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| Reuniting or Not? Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui’s Alleged New Drama Stirs Up Online Drama |
Reunions seem to be the flavour of the month in C-dramaland, with producers dusting off popular pairings and trying to recreate old magic. First, we had the confirmed comeback of Jing Tian and Vin Zhang Binbin after their hit show Rattan — and now, all eyes are on a possible re-pairing of Blossom leads Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui.
But while fans might've expected cheers and nostalgia, this reunion rumour has ended up dividing the internet instead.
🌸 From Blossom to Backlash
When #MengZiYi asks the director why #LiYunRui resists her when she kisses him and the director answers, it is because he can't breathe 🤣.#Blossom pic.twitter.com/22xRw8tGUd
— 🌹☂️❄️🌧☔️🌷 (@dandelions_star) December 24, 2024
In 2024, Blossom turned out to be a sleeper hit, with Meng Ziyi and Li Yunrui’s chemistry winning hearts across the board. From cutesy interactions on variety shows to sharing the stage at major award nights, the duo kept the shipping energy alive well after the final episode aired. So naturally, whispers of a second project together — allegedly titled Tigers Sniff The Rose — sent fans buzzing.
The project, reportedly an S-level historical drama from New Classics Media and Tencent, is said to be adapted from Yi Ren Kui Kui’s popular novel Esteemed Princess. The plot centres on a headstrong royal and her prime minister — prime setup for romance, angst, and regal mess.
But instead of a warm welcome, the rumoured reunion has turned into a full-on fandom fallout.
😬 Who’s First? Who’s Bigger?
A big chunk of the drama has stemmed from disputes over top billing. The original novel heavily spotlights the female lead, and Meng Ziyi’s fans are adamant she deserves to be credited first. On the flip side, Li Yunrui’s growing popularity in recent months has led his fans to demand equal billing.
What should’ve been a harmless debate escalated into online mudslinging. Personal digs, passive-aggressive comments, and snide remarks started flooding Weibo and Douban. Solo fans from both sides began accusing the other actor of riding coattails, lacking acting skills, or hogging attention.
Some of it got so out of hand, both stars' studios had to jump in.
📢 Studios Step In: Legal Action & Cautionary Notes
On June 12, Meng Ziyi’s studio posted an official statement, pointing fingers at several accounts allegedly spreading false info and attacking the actress online. They confirmed they've collected evidence and are preparing to take legal action.
Not long after, Li Yunrui’s team dropped their own statement. Without directly naming anyone, they condemned “fabricated stories” linking him to tragic incidents and online harassment. They made it clear they’d already initiated lawsuits against Netizens targeting the actor and urged everyone to mind their behaviour and help build a “civil digital space.”
Neither studio named the other, but the fandoms themselves aren’t exactly shy about throwing accusations across the aisle.
🤯 Fan Speculation: Real Drama or Just Hype?
Naturally, the internet’s split. Some reckon the drama’s already spiralled so far out of control that it’s best if the reunion doesn’t happen at all — assuming it was ever real to begin with. Others think this whole ruckus might actually be promo in disguise. After all, there’s no faster way to get people talking than a bit of controlled chaos.
Still, with fandom tensions boiling over, some netizens are calling for both stars to walk away from the project (if it even exists), to avoid further damage to their public image — or worse, to their mental wellbeing.
Between billing debates, fandom wars, and legal threats — it’s getting harder to tell where the fictional drama ends and the real-life drama begins.