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| Yang Zi Breaks Drama Ad Record with In the Name of Blossom – Rumours of Pairing with Liu Yuning Resurface (Weibo) |
Looks like Yang Zi’s on a serious roll this year—and the momentum’s not letting up anytime soon.
Her hit period romance drama In the Name of Blossom (錦繡芳華), co-starring Li Xian, just wrapped airing, but the hype is still alive and kicking. From emotional final scenes to insane ad numbers and record-breaking viewership, this series has completely dominated the C-drama scene in 2025.
One stat that’s got netizens absolutely gobsmacked: In the Name of Blossom aired a whopping 260 ads across just 24 episodes. That’s an average of 10.83 ads per ep, peaking at 14 ads in a single episode.
No joke, it now holds the all-time record for most ads per episode and highest ad average per ep on any Chinese drama platform. Unsurprisingly, fans have now started calling Yang Zi the “Advertising Queen” (招商女王). Talk about screen presence—even during the ad breaks.
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As if that wasn’t enough, the now-iconic “swing kiss” scene between Yang Zi and Li Xian in the finale had everyone melting. The behind-the-scenes tea? The kiss had to be filmed 10 times to nail the perfect take. And boy, did it pay off—the clip’s been all over social media since the finale dropped, fuelling a fresh wave of love for the series.
As of now, In the Name of Blossom has raked in over 2.2 billion views, cementing its spot as one of the biggest C-drama hits of 2025.
Fresh off that success, Yang Zi isn’t slowing down. After filming The Mo (家業) earlier this year, she jumped straight into Born to Be Alive (生命樹), her upcoming drama with Hu Ge set in the rugged beauty of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Production's still ongoing, but casting rumours for her next-next project are already heating up.
Enter: The Way You Come Back (玉蘭花開君再來)—a Republican-era drama reportedly based on the real-life story of Dong Zhujun, founder of Shanghai’s famous Jinjiang Hotel. Word on the street? Yang Zi is in serious talks for the lead role.
And here’s where it gets extra juicy—rumours say Liu Yuning is being considered for the male lead.
Liu Yuning x Yang Zi… Finally?
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Fans of both stars will know this isn’t the first time they’ve been rumoured to pair up. Liu Yuning, riding high from back-to-back hits like The Prisoner of Beauty (折腰) and A Dream Within a Dream (書卷一夢), has long been speculated as a potential onscreen match for Yang Zi. But so far, it’s never actually happened.
With this new project brewing, the dream duo might finally be a reality. Netizens are already hyped about the possible chemistry explosion, especially given how well both actors have been performing lately.
The Way You Come Back Drama Plot: From Brothel Girl to Hotel Legend
So, what’s The Way You Come Back actually about? The drama tells the story of A Yuan, a poor girl sold into a brothel who keeps her dignity and dreams alive as a performing artist (清倌人). She falls in love with a revolutionary, Xia Zhishi, studies in Japan after marrying him, and later returns to Shanghai to raise her daughters alone.
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Her journey eventually leads to the creation of a Sichuan restaurant, which blossoms into the legendary Jinjiang Hotel. During times of political unrest, she even shelters Communist Party members and eventually donates her entire fortune to the state.
Initially, the production reportedly had Tang Yan in mind for the lead role—makes sense, considering her poise and cheongsam-perfect visuals. But after Yang Zi’s massive breakout (again) in In the Name of Blossom, she’s rumoured to be the new frontrunner.
No Confirmation Yet… But Fans Are Manifesting
No official word yet from Yang Zi, Liu Yuning, or the production crew. But the sheer volume of online chatter says it all—people want this pairing. Whether it’s their acting chops, their fanbase power, or just plain curiosity, there’s massive buzz surrounding the potential collab.
For now, fans are playing the waiting game. But one thing’s for sure—if Yang Zi and Liu Yuning do end up starring together in The Way You Come Back, it’ll be one of the most anticipated drama pairings of the year.