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| Fans Unhappy Over Mo Li Styling and Cheng Lei’s Treatment in Early Promotions |
She’s been riding high with hit after hit, but Bai Lu’s next big drama Mo Li (《莫離》) might already be off to a rough one. The historical fantasy series has barely clapped the first slate, and yet it’s already caught in two controversies—one involving allegedly copied costume styling, and another with fans of male lead Ryan Cheng Lei accusing the team of sidelining their fave.
Yup, the drama hasn’t even hit the halfway mark in filming, but online chatter is already buzzing with complaints.
Mo Li starts filming, sparks drama
The production officially kicked off on 31 May with a starry setup—top actress Bai Lu in the lead, joined by rising actor Cheng Lei (Till the End of the Moon – Part II), and helmed by director Lin Yufen, known for The Demon Hunter’s Romance (《無憂渡》). Based on the transmigration novel Sheng Shi Di Fei (《盛世嫡妃》) by Feng Qing, the story follows Ye Li (Bai Lu), a tough-as-nails special ops soldier reborn into an ancient aristocratic family.
With her military past intact, she quickly rises to become Lady Ding and ends up as right hand (and heart) to the dashing Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyuan (played by Cheng Lei). Together, they go from palace politics to world peace—before chucking the crown and wandering the lands, living their best wuxia fairytale. Sounds like a hit, yeah?
Except… the real drama is offscreen.
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Copycat costumes? Netizens say Bai Lu’s look feels too familiar
Just days into filming, four official costume previews for Bai Lu’s character were dropped—and that’s where the heat started. Instead of the lavish Tang-style fits people expected, viewers got single-toned robes, no patterns, no embroidery, no jewellery, and a very minimal bun.
Some fans felt the look didn’t match Ye Li’s identity as a future queen from a top-tier noble family. Others were more blunt: they said it looked cheap.
Even more eyebrows went up when comparisons started flying between Bai Lu’s styling in Mo Li and Song Zuer’s character in The Demon Hunter’s Romance—which just so happens to be directed by the same person, Lin Yufen. The similar colour palettes, minimalist cuts, and pared-back styling had netizens shouting “copy-paste.” The Mo Li team’s being accused of recycling aesthetics, and while some defend it as “director’s visual consistency,” others say it’s plain lazy.
Beautiful Wangfei #BaiLu #MoLi pic.twitter.com/YvXicu9Rkb
— 白鹿 (@bailublue) June 5, 2025
Cheng Lei fans fuming over solo Bai Lu promo
As if the costume drama wasn’t enough, the promo rollout stirred up even more heat. Just a day before shooting began, the first poster dropped featuring only Bai Lu’s silhouette—and she was the only one billed as the “leading star” (領銜主演). Cheng Lei’s name? Nowhere to be seen.
Fans of the actor didn’t take that lightly. Socials lit up with criticism, with many accusing the team of disrespect and bias. Despite Cheng Lei eventually being added to the official filming announcement, his fans are still pushing for a proper standalone spotlight, claiming he deserves just as much attention as Bai Lu.
Some even pointed out that this isn’t the first time in C-dramaland where a male lead got overshadowed in early promos—though this time it feels especially pointed, given the strong couple dynamic at the heart of Mo Li.
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Bai Lu still on top, but Mo Li off to a bumpy ride
While Mo Li is still in the early stages, and none of this guarantees how the final product will turn out, the back-to-back drama has definitely shaken fan confidence.
That said, Bai Lu herself is having a massive year. Her just-aired drama Feud (《臨江仙》), co-starring Joseph Zeng Shunxi, smashed viewership records and even beat out Xiao Zhan’s Legend of Zang Hai in recent popularity rankings. Her role as Li Qingyue has become an instant fan favourite, with many dubbing it one of her best performances to date.
She’s also known for headline roles in Only For Love (《以愛為營》), Story of Kunning Palace (《寧安如夢》), Moonlight Mystique (《白月梵星》), and Northward (《北上》)—making her one of the most bankable female stars in the historical and modern drama circuit.
Still, the early turbulence around Mo Li has people wondering: can even Bai Lu’s popularity carry a project when production decisions are already getting side-eyed?
TL;DR – What’s going on with Mo Li?
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📸 Styling Slammed: Bai Lu’s costumes are under fire for being too plain—and suspiciously similar to Song Zuer’s in The Demon Hunter’s Romance.
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🎭 Director Drama: Both dramas are directed by Lin Yufen, leading to “recycled look” accusations.
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🤝 Promo Problems: Cheng Lei wasn’t listed in the initial lead cast poster, sparking backlash from his fanbase.
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👑 Star Power: Bai Lu’s coming off a huge win with Feud, but Mo Li might be her first big challenge of 2025.
We’ll keep an eye on how this unfolds, but for now, Mo Li is shaping up to be one of 2025’s most anticipated—and controversial—dramas.