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| Song Zuer and Chen Xinhai’s Pairing in 'Biao Mei Wan Fu' Under Fire Before Filming Begins Due "Too Baby-Faced" (iQIYI/Weibo) |
Song Zuer’s making a solid comeback after her 2023 tax case hiatus, but her next on-screen romance is already catching heat—and not in a good way.
After bagging praise (and new followers—over 46K combined on Weibo and Douyin!) for her roles in The Demon’s Hunter Romance and The Prisoner of Beauty, the former child star from The Bond is now gearing up for another major project: the historical romance Biao Mei Wan Fu. But this time, instead of applause, the casting announcement sparked debate—especially around her new male lead, Chen Xinhai.
Chen Xinhai: Cute or Just... Too Cute?
Chen Xinhai, who turned heads last year as Ye Shijie in The Double, has been cast opposite Song Zuer as Pei You’an—a young general tangled in politics and forbidden love. Sounds juicy, right? Well, netizens aren’t buying it.
Despite his 182 cm height, many online reckon Chen gives off more “uni freshman” than “romance lead”. His clean-cut, youthful visuals have fans calling him "younger brother type" for the mature and headstrong female lead Zhen Jiafu, who’ll be played by Lareina Song Zuer.
“He’s got baby face vibes, not battlefield bravado,” wrote one unimpressed Weibo user. “If they wanna make us swoon, cast someone who gives off that protective, emotionally mature aura—not someone who looks like he’s still learning calculus.”
Even more damning? Chen’s three years younger than Zuer, which only fuels the “he looks like her little brother” discourse.
Tough Act to Follow After Liu Yuning
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The comparison was inevitable. Fans still haven’t moved on from Song Zuer’s electric chemistry with Liu Yuning in The Prisoner of Beauty. There, she played the radiant, strategic Xiao Qiao, who had viewers sobbing and smiling through her emotional arc—especially her scenes with Liu Yuning’s (190cm) stoic General Wei Shao. The height difference! The slow glances! The tension! The whole thing screamed drama OTP.
So when Biao Mei Wan Fu dropped Chen Xinhai’s name, it felt like a downgrade to many.
Drama Has Pedigree, But Will The Couple Click?
To be fair, the drama itself has solid bones. It’s adapted from a fan-favourite novel by Penglai Ke and backed by the production crew from The Glory of Tang Dynasty and Princess Agents. Set in the Ming Dynasty, the story follows Zhen Jiafu—a clever noblewoman who gets caught in a web of family conflict and political intrigue, all while falling in love with a hot-headed general.
It’s got all the makings of a hit—if the leads can sell the romance.
And that's the big if.
Some netizens are already calling it a misfire before cameras even start rolling this July.
But showbiz is full of surprises. Remember when everyone doubted the Go Ahead trio? Or when netizens said Bai Jingting and Song Yi would be awkward in Destined? Now they’re fan-favourite pairings.
So who knows? Maybe Zuer and Xinhai will shut us all up with some slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers magic.
Song Zuer Stays Winning, Regardless
While fans worry about her next drama, Zuer herself seems completely unbothered. Ever since her name was cleared—yep, no official sanctions or punishments from tax authorities—she’s been turning up to promo events looking like a million bucks. Literally.
At a recent The Prisoner of Beauty event, she stunned in a luxury outfit reportedly worth over 2.3 billion rupiah. If anyone’s thriving post-scandal, it’s her.
And her acting? Still razor-sharp. Critics praised her emotional delivery, body language, and presence in The Prisoner of Beauty, proving she’s not just relying on looks or hype to carry her roles.
Chemistry or Catastrophe?
So, will Song Zuer and Chen Xinhai surprise the haters and turn into 2025’s most unexpected on-screen couple? Or will this just be another case of “what could’ve been” if the casting felt right?
Biao Mei Wan Fu starts filming in July, and the internet’s already watching. Whether it turns into a slow-burn success or a miscast mess—one thing’s for sure: all eyes are still on Song Zuer.