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| Lai Weiming’s Character in Shine On Me Sparks Heated Debate Among Viewers (Photo: Tencent Video) |
Lai Weiming’s role as Zhuang Xu has successfully sparked debate among viewers over his character in the drama. The drama adaptation Shine On Me (骄阳似我) has barely stepped onto screens, yet it’s already sparked intense conversation across fandom spaces. From day one, audience interest surged after the original novelist and screenwriter described this project as the closest in spirit to My Sunshine (何以笙箫默), reigniting nostalgia for the classic “quiet crush” storytelling style that once defined an era of romance dramas.
That single comment alone reopened discussions about soft glances, restrained emotions, and love that dares not speak its name. And while the main couple’s emotional arc is unfolding at a steady pace, it’s the second male lead who has unexpectedly stolen the spotlight—and divided viewers straight down the middle.
Zhuang Xu, portrayed by Lai Weiming, has become one of the most talked-about characters of the season. On the surface, he appears gentle, supportive, and quietly devoted.
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Dig a little deeper, however, and viewers are met with sharp remarks, passive aggression, and behaviour that leaves many feeling conflicted. Sympathy and irritation seem to exist side by side whenever his scenes appear.
Some viewers see Zhuang Xu as painfully human—a man trapped in unspoken affection, weighed down by emotional pressure and self-doubt.
Others, however, are far less forgiving. His cutting comments toward Nie Xiguang, especially when mocking her background or personal choices, have rubbed audiences the wrong way.
He had a chance at the start yet the clash of backgrounds held him back. Torn between yearning & despise. With frequent misunderstandings, they're really not meant to be. Fate may appear to be unfair but at the end of the day, it's for the best. #ShineOnMe #ZhaoJinMai #LaiWeiMing pic.twitter.com/x7qABYv9N5
— 𝓙𝓮𝓵𝓵𝔂𝔀𝓱𝓸𝓸𝓸~ (@Jellywhooo) January 1, 2026
He criticises her for leaning on family support and pokes fun at her appearance, yet simultaneously helps her organise academic work and job applications. That contradiction has led many to label him narrow-minded, performative, and emotionally confusing.
Unsurprisingly, the phrase “pitiful yet annoying” has quickly become shorthand for Zhuang Xu’s entire existence in the drama.
Much of his behaviour is rooted in insecurity. Coming from a less privileged background, Zhuang Xu constantly measures himself against Nie Xiguang’s more comfortable upbringing.
His arrogance often reads less like confidence and more like armour—an attempt to protect himself from rejection by striking first.
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While some viewers find this emotional defence relatable, others argue it crosses into selfish emotional exhaustion, where his internal struggles end up hurting the very person he claims to care about.
Regardless of where viewers stand, one thing is clear: this role has pushed Lai Weiming firmly into the public eye.
Many netizens have described him as the “perfect embodiment of a first love,” largely due to the fragile, bittersweet energy he brings to the character.
His performance has sparked discussion not just about the character’s morality, but about the actor’s growing skill and screen presence.
Sharp-eyed fans have especially praised his eye acting and micro-expressions. The restrained way he looks at Nie Xiguang—hesitant, affectionate, and quietly lonely—has been widely recognised as a convincing portrayal of loving someone without the courage to confess. For many viewers, it feels uncomfortably familiar, like watching a reflection of their own past emotions play out on screen.
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At just 24 years old and three years into his acting career, Lai Weiming has already built a reputation for tackling complex supporting roles.
With previous appearances in youth and costume dramas, his steady improvement hasn’t gone unnoticed. Increasingly, viewers are calling him one of the most hardworking second male leads in the industry—an actor who consistently elevates roles that could easily be written off as background characters.
Looking ahead, Shine On Me is also setting the stage for discussions about future on-screen pairings. As audiences grow more invested in emotional realism and layered character dynamics, expectations for romance dramas heading into 2026 are shifting.
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Viewers aren’t just asking for sweet moments—they want believable tension, emotional accountability, and couples who grow rather than drain each other. Whether the main couple or the debated second-lead dynamic leaves a lasting impression could influence how future romance pairings are written and received next year.
The conversation around Zhuang Xu shows no signs of cooling down. Is he a tragic reflection of insecure love, or a cautionary tale about emotional imbalance? And more importantly, do characters like him still belong in modern romance stories?
Now it’s your turn—are you on Team “quietly heartbreaking” or Team “emotionally exhausting”?