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Chen Zheyuan might have trained for months, but netizens aren’t buying it.
The actor, starring in The White Olive Tree, is facing criticism over his physical strength—especially after some behind-the-scenes footage went viral.
Playing the role of Li Zan, a soldier and mine clearance volunteer, Chen underwent three months of intense training.
But after the drama aired, whispers about his physique surfaced.
Some netizens accused him of using shoulder pads to bulk up his frame, making his "military body" look more impressive than it actually is.
Things escalated when footage showed him struggling with a basic push-up challenge.
In the clip, Chen asks his co-star Liang Jie to sit on his back while he does push-ups.
But before she could even settle in, he was already struggling.
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At one point, he tried to lift her—only to lose his grip and drop her onto the sofa. Smooth.
The clip went viral, with netizens quickly jumping in.
Many questioned whether his three months of training were even effective.
"So this is what three months of soldier training looks like?" one comment read.
Others even brought up Hidden Love, claiming he struggled to lift Zhao Lusi in that drama too.
Despite the backlash, Chen Zheyuan and Liang Jie seem to be having fun with it.
In a recent interview, they joked about their on-set moments. Chen teased Liang Jie about her love for dancing, even mentioning her moves to Queencard. Liang Jie fired back, saying, "Your dancing isn’t that great either."
While some fans defended him, others remain unconvinced. Soldier or not, Chen Zheyuan’s muscles (or lack thereof) are now a hot topic online.