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| How Dare You!? Interview: Wang Churan Breaks Down Yu Wanyin’s Growth and Her Natural Spark with Cheng Lei (Photo: Weibo/Sohu) |
Wang Churan is not holding back when it comes to talking about her dynamic with Ryan Cheng Lei in the currently airing historical romantic comedy How Dare You!? (成何体统). In a recent sit-down with Sohu Entertainment, she broke down their characters, key emotional turning points, and why their on-screen chemistry feels so effortless — because, in her words, it is.
The drama follows workplace rookie Wang Cui Hua, who suddenly finds herself transported into the pages of a novel. Inside that fictional world, she becomes noblewoman Yu Wanyin, a character who begins with one simple goal: survival.
There, she meets Zhang San — another modern soul stuck in the same story — who takes on the identity of Xia Houdan, a powerful figure hiding his true strength for years.
Together, they navigate palace politics, shifting alliances, and a harsh prophecy hinting that one of them may not live to see the peaceful future they are fighting for.
When asked to define Xia Houdan in percentage form, Wang Churan described him as “50 percent great love, 25 percent bravery, and 25 percent gentleness.”
As for Yu Wanyin, she sees her as “50 percent great love, 25 percent clarity, and 25 percent intelligence.” It’s a neat breakdown that reflects how the show balances romance with strategy and emotional depth.
One of the most talked-about moments in the series — the major fire scene — was, according to Wang Churan, the turning point for her character.
“That was her first real growth,” she explained. At the beginning, Yu Wanyin only wanted to survive in a dangerous fictional world. But gradually, she stops seeing others as “paper characters” and starts recognising their ambitions and strengths.
What begins as cautious cooperation evolves into genuine partnership. That shift, she stressed, happens slowly and naturally.
While early episodes lean heavily into comedy, she made it clear that the tone will deepen.
“There will definitely be some heartbreaking moments, but they won’t last too long,” she reassured viewers. It’s not a bait-and-switch, she insists, but rather a natural progression as stakes rise within the palace.
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Of course, the biggest buzz isn’t just about plot twists — it’s about her chemistry with Cheng Lei. Many viewers have commented that the two look like they are simply being themselves on screen. Wang Churan agreed without hesitation. “Yes, I do think it’s quite similar to our real-life personalities.”
Apparently, plenty of their funniest moments were born from improvisation.
During rehearsals, they would throw in spontaneous ideas that made it into the final cut. She said their interactions feel smooth because their “personal energies align”, which explains why even chaotic banter feels organic rather than scripted.
Her playful confession about how they would recognise each other in real life if both were wearing masks instantly went viral.
Referring to a scene where their characters confirm each other’s modern identities, she laughed and said, “Because we usually like to imitate pig sounds. With that alone, we could recognise each other.”
It’s random, it’s ridiculous, and fans absolutely ate it up.
She also shared a surprise airport encounter: they unknowingly booked the same final flight of the day and bumped into each other in the lounge.
Even without cameras, their dynamic remained lively and playful — basically the off-screen version of Xia Houdan and Yu Wanyin without the palace stress.
Wang Churan didn’t hold back when describing Cheng Lei’s personality either, calling him the “King of Absurdity” and the “King of Memes.”
According to her, he’s “100 percent” deserving of the title and ranks number one among her friends in being “abstract.” She joked that he has never done anything that isn’t abstract — a statement that only fuelled more online memes.
Beyond the chaos, she praised his other sides. Everyone in Hengdian apparently knows about his passion for motorcycles.
She also complimented his artistic vibe, saying he looks like someone who studied art and genuinely has drawing talent. During filming breaks, the two would sketch intentionally unflattering portraits of each other, just for laughs.
When it comes to photography, she revealed that Cheng Lei is more about emotional hype than technical instructions. He’ll say things like, “This looks so good, don’t move, it’s beautiful.”
The emotional support arrives first — the final photo results come later. And according to her, some of the pictures did turn out surprisingly well.
Addressing the long-running label of being on the so-called “favoured concubine track” since playing a pampered imperial consort at 19, Wang Churan responded with humility.
She said she’s grateful for the recognition and remains open to similar roles in the future — as long as the character feels right.
Some viewers say their natural chemistry is the strongest selling point of How Dare You!?, praising the improvised humour and relaxed vibe that makes palace politics feel lighter and fresher than typical historical rom-coms. Others are already bracing themselves for the hinted emotional arc, speculating about how the prophecy will unfold.
There are also fans dissecting every interview snippet, convinced that their real-life friendship is what elevates the romantic tension on screen.
On the flip side, a few netizens argue that the comedy-to-drama tonal shift might divide audiences if not handled carefully. But even critics admit the duo’s dynamic is hard to ignore.
At its core, How Dare You!? (成何体统) works because Wang Churan and Cheng Lei don’t just play Wang Cui Hua/Yu Wanyin and Zhang San/Xia Houdan — they inject pieces of themselves into the roles.
The spontaneity, the teasing, the shared humour, and that slightly chaotic energy all blur the line between fiction and reality in a way that feels refreshing.
Now the question is: are you watching for the palace schemes, the prophecy twist, or simply for the meme-worthy duo energy? And do you think their real-life alignment is the secret ingredient behind the buzz?