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| Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai’s Shine On Me Promotions Get People Talking (Photo: Weibo) |
When most dramas quietly fade after the final episode, Shine On Me seems determined to do the opposite. Long after the curtain closed, its leads Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai are once again at the centre of online conversation, not because of rumours or controversy, but due to a noticeable shift in how relaxed their promotional interactions now appear. What started as a routine post-broadcast campaign has turned into a talking point fans can’t stop analysing.
Following the drama’s conclusion, promotional activities for Shine On Me have remained unusually active. From offline appearances to carefully timed social media posts, the cast’s continued presence has kept the series alive in public discussion.
Viewers who were already emotionally invested in the story found themselves drawn back in, not just by nostalgia, but by how thoughtfully the promotions referenced moments from the drama itself.
One moment in particular stood out. On 15 January 2026, at exactly 7:28 p.m., Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai posted simultaneously on Weibo.
The timing wasn’t accidental. Fans immediately linked it to a key scene in Shine On Me, set on 15 January 2011 at 19:28:52, when Lin Yusen first realised his feelings for Nie Xiguang.
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The shared timing was widely read as a deliberate callback, blending the drama’s fictional timeline with real-time fan engagement in a way that felt clever rather than forced.
Soon after, behind-the-scenes footage from the filming period began circulating again, sparking fresh comparisons. Netizens revisited older promotional photos from a year ago, where Song Weilong appeared visibly cautious in public interactions, famously keeping his hand hovering near Zhao Jinmai’s shoulder without making contact.
Back then, many interpreted this as professionalism and a desire to avoid unnecessary speculation during the early promotion stage.
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Fast-forward to the latest promotional materials, and the tone feels different. While still clearly within official boundaries, the interactions now come across as more natural and at ease.
Small gestures, relaxed body language, and an overall lighter atmosphere were enough to convince many viewers that the dynamic had softened since the drama first launched.
Unsurprisingly, fans had plenty to say.
Some netizens joked that Song Weilong was “no longer keeping his distance,” framing the change in a playful, teasing way. Others took a more grounded view, pointing out that this is simply how post-broadcast promotions usually look once a project is safely completed and the initial scrutiny has passed.
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A third group focused less on the actors themselves and more on the effectiveness of the promotional strategy, praising it for maintaining interest without crossing any lines.
The discussion took an even more entertaining turn when Jin Qiaoqiao, who played Zhao Jinmai’s mother in the drama, joined the conversation.
In a farewell post for Shine On Me, she shared photos with both Zhao Jinmai and Song Weilong, affectionately referring to Zhao Jinmai as her “daughter” from the story.
When a netizen asked about the man in a brown coat in one of the photos, Jin Qiaoqiao casually replied by calling Song Weilong her “son-in-law.”
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The comment section quickly filled with laughter, with many fans saying she had fully embraced her on-screen role even off camera.
Overall, reactions from fans and netizens remain mixed but largely positive. Some continue to analyse every detail with enthusiasm, others simply enjoy the light-hearted atmosphere, and many appreciate seeing a cast that still acknowledges audience support after the drama’s end.
There are also growing voices hoping that Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai might reunite in another project someday, though for now, everything remains firmly within the realm of official promotion.
What do you think about their post-drama dynamic, and would you like to see them work together again?