Was Tan Jianci Dating an Underage Liu Yinuo? More Claims Go Viral

Sixteen Year Age Gap Debate Explodes After Liu Yinuo Confirms Past Romance With Tan Jianci. Insane. (Photo: Weibo)

Chinese entertainment world has been anything but calm this week, as an unexpected confession from young aspiring actress & former SM trainee Liu Yinuo sent shockwaves across social media. What began as a cryptic post quickly snowballed into a full-blown discussion about timelines, age gaps, and transparency in celebrity relationships.

On January 7, Liu Yinuo publicly confirmed that she had previously been in a relationship with actor Tan Jianci, adding that the two have already broken up. 

While Tan Jianci had earlier stated that he is currently single and denied ongoing romance rumours, he noticeably stopped short of denying any past relationship, which only fuelled further speculation.

The situation ignited after Liu Yinuo shared photos accompanied by a suggestive caption about receiving a gift she did not want shared with anyone else. 

Netizens rapidly linked the message to Tan Jianci, especially given the timing and surrounding chatter from recent unrelated incidents. 

Liu Yinuo later clarified that the post was meant as a personal record of her past and stressed that she had no intention of stirring drama, adding that women deserve respect and understanding.

However, the conversation quickly shifted when netizens began calculating timelines. Based on Liu Yinuo’s publicly stated birth year of 2006, questions emerged about how old she may have been when the relationship began. 

The confusion deepened as some users pointed out inconsistencies in how Liu Yinuo has previously referenced her birth year, with different years appearing across platforms.

Adding to the discussion, Liu Yinuo had small roles in the first and second seasons of the same drama where Tan Jianci also starred. 

This led many to wonder whether the two met on set, which further intensified age-related concerns depending on which birth year is believed.

As the topic trended under keywords highlighting the age difference, Tan Jianci posted a promotional clip for his song Proof, captioned with a light-hearted line about being single. 

Many interpreted the post as an indirect response to the rumours. His studio followed up by reposting the clip, stating that regardless of outside noise, proof speaks for itself. So far, no formal statement has addressed the timeline questions directly.

Meanwhile, Liu Yinuo responded to mounting pressure by asking the public to stop disturbing her private life. 

This came after she confirmed that she was an SM trainee in 2020, meaning she was 15 at the time and was born in 2005

She stated clearly that the relationship was real but already over, and warned that if she continues to be pushed or accused of fabricating stories, she may be forced to release further details to defend herself.

Online reactions have been far from unified. Some netizens are demanding concrete evidence from Liu Yinuo, arguing that claims of a past relationship require clearer clarification, especially given the sensitivity surrounding ages. 

Others believe her straightforward admission makes the situation more credible and question why Tan Jianci chose humour and indirect messaging rather than a clear explanation.

There is also a sizeable group urging restraint, calling for privacy and warning against internet pile-ons. Many commenters emphasise that speculation without confirmed timelines risks unfairly damaging reputations on both sides.

At the same time, sceptics have pointed out similarities in clothing, home decor, and unreleased items previously shown on Liu Yinuo’s social media, which fans had initially dismissed but are now revisiting in light of her admission.

One side asking for clarity and the other asking for calm, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on what happens next.

What do you think about this situation? Do public figures owe clearer explanations when rumours affect younger individuals, or should private relationships remain private no matter the noise?