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| Li Yitong Said No, Tan Songyun Was Booked—So In Stepped Yang Mi to Back Song Zuer |
From side character in a Monopoly war to the main heroine in a hit fantasy drama—Song Zuer’s comeback story is sounding more like a drama plot itself. And rumour has it, she might have had a little help from her industry bestie: none other than Yang Mi.
After going quiet for a while due to a tax evasion scandal that shook her image, Song Zuer is officially back in the limelight. First, she surprised viewers with her role in The Demon’s Hunter Romance alongside Ren Jialun, and then went full queen mode with The Prisoner of Beauty, opposite the ever-popular Liu Yuning. Safe to say—girl’s back and better than ever.
But here’s the twist: Zuer wasn’t even the original pick for The Demon’s Hunter Romance. Word on the street is that the production team initially reached out to Li Yitong, but she was already tied up filming the short-form thriller Tell No One. Not wanting to waste time, Ren Jialun himself recommended Tan Songyun—his former co-star—but she too had scheduling conflicts thanks to The Way Home.
Just when things were starting to stall, enter Yang Mi.
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According to reports from Upmedia, it was Yang Mi—Song Zuer’s long-time friend and industry senior—who suggested her to the drama’s director, Lin Yufen. Zuer auditioned, and well, the rest is history.
She snagged the role of Banxia, and even after a lengthy investigation into her taxes (which eventually cleared her name), she returned to complete filming—and absolutely nailed the part.
Fans are now calling Yang Mi’s recommendation a career-saving gesture. And it’s not as random as it might sound. The two actresses go way back—Zuer signed with Tianxi Entertainment in 2017, right around the time when Tianxi had close ties with Jiaxing Media, Yang Mi’s own agency. The two met while filming the third season of the travel-reality show Divas Hit the Road, and they’ve been tight ever since.
Although they don’t flaunt their friendship on social media, little fan-spotted moments keep surfacing. Like the time they were seen chilling together at Universal Studios in Osaka. Or how Zuer sweetly calls Yang Mi “baby” and her nickname “Niu Niu”. She even handcrafted a phone case for her—how’s that for bestie goals?
And if you're wondering just how real this friendship is, Yang Mi once shared in an interview that the two nearly threw down over a game of Monopoly. Yep—you know it’s real when you’re arguing over pretend land with someone and still stay friends.
With Song Zuer now back on her feet and riding a fresh wave of success, fans are buzzing with hope that these two might finally team up on-screen. Maybe a drama where they play rival sisters or two queens in a fantasy realm? Manifest it.