 |
| CP Vibes Off the Charts! Song Zuer and Liu Yuning Get Closer Than Ever in ‘The Prisoner of Beauty’ — Dating or Just Really Good Acting? |
Chinese historical romance drama The Prisoner of Beauty is the current hot topic across social platforms — and it’s not just because of the rich storyline or stunning cinematography. The real buzz? The electric, can't-look-away chemistry between lead actors Song Zuer and Liu Yuning.
In episode 13, the two practically broke the internet with a scene that left fans breathless and fully invested in this onscreen couple. And now, the question is flying around everywhere: Are they just acting, or is there something real going on?
The scene in question features Song Zuer’s character, Xiao Qiao, stumbling home completely drunk after attending Wei Shao’s (Liu Yuning) grandmother’s birthday party. The second she sees Wei Shao, her face lights up, and she yells — in the most adorable way possible — “Nan Jun! You’re back!” before launching herself into his arms. Instant swoon.
But it doesn’t stop there. Once Xiao Qiao passes out, Wei Shao steps into full-on soft-boy mode, carrying her to bed, tucking her in, and — plot twist — using his own arm as her pillow for the whole night. And if that wasn’t enough to make hearts explode, morning comes, she’s still asleep, and he leans down to gently kiss her forehead. Yep. A whole forehead kiss. From a tsundere who barely says a word of affection. Fans: Destroyed.
The moment lit up Weibo like wildfire, with the hashtag #折腰糖分过量 ("Zhe Yao is too sweet") trending for over 24 hours. Netizens couldn’t stop gushing over how real the emotions looked — and how perfect the two leads are together. Acting? Maybe. But fans are betting on more than just scripts and stage lights.
Their performance is so convincing, some are speculating whether the spark has carried over off-screen. Could this be a case of “reel to real”? The rumour mill says yes, but the stars remain tight-lipped for now.
Timing-wise, The Prisoner of Beauty also happens to be clashing with another major release — The Legend of Zang Hai, starring Xiao Zhan and Chen Yanxi. But so far, it’s Song Zuer and Liu Yuning’s drama that’s winning the popularity race online, both in views and social engagement.
For context, Liu Yuning previously wowed fans in A Journey to Love with Liu Shishi and The Story of Pearl Girl alongside Zhao Lusi. Meanwhile, Song Zuer made headlines for her role in The Demon Hunter’s Romance with Ren Jialun. But this pairing? Next-level synergy.
Their current roles are rooted in political drama and arranged marriage tropes, with Wei Shao initially marrying Xiao Qiao for political and revenge reasons. But as expected — the classic push and pull of their dynamic slowly gives way to something much deeper. Wei Shao may act cold, but he’s secretly paying attention to every little thing Xiao Qiao does. One fan-favourite scene even shows him quietly working out in his room after Xiao Qiao teases his height being his only plus point. Peak petty, peak adorable.
All these micro-moments are adding up, turning The Prisoner of Beauty into more than just another period romance. Viewers aren’t just watching — they’re emotionally invested. The characters feel real, the tension feels earned, and the emotional payoff? So, so worth it.
With sky-high engagement, there's talk that this could become Tencent’s third drama this year to break the 30,000 heat index mark — right behind Guardians of the Dafeng and The Glory.
As for awards? Fans are already rallying behind Zuer and Yuning as contenders for Best Onscreen Couple of the Year. And if you haven’t jumped into this emotional rollercoaster yet, episode 13’s drunken cuddle fest and sleepy forehead kiss might just be the perfect excuse to binge-watch it this week.