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| Romance Rumours Swirl Around Zhao Liying as Lin Gengxin Eyes Yang Mi’s Talent Agency, Tianyi Entertainment |
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks in the world of C-ent, and Zhao Liying’s name is right at the heart of it. Between romance rumours and shifting alliances, the Legend of Shen Li star is keeping both netizens and the industry buzzing.
Zhao Liying, already a household name thanks to her hit dramas like The Story of Minglan, The Journey of Flower, and Princess Agents, has been steadily dipping her toes into the film world recently with titles like Article 20, The Unseen Sister, and We Girls. But while her career strides continue, her private life has once again taken centre stage.
Following her divorce from actor Feng Shaofeng, Liying has been linked romantically to several of her co-stars – including Wang Yibo and long-time friend Lin Gengxin. The latter starred opposite her not once but twice – first in the wildly successful Princess Agents and again more recently in The Legend of Shen Li, where fans couldn’t help but ship the two both on and off screen.
The romance speculations with Lin Gengxin reignited after they were spotted spending time together off set, with Zhao Liying even introducing him to her inner circle during Chinese New Year celebrations.
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That was enough to get tongues wagging, but the plot thickened when a well-known paparazzi figure, “Melon-eating Girl Zhang Xiaohan,” revealed that director Zhao Deyin – also known as Midi Z – was recently seen out with Zhao Liying’s child, attending a light show and reportedly using an access card to enter her residence multiple times.
That’s right – the spotlight’s now swung in a different direction entirely.
Director Zhao Deyin, who helmed The Unseen Sister, is now being touted by netizens as Zhao Liying’s actual significant other. Online sleuths believe the two have quietly been an item for over a year and a half. Back in February 2024, Zhao Liying was photographed strolling through Paris with a man in a plaid shirt – a shirt she later wore in a post of her own, which many took as a not-so-subtle sign of intimacy.
If the timeline checks out, their closeness may have started while filming The Unseen Sister between late 2023 and early 2024. And now, with sightings as recent as April 2025, netizens are practically convinced it’s more than just a working relationship – even if neither party has publicly confirmed anything yet.
But wait – there’s more.
While Zhao Liying’s love life is grabbing headlines, Lin Gengxin might be making a major career move of his own. Rumour has it he’s on the verge of signing with Yang Mi’s talent agency, Tianyi Entertainment. This is a particularly spicy development considering the well-documented rivalry between Zhao Liying and Yang Mi – two powerhouse actresses of the post-85 generation who’ve long been perceived as standing on opposite sides of the C-ent battlefield.
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Their respective fandoms have clashed more than once – most notably during debates over lead actress rankings in the film She’s Got No Name, which also starred Zhang Ziyi. So, the idea of Lin Gengxin – once romantically linked to Zhao Liying – potentially aligning with Yang Mi professionally? That’s got fans and industry watchers raising eyebrows. |
Tianyi Entertainment, for context, is Yang Mi’s new venture launched in 2023 after her departure from Jaywalk Studio. The company is closely managed by her mother and longtime agent, with her mum holding majority shares.
Though still young, Tianyi has already signed names like Zheng He Huizi and Wang Youshuo, and is making moves across film, television, and brand management.
So far, neither Lin Gengxin nor Tianyi has confirmed the signing rumours – but if true, this move could send ripples through industry circles, especially if it adds new tension to the ongoing narrative between Zhao Liying and Yang Mi.
Between mysterious plaid shirts, surprise park sightings, and potential agency shake-ups, it looks like the drama behind the scenes might just be juicier than anything on screen.