ZEREN IS FROM HENHAN CHINA, AND BEFORE HE STARTED TRAINING, HE WAS READY TO START STUDYING TO BECOME A NEUROSURGEON. DANCING WASN'T REALLY A THING THAT HE THOUGHT TO DO PROFESSIONALLY. SURE, HE HAD BEEN TAKING LESSONS SINCE HE WAS A KID, BUT THAT'S JUST BECAUSE HE COULD NEVER SIT STILL.

BUT IN HIS 1ST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, HE WAS JUST FOOLING AROUND AFTER SCHOOL (WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEANING THE CLASSROOM AS A PUNISHMENT,) AND WAS DANCING AROUND. APPARENTLY, ONE OF HIS FRIENDS HAD RECORDED IT AND IT HAD GONE VIRAL. AND SUDDENLY, HE WAS BEING CONTACTED BY AGENCIES LEFT AND RIGHT. HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW THEY HAD GOTTEN HIS FAMILY'S HOME PHONE NUMBER.

WHEN ZEREN HAD FINALLY SETTLED DOWN ON A COMPANY HIS LIFE REALLY CHANGED. AS CHEESY AND CLICHE AS IT SOUNDED, GOING FROM DOING SOMETHING YOU LOVED AS A HOBBY TO DOING IT PROFESSIONALLY MADE HIM FEEL SOME TYPE OF WAY. HE KNEW THAT HE WAS A NATURAL, BUT JUST THAT SEMED TO NEVER CUT IT. WITH THE STRICTNESS OF HIS THAT COMPANY, HE WAS KICKED OUT. SUDDENLY, ZEREN HAD THIS NEWFOUND MOTIVATION. HE WENT TO A NEW COMPANY AND TRAINED HARDER THAN EVER, WORKING TO 1000% PERCENT. 

wow, what the hell?? literally, i think 20 minutes ago, we were calling each other loser and joking about each other's lack of love. but also, like, you bought me crocs. you suffered and went to a crocs store for me and honestly. i don't think i could ever ask for someone better. i can't believe you're putting up with me, and i can't believe you can even handle putting up with me. but i guess that's kiiinda what makes you pretty cool. you're still a total loser though, so don't get any ideas. but i guess you're my loser now.

YOU WILL COME ACROSS ONE OF TWO ZEREN PERSONALITIES. THE FIRST ONE IS SERIOUS ZEREN, WHICH IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE COME ACROSS FIRST, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAINING WITH HIM. HE’S A HARD WORKER AND PRACTICES MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE. HE’S A MAJOR PERFECTIONIST WHEN IT COMES TO PRECISE, SLICK, MOVEMENTS. HE’S OFTEN A LOT HARSHER AND MORE BLUNT WHEN HE’S CRITIQUING DANCE. HE DOESN’T BEAT AROUND THE BUSH AT ALL, AND IT’S RATHER BITTERSWEET AT TIMES. IF HE THINKS YOU AREN’T DOING WELL, HE’LL TELL YOU. BUT HE’S NOT THE KIND OF DOUCHE TO JUST LET IT BE. HE HAS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT BEING AN IDOL IS WHAT WE ALL MOSTLY WANT TO DO, SO HE’LL TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH SOMEONE THE RIGHT SEQUENCE OF STEPS WHEN DANCING.

THE SECOND PERSONALITY THAT ZEREN HAS IS WHAT HE PERSONALLY CALLS “DZ.” THIS CAN STAND FOR EITHER HIS INITIALS “DING ZEREN” OR FOR “DIMPLED ZEREN.” IF YOU MANAGE TO SEE PAST HIS STRICT, SCARY SIDE OF THE PRACTICE ROOM, THE GUY CHANGES COMPLETELY. HE’S SOMEONE WHO CAN STRIKE STUPID PUNS OR COMPLETELY SPAZZ OUT OVER THE CELEBRITY HE LIKES, OR RANT ABOUT THAT ONE STAFF MEMBER ANOTHER ONE OF THE TRAINEES HAS A CRUSH ON. HE’S FULL OF SMILES AND JOKES. SHE’S A LITTLE BIT OF A SPAZZ AND HE NEVER STOPS MOVING, SO HE’LL TAP HIS FINGERS ON A DESK ONCE IN AWHILE. OVERALL, HE’S A REALLY GOOD GUY AS LONG AS YOU SEE PAST THE SCARY PART FIRST.