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| Li Yitong’s Unexpected Acting Journey: She Just Wanted to Afford Good Food |
You know how most celebs say they dreamed of acting since they were kids? Not Li Yitong. Her reason for stepping into the world of showbiz? She just really, really liked food.
On 16 July 2025, Weibo lit up with the hashtag #李一桐曾被大冰写进书里 (“Li Yitong was once written into a book by Da Bing”), and netizens were floored by the unexpected backstory. But it wasn’t gossip or drama that caught people’s attention—it was the genuine, oddly adorable reason Li became an actress in the first place: she simply wanted to earn enough money to eat well.
📖 Da Bing and the Birth of “Ni’er”
So, who’s Da Bing then? Real name Yan Bing (焉冰), he’s a popular Chinese author and former TV host, known for his chatty writing style and real-life characters. Turns out, one of those characters—“Ni’er”—was actually based on Li Yitong before she ever stepped into the spotlight. Back then, she was just Li Xue, a uni student with no fame to her name and a serious passion for food.
The two first crossed paths during a variety show Da Bing hosted. They hit it off, kept in touch, and eventually both moved to Beijing—Da Bing to write, and Li to figure out where life would take her.
In his book, he described her as warm, slightly silly, and completely obsessed with food. Her signature lines? “This is delicious” and “I want to eat that.” It was that simple, pure motivation that pushed her to pursue acting. As Da Bing wrote:
“She told me she wanted to become an actress simply because she loved to eat… She hoped to make her own money to afford good food.”
💛 Quiet Acts of Kindness
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This isn’t a one-note story though. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while many stars kept a low profile, Li Yitong quietly donated over ¥100,000 and 100 oxygen machines—without a shred of publicity. It was Da Bing who revealed it, writing:
“She trusts me, just like I trust her.”
That trust, that lowkey sincerity—it’s what’s made her stand out from the noise.
🎭 The Slow Climb: From Student to Screen Star
Li Yitong didn’t have a flashy debut or instant stardom. A graduate of the Beijing Dance Academy, she had no background in the biz. Just auditions, determination, and a dream built on good food and independence.
Her big break came in 2017, playing Huang Rong in Legend of the Condor Heroes. Since then, she’s racked up roles in:
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Bloody Romance (2018)
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Royal Nirvana (2019)
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Court Lady (2021)
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The Knockout (2023)
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A Dream Within a Dream (2025)
Still, she’s often labelled with the dreaded “drama produces face” tag (剧抛脸)—meaning people remember her characters, but not her name. Bit unfair, if you ask us.
🤔 Drama, Fans, and Some Unexpected Backlash
Does no one think #LiYitong voice is so attractive like its so bassy but still appropriate for comedic tone 😍#ADreamWithinADream pic.twitter.com/LgfUSGWEbT
— 🍀 plum • (@oozetheplumtree) July 10, 2025
When A Dream Within a Dream wrapped filming ages ago, no one blinked. But then her co-star Liu Yuning exploded in popularity thanks to The Prisoner of Beauty (2024). Suddenly, some of his fans got nervous—thinking Li Yitong wasn’t “famous enough” to match him. Comments like “it’s a pity she’s the female lead” started cropping up.
But surprise, surprise—when the drama aired, her performance wowed people. Netizens quickly changed their tune, praising her emotional control and natural chemistry with Liu Yuning.
🌀 A Dream Within a Dream: Her Best Role Yet?
In A Dream Within a Dream (书卷一梦), Li plays Song Xiaoyu, a washed-up actress who accidentally enters the world of a classic script and transforms into Song Yimeng, a tragic character doomed to die 108 times.
To escape the loop, she must rewrite the ending.
It’s the kind of role that demands everything—comedy, tragedy, heartbreak, and grit. And Li nails it. Many viewers are calling it her finest performance yet, praising the way she brings both warmth and quiet desperation to the screen.
🧡 From Hungry Student to Drama Queen (Literally)
Da Bing’s “Ni’er” hasn’t gone anywhere. Whether she’s donating in secret or just filming quietly without fuss, Li Yitong’s still that girl who cried once over a meal with no meat.
But now, she’s also a leading lady in one of this summer’s hottest dramas—doing it her way, without scandals or shortcuts. No screaming headlines, no viral gimmicks. Just pure, steady growth.
And yes, we hope she’s eating very well now.