Qiao Ling/Relationships

== Time Photo Studio ==
=== Cheng Xiaoshi ===
Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi have known each other since early childhood. They are extremely close, with Qiao Ling being Cheng Xiaoshi's first and, for the longest time, only friend. Despite vague implications that she had other friends beside him, she never abandoned Cheng Xiaoshi throughout the years and continued to stand by him. Being well aware of his loneliness and inner despodency, Qiao Ling used to perpetually worry about his welfare. These worries would later be alleviated by Cheng Xiaoshi making another friend, Lu Guang.
Qiao Ling considers Cheng Xiaoshi to be like a little brother to her, and holds him dear, even though she is often frustrated by his immaturity. This is best demonstrated by her habit of yelling and physically assaulting him when she thinks he has gone too far (though it should be noted that this is done in a comic manner, and he's never shown to feel threatened by her in any way). Be that as it may, she would never wish serious harm on him, and goes to great lengths to protect and defend him when she perceives the need. She is not afraid to accompany him in dangerous situations, and occasionally also offers him pieces of insight and wisdom. And beyond all his childishness, Qiao Ling does acknowledge that when Cheng Xiaoshi is against all the odds, there is no one cooler than him.
=== Lu Guang ===
Qiao Ling is first introduced to Lu Guang by accident, with him walking past the photo studio, and her noticing that he is familiar with Cheng Xiaoshi. Curious, she invites Lu Guang to help them in renovating the studio. After getting a moment alone with him, Qiao Ling questions his intentions, and why he's interested in being Cheng Xiaoshi's friend. Lu Guang answers that he liked Cheng Xiaoshi's genuineness and naivety. As she later admits to agreeing with this assessment, it can be assumed that this was what ultimately won Lu Guang her favor.
Qiao Ling and Lu Guang's friendship is not conspicuous in the same way as either one's relationship with Cheng Xiaoshi, but there does seem to be a level of familiar fondness between them. She openly considers Lu Guang as the more responsible one, and generally goes to him when a task requires any kind of trustworthiness. Lu Guang seems to possess a similar view of her, indicated when he privately instructs her to keep Cheng Xiaoshi from doing anything stupid while he goes to the police. Lu Guang is also shown to watch out for her, as it was him who noticed Chen Xiao tailing her, and intervened when he assumed the situation was about to turn dirty.
== Others ==
=== Xu Shanshan ===
Xu Shanshan is a close friend of Qiao Ling's, with whom she is frequently seen hanging out. The two appear to have roomed together in college. They trust each other greatly, as Qiao Ling promises to discuss the case of Liu Min with Xu Shanshan during a better time, and Xu Shanshan confides in Qiao Ling about her crush on Dong Yi. Initially, Qiao Ling is seen expressing mild frustration over Xu Shanshan and Dong Yi simply not getting over themselves enough to get together, and she is also the one to suggest that Xu Shanshan should seek help from Time Photo Studio.
=== Li Tianxi ===
When Li Tianxi is discovered in an abandoned store after having run away from her brother, she is turned in to the police, and subsequently comes across Qiao Ling. As she is unresponsive and withdrawn because of her trauma, Qiao Ling offers to converse with her through a method of drawing pictures. Calming Li Tianxi with a short story from her own childhood, Qiao Ling manages to get her to open up, and explain how her and her brother's powers work. Qiao Ling's patient kindness also causes Li Tianxi to quickly take a liking to her, showcased by her seeming to somewhat gravitate towards Qiao Ling afterwards. Tianxi is then insistent on accompanying her, along with Cheng Xiaoshi and Captain Xiao, when they are about to head off to the hostage exchange with Li Tianchen and Qian Jin.
Upon Li Tianxi suffering a fatal gunwound, Qiao Ling stays by her side to try and stop her bleeding. In the end, she is unable to do so, and Tianxi passes away in her arms. As her last words, Li Tianxi thanks Qiao Ling for everything, and transfers a portion of her memories to her.
== References ==