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| Song Zuer and Cheng Lei Tipped to Co-Star in Tencent’s Emotional Rollercoaster “Cross The Ocean of Time to Love You” (Unconfirmed/Pics: Weibo) |
A new wave of casting buzz is crashing in, and this time it’s got Song Zuer fans raising their eyebrows — and expectations.
The latest unconfirmed gossip coming out of Tencent’s drama kitchen is that Song Zuer and Cheng Lei may be locking in as leads for an upcoming modern series titled Cross the Ocean of Time to Love You (京洛再无佳人).
This project is said to be based on the popular angst-heavy novel No More Beauties in Jingluo (by Qian Weian), and it's already got netizens split between excitement and cautious side-eye.
A Return to Melodrama?
The source material is your classic makjang (狗血) – think love, betrayal, class divide, stomachaches soothed by lovingly cooked congee, and a bit of over-the-top drama that somehow still hits emotionally.
It follows Zhao Pingjin (the male lead), a smart lad from a powerful family and Tsinghua graduate turned electric vehicle mogul, and Xi Tang (the female lead), a struggling film school student raised by a single mum, juggling part-time gigs to survive in Beijing.
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They meet, fall in love, fight, break up, meet again, spiral into even more mess — and it all plays out over nearly two decades of turbulent love. Add some meddling in-laws, identity reveals, career grind, revenge exes, and a late-game character glow-up, and you’ve got a recipe for a proper drama ride.
Word is that the TV version will tone down the more non-broadcast-friendly bits (like the literal gunshot incident and aggressive harassment scenes), but the emotional beats — love scarred by class disparity, family pressure, and time — will still be front and centre.
Why All Eyes Are on Song Zuer
Let’s be real — Lareina Song Zu'er’s been having a bit of a moment. With her last dramas The Prisoner of Beauty and Created in China earning her praise for both her emotional range and onscreen presence, a lead role in something as layered and gut-wrenching as this would cement her status as a proper drama queen.
As for Cheng Lei, while he’s been working steadily, a breakout modern romance like this could catapult him to new recognition — if he can sell the tortured rich boy trope without it becoming stale.
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Wait... Didn’t We Hear Other Names Before?
Yep. If you’re feeling déjà vu, you’re not alone. This project’s casting rumour list reads like a who’s who of popular C-actors: Bao Shang’en and Chen Zheyuan were floated three months ago. Wang Churan and Xu Kai even earlier. There’s no official word from Tencent yet, so take it all with the usual pinch of melon salt.
Oh, and don’t get too attached to the drama title either — it’s still in flux. Adaptation titles tend to change faster than a second lead getting rejected.
Age, Acting and Aesthetic: Who Can Pull Off 20-Year Love Arcs?
Fans are already debating whether Song Zuer (b. 1998) and Cheng Lei (b. 1997) are seasoned enough to convincingly portray characters spanning from messy uni-age lovers to worn-out 40-somethings with kids and emotional baggage galore. This kind of long-arc storytelling needs serious chops — and ideally, a slightly more mature on-screen vibe.
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Some netizens suggested Jing Tian and Lin Gengxin as a better fit, citing how the age range and emotional maturity needed suit their style — but others point out that Jing Tian’s own past (and rumoured industry entanglements) might make this role a bit too close for comfort.
As with most Chinese drama rumours, nothing’s set in stone until the official poster drops — and even then, sometimes not even then. But if this Cross the Ocean of Time to Love You project does come to life with Song Zuer and Cheng Lei, it could turn into a buzzy drama that blends old-school melodrama with new-gen star power.
And let’s be honest — a congee-cooking actress from the wrong side of town rising from bit-part roles to Best Actress glory? You know that’s got potential to be TV gold.