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| EXO-Ls Torn Between Joy and Frustration as Lay Reunites with EXO Minus Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin |
After what felt like ages, EXO’s finally making moves again. SM Entertainment dropped the news that the group’s coming back together for a two-day fan meeting titled “EXO’verse” this December at Inspire Arena in Incheon — their first proper group event since everyone wrapped up military service.
But here’s the catch — it’s not quite the full squad fans had in mind.
For the first time in years, Lay Zhang Yixing’s officially rejoining EXO’s group activity, sparking pure nostalgia for long-time EXO-Ls.
The Chinese star hasn’t been part of the team’s Korean-based schedules since 2022, so seeing his name back on the lineup felt like a proper moment.
He’ll also be taking part in their upcoming eighth full-length album, due January 2026 — big win for fans who’ve been waiting to hear Lay back in the mix.
Six-Man Lineup Sparks Mixed Feelings
Still, not everyone’s chuffed. The EXO’verse fan meet and new album will only feature six members — Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, and Lay — meaning EXO-CBX (Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin) are sitting this one out.
Their absence instantly kicked up chatter online, given the trio’s ongoing dispute with SM Entertainment over their contracts earlier this year.
Fans had been dead sure 2025 would mark the long-awaited OT9 comeback — all nine lads back on one stage.
So when SM confirmed CBX’s exclusion, EXO-Ls took to social media airing their disappointment, calling it a “half-hearted reunion” and “not the EXO we signed up for.”
Some defended Lay’s inclusion, saying it’s a symbolic bridge after years of distance, while others reckoned it’s bittersweet — a win that still feels incomplete without the full line-up.
Lay’s Return Met with Online Backlash
Lay’s comeback, though heartwarming for fans, hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing.
His attendance on December 13 — the first day of the fan meet — coincides with China’s National Memorial Day for the Nanjing Massacre.
A few online critics questioned his decision to appear in South Korea on that date, stirring mild controversy in Chinese social media circles.
Even so, most fans have rallied behind him, saying he’s simply reconnecting with the group that helped define his career.
“He never officially left EXO,” one fan posted on Weibo, “so this is just him coming home.”
EXO’s Next Chapter
Despite the drama, the comeback feels like a step forward — a new chapter with a nod to the past.
With a fresh album locked in for early 2026, the boys are gearing up to make their long-awaited return to the K-pop scene.
Whether the CBX trio rejoins later or not, one thing’s clear — EXO’s back in the headlines, and fans aren’t about to miss a beat.
As one fan cheekily wrote online: “Not OT9 yet, but we’ll take what we can get — EXO never really leaves, does it?”