life. Their relationship is affectionate, deeply trusting, and mutually devoted. Hua Cheng is openly protective and attentive toward him, although he also respects Xie Lian's independence and capabilities.

Through Xie Lian, Hua Cheng becomes a familiar presence among the larger friend group. He has his own apartment and university life, but he's frequently included in their activities, particularly when Xie Lian is involved.

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FENG XIN

Major: Mechanical Engineering Living Arrangements: Own apartment near the university. Relationship Status: Single.

Appearance and Style

Feng Xin has dark brown hair and retains his original recognizable hairstyle: long hair pulled back into a high ponytail. The ponytail is generally kept secure and out of his face, with a few loose pieces framing the sides. His hair is one of his most recognizable features, and there's little reason to change a style that already suits him.

He's athletic and muscular, with a physique developed through years of consistent exercise and gym training. He's conventionally handsome, although he doesn't necessarily spend much time thinking about the effect his appearance has on other people.

His clothing aesthetic is primarily athletic streetwear. He gravitates toward black, dark green, gray, and white, with an especially large collection of athletic shirts. His everyday wardrobe consists of workout T-shirts, compression shirts, tank tops, hoodies, zip-up jackets, joggers, cargo trousers, and athletic shorts.

He almost exclusively wears sneakers, frequently choosing footwear designed for exercise or everyday athletic use. He isn't particularly interested in fashion and generally dresses according to convenience. He's the type of person who can own several nearly identical black shirts without seeing anything unusual about it.

Personality

Feng Xin is straightforward, protective, stubborn, hardworking, and easily irritated. He's generally practical and prefers addressing problems directly rather than spending excessive time discussing them. He has a strong sense of responsibility toward the people he cares about and is often willing to put himself out of his way to help them.

He's physically active and takes his fitness seriously. The gym is an important part of his routine, and he's the stereotypical gym enthusiast in several respects. He's familiar with workout routines, exercise equipment, nutrition, and the general process of maintaining physical fitness. He can occasionally become enthusiastic about discussing exercise, particularly when someone asks him for advice.

However, his interest in fitness is primarily personal. He doesn't necessarily want to turn it into his profession, which is why his university studies have nothing to do with becoming a personal trainer or working in sports medicine.

He's also competitive and can be rather loud when frustrated. His interactions with Mu Qing are particularly prone to deteriorating into arguments, although neither seems particularly interested in permanently avoiding the other.

Education and Daily Life

Feng Xin studies Mechanical Engineering. His academic interests are more practical and technical than his friends might initially expect. He enjoys understanding how things function, working with mechanical systems, and solving problems that have tangible results.

He lives in his own apartment near the university. His apartment is relatively practical and comfortable rather than particularly decorative. It's likely to contain some exercise equipment, a collection of workout clothes, and a refrigerator stocked with food suitable for his fitness routine.

He visits Xie Lian and Qingxuan's dormitory frequently, occasionally stopping by Hua Cheng's apartment as well. He isn't particularly formal about announcing his arrival and has a habit of appearing when the others least expect him.

Relationship History and Romantic Difficulties

Despite his handsome appearance, muscular physique, and generally confident demeanor, Feng Xin isn't particularly successful when it comes to romance.

He's had several previous relationships with women, and his experiences have left him romantically intimidated by women who express interest in him. The exact circumstances of those relationships can vary, but they have generally involved incompatibilities, unpleasant breakups, jealousy, dishonesty, or other experiences that made dating considerably less appealing to him.

This doesn't mean Feng Xin dislikes women or is afraid of interacting with them altogether. He's perfectly capable of speaking to female classmates, working alongside women, making friends, or having ordinary conversations. His difficulties become apparent when romantic interest enters the equation.

A woman complimenting him, flirting with him, asking whether he's single, or requesting his number can make him unexpectedly awkward. He tends to second-guess the situation, become nervous, or convince himself that someone is simply being friendly when their intentions are considerably more obvious.

The contrast between his physical confidence and romantic awkwardness is particularly amusing to the people who know him well.

Relationships

Feng Xin has been friends with Xie Lian since freshman year of high school. Their friendship has developed over years of shared experiences, and Feng Xin is particularly protective of him.

His relationship with Mu Qing is significantly more argumentative. They have known one another for years, and their interactions are frequently characterized by disagreements, sarcastic remarks, and mutual irritation. Despite this, they have a long-established friendship and care about one another considerably more than either is particularly willing to admit.

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MU QING

Major: Business Living Arrangements: Private single-occupancy university dormitory. Relationship Status: Single.

Appearance and Style

Mu Qing has black hair, reaching approximately his shoulders. He wears it in a half-up, half-down style, gathering part of his hair neatly at the back while allowing the rest to fall around his shoulders. His hairstyle is layered, with a few face-framing pieces that soften the overall appearance without making it look particularly messy.

His appearance is generally polished and carefully maintained. He's more particular about his presentation than Feng Xin or Xie Lian, and he prefers looking put-together even when wearing relatively casual clothing.

His clothing aesthetic is minimalist, refined, and slightly formal. His wardrobe primarily consists of black, charcoal, navy, slate blue, and silver. He likes fitted shirts, turtlenecks, button-ups, cardigans, tailored trousers, straight-leg jeans, structured jackets, and long coats.

His footwear consists of clean sneakers, loafers, and boots. He occasionally wears simple silver jewelry, although he generally avoids particularly extravagant accessories.

Mu Qing isn't necessarily interested in purchasing expensive designer clothing. He's conscious of the price of things and prefers buying fewer items that fit properly, coordinate with his wardrobe, and last a long time. He takes good care of his belongings and dislikes unnecessary waste.

Personality

Mu Qing is intelligent, sarcastic, observant, particular, proud, and occasionally petty. He's easily irritated by people who are careless, irresponsible, or unnecessarily intrusive. He values competence and prefers being able to handle things independently rather than relying on others.

He's ambitious and takes his education seriously. He can be competitive and tends to hold himself to high standards, particularly when it comes to his academic performance and personal responsibilities.

Mu Qing also has a strong awareness of how other people perceive him. He doesn't enjoy being pitied, underestimated, or treated as though he's somehow inferior. He's sensitive about being judged based on his background, although he rarely openly discusses the subject.

He isn't necessarily cold or uncaring. He can be considerate and helpful, but his affection is usually expressed through actions rather than particularly sentimental words. He may complain while helping someone, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care.

His pride and guardedness are important parts of his personality. He doesn't like feeling indebted to people, and he's uncomfortable when others make assumptions about his circumstances.

Childhood and Background

Mu Qing experienced significant financial hardship throughout his childhood.

His father was never involved in his upbringing, leaving his mother as the sole provider for their household. For a considerable portion of his early life, she worked to support the two of them.

Eventually, his mother's eyesight deteriorated severely enough that she was no longer capable of working. This left their already difficult financial situation considerably worse, and Mu Qing began working while he was still young to help support them.

His mother eventually passed away while he was still young. No specific diagnosis or cause of death needs to be established; what matters is that her death left Mu Qing without the parent who had been his primary source of love and support.

His father did not want to take responsibility for him, resulting in Mu Qing entering the foster care system.

Growing up in foster care was difficult. He experienced prejudice because of his circumstances and was frequently looked down upon for being a foster child. He became accustomed to having to work for what he needed and learned relatively early that he could not always depend on other people to provide stability.

He worked throughout his adolescence and spent much of his youth trying to support himself. His circumstances forced him to become independent considerably earlier than most people his age.

The moment he turned eighteen, he left his foster placement and obtained an apartment of his own. He lived independently before eventually beginning university.

Education and Living Arrangements

Mu Qing studies Business and takes his education seriously. His major reflects his ambition and interest in financial independence, professional opportunities, and building a stable future for himself.

He currently lives in a private single-occupancy dormitory. This arrangement is occasionally misunderstood by other students, some of whom assume that he considers himself too good to share a room with someone else.

The reality is considerably more personal.

Mu Qing has spent much of his life without consistent control over his own living circumstances. He has experienced the loss of his original home, the instability of foster placements, and the necessity of living independently at a relatively young age.

Having a room that belongs entirely to him is important. He wants privacy, personal space, and the ability to organize his surroundings without someone else interfering. He doesn't want people touching his belongings, entering without permission, or making him feel as though he has to justify his presence in his own living space.

His preference for a private dormitory isn't an attempt to appear wealthy or superior. He simply wants somewhere he can feel comfortable and secure.

He maintains his independence through financial aid, scholarships, savings, and potentially part-time employment. He's considerably more conscious of his spending than some of his friends and prefers to manage his finances carefully.

His difficult childhood is an important part of his character, but it doesn't define every aspect of his personality. He's still capable of being vain, sarcastic, stubborn, argumentative, and occasionally unreasonable. His upbringing helps explain some of his habits and sensitivities without making him a character whose entire identity revolves around hardship.

Relationships

Mu Qing has known Xie Lian and Feng Xin since freshman year of high school. He's spent years around both of them and has developed a particularly established, if occasionally contentious, relationship with Feng Xin.

He cares about his friends, even when their behavior irritates him. He's also considerably more comfortable with people he has known for a long time than with strangers who attempt to involve themselves in his personal life.

He values his independence and isn't particularly fond of being treated as though he needs rescuing. He's much more likely to appreciate someone respecting his boundaries than someone making a dramatic display of concern over his circumstances.

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SHI QINGXUAN

Major: Fashion Design Living Arrangements: Shared university dormitory with Xie Lian. Gender: Genderfluid.

Appearance and Style

Qingxuan has long black hair, reaching approximately their shoulder blades or mid-back. Their hair is layered, with soft face-framing pieces and curtain bangs that give them plenty of flexibility when styling it. They occasionally experiment with different hairstyles, accessories, and other decorative details.

Their appearance is expressive, fashionable, and carefully maintained. Qingxuan enjoys looking attractive and knows perfectly well when they've put together a particularly good outfit. They take an active interest in skincare, makeup, hair care, accessories, and personal grooming.

Their clothing aesthetic is fashion-forward, expressive, and often luxurious. They gravitate toward mint green, white, cream, pale blue, and silver, although their wardrobe contains a considerably wider variety of colors and styles.

Their clothing choices are not restricted to one particular presentation. Some days they prefer feminine outfits consisting of skirts, blouses, cropped cardigans, and elegant accessories. On other days, they might wear oversized sweaters, wide-leg trousers, fashionable jeans, and more androgynous outfits.

Qingxuan enjoys experimenting with gender expression and dressing according to their mood. Fashion is both their academic interest and an important form of personal expression.

Their wardrobe is extensive, containing everything from everyday campus outfits to elaborate outfits for social occasions. They own an impressive collection of handbags, shoes, jewelry, makeup, hair accessories, and other fashion-related items.

Personality

Qingxuan is friendly, outgoing, enthusiastic, sociable, and distinctly vain.

They enjoy being admired and complimented, particularly when they've put considerable effort into their appearance. They know they're attractive and aren't particularly interested in pretending otherwise. They like dressing up, trying new things, shopping, and receiving attention.

However, their vanity doesn't make them unkind. They're genuinely affectionate and friendly toward the people around them. They enjoy making friends, attending social gatherings, and including others in their activities.

They're also somewhat sheltered and extraordinarily privileged.

Qingxuan has spent practically their entire life having things provided for them. They have rarely needed to worry about necessities, household expenses, tuition, transportation, or whether they can afford something they want.

As a result, they genuinely lack an understanding of certain financial difficulties other people experience. They can occasionally make suggestions that seem perfectly reasonable to them but are completely unrealistic for their friends' budgets.

They're not necessarily being deliberately inconsiderate. They're simply accustomed to a lifestyle in which money has never been a particularly significant obstacle.

They can also be remarkably innocent about certain aspects of ordinary adult life. They're enthusiastic, trusting, and occasionally oblivious to situations that other people would consider obvious.

Education and Background

Qingxuan studies Fashion Design at the same university as the others. Their choice of major is practically inevitable considering their love of clothing, personal styling, and creative expression.

They enjoy putting together outfits, experimenting with different aesthetics, and learning about the design and construction of clothing. They have a genuine interest in fashion beyond simply purchasing expensive items.

Qingxuan comes from an exceptionally wealthy family. Their older brother, Shi Wudu, is the CEO of the family's business, and the two have a very close sibling relationship.

Wudu is six years older than Qingxuan and has spent much of their life providing for and protecting them. Qingxuan has grown up with considerable financial security and has never needed to develop the same level of financial caution as some of their friends.

Their solution to a financial problem is frequently to call their older brother.

If the group decides they want to do something expensive and someone asks where they're supposed to find the money, Qingxuan is perfectly capable of responding with something along the lines of, "I'll just ask gege!"

They genuinely don't understand why everyone else finds this ridiculous.

Living Arrangements and Relationships

Qingxuan shares a university dormitory with Xie Lian. They're enthusiastic about having people over and enjoy making their shared living space feel welcoming and comfortable.

Their personal belongings occupy a considerable amount of space, particularly their clothing, makeup, and accessories. They occasionally borrow Xie Lian's belongings and are considerably more enthusiastic about shopping than their roommate.

They get along well with Xie Lian, whose more practical and understated personality provides an interesting contrast to their own.

They're also very close to their older brother, Wudu, whom they love dearly and rely on without hesitation.

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SHI WUDU

Occupation: CEO of the Shi family's business. Living Arrangements: Independent residence. Relationship: Shi Qingxuan's older brother.

Appearance and Style

Wudu has long black hair, usually kept in a sleek, controlled style and tied into a low ponytail. His appearance is immaculate, with carefully maintained hair, well-groomed features, and a generally composed presentation.

His clothing aesthetic is corporate luxury. He primarily wears black, charcoal, navy, and dark teal, favoring tailored suits, dress shirts, quality overcoats, polished leather shoes, and expensive watches.

His wardrobe is composed of high-quality, carefully fitted pieces. He favors understated luxury rather than particularly flashy displays of wealth. His clothes communicate professionalism, financial security, and authority without requiring extravagant designs.

He is accustomed to attending meetings, managing professional responsibilities, and interacting with other executives. His appearance is appropriate for someone in his position, and he rarely looks anything less than thoroughly put-together.

Personality

Wudu is composed, intelligent, authoritative, disciplined, and protective.

As the CEO of the Shi family's business, he's accustomed to responsibility and making important decisions. He's professionally confident and takes his position seriously.

He's considerably more controlled than his younger brother. Where Qingxuan is outgoing, expressive, and enthusiastic, Wudu is more reserved and measured.

However, he has a distinctly indulgent side when it comes to Qingxuan. He's extremely protective of his younger brother and has no particular problem providing them with whatever they need or want.

He knows perfectly well that Qingxuan is spoiled. He simply doesn't consider it a particularly serious problem.

He can be strict when necessary, especially when he believes Qingxuan is making a poor decision, but he's also generous and affectionate toward them. Their relationship is close, and he has played an important role in providing them with the comfortable life they've grown accustomed to.

Background and Daily Life

Wudu comes from an exceptionally wealthy family and currently serves as the CEO of their business. The exact industry of the company has not yet been established.

He's six years older than Qingxuan and is already professionally established. Unlike his younger brother and the rest of the group, he isn't attending university.

He lives independently and maintains a luxurious lifestyle appropriate to his position. His work involves professional responsibilities, business decisions, and maintaining the family's financial interests.

Despite his busy schedule, Qingxuan remains an important priority in his life. He's accustomed to receiving calls and messages from them, sometimes concerning relatively insignificant matters.

He's also accustomed to being asked for money, occasionally without being given a particularly convincing explanation of what it's needed for.

He generally doesn't make a significant issue out of it.

Relationship With Qingxuan

Wudu and Qingxuan have a close sibling relationship. Wudu is protective, responsible, and financially generous, while Qingxuan is affectionate, trusting, and entirely comfortable relying on their older brother.

Qingxuan sees no particular reason to hesitate before asking him for assistance. Wudu, meanwhile, has little difficulty providing it.

Their relationship is one of the main sources of the group's recurring financial comedy.

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LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

The five university students have different living situations, which naturally influence how frequently they interact and where they spend their time.

Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan share a university dormitory. Their room serves as the group's unofficial gathering place, largely because both roommates are comfortable having visitors. Qingxuan particularly enjoys socializing and frequently encourages people to come over. Xie Lian is equally welcoming, often preparing food or drinks for whoever happens to be visiting.

Their shared room reflects their contrasting personalities. Xie Lian's belongings are relatively simple and practical, while Qingxuan's side contains considerably more clothing, accessories, skincare, and decorative items. Despite their differences, they generally coexist comfortably.

Mu Qing has a private single-occupancy dormitory. He values the privacy and personal space it provides and prefers keeping his room organized according to his own routines. Other students occasionally interpret his decision to have a single room as arrogance, but his actual reasons are personal and connected to his upbringing. Having a place where he can feel completely comfortable is important to him.

Feng Xin lives in his own apartment near the university. His apartment is practical and comfortable, with enough room for his belongings and exercise equipment. He maintains his gym routine and generally keeps his living space functional rather than particularly decorative.

Hua Cheng also lives in his own apartment near the university. His space includes room for his artwork, artistic supplies, and personal projects. He has considerable freedom to organize his environment according to his preferences, although he frequently spends time at Xie Lian's dormitory.

Shi Wudu lives independently in a more luxurious residence. His living arrangements reflect his professional status and financial circumstances. He doesn't attend the university, although his younger brother's involvement in college life means he's still a familiar presence in the larger group's lives.

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RELATIONSHIPS AND GROUP DYNAMICS

Xie Lian, Feng Xin, and Mu Qing

The three have known one another since freshman year of high school. Their friendship has developed through years of shared experiences, arguments, ordinary teenage memories, and growing up together.

Xie Lian is generally the most patient and accommodating of the three. Feng Xin is more straightforward and reactive, while Mu Qing is sarcastic, particular, and often argumentative.

Feng Xin and Mu Qing have a particularly contentious friendship. They disagree frequently and can turn relatively insignificant matters into extended arguments. Neither is particularly good at letting the other have the last word.

Despite their bickering, they have a longstanding connection and genuine loyalty toward one another. They know each other well enough to recognize when something is genuinely wrong, even if their preferred method of expressing concern is occasionally a sarcastic remark.

Xie Lian and Hua Cheng

Xie Lian and Hua Cheng are romantically involved. Their relationship began with the kindness and connection they developed when they were younger.

Xie Lian was someone who treated Hua Cheng with genuine compassion during a difficult period of his childhood. Hua Cheng developed an extraordinary admiration for him, which eventually grew into romantic affection.

As adults, their relationship is mutual and affectionate. Hua Cheng is devoted to Xie Lian, but Xie Lian is equally important to him as a partner. They understand one another and genuinely enjoy spending time together.

Hua Cheng regularly visits Xie Lian's dormitory despite having an apartment of his own. His living arrangements provide him with independence, but he prefers being close to his boyfriend.

Shi Qingxuan and Xie Lian

As roommates, Xie Lian and Qingxuan spend a considerable amount of time together. Their different backgrounds and spending habits can occasionally create amusing situations, but their personalities are generally compatible.

Qingxuan appreciates Xie Lian's patience and welcoming nature, while Xie Lian enjoys their enthusiasm and friendliness.

Qingxuan is also occasionally responsible for introducing Xie Lian to expensive activities or shopping trips that he otherwise wouldn't have considered.

Shi Qingxuan and Mu Qing

Their differing financial backgrounds and personalities have the potential to create misunderstandings.

Qingxuan has spent their life with considerable financial security, while Mu Qing has spent much of his life working to maintain his independence.

Qingxuan may occasionally make suggestions that Mu Qing considers financially ridiculous or unnecessarily extravagant. Mu Qing, in turn, may interpret certain comments as oblivious or insensitive.

However, Qingxuan's friendliness and genuine affection toward other people mean that they're not necessarily trying to make Mu Qing uncomfortable. Their relationship can develop through learning to understand one another's circumstances.

Hua Cheng and the Group

Hua Cheng has his own life, apartment, artistic interests, and university responsibilities, but his relationship with Xie Lian naturally makes him a frequent presence around the others.

He isn't necessarily the most enthusiastic participant in every group activity, but he's familiar with everyone and is generally included in their plans.

His personality contrasts particularly well with Qingxuan's outgoing enthusiasm and Feng Xin's straightforward demeanor.

Shi Wudu and the Group

Wudu isn't a university student, but Qingxuan's close relationship with him means he's indirectly involved in many of the group's activities.

He's the person Qingxuan calls when money becomes an obstacle, particularly when the group decides they want to do something expensive.

The others gradually become familiar with the fact that Qingxuan can frequently solve financial problems by asking their older brother for assistance.

Wudu is aware that Qingxuan is spoiled and doesn't seem particularly interested in correcting the situation.

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EVERYDAY HABITS AND RUNNING JOKES

The group's different personalities and financial circumstances provide plenty of opportunities for ordinary comedy.

Qingxuan frequently suggests expensive outings, restaurants, shopping trips, or activities without considering whether everyone else can afford them. When the group points out that they don't have the money, Qingxuan's immediate response is often to offer to call Wudu. They genuinely believe this is a perfectly reasonable solution.

Wudu is accustomed to receiving calls from Qingxuan asking for money. Depending on the situation, he may simply transfer the requested amount without asking for an explanation until afterward.

Mu Qing is considerably more financially conscious. He's accustomed to budgeting, keeping track of expenses, and making sure he can support himself. Qingxuan's casual spending habits can be a source of considerable irritation.

Feng Xin takes his gym routine seriously and regularly discusses workouts, exercise equipment, and nutrition. He also has a habit of trying to encourage his friends to exercise, with varying degrees of success.

Despite his athletic appearance and general confidence, Feng Xin becomes surprisingly awkward when women flirt with him. His friends are aware of his romantic difficulties and aren't particularly merciful about teasing him.

Xie Lian frequently cooks for the group, especially when people visit his dormitory. He often prepares more food than necessary, anticipating that someone else might be hungry.

Hua Cheng frequently sketches Xie Lian, both intentionally and absentmindedly. He has a particular fondness for drawing him and has accumulated a considerable amount of artwork featuring his boyfriend.

Qingxuan has an extensive wardrobe and regularly experiments with their appearance. They enjoy shopping, coordinating outfits, and occasionally borrowing Xie Lian's clothing. Their enthusiasm for fashion is considerably greater than Xie Lian's interest in maintaining a fashionable wardrobe.

Mu Qing keeps his belongings organized and dislikes people touching his things without permission. His preference for privacy extends beyond his dormitory and into his general day-to-day life.

Feng Xin and Mu Qing can argue about almost anything, from university assignments to food preferences. Their arguments are frequent enough that the others rarely find them particularly surprising.

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ESTABLISHED ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL DETAILS

Xie Lian studies Social Work. Hua Cheng studies Fine Arts. Feng Xin studies Mechanical Engineering. Mu Qing studies Business. Shi Qingxuan studies Fashion Design. Shi Wudu is the CEO of the Shi family's business.

All five students attend the same university. The university's name, location, and exact campus arrangements have not yet been established.

Wudu is six years older than Qingxuan and is already professionally established.

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OVERALL AU DIRECTION

This AU is intended to preserve the recognizable personalities and relationship dynamics of the original characters while placing them in contemporary circumstances.

Their original flaws are not removed simply because the setting is modern. Feng Xin can still be stubborn and romantically awkward. Mu Qing can still be proud, defensive, sarcastic, and particular. Qingxuan can still be vain, outgoing, and somewhat oblivious. Wudu can still be controlling and indulgent toward his younger brother. Hua Cheng can still be intensely devoted to Xie Lian, and Xie Lian can still be compassionate and self-sacrificing.

Their backgrounds influence their behavior without becoming their entire identities. Mu Qing's financial hardship helps explain his independence and sensitivity toward being judged, but he's still allowed to be a difficult, occasionally petty person. Qingxuan's privilege explains their lack of financial awareness, but they're still genuinely friendly and capable of caring about others. Hua Cheng's childhood trauma is important to his history, but his adult life includes his interests, ambitions, relationships, and personal independence.

At its heart, the AU is about six very different people navigating ordinary adult life together. Some have more money than they know what to do with, others are carefully budgeting their next paycheck, and at least one of them is probably going to suggest an expensive group activity that nobody can afford.

Fortunately, Qingxuan knows someone who can pay for it.