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| Rumoured Second Team-Up? Esther Yu and He Yu’s Immortal Flesh Talk Sets C-Drama Fans Buzzing. (Image via: Weibo) |
Whispers of a second collaboration between Esther Yu and He Yu are spreading fast, and Chinese drama fans are already deep in debate mode. The pair, who previously starred together in the modern romance Speed and Love, are now rumoured to reunite in a costume fantasy project titled Immortal Flesh / Shen Xian Rou (神仙肉) — and opinions are anything but quiet.
After Speed and Love wrapped with impressive numbers — reportedly hitting 5 billion streams and scoring 6.7 on Douban — the on-screen chemistry between Esther Yu and He Yu became one of the drama’s most talked-about highlights.
Even viewers who were lukewarm about the plot admitted the CP worked, helping both actors gain a noticeable boost in online popularity, especially among younger drama audiences.
For Esther Yu, the timing of this rumour feels particularly interesting. Over the past few years, she has firmly cemented her A-list youth drama status through hits like Love Between Fairy and Devil, My Journey to You, and Love Game in Eastern Fantasy.
Her image is closely tied to lively, sweet, and emotionally expressive characters — a style that has consistently pulled in strong fandom support.
He Yu, meanwhile, has been steadily building momentum since Speed and Love. While his filmography is still developing, his pairing with Esther proved he can hold his own in high-exposure projects, making the idea of a reunion both commercially tempting and strategically risky, depending on the script and execution.
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| Esther Yu Shuxin and He Yu Reunion Sparks Online Debate |
The rumoured project itself, Immortal Flesh / Shen Xian Rou (神仙肉), is where fan discussions really heat up.
Based on the original novel, the story follows Taoist priest Rong Chenzi, a reincarnated immortal whose flesh and blood possess irresistible allure to demons and spirits.
Enter He Pan, a thousand-year-old river clam spirit who disguises herself as an innocent girl to get close to him, originally driven by survival and greed — only to find emotions complicating her mission.
Some fans are thrilled by the dark fantasy romance angle, calling it a refreshing shift from safer costume dramas. Others are more cautious, especially when it comes to character fit.
In the novel, He Pan is described as extraordinarily beautiful with a dangerously captivating presence.
This has sparked debate over whether Esther Yu’s signature sweet and bubbly aura aligns with the role’s more seductive, morally grey tone — or whether this could be her chance to surprise everyone.
Supporters argue that Esther has already shown growth in layered roles and could reinterpret He Pan in a more emotionally nuanced way. CP fans are openly manifesting the reunion, pointing to the natural chemistry she shares with He Yu.
Sceptics, however, worry about typecasting, career pacing, and whether repeating the pairing too soon might dilute its impact, especially when both actors are at crucial points in their trajectories.
As of now, Immortal Flesh / Shen Xian Rou (神仙肉) remains firmly in rumour territory, with no official confirmation from the production team or the actors involved. Still, the sheer volume of discussion proves one thing: the idea of Esther Yu and He Yu sharing the screen again clearly hits a nerve.
Would you welcome this reunion, or should both actors explore new pairings instead? Does Esther Yu fit the image of He Pan, or would you rather see a different take on the character?