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| He Yu Says Meng Ziyi Gave Him Confidence on Blossoms of Power as Dating Rumours Continue. (Sohu) |
Fans hoping that He Yu and Meng Ziyi had quietly turned their on-screen romance into a real-life love story may have to put those theories on hold. The Blossoms of Power star has finally addressed the endless relationship rumours, making it clear that while he deeply admires his co-star, the pair are nothing more than close friends. Even so, his heartfelt praise for Meng Ziyi has only made fans adore their friendship even more.
During a recent interview with Sohu Entertainment, He Yu spoke candidly about his experience filming the highly anticipated costume drama and admitted that stepping into the role of Crown Prince Xiao Huayong was far more intimidating than viewers might imagine.
Although audiences now praise his commanding screen presence, the actor confessed he wasn't nearly as confident when filming first began.
"I really have to thank Meng Jie," he said with a smile. "At the beginning of filming, she kept telling me, 'You're so fair, you're so handsome, and you look amazing in costume dramas.' She kept encouraging me again and again. Those words genuinely gave me confidence."
According to He Yu, those compliments were far more meaningful than simple flattery. They helped him embrace a character whose biggest strength wasn't flashy heroics but quiet self-belief.
"Xiao Huayong is naturally confident," he explained. "He's never trying to prove he's handsome or show himself off. His charm comes from the calm way he carries himself.
He always seems to know exactly what he's doing, and everything feels under his control. That confidence became much easier to understand after I found confidence in myself too."
The actor also reflected on working alongside Meng Ziyi once again after previously sharing the screen with her. Having already built a friendship through earlier projects, the reunion allowed both actors to settle into their performances almost immediately.
"We've worked together before, so we're very comfortable with each other," He Yu said. "There's a natural chemistry between us. Every pair of characters we've played has carried strong emotional intensity, whether it was Mei Chaofeng and Chen Xuanfeng, or now Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe. That familiarity helped us trust each other without needing to force anything."
One scene still lingers in his memory more than any other. Recalling the emotional farewell sequence filmed in heavy snow, He Yu admitted that separating his own feelings from those of his character proved almost impossible.
"When we filmed that goodbye scene, my first reaction wasn't that Shen Xihe was leaving Xiao Huayong," he revealed. "My first thought was actually that Meng Jie was leaving. We were both so emotional that we couldn't even look directly at each other. It became difficult to separate the characters from ourselves in that moment."
He also shared why the romance in Blossoms of Power appealed to him more than many traditional drama love stories. Rather than relying on instant attraction, he believes the series allows viewers to watch two people slowly earn each other's trust before falling in love.
"I really love how their relationship develops," he explained. "They don't suddenly fall in love overnight. They begin as allies, become partners who understand each other, and eventually become people willing to sacrifice everything for one another. Whether it's climbing snowy mountains to find medicine, confessing their feelings in the cabin or protecting each other through impossible situations, every stage feels earned."
Off screen, the pair also discovered something that amused them almost as much as their fans. Viral compilations online showed He Yu and Meng Ziyi unconsciously making identical gestures, laughing together at the exact same moment and reacting almost perfectly in sync during interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
"We honestly didn't realise we were doing the same things," he laughed. "When we watched those videos, both of us asked, 'How did that even happen?' If someone asked us to recreate it deliberately, I don't think we'd be able to."
Naturally, those clips only poured more fuel onto dating rumours that have followed the pair throughout the drama's promotional campaign.
Their effortless chemistry, comfortable conversations and shared sense of humour convinced many viewers that there had to be something more happening away from the cameras.
However, He Yu firmly shut down the speculation, saying there is no romantic relationship between them. He described the dating claims as baseless rumours and stressed that his admiration for Meng Ziyi comes from genuine respect for her as both a colleague and a friend. According to the actor, she has supported him throughout filming, and he hopes they will continue to remain close friends for years to come.
Fans have responded with mixed emotions. Some admitted they were secretly hoping their favourite on-screen couple would become a real couple, joking that the chemistry looked "far too convincing to be acting".
Others praised He Yu for openly giving credit to Meng Ziyi, saying it's refreshing to see an actor confidently acknowledge how much a colleague helped him grow. Many also appreciated that he addressed the rumours directly instead of allowing endless speculation to continue.
Of course, the internet being the internet, some fans still aren't ready to retire their detective badges. Every smile, every shared laugh and every matching gesture is already being analysed like it's part of a historical mystery drama rather than two friends promoting a television series.
Sometimes good chemistry is simply... good chemistry, though convincing the internet of that might be the hardest role either actor has ever played.
For now, He Yu seems far more interested in celebrating Blossoms of Power, his friendship with Meng Ziyi, and the journey they shared bringing Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe to life than discussing romance.
Still, fans will undoubtedly keep watching every interview and behind-the-scenes clip for new moments between the pair. What do you think? Are He Yu and Meng Ziyi simply close friends with fantastic chemistry, or do you think fans are reading too much into every smile?