My Thoughts about Zhang Zhehan’s Pei Yuntian character
I decided to watch Cosmetology High (AKA Beauty Maker or Mei Ren Zhi Zhao) because I miss Zhang Zhehan. I’m not really into heavy romance drama and very picky when it comes to female lead so his romance drama is a big NO to me. I choose this because Zhang Zhehan is the antagonist, the premise is interesting for me and it only has 30 episodes. Surprisingly, his Pei Yuntian is very close to his Zhou Zishu character in Word of Honor. Tho TBH I felt like Pei Yuntian is more closer to Zhou Zishu of Qi Ye (Lord Seventh) novel. Especially if you see him being a drug lord, making human skins, hiring assassins and don’t show any remorse to his clients! I’m like “YES, I CAN SEE HIM AS QIYE NOVEL ZHOU ZISHU! PERFECT!!!” I’ve always think that he will do decent as Novel Zhou Zishu if only there’s no censorship so I really enjoyed his Pei Yuntian.
Pei Yuntian’s Story
A. Pei Yuntian, a nobody who want to learn from the Imperial Physician
Pei Yuntian was introduced as a nobody who keep pleading the talented but arrogant Imperial Physician, Helan Jun(The protagonist) to become his disciple. For days, he kneeled in front of Helan Jun’s mansion begging that he really wish to learn from him. He’s the Chengling in this show and his master is a jerk. Until one day, Su Lianyi(The heroine) aka the courtesan of a brothel keep chasing after Helan Jun bc of their past affair and Helan Jun want to get rid off her so badly. Helan Jun then promised to Pei Yuntian if he got rid off her, he will permit Pei Yuntian to become his disciple. Of course, Pei Yuntian easily accomplished that by making a false accusation resulting the imprisonment of the poor courtesan.
B. Pei Yuntian’s past and revenge
When Pei Yuntian became Helan Jun’s disciple, he’s treated like a servant. He did all of his tasks but he questioned when will his master teach him for real. Because of his doubts, he decided to sneak to Helan Jun’s room to learn secretly. He learned fast by observing his master and reading books. Later on, he set up Helan Jun so he can replace him to become the new imperial physician for the empress. After Helan Jun lose his job, Pei Yuntian finally revealed his past. When his mother died back then, he asked Helan Jun to make his mother beautiful in her death. Being poor he only wish for his mother to be beautiful but Helan Jun refused him asking for money. Since then, he developed a deep grudge against him and decided to take revenge. Back to the present, Helan Jun tried to explain that he didn’t mean to do that because being in the high position is you need to be careful with people around you. Some will take you for granted and some will deceive you if you’re too soft. To be fair, I think Helan Jun deserve it because he need a character development so I have no sympathy to him when he lose his job. And the empress was right, Pei Yuntian might not be the best physician but he’s loyal to people who treat him right.
C. Naive Pei Yuntian experienced hardship in the palace
Pei Yuntian finally defeated Helan Jun and happy that he’s receiving great salary from his job. Sadly, he learned how hard it is to deal with people in the palace. Every time he received his reward from the empress, someone always ask for their share to the point that he even don’t have enough money to buy new shoes. Disappointed, he’s thinking how on earth will he survive in the palace if he let these people rob him every time he has money. Then someone told him that he need to have a side job like selling cheap drugs for more money. At this point, he’s still inexperienced and loyal but the circumstances made him change himself. I guess this is what Helan Jun experienced and why he need to become an arrogant person so people will not take advantage of him.
D. Pei Yuntian changes and start doing heinous deeds
Experiencing hardship and wishing to protect his position, Pei Yuntian decided to change himself while having a somewhat rivalry battles against his former master. Unlike Helan Jun, Pei Yuntian start doing bad deeds and even fine with hurting his clients who want to become beautiful. Some of his heinous deeds are letting cheap medicine supplies get into the palace for extra money, being not careful or hurting his clients who want to be beautiful(as in he don’t care if his client’s health will be at risk just to only make them beautiful bc that’s the price of being beautiful), hiring assassins to help gather info about Helan Jun’s original ideas, scheming and lying to the empress etc. He basically became a bad person at this point and Zhang Yizhi(The trusted advisor of the empress) is his accomplice.
E. Pei Yuntian becoming soft-hearted after his former master saved him
After Helan Jun saved Pei Yuntian once, Zhang Yizhi noticed that Pei Yuntian became soft-hearted. Like he start fighting Helan Jun in a fair way. His character arc is actually my favorite in this show because its not all about being beautiful like other episodes and the plot twist is surprising. Its more like about “a fake can become true” that mirrored Pei Yuntian’s character and his love interest’s story. Pei Yuntian is like the replacement to Helan Jun’s position and his love interest is not the real daughter, they are both fake in some way. In this arc, the empress decided to test the two best physicians. Whoever win will stay by her side and whoever lose will need to leave. This is obviously Helan Jun and Pei Yuntian’s final battle. And... Pei Yuntian encountered the clumsiest stupid girl and somehow he start to show concern to her. It reminds me of Helan Jun and Su Lianyi’s love story(main couple) tbh. A smart selfish guy and a stupid girl. It make sense since Helan Jun did say Pei Yuntian reminds him his past younger self. This arc shows the soft side of Pei Yuntian and I like that he choose to change himself first before facing his true feelings to the girl he like. He’s well aware of his ambitions and selfishness so he promised that he need more time. The girl happily say she’ll wait for him when he’s ready. For real, their dynamic also reminds of Zhou Zishu and Gu Xiang so I’m like “So this is what will happen if ZZS end up with Gu Xiang?? LOL” I mean, Zhou Zishu did like Gu Xiang in the beginning of Tian Ya Ke.
F. Pei Yuntian, a good rival and a good friend
Near the end of the drama series, Helan Jun thought his beloved Su Lianyi have died. During this time, Pei Yuntian is the one who look after Helan Jun and try to wake him up. Telling him that Helan Jun is still that genius physician so he need to continue living. He even told him that he wish he has Helan Jun’s talents bc all of Pei Yuntian’s skills are formed with hardship. This is also the arc where they work together like true friends. At the end of this arc, Helan Jun realized that Pei Yuntian is not a bad person and wish for him to become his disciple for real. Pei Yuntian said that he will only become friends with him after he defeat Helan Jun fairly. I find it cute that in this arc we also see their master-disciple dynamic bc Pei Yuntian keep asking questions like a student.
BONUS
Aside from his dynamic with Helan Jun, my favorite pair is Zhang Yizhi and Pei Yuntian’s relationship. Yes, they are partner in crime and don’t like Helan Jun. All this time, I thought Pei Yuntian is the one in control in the relationship and he’s just using this gay who’s into him in his advantage!! BUT I’M SO WRONG!! Zhang Yizhi is actually the true schemer! No wonder he keep telling Pei Yuntian to defeat Helan Jun.
Anyway, they have this funny Zhou Zishu x Wen Kexing dynamic so I really like it whenever they have screen time together.
