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| Pursuit of Jade Dating Rumour Solved: It Was Li Qing, Not Zhang Linghe or Tian Xiwei, and Fans Can Finally Rest. (Credits: Weibo) |
The latest Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) off-screen drama has landed, and this time it was not from the scriptwriters. A rumour claiming one of the show’s popular couples had quietly fallen apart sent fans into full detective mode this week, with many fearing names like Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei were about to be dragged into yet another internet guessing game. Instead, the real story turned out to involve supporting actor Li Qing, whose reported dating life has now accidentally become the week’s hottest spoiler.
The historical romance may have finished airing, but public interest around the cast clearly did not get the memo. On 22 April, a paparazzi teaser claimed a beloved couple connected to the drama had reached a “bad ending” in real life because the male star was seeing someone privately.
That vague wording was enough to send social media into chaos. No names, no proof, just enough breadcrumbs for online sleuths to sprint wildly in the wrong direction.
Because Pursuit of Jade boosted the profiles of several cast members, speculation quickly landed on Zhang Linghe and fellow actor Deng Kai.
Fans of on-screen pairings immediately began analysing every old interview, event clip and side glance as though they were handling state documents. As usual, the internet managed to turn one cryptic rumour into ten different theories before breakfast.
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| Li Qing Caught on Camera With Mystery Woman |
Then came the reveal. The actor in question was Li Qing, who played Gongsun Yin in the drama.
Paparazzi footage allegedly showed him meeting friends late at night before heading to a residential area, where a woman came downstairs with a dog.
Li Qing was then seen greeting her warmly, taking the lead with the dog and chatting comfortably. The pet also appeared entirely relaxed around him, which many viewers took as the strongest evidence of all. Dogs rarely fake chemistry.
According to the footage, the pair later entered the building at around one in the morning and Li Qing was reportedly seen leaving the next day in the same outfit, heading straight to work.
Whether glamorous or not, it was certainly efficient scheduling. Neither Li Qing nor his studio had publicly responded at the time discussion peaked online.
For many viewers, the reaction was surprisingly calm. A large number of netizens shrugged and said dating is a private matter. Others joked that this was “zero damage” celebrity relationship news because nobody’s fantasy universe had collapsed.
Some also pointed out that Li Qing had reportedly been in a long-term relationship before the drama aired, making the revelation far less shocking than the original teaser suggested.
The loudest sigh of relief, however, came from supporters of Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei. Their names had been pulled into speculation despite no evidence, simply because popularity often attracts chaos faster than facts do.
Once Li Qing’s identity was revealed, many fans celebrated that the main stars had nothing to do with the rumour and could return to the much healthier business of promoting projects and existing peacefully.
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There was also sympathy for Li Qing, with some users criticising the way private lives are teased for clicks before names are even confirmed. It is a familiar cycle in entertainment news: mysterious hint, fan panic, identity reveal, then everyone acts surprised that people overreacted.
Still, the episode shows just how strong the Pursuit of Jade buzz remains even after the finale. When a supporting actor walking a dog can dominate conversation, the series clearly left its mark.
Now the question is simple: were fans right to panic, or did the internet once again turn a quiet evening stroll into national breaking news?