There was no fixed number of characters in a novel. It depended on the plot, theme, and the author's writing style. Some novels may create multiple main characters to better showcase their personalities, motives, and storylines, while others may emphasize the relationships between the main characters and tell the story from the perspectives of multiple characters. When writing a novel, the author could decide the number of characters according to his own preferences and writing style. The important thing is that the characters in the novel should have a certain degree of complexity and depth so that the reader can deeply understand their motives and actions and enhance the reader's reading experience.