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| Viewers Spot Unusual Face in Pursuit of Jade: Was He Changxi Quietly Replaced by Zhu Zanjin? (Credits: Weibo) |
Chinese drama Pursuit of Jade ignited debate online within days of its premiere on 6 March, after viewers noticed something unusual about the character Song Yan — originally played by actor He Changxi but seemingly appearing with another face in the broadcast version.
The historical romance, led by rising actress Tian Xiwei, quickly drew attention not just for its story but for a technical detail that fans say is difficult to ignore. Observant viewers claim that several scenes featuring the character Song Yan show facial features that appear digitally altered, leading to speculation that He Changxi may have been replaced with Zhu Zanjin using AI face-swap technology.
The discovery spread rapidly across fan forums and social platforms, where clips comparing early promotional material with the broadcast version began circulating.
In the promotional photos released after filming wrapped last year, He Changxi was clearly introduced as the actor portraying Song Yan, the former fiancé of Tian Xiwei’s character.
But when the drama finally aired, audiences were surprised to see a noticeably different face attached to the role.
Many viewers say the character now resembles Zhu Zanjin, although the transition appears digitally modified rather than reshot.
Some scenes reportedly show slightly stiff expressions or mismatched facial contours, further fuelling speculation that visual editing tools were used to alter the performance.
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A widely shared theory links the situation to industry policies surrounding actors involved in boys-love themed productions.
According to circulating rumours, performers associated with such projects may face restrictions on appearing in certain television productions.
He Changxi, a 29-year-old actor who first gained public attention after joining the 2019 idol survival show Youth With You, has gradually transitioned into acting after his group activities ended. Last year he was reportedly involved in a BL drama project titled Sammy’s Children’s Day.
Because of that previous role, some viewers believe the production team behind Pursuit of Jade may have opted to digitally replace his appearance in order to avoid complications during the approval process for broadcast platforms.
None of these claims have been confirmed by the drama’s production team.
Silence From Studio Adds to Speculation
Another detail that caught fans’ attention is the sudden disappearance of related promotional material.
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| Chinese Drama Controversy: Pursuit of Jade Accused of Using AI to Replace He Changxi |
Before the drama premiered, He Changxi had publicly promoted Pursuit of Jade on social media following the completion of filming. However, after the show began airing and the controversy emerged, fans noticed that posts connected to the drama had been removed from his studio’s account.
The studio has not released any official explanation, leaving viewers to piece together the situation themselves.
For now, neither the production team nor Zhu Zanjin has commented on the speculation that AI technology may have been used to modify the character’s face in post-production..
Some viewers say the editing is obvious enough to break immersion while watching the drama. Several comments point out that the facial movements in certain scenes look “slightly detached” from the actor’s body language, which they believe suggests digital replacement.
Others argue that the discussion may be exaggerated, noting that post-production adjustments are not uncommon in television dramas and may simply be part of routine editing.
A third group of fans is more focused on the broader industry conversation, debating whether actors’ previous projects should affect their participation in new productions.
Despite the controversy, Pursuit of Jade continues to attract strong curiosity online, partly because the mystery surrounding He Changxi has become a talking point alongside the drama itself.
With no official clarification yet, viewers are left analysing each new episode for clues.
What do you think — did Pursuit of Jade really use AI to replace He Changxi, or could there be another explanation behind the strange scenes?