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| Why Zhang Linghe Says Murong Qingyi Was Never Simply a Romantic in Overdo. (Photo: Tencent Video) |
Zhang Linghe has stepped in to defend one of the most talked-about characters in Overdo (这一秒过火), arguing that viewers may have been far too quick to reduce Murong Qingyi to a man ruled entirely by love. As the Chinese drama reached its conclusion, discussions across social media focused heavily on the character's emotional decisions, with some audiences labelling him as someone whose entire personality revolved around romance. The actor, however, believes that description barely scratches the surface.
Posting his farewell message for the drama on 25 July 2026, Zhang Linghe offered a much deeper interpretation of the man he spent months bringing to life. Rather than accepting the increasingly popular "love brain" label circulating among viewers, he suggested that Murong Qingyi should be understood through the loneliness and emotional neglect that shaped his entire childhood.
According to Zhang Linghe, Murong Qingyi did not grow up without the ability to love. Instead, he grew up without ever learning what it felt like to be loved.
"He was never taught what genuine affection looked like," the actor explained. "The thing missing from his life wasn't love itself. What was missing was the memory of receiving love from someone else."
He continued by saying that Murong Qingyi never had a family member or role model who could show him how healthy relationships worked. Without that foundation, every emotional decision the character made came from instinct rather than experience.
"So when he finally met someone who truly mattered to him," Zhang Linghe wrote, "he loved awkwardly. He loved wholeheartedly. He gave everything he had because he didn't know another way. That isn't weakness. It's simply how someone carries years of emotional scars."
The actor also encouraged audiences not to judge Murong Qingyi's actions in isolation.
"If you only look at his choices, you might think he's obsessed with love," he said. "But if you look at everything he experienced before making those choices, perhaps you'll see someone trying to protect the first warmth he has ever known."
That emotional context, according to Zhang Linghe, is what defines the character far more than romance ever could.
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In previous interviews promoting Overdo, the actor had already spoken openly about Murong Qingyi's difficult upbringing.
He described him as a child abandoned almost from birth, forced to grow up surrounded by cruelty and emotional violence. The one family member who ever offered kindness eventually had to let him go, leaving him alone once again.
"Someone like him learns to survive before he learns to trust," Zhang Linghe explained. "He hides everything behind sarcasm, cold words and distance because that's the only armour he has ever known."
He added that viewers should notice how Murong Qingyi slowly changes throughout the series rather than focusing only on his early behaviour.
"His journey isn't about becoming perfect," the actor said. "It's about discovering, little by little, that love doesn't always disappear, that people can stay, and that opening your heart doesn't always end in loss."
For Zhang Linghe, that emotional evolution is the real heart of Overdo.
"He isn't someone controlled by love," he continued. "He's someone learning what love actually means for the first time. Those are two completely different stories."
His comments quickly reignited debate among viewers. Many fans agreed that Murong Qingyi's emotional decisions became far more understandable once his childhood trauma was taken into account.
They argued that the character's willingness to sacrifice everything reflected years of abandonment rather than blind romance, with several praising Zhang Linghe for explaining motivations that the drama subtly hinted at throughout its run.
Others admitted they had initially viewed the character as frustratingly impulsive but said the actor's reflections encouraged them to reconsider several key scenes. Some even joked that they had gone into Overdo expecting political intrigue and dramatic confrontations, only to end up attending an unexpected masterclass in emotional damage.
Meanwhile, a smaller group maintained that despite understanding his background, Murong Qingyi still made choices that tested their patience. Fair enough—television would be rather dull if every character behaved sensibly all the time.
Whether audiences completely agree with Zhang Linghe or not, his explanation has added another layer to the conversation surrounding Murong Qingyi.
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Rather than defending every decision his character made, the actor invited viewers to examine the reasons behind them, suggesting that pain often shapes people long before anyone notices the consequences.
With Overdo continuing to spark discussion after its finale, Murong Qingyi has become one of the drama's most debated characters. Do you agree with Zhang Linghe's interpretation, or do you still think Murong Qingyi let his emotions take over too often?