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| Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai Hold Hands at Guerlain Event, CP Fans Say It Felt Like a Real Wedding (Photo: Guerlain/Weibo) |
What started as a routine luxury brand appearance quickly turned into one of the most talked-about celebrity moments of early 2026. Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai didn’t just attend a Guerlain event in Shanghai, they walked straight into CP history. One hand-holding moment was all it took for social media to erupt, with fans joking that they weren’t watching a brand event at all, but a wedding rehearsal in disguise.
The timing could not have been better. Their modern romance drama Shine on Me (骄阳似我) has officially crossed 800 million views, cementing its status as one of the biggest Chinese drama hits of the year so far.
Riding that momentum, Guerlain invited the two leads to appear together for a New Year celebration event, their first joint public appearance since the drama became a nationwide talking point. For CP fans, it felt less like marketing and more like a reward.
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| Tencent Awards (L). Guerlain Event (R) |
Styling-wise, the visuals did most of the talking. Song Weilong appeared in a crisp white double-breasted suit paired with black trousers, delivering a calm, princely vibe that fans associate closely with his drama role.
Zhao Jinmai took things up a notch in a silver-and-white backless gown from HACCHIC COUTURE’s Spring Summer 2026 collection. With her short hair and confident silhouette, many netizens noted that she looked noticeably more mature, praising her for stepping away from her long-held girl-next-door image.
The moment that truly broke the internet came just before they stepped onto the stage. Zhao Jinmai reached out first, inviting Song Weilong to hold her hand.
🐉 Come over a bit
— Adys 🌾 (@zhaojinmai_mai) January 13, 2026
🌾 Ok
🐉 Hold Hands?
🌾 Ok
🐉 Cold face
🌾 Ok
20260112 Guerlain event#ZhaoJinmai #赵今麦 #SongWeilong pic.twitter.com/f5O9wBJwi0
As their hands met, she flashed a shy smile, and the pair walked forward together as the opening theme of Shine on Me, You Are the Sun In My Life, played in the background. The red stage design only added to the drama, leading countless viewers to joke that everything from the music to the colour scheme screamed wedding ceremony.
Online reactions came in fast and loud. Many fans said the scene felt unreal, with comments comparing the walk to a bridal entrance.
Others jokingly applauded Guerlain for understanding CP culture perfectly, saying the brand had delivered fan service at a level usually reserved for drama finales. Short clips of the moment quickly circulated across platforms, with replay counts climbing by the minute.
Once on stage, eagle-eyed viewers noticed another detail that kept discussions going. Although the two initially stood with some space between them, Song Weilong gradually moved closer to Zhao Jinmai during the event.
It was subtle, but enough to set off another wave of commentary, with fans praising how natural and unforced their interaction felt.
OMG I AM SHAKING THEY ARE HERE AND THEY LOOK SO FINE #SongWeilong #ZhaoJinmai #Guerlain pic.twitter.com/MKnfOGTPmf
— dailylinxi 🌳🍉☀️ (@dailylinxi) January 12, 2026
The excitement mirrors the emotional attachment viewers developed through Shine on Me itself. In the drama, Song Weilong plays Lin Yusen and Zhao Jinmai stars as Nie Xiguang.
Their story ends with marriage and the birth of a daughter, offering a warm and complete conclusion that many viewers found deeply satisfying. That fictional ending has clearly spilled over into how fans interpret their real-life moments.
Interestingly, this CP was not an instant fan favourite. When the casting was first announced, some viewers questioned the pairing.
However, as the drama aired, their chemistry won over sceptics, and fans eventually coined the CP name Xin You Lin Xi, a playful wordplay based on their character names that has since become widely used online.
Behind-the-scenes footage from the Guerlain event added even more fuel to the discussion. In rehearsal clips, the two can be seen practising their walk, with Zhao Jinmai appearing visibly shy once again. For CP fans, this only reinforced the idea that their chemistry feels consistent both on and off screen, whether scripted or not.
With Shine on Me still dominating discussions, the buzz is far from over. Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai are expected to reunite at upcoming events, including the drama’s celebration banquet and Weibo Night. Every joint appearance now comes with heightened expectations, and fans are clearly watching closely.
So what do you think, is this just perfectly executed CP marketing, or did that hand-holding moment feel a little too real to ignore?