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| Lai Weiming Reveals Meng Ziyi's Off-Screen Personality While Filming Blossoms of Power. (Sohu) |
Lai Weiming is giving fans another reason to look forward to Blossoms of Power (百花杀), and this time it has nothing to do with palace politics or dramatic battles. Appearing on Sohu Entertainment's Star Colleague, the rising Chinese actor shared a collection of entertaining stories from filming the highly anticipated historical drama, revealing that co-star Meng Ziyi repeatedly forgot who he was whenever they met in person. The twist? She somehow remembered to compliment his looks every single time, making their unusual first impressions one of the funniest stories to emerge ahead of the drama's release.
Promoting Blossoms of Power, Lai Weiming introduced viewers to his character Xiao Changying, better known as the Ninth Prince or Prince Lie. While the prince is feared on the battlefield for his ruthless military decisions, he approaches love with remarkable honesty and sincerity.
According to the actor, Xiao Changying stands apart from the other royal brothers because he grew up surrounded by family protection, allowing him to remain pure-hearted despite the dangerous political world around him.
One of the interview's biggest talking points centred on Lai Weiming's first meeting with Meng Ziyi during a visit to the set of Blossom while he was filming Fangs of Fortune. Although it was their first real-life encounter, the actress apparently had no memory of it afterwards.
Recalling the moment with a laugh, Lai Weiming joked that Meng Ziyi failed to recognise him not just once but several times. However, each fresh introduction came with exactly the same reaction.
According to the actor, she would look at him, realise she didn't remember him, then casually tell him he was handsome anyway. Not exactly the worst problem to have. Rather than pretending to stay cool, Lai Weiming admitted he secretly enjoyed the compliments.
"Of course I loved it," he confessed with a shy smile. "It's always nice when someone praises you. The only problem is I get embarrassed really easily. Whenever someone compliments me, my ears turn bright red."
If forgetting faces while giving compliments sounds like classic Meng Ziyi, the actress apparently had another surprise waiting for her co-star. During filming, she gave Lai Weiming the unusual nickname "Big Melon".
Explaining the nickname, the actor revealed she jokingly called him "Da Xiang Gua" because his skin looked incredibly pale while filming a shirtless scene. The nickname spread quickly across the production, becoming an inside joke shared by cast, crew and even the director. Once a nickname catches on during filming, escaping it is about as likely as escaping palace politics in a historical drama—which is to say, not very.
Beyond the jokes, Lai Weiming praised Meng Ziyi's ability to switch instantly between character and real life. On camera, she transforms into the powerful and intimidating Shen Xihe, delivering icy stares that perfectly suit the ambitious noblewoman. Seconds after the director calls cut, however, she reportedly becomes cheerful and affectionate.
"There are moments where the contrast is unbelievable," he said. "One second she's staring at me exactly like Shen Xihe would, and the next she's smiling and saying, 'Ah, Xiao Lai!' in the sweetest voice."
The actor also remembered their earliest scenes together in Blossoms of Power, explaining that viewers may assume their famous confrontation was filmed first, but the reality was quite different.
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| Lai Weiming Says Meng Ziyi Forgot His Face but Always Called Him Handsome |
His actual first scene with Meng Ziyi was the emotional farewell sequence before Xiao Changying headed off to war. By then, both actors had already built a comfortable working relationship. The first chronological meeting between their characters, however, required Meng Ziyi to look down coldly at him while he lay on the ground.
"She looked incredibly intimidating," Lai Weiming admitted. "I remember thinking, 'I'm the Ninth Prince. Is she really going to treat me like this?'"
When discussing memorable filming moments, the actor struggled to choose a single favourite because, in his words, the atmosphere throughout production was consistently enjoyable.
He also laughed while recalling a playful improvisation during a slapping scene, where he referenced a famous joke originally associated with singer Joey Yung by threatening to "tell my father". It became another spontaneous moment that left the cast amused between takes.
Away from the lighter stories, Lai Weiming spoke passionately about what makes Xiao Changying different from the drama's other princes. Rather than allowing rejected love to transform him into an antagonist, the prince chooses to respect Shen Xihe's decisions while quietly protecting her from a distance.
The actor revealed that, if he were given the opportunity to rewrite part of the story, he would not change his character's relationship with Shen Xihe. Instead, he would alter the tragic ending involving Xiao Changying and his older brother, believing their bond deserved a happier conclusion.
Describing Blossoms of Power, Lai Weiming promised viewers a series packed with intricate palace politics, emotional conflicts and gripping twists. He joked that it is the perfect kind of drama to watch while enjoying a meal, suggesting audiences should prepare for an addictive mix of suspense and heartfelt relationships.
Before wrapping up the interview, the actor also addressed a growing request from fans. Many viewers have noticed that he often plays characters whose love stories never quite work out, leading some to ask him to accept more cheerful romantic roles instead.
His answer was brief but optimistic. Fans hoping to see Lai Weiming enjoy a happier romance on screen, he said, should simply stay tuned for his future projects.
Fan reactions to the interview have been mixed in the most entertaining way possible. Some couldn't stop laughing at Meng Ziyi repeatedly forgetting Lai Weiming while somehow remembering to compliment his appearance every single time.
Others were delighted by the pair's easy-going friendship and playful chemistry, saying it only increased their excitement for Blossoms of Power. Meanwhile, plenty of viewers joked that being forgotten is probably much easier to accept when the conversation ends with someone calling you handsome. Fair point, really.
With anticipation continuing to build around Blossoms of Power, behind-the-scenes moments like these are giving audiences another reason to tune in beyond the palace intrigue.
ICYMI: Blossoms of Power Season 2 Preview.
Whether it's unexpected nicknames, awkward first meetings or surprisingly wholesome friendships, the cast already appears to share the kind of chemistry that often carries over onto the screen. What do you think about Lai Weiming and Meng Ziyi's off-screen friendship, and are you planning to watch Blossoms of Power?